Albertosaurus bone nano- and microscale features (free pdf)
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Ben Creisler
Feb 12, 2026, 11:30:50 AM (6 days ago) Feb 12
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Ben Creisler
Osteohistological investigations of fossilized bone can reveal details about the specimen’s biological, geological and environmental conditions. Micro-to-nanoscale imaging provides insight into the structural organization of bone and can also reveal indicators of the fossilization process. We examined a petrographic thin section of the left fibula of a ~ 71.5 million-year-old Albertosaurus sarcophagus (Canadian Museum of Nature [CMN] catalogue number FV 11315) using nanoscale scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and focused ion beam (FIB)-SEM tomographic imaging to study the arrangement of mineral and organic components of fossil bone in multidimensions. Here, we present evidence of permineralization in Haversian canals by energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. Nanoscale 3D FIB-SEM imaging revealed that the characteristic 67 nm banding periodicity of collagen fibrils was remarkably well preserved over 70 M years, and 3D imaging allowed for the detection of collagen fibril bundles in parallel fibered and lamellar bone arrangements. A newly discovered structure in modern bone, the ellipsoidal mineral cluster, was tiled throughout the 3D space of fibrolamellar fossil bone. These observations, afforded by the high-resolution and site-specific nature of FIB-SEM, link key fossilized features with the micro-nanoscale structure of modern-day bone. This investigation highlights the persistence of bone formation and organization persisting for over millions of years.
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A new paper:
Free pdf:
Alyssa Williams, Dirk Schumann, Jordan C. Mallon, Michael W. Phaneuf, Nabil Bassim & Kathryn Grandfield (2026)
Electron and focused ion beam microscopy of fossilized Albertosaurus sarcophagus (Dinosauria: Theropoda) bone reveals nano to microscale features
Scientific Reports (advance online publication)
doi: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-026-39588-z
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-026-39588-z
We are providing an unedited version of this manuscript to give early access to its findings. Before final publication, the manuscript will undergo further editing. Please note there may be errors present which affect the content, and all legal disclaimers apply.
Abstract
Alyssa Williams, Dirk Schumann, Jordan C. Mallon, Michael W. Phaneuf, Nabil Bassim & Kathryn Grandfield (2026)
Electron and focused ion beam microscopy of fossilized Albertosaurus sarcophagus (Dinosauria: Theropoda) bone reveals nano to microscale features
Scientific Reports (advance online publication)
doi: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-026-39588-z
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-026-39588-z
We are providing an unedited version of this manuscript to give early access to its findings. Before final publication, the manuscript will undergo further editing. Please note there may be errors present which affect the content, and all legal disclaimers apply.
Abstract
Osteohistological investigations of fossilized bone can reveal details about the specimen’s biological, geological and environmental conditions. Micro-to-nanoscale imaging provides insight into the structural organization of bone and can also reveal indicators of the fossilization process. We examined a petrographic thin section of the left fibula of a ~ 71.5 million-year-old Albertosaurus sarcophagus (Canadian Museum of Nature [CMN] catalogue number FV 11315) using nanoscale scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and focused ion beam (FIB)-SEM tomographic imaging to study the arrangement of mineral and organic components of fossil bone in multidimensions. Here, we present evidence of permineralization in Haversian canals by energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. Nanoscale 3D FIB-SEM imaging revealed that the characteristic 67 nm banding periodicity of collagen fibrils was remarkably well preserved over 70 M years, and 3D imaging allowed for the detection of collagen fibril bundles in parallel fibered and lamellar bone arrangements. A newly discovered structure in modern bone, the ellipsoidal mineral cluster, was tiled throughout the 3D space of fibrolamellar fossil bone. These observations, afforded by the high-resolution and site-specific nature of FIB-SEM, link key fossilized features with the micro-nanoscale structure of modern-day bone. This investigation highlights the persistence of bone formation and organization persisting for over millions of years.
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