Study of the fish fossil Notelops brama from Araripe-Basin Brazil by Neutron Tomography

Abstract

In the last decade, Neutron Tomography significantly gained importance as an analyzing tool to inspect samples of paleontological interest. In general, neutrons are able to provide new and complementary information when compared to the ones provided by X-rays imaging methods. Specifically, in the present paper, the Neutron Tomography equipment of the IPEN-CNEN/SP was successfully applied to investigate the internal structure of a fish fossil, embedded in a calcareous concretion. The resulting images, which will be presented, has revealed different contrast between several regions within the specimen enabling the differencing of osteological structures of the fossil, information about its state of conservation, degree of embedding, inclusions as well as regions within the concretion which could be related to humidity or to other substances and minerals containing hydrogen naturally added to the fossil. The technique is non-destructive and non-invasive allowing a close analysis of the specimen. Furthermore, the obtained images have demonstrated the feasibility of the equipment at IPENCNEN/ SP for investigating this kind of sample.