ИСТИНА

A wide range of methods are available in studying ice cores nowadays. Nevertheless, most of them have a lot of disadvantages related to destruction of samples and their melting during the analyses, which may prevent the future sample processing. X-ray computed tomography (CT) is a well-known and common method to obtain cross sectional images using X-Rays. The primary use of CT doesn't affect further processing of samples. Another advantage of method is its promptitude: the analysis cost is low, while the amount of information obtained is very substantial. The shallow ice cores from Elbrus region were analyzed with the help of X-Ray CT scanner. RCT-180 scanner is able to scan cores with a length of 1 m and with a diameter of 10 cm. Scanner has a 150-180 µm spatial resolution and 100х100х1000 mm active area. For supporting the natural conditions of ice, a special cryothermos was created, which allows to keep the sample frozen during the survey. This method permitted us to define the inner structure of full length ice cores, to find the core disturbances; to obtain a 3D pattern of ice density which appears to provide much more information than the visual observation of the axial ice cutting; to obtain 3D stratigraphy for subsequent correlation; to reveal and calculate the typical layers with contrast density and to find total porosity and individual pores. The research was supported by the Russian Science Foundation (project no. 17-17-01270).