Project description
Harnessing special particles to reconstruct the Earth’s magnetic history
Hidden magnetic data stored in tiny, stable particles within geological materials hold the key to understanding Earth’s magnetic history. Known as vortex-state particles, these particles are predicted to reliably record the Earth’s magnetic field. However, current methods cannot detect or analyse them, leaving much of this valuable information inaccessible. The ERC-funded SPARK project will pioneer a new technique called nanomagnetic tomography. This method isolates and analyses magnetic signals from these tiny, reliable vortex-state particles. By systematically studying their stability based on size, shape and mineral composition, SPARK will create reliable protocols to reconstruct the Earth’s magnetic field.
Objective
The Earth’s magnetic field plays a pivotal role in the Earth Sciences: magnetic signals stored in geological materials, such as igneous rocks, provide a record of Earth’s magnetic history and are essential for understanding e.g. tectonic processes, planetary dynamics, and the behavior of the geomagnetic field itself. Much of this record, however, remains inaccessible because not all magnetic particles in a sample reliably record the Earth’s magnetic field. Small, sub-micron vortex-state particles are predicted to be stable and reliable recorders, but they are undetectable by current micromagnetic methods. SPARK propels paleomagnetism into the nano realm by isolating and analyzing magnetic signals exclusively from these tiny but reliable particles, unlocking a wealth of hidden paleomagnetic data.
Therefore, SPARK will pioneer Nanomagnetic Tomography, a technique designed to isolate and analyze signals from only the most reliable vortex-state particles in a sample. By systematically assessing their magnetic stability as function of their size, shape, and mineralogy, SPARK will identify which particles are dependable recorders and which should be excluded. Building on this foundation, it will develop robust and efficient protocols to reconstruct the past direction and intensity of the Earth’s magnetic field, especially from magnetically complex materials that conventional methods cannot reliably analyze.
This transformative approach will revolutionize paleomagnetic research, providing unprecedented insights into enigmatic periods of Earth’s magnetic history, such as the Devonian and Ediacaran, as well as the dynamics of geomagnetic reversals and anomalies like the South Atlantic Anomaly. Beyond igneous rocks, SPARK’s methodologies will redefine studies of e.g. the oldest rocks on Earth, meteorites, and extraterrestrial samples, opening entirely new frontiers in understanding planetary evolution across the Solar System.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
This project's classification has been human-validated.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
This project's classification has been human-validated.
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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HORIZON.1.1 - European Research Council (ERC)
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Topic(s)
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Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
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Call for proposal
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Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) ERC-2025-COG
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3584 CS Utrecht
Netherlands
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