Automatic detection of characteristic viscosity points in mineralogical samples

Hot stage microscopy (HSM) is a suitable technique for studying the behavior of mineralogical samples (such as basalt, rocks and glasses) viscosity in relation to temperature. HSM researches observe and analyze images of samples recorded during heating. This paper presents the development of a customized software, which uses digital image processing techniques to automatically detect characteristic viscosity points (CVP) based on a series of images that depict the evolution of the sample as it melts over time. This tool was developed to help determine the temperatures corresponding to CVP together with the HSM technique.