Pagecontent:
Dipl. Geol. Simone Ziegenbalg (geb. Pannike)
Name: | Frau Dipl. Geol. Simone Ziegenbalg (geb. Pannike) | |
|---|---|---|
Department: | Geobiology | |
Job: | Ph.D. student in the European graduate college "Proxies in earth history" (EUROPROX) | |
Room: | ||
Phone: | +49 421 218 - 65743 | |
Fax: | +49 421 218 - 65715 | |
E-Mail: |
|
Applied methods
- optical and fluorescence microscopy
- electron microscopy
- carbon and oxygen isotope measurements
- sulphur and oxygen isotope measurements
- lipid biomarker analysis and compound specific carbon isotope measurements
Topic of my PhD thesis
Carbonate and sulphur authigenesis in sulphate-rich Messinian strata, Sicily
Microbially formed authigenic carbonates accompanied by native sulphur are present in the ‘Calcare solfifero’ below a thick succession of gypsum deposited during the Messinian salinity crisis in Sicily. We sampled these carbonates and associated sulphur in five former sulphur mines in 2005 and 2008 to subject them to a detailed petrographic and geochemical study in order to explore their different modes of formation. Native sulphur formed in conjunction with microbial sulphate reduction, which is reflected in its depletion in S-34 (δS-34 values as low as 2‰ vs. V-CDT) and an enrichment of 34S (δS-34 values as high as +61‰) in the residual sulphate.
The oxidation of organic matter by sulphate reduction increased alkalinity, inducing precipitation of secondary carbonate minerals. Some of the secondary carbonates are characterized by pseudomorphs after lenticular gypsum and high δO-18 values (as high as +9‰ vs. V-PDB), confirming a syngenetic formation under evaporitic conditions. Low δC-13 values (as low as −52‰ vs. V-PDB) reveal that the carbonate formed as a consequence of the oxidation of biogenic methane.
Another set of authigenic carbonates that replaced sulphate minerals is typified by low δO-18 values (as low as −4‰). These carbonates formed epigenetically during later diagenesis following compaction. Dissolution of gypsum or anhydrite by meteoric waters delivered sulphate for microbial sulphate reduction. Carbon isotope values of these carbonates of 29 to 5‰ indicate that carbonate was derived from the oxidation of crude oil and possibly minor methane, partly involving different degrees of admixture of dissolved carbonate from other sources. Although the studied rocks with their vast amounts of secondary carbonate minerals and sulphur seem to indicate a similar genesis at first glance – having formed by biogeochemical transformations of sulphate and hydrocarbons – this project reveals that these processes can occur at different times in variable geological environments.
Carbonate with big amounts of native sulphur. Sample from the former carbonate quarry Monte de Drasi, Sicily.
Curriculum vitae
| since 2005 | Ph.D. in the European Graduate College "Proxies in earth history" (EUROPROX) at the University of Bremen, topic: "Sulphur and carbonate microbialites in sulphate-rich Messinan strata, Sicily |
| 2003-2005 | Study of geosciences at the University of Bremen, degree: Diplom-Geowissenschaften, Diploma-thesis: Influence of hydrogeological parameters on temperature variations due to borehole heat exchangers |
| 2000-2004 | Study of geosciences at the University of Bremen, degree: Bachelor of geosciences, Bachelor thesis about TBT in harbour sludge |
Publications
- Ziegenbalg, S.B., Brunner, B., Rouchy, J.M., Birgel, D., Pierre, C., Böttcher, M.E., Caruso, A., Immenhauser, A., Peckmann, J. (2010): Formation of secondary carbonates and native sulphur in sulphate-rich Messinian strata, Sicily. - Sedimentary Geology 227: 37-50.
- Pannike, S., Kölling, M., Panteleit, B., Reichling, J., Scheps, V., Schulz, H. D. (2006): Auswirkung hydrogeologischer Kenngrößen auf die Kältefahnen von Erdwärmesondenanlagen in Lockersedimenten. -Grundwasser 11(1): 6-18.
Conference abstracts
- Ziegenbalg, S.B., Birgel, D., Pierre, C., Rouchy, J.M., Peckmann, J. (2010): Anaerobic oxidation of methane in evaporitic settings: An example from the Messinian in Sicily. - In: Geophysical Research Abstracts, V. 12, EGU General Assembly 2010. (talk)
- Ziegenbalg, S., Birgel, D., Immenhauser, A., Pierre, C., Rouchy, J.M., Peckmann, J. (2009): Biogenic sulphur and carbonate deposits in Messinian evaporites, Sicily. - In: Pascucci, V., Andreucci, S. (Eds.) (2009): 27th IAS Meeting - Sedimentary of Mediterranean Islands, 20 - 23 September 2009 Alghero - Italy, Abstracts Book, Editrice Democratia Sarda, 752. (talk)
- Ziegenbalg, S., Birgel, D., Immenhauser, A., Pierre, C., Rouchy, J.M. & Peckmann, J. (2008): Sulphur and carbonate microbialites in sulphate-rich Messinian strata, Sicily. - In: Reitner, J., Quéric, N.-V., Reich, M. (Eds.) (2008): Geogiology of stromatolites, International Kalkowsky-Symposium, Göttingen, October 4-11, 2008, Abstract Volume and Field Guide to Excursions, Universitätsdrucke Göttingen: 206. (talk)
- Pannike, S., Birgel, D., Immenhauser, A., Pierre, C., Rouchy, J.M. & Peckmann, J. (2007):Sulphur and carbonate authigenesis in sulphate-rich Messinian strata, Sicily. - in Wefer, G. (Ed.) (2007): The Oceans in the Earth System, International Conference 2007 and 97th Annual Meeting of the Geologische Vereinigung e.V., Terra Nostra, V. 2007/1-2, 268. (poster)
- Pannike, S., Birgel, D., Immenhauser, A., Pierre, C., Rouchy, J.M. & Peckmann, J. (2006): Sulphur and carbonate microbialites in the "Calcare solfifero" from Sicily. - In: R.C.M.N.S. Interim Colloquium "The Messinian salinity crisis revisited-II" Parma (Italy); 7th - 9th September 2006, Abstract book, Acta Naturalia de "L'Ateneo Parmense", v. 42, n. 2. (talk)
- Pannike, S., Birgel, D., Immenhauser, A., Pierre, C., Rouchy, J.M. & Peckmann, J. (2006): Sulphur and carbonate microbialites in sulphate-rich Messinian strata, Sicily. - In: H. v. Eynatten, I. Dunkel, C. Fischer, V. Karius, H. Ruppert (Hrsg.) (2006): sediment 2006, Abstract and Field Trips. Schriftenreihe der Deutschen Gesellschaft für Geowissenschaften, Heft 45: 127. (talk)