Loading...
Identifying internal 3D architecture and textures in microbialites with computed tomography
Baker, Mitchell
Baker, Mitchell
Citations
Altmetric:
Files
Loading...
Baker_2024.pdf
Adobe PDF, 26.5 KB
Authors
Baker, Mitchell
Other Names
Location
Time Period
Advisors
Parcell, William C.
Original Date
Digitization Date
Issue Date
2024-04-26
Type
Abstract
Genre
Keywords
Subjects (LCSH)
Citation
Baker, M. 2024. Identifying internal 3D architecture and textures in microbialites with computed tomography. -- In Proceedings: 20th Annual Symposium on Graduate Research and Scholarly Projects. Wichita, KS: Wichita State University
Abstract
Throughout much of Earth's history, microbial lifeforms have contributed to vast and spectacular rock formations. Microbes mediate sedimentation processes to create rock forms called "microbialites." Evidence of their occurrence is found in rocks from the early Earth (Precambrian) to today. Much of the search for past life on Mars is looking for occurrences of microbialites. Microbialites provide a critical record of how the Earth's climate changes and the environments through time. It is known that the internal architecture and structure of microbialites (i.e., stromatolite and thrombolite) correlate to particular depositional environments and climates in which they grow. However, current methods to examine the interior structure of lithified microbialites through thin sectioning destroys the sample in the process. It also does not easily provide a 3D image of the internal architecture of the sample. CT (Computed Tomography) may provide a non-intrusive method to examine the 3D internal architecture and structure of lithified microbialites. This research aims to quantify 1) microbialite internal structures, 2) image resolution in relation to density, 3) compositional impact on image resolution, and 4) resolution quality of CT scan type. The CT method may be a more efficient way of identifying microbialite structure with non-intrusive techniques. Using CT or other X-ray technologies may help to understand not only the 3D internal architecture of specimens here on Earth but also those on distant planets.
Table of Contents
Description
Presented to the 20th Annual Symposium on Graduate Research and Scholarly Projects (GRASP) held at the Rhatigan Student Center, Wichita State University, April 26, 2024.
Research completed in the Department of Earth, Environmental and Physical Science, Fairmount College of Liberal Arts & Sciences.
Research completed in the Department of Earth, Environmental and Physical Science, Fairmount College of Liberal Arts & Sciences.
Publisher
Wichita State University
Journal
Book Title
Series
GRASP
v. 20
v. 20