This project aims to study marine sedimentary successions from the United Arab Emirates with the focus in stratigraphy, paleoclimates, paleoenvironments, and paleoceanography. As a result of its unique palaeogeographic location and geology, the UAE has a wealth of Mesozoic sedimentary successions from both outcrops and well cores that inhabit an immense potential for high-impact studies on faunal and climatic turnovers in the Earth’s past. Yet, to date only few intervals have been studied in detail from this part of the world.
The focus of this project will therefore primarily lie in, yet not limited to, the Jurassic and Cretaceous systems and the associated lithostratigraphic formations: a time in Earth history characterized by peak sea levels, high concentrations of greenhouse gases, and major climatic disturbances. Sedimentological descriptions and chemostratigraphic correlations of carbonate successions from well and outcrop material allow precise interpretations on the paleoclimatic and paleoenvironmental conditions at the respective time interval. A secondary aim is the correlation of obtained regional data to other regions that offer outstanding sedimentary records.
Standard methods such as petrographical microscopy, paleontological and sedimentological descriptions are complemented in this project by up-to-date chemostratigraphic approaches. The latter includes analysis of stable isotope ratios and elemental concentrations on both sedimentary rocks and organic matter. Further geochemical analyses such as gas chromatography may be considered based on availability. The collection of samples is realized through short field visits to national and international locations, as well as core storages in Abu Dhabi.
