Murchison Meteorite: X-ray CT Scan of a CM2 Chondrite

494 high-resolution slices from an X-ray CT scan of the CM2 Murchison chondrite meteorite (specimen USNM 5487). The University of Texas High-Resolution X-ray CT Facility (UTCT) scanned the sample on 14 October 2011, with voxel sizes of 0.0293mm in X/Y and 0.03205mm in Z. This data was produced with support from a NASA grant (NNX13AO64H) and should be acknowledged accordingly.

Use Cases

• Analyze the 3D internal structure and porosity of the meteorite based on the high-resolution CT slices.
• Segment and classify mineral phases and chondrules within the chondrite based on density contrasts visible in the scan.
• Create digital models for computational simulations of material properties based on the volumetric data.
• Compare the internal features of this CM2 chondrite with scans of other meteorite types.

Strengths

• High-resolution volumetric data with specific voxel dimensions (0.0293mm X/Y, 0.03205mm Z).
• Scan provenance is clearly documented, including the scanning facility, date, and personnel.
• Data is associated with a well-known and scientifically significant meteorite specimen (USNM 5487 Murchison).

Limitations

• Description metadata is limited; actual data quality, file formats, and accessibility require manual inspection after download.
• The scan is described as a 'partial scan', which may limit the completeness of the 3D representation.
• Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download.

Provenance

Source

The University of Texas High-Resolution X-ray CT Facility (UTCT)

Collection Method

X-ray CT scanning performed by Romy Hanna and Richard Ketcham.

Time Range

Scan date: 14 October 2011.

Freshness

Last updated 2024-03-18 11:17:39; freshness should be verified.

Geography

Sample origin: Murchison meteorite (CM2 chondrite).