Institute of Geological Sciences, Uni Bern
@geologyunibern.bsky.social
Official account of the IfG @unibern.bsky.social. We promote research and teaching activities of our dynamic institute!
🎓Congrats to Dr. Nils Benjamin Gies, who successfully defended his #PhD thesis “H₂O incorporation into clinopyroxene and consequences for the deep water cycle” Wishing you all the best in the future!
November 24, 2025 at 12:33 PM
🎓Congrats to Dr. Nils Benjamin Gies, who successfully defended his #PhD thesis “H₂O incorporation into clinopyroxene and consequences for the deep water cycle” Wishing you all the best in the future!
📢Paper alert!
Institute member Nils B Gies (Andrea Giuliani et al.) investigate hydrogen zoning in olivine from kimberlite samples, giving insight into the distribution of H2O within the lithospheric mantle and kimberlite melts.
More info⬇️
academic.oup.com/petrology/ar...
Institute member Nils B Gies (Andrea Giuliani et al.) investigate hydrogen zoning in olivine from kimberlite samples, giving insight into the distribution of H2O within the lithospheric mantle and kimberlite melts.
More info⬇️
academic.oup.com/petrology/ar...
Hydrogen Zoning in Olivine from Kimberlites Based on Coupled FTIR and SIMS Analyses: Significance for H2O Distribution in the Lithospheric Mantle and H2O Concentrations in Kimberlite Melts
Abstract. Kimberlite melts are widely considered to be enriched in volatiles, both CO2 and H2O. Yet, estimated H2O concentrations in primitive kimberlites
academic.oup.com
November 19, 2025 at 9:57 AM
📢Paper alert!
Institute member Nils B Gies (Andrea Giuliani et al.) investigate hydrogen zoning in olivine from kimberlite samples, giving insight into the distribution of H2O within the lithospheric mantle and kimberlite melts.
More info⬇️
academic.oup.com/petrology/ar...
Institute member Nils B Gies (Andrea Giuliani et al.) investigate hydrogen zoning in olivine from kimberlite samples, giving insight into the distribution of H2O within the lithospheric mantle and kimberlite melts.
More info⬇️
academic.oup.com/petrology/ar...
This summer, members of the Sedimentary Geochemistry group traveled to Lake Poso, in Sulawesi, Indonesia.🌏To collect sediment cores for a SPIRIT SNSF project with Indonesia’s National Research and Innovation Agency👩🔬 aiming to uncover past climate patterns, and environmental and geological changes.🌋🔍
November 13, 2025 at 12:01 PM
This summer, members of the Sedimentary Geochemistry group traveled to Lake Poso, in Sulawesi, Indonesia.🌏To collect sediment cores for a SPIRIT SNSF project with Indonesia’s National Research and Innovation Agency👩🔬 aiming to uncover past climate patterns, and environmental and geological changes.🌋🔍
⚠️ Have you already registered for the Swiss Geoscience Meeting 2025?
⏱️ This Friday (November 14th) is the last day for registering online
Registrations on-site are possible as well, but please bear in mind that an additional fee of 40 CHF will be charged.
🔗 Programme & registration: buff.ly/ixlAg2T
⏱️ This Friday (November 14th) is the last day for registering online
Registrations on-site are possible as well, but please bear in mind that an additional fee of 40 CHF will be charged.
🔗 Programme & registration: buff.ly/ixlAg2T
November 12, 2025 at 2:22 PM
⚠️ Have you already registered for the Swiss Geoscience Meeting 2025?
⏱️ This Friday (November 14th) is the last day for registering online
Registrations on-site are possible as well, but please bear in mind that an additional fee of 40 CHF will be charged.
🔗 Programme & registration: buff.ly/ixlAg2T
⏱️ This Friday (November 14th) is the last day for registering online
Registrations on-site are possible as well, but please bear in mind that an additional fee of 40 CHF will be charged.
🔗 Programme & registration: buff.ly/ixlAg2T
📢 Paper alert! Sandro Truttmann et al. investigate how pre-existing fracture size distributions relate to earthquakes in the southwestern Swiss Alps🏔️ revealing depth-dependent differences in fracture reactivation.💥
More info⬇️
More info⬇️
The size distributions of fractures and earthquakes: implications for orogen-internal seismogenic deformation
Abstract. Pre-existing geological discontinuities such as faults and fractures represent structural and mechanical discontinuities in rocks which influence earthquake processes. As earthquakes occur…
buff.ly
November 11, 2025 at 12:01 PM
📢 Paper alert! Sandro Truttmann et al. investigate how pre-existing fracture size distributions relate to earthquakes in the southwestern Swiss Alps🏔️ revealing depth-dependent differences in fracture reactivation.💥
More info⬇️
More info⬇️
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Heute Abend gibt Prof. em. Larryn Diamond einen Vortrag im Rahmen des NGB-Jahresprograms "Tiefgründig" (buff.ly/6E8k2Ot):
CO2-Sequestrierung im Untergrund - Eine Lösung für die Schweiz?
Heute Abend gibt Prof. em. Larryn Diamond einen Vortrag im Rahmen des NGB-Jahresprograms "Tiefgründig" (buff.ly/6E8k2Ot):
CO2-Sequestrierung im Untergrund - Eine Lösung für die Schweiz?
October 21, 2025 at 11:00 AM
Advertisement for a German talk:
Heute Abend gibt Prof. em. Larryn Diamond einen Vortrag im Rahmen des NGB-Jahresprograms "Tiefgründig" (buff.ly/6E8k2Ot):
CO2-Sequestrierung im Untergrund - Eine Lösung für die Schweiz?
Heute Abend gibt Prof. em. Larryn Diamond einen Vortrag im Rahmen des NGB-Jahresprograms "Tiefgründig" (buff.ly/6E8k2Ot):
CO2-Sequestrierung im Untergrund - Eine Lösung für die Schweiz?
📢 Paper alert! A new review article by Mazurek and colleagues delves into the different techniques for porewater 💧extraction from clayrocks, and their suitability to the posterior analyses and characterization of their physio-chemical properties.
doi.org/10.1016/j.cl...
doi.org/10.1016/j.cl...
Redirecting
doi.org
October 14, 2025 at 11:19 AM
📢 Paper alert! A new review article by Mazurek and colleagues delves into the different techniques for porewater 💧extraction from clayrocks, and their suitability to the posterior analyses and characterization of their physio-chemical properties.
doi.org/10.1016/j.cl...
doi.org/10.1016/j.cl...
📢 Paper alert! Sara Nerone and colleagues developed IntersecT 💻, a tool to statistically quantify isopleth thermobarometry, using the output files from Perple_X, improving the interpretation and allowing compositional uncertainties to be included in the models
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
IntersecT: a Python script for quantitative isopleth thermobarometry of equilibrium and disequilibrium systems
Isopleth thermobarometry involves comparing compositional isopleths generated from forward thermodynamic models with the measured mineral compositions…
www.sciencedirect.com
September 26, 2025 at 8:53 AM
📢 Paper alert! Sara Nerone and colleagues developed IntersecT 💻, a tool to statistically quantify isopleth thermobarometry, using the output files from Perple_X, improving the interpretation and allowing compositional uncertainties to be included in the models
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
📢 Paper alert! Nicolas Greber et al. measured Si isotopes in Archaean rocks to study land exposure on early Earth.🌋🌍 Their results show a sharp rise in granitoid values at 3.8 to 3.6 Ga, likely due to increased Si flux from emerging crust to oceans.🌊
Read more:
Read more:
Silicon isotopic signatures of granitoids support increased weathering of subaerial land 3.7 billion years ago - Communications Earth & Environment
Emergence of land and continental weathering feedbacks likely started around 3.8 to 3.6 billion years ago, according to silicon isotope analysis of Archean granitoids.
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September 2, 2025 at 11:01 AM
📢 Paper alert! Nicolas Greber et al. measured Si isotopes in Archaean rocks to study land exposure on early Earth.🌋🌍 Their results show a sharp rise in granitoid values at 3.8 to 3.6 Ga, likely due to increased Si flux from emerging crust to oceans.🌊
Read more:
Read more:
📢 Paper alert!
Weija Zhan et al. 2025 studied the role of sheet silicates in fault zones, by conducting hydrothermal ring shear experiments.👩🔬 They found that mica enrichment in granitoid faults can lead to weaker upper crust and stronger middle crusts.
Read more:
Weija Zhan et al. 2025 studied the role of sheet silicates in fault zones, by conducting hydrothermal ring shear experiments.👩🔬 They found that mica enrichment in granitoid faults can lead to weaker upper crust and stronger middle crusts.
Read more:
The effect of micas on the strength of experimental granitoid fault gouge
Sheet silicates play an important role in shaping crustal rheology and shear localization at shallow depths through their low strength. However, their…
buff.ly
August 26, 2025 at 11:19 AM
📢 Paper alert!
Weija Zhan et al. 2025 studied the role of sheet silicates in fault zones, by conducting hydrothermal ring shear experiments.👩🔬 They found that mica enrichment in granitoid faults can lead to weaker upper crust and stronger middle crusts.
Read more:
Weija Zhan et al. 2025 studied the role of sheet silicates in fault zones, by conducting hydrothermal ring shear experiments.👩🔬 They found that mica enrichment in granitoid faults can lead to weaker upper crust and stronger middle crusts.
Read more:
📢 Paper alert! Vasileios Mavromatis et al. investigated how sulfate (SO₄²⁻) impacts Mg isotope fractionation in low-Mg calcite 💧🪨 — with big implications for interpreting natural carbonate records.
👉 www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
#Geochemistry #IsotopeGeochemistry #MgIsotopes #Carbonates
👉 www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
#Geochemistry #IsotopeGeochemistry #MgIsotopes #Carbonates
August 7, 2025 at 9:31 AM
📢 Paper alert! Vasileios Mavromatis et al. investigated how sulfate (SO₄²⁻) impacts Mg isotope fractionation in low-Mg calcite 💧🪨 — with big implications for interpreting natural carbonate records.
👉 www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
#Geochemistry #IsotopeGeochemistry #MgIsotopes #Carbonates
👉 www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
#Geochemistry #IsotopeGeochemistry #MgIsotopes #Carbonates
📢 Paper alert!
A multiproxy study from Alexandrine N’nanga et al. 2025 studied four lakes in Central Cameroon to investigate past environmental changes induced by climate variations and human impact.
Read more:
A multiproxy study from Alexandrine N’nanga et al. 2025 studied four lakes in Central Cameroon to investigate past environmental changes induced by climate variations and human impact.
Read more:
Lake sediments on the Adamawa Plateau (Central Cameroon) as archives of climate change and the Bantu impact during the last 4000 years BP - Journal of Paleolimnology
This study investigates Late Holocene environmental changes in Central Cameroon induced by the combined effects of climate and human impact. For this purpose, sediments from lakes Dang, Massote,…
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July 29, 2025 at 11:01 AM
📢 Paper alert!
A multiproxy study from Alexandrine N’nanga et al. 2025 studied four lakes in Central Cameroon to investigate past environmental changes induced by climate variations and human impact.
Read more:
A multiproxy study from Alexandrine N’nanga et al. 2025 studied four lakes in Central Cameroon to investigate past environmental changes induced by climate variations and human impact.
Read more:
📢 Paper alert! Narendra Patel et al., using drone data, aimed to explain source-to-sink patterns of #coarse-grained #sediment transport in braided streams of the Indian #Himalaya 🏔️ .
More info:
More info:
Source-to-sink patterns of grain size along the Yamuna River in the Indian Himalaya
Material supply, water transport, and river engineering structures such as dams and barrages potentially disrupt and alter the downstream grain size p…
buff.ly
July 24, 2025 at 11:01 AM
📢 Paper alert! Narendra Patel et al., using drone data, aimed to explain source-to-sink patterns of #coarse-grained #sediment transport in braided streams of the Indian #Himalaya 🏔️ .
More info:
More info:
📍 #Goldschmidt2025
Researchers from the #UniversityofBern attended this year’s Goldschmidt Conference, contributing to discussions on current developments in #geochemistry, presenting their work, and engaging with the #internationalscientificcommunity.
Researchers from the #UniversityofBern attended this year’s Goldschmidt Conference, contributing to discussions on current developments in #geochemistry, presenting their work, and engaging with the #internationalscientificcommunity.
July 21, 2025 at 8:56 AM
📍 #Goldschmidt2025
Researchers from the #UniversityofBern attended this year’s Goldschmidt Conference, contributing to discussions on current developments in #geochemistry, presenting their work, and engaging with the #internationalscientificcommunity.
Researchers from the #UniversityofBern attended this year’s Goldschmidt Conference, contributing to discussions on current developments in #geochemistry, presenting their work, and engaging with the #internationalscientificcommunity.
📢 New tool for #geoscientists! Walters & Gies present MinPlotX—an #opensource program for mineral formula recalculation + compositional plotting. GUI for easy use, API for advanced users. Great for #microprobe data + large datasets.
Open Access paper: doi.org/10.2478/mipo...
Open Access paper: doi.org/10.2478/mipo...
MinPlotX: A powerful tool for formula recalculation,...
MinPlotX is an open-source software for mineral formula recalculation and compositional plotting providing an easy-to-use stand-alone graphical...
doi.org
June 26, 2025 at 1:18 PM
📢 New tool for #geoscientists! Walters & Gies present MinPlotX—an #opensource program for mineral formula recalculation + compositional plotting. GUI for easy use, API for advanced users. Great for #microprobe data + large datasets.
Open Access paper: doi.org/10.2478/mipo...
Open Access paper: doi.org/10.2478/mipo...
📢 Paper alert! Liu et al. show ultra-fast #metamorphic reactions (8 days to <1 yr) during regional #metamorphism. Trace element #diffusion in garnet reveals melt-assisted corona growth at rates previously thought exclusive to contact metamorphism or lab settings.
doi.org/10.1016/j.gc...
doi.org/10.1016/j.gc...
Ultra-fast metamorphic reaction during regional metamorphism
Constraining the timescales of metamorphic processes is critical to understanding geodynamics on Earth. It is generally accepted that the rates of met…
www.sciencedirect.com
June 24, 2025 at 11:55 AM
📢 Paper alert! Liu et al. show ultra-fast #metamorphic reactions (8 days to <1 yr) during regional #metamorphism. Trace element #diffusion in garnet reveals melt-assisted corona growth at rates previously thought exclusive to contact metamorphism or lab settings.
doi.org/10.1016/j.gc...
doi.org/10.1016/j.gc...
📢Paper alert!
Vesin et al. use δ¹⁸O and trace element data from Erro-Tobbio serpentinites to reveal variable oceanic serpentinisation and dehydration pathways
Their findings suggest internal fluid control with minimal external slab fluid input
Read more: doi.org/10.1093/petr...
Vesin et al. use δ¹⁸O and trace element data from Erro-Tobbio serpentinites to reveal variable oceanic serpentinisation and dehydration pathways
Their findings suggest internal fluid control with minimal external slab fluid input
Read more: doi.org/10.1093/petr...
Chemical and Isotopic Exchanges in Serpentinites during Hydration and Dehydration Events in the Erro-Tobbio Massif (Italy): from Ocean to Subduction
Abstract. Subducted serpentinites are important for recycling water and fluid mobile elements into the deep Earth. Here we present a texturally controlled
doi.org
June 4, 2025 at 9:25 AM
📢Paper alert!
Vesin et al. use δ¹⁸O and trace element data from Erro-Tobbio serpentinites to reveal variable oceanic serpentinisation and dehydration pathways
Their findings suggest internal fluid control with minimal external slab fluid input
Read more: doi.org/10.1093/petr...
Vesin et al. use δ¹⁸O and trace element data from Erro-Tobbio serpentinites to reveal variable oceanic serpentinisation and dehydration pathways
Their findings suggest internal fluid control with minimal external slab fluid input
Read more: doi.org/10.1093/petr...
🎓Congrats to Dr. Hoda Moradi, who successfully defended her #PhD thesis “Mobilization of aluminum and other toxic elements under changing alpine climatic conditions” Wishing you all the best in the future!
@unibern.bsky.social
@unibern.bsky.social
June 3, 2025 at 3:17 PM
🎓Congrats to Dr. Hoda Moradi, who successfully defended her #PhD thesis “Mobilization of aluminum and other toxic elements under changing alpine climatic conditions” Wishing you all the best in the future!
@unibern.bsky.social
@unibern.bsky.social
📢Paper alert! Chatterjee et al. find evidence for alteration of Earth's mantle 🌍 by recycled ocean materials over 3.4 billion years ago in India's Singhbhum Craton. This early recycling is thought to have helped build the planet’s first stable continents:
doi.org/10.1016/j.ep...
@unibe.ch
doi.org/10.1016/j.ep...
@unibe.ch
Redirecting
doi.org
May 22, 2025 at 12:29 PM
📢Paper alert! Chatterjee et al. find evidence for alteration of Earth's mantle 🌍 by recycled ocean materials over 3.4 billion years ago in India's Singhbhum Craton. This early recycling is thought to have helped build the planet’s first stable continents:
doi.org/10.1016/j.ep...
@unibe.ch
doi.org/10.1016/j.ep...
@unibe.ch
🥾 On last weekend, second semester Geography students visited the surroundings of Blatten bei Natters for their introductory course in geology 🏔️. Gneisses, amphibolites and glacial geomorphology were among the topics covered in this excursion led by members of our Institute.
May 21, 2025 at 8:30 AM
🥾 On last weekend, second semester Geography students visited the surroundings of Blatten bei Natters for their introductory course in geology 🏔️. Gneisses, amphibolites and glacial geomorphology were among the topics covered in this excursion led by members of our Institute.
📢Paper alert! The Cr, Ti and O isotopic composition of different ureilites 🌠, a group of achondrite meteorites, reveal the heterogeneity of their parent body. Kruttasch et al. conclude that they derive from an isolated sub-reservoir within the protoplanetary disk.
🔗Read more
🔗Read more
Redirecting
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May 13, 2025 at 11:01 AM
📢Paper alert! The Cr, Ti and O isotopic composition of different ureilites 🌠, a group of achondrite meteorites, reveal the heterogeneity of their parent body. Kruttasch et al. conclude that they derive from an isolated sub-reservoir within the protoplanetary disk.
🔗Read more
🔗Read more
📢Paper alert! Schlunegger et al. showed the results of an interdisciplinary project focused in Bern, Switzerland, which explored the origin of overdeepenings through a combination of a gravimetry survey, drillings, and dating.
🔗Read more following the link below
doi.org/10.5194/esur...
🔗Read more following the link below
doi.org/10.5194/esur...
The Aare main overdeepening on the northern margin of the European Alps: basins, riegels, and slot canyons
Abstract. This work summarizes the results of an interdisciplinary project where we aimed to explore the origin of overdeepenings through a combination of a gravimetry survey, drillings, and dating. T...
doi.org
May 6, 2025 at 12:00 PM
📢Paper alert! Schlunegger et al. showed the results of an interdisciplinary project focused in Bern, Switzerland, which explored the origin of overdeepenings through a combination of a gravimetry survey, drillings, and dating.
🔗Read more following the link below
doi.org/10.5194/esur...
🔗Read more following the link below
doi.org/10.5194/esur...
🏅 Dr. Renée Tamblyn received the prestigious “Outstanding Early Career Scientist Award of the GMPV Division” at #EGU25 for her groundbreaking work in 🕐petrochronology of subduction processes, 💧komatiite hydration and H2 production and ⏲the development of a new in-situ method for Lu-Hf geochronology️
April 28, 2025 at 2:47 PM
🏅 Dr. Renée Tamblyn received the prestigious “Outstanding Early Career Scientist Award of the GMPV Division” at #EGU25 for her groundbreaking work in 🕐petrochronology of subduction processes, 💧komatiite hydration and H2 production and ⏲the development of a new in-situ method for Lu-Hf geochronology️
🧪 Flavio Anselmetti in Action at Pestalozzi School Camp 🌍
On April 3, Anselmetti visited the School Camp in Trogen (Appenzell), inspiring kids with his lake research. His interactive session sparked curiosity — maybe even in a future scientist!
📸 Photos by Ketty Bertossi
On April 3, Anselmetti visited the School Camp in Trogen (Appenzell), inspiring kids with his lake research. His interactive session sparked curiosity — maybe even in a future scientist!
📸 Photos by Ketty Bertossi
April 16, 2025 at 12:52 PM
🧪 Flavio Anselmetti in Action at Pestalozzi School Camp 🌍
On April 3, Anselmetti visited the School Camp in Trogen (Appenzell), inspiring kids with his lake research. His interactive session sparked curiosity — maybe even in a future scientist!
📸 Photos by Ketty Bertossi
On April 3, Anselmetti visited the School Camp in Trogen (Appenzell), inspiring kids with his lake research. His interactive session sparked curiosity — maybe even in a future scientist!
📸 Photos by Ketty Bertossi