Unravelling the climate crisis of the Paleo-Eocene transition (Paleo-Eocene Thermal Maximum) using clay mineralogy and geochemistry of palaeosols (Esplugafreda and Claret Formations, Spain)

• Grant number: 24/13122-1
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• Start date: July 01, 2025
• End date: June 30, 2028
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Geosciences - Geology
• Principal Investigator: Giorgio Basilici
• Grantee: Abdul Hameed
• Host Institution: Instituto de Geociências (IG). Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Campinas , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 23/02469-8 - Palaeosols as ancient critical zone for past and future predictions: the quarrel between sedimentary and pedogenic processes in ancient continental deposits, AP.R

Abstract

The Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum (PETM) was a period of extreme global warming that provides valuable insights into understanding modern climate change in Earth's dynamic climate system. This research project aims to unravel the climatic dynamics during the critical Paleocene-Eocene transition, specifically focusing on the PETM, by analysing clay mineralogy and geochemistry of palaeosols from the Esplugafreda and Claret Formations in Spain. The palaeosols act as a "palaeo-critical zone," recording interactions between the palaeo-lithosphere, palaeo-atmosphere, and palaeo-biosphere at the Earth's surface. They are crucial for reconstructing past terrestrial environments and climate conditions, complementing marine records and enhancing our understanding of Earth's climate during critical geological periods.The project employs a multiproxy approach combining palaeopedology, clay mineralogy, and geochemistry. Fieldwork involves detailed characterization and sampling of palaeosols, focusing on their field or macroscopic details. Laboratory analyses include X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy with energy-dispersive spectroscopy to identify clay mineral assemblages and understand their formation under specific climatic conditions. Geochemical analyses, including X-ray fluorescence and potentially mass spectrometry, provide insights into elemental compositions and weathering processes that occurred during palaeosol formation. These data are critical for reconstructing past climates, including temperature, precipitation patterns, weathering intensity and palaeosol development.The comprehensive analysis of palaeosols is expected to yield a high-resolution palaeoclimate record of the PETM from the Spanish study area. The findings will be crucial for improving our understanding of the mechanisms driving rapid global warming events (hyperthermals). This research fills a critical gap by examining hyperthermal events from mid-latitude regions and comparing climatic responses across latitudes, potentially revealing variations in the severity and impact of the PETM across the globe. The information generated would not only contribute to academic interest but also explore its future perspective on the rapid warming and rise in CO2. The data obtained can be integrated with other palaeoclimate proxy records, such as pollen analysis or stable isotope studies and its correspondence with the marine proxy record, to create a more comprehensive picture of past environmental changes, particularly during the hyperthermals. This will contribute significantly to the field of palaeoclimatology and could serve as an important input for the evaluation and modelling of the PETM record with other parts of the globe. (AU)