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

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

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.

New Zealand gas geochemistry
Geochemistry of gases in spring waters along the Alpine Fault, South Island of New Zealand

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.

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.

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).

Material cycles within the Variscan Orogen
The Variscan orogen is particularly well suited to study element mobility and isotopic fractionation during orogenic processes. The subduction of thinned continental crust and its sedimentary cover with subsequent exhumation and emplacement as nappes provides an opportunity to study the behaviour of particular element- and isotopic signatures during crustal reworking. metamorphism and partial melting, since the unmetamorphosed protoliths are locally preserved and allow a direct comparison with variably metamorphosed products. Furthermore, the Variscan Erzgebirge hosts a variety of important metallic ore deposits whose formation is a direct product of the material cycles in this orogen.

Mobility of metals and organic compounds in black shales during unconventional gas production
The aim of this project is to evaluate the composition of flow-back and production water in terms of environmental issues related to black (gas) shales as an unconventional hydrocarbon source.
This a joint project of Section 4.2 and Section 4.3, run in part under the auspices of the BMBF GeoEn Project, and in cooperation with Schlumberger.

Monitoring volcanic gases (Italy)

A new experimental approach for continuous gas monitoring on volcanic fumaroles and mofettes is in continuous operation since 2009.

SPP - SAMPLE
SAMPLE (South Atlantic Margin Processes and Links with onshore Evolution) is the Priority Programme 1375, funded by the German Research Foundation (DFG).  Primary research areas are:  mantle dynamics and magmatic processes, lithospheric structure, deformation processes and rifted margin formation, post-rift topographic evolution and links to climate and tectonics, as well as sedimentary processes and fluid systems.
Section 4.2 is engaged in this programme with 3 projects.

for more information see www.sample-spp.de

SUGAR

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