This is a polarized light image of resorcinol at 400x magnification, courtesy of Mark Simmons. Polarized light microscopy is used primarily to view crystals, minerals, geological specimens and chemicals.Polarized light microscopy utilizes both a polarizer and an analyzer to provide contrast in specimens. Microscopes with polarization use a polarizer positioned above the light path before the specimen, and an analyzer placed in the optical path between the objective and the eyepiece or camera port. A biological microscope or stereo microscope can have a polarizing kit added on. For advanced polarizing microscopy a polarizing microscope is used.
