Neutron Tomography of Geological Samples – Preliminary Results.

Neutron tomographic imaging has been conducted on a variety of geological samples, including migmatitic metapelite, suevitic breccia, as well as mafic granulite, in order to investigate the success of this technique in non-destructively distinguishing their component minerals in three-dimensions. Preliminary results indicate that coarse textures found in these samples are clearly resolved, but μm-scale resolution of mineral distribution is not yet possible. The variable composition of minerals in geological samples due to solid solution results in overlapping attenuation coefficients for some minerals, and these minerals may be indistinguishable using neutron tomography. Hydrous minerals and voids present in samples are well resolved, and volumes of component phases in samples can be easily calculated, provided these phases are resolvable.