Open AccessThree-dimensional imaging of inhomogeneous lithologies using X-ray computed tomography: characterization of drill core from the Borrowdale Volcanic Group
Author(s) -
D.L. Engelberg,
R. A. D. Pattrick,
Clare Wilson,
R. McCrae,
Philip J. Withers
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
mineralogical magazine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.558
H-Index - 68
eISSN - 1471-8022
pISSN - 0026-461X
DOI - 10.1180/minmag.2012.076.8.08
Subject(s) - geology , tomography , calcite , computed tomography , lithology , volcano , microanalysis , mineralogy , core (optical fiber) , characterization (materials science) , materials science , geochemistry , chemistry , radiology , medicine , composite material , organic chemistry , nanotechnology
X-ray computed tomography augmented by elemental microanalysis has been used to characterize two drill cores from the Borrowdale Volcanic Group, west Cumbria, UK. Information about the three-dimensional (3D) distribution of mineral phases was obtained non-destructively, and regions of interest were extracted for thin sectioning and elemental analysis. This revealed the presence of pyrite and other iron- and iron-titanium-bearing minerals. X-ray computed tomography is a very useful tool for 3D visualization, but the limitations of the tomography system used made it difficult to distinguish between regions with similar compositions, such as the different layers within the calcite veins. Methods by which these limitations might be overcome are briefly discussed.
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