Exogene Dynamics / Sedimentology

We study sedimentary systems and basins, both in surface and subsurface, with two major focuses:

1. Carbonates and Earth History.

Carbonate sedimentary systems closely track changes in Earth History. We are interested to study how climatic changes impact the marine biosphere, specifically carbonate-secreting organisms living on continental margins.Projects follow two main strategies: 1) calibration of modern assemblages to the boundary conditions provided by the oceanographic setting (e.g., Mexico, Japan, Antarctica); 2) relating past episodes of extreme climate changes to concurrent changes in the biosphere (e.g., Paleocene/Eocene, Miocene, Cretaceous).

2. Applications of sedimentary geology for the petroleum and energy industry.

We work on outcrop analogues for the subsurface and closely integrate field and seismic studies to understand lateral and vertical variability in the properties of sedimentary rocks. This involves understanding and predicting facies distribution as well as postdepositional, diagenetic modifications. Field projects are concentrated in areas with outstanding, seismic-scale field exposures (e.g., Dolomites, Morocco, Sardinia, Maiella, Oman). Quantitative and digital sedimentology are used to image sedimentary bodies and their physical properties in 3D as the basis to predict the evolution of fluid flow pathways in sedimentary basins.