Its main objective is to use sedimentary rocks (carbonates, clays, shales) to reconstruct past seawater chemistry and the Earth’s biogeochemical cycles, particularly during periods of rapid climate change. For this purpose, we analyse not only sediments but also modern analogues such as rivers and soils. The group also investigates the artificial acceleration of natural biogeochemical cycles to remove CO2 from the atmosphere more quickly.
- The causes and consequences of inception of glaciation at the Eocene–Oligocene boundary (DFG, 2024–2027)
- Redox and weathering evolution during a terminal Ediacaran to early Cambrian basin in Brazil (DAAD, 2025–2026)
- Quantification of secondary mineral formation during enhanced weathering, and its effect on CO2 drawdown efficiency (Cascade Climate, 2025–2026)
- Earth System Critical Thresholds – Earth CriSys (Gutenberg Research College, 2024–2028)
- Elemental Migration and Paleo-Climate Reconstruction in Paleo-Weathering Crusts (CSC, 2025–2026)
- The behaviour of adsorption–desorption reactions of suspended particulate matter and its effects on hydrochemistry (CSC, 2026)
- Examination of Germany’s largest enhanced weathering experiment (Carbon Drawdown Initiative, 2025–2026)
- Enhanced Weathering in Greenhouse Mesocosms: Dynamics and Processes under Controlled Conditions (Collaboration with CarbDown, Hamburg University, Erlangen University)
- Junior Professorship for High-Resolution Sedimentology, Institute of Geosciences, JGU Mainz – Investigation of past climate at sub-annual to annual resolution using congruent imaging procedures (PIs: Igor Obreht, Denis Scholz, Philip Pogge von Strandmann)
Equipment
The Triple-Quad ICP-MS (inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry) is used to determine element concentrations in dissolved and leached rocks and waters down to the ppt (parts per trillion) range.
Contact persons: Prof. Dr P. Pogge von Strandmann, Carolin Berg, Regina Walter
Ion chromatography is used to determine anion concentrations in water.
Our metal-free clean laboratory is used for the preparation and purification of samples for metal isotope analysis.
Contact persons: Prof. Dr P. Pogge von Strandmann, Dr V. Schlidt
The Neptune MC-ICP-MS (multi-collector inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer) is used to analyse metal isotopes (e.g. Li, Mg, Ca). This instrument is shared with the Isotope Geology Palaeoclimatology/ Speleothem Research Group.
Interested in BSc/MSc theses in Paleontology? Please contact us. You can find a list of possible topics on the notice board. Your own suggestions are welcome.
