The Department of Geology at the University of the Free State (UFS) acquired a new research level petrographic microscope to further research in the fields of mineralogy, petrology, exploration- and economic geology. The Olympus BX 51 polarizing microscope is fitted with the Altra20 soft imaging system that allows researchers not only to take top quality photographs of thin polished sections and polished ore sections, but to build digital databases and do intricate measurements on small mineral grains.  This microscope is also used by post-graduate students in their research. Sitting at the microscope are: Ms Annegret Lombard (Lecturer in mineralogy at the Department of Geology) and Ms Natercia Glover from Wirsam Scientific, the South African dealers for Olympus Microscopes.