The geologists from the Geological Laboratory Services Section (GLSS) of the Lands Geological Survey Division, Mines and Geosciences Bureau Central Office (MGB-CO) conducted a Training-Workshop on Basic Petrographic/Mineragraphic Analysis of Rocks and Minerals last July 8 to 11, 2019 at the MGB Regional Office No. XII (ROXII), Prime Regional Center, Carpenter Hill, Koronadal City, South Cotabato.

The said training workshop was held upon the request of MGB ROXII after their purchase of a laboratory microscope. Ms. Jocelyn C. Villanueva, Officer-in-Charge of GLSS; Ms. Ma. Lourdes Stephane V. Leido, Unit Chief of Petrography and XRD laboratory units of GLSS; and Mr. Wenceslao J. Mago, geologic aide, acted as lecturers/trainers for the said event. Participants included geologists and on-the-job trainees of MGB ROXII

Topics discussed during the four-day training-workshop include Mineralogy; Petrology; Optical Mineralogy; Ore Mineralogy; and basic techniques in thin and polished sections analyses. On the second day of the training-workshop, Mr. Mago gave a lecture on the step-by-step procedure of thin/polished section making.

Laboratory exercises, such as alum crystal experiment, the making of three-dimension models of basic crystal forms, megascopic analysis of rock samples, thin/polished section analysis, and thin/polished section preparation, supplemented the given lectures. During the said laboratory exercises, the participants were clustered into three (3) groups, with each group assigned rock/mineral samples and thin/polished sections to analyze, as well as crystal forms to make.  Furthermore, each participant was also given rock samples to cut, mount, grind, and polish.

On the last day of the training-workshop, all groups of participants presented their laboratory results and outputs. The training -workshop ended with the presentation of certificates to the resource speakers, as well as to the participants.

By: Lands Geological Survey Division


Group photo of the participants, resource speakers, and MGB XII Regional Director Constancio A. Paye, Jr.


The participants conducted experiments such as crystal growth (left) and actual use of a laboratory microscope (right).