Dating of Evaporites (D02)

• Subject Area: Mineralogy, Petrology and Geochemistry
• Term: since 2016
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 268236062

The primary objective of project D02 is to develop and apply novel methodology for the direct dating of samples recording climate evolution and surface processes using the 238U-230Th and U-Pb systems. The 238U 230Th system may provide robust chronometric information for samples <500 ka in age, while the U-Pb system commonly covers ages >500 ka. Based on successful development of the methods in the first project phase we propose to improve this toolbox and apply it to the full range of evaporites, pedogenic crusts, and travertines from the Atacama and the Namib deserts. More sophisticated method development will include protocols for travertines, halites, silcretes and calcretes. The methodology of D02 covers the entire time-scale of interest in the CRC and will provide dating service for all CRC projects through partial financing of positions in project Z04. We will collaborate with projects C04 and D03 to unravel the hitherto unknown conditions of pedogenic Ca sufates formation and to develop a protocol for the O-isotope measurements in fluid inclusions in travertine and calcrete.

• DFG Programme: Collaborative Research Centres
• Subproject of: SFB 1211: Earth - Evolution at the Dry Limit
• Applicant Institution: Universität zu Köln
• Co-Applicant Institution: Goethe-Universität Frankfurt am Main
• Project Heads: Professor Dr. Tibor J. Dunai, since 7/2020; Dr. Axel Gerdes, since 7/2020; Professor Dr. Daniel Herwartz, until 6/2020; Professor Dr. Carsten Münker; Professor Dr. Michael Staubwasser, since 7/2020