1. A near infrared radiation chemical imaging system comprising: a) an illumination source for illuminating an area of a sample using light in the near infrared radiation wavelength; b) a device for collecting a spectrum of near infrared wavelength radiation light transmitted, reflected, emitted or scattered from said illuminated area of said sample and producing a collimated beam therefrom; c) a near infrared imaging spectrometer for selecting a near infrared radiation image of said collimated beam; and d) a detector for collecting said filtered near infrared images