|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
SDD-01 Scientific drilling
|
|
|
|
ICDP FAR-DEEP: field mission accomplished - 3600 m of drillcores from 2500-2000 Ma rocks from Russian Fennoscandia for tracking the emergence of the aerobic Earth System
|
|
|
|
Victor Melezhik, Geological Survey of Norway/Centre for Geobiology, University of Bergen (Norway)
Aivo Lepland, Geological Survey of Norway (Norway)
Nikolaj Philippov, State Company Mineral (Russian Federation)
Alexander Romashkin, Institute of Geology, Karelian Science Centre, Russian Academy of Sciences (Russian Federation)
Dmitriy Rychanchik, Institute of Geology, Karelian Science Centre, Russian Academy of Sciences (Russian Federation)
Yulia Deines, Institute of Geology, Karelian Science Centre, Russian Academy of Sciences (Russian Federation)
|
|
|
|
The Palaeoproterozoic is one of the critical time intervals in the evolution of the Earth System, when biota, atmosphere, hydrosphere and geosphere experienced global-scale changes. Among the hallmark events/processes that characterise this time interval were widespread rifting activity, possible upper mantle oxidation, the global Huronian glaciation(s), a rise in atmospheric oxygen, the Lomagundi-Jatuli carbon isotope excursion, an increase of oceanic sulphate, formation of the oldest known phosphorites, change in organic matter mineralisation and generation of significant amounts of petroleum. The Fennoscandian Arctic Russia - Drilling Early Earth Project (FAR-DEEP) has been established within the framework of the International Continental Drilling Program (ICDP) to study these events and processes in Palaeoproterozoic sedimentary and volcanic successions. The FAR-DEEP represents a new type of ICDP field operation, namely it has targeted a series of geological formations which record all above listed Palaeoproterozoic events. Consequently, the drilling operations have been performed over a large area with relatively poor infrastructure, thus requiring the engagement of a mobile drilling rig supported by terrain vehicles. It is expected that the cores from 15 holes, totalling 3560 m, that were obtained from the Onega basin, and the Pechenga and Imandra-Varzuga greenstone belts during the drilling campaign in May-October 2007 will provide a unique rock archive for the period 2500-2000 Ma. Uncontaminated core, obtained with pure water as a drilling fluid with recovery close to 100%, offers an optimal approach for studying a time of profound change in both the interior and the exterior of our planet when the aerobic Earth System emerged. The cores are stored at the Geological Survey of Norway in Trondheim. The core archiving started in February this year, and the cores will be available for sampling and research by the international group of FAR-DEEP scientists in December 2008. The entire science community will have access to the cores after a one-year moratorium. The FAR-DEEP scientists cover a wide range of expertise and research objectives. However, the project is still open for new associates in the research fields that are essential for tracking the environmental upheavals during the Archaean-Palaeoproterozoic transition. For additional information refer to http://far-deep.icdp-online.org.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
