Sulphur isotope signature across the Early-Middle Cambrian boundary interval and its potential for the reconstruction of seawater and climate evolution, and the intercontinental correlation

• Applicant: Professor Dr. Thomas Wotte
• Subject Area: Palaeontology
• Term: from 2007 to 2011
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 54002656

A continuation of the current very successful investigations of sulphur isotopes of Lower–Middle Cambrian successions, but, especially the extension of the project to the coeval analyses of multiple sulphur isotopes (32S, 33S, 34S, and 36S) of carbonate associated sulphate (CAS), chromium reducible sulphur (CRS), and organically bound sulphur (OBS) offers the creation of a unique data set for this time interval. This would allow developing a qualitative and quantitative understanding of changes in the sulphur cycle and in the oceanic composition, and their effects to palaeoecologic and palaeoclimatic conditions of the Lower–Middle Cambrian. The systematic investigation of sulphur and carbon isotopes from carbonate and mixed carbonate-siliciclastic successions of West Gondwana (Spain, France), East Gondwana (Australia), Siberia, Laurentia, and East Avalonia will further deliver valuable proxies, representing an important potential for chemostratigraphic correlation of the Lower–Middle Cambrian boundary interval.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants
• Host: Professor Dr. Alan Jay Kaufman