Method of analysing a geological sample

A method of analysing a geological sample comprising the steps of:

• a) providing a geological sample and analysis equipment, said equipment including a first X-ray emitter and a digital X-ray detector;
• b) activating the first X-ray emitter, located in a first position, and receiving the emitted X-rays at the digital X-ray detector;
• c) activating a second X-ray emitter, located in a different position to the first X-ray emitter, or moving the first X-ray emitter to a different position and activating it, and receiving the emitted X-rays at the digital X-ray detector;
• d) repeating step c) as required to analyse the core, each time using a different X-ray emitter, or the first X-ray emitter located in a different position;
• e) wherein the location of the digital detector, relative to the sample, remains stationary during steps b) to d)
• f) processing the digital signals provided by the digital detector to create digital X-ray images of the sample;
• g) processing the digital signals provided by the digital detector to determine compounds within, and porosity of, the sample by determining relative absorption at different X-ray energy levels;
• h) processing the digital X-ray images of the sample to create a digital tomosynthesis 3D X-ray image model of the sample, said indicating the different compounds, and porosity of the sample, and their locations in the sample.