Recent progress in X-ray CT as a geosciences tool

For many years X-ray computed tomography has been widely used as a medical diagnostical tool. This non-destructive technique was soon found to be very useful in rock material research. In the 1970s CT was introduced in material research while in the 1990s, micro-CT became an important non-destructive research technique. Presently nano-CT is being developed creating even more possibilities for the 3D visualization of small objects. In this paper CT, micro-CT and nano-CT are specified and discussed. Several applications illustrate the possibilities, specific advantages and limitations of each instrument. As with every technique some restrictions occur, but X-ray CT is found to be an emerging non-destructive analytical technique with many possibilities in material research. (c) 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.