Earth Seminar 22 June - Associate Professor Stavros Kalaitzidis

Organic Petrology as a tool to assess peatification processes: case studies from modern mires

Abstract

The geological study of modern peat-forming environments contributes significantly to the understanding of the complexity of the mire functions, as well as towards the effective management of these sensitive ecosystems; it is the key to elucidate the coal-forming conditions that prevailed during past geological times. This research focuses on the processes taking place in the peatigenic layer (i.e. the transition between acrotelm and catotelm), in order to trace the alteration of physical, chemical and petrographical features of the organic sediments in connection with the peat forming factors, such as the climate conditions and the local geological frame. It is of particular interest to detect the transformation stages of the initial plant material to peat constituents, and the correspondence to the respective ecological conditions. The ulterior aim is to propose a model for interpreting the coal-forming palaeo-environmental conditions, as well as to elucidate further the correspondence of these sensitive mire-ecosystems to climate fluctuations.

Biography

Associate Professor Stavros Kalaitzidis received his Ph.D. degree from the Department of Geology, University of Patras, Greece, in 2007. As postgraduate student he worked in several research programmes at the University of Patras in collaboration with Universities and Institutions in Germany, UK, and The Netherlands, but also for the Greek Institute of Geology and Mineral Exploration (IGME), and the Institute for Solid Fuels Technology and Applications (ISFTA) in Athens. From 2008 to 2014 he served in various positions in the Australian mining industry, initially in the exploration and mining sectors of BHP Billiton, and later as Senior Geologist at Integral Resource Consulting Ltd. Based in Brisbane, Queensland. Currently he holds an Associate Professor position in the field of Economic Geology at the Department of Geology, University of Patras. His research interests expand in the fields of Coal and Peatlands geology, ore (metallic minerals) geology, organic petrology, source rock evaluation, environmental impacts of mining, environmental applications of raw materials including coals, and their industrial wastes.