Neoproterozoic carbonate – clastic sequences of Death Valley, USA

The sedimentary record of the Pahrump Group in Death Valley comprises massive, well-exposed successions of carbonate and clastic deposits. The Tonian to Cryogenian strata represent world-class examples of microbial carbonates deposited in the lead up to, and during Earth’s emergence from, Snowball Earth events, thus chronicling one of the most debated and arguably important events in Earth History. 
Multiple cycles of small and large-scale carbonate – clastic sequences within the Neoproterozoic Horse Thief Springs Formation are composed of stromatolitic dolostone beds sandwiched between cross-bedded strata featuring ripple marks, trough-cross beds, and chertified ooid horizons.

UNESCO/IUGS IGCP 710– Non-marine – marine correlation and sea-level changes in the Mid-Jurassic Tethys (Pangea breakup): Tectonic versus climate events

This project is part of the International Geoscience Programme (IGCP) of UNESCO and IUGS (International Union of Geosciences), framework project IGCP710 " Western Tethys meets Eastern Tethys – geodynamical, palaeoceanographical and palaeobiogeographical events". The focuse of the Austrian sub-project is on stratigraphic and tectonic correlations of Jurassic and Cretaceous events, especially for the Mid-Jurassic, from northern Africa ro Pakistan and China, funded by the International Research Programs of the Austrian Academy of Sciences.

UNESCO/IUGS-IGCP 732 - LANGUAGE of the Anthropocene

The International Geoscience Programme (IGCP) Council chose “LANGUAGE”, a knowledge network of geological signals for the Anthropocene, as one of 18 new global UNESCO Earth sciences project. Plastic waste, radioactive fallout, concrete or a new global species extinction event in geological sediments: The Anthropocene, the geological epoch of global human impact on Earth, is associated with many different markers. The project seeks to unite different forms of knowledge about the Anthropocene, as well as approaches how to manage this novel planetary crisis in a sustainable way. Perspectives of developing countries and the voices of female scientists and indigenous communities are an integral part of this interdisciplinary global project. The project is funded by UNESCO and the International Research Programs of the Austrian Academy of Sciences.

Anisian Carbonate Reservoir Property Project [ACRP Project] (cooperation with OMV)

This project, funded by OMV E & P, investigates Middle Triassic carbonates in the eastern part of the Northern Calcareous Alps. The project aims at unravelling stratigraphy and structures of the Anisian platforms and basins, such as the Steinalm, Annaberg and Reifling formations, Mag. Michael Moser is included into this PhD project on the Mid-Triassic carbonate platforms.

Neoproterozoic carbonate – clastic sequences of Namibia

Neoproterozoic sedimentary successions, such as those from Death Valley, share unusual stratigraphic features such as the occurrence of distinctive glacial deposits related to high-frequency intercalations between carbonate and clastic sequences.
The Otavi Group from the Otavi Fold Belt in Namibia features large-scale well-exposed deposits that record the two largest episodes of glaciation in the Neoproterozoic. Specifically, the pre-glacial successions that led up to the largest glacial episodes in Earth history are still poorly understood.

Phosphatic stromatolites within black shales from the Devonian – Carboniferous transition, Rheinisches Schiefergebirge, Germany 

Phosphatic stromatolites are unusual microbial fossils in the rock record.
These fossil microbiota are known from the Proterozoic to the Phanerozoic, and occur in multitudes of morphologies such as oncoid, cone-like stromatolites, domal stromatolites, and microstromatolites. A yet unknown occurrence of these unique fossils is currently under investigation from black shales deposited during the Devonian – Carboniferous transition in Central Germany.

Putative fossilized sulfur oxidizing bacteria from Devonian cold seeps, Morocco

The colorless sulfide-oxidizing bacteria are important agents in the marine sulfur cycle, and may have been so since the Precambrian.
The genera Thiomargerita, Thioploca, and Beggiatoa are all members of the colorless sulfur-oxidizing bacteria, and are among the largest unicellular organisms known on Earth. Today, these bacteria inhabit shallow seafloor sediments where their metabolism couples the carbon, sulfur and nitrogen cycles.

Qualitative and quantitative evaluation of clay minerals in reservoir sandstones and seal rocks (cooperation with OMV)

Clay minerals have a significant impact on chemical reactions happening during production operations, enhanced oil recovery (EOR) and storage projects in the E&P industry. The exact clay mineralogy of various reservoir and seal rocks where EOR and/or storage projects are planned is currently not known to the necessary detail. This causes a significant uncertainty for geochemical modelling. Depending on the chemistry of the clay minerals, exchange reactions, leading to changes in the mineral phase composition, are possible. A detailed investigation on the type of encountered clay minerals is essential to understand these cross-reactions which can lead to a pore size reduction and decrease of permeability.  Both “fresh” samples and samples, that have been stored in core stores for longer periods of time are used for this study.

The Anthropocene Surge - evolution, expansion and depth of Vienna’s urban environment

The project looks at the growth of anthropogenic influence in the urban environments of Vienna and it surroundings by applying classifications of anthropogenic sediments, evaluating geometry and topography, 3D models, geochemical methods to characterize the Anthropocene and historical maps.

From Romans to the Anthropocene, from Carnuntum to Vienna: An Urban Anthropocene Field Lab (WWTF ESR20-027)

Landscapes and urban anthropogenic sediments from Roman times to today are growing and expanding from former Roman cities like Carnuntum to and from today’s large city of Vienna. Markers like trace metals and microplastic may indicate a stratigraphy of anthropogenic sediments in the study area.

BrasCretOst I – Revision and integration of applied taxonomy of non-marine ostracods of the Buracica, Jiquiá and Alagoas local stages

This project is a service contract funded by PETROBRAS (Petróleo Brasileiro S.A.) with Dr. Benjamin Sames as PI and executing researcher. The aim is the revision of Lower Cretaceous ostracods (microcrustaceans) of the Brazilian Pre-Salt deposits for reasons of their improved application.