Stable tungsten isotope fractionation study of Archean rocks from the Saglek-Hebron Gneiss Complex (Northern Labrador)

The study or ancient rocks gives us a window into our planet’s beginnings. Unfortunately, most rocks dating back to the Earth’s formation have now been erased from the Earth surface. They have been eroded or recycled by geological processes. This Globalink research award will be used to study rocks from the Saglek-Hebron Gneiss complex (northern Labrador, Canada), a piece of ancient terrain, where some of the oldest rocks on Earth can be found. Graduate student, Alexandre Rouleau (Carleton University, Canada) will spend 9 weeks at the University of Cologne and the remainder 3 weeks in Canada, in order to work on a research project to study 20 rocks that he has collected from this terrain. With ages between 2.7 and 3.9 billion years, their analysis will provide valuable information on Earth’s ancient crust, and the mantle’s evolution, for a period of over a billion years. Expected outcomes from this research project include the acquisition of new skills, the publication of results in an international peer-reviewed journal, the development of a new international collaboration between German and Canadian universities, enhancing the student’s and supervisors’ network.

Faculty Supervisor:

Hanika Rizo

Student:

Partner:

Universität zu Köln

Discipline:

Earth science

Sector:

Education

University:

Carleton University

Program: