biostudies-literatureHamm CACharité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin and the Berlin Institute of HealthDeutsche ForschungsgemeinschaftResearch networks molecular medicine and community medicine at the University Medicine GreifswaldBerliner Krebsgesellschaft e.V.Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin16407https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC9525674biostudies-literatureUnknown12(1)Dual-energy computed tomography (DECT) is an imaging technique that combines nondestructive morphological cross-sectional imaging of objects and the quantification of their chemical composition. However, its potential to assist investigations in paleontology has not yet been explored. This study investigates quantitative DECT for the nondestructive density- and element-based material decomposition of fossilized bones. Specifically, DECT was developed and validated for imaging-based calcium and fluorine quantification in bones of five fossil vertebrates from different geological time periods and of one extant vertebrate. The analysis shows that DECT material maps can differentiate bone from surrounding sediment and reveals fluorine as an imaging marker for fossilized bone and a reliable indScientific reportsQuantitative dual-energy CT as a nondestructive tool to identify indicators for fossilized bone in vertebrate paleontology.PMC9525674SFB1340 Matrix-In-VisionWitzmann FHecht LMews JSavic LJHampe OGunter CMeister SMilke RHamm CAHamm BAsbach PDiekhoff TfalseQuantitative dual-energy CT as a nondestructive tool to identify indicators for fossilized bone in vertebrate paleontology.Dual-energy computed tomography (DECT) is an imaging technique that combines nondestructive morphological cross-sectional imaging of objects and the quantification of their chemical composition. However, its potential to assist investigations in paleontology has not yet been explored. This study investigates quantitative DECT for the nondestructive density- and element-based material decomposition of fossilized bones. Specifically, DECT was developed and validated for imaging-based calcium and fluorine quantification in bones of five fossil vertebrates from different geological time periods and of one extant vertebrate. The analysis shows that DECT material maps can differentiate bone from surrounding sediment and reveals fluorine as an imaging marker for fossilized bone and a reliable ind2022-01-01T00:00:00Z2022 Sep2025-04-26T11:58:20.561Z2025-02-19T00:23:15.222ZS-EPMC95256743618051010.1038/s41598-022-20707-5