I stumbled across this weird gem while hunting for vintage Mac

I stumbled across this weird gem while hunting for vintage Mac
software on the archived webpages of the Johann Wolgang von Goethe-
University of Frankfurt/Main in Germany.

Description from the Author's info sheet:

> Mac Diff [sic] is a programme for analysis and display of X-ray
> powder diffractogrammes on Apple Macintosh platforms. It is designed
> as a complement to the XRD applications distributed by Philips or
> Siemens and it is equipped with a GUI to facilitate user-friendly
> and interactive processing of XRD profiles. It offers conventional
> XRD profile-correction processes (e.g. outliers, smoothing,
> divergence, alpha2-stripping) and supports [qualitative] and
> quantitative phase analysis. Moreover, by its programmable peak
> analysis (recording of intensities, peak areas, half widths, etc.)
> it offers an automated analysis of entire series of
> diffractogrammes. By means of peak fits the contributions of
> coinciding lines can be calculated. The user has at his disposal the
> capability of continuous measurement checks and the possibility to
> perform corrections as well (e.g. by manual or computed background
> adaptations). For peak indication the user has the option to employ
> variable peak data sets. High resolution hardcopies of the
> diffractogrammes can be produced. The standard single-scan formats
> (Philips-ADP or some Siemens-RAW, ASCII) are identified
> automatically. Data and plots can be exported to most of the
> available table-processing or vector-graphics programmes.
>
> The applications of MacDiff range from routine analysis in
> sedimentology, especially clay minerals, over analysis of X-ray
> diffractogrammes of all types of rocks and minerals all the way to
> phase analysis of various crystalline substances.
>
> MacDiff is freeware and is available to everyone free of charge. It
> may be copied and distributed without restrictions for non-profit
> and non-commercial use. All rights reserved. Usage at your own risk.

All I could decipher is that this was used to aid in the analysis of
X-Ray spectrums of soil samples from archeological digs. Beats me what
practical purpose it might serve nowadays, but the author once put an
extraordinary amount of work into it. And to give honor to this
unknown hero, let his name be known as Dr. Rainer Petschick ![Wink][1]

Source: [http://www.geol-pal.uni-
frankfurt.de/Staff/Homepages/Petschick/MacDiff/M...][2]

Compatibility
Architecture: 68k PPC (Carbonized)

MacDiff runs on a 68k or PowerMacintosh with 8 MB RAM minimum.
However, 16 MBwith colour monitor is recommended. RAM requirements are
3.5 MB minimum.

[1]: http://macintoshgarden.org/sites/all/modules/smileys/packs/Roving/wink.png (Wink)
[2]: http://www.geol-pal.uni-frankfurt.de/Staff/Homepages/Petschick/MacDiff/MacDiffInfoE.html (http://www.geol-pal.uni-frankfurt.de/Staff/Homepages/Petschick/MacDiff/MacDiffInfoE.html)