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!
📢 Paper alert! Alfons Berger, Martin Wille, and colleagues have measured Sr isotopes in calcite from deformed metamarls in the Glarus Alps and found that matrix-vein similarities reveal local mass transfer and fluid-rock interaction during vein formation.
Read more⬇️ doi.org/10.1007/s005...
Read more⬇️ doi.org/10.1007/s005...
September 11, 2026 at 12:04 PM
📢 Paper alert! Alfons Berger, Martin Wille, and colleagues have measured Sr isotopes in calcite from deformed metamarls in the Glarus Alps and found that matrix-vein similarities reveal local mass transfer and fluid-rock interaction during vein formation.
Read more⬇️ doi.org/10.1007/s005...
Read more⬇️ doi.org/10.1007/s005...
📢 Paper alert!
Martin Wille and others have measured Mo isotopes in Landsort Deep (Baltic Sea) sediments and found that hypoxic episodes are distinctly isotopically lighter vs. weakly sulfidic intervals, this all driven by Mn oxide shuttling
Read more⬇️
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Martin Wille and others have measured Mo isotopes in Landsort Deep (Baltic Sea) sediments and found that hypoxic episodes are distinctly isotopically lighter vs. weakly sulfidic intervals, this all driven by Mn oxide shuttling
Read more⬇️
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Impact of strong redox shifts and manganese cycling on sedimentary molybdenum isotopes in stratified hypoxic/euxinic basins
Molybdenum concentrations and stable isotope compositions have been extensively applied to marine sediments for palaeo-redox reconstruction. While the…
www.sciencedirect.com
August 18, 2026 at 8:24 AM
📢 Paper alert!
Martin Wille and others have measured Mo isotopes in Landsort Deep (Baltic Sea) sediments and found that hypoxic episodes are distinctly isotopically lighter vs. weakly sulfidic intervals, this all driven by Mn oxide shuttling
Read more⬇️
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Martin Wille and others have measured Mo isotopes in Landsort Deep (Baltic Sea) sediments and found that hypoxic episodes are distinctly isotopically lighter vs. weakly sulfidic intervals, this all driven by Mn oxide shuttling
Read more⬇️
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
📢 Paper alert!
New study by Qasid Ahmad et al. explores elemental cycling in Tonga. Ba isotopes show that subducting oceanic crust isn't the main source of Barium, but most of it actually traces back to subducting sediments via a two-stage release mechanism.
Read more⬇️
buff.ly/BVLjqBl
New study by Qasid Ahmad et al. explores elemental cycling in Tonga. Ba isotopes show that subducting oceanic crust isn't the main source of Barium, but most of it actually traces back to subducting sediments via a two-stage release mechanism.
Read more⬇️
buff.ly/BVLjqBl
www.sciencedirect.com
August 4, 2026 at 2:00 PM
📢 Paper alert!
New study by Qasid Ahmad et al. explores elemental cycling in Tonga. Ba isotopes show that subducting oceanic crust isn't the main source of Barium, but most of it actually traces back to subducting sediments via a two-stage release mechanism.
Read more⬇️
buff.ly/BVLjqBl
New study by Qasid Ahmad et al. explores elemental cycling in Tonga. Ba isotopes show that subducting oceanic crust isn't the main source of Barium, but most of it actually traces back to subducting sediments via a two-stage release mechanism.
Read more⬇️
buff.ly/BVLjqBl
🚨Paper alert!
A new study by Jin Ma et al. explores data from a recent deep-drilling campaign in northern Switzerland. Using a one-dimensional transport model, they modeled and reproduced high-resolution profiles of four natural tracers across the boreholes.
Read more
10.1016/j.apgeochem.2025.106654
A new study by Jin Ma et al. explores data from a recent deep-drilling campaign in northern Switzerland. Using a one-dimensional transport model, they modeled and reproduced high-resolution profiles of four natural tracers across the boreholes.
Read more
10.1016/j.apgeochem.2025.106654
July 28, 2026 at 11:00 AM
🚨Paper alert!
A new study by Jin Ma et al. explores data from a recent deep-drilling campaign in northern Switzerland. Using a one-dimensional transport model, they modeled and reproduced high-resolution profiles of four natural tracers across the boreholes.
Read more
10.1016/j.apgeochem.2025.106654
A new study by Jin Ma et al. explores data from a recent deep-drilling campaign in northern Switzerland. Using a one-dimensional transport model, they modeled and reproduced high-resolution profiles of four natural tracers across the boreholes.
Read more
10.1016/j.apgeochem.2025.106654
📢 Paper alert!
Recent work by Neal Mathes et al. refines the extent of Middle Pleistocene glaciations in the Jura Mountains.
¹⁰Be/²⁶Al dating and sediment tracing show that sediments in the Grottes aux Fées were transported from the Valaisian Alps ca. 400 ka (MIS 12).
Read more ⬇️
doi.org/q8j7
Recent work by Neal Mathes et al. refines the extent of Middle Pleistocene glaciations in the Jura Mountains.
¹⁰Be/²⁶Al dating and sediment tracing show that sediments in the Grottes aux Fées were transported from the Valaisian Alps ca. 400 ka (MIS 12).
Read more ⬇️
doi.org/q8j7
Redirecting
doi.org
May 27, 2026 at 10:39 AM
📢 Paper alert!
Recent work by Neal Mathes et al. refines the extent of Middle Pleistocene glaciations in the Jura Mountains.
¹⁰Be/²⁶Al dating and sediment tracing show that sediments in the Grottes aux Fées were transported from the Valaisian Alps ca. 400 ka (MIS 12).
Read more ⬇️
doi.org/q8j7
Recent work by Neal Mathes et al. refines the extent of Middle Pleistocene glaciations in the Jura Mountains.
¹⁰Be/²⁶Al dating and sediment tracing show that sediments in the Grottes aux Fées were transported from the Valaisian Alps ca. 400 ka (MIS 12).
Read more ⬇️
doi.org/q8j7
🚨 Paper alert!🚨
In a recent paper Chantal Schmidt et al. combine geomorphic mapping with cosmogenic measurements to quantify erosion within Gürbe, a pre-Alpine catchment.
Read more⬇️
In a recent paper Chantal Schmidt et al. combine geomorphic mapping with cosmogenic measurements to quantify erosion within Gürbe, a pre-Alpine catchment.
Read more⬇️
Quantifying erosion in a pre-Alpine catchment at high resolution with concentrations of cosmogenic 10Be, 26Al, and 14C
Abstract. Quantifying erosion across spatial and temporal scales is essential for assessing different controlling mechanisms and their contribution to long-term sediment production. However, the…
buff.ly
May 21, 2026 at 11:01 AM
🚨 Paper alert!🚨
In a recent paper Chantal Schmidt et al. combine geomorphic mapping with cosmogenic measurements to quantify erosion within Gürbe, a pre-Alpine catchment.
Read more⬇️
In a recent paper Chantal Schmidt et al. combine geomorphic mapping with cosmogenic measurements to quantify erosion within Gürbe, a pre-Alpine catchment.
Read more⬇️
📢 Paper alert!
Recent work by Hoda Moradi, published in Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, highlights the key role of basaluminite in controlling Al(III) behaviour in acidic environments.
See the link below to read more ⬇️
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Recent work by Hoda Moradi, published in Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, highlights the key role of basaluminite in controlling Al(III) behaviour in acidic environments.
See the link below to read more ⬇️
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
The importance of basaluminite formation on controlling the fate of Al(III) in aqueous solutions at pH 4–5
The formation of secondary Al-hydroxysulfates is environmentally important as they regulate aluminum concentrations in acidic environments and may ser…
www.sciencedirect.com
April 29, 2026 at 10:08 AM
📢 Paper alert!
Recent work by Hoda Moradi, published in Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, highlights the key role of basaluminite in controlling Al(III) behaviour in acidic environments.
See the link below to read more ⬇️
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Recent work by Hoda Moradi, published in Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, highlights the key role of basaluminite in controlling Al(III) behaviour in acidic environments.
See the link below to read more ⬇️
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
🎓Congrats to Dr. Anna Zappatini, who successfully defended her #PhD thesis “From fireball monitoring to meteorite analysis: recovery and study of fresh falls”. Wishing you all the best in the future!
April 10, 2026 at 4:22 PM
🎓Congrats to Dr. Anna Zappatini, who successfully defended her #PhD thesis “From fireball monitoring to meteorite analysis: recovery and study of fresh falls”. Wishing you all the best in the future!
📢 Paper alert!
Exciting new research led by Ignatius Argadestya here at the Institute of Geological Sciences investigates high-resolution orbital data from Mars, identifying evidence for historic high water levels within Valles Marineris.
Read more below! ⬇️
www.nature.com/articles/s44...
Exciting new research led by Ignatius Argadestya here at the Institute of Geological Sciences investigates high-resolution orbital data from Mars, identifying evidence for historic high water levels within Valles Marineris.
Read more below! ⬇️
www.nature.com/articles/s44...
Scarp-fronted deposits record the highest water level in Mars’ Valles Marineris - npj Space Exploration
npj Space Exploration - Scarp-fronted deposits record the highest water level in Mars’ Valles Marineris
www.nature.com
April 7, 2026 at 7:12 AM
📢 Paper alert!
Exciting new research led by Ignatius Argadestya here at the Institute of Geological Sciences investigates high-resolution orbital data from Mars, identifying evidence for historic high water levels within Valles Marineris.
Read more below! ⬇️
www.nature.com/articles/s44...
Exciting new research led by Ignatius Argadestya here at the Institute of Geological Sciences investigates high-resolution orbital data from Mars, identifying evidence for historic high water levels within Valles Marineris.
Read more below! ⬇️
www.nature.com/articles/s44...
📢 Paper alert!
Anja Rubin et al. used surface exposure dating and runout modelling to elucidate the triggering mechanisms of the Sierre landslide, providing insights into landscape dynamics during the transition to the Holocene.
Read more at ⬇️
sjg.pensoft.net/article/1803...
Anja Rubin et al. used surface exposure dating and runout modelling to elucidate the triggering mechanisms of the Sierre landslide, providing insights into landscape dynamics during the transition to the Holocene.
Read more at ⬇️
sjg.pensoft.net/article/1803...
The Sierre landslide: chronology, dynamics, and insights into Alpine post-glacial instabilities
Today, natural disasters in alpine valleys pose a continuous threat to urban areas and infrastructure. Investigating past mass movements and assessing their return periods enhances our ability to pred...
sjg.pensoft.net
March 24, 2026 at 10:02 AM
📢 Paper alert!
Anja Rubin et al. used surface exposure dating and runout modelling to elucidate the triggering mechanisms of the Sierre landslide, providing insights into landscape dynamics during the transition to the Holocene.
Read more at ⬇️
sjg.pensoft.net/article/1803...
Anja Rubin et al. used surface exposure dating and runout modelling to elucidate the triggering mechanisms of the Sierre landslide, providing insights into landscape dynamics during the transition to the Holocene.
Read more at ⬇️
sjg.pensoft.net/article/1803...
📢Paper alert!
Catarina Dieleman et al. used cosmogenic 10Be and 26Al from glaciofluvial gravels, finding that Alpine glaciers and meltwater carved the Swiss foreland twice as fast during a major climate shift 1 Ma ago than they do today
Read more at ⬇️
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Catarina Dieleman et al. used cosmogenic 10Be and 26Al from glaciofluvial gravels, finding that Alpine glaciers and meltwater carved the Swiss foreland twice as fast during a major climate shift 1 Ma ago than they do today
Read more at ⬇️
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
www.sciencedirect.com
March 17, 2026 at 2:16 PM
📢Paper alert!
Catarina Dieleman et al. used cosmogenic 10Be and 26Al from glaciofluvial gravels, finding that Alpine glaciers and meltwater carved the Swiss foreland twice as fast during a major climate shift 1 Ma ago than they do today
Read more at ⬇️
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Catarina Dieleman et al. used cosmogenic 10Be and 26Al from glaciofluvial gravels, finding that Alpine glaciers and meltwater carved the Swiss foreland twice as fast during a major climate shift 1 Ma ago than they do today
Read more at ⬇️
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
📢Paper alert!
Institute of Geology researcher Sebastian Schaller has explored the use of unsupervised machine learning to build stratigraphic models from standard petrophysical and geochemical wireline logging data.
oap.unige.ch/journals/sdk...
Institute of Geology researcher Sebastian Schaller has explored the use of unsupervised machine learning to build stratigraphic models from standard petrophysical and geochemical wireline logging data.
oap.unige.ch/journals/sdk...
Data-driven lithofacies prediction of unconsolidated sediments from wireline logs
| Sedimentologika
oap.unige.ch
March 12, 2026 at 8:55 AM
📢Paper alert!
Institute of Geology researcher Sebastian Schaller has explored the use of unsupervised machine learning to build stratigraphic models from standard petrophysical and geochemical wireline logging data.
oap.unige.ch/journals/sdk...
Institute of Geology researcher Sebastian Schaller has explored the use of unsupervised machine learning to build stratigraphic models from standard petrophysical and geochemical wireline logging data.
oap.unige.ch/journals/sdk...
📢Paper alert! Adrianus Damanik et al. detail climate-driven oxygenation changes in the water column of Lake Towuti, Indonesia 🇮🇩, over the last ~30ka BP through sedimentary Mo isotope compositions ⚛️
Read more at⬇️
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Read more at⬇️
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Sedimentary Mo isotope variability reflects climate-driven water column oxygenation changes in ferruginous Lake Towuti, Indonesia over the last ∼30 ka BP
Previous studies have shown the utility of Molybdenum (Mo) concentrations and isotopic compositions as sensitive recorders for changes in redox condit…
www.sciencedirect.com
February 25, 2026 at 1:44 PM
📢Paper alert! Adrianus Damanik et al. detail climate-driven oxygenation changes in the water column of Lake Towuti, Indonesia 🇮🇩, over the last ~30ka BP through sedimentary Mo isotope compositions ⚛️
Read more at⬇️
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Read more at⬇️
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
📢Paper alert! Catharina Dieleman et al. explore the formation and evolution of a well-preserved polygenetic cone Frébouge in the Italian Alps, using remote mapping, ¹⁰Be surface exposure dating, and modelling.🏔️🔍️
Read more at⬇️
Read more at⬇️
Unravelling the evolution of the Frébouge polygenetic cone in Val Ferret (Mont Blanc Massif)
Proglacial settings in the Alps are typically polygenetic, often characterized by a complex and discontinuous interplay between glacial, fluvial and gravitational processes. These processes yield…
buff.ly
February 17, 2026 at 12:00 PM
📢Paper alert! Catharina Dieleman et al. explore the formation and evolution of a well-preserved polygenetic cone Frébouge in the Italian Alps, using remote mapping, ¹⁰Be surface exposure dating, and modelling.🏔️🔍️
Read more at⬇️
Read more at⬇️
📢Paper alert! Through a series of experiments Natalia Nevskaya et al. investigate the rheology of polymineralic fine-grained shear zones in the Earth’s middle to lower crust.🌋🌍👩🔬
Read more at⬇️
Read more at⬇️
Dissolution–precipitation creep in polymineralic granitoid shear zones in experiments – Part 2: Rheological parameters
Abstract. The transition from strong to weak mechanical behavior in the Earth's continental middle crust is always caused by an initiation of viscous deformation. Microstructural evidence from field…
buff.ly
February 12, 2026 at 12:00 PM
📢Paper alert! Through a series of experiments Natalia Nevskaya et al. investigate the rheology of polymineralic fine-grained shear zones in the Earth’s middle to lower crust.🌋🌍👩🔬
Read more at⬇️
Read more at⬇️
📢 New paper by Thorsten A. Markmann & Pierre Lanari.
A coupled mechanical petrological model shows how dehydration reactions drive episodic fluid release, permeability pulses, and brittle failure in subduction zones.
Open-source code: ThorPT
Link: onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1...
A coupled mechanical petrological model shows how dehydration reactions drive episodic fluid release, permeability pulses, and brittle failure in subduction zones.
Open-source code: ThorPT
Link: onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1...
Interplay Between Mechanical and Petrochemical Models on the Fluid Extraction From Subduction Zones
The breakdown of hydrous minerals during subduction results in a densification of the rocks, producing volume changes that can trigger fluid pressure fluctuations and hydrofracturing. These volume ch...
onlinelibrary.wiley.com
February 4, 2026 at 3:34 PM
📢 New paper by Thorsten A. Markmann & Pierre Lanari.
A coupled mechanical petrological model shows how dehydration reactions drive episodic fluid release, permeability pulses, and brittle failure in subduction zones.
Open-source code: ThorPT
Link: onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1...
A coupled mechanical petrological model shows how dehydration reactions drive episodic fluid release, permeability pulses, and brittle failure in subduction zones.
Open-source code: ThorPT
Link: onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1...
📢 Paper alert! A recently published study by Philip Ingold investigates water flow dynamics in bottom ash landfills, combining multi-site monitoring with process-based modelling to disentangle matrix flow and preferential transport mechanisms.
See below! ⬇️
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
See below! ⬇️
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Water flow dynamics in bottom ash landfills
To obtain a mechanistic understanding of material reactivity and transport properties of bottom ash landfill leachate, this study investigates hydrolo…
www.sciencedirect.com
January 28, 2026 at 8:18 AM
📢 Paper alert! A recently published study by Philip Ingold investigates water flow dynamics in bottom ash landfills, combining multi-site monitoring with process-based modelling to disentangle matrix flow and preferential transport mechanisms.
See below! ⬇️
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
See below! ⬇️
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
📢 Paper alert! New research by Renee Tamblyn and others proposes that hydrated 💦 komatiites likely influenced Archean ocean–atmosphere chemistry ☁️ and the generation of early TTG continental crust 🌍
Find the link to the paper here to read more! ⬇️
doi.org/10.1016/j.li...
Find the link to the paper here to read more! ⬇️
doi.org/10.1016/j.li...
Redirecting
doi.org
January 20, 2026 at 12:50 PM
📢 Paper alert! New research by Renee Tamblyn and others proposes that hydrated 💦 komatiites likely influenced Archean ocean–atmosphere chemistry ☁️ and the generation of early TTG continental crust 🌍
Find the link to the paper here to read more! ⬇️
doi.org/10.1016/j.li...
Find the link to the paper here to read more! ⬇️
doi.org/10.1016/j.li...
📢 Paper alert! Research by Institute for Geology researcher Coralie Vesin investigates oceanic serpentinisation processes using high-resolution geochemical indicators from the Samail ophiolites (Oman).
Find the link to the paper here to read more! ⬇️
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Find the link to the paper here to read more! ⬇️
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Oceanic serpentinisation in the Samail ophiolites: evidence from trace elements and O and B isotopes
Oceanic serpentinisation represents a major link between the hydrosphere and the lithosphere, whereby aqueous fluids hydrothermally alter mantle rocks…
www.sciencedirect.com
January 13, 2026 at 12:48 PM
📢 Paper alert! Research by Institute for Geology researcher Coralie Vesin investigates oceanic serpentinisation processes using high-resolution geochemical indicators from the Samail ophiolites (Oman).
Find the link to the paper here to read more! ⬇️
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Find the link to the paper here to read more! ⬇️
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
📢Paper alert! In a recent study, Suzette Timmerman et al. demonstrate the importance of analysing the entirety of a 💎diamond inclusion, as the presence of fluid films can fractionate the isotopic composition of the mineral, and give eruption ages instead of formation ages ⏲️.
🔗
🔗
The effect of inclusion-fluid fractionation on different isotopic systems used to date diamonds
Diamond formation ages are crucial in understanding carbon mobility and diamond growth/destruction processes in the mantle linked to large tectono-mag…
buff.ly
January 6, 2026 at 12:30 PM
📢Paper alert! In a recent study, Suzette Timmerman et al. demonstrate the importance of analysing the entirety of a 💎diamond inclusion, as the presence of fluid films can fractionate the isotopic composition of the mineral, and give eruption ages instead of formation ages ⏲️.
🔗
🔗
🕛 As we approach to the end of this year, let's take a moment to remember some of the events our staff participated on: 💭 conferences, field excursions, outreach activities and social events.
🎆 We wish you a wonderful end of 2025, and all the best in your personal and academic projects for 2026!🎉🎇
🎆 We wish you a wonderful end of 2025, and all the best in your personal and academic projects for 2026!🎉🎇
December 31, 2025 at 1:01 PM
🕛 As we approach to the end of this year, let's take a moment to remember some of the events our staff participated on: 💭 conferences, field excursions, outreach activities and social events.
🎆 We wish you a wonderful end of 2025, and all the best in your personal and academic projects for 2026!🎉🎇
🎆 We wish you a wonderful end of 2025, and all the best in your personal and academic projects for 2026!🎉🎇
📢Paper alert! Bennet Schuster and colleagues developed a new workflow to automate clast-fabric analysis using 🖥️machine learning on X-ray computed tomography scanned drill-cores
🔗https://doi.org/10.1111/bor.70023
🔗https://doi.org/10.1111/bor.70023
doi.org
December 30, 2025 at 9:30 AM
📢Paper alert! Bennet Schuster and colleagues developed a new workflow to automate clast-fabric analysis using 🖥️machine learning on X-ray computed tomography scanned drill-cores
🔗https://doi.org/10.1111/bor.70023
🔗https://doi.org/10.1111/bor.70023
✨🎄The Institute of Geological Sciences wishes you Happy Holidays!
❄️Thank you for being part of our community and all your contributions throughout the year.
❄️Thank you for being part of our community and all your contributions throughout the year.
December 24, 2025 at 3:00 PM
✨🎄The Institute of Geological Sciences wishes you Happy Holidays!
❄️Thank you for being part of our community and all your contributions throughout the year.
❄️Thank you for being part of our community and all your contributions throughout the year.
📢Paper alert! In their latest study, Piccoli et al. show how carbonates in ultramafic lithologies can efficiently return carbon to the deep mantle during subduction, in absence of external fluid infiltration.
🔗 doi.org/10.1186/s000...
🔗 doi.org/10.1186/s000...
Carbon retention during subduction of ophicarbonate rocks from the Zermatt-Saas unit (Western Alps) - Swiss Journal of Geosciences
Serpentinite-hosted carbonate rocks (i.e., ophicarbonates) are an important rock type for the deep C cycle because they can occur either in the slab or in the mantle wedge. We present a case study of ...
doi.org
December 23, 2025 at 3:08 PM
📢Paper alert! In their latest study, Piccoli et al. show how carbonates in ultramafic lithologies can efficiently return carbon to the deep mantle during subduction, in absence of external fluid infiltration.
🔗 doi.org/10.1186/s000...
🔗 doi.org/10.1186/s000...
💬 We are closing this year's activities with two MSc. talks on the topic of geological hazards🏔️. Well done both of you! 👏
December 19, 2025 at 12:05 PM
💬 We are closing this year's activities with two MSc. talks on the topic of geological hazards🏔️. Well done both of you! 👏