Mapping the organic and inorganic components of tissue using NEXAFS

A mapping technique which uses a scanning transmission soft X-ray microscope (STXM) is described. The technique has been developed and used to quantitatively map the calcium mineral and protein mass thicknesses in undemineralised, unstained, thin bone sections. Near complete femoral-neck sections of sibling normal and ovariectomised mice have been mapped. The results show the quantitative relationship between calcium and protein on the macro and microscopic scales for both tissues.