Forschung

Research performed in the department covers a wide range of topics. Generally speaking, we investigate carbonates (unconsolidated) and carbonate rocks (limestones, dolostones and various diagenetic cement phases) and cephalopods from the viewpoint of:

(i) proxy research with a focus on processes and products (primary and diagenetic fabrics, isotope geochemistry including delta44/40Ca, delta 26Mg, delta 18O, delta13C and 87Sr/86Sr ratios and elemental concentrations);
(ii) cave archive research with a focus on speleothems (stalagmites, cryogenic cave calcites and helictites),
(iii) the palaeoecology of Devonian reefs and the phylogeny of belemnites and other cephalopods, and
(iv) applied research, particularly carbonate rocks as target lithologies for carbon storage, CO2 mineralisation and deep geothermal reservoir geology. Our applied research is performed in collaboration with students and colleagues at the Fraunhofer Research Institution for Energy Infrastructures and Geothermal Energy IEG (https://www.ieg.fraunhofer.de/en.html).

Currently, we are active in Recent carbonate depositional environments, particularly in the lagoon and sabkha of Abu Dhabi, but several research projects in Palaeozoic and Mesozoic carbonates are ongoing too.

We aim to combine detailed fieldwork with analytical and experimental work in the laboratory and the field. Experimental work includes field monitoring (caves, sabkha), but also laboratory experimental diagenesis (for example, concerning CO2 storage, scaling effects in geothermal reservoirs), carbonate diagenesis (saddle dolomite formation), and the formation of non-traditional speleothems (cryogenic calcites and helictites).

Don't hesitate to contact Adrian Immenhauser (adrian.immenhauser@rub.de) or any of the staff members listed for more details.