What happens when cutting-edge technology meets ancient mystery?<\/p>\n
A recent archaeological test on a bone found along the Irish coast shows how industrial X-ray CT imaging and material analysis can uncover the untold story locked inside a seemingly ordinary object.<\/p>\n
Thanks to advanced tools like the diondo d5 CT system and SEAM (Scanning Electron Analysis of Materials), we were able to non-destructively visualize the internal architecture of the bone and identify its elemental composition\u2014all without damaging this precious find.<\/p>\n
High-Resolution X-ray Imaging with diondo d5<\/strong><\/h2>\nTo explore the internal structure of the bone, we used the diondo d5 industrial CT system, equipped with a versatile range of X-ray tubes and a high-performance detector:<\/p>\n
\n- A 240 kV microfocus X-ray tube, used in this experiment, provided ultra-fine detail for capturing the bone\u2019s internal features<\/li>\n
- 450 kV mesofocus and minifocus tubes offer greater penetration power, ideal for scanning denser or larger materials<\/li>\n
- A 3000-pixel detector with a 139-micron pixel pitch enables high-resolution imaging across a wide range of sample sizes<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
In this particular test, we scanned a 16 cm section of a larger 40 cm-long bone. Operating at 4\u00d7 magnification, the system achieved a voxel resolution of just 35 microns, delivering a remarkably detailed view of the bone\u2019s internal complexity.<\/p>\n
What the CT Revealed<\/strong><\/h2>\nThe 3D reconstructions uncovered:<\/p>\n
\n- A dense cortical layer\u2014the outer shell of the bone<\/li>\n
- An internal network of trabeculae (thin, rod-like structures) and marrow cavities, characteristic of cancellous (spongy) bone<\/li>\n
- Bright white inclusions scattered throughout the internal structure<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
These bright spots indicated the presence of dense foreign materials\u2014likely shell fragments, or marine minerals that infiltrated the bone over time. This aligns with the bone\u2019s origin from a marine environment, suggesting long-term exposure to the sea and sediment.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/seam.ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/bone-image-1024x585.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
SEM\/EDX Findings: Hydroxyapatite, Silica & Marine Trace Elements<\/h2>\n
To dig deeper (without physically digging), we used Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) combined with Energy-Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDX). This dual technique allows for pinpoint identification of elemental composition at micro-scale resolution.<\/p>\n
Key Findings:<\/p>\n
\n- High levels of Calcium (Ca), Phosphorus (P), and Oxygen (O) \u2013 the foundational elements of hydroxyapatite, the mineral that makes up natural bone.<\/li>\n
- Silicon (Si) \u2013 possibly absorbed sand or silica from the marine environment.<\/li>\n
- Trace elements such as Sodium (Na), Magnesium (Mg), Aluminum (Al), Potassium (K), and Iron (Fe) \u2013 likely introduced by seawater or sediment over time.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Together, these findings confirm the authenticity of the bone and reveal how it has chemically interacted with its marine surroundings, absorbing minerals and evolving over time.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/seam.ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/Sample-of-Bone-SEM-300x217.png\")
\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 ![\"\"](\"https:\/\/seam.ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/ANALYSIS-SEM-300x191.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
What SEAM Can We Test \u2013 Without Cutting or Damaging the Sample?<\/strong><\/h2>\nOne of the most exciting aspects of this work is that all of it was done non-destructively. That\u2019s the true power of industrial CT imaging:<\/p>\n
\u2705 X-ray or CT Scanning \u2013 See inside any object without slicing it open
\n\u2705 Material Analysis (SEM\/EDX) \u2013 Determine what it\u2019s made of on an elemental level<\/p>\n
Final Thoughts: A Journey from Beach to Lab<\/strong><\/h3>\nFrom examining industrial parts and medical prototypes to scanning an ancient bone, this project was a refreshing dive into the natural sciences.<\/p>\n
The bone\u2014possibly part of a vertebral column or horn core\u2014has yet to be definitively identified, but the imaging and analysis have already told part of its story. A story shaped by biology, time, and the relentless forces of the sea.<\/p>\n
So next time you walk along the beach and spot something unusual, remember\u2014what looks like a weathered fragment may just be a doorway into the past, waiting to be revealed with the right technology.<\/p>\n
Want to Explore What\u2019s Inside Your Sample?<\/strong><\/p>\nWhether it’s\u00a0 archaeological, or industrial, our non-destructive testing solutions give you deep insights without damaging what matters.<\/p>\n
\u27a1\ufe0f Discover what’s hidden inside.
\n\u27a1\ufe0f Preserve while you analyze.
\n\u27a1\ufe0f Contact us to learn more about industrial CT and material analysis services.<\/p>\n
This piece was written by Agnieszka Furman – Technology Leader & Business Development X-ray Micro Computed Tomography\u00a0. If you would like to learn more about our CT or Non destructive testing\u00a0 capability at SEAM please contact us.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
A bone recovered on Ireland\u2019s coast became a perfect test case for non-destructive analysis. Using industrial X-ray CT (diondo d5)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":3716,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[18],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3713","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-blog"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/mobileandwebsitedevelopment.com\/seam.ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3713","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/mobileandwebsitedevelopment.com\/seam.ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/mobileandwebsitedevelopment.com\/seam.ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mobileandwebsitedevelopment.com\/seam.ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mobileandwebsitedevelopment.com\/seam.ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3713"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/mobileandwebsitedevelopment.com\/seam.ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3713\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3715,"href":"https:\/\/mobileandwebsitedevelopment.com\/seam.ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3713\/revisions\/3715"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mobileandwebsitedevelopment.com\/seam.ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3716"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/mobileandwebsitedevelopment.com\/seam.ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3713"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mobileandwebsitedevelopment.com\/seam.ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3713"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mobileandwebsitedevelopment.com\/seam.ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3713"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
In this particular test, we scanned a 16 cm section of a larger 40 cm-long bone. Operating at 4\u00d7 magnification, the system achieved a voxel resolution of just 35 microns, delivering a remarkably detailed view of the bone\u2019s internal complexity.<\/p>\n
What the CT Revealed<\/strong><\/h2>\nThe 3D reconstructions uncovered:<\/p>\n
\n- A dense cortical layer\u2014the outer shell of the bone<\/li>\n
- An internal network of trabeculae (thin, rod-like structures) and marrow cavities, characteristic of cancellous (spongy) bone<\/li>\n
- Bright white inclusions scattered throughout the internal structure<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
These bright spots indicated the presence of dense foreign materials\u2014likely shell fragments, or marine minerals that infiltrated the bone over time. This aligns with the bone\u2019s origin from a marine environment, suggesting long-term exposure to the sea and sediment.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
SEM\/EDX Findings: Hydroxyapatite, Silica & Marine Trace Elements<\/h2>\n
To dig deeper (without physically digging), we used Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) combined with Energy-Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDX). This dual technique allows for pinpoint identification of elemental composition at micro-scale resolution.<\/p>\n
Key Findings:<\/p>\n
\n- High levels of Calcium (Ca), Phosphorus (P), and Oxygen (O) \u2013 the foundational elements of hydroxyapatite, the mineral that makes up natural bone.<\/li>\n
- Silicon (Si) \u2013 possibly absorbed sand or silica from the marine environment.<\/li>\n
- Trace elements such as Sodium (Na), Magnesium (Mg), Aluminum (Al), Potassium (K), and Iron (Fe) \u2013 likely introduced by seawater or sediment over time.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Together, these findings confirm the authenticity of the bone and reveal how it has chemically interacted with its marine surroundings, absorbing minerals and evolving over time.<\/p>\n
\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 <\/p>\n
What SEAM Can We Test \u2013 Without Cutting or Damaging the Sample?<\/strong><\/h2>\nOne of the most exciting aspects of this work is that all of it was done non-destructively. That\u2019s the true power of industrial CT imaging:<\/p>\n
\u2705 X-ray or CT Scanning \u2013 See inside any object without slicing it open
\n\u2705 Material Analysis (SEM\/EDX) \u2013 Determine what it\u2019s made of on an elemental level<\/p>\n
Final Thoughts: A Journey from Beach to Lab<\/strong><\/h3>\nFrom examining industrial parts and medical prototypes to scanning an ancient bone, this project was a refreshing dive into the natural sciences.<\/p>\n
The bone\u2014possibly part of a vertebral column or horn core\u2014has yet to be definitively identified, but the imaging and analysis have already told part of its story. A story shaped by biology, time, and the relentless forces of the sea.<\/p>\n
So next time you walk along the beach and spot something unusual, remember\u2014what looks like a weathered fragment may just be a doorway into the past, waiting to be revealed with the right technology.<\/p>\n
Want to Explore What\u2019s Inside Your Sample?<\/strong><\/p>\nWhether it’s\u00a0 archaeological, or industrial, our non-destructive testing solutions give you deep insights without damaging what matters.<\/p>\n
\u27a1\ufe0f Discover what’s hidden inside.
\n\u27a1\ufe0f Preserve while you analyze.
\n\u27a1\ufe0f Contact us to learn more about industrial CT and material analysis services.<\/p>\n
This piece was written by Agnieszka Furman – Technology Leader & Business Development X-ray Micro Computed Tomography\u00a0. If you would like to learn more about our CT or Non destructive testing\u00a0 capability at SEAM please contact us.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
A bone recovered on Ireland\u2019s coast became a perfect test case for non-destructive analysis. Using industrial X-ray CT (diondo d5)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":3716,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[18],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3713","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-blog"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/mobileandwebsitedevelopment.com\/seam.ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3713","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/mobileandwebsitedevelopment.com\/seam.ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/mobileandwebsitedevelopment.com\/seam.ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mobileandwebsitedevelopment.com\/seam.ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mobileandwebsitedevelopment.com\/seam.ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3713"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/mobileandwebsitedevelopment.com\/seam.ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3713\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3715,"href":"https:\/\/mobileandwebsitedevelopment.com\/seam.ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3713\/revisions\/3715"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mobileandwebsitedevelopment.com\/seam.ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3716"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/mobileandwebsitedevelopment.com\/seam.ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3713"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mobileandwebsitedevelopment.com\/seam.ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3713"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mobileandwebsitedevelopment.com\/seam.ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3713"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
These bright spots indicated the presence of dense foreign materials\u2014likely shell fragments, or marine minerals that infiltrated the bone over time. This aligns with the bone\u2019s origin from a marine environment, suggesting long-term exposure to the sea and sediment.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
SEM\/EDX Findings: Hydroxyapatite, Silica & Marine Trace Elements<\/h2>\n
To dig deeper (without physically digging), we used Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) combined with Energy-Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDX). This dual technique allows for pinpoint identification of elemental composition at micro-scale resolution.<\/p>\n
Key Findings:<\/p>\n
- \n
- High levels of Calcium (Ca), Phosphorus (P), and Oxygen (O) \u2013 the foundational elements of hydroxyapatite, the mineral that makes up natural bone.<\/li>\n
- Silicon (Si) \u2013 possibly absorbed sand or silica from the marine environment.<\/li>\n
- Trace elements such as Sodium (Na), Magnesium (Mg), Aluminum (Al), Potassium (K), and Iron (Fe) \u2013 likely introduced by seawater or sediment over time.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Together, these findings confirm the authenticity of the bone and reveal how it has chemically interacted with its marine surroundings, absorbing minerals and evolving over time.<\/p>\n
\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 <\/p>\nWhat SEAM Can We Test \u2013 Without Cutting or Damaging the Sample?<\/strong><\/h2>\n
One of the most exciting aspects of this work is that all of it was done non-destructively. That\u2019s the true power of industrial CT imaging:<\/p>\n
\u2705 X-ray or CT Scanning \u2013 See inside any object without slicing it open
\n\u2705 Material Analysis (SEM\/EDX) \u2013 Determine what it\u2019s made of on an elemental level<\/p>\nFinal Thoughts: A Journey from Beach to Lab<\/strong><\/h3>\n
From examining industrial parts and medical prototypes to scanning an ancient bone, this project was a refreshing dive into the natural sciences.<\/p>\n
The bone\u2014possibly part of a vertebral column or horn core\u2014has yet to be definitively identified, but the imaging and analysis have already told part of its story. A story shaped by biology, time, and the relentless forces of the sea.<\/p>\n
So next time you walk along the beach and spot something unusual, remember\u2014what looks like a weathered fragment may just be a doorway into the past, waiting to be revealed with the right technology.<\/p>\n
Want to Explore What\u2019s Inside Your Sample?<\/strong><\/p>\n
Whether it’s\u00a0 archaeological, or industrial, our non-destructive testing solutions give you deep insights without damaging what matters.<\/p>\n
\u27a1\ufe0f Discover what’s hidden inside.
\n\u27a1\ufe0f Preserve while you analyze.
\n\u27a1\ufe0f Contact us to learn more about industrial CT and material analysis services.<\/p>\nThis piece was written by Agnieszka Furman – Technology Leader & Business Development X-ray Micro Computed Tomography\u00a0. If you would like to learn more about our CT or Non destructive testing\u00a0 capability at SEAM please contact us.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
A bone recovered on Ireland\u2019s coast became a perfect test case for non-destructive analysis. Using industrial X-ray CT (diondo d5)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":3716,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[18],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3713","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-blog"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/mobileandwebsitedevelopment.com\/seam.ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3713","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/mobileandwebsitedevelopment.com\/seam.ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/mobileandwebsitedevelopment.com\/seam.ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mobileandwebsitedevelopment.com\/seam.ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mobileandwebsitedevelopment.com\/seam.ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3713"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/mobileandwebsitedevelopment.com\/seam.ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3713\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3715,"href":"https:\/\/mobileandwebsitedevelopment.com\/seam.ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3713\/revisions\/3715"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mobileandwebsitedevelopment.com\/seam.ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3716"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/mobileandwebsitedevelopment.com\/seam.ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3713"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mobileandwebsitedevelopment.com\/seam.ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3713"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mobileandwebsitedevelopment.com\/seam.ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3713"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}