Petrographic Microscope Accurately Measures Vitrinite Reflectance

The reflectance of vitrinite macerals is the most common indicator of organic maturation used by the energy industries.  As the organic maturation, or rank, increases, the vitrinite changes and becomes more reflective.  The reflectivity of vitrinite is in direct proportion to its rank and the amount of energy it can supply. This has been extensively modeled and test protocols have been developed both by ISO and ASTM organisations.

The CRAIC Technologies (USA) CoalPro II system is designed to measure the vitrinite reflectance accurately, rapidly and non-destructively. The CRAIC CoalPro II system combines research quality petrographic microscopes with a CRAIC microphotometer and a software package written specifically for petrographic analysis.  The CRAIC CoalPro II system makes measurements per the ISO 7404-5 and ASTM D2798 standard test methods and presents the results in an industry standard format including histograms.  The system can even be automated with the inclusion of a programmable stage and point counting.

The CRAIC CoalPro II can also do much more.  It can measure UV-visible-NIR range transmission, reflectance and even fluorescence intensities of sub-micron sample areas.  The CRAIC CoalPro II can save full color images and perform sophisticated image analysis as well as having the ability to upgrade to full range spectroscopy.  The CRAIC CoalPro II not only accomplishes today’s standard tests but is future-proofed for tomorrow’s new protocols.