APPLICATIONS OF HIGH-RESOLUTION X-RAY COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHY IN PETROLOGY, METEORITICS AND PALAEONTOLOGY

Abstract

High-resolution and ultra-high-resolution X-ray computed tomography are rapid, non-destructive and extremely powerful techniques for three-dimensional examination and measurement of a great variety of geological materials and specimens with sizes from several millimetres to several decimetres. A review of recent applications in petrology, meteoritics and palaeontology, which utilized an instrument optimized for geological studies (High-Resolution X-ray Computed Tomography Facility of the University of Texas at Austin), documents an abundance of novel scientific results and illuminates the potential for still broader application of these techniques in the earth sciences.