Micro X-ray fluorescence reveals pore space details and spatially-resolved porosity of rock-based microfluidic devices.

Characterization of microscopic details of the fabric of mudstones and shales (, structure and composition) is important to understand their storage and transport properties. Current characterization methods struggle to probe reliably multiple scales of interest (, pore and fracture) and measure properties at the finest resolution under representative conditions. Micro X-ray fluorescence (μXRF) is a high-performance imaging technique that produces elemental images at sub-10 μm spatial resolution and could offer insight into a diversity of shale properties, such as mineral composition, porosity, and pressure gradients.