Applied X-ray Computed Tomography with high Resolution in Paleontology Using Laboratory & Synchrotron Sources.

X-ray computed tomography (CT) has become an established technique in the biomedical imaging or materials science research. Its ability to non-destructively provide high-resolution images of samples makes it attractive for diverse fields of research especially the paleontology. Exceptionally, the Precambrian is a geological time of rocks deposition containing several fossilized early animals, which still need to be investigated in order to predict the origin and evolution of early life. Corumbella werneri is one of those fossils skeletonized in Corumba (Brazil). Here, we present a study on selected specimens of Corumbella werneri using absorption-based contrast imaging at diverse tomographic setups. We investigated the potential of conventional laboratory-based device and synchrotron radiation sources to visualize internal structures of the fossils. The obtained results are discussed as well as the encountered limitations of those setups.