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Content archived on 2024-06-18

Inorganic Nanoparticles in Archaean Carbonaceous Matter - a key to early life and palaeoenvironmental reconstructions

Objective

Earth is a dynamic system influenced by the interactions between life and physical environments at all scales of space and time. Though our planet is ~4.6 Gyr old, we don’t know yet when and in which environmental conditions it first became home to life. The early rocks hold the answers to these questions, but in a scattered and fragmentary manner with traces of life often being highly altered.
This project could provide a substantial contribution to the understanding of early life on Earth: Inorganic Nanoparticles (IN) in Archaean (A) Carbonaceous Matter (CMa) will be investigated to decipher crucial aspects of early life framed in its environmental context.
IN are naturally formed and removed from the environment by various chemical and biological processes. Relationships between microorganisms and adsorption of specific IN, and physico-chemical parameters have been observed in natural environments. Therefore, IN have a great potential as a biosignature and paleoenvironmental proxy when associated to fossil objects. Archaean cherts of Barberton greenstone belt (South Africa) contain the oldest known traces of fossil life in a well-preserved geological context. Micro-/nano-scale investigations of the nature and distribution of CMa and related IN in these primitive cherts by using a combination of high resolution microscopy techniques, will allow to:
• evaluate the composition and texture of carbonaceous chert, and identify the nature of the CMa and its IN;
• establish a relationship between IN content and specific types of CMa;
• explore their roles in the Archaean bio-geochemical processes, and their potential as biosignatures.
This project combines the experience of the applicant in biosignatures, her expertise in microscopy, and a network of internationally reputed scientists. The CIG Grant can make possible to realize this project, support the researchers integration at the Host Institutions, and enhance her academic carrier to obtain a professorship position.

Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)

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Topic(s)

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.

Call for proposal

Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.

FP7-PEOPLE-2013-CIG
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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.

MC-CIG - Support for training and career development of researcher (CIG)

Coordinator

ALMA MATER STUDIORUM - UNIVERSITA DI BOLOGNA
EU contribution
€ 100 000,00
Address
VIA ZAMBONI 33
40126 Bologna
Italy

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Region
Nord-Est Emilia-Romagna Bologna
Activity type
Higher or Secondary Education Establishments
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Total cost

The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.

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