This dataset provides images from scanning electron microscope (SEM) photography of natural and artificial granular materials used for experimental simulation by the analogue geodynamic modelling community (21 sands and glass beads). The material samples have been collected community-wide and analysed at GFZ Potsdam in the framework of the GeoMod2008 conference benchmark initiative. The context of data collection, details of the material samples and measuring techniques as well as interpretation and discussion of results can be found in Klinkmüller et al. (2016) to which this dataset is supplement material.

The data presented here are derived by using the scanning electron microscope facility at GFZ Potsdam. The selected grains were mounted on aluminium stubs supplied with conductive carbon tabs and gold-palladium coated. The study was performed using a ZEISS DSM 692 (in 2008) and (in 2009) a ZEISS ULTRA 55 Plus Schottky-type field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM) at acceleration voltages from 7 to 20 kV. In both cases, we used the secondary (SE) electron signals providing the best spatial resolution of the sample morphology.The resulting SEM images are presented. From each sample several magnifications are provided ranging from overview (50x-100x) to particle portraits (100x-500x) and, for glass beads, to surface landscapes (500x-10.000x).

An overview of all files of the data set is given in the table SEMDataOverview.