Andre Baldermann

Graz University of Technology | TU Graz · Institute of Applied Geosciences

Stratigraphic ages from conventional glauconite geochronology are commonly younger than those obtained via high temperature chronometers. The widely used glauconite reference material GL‐O, for example, has a K‐Ar age (95.03 ± 1.11 Ma) ~ 5 Ma younger than its expected stratigraphic age. To identify the influences on glauconite ages and assess the s...

The monitoring of carbon emissions is increasingly becoming a sustainability issue worldwide. Despite being largely unnoticed, the toxic gas carbon monoxide (CO) is ubiquitous in mechanized tunnel driving, but the individual sources, release and enrichment mechanisms are often unknown. In this study, the generation of CO from organic matter contain...

The hydration of periclase [MgO] to yield brucite [Mg(OH)2] is of high relevance in many technical and man-made surroundings, regarding its volume expansive reaction and the development of distinct crystal morphologies. Although studies on the MgO–Mg(OH)2 conversion behavior are numerous, the decisive parameters controlling its kinetics as well as...

Soil microstructure, often defined as the combination of particle arrangement and bonding, can strongly influence the stiffness and strength of sedimentary deposits. As undisturbed soil sampling is a challenging task in fine-grained soils, seismic in situ testing is becoming increasingly more important to investigate its mechanical behaviour. The a...

The carbonate-rich shelf facies of the Ediacaran Doushantuo Formation (South China) have produced a broad array of microfossil and isotope proxy records which underpin much of our understanding of environmental change and biospheric evolution during this key time period. Recent reports of locally abundant authigenic, Mg-rich saponite clay in the Ya...

Dolomite is globally present in past geological records, but rare in modern environments. The mechanisms favouring its precipitation under ambient conditions remain highly debated. This study investigates sediments, containing high concentrations of early diagenetic calcian dolomite, from alkaline Lake Van (Republic of Türkiye, formally Turkey) dat...

Calcite-aragonite alternations are documented in sedimentary deposits worldwide, but their formation is still poorly understood and individual CaCO3 precipitation pathways are rarely confirmed experimentally. Therefore, (sub)recent CaCO3 sinter formation in a historic subsurface adit at Erzberg (Austria) was used as a natural laboratory to monitor...

We present geochemical and mineralogical datasets for five new mud volcanoes in continental Azerbaijan (Hamamdagh and Bendovan) and the adjacent Caspian Sea (Khara-Zire, Garasu and Sangi-Mughan). The fluid ejects have a Na–Cl-type composition and are generated by the mixing of evaporated Caspian seawater and low- to high-salinity pore waters, as in...

Geopolymers are inorganic, chemically resistant aluminosilicate-based binding agents, which remove hazardous metal ions from exposed aqueous media. However, the removal efficiency of a given metal ion and the potential ion remobilization have to be assessed for individual geopolymers. Therefore, copper ions (Cu2+) were removed by a granulated, meta...

Glauconite is an authigenic clay mineral that is common in marine sedimentary successions. Dating of glauconite to determine the depositional age of sedimentary sequences has a long history but has fallen into disfavor due to the difficulty of obtaining "pure" glauconite separates. Recent advances in sedimentary petrography and reaction cell mass s...

Calcareous nannofossils evolved in the global ocean from the Carnian (early Late Triassic) and have contributed to the accumulation of biogenic calcium carbonate in marine sediments since then. Bio-diversification and bio-productivity became more significant in the Rhaetian (Late Triassic), representing an important period to understand the dynamic...

Calcium isotopes (δ 44/40Ca) are particularly useful in palaeo-environmental studies due to the key role of carbonate minerals in continental weathering and their formation in seawater. The calcium isotope ratio can provide hints on past changes in the calcium fluxes, environmental shifts, ecological factors and alternatively diagenesis of carbona...

Sedimentary rocks contain a unique record of the evolution of the Earth system. Deciphering this record requires a robust understanding of the identity, origin, composition, and post-depositional history of individual constituents. Petrographic analysis informed by Scanning Electron Microscope - Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (SEM-EDS) mineral mapp...

Reference materials (RMs) with well‐characterised composition are necessary for reliable quantification and quality control of isotopic analyses of geological samples. For in situ Rb‐Sr analysis of silicate minerals via laser ablation inductively coupled plasma tandem mass spectrometry (LA‐ICP‐MS/MS) with a collision/reaction cell, there is a gener...

Fine-grained sedimentary deposits can bear an increased risk for building settlements due to their moderate stiffness and strength properties, as well as high groundwater tables. However, some buildings, e.g., situated on shallow foundations in Alpine basins, show only relatively small settlements because the formation of carbonate cement can creat...

The aim of this paper is to show the concise chemico-physical adsorbent performance of water purification systems utilizing geo- (e.g., allophane, clinoptilolite, and smectite) and bio-polymer materials (e.g., chitosan or cellulose nanocomposite materials) and to propose an optimal ground-water remediation technique. The performance of geo-material...

The Ediacaran Period witnessed major environmental change and an expansion of eukaryotic life following the Marinoan glaciation. The Doushantuo Formation of south China has furnished much of our understanding of Earth System and biosphere evolution during this period, but its depositional setting–marine or non-marine–is still debated. Here we condu...

Sorption of oxyanions, such as pentavalent vanadium (V(V)), by reactive, poorly crystallized clay minerals and Fe-(hydr)oxides surfaces significantly contributes to the nutrient and pollutant transport in soils. However, only a few studies yet exist, which evaluate and quantify the role of such common soil substituents on V sorption. In this contri...

The scarcity of well-preserved and directly dateable sedimentary sequences is a major impediment to inferring the Earth's paleo-environmental evolution. The authigenic mineral glau-conite can potentially provide absolute stratigraphic ages for sedimentary sequences and constraints on paleo-depositional conditions. This requires improved approaches...

The hydrothermal alteration of perlite into zeolites was studied using a two-step approach. Firstly, perlite powder was transformed into Na-P1 (GIS) or hydro(xy)sodalite (SOD) zeolites at 100 °C and 24 h using 2 or 5 M NaOH solutions. Secondly, the Si:Al molar ratio of the reacted Si-rich solution was adjusted to 1 by Na-aluminate addition to produ...

The increasing use of industrial residues for the remediation of landscapes contaminated with heavy metals diminishes the negative environmental impact of the contamination itself, reduces the demand for primary raw materials and minimizes the costs for the disposal of the residues. On the other hand, industrial residues often contain heavy metals...

Retrograde clay mineral reactions (reverse weathering), including glauconite formation, are first-order controls on element sequestration in marine sediments. Here, we report substantial element sequestration by glauconite formation in shallow marine settings from the Triassic to the Holocene, averaging 3 ± 2 mmol·cm − ²·kyr −1 for K, Mg and Al, 16...

Knowledge about interactions between cementitious materials and dissolved metal (Me) ions is key for environmental remediation and waste management, but thermodynamic data on this topic are still limited. We present solubility data for nanocrystalline C-A-S-H phases substituted by distinct Me ions with (Ca + Me)/(Si + Al) molar ratios from 0.86 to...

Mineral scale deposits in water drainage and supply systems are a common and challenging issue, especially by clogging the water flow. The removal of such unwanted deposits is cost intensive arguing for case-specific and sustainable prevention strategies. In the present study, a novel on-site approach to prevent calcium carbonate (CaCO3) scale form...

Drucksondierungen (CPTu) und seismische Flachdilatometer Tests (SDMT) stellen kosten- sowie zeit-effiziente Alternativen zur klassischen Laboruntersuchung dar und finden seit geraumer Zeit in der Geotechnik verstärkt Anwendung. Bestehende Korrelationen, welche eine Parameterbestimmung basierend auf CPTu und SDMT Messgrößen erlauben, zeigen in schlu...

Die Dauerhaftigkeit von Spritzbeton kann, insbesondere in seiner Verwendung als Stütz-und Ausbaumaterial im Tunnelbau, durch chemische Angriffe deutlich herabgesetzt werden. Im Forschungsprojekt "Entwicklung neuer dauerhafter und nachhaltiger Spritzbetone (ASSpC)" wurden Prüfkörper von Trocken-und Nassspritzbetonen in Großspritzversuchen hergestell...

The evolution of the microstructure in corrosive environments plays a key role for the performance and durability of cementitious materials, however, appropriate methods to quantitatively describe microstructural alterations are limited. Here, statistical analysis of microscopic data is used to describe changes in porosity, continuous and individua...

The Valley of Lakes basin (Mongolia) contains a unique continental sedimentary archive, suitable for constraining the influence of tectonics and climate change on the aridification of Central Asia in the Cenozoic. We identify the sedimentary provenance, the (post)depositional environment and the palaeo-climate based on sedimentological, petrographi...

Calcium-aluminium-silicate-hydrate (C-AS -H) gels containing heavy metal ions (Me: Co 2+ , Cu 2+ or Zn 2+) were precipitated at different Me/Si molar ratios to study the uptake mechanism and immobilization capacity. Aqueous solution chemistry and solid-phase characterization using XRD, FTIR, ESEM-EDX, TEM-HAADF and TG-DSC methods reveal threshold v...

Retrograde clay mineral reactions (i.e., reverse weathering), including glauconite formation, are first-order controls on element (re)cycling vs sequestration in modern and ancient marine sediments. Here, we report substantial K–Mg–Fe sequestration by glauconite formation in shallow marine settings from the Triassic to the Holocene, averaging 4 ± 3...

Channel ironstone deposits (CID) represent a unique variety of iron-rich sedimentary rocks, which are mostly found in Northern Kazakhstan and in Western Australia. The origin and the depositional conditions of this rare variety of ironstone are poorly understood. This study investigates the nature of the Lisakovsk CID and assesses the iron source(s...

This proposal identifies potential controls for landslides initiation and progression, and presents an engineered solution to help prevent them.

Over millions of years, the interaction of marine basalt with percolating seawater in low-temperature ocean floor hydrothermal systems leads to the formation of calcite and aragonite. The presence of these minerals in marine basalts provides evidence for substantial CO2 fixation in these rocks. Here, we report on laboratory experiments to study thi...

Nanoscale zero-valent iron (nZVI) based (nano)composites supported by clay mineral substrates are a promising technology for the in-situ remediation of groundwater and (sub)soils contaminated with chlorinated hydrocarbons, such as trichloroethene (TCE). However, the physicochemical processes and interaction mechanisms between nZVI particles, clay m...

Consolidation of MgO castables by organic acids is a common technique for various applications, but the distinct hardening mechanisms of caste stone formation are still poorly constrained. In this study, the individual hardening behavior was experimentally investigated by intermixing of (i) active fine-grained magnesia (MgO_A), (ii) dead-burned coa...

The physicochemical characterization of the groundwater from the southern part of the Pannonian Basin of the Neogene age was investigated. High concentrations of manganese and nitrate as well as selected polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) above legislation were monitored as the main challenges. The novel cost-effective nano-geopolymer remediat...

The Valley of Lakes basin (Mongolia) contains a unique continental sedimentary archive, suitable for constraining the influence of tectonics and climate change on the aridification of Central Asia in the Cenozoic. We identify the sedimentary provenance, the (post)depositional environment and the palaeo-climate based on sedimentological, petrographi...

Landslides can behave as dynamic processes, which emerge from the complex interplay of tectonics, erosion, weathering and gravitational influences, triggered by various hydrological, mineralogical, biological and geotechnical factors. Integral studies to assess the mechanisms underlying landslide initiation and progression are mainly focussed on sp...

The Miocene Diatom Suite sediments of the Eastern Paratethys Sea, Azerbaijan, provide significant information to establish how Middle Miocene climate influenced erosion, sedimentation and deposition in the marine environments and continental source areas of Western Asia. Discriminant function analyses, ratios of Ti/Al, Si/Ca and Sr/Ca as well as mi...

Shotcrete is a material frequently used in underground constructions such as tunnels, where Ca leaching and sulfate attack are important durability issues. In this study, two test methods were employed to investigate the sulfate resistance and leaching behaviour of dry- and wet-mix shotcretes in sulfate solutions on a time-resolved basis. Tests on...

The origin of Quaternary dolomites in continental environments (e.g. karst and lakes) is barely constrained compared to marine dolomites in sedimentary records. Here we present a study of dolomite and aragonite formations infilling young fractures of the ‘Erzberg' iron ore deposit, Austria, under continental-meteoric and low temperature conditions....

The detrital clay mineral assemblage contained within sedimentary archives has long been used as a proxy for palaeo-tectonic, -climate, and -environmental reconstructions as well as provenance analysis of sediments. However, many clay minerals such as smectite are highly reactive and thus prone to post-depositional alteration, or commonly forming d...

The early hydration of cementitious systems accelerated by an alkali-free aluminium sulphate based product was investigated in the presence and absence of fine limestone. The results show that the first seconds after the accelerator is added to the wet mix play a key role: Simultaneously to the massive ettringite formation, the Al2(SO4)3 accelerato...

Efficient capture of barium (Ba) from solution is a serious task in environmental protection and remediation. Herein, the capacity and the mechanism of Ba adsorption by natural and iron(III) oxide (FeO) modified allophane (ALO), beidellite (BEI) and zeolite (ZEO) were investigated by considering the effects of contact time, temperature, pH, Ba 2+ c...

Calcareous nannofossils are considered to be the most productive calcifying organisms, but the impact of their emergence on the chemistry of the ocean in the Late Triassic is not understood yet. Evolutionary details of this bio-event are missing due to the scarcity of well-preserved outcrops worldwide. The current study focuses on the calcareous na...

The Late Triassic time interval witnessed several important biological turnovers, extinctions and onset of new life forms. Therefore, it is crucial to better constrain the tectonic, climatic and oceanographic framework at this time. The radiogenic strontium isotopic composition (⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr) of seawater, recorded in marine carbonates is sensitive to...

Understanding the fluid-rock interactions occurring in terrestrial mud volcanoes is a premise for elucidating the (bio)geochemical processes involved in the release of aqueous fluids, mud and gases to the Earth's surface and atmosphere. For the first time, fluid and mud ejecta from the mud volcanoes at Bahar and Zenbil, located in eastern Azerbaija...

Fluid-rock interactions in hydrothermal systems at or near mid-oceanic ridges (MOR) play a major role in determining the composition of the oceanic crust and seawater. To quantify the processes that govern cation exchange in these environments we have experimentally studied the isotopic evolution of δ26/24Mg in the fluid phase during seawater-basal...

The chemical resistance of eco-concrete with high levels (35–65 wt-%) of limestone substitution against Ca-leaching behaviour and sulphate attack was investigated by immersing powdered material in a 10 g L−1 Na2SO4 solution. Time-resolved hydrochemical characterisation of the reactive solutions was coupled with chemical, structural and mineralogica...

Recent advances in concrete technology have enabled the manufacturing of hydrated cements blended with high levels of supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs). These composites can exhibit mechanical and physical properties similar to ordinary Portland-based cements; yet their equivalent performance in “corrosive” environments has to be proven....

Hydrated aluminosilicates were synthesized with and without aqueous heavy metals (Me), such as cobalt (Co), chromium (Cr), and zinc (Zn), by a sol–gel process at different initial molar ratios of Ca/(Si + Al) (0.6–1.6) and Me/Si (0.0–2.0), and constant Al/Si ratio (0.05) using equilibrium-approaching experiments. The chemical composition of the rea...

The reconstruction of regional long‐term patterns recorded in marine sedimentary successions of the Eastern Paratethys is important in understanding the role of Cenozoic climate change and orogenic activity on the depositional environment and sedimentation dynamics in Western Asia. In this study, the environmental conditions in the early to middle...

Limitations in the understanding of chemical key controls on concrete damaging mechanisms exacerbate predictions on the long-term performance and durability of cementitious materials. Therefore, the scope of the project “ASSpC - Advanced and Sustainable Sprayed Concrete” is to obtain a better mechanistic understanding of the processes underlying de...

The capacity and mechanism of the adsorption of aqueous barium (Ba), cobalt (Co), strontium (Sr), and zinc (Zn) by Ecuadorian (NatAllo) and synthetic (SynAllo-1 and SynAllo-2) allophanes were studied as a function of contact time, pH, and metal ion concentration using kinetic and equilibrium experiments. The mineralogy, nano-structure, and chemical...

Fluid-rock interactions in hydrothermal systems at or near mid-oceanic ridges (MOR) play a major role in determining the composition of the oceanic crust and seawater. Our understanding of the rate and nature of these reactions is limited, however, by the paucity of natural samples. To help quantify the processes that govern cation exchange in thes...