ORIGINAL RESEARCH article
Front. Earth Sci.
Sec. Sedimentology, Stratigraphy and Diagenesis
Volume 13 - 2025 | doi: 10.3389/feart.2025.1643373
Non-destructive 3D internal structure analysis of sedimentary samples using highresolution X-ray computed tomography
Provisionally accepted
- 1Pusan National University, Busan, Republic of Korea
- 2Chosun University, Dong-gu, Republic of Korea
- 3Pukyong National University, Busan, Republic of Korea
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X-ray computed tomography (X-ray CT), initially developed for medical applications, has undergone continuous advancements and is now widely used in industrial and geological research as a high-resolution imaging technique. In this study, we utilized X-ray CT to visualize, extract, and quantitatively measure (volume and anisotropy) the internal structures of rod-shaped stromatolites, invertebrate burrow-bearing rocks, and deformed cobbles derived from the Cretaceous Gyeongsang Basin, Korea. Our results demonstrate that, when there is a sufficient contrast in density and/or particle size between internal structures and their surroundings, X-ray CT reliably reveals and enables quantitative analysis of these structures with high precision. However, in cases where attenuation contrast is insufficient, imaging limitations may arise. Despite these constraints, X-ray CT provides significant advantages over traditional 2D observations by enabling a non-destructive, high-resolution analysis of internal structures. This study highlights the necessity of applying X-ray CT analysis more extensively to various geological samples for a more accurate and intuitive understanding of internal structures.
Keywords: X-ray CT, Internal structures, Burrow, stromatolite, deformed cobble
Received: 08 Jun 2025; Accepted: 18 Aug 2025.
Copyright: © 2025 Chae, Kang, Ha, Joo and Lim. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
* Correspondence: Hyoun Soo Lim, Pusan National University, Busan, Republic of Korea
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