Current Projects of Section 4.2

 

Isotopic fractionation of B and Li isotopes during progressive metamorphism (experimental and field)
The temperature and phase dependent fractionation of B and Li isotopes is determined experimentally and used to quantify the loss of B and Li during subduction of crustal rocks.

CHEMKIN
Development and Application of a Gas Membrane Sensor for In-Situ Down Hole Observation of Gases During Geological Storage of Carbon Dioxide

COSONOSTRA
Determination of the influence of CO₂-SO₂-NO_x-O₂ -mixtures on formation fluids, reservoir- and cap rocks during CO2-sequestration: Experimental determination of the chemical reactions and their petrophysical consequences.

Cosmic-ray-produced nuclide systematics on Earth – The European contribution
An EU-funded Marie Curie Research and Training Network aiming at advancing terrestrial cosmogenic nuclide (TCN) techniques in Europe into a robust tool for Earth surface and environmental sciences.

DAFGAS
Quantification of gases released during seismic events: long-term, on-site borehole monitoring in deep active faults, South Africa.

Geochronology of hydrothermal ore deposits in the Saxo-Thuringian Zone
The formation of hydrothermal mineral deposits bound to brittle structures in the craton interior corresponds with tectonic processes at the craton margins.

Geochronology of igneous rock and associated Sn-W-Mo deposits in the Erzgebirge (Saxony)
The potential of U-Pb dating of huebnerite and cassiterite is investigated as tool for direct dating of W and Sn ore deposits. The results are compared with Re-Os ages for molybdenite from the same paragenesis.

High-pressure metamorphism and exhumation rates, Eclogite Zone, Tauern Window, Austria
High-pressure rocks and their framework: Geochronology of exhumation in the context of continent-continent collision, Tauern Window, Eastern Alps

High-pressure metamorphism in the Cycladic Blueschist Belt, Greece
A systematic study of the geodynamic evolution of the Cycladic Blueschist Belt. We aim at deciphering the history of metamorphism and deformation to understand the mode of exhumation of high-pressure rocks in a forearc setting.

ICDP SAFOD Gas and Fluid Geochemistry
Investigations on the origin and spatial distribution of gas during the SAFOD wellbore drilling reveal a better understanding of the fault zone permeability and possible links between apparent fluids and seismic processes.

INFLUENCE OF SO2 AND NOx IMPURITIES ON CO2 HYDRATE CHARCTERISTICS
SO₂ and NOx are constituents in a large number of industrial emissions and, despite much effort to remove them, still in traces contained in the flue gas. The impact of impure CO₂ on hydrate formation, stability and rate of substitution for methane in the hydrate is the focus of this work.

Quantifying Surface Processes
Quantifying surface processes is a key to understanding southern African epeirogenies: The influence of plateau uplift on climate change and ecodynamics (Inkaba ye Africa subproject 1.3).

Inkaba yeAfrica
Inkaba yeAfrica is a German-South African collaborative Earth Science initiative that is both
multidisciplinary and intercultural, dovetailing next-generation science and technology with a
strong training and capacity-building component.  Section 4.2 is involved in the inkaba programme since 2004 and our two main themes are: Magmatism and mantle processes related to opening the South Atlantic ocean 130 million years ago,  and uplift and erosional history of the margin since continental breakup.

Magmatism, rifting and continental breakup
The aim of this research is to use geochemical-petrologic tools to read and interpret the magmatic “signal” of deep-earth processes related to Gondwana breakup and the development of the south African mantle "superswell".

The Methane Airborne Mapper for remote-sensing of atmoshperic CH4 and CO2 column mixing ratio
MAMap performs airborne CO₂ and CH₄ remote sensing measurements of the atmosphere at local and regional scale at high precision (<3% of atmospheric background) and spacial resolution (ground pixel size ~20x20 m).

Mantle dynamics and the noble gas isotopic composition of oceanic island basalts (OIBs)
This project is concerned with the the noble gas isotope composition of fresh, submarine basaltic glasses from the Easter and Foundation plumes in order to resolve: (1) the spatial distribution of plume material, (2) the magmatic and mantle dynamic processes in the plumes and (3) the compositions and developments of mantle sources.

Material cycles within the Variscan Orogen
Sr-Nd-Pb isotopes in combination with geochemical data demonstrate the recycling of Palaeozoic sediments in magmatic and metamorphic rocks of the Variscan Orogen.

Monitoring volcanic gases (Italy)

A new experimental approach for continuous gas monitoring on volcanic fumaroles and mofettes.

Noble gas isotope study of Hawaii
Structural and temporal evolution of the Hawaiian plume: Constraints from noble gases in surface samples and the HSDP drill core.

Geochemistry of Palaeozoic sediments of the Saxo-Thuringian Zone
The chemical and isotopic variation of fine-grained sediments through time reflects changes in sediment sources.

Protoliths for the ultrahigh-temperature Saxon granulites
Isotopic and geochemical features of the Saxon granulites and their enveloping high-temperature rocks are compared with the corresponding signatures of potential protoliths in the Saxo-Thuringian Zone.

Development and test of a reactor for the thermal stimulation of hydrate bearing sediments for gas production
In the framework of this project a combustion reactor for the thermal stimulation and local decomposition of hydrate bearing sediments will be developed and tested on lab scale, using in-situ (partial) oxidation of methane.

Trace Gas Exchange in the Earth – Atmosphere System on Multiple Scales (TEAM)
A comprehensive multiscale measurement design is being realized using both state-of-the-art and novel, innovative methods to quantify the land-atmosphere exchange of CO2 and CH4 on different spatial scales. Gas fluxes and concentrations is measured using closed chambers, gas concentration tomograph, eddy covariance, and airborne measurements.

Tourmaline as a monitor of igneous and hydrothermal systems
This project sets out to develop and apply B- and Li- isotope study of coexisting micas and tourmaline from hydrothermal and magmatic systems.

Geochemical monitoring of Seismicity in Western Anatolia
Gas-geochemical monitoring of the seismic activities and noble gas characterization of geothermal fields in Western Anatolia, Turkey