This paper describes the methodology applied in five basalts samples from Serra Geral Formation, Santa Catarina State, Brazil, using images obtained by X-ray computed tomography (μCT), which allow 3D visualization. The rocks samples were oriented collected and sent to the Soil Imaging Laboratory - Guelph University, in Canada, for the images acquisition and processing. The steps for the enhancement of micro-brittle structures and mineral density differences, termed in this study as anisotropic markers, consist of filters to detect edges, smoothing filters and particle analysis. The results are shown in rose diagrams for each axis (X, Y and Z) of the samples and was established the relationship between the axis and the surface fault system. In order to evaluate whether the methodology can be applied to oriented rock without the fault surface, another set of images were analyzed, based on a subvolume of the samples, without the surface fault. The results showed that the new technology can be applied in oriented rock sample, even if the main fault system was not identified in the field, and the axis with the more homogeneous direction define the direction of the main fault system. Special attention has to be given to the presence of ring artifact that influences the results of the analysis.Pages: 3672-367
