Chemical Weathering and the onset of biomineralization on the planet during the late Ediacaran
My research project aims to investigate potential global changes in weathering regimes on the continents between 560 and 545 Ma, and their impact on seawater chemistry, particularly regarding the shift from dolomite-aragonite to aragonite seas. I seek to understand whether alterations in continental weathering and the transition to aragonite seas preceded modifications in seawater biochemical records and the appearance of biomineralizing organisms during the late Ediacaran period (ca. 550 Ma).
To achieve these objectives, I will adopt a multiproxy approach, analysing Lithium, Magnesium, and Calcium isotopes in different geological sections worldwide, with a specific focus on studying carbonate rocks deposited between 560 and 545 Ma.