Carbon speciation in organic fossils using 2D to 3D x-ray Raman multispectral imaging
Abstract
The in situ two-dimensional (2D) and 3D imaging of the chemical speciation of organic fossils is an unsolved problem in paleontology and cultural heritage. Here, we use x-ray Raman scattering (XRS)–based imaging at the carbon K-edge to form 2D and 3D images of the carbon chemistry in two exceptionally preserved specimens, a fossil plant dating back from the Carboniferous and an ancient insect entrapped in 53-million-year-old amber. The 2D XRS imaging of the plant fossil reveals a homogeneous chemical composition with micrometric “pockets” of preservation, likely inherited from its geological history. The 3D XRS imaging of the insect cuticle displays an exceptionally well preserved remaining chemical signature typical of polysaccharides such as chitin around a largely hollowed-out inclusion. Our results open up new perspectives for in situ chemical speciation imaging of fossilized organic materials, with the potential to enhance our understanding of organic specimens and their paleobiology.
- Authors:
-
- Univ. Paris-Saclay, Gif-sur-Yvette (France); Synchrotron SOLEIL, Gif-sur-Yvette (France)
- Univ. Paris-Saclay, Gif-sur-Yvette (France); Univ. of Lausanne (Switzerland)
- European Synchrotron Radiation Facility (ESRF), Grenoble (France)
- Sorbonne Univ., Paris (France)
- SLAC National Accelerator Lab., Menlo Park, CA (United States). Photon Ultrafast Laser Science and Engineering Inst. (PULSE)
- Synchrotron SOLEIL, Gif-sur-Yvette (France); Sorbonne Univ., Paris (France)
- Publication Date:
- Research Org.:
- SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory (SLAC), Menlo Park, CA (United States)
- Sponsoring Org.:
- USDOE
- OSTI Identifier:
- 1530613
- Grant/Contract Number:
- AC02-76SF00515
- Resource Type:
- Journal Article: Accepted Manuscript
- Journal Name:
- Science Advances
- Additional Journal Information:
- Journal Volume: 5; Journal Issue: 8; Journal ID: ISSN 2375-2548
- Publisher:
- AAAS
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
- Subject:
- 36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
Citation Formats
Georgiou, Rafaella, Gueriau, Pierre, Sahle, Christoph J., Bernard, Sylvain, Mirone, Alessandro, Garrouste, Romain, Bergmann, Uwe, Rueff, Jean-Pascal, and Bertrand, Loïc. Carbon speciation in organic fossils using 2D to 3D x-ray Raman multispectral imaging. United States: N. p., 2019.
Web. doi:10.1126/sciadv.aaw5019.
Georgiou, Rafaella, Gueriau, Pierre, Sahle, Christoph J., Bernard, Sylvain, Mirone, Alessandro, Garrouste, Romain, Bergmann, Uwe, Rueff, Jean-Pascal, & Bertrand, Loïc. Carbon speciation in organic fossils using 2D to 3D x-ray Raman multispectral imaging. United States. https://doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.aaw5019
Georgiou, Rafaella, Gueriau, Pierre, Sahle, Christoph J., Bernard, Sylvain, Mirone, Alessandro, Garrouste, Romain, Bergmann, Uwe, Rueff, Jean-Pascal, and Bertrand, Loïc. 2019.
"Carbon speciation in organic fossils using 2D to 3D x-ray Raman multispectral imaging". United States. https://doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.aaw5019. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1530613.
@article{osti_1530613,
title = {Carbon speciation in organic fossils using 2D to 3D x-ray Raman multispectral imaging},
author = {Georgiou, Rafaella and Gueriau, Pierre and Sahle, Christoph J. and Bernard, Sylvain and Mirone, Alessandro and Garrouste, Romain and Bergmann, Uwe and Rueff, Jean-Pascal and Bertrand, Loïc},
abstractNote = {The in situ two-dimensional (2D) and 3D imaging of the chemical speciation of organic fossils is an unsolved problem in paleontology and cultural heritage. Here, we use x-ray Raman scattering (XRS)–based imaging at the carbon K-edge to form 2D and 3D images of the carbon chemistry in two exceptionally preserved specimens, a fossil plant dating back from the Carboniferous and an ancient insect entrapped in 53-million-year-old amber. The 2D XRS imaging of the plant fossil reveals a homogeneous chemical composition with micrometric “pockets” of preservation, likely inherited from its geological history. The 3D XRS imaging of the insect cuticle displays an exceptionally well preserved remaining chemical signature typical of polysaccharides such as chitin around a largely hollowed-out inclusion. Our results open up new perspectives for in situ chemical speciation imaging of fossilized organic materials, with the potential to enhance our understanding of organic specimens and their paleobiology.},
doi = {10.1126/sciadv.aaw5019},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1530613},
journal = {Science Advances},
issn = {2375-2548},
number = 8,
volume = 5,
place = {United States},
year = {Thu Aug 01 00:00:00 EDT 2019},
month = {Thu Aug 01 00:00:00 EDT 2019}
}
Web of Science
Figures / Tables:
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Works referencing / citing this record:
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Figures / Tables found in this record: