Scientific topics

(D. Daval, B. Wild, G. Montes-Hernandez, A. Fernandez-Martinez, C. Gautheron, and R. Hellmann)

The formation and dissolution of minerals and glass can be considered one of the most fundamental global earth processes. These reactions play a key role in the terrestrial carbon cycle, the chemical composition of natural waters such as lakes, rivers and oceans, and the cycling of major, minor and trace elements between crust and mantle.

(G. Sarret, S. Guédron, A. Gourlan, L. Charlet, A. Fernandez-Martinez, B. Wild)

The biogeochemistry of metals and metalloids encompasses a wide range of topics, from the fate of metal contaminants in the environment to medical geology and paleoenvironmental reconstructions. This vast field of research aims to trace contaminants in environmental compartments, as well as using them as tracers of past contamination and climatic events.

(ISTerre geochemistry: L. Charlet, A. Gourlan; Volcanology: V. Pinel)

The Medical Geochemistry group is made up of researchers from a variety of backgrounds (geochemistry, mineralogy, volcanology, etc.) at ISTerre, other French institutions (IGE-Grenoble, IAB-Grenoble, ILM-Lyon, ENS-Lyon, Vetagro-sup, Laboratoire écologie fonctionnelle et environnement) and abroad (Berkeley University, USA; Swansea University, UK).

(Geochemistry: C. Gautheron, S. Guédron, B. Wild, D. Daval, A. Fernandez-Martinez ; G. Sarret ; TRB: P. Valla, S. Zerathe, Mineralogy: S. Schwartz and E. Janots)

The group focuses its research efforts on understanding the bio-geochemical processes and paleoclimatic cycles that led to the formation of lateritic covers (laterites and ferralitic soils).

(S. Guédron, A. Gourlan, C. Gautheron)

The geochemistry team tackles the reconstruction of paleoclimates, paleohydrology, paleoecology and human footprints (e.g. geoarchaeology and mining paleo-pollution) from environmental archives (lake, peat and marine sediments, lateritic profiles) on different time scales (from century to hundred of million years).