1 / 16

Application of X-Ray Computed Tomography Reveals Exceptionally Preserved Fossils in Ohio Silica Shale

This study explores the use of X-ray Computed Tomography (XCT) to visualize and analyze exceptionally preserved fossils in the Silica Shale of Ohio. XCT provides detailed, non-destructive visualization of soft morphology preserved through pyritization, allowing for the identification of anatomical, taphonomic, and sedimentologic information. The study highlights the potential of XCT in paleontology and suggests the establishment of a public repository for XCT data.

valenzuelaj
Download Presentation

Application of X-Ray Computed Tomography Reveals Exceptionally Preserved Fossils in Ohio Silica Shale

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. APPLICATION OF X-RAY COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHY REVEALS A (FOOL’S) GOLD MINE OF EXCEPTIONALLY PRESERVED FOSSILS IN THE SILICA SHALE (DEVONIAN) OF OHIO Prescott J. Vayda Loren E. Babcock Emma A. Oti School of Earth Sciences The Ohio State University Columbus, Ohio 43210

  2. Introduction • X-ray Computed Tomography (XCT) is emerging as a powerful tool across various disciplines of the Earth Sciences • In paleontology, it provides detailed, non-destructive visualization • In sedimentology/stratigraphy, it allows for detailed analysis of bedforms • XCT data is easily accessible and easily manipulated using freely available software • Each scan stores information from the XCT scanner and any software used to modify the scans

  3. Purpose • In this study, XCT was used to visualize preserved soft (nonbiomineralized) morphology preserved through pyritization • XCT can be used to visualize specimens and reveal anatomical, taphonomic, and sedimentologicinformation

  4. Materials and methods • Specimens were collected from the Silica Shale (Devonian), NW Ohio Sylvania Silica Paulding Kesling (1975)

  5. Data sources: specimens • Trilobites: Phacops • Brachiopods: Paraspirifer, Pseudoatrypa, Mucrospirifer • Corals: Heliophyllum

  6. Instrumentation and software • Neurologica CereTom – mobile, medical XCT scanner • ImageJ – scan imaging software, free to download • Seg3D – image segmentation software, free to download

  7. Trilobite: Phacops rana • Trilobite on right has pyritized stomach, whereas trilobite on left has no internal remains

  8. Trilobite: Phacops rana • Side view of enrolled individual • Pyritized gut extends down dorsal axis • Appendages present Gut

  9. Trilobite: Phacops rana Front view Side (sagittal) view Top view Gut Gut Gut

  10. Brachiopod: Paraspirifer bownockeri • Front oblique view showing pyritized brachidium with filaments, muscles, and other organs Stomach or Pedicle? Brachidium Muscle

  11. New anatomical information from Parasprifier • Situsinversus in the brachidia • No external difference

  12. Coral: Heliophyllum • Sagittal View • Cross-sectional Views a c b a b c

  13. Trace fossils • Bioturbation, pyritized burrows Burrows

  14. Taphonomic information • Shell bed, traces/bioturbation Trilobite Shell Bed

  15. Conclusions • Approximately half of the studied enrolled trilobites show preserved guts. These are inferred to be corpses. • Most outstretched trilobites show little to no exceptional preservation, and most are likely molts rather than corpses. • Most brachiopods show pyritized brachidia, and some show pyritized lophophores, organs, and muscles. • Rugose corals show pyritized internal structures, including probable mesenteries. • Scan quality is affected by specimen size: details in specimens under 2 cm are not well resolved, and specimens larger than 10 cm are subject to imaging artifacts. • Preserved features smaller than the voxel size are not detectable on the scans.

  16. Next steps • This method has enormous potential • Ideally, it would be desirable to establish a public data repository for XCT data • This could be part of a larger online repository for digitized collections sharable among museums and research institutions • Use scan data to generate physical 3D prints of internal structure • Scans can aid in identification of specimens at risk of pyrite or other degradation, so the method could aid in conservation of specimens

More Related