Automatic mineral identification using genetic programming

Automatic mineral identification using evolutionary computation technology is discussed. Thin sections of mineral samples are photographed digitally u sing a computer-controlled rotating polarizer stage on a petrographic micro scope. A suite of image processing functions is applied to the images. Filt ered image data for identified mineral grains is then selected for use as t raining data for a genetic programming system, which automatically synthesi zes computer programs that identify these grains. The evolved programs use a decision-tree structure that compares the mineral image values with one o ther, resulting in a thresholding analysis of the multi-dimensional colour and textural space of the mineral images.