Texture analysis from synchrotron diffraction images with the Rietveld method: dinosaur tendon and salmon scale

J Synchrotron Radiat. 2005 May;12(Pt 3):354-60. doi: 10.1107/S090904950500138X. Epub 2005 Apr 14.

Abstract

A Rietveld method is described which extracts information on crystal structure, texture and microstructure directly from two-dimensional synchrotron diffraction images. This is advantageous over conventional texture analysis that relies on individual diffraction peaks, particularly for low-symmetry materials with many overlapping peaks and images with a poor peak-to-background ratio. The method is applied to two mineralized biological samples with hydroxylapatite fabrics: an ossified pachycephalosaurid dinosaur tendon and an Atlantic salmon scale. Both are measured using monochromatic synchrotron X-rays. The dinosaur tendon has very strongly oriented crystals with c-axes parallel to the tendon direction. The salmon scale displays a weak texture.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Crystallization
  • Crystallography, X-Ray / methods*
  • Dinosaurs
  • Durapatite / chemistry*
  • Photomicrography
  • Salmon
  • Surface Properties
  • Synchrotrons
  • Tendons / chemistry*

Substances

  • Durapatite