Joint application of structured-light optical scanning, neutron tomography and position-sensitive prompt gamma activation analysis for the non-destructive structural and compositional characterization of fossil echinoids

摘要

The morphological and compositional analysis of fossils provides essential knowledge about the classification and development of the species and about the environmental aspects during and after the life of the exemplar. We developed and applied a beyond-state-of-the-art combination of three-dimensional surface and volumetric digital imaging techniques, as well as position-resolved element composition analysis on Parascutella gibbercula species excavated in Hungary to scrutinize their shapes and internal structures. This study opens the perspective to a better understanding of the sedimentation conditions of the Paratethyan realm in Miocene.