Nondestructive visual search for fossils in rock using X-ray interferometry imaging

Fossils inside rock have been clearly visualized utilizing an X-ray interfe rometer. Two types of clear images are obtained, one involves phase contras t in interference beams and the other involving refraction contrast in forw ard-diffracted beams. 2D monochromatic synchrotron X-ray radiation with a b eam size of 10 mm x 10 mm and a photon energy of 35 keV was used. Using a s tereographic pair of X-ray images, the locations of fossils inside rock can easily be determined with a precision of 0.5 mm. This method can be a powe rful nondestructive tool in the fields of paleontology and paleobiology to discover and locate fossils and trace fossils inside rock.