title: Absorption and Phase Contrast X-Ray Imaging in Paleontology Using Laboratory and Synchrotron Sources.
abstract: X-ray micro-computed tomography (μCT) is commonly used for imaging of samples in biomedical or materials science research. Owing to the ability to visualize a sample in a nondestructive way, X-ray μCT is perfectly suited to inspect fossilized specimens, which are mostly unique or rare. In certain regions of the world where important sedimentation events occurred in the Precambrian geological time, several fossilized animals are studied to understand questions related to their origin, environment, and life evolution. This article demonstrates the advantages of applying absorption and phase-contrast CT on the enigmatic fossil Corumbella werneri, one of the oldest known animals capable of building hard parts, originally discovered in Corumbá (Brazil). Different tomographic setups were tested to visualize the fossilized inner structures: a commercial laboratory-based μCT device, two synchrotron-based imaging setups using conventional absorption and propagation-based phase contrast, and a commercial X-ray microscope with a lens-coupled detector system, dedicated for radiography and tomography. Based on our results we discuss the strengths and weaknesses of the different imaging setups for paleontological studies.
authors: 1Department of Physics,Technische Universität München,85748 Garching,Germany.
authors: Pidassa
authors: P
authors: Bidola
authors: 1Department of Physics,Technische Universität München,85748 Garching,Germany.
authors: Marco
authors: M
authors: Stockmar
authors: 1Department of Physics,Technische Universität München,85748 Garching,Germany.
authors: Klaus
authors: K
authors: Achterhold
authors: 1Department of Physics,Technische Universität München,85748 Garching,Germany.
authors: Franz
authors: F
authors: Pfeiffer
authors: 2Department of Biology,Federal University of São Carlos,Campus Sorocaba,18052780-Sorocaba,SP-Brazil.
authors: Mírian L A F
authors: ML
authors: Pacheco
authors: 3Advanced Photon Source-Argonne National Laboratory,9700S Cass ave,Lemont,IL 60439,USA.
authors: Carmen
authors: C
authors: Soriano
authors: 4Institute for Materials Research,Helmholtz-Centre Geesthacht,21502 Geesthacht,Germany.
authors: Felix
authors: F
authors: Beckmann
authors: 1Department of Physics,Technische Universität München,85748 Garching,Germany.
authors: Julia
authors: J
authors: Herzen
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001938:Brazil; D005580:Fossils / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D010163:Paleontology / Q000379:methods*; D014056:Tomography, X-Ray / Q000379:methods*
keywords: Corumbella werneri; X-ray micro CT; fossils; paleontology; synchrotron