Murchison Meteorite Chip X-Ray CT Scans at 3.01 μm Voxel Resolution

X-ray CT scans of a chip from the Murchison chondrite meteorite (specimen USNM 5487). The dataset contains scans performed in air and xenon environments on 1 July 2021, with a consistent voxel size of 3.01 μm in all dimensions. Data was generated by Romy Hanna at The University of Texas at Austin using the UTCT facility, supported by a NASA grant.

Use Cases

• Analyzing chondrule and matrix microstructure based on high-resolution 3D imagery.
• Comparing material density and composition between scans performed in air and xenon environments.
• Creating 3D visualizations and models of meteorite internal structures for educational or research purposes.
• Developing or validating image segmentation algorithms for extraterrestrial materials.

Strengths

• Scans have a high and consistent spatial resolution of 3.01 μm voxel size.
• Data provenance is clearly documented, including the scanning date (1 July 2021), facility (UTCT), and principal investigator.
• Includes comparative scans of the same specimen in two different media (air and xenon).

Limitations

• Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download.
• Row count is unknown, which may limit suitability assessment.
• Freshness should be verified; last metadata update was 2024-03-18.

Provenance

Source

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

Collection Method

X-ray computed tomography scanning

Time Range

Scanned on 1 July 2021

Freshness

Last updated 2024-03-18 11:30:01

Geography

Specimen USNM 5487 (Murchison meteorite)