A new algorithm using image colour system transformation for rock grain segmentation

摘要

The present paper is concerned with the development and application of an effective automatic algorithm of image analysis in order to detect grain boundaries on microscope images of Redziny dolostone and Wisniowka quartzite. The algorithm utilises sets of 6 colour images for each measurement field on thin sections, which are recorded using an optical polarizing microscope in different polarization set-ups. The proposed method is based on an image pre-processing procedure that is focused on colour system transformation, followed by rock grain boundaries segmentation using the image analysis methods for each colour image. For the image pre-processing procedure, several colour system transformations were selected and compared. By using the alternative colour systems that concentrate on colour information we are able to minimise the effects of internal micro-structures in the grain boundaries segmentation procedure. The grain boundary maps obtained confirm that the use of an approximately perceptually uniform colour system as an image pre-processing procedure can significantly improve the rock grain segmentation. This newly-developed method may facilitate petrographical and stereological studies of rock structures.