This really is impressing.
It reminds me of something I tried when I was still using TG09:
Put something white or gray that has an interesting structure onto a scanner and you get a heightmap because the further a part is from the lightsource the darker it gets.
Works perfect with corals, bleached wood, golfballs, horseteeth...
If anyone is interested I can post my results, but it´s something anyone can try for himself.
Maybe I post it anyway, not anyone has a coral at hand.
Best regards,
Jan