Improved noninvasive microstructural analysis of fossil tissues by means of SR-microtomography

Bone is a dynamic tissue which records and partially stores a relevant amount of biological and biomechanical information. In paleobiological investigation, a satisfactory access to this hidden archive is limited by the unavoidable need to assure integrity of the fossil record. According to our experience, based on a variety of advanced nondestructive approaches in imaging fossil tissues, synchrotron radiation microtomography (SR-μCT) assures the quasi-ideal physical conditions to explore and to finely characterise at a high spatial resolution the inner structural morphology of relatively large-sized and highly mineralised fossil specimens for 2D and 3D modelling and reliable quantitative analyses. PACS 87.19.Rr; 87.59.-e; 07.85.Qe