Synchrotron radiation-based techniques applied to the study of dinosaur fossils from the collection of the museum of Lourinhã

The Museum of Lourinhã exhibits one of the most diverse and best-preserved collections of dinosaur fossils in Portugal. Several fossilized dinosaur eggshell fragments and embryonic vertebrae have been studied by Synchrotron Radiation-based Micro-Computed Tomography (SRμCT) at the beamlines operated by the Helmholtz-Zentrum Geesthacht at the storage ring DORIS III at the Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron DESY, Hamburg, Germany. We have obtained high-resolution three-dimensional tomographic datasets using a non-destructive procedure. Combining all the benefits of non-destructive imaging techniques will ensure that rare fossils remain preserved for future generations to enjoy and further analyse them. Furthermore, the analysis of the SRμCT data together with data obtained by synchrotron radiation-based Xray diffraction provides valuable information about the extent of diagenetic alteration of fossils.