Carbon speciation in organic fossils using 2D to 3D x-ray Raman multispectral imaging

Georgiou, Rafaella; Gueriau, Pierre; Sahle, Christoph J.; Bernard, Sylvain; Mirone, Alessandro; Garrouste, Romain; Bergmann, Uwe; Rueff, Jean-Pascal; Bertrand, Loïc

doi:10.1126/sciadv.aaw5019

Title: Carbon speciation in organic fossils using 2D to 3D x-ray Raman multispectral imaging

Journal Article · 01 August 2019 · Science Advances

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.aaw5019 · OSTI ID:1530613

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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)

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.

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Research Organization:: SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory (SLAC), Menlo Park, CA (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE

Grant/Contract Number:: AC02-76SF00515

OSTI ID:: 1530613

Journal Information:: Science Advances, Vol. 5, Issue 8; ISSN 2375-2548

Publisher:: AAASCopyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

Citation Metrics:

Cited by: 27 works

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