Automatic Mineral Identification Using Genetic Programming 2 Automatic Mineral Identification Using Genetic Programming

Automatic mineral identification using evolutionary computation technology is discussed. Thin sections of mineral samples are digitally photographed using a computercontrolled rotating polarizer stage on a petrographic microscope. A suite of image processing functions is applied to the images. Filtered image data for identified mineral grains is then selected for use as training data for a genetic programming system, which automatically synthesizes computer programs that identify these grains. The evolved programs use a decision tree structure that compares the mineral image values with one other, resulting in a thresholding analysis of the multi-dimensional colour and textural space of the mineral images. Index terms mineral classification, genetic programming, feature space thresholding.