In a CL microscope an electron beam is accelerated to the surface of a thin section of a solid sample (rock, mineral, ceramics, glass) in order to induce the emission of visible light (luminescence). Thus, CL microscopy allows to make visible structures within crystals or fabrics which cannot be seen at normal light conditions. For example, valuable informations on the growth of minerals can be obtained or impurities and inhomogeneities in a ceramic become visible.  A cathodoluminscence microscope is a combination of an electron microscope and a light microscope. The lumic HC3-LM cathodoluminescence microscope is designed to study the luminescence characteristics of common polished thin section surfaces irritated by an electron beam.  These colors can be digitally imaged to map out the often highly detailed growth history of minerals. In addition, the precise wavelengths emitted from a sample can be obtained with the spectroscopy system. This visible light spectrum allows one to more precisely identify individual components of luminescence.