4. The behavior of the oil and extracts during preparation would be 

 studied, and the reactions to the high vacuums and to the electron bombardment 

 observed. 



5. The R.C.A. engineers and research physicists have photographed in the 

 electron microscope what they believe to be giant molecules. Molecules of crude 

 oil are believed to be disposed in some sort of regular pattern and may be quite 

 large. Perhaps actual molecular differences may be found in crude oils, in the 

 extracts, or in the various fractions that may be used for correlation. 



Paleontologic Studies 



Generally speaking, paleontologic specimens are too large for study in the 

 electron microscope. It should be valuable, however, in studying details of fos- 

 sils too small for study under a light microscope, such as diatoms, spores, algae, 

 and some protozoans. A comparison of diatom shells photographed with a light 

 microscope and the electron microscope shows that under the light microscope 

 the number and arrangement of the perforations can hardly be determined, 

 whereas the electron microscope indicates clearly the detail, arrangement, and 

 number of perforations. 



The electron microscope has opened up a new realm of research and en- 

 deavor. It is being adapted to a great number of scientific fields both for re- 

 search and for industrial purposes. Future developments should increase the re- 

 solving power far beyond the best that is available today, but, conversely, this 

 increase in resolving power will be one of the limiting factors of the microscope, 

 because by working with very minute objects it is not possible to mount par- 

 ticular specimens for study. Most geologic techniques do not require these ex- 

 tremely high magnifications, however, and things geologic are usually too large 

 for these magnifications. Further research in strictly geologic fields will have to 

 be limited to particular problems where the microscope can be fully utilized. 



Reprinted from Subsurface Geologic Methods, 1951, p. 202-211. 



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