This contribution comprises a true-3D volume dataset (Digital rock sample) of a fossilized whale ear bone material from Oligocene strata in Washington State, USA, acquired by a X-ray Computed Microtomography (µ-CT) survey.

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This contribution comprises a true-3D volume dataset (Digital rock sample) of a fossilized whale ear bone material from Oligocene strata in Washington State, USA, acquired by a X-ray Computed Microtomography (µ-CT) survey (Kiel et al., submitted). The specimen is curated in the paleontological collection of the Swedish Museum of Natural History, Stockholm, Sweden. The X-ray μ-CT scan was performed using the CT-ALPHA system of the MAPEX Center for Materials and Processes at the University of Bremen, Germany. The reconstructed image material has a resolution of 46.8 µm/voxel.Sample NRM M8681 shows bioerosion traces typical of Osedax on its surface and contains an ear bone of a whale (Mysticeti, genus and species undetermined). The piece was found as float, Canyon River, Lincoln Creek Formation, probably late Oligocene (could be from older strata farther upstream and downsection), Grays Harbor County, Washington.The µ-CT-derived image volume comprises the true 3-D spatial arrangement of the fabric compounds in the rock. In the reconstructed 16-bit greyscale volume data, areas of highly attenuating phases (e.g., calcite) are encoded in light grey values, whereas areas of lower X-ray absorption are color-coded in darker grey (e.g. sediment) or black (e.g. voids, cracks). In order to facilitate straightforward access to the digital image material, the volume data is provided as a zipped stack of tif images. In addition, the digital rock sample is characterized by three types of visualization: (i) shaded and classical texture-based volume rendering (volren), (ii) maximum intensity projection (volren-MIP): visualization of the highest intensity in the data volume along the current line of sight, and (iii) three perpendicular virtual cutting planes (3-slices).As an added value to the non-destructive visualization procedure, the reconstructed X-ray micro-CT scan of the studied rock material represents a volume reconstruction which may be studied as digital facsimile (e. g., for investigations regarding morphometric analyses of bioerosion traces) without the necessity of consultation / modification / destructive handling of the actual specimen.