Knowledge of how ocean chemistry has evolved over time is key to unlocking the history of Earth’s oceans and biological responses to environmental change. For example, marine organism radiation or extinction related to ocean oxygenation or de-oxygenation. Ocean chemistry also plays a vital role in the formation of critical mineral resources, such as carbonate-hosted Pb-Zn deposits. My research focuses on tracking ocean chemistry shifts within specific environments, using exceptionally preserved carbonates as windows into the ancient seas. 

 

​Research starts with detailed stratigraphic and sedimentological work to understand the paleo-environmental context – terrestrial, intertidal flats, lagoons, shallow subtidal, backreef, reefal, deep marine, etc. Then, every sample is screened for diagenetic alteration using petrographic techniques, including cathodoluminescence. Since we can’t measure ancient seawater directly, I use geochemical proxies to reconstruct past ocean conditions. Abiotic carbonate marine cements and ooids, when well-preserved, serve as pristine archives of ancient seawater chemistry, thanks to their low detrital content and direct precipitation from seawater.

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By analyzing trace metal abundances in carbonate—such as rare earth elements, iron, manganese, and cerium anomalies—I can piece together a picture of ocean chemical changes through time. This research not only provides insights into Earth's ancient oceans, but also sheds light on critical mineral formation and the potential impacts of modern ocean chemical changes on ecosystems.