Key research themes
1. How do microorganisms and biological processes influence carbonate mineral nucleation, diagenesis, and environmental applications?
This research area investigates the role of microbial activity and biological mineralization mechanisms in the formation, modification, and applications of carbonate minerals. Understanding the distinction between biologically induced mineralization (BIM) and biologically controlled mineralization (BCM) allows insights into the complex interplay between microbial metabolisms and carbonate precipitation at nano-to-micrometer scales. The theme is significant because biomineralization affects mineral structure, environmental carbonate cycling, paleoenvironmental interpretations, and biotechnological applications such as bioremediation and biocementation.
2. What are the constraints and applications of clumped isotope analyses (Δ47 and Δ48) for determining carbonate formation temperatures and kinetic effects?
Clumped isotope geochemistry offers a powerful paleothermometer independent of fluid isotopic composition by measuring the abundance of multiply-substituted isotopologues in carbonate CO2. However, kinetic isotope effects (KIEs), acid digestion artifacts, and measurement precision limit interpretation. Dual measurements of Δ47 and Δ48 isotopologues and controlled acid digestion conditions improve accuracy and enable discrimination of equilibrium vs. kinetic signatures. This theme is essential for refining carbonate-based paleothermometry, tracing diagenetic overprints, and constraining carbonate precipitation mechanisms.
3. How does carbonate mineralization occur in geological and environmental systems, and what controls their stability, dissolution, and diagenetic transformations?
This theme addresses the physico-chemical processes governing carbonate mineral formation, stability under varying P-T-chemical conditions, and their interactions with magmatic systems or aqueous environments. It includes mechanisms of mineral dissolution, recrystallization, diagenesis, and carbonate contributions to carbon cycling. Understanding these processes informs interpretations of geological records, natural CO2 sequestration potential, and ecosystem-level impacts of ocean acidification.