Researchers from the Institute for Geological and Geochemical Research of the ELKH Research Centre for Astronomy and Earth Sciences (CSFK FGI) and the Innsbruck Quaternary Research Group of the Institute of Geology at the University of Innsbruck undersigned a Memorandum of Understanding and established a new research group. The “NANOmineralogy of CAVE Deposits” ‒ NANOCAVE Research Group aims to promote successful participation in domestic and international projects, organize joint workshops, conferences and seminars and produce joint publications.
Cave carbonate deposits are among the most important climate archives, as their formation age, texture and geochemical composition can provide information on past environmental and climate changes including changes in temperature, rate and amount of precipitation, moisture source, infiltration route and seasonality. Of particular importance are the so-called cryogenic carbonates since they hold high promises as a key archive for identifying the former presence of permafrost (ground frozen for more than 2 years) and determining the exact timing of its thawing. In order to interpret the geochemical information recorded in cave deposits correctly, it is essential to identify the firstly precipitating carbonates, to characterize their nanostructure and to understand their (trans)formation process. The complexity of the topic requires the collaboration of experts in quaternary climate research, geochemistry, mineralogy, crystallography, materials science and the synthesis of metastable materials.
Their common interest in the topic, their complementary expertise and previous successful bilateral TÉT-FWF and NKFI-FWF projects motivated the researchers from CSFK FGI and the Institute of Geology of the Innsbruck University as well as Attila Demény and Christoph Spötl, heads of the institutes to sign a Memorandum of Understanding and to establish the cross-border NANOCAVE Research Group. Its members are Péter Németh, Attila Demény, György Czuppon, Máté Karlik, Anett Lázár and Nóra Lange-Enyedi from CSFK FGI, and Yuri Dublyansky, Christoph Spötl and Gabriella Koltai from the University of Innsbruck. The research group collaborates on the nanomineralogy and geochemistry of cave carbonate deposits, especially of cryogenic carbonates, using instrumentation available at the two localities. The major aim of the researchers is to promote mobility and access to each other's large-scale instruments and research platforms, foster the successful participation on international projects, organize conferences and workshops and produce joint publications.