Mechanisms controlling major and trace element uptake during carbonate mineral formation and diagenetic alteration: An experimental approach

• Applicant: Professor Dr. Martin Dietzel
• Subject Area: Mineralogy, Petrology and Geochemistry ; Palaeontology
• Term: from 2013 to 2021
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 189839832

The chemical and isotopic signatures of carbonate archives reflect the physicochemical parameters occurring during mineral formation and/or diagenetic transformation. Thus understanding the physicochemical parameters controlling the distribution of elemental and isotopic signals in carbonates is a fundamental requirement for the interpretation of the environmental conditions occurred during their formation and/or transformation. To date however the experimental studies that mechanistically describe reactions and pathways controlling such parameters are scarce. The present study is based on experimental approaches for the (trans)formation of amorphous and crystalline carbonates at low and elevated temperatures. The experimental work aims to obtain a deep understanding of reaction mechanisms and pathways of (i) high Temperature-resolution hydrothermal alteration of aragonite and Mg calcite, (ii) formation of dolomite, and (iii) low temperature (Mg-)ACC (trans)formation in the presence of organic ligands. To reach these goals we will use elemental (e.g., Mg, Sr, Ba) and isotopic signatures as well as mineralogical and (micro)structural characterisations by strong (inter)national cooperation.

• DFG Programme: Research Units
• Subproject of: FOR 1644: CHARON: Marine Carbonate Archives: Controls on Carbonate Precipitation and Pathways of Diagenetic Alteration
• International Connection: Austria
• Major Instrumentation: RAMAN PROBE - High P/T
• Partner Organisation: Fonds zur Förderung der wissenschaftlichen Forschung (FWF)