New views of plant fossils from Antarctica: a comparison of X-ray and neutron imaging techniques

Dawson, MN; Francis, J; Carpenter, R

Abstract

A fossil plant of Eocene age from Antarctica was studied using X-ray and neutron tomography to reveal the three-dimensional plant structures encased within carbonate nodules. The fossil was identified as a branch and leaves of an araucarian conifer, which grew on the volcanic highlands of the Antarctic Peninsula region approximately 50 million yr ago. Both X-ray and neutron imaging techniques successfully exposed the full three-dimensional structure of the fossil without destroying the original specimen, revealing that most of the fossil was present as voids in the concretion and little organic matter was present. However, neutron tomography was found to produce images with superior quality and detail.

Citation

Dawson, M., Francis, J., & Carpenter, R. (2014). New views of plant fossils from Antarctica: a comparison of X-ray and neutron imaging techniques. Journal of Paleontology, 88(4), 702-707. https://doi.org/10.1666/13-124

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Publication Date: Jan 1, 2014
• Deposit Date: Oct 21, 2016
• Journal: Journal of Paleontology
• Print ISSN: 0022-3360
• Publisher: Paleontological Society
• Volume: 88
• Issue: 4
• Pages: 702-707
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1666/13-124
• Publisher URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1666/13-124