How are Minerals Detected in Histological Samples?
Histologists employ various techniques to detect and analyze minerals in tissue samples:
- Histochemical Staining: Techniques such as the Prussian Blue stain for iron or the Von Kossa stain for calcium are used to visually identify mineral deposits. - Electron Microscopy: Provides high-resolution images and elemental analysis through energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX). - X-Ray Diffraction (XRD): Used to identify crystalline structures of minerals within tissues. - Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS): Allows for precise quantification of mineral content in tissues.
