Deciphering the geological record of fluvial-marine transitional environments using a comprehensive macro- to micro-scale investigation: from 3D outcrop models to microfacies

• Applicant: Dr. Marcello Gugliotta
• Subject Area: Geology
• Term: since 2023
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 524714083

Fluvial-marine transitional systems (i.e., deltas and estuaries) and their resulting sedimentary rocks are particularly complex and difficult to decipher for geoscientists. Most studies on these transitional systems from the geological record focus on observations using sedimentological logs and facies analysis in the field or in cores. The larger-scale features are also investigated through panoramic or drone imagery and by correlating the logs, but this aspect can surely receive more attention. Also, smaller-scale features and the geochemical imprints of the different fluvial and marine environments are still poorly investigated. The present project wants to fill this gap providing a comprehensive investigation of the fluvial-marine rocks of the Lower Cretaceous Agrio Formation in the Neuquén Basin of Argentina. The present project aims at deciphering this fluvial-marine system using a macro- to micro-scale investigation. This overall goal is broken down in three objectives that will be addressed by the team in Bremen with the support of cooperation partners from the University of La Plata in Argentina. The project will last for 2 years, from June 2023 to May 2025. The reconstructions at the macro-scale will be implemented building 3D outcrop models based on data acquisitions from Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) and Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR), which are more colloquially known as drones and laser scanners, respectively. As for the micro-scale, a series of petrographic and geochemical analyses will be conducted. These new data will be later combined with existing field sedimentological data from an ongoing CONICET-funded project, to obtain integrated results and provide a summary of sedimentological features at different scales in fluvial-marine transitional environments.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants
• International Connection: Argentina
• Cooperation Partners: Lucas Mon; Professor Dr. Ernesto Schwarz