Objetivo The precipitation of alkaline-earth carbonates in silica-rich alkaline solutions yields nanocrystalline aggregates that develop non-crystallographic morphologies. These purely inorganic hierarchical materials, discovered by the IP of this project, form under geochemically plausible conditions and closely resemble typical biologically induced mineral textures and shapes, thus the name ‘biomorphs’. The existence of silica biomorphs has questioned the use morphology as an unambiguous criterion for detection of primitive life remnants. Beyond applications, the study of silica biomorphs has revealed a totally new morphogenetic mechanism capable of creating crystalline materials with positive or negative constant curvature and biomineral-like textures which lead to the design of new pathways towards concerted morphogenesis and bottom-up self-assembly created by a self-triggered chemical coupling mechanism. The potential interest of these fascinating structures in Earth Sciences has never been explored mostly because of their complexity and multidisciplinary nature. PROMETHEUS proposes an in depth investigation of the nature of mineral structures such as silica biomorphs and chemical gardens, and the role of mineral self-organization in extreme alkaline geological environments. The results will impact current understanding of the early geological and biological history of Earth by pushing forward the unexplored field of inorganic biomimetic pattern formation. PROMETHEUS will provide this discipline with much needed theoretical and experimental foundations for its quantitative application to Earth Sciences. The ambitious research program in PROMETHEUS will require the development of high-end methods and instruments for the non-intrusive in-situ characterization of geochemically important variables, including pH mapping with microscopic resolution, time resolved imaging of concentration gradients, microscopic fluid dynamics, and characterization of ultraslow growth rates. Ámbito científico engineering and technologymaterials engineeringcrystalshumanitieshistory and archaeologyhistorynatural scienceschemical sciencesinorganic chemistryinorganic compoundsnatural sciencesphysical sciencesclassical mechanicsfluid mechanicsfluid dynamicsnatural sciencesearth and related environmental sciences Programa(s) FP7-IDEAS-ERC - Specific programme: "Ideas" implementing the Seventh Framework Programme of the European Community for research, technological development and demonstration activities (2007 to 2013) Tema(s) ERC-AG-PE10 - ERC Advanced Grant - Earth system science Convocatoria de propuestas ERC-2013-ADG Consulte otros proyectos de esta convocatoria Régimen de financiación ERC-AG - ERC Advanced Grant Institución de acogida AGENCIA ESTATAL CONSEJO SUPERIOR DE INVESTIGACIONES CIENTIFICAS Aportación de la UE € 2 329 171,00 Dirección CALLE SERRANO 117 28006 Madrid España Ver en el mapa Región Comunidad de Madrid Comunidad de Madrid Madrid Tipo de actividad Research Organisations Contacto administrativo Guillermo Sanjuanbenito Garcia (Mr.) Investigador principal Juan Manuel Garcia Ruiz (Prof.) Enlaces Contactar con la organización Opens in new window Sitio web Opens in new window Coste total Sin datos Beneficiarios (2) Ordenar alfabéticamente Ordenar por aportación de la UE Ampliar todo Contraer todo AGENCIA ESTATAL CONSEJO SUPERIOR DE INVESTIGACIONES CIENTIFICAS España Aportación de la UE € 2 329 171,00 Dirección CALLE SERRANO 117 28006 Madrid Ver en el mapa Región Comunidad de Madrid Comunidad de Madrid Madrid Tipo de actividad Research Organisations Contacto administrativo Guillermo Sanjuanbenito Garcia (Mr.) Investigador principal Juan Manuel Garcia Ruiz (Prof.) Enlaces Contactar con la organización Opens in new window Sitio web Opens in new window Coste total Sin datos ALMA MATER STUDIORUM - UNIVERSITA DI BOLOGNA Italia Aportación de la UE € 102 600,00 Dirección VIA ZAMBONI 33 40126 Bologna Ver en el mapa Región Nord-Est Emilia-Romagna Bologna Tipo de actividad Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Contacto administrativo Pier Paolo Palmieri (Dr.) Enlaces Contactar con la organización Opens in new window Sitio web Opens in new window Coste total Sin datos