A novel sedimentological method based on CT-scanning: Use for tomographic characterization of the Galicia Interior Basin

Non-destructive techniques of core analysis, especially of marine cores, are being broadly employed for sedimentary, paleoceanographic and paleoclimate research. In particular, Computed Tomography scanning (CT-scanning) allows acquisition of 3D and 2D images, according to desired planes, and thus the identification of sedimentary structures, large grains and their distributions as well as direct measurements of material densities. The most significant contribution of this technique is the possibility of getting results before opening the core. In this work CT-scan data obtained for five cores from the Galicia Interior Basin (GIB, NW Peninsula Iberia) are presented and discussed, focussing on (1) methodology of the CT-scan use, (2) tomographic description of sedimentary facies identified in the GIB, (3) treatment of the numeric data obtained with CT-scanning using specific software (anidoC), and (4) comparison of tomographic data with data obtained by conventional methodologies of core analysis.The most singular feature of GIB cores is the presence of Ice Rafted Debris (IRD) deposited during late Pleistocene Heinrich Events (HE), which can be easily recognized using the CT-scan by the presence of high radio-density grains immersed in a low radio-density matrix. Comparison of CT-scan data with analytical sedimentary data and HE proxies performed on the cores validates the CT-scanning method as a powerful tool to improve correlations, identify well-constrained events, and make more accurate basin reconstructions without opening all the cores in an oceanographic study.