In this excercise, participants will be introduced to the priciples of identification of minerals and rocks. In a hands-on training, the students will learn not only to identify rocks, but also to recognize and read the general processes and environments that were associated with the formation of the rock. While this course focuses on the practical excercises, the theoretical background is provided as part of the associated lecture series “Earth Dynamics”

In marine environments, element cycles of carbon, nitrogen, sulphur, iron or manganese are affected by microbially mediated reactions and associated precipitation of mineral phases. This course offers an introduction to this link of bio- and geochemistry. Moreover, an emphasis will be given to theory and methods determining diffusive and advective matter transport. Likewise, the affect of microbial processes on the variability of light stable isotopes in biogeochemical cycles is illustrated.

The course serves to impart basic geological skills in the field ("Skills in the field"). In a four-day field event, the students are introduced to the geological methods and working methods in the field. Basics of regional geology, stratigraphy and tectonics are worked out using selected outcrops. The focus, however, is on the participants` independent work under supervision. Own sketches of outcrops should be created and the tectonic measurement of a fold structure should be carried out with the geological compass. In a geological profile recording, the rock is used in the terrain. After instructions for geological mapping and inspection of a standard profile, the participants carry out a first small geological mapping in small groups on a scale of 1: 10,000. The areas, which are up to two kilometers long and a few hundred meters wide, are located in easily mapped sequences of the Paleo and Mesozoic Era of the Harz uprighting zone. The field exercise is carried out in the Harz, in the straightening zone on the north-eastern edge of the Harz and the subhercyneal basin to the north.

A general understanding of the geoscientific fundamentals imparted in the module is expected (basic geological processes, formation and composition of the most important rock groups, understanding and interpretation of geological maps).

The 16-20 participants of each project course jointly investigate a scientifically attractive marine sediment core applying a wide method range (e.g. core description, core logging, echosounding, proxy methods, micropaleontology, geochemistry, sedimentology, mineralogy, environmental magnetism, chronostratigraphy). Organized in teams of 4 students, they work half-days in research labs of supporting expert scientists. Each student takes responsibility for a certain method, analyses the jointly collected data, and presents the results orally in a final exam colloquium. Subgroups of 5-6 students interpret their complementary results in a scientific poster. Presentation skills are trained during the class.

A lab-based course (or alternatively a one-week block course) is offered to study paleoceanography in the past using suitable archives of ship expeditions or field campaigns. There should be an intense investigation of such archives with respect to core/outcrop description, analysis and interpretation. The archives will be chosen to be complementary to the case studies adressed in Modul Paleoceanography I.

Marine sediments consists of material that is produced in the ocean and particulate matter of terrigenous origin. Beside information from microfossil tests (species abundances, carbon and oxygen isotopes in carbonates, etc.) and depending on the regional environmental conditions, the terrigenous fraction of marine sediments contains extremely useful information about regional and/or temporal variations in climate conditions. Inorganic as well as organic particulate matter can be used especially to reconstruct and understand the complex interrelations between solar radiation, hydrological cycle and large scale correlations (e.g. teleconnections).
This course gives an introduction to the very interesting field of the use and development of terrigenous proxies in marine sediments. Beside fundamental information on the major inorganic and organic parameters (e.g. mineral assemblages, element compositions, organic components), selected case studies will presented and discussed by all participants.

Based on theoretical foundations in the module “Biogeochemical Processes: Concepts”, we focus on practical applications in the field followed by intense laboratory work. We will provide a short field exercise and showcase sampling of marine sediments for pore water constituents and solid phase analysis of minerals and lipid biomarkers. Groups of students will work on interdisciplinary projects, designed according to recent research questions/techniques in the fields of marine (in)organic biogeochemistry. Specific topics from the concept module will be discussed in small groups, for example, principles of geochemical fluid fluxes, lipid biomarker analysis or handling of complex data sets.

In dieser Vorlesung werden die für das Studium der Geowissenschaften wichtigen Grundlagen in der Aquatischen Chemie, Organischen Chemie und der Chemie der Gesteine vermittelt.
Die Studierenden des Moduls erlangen ein robustes Grundlagenwissen in der geowissenschaftlich relevanten Chemie, das sowohl zur weiteren Vertiefung in der Geochemie als auch für das Verständnis vieler allgemeiner geowissenschaftlicher Untersuchungsmethoden erforderlich ist.

This practical offers to apply the gained knowledge of the marine environmental archives I courses to an own scientific project. The students are guided through the following steps:

• introduction to the project topic
• discussion of scientific background readings
• formulating scientific questions or hypotheses
• developing strategies to address the given questions
• data retrieval and interpretation
• discussion of results
• preparing a report

The course provides an introduction to the chemical reactions and processes in aquatic geosystems and introduces the most important material cycles (e.g. of C, N, S, Fe, Mn). The range of topics includes: global element cycles, residence times of elements in the ocean, geochemical reactions such as redox reactions, solution / precipitation reactions, adsorption / desorption, thermodynamics, kinetics, diagenesis, diffusive material flows.
The course consists of lectures and exercises, in which the theoretical basics are first conveyed and this content is then to be applied or understood in subsequent practical exercises on the computer.

We will convey basic knowledge regarding the origin of the solar system and elements as well as the chemical composition of the Earth. These basics are essential for all geochemisty related subjects in subsequent semesters.
Key geochemical concepts such as fluxes, reservoirs, and residence times will be introduced and illustrated with examples. Isotopes are introduced and their utility as geochemical tracers as well as sources of information about geobiological processes will demonstrated with examples. The hydrological cycle will be introduced. Emphasis will be placed on the physical and chemical properties of water, physicochemical reactions in solution, and on water-rock reactions. In organic chemistry, we will introduce chemical compound classes, natural products, and introductory knowledge in stereochemistry. The knowledge will be required for an understanding of the composition of organic matter in sedimentary rocks. Chemical degradation reactions that occur in nature on a range of temporal scales will be treated. Additionally, relevant basic knowledge in analytical techniques such as chromatographic separation and mass spectrometry will be discussed.

09.-17.09.2025
Contents will follow

Recent interest in gas hydrates emerges from the awareness that hydrate deposits may play significant roles in global and regional processes with societal and economic significance. A global hydrate assessment, although still uncertain, suggests that methane hydrates might represent an important future energy. In addition, other important hydrate questions that have attracted attention include:

1. Is there a feedback between methane hydrate stability and climate?
2. What is the role of methane hydrate in the carbon cycle? and
3. How much does gas hydrate contribute to seafloor stability on continental slopes? What is the future role of methane hydrate as major resource?