Structural Geology and Tectonics
The Structural Geological Working Group at Hamburg University focusses on unravelling structural, morpho-tectonic and tectono-magmatic processes in convergent tectonic settings. Current study areas are the Central and Southern Argentinian Andes and the Paleoproterozoic Eastern Penokean Orogen in the southern Canadian Shield. Structural field analysis is key to all projects. Field studies are complemented by microstructural analysis, brittle fault analysis, image analysis, remote sensing, 3D geometric and kinematic reconstructions and scaled analogue experiments in the recently established analogue modelling laboratory. The group studies also cratering processes of large terrestrial impact structures, notably at Sudbury (Canada), Vredefort (South Africa) and Chicxulub (Mexico), partly in the framework of the International Continental Scientific Drilling Program (ICDP) and the International Ocean Discovery Program (IODP). In this regard, the emphasize is on impact-induced rock deformation, notably the formation of impact melt breccias, and its influence on the pathways of base metal mineralizations, which is conducted in liaison with the mining industry.
Working Group - Ulrich Riller