Accredited Research Groups of the Institute for Geological and Geochemical Research

Archeometriai és Bioarcheológiai Kutatócsoport | Archaeometry and Bioarchaeology Research Group ⧉ – Dr. Bajnóczi Bernadett

Geokémia & Paleoklíma Kutatócsoport | Geochemistry and Paleoclimate Research Group ⧉ – Prof. Dr. Demény Attila (része: Paleoklíma 2ka)

Környezet-, Víz- és Biogeokémiai Kutatócsoport | Research Group for Environmental-, Hydro- and Biogeochemistry – Dr. Sipos Péter

 

Former reseach groups

Geobiomineralisation and Astrobiology Research Group - Dr. Polgári Márta
Group Leader: Dr. Polgári Márta
Group Members: Kereszturi Ákos, Fekete József, Krebsz Melinda
A brief description of research topics:
In the research team, Márta Polgári is researching the microbial aspects of rocks and ores on Earth, Ákos Kereszturi is researching the planetary aspect of the Earth findings, József Fekete and Melinda Krebsz are doing the material studies (organic matter - biomarker studies, GC-MS, and also fine structure studies of organic matter, clay minerals, etc., FTIR), and the participants are working on the data are jointly interpreted and published.Microbial activity as an environmental indicator in mineral, rock and ore genetics - perspectives for the planets of the Solar System, with a special focus on Mars.
Traces of microbial activity can be recognised in many minerals, rocks and ores by specific tissue patterns, organic matter residues, isotopic features, etc. Previous research results have made clear the significant contribution of microbial activity in the geological samples studied and raised the possibility of its use as an environmental indicator. The results obtained in different formations of the domestic Jurassic manganese ore deposits justify further research on ore types and other geological sample groups not yet investigated.
Microorganisms play an important role in the concentration, mineralisation, transport and sedimentation of almost all elements on Earth.
Microbial processes that influence mineralization and formation occur under well-defined conditions (Eh, pH, T, etc.), which provides the opportunity to specify the conditions of formation in geological materials.
The planned research aims at investigating the potential of microbial traces as environmental indicators on different geological sample types (ores), and using terrestrial analogies, we also plan to look at the astrobiological aspects of the planets of the Solar System.
Within the framework of mineralogical, tissue and geochemical research, rock microscopy, XRD, GC-MS, FTIR (CSFK), SEM EDS (MFA), Raman (University of Szeged) and ICP studies are planned, as well as unconventional Fe isotope studies to clarify microbial activity (USGS).
Nowadays, it is possible to study geochemical processes outside the Earth, based on the measurement and analysis data from countless space probes and meteorites. In the context of planetary sciences, the detailed study of Fe and Mn oxides and clay minerals is of particular importance because they can be useful tools for prehistoric reconstruction. This topic has come into focus in the context of Mars and astrobiological research in general (extraterrestrial life), as the separation of geochemical processes and known biogenic/biogenic processes on Earth may be extrapolated to other planets.
Applying the results of the research on manganese ore formation found at Úrkút, the main objectives of the present research topic are:
- Identification/classification of possible markers that can be observed on Earth, which can also be observed on Mars and can help to distinguish biogenic/biogenic process structures in oxidative sediments. In addition, to analyse the role of Mn and Fe oxides as possible environmental indicators on Mars, identifying the types of analogous chemical processes that could be present under the specific conditions of the planet. The aim is also to predict the observability of hypothetical microbial mineralisation for future probes using the conditions and their realistic capabilities.
This research topic could create new links between Earth and planetary sciences and provide useful information for further research on Mars as well as for testing and developing observing methods and sensors for future probes.
Environmental Geochemistry and Geoecology Research Group - Dr. Sipos Péter
Group Leader: Dr. Sipos Péter
Group Members: Balázs Brigitta Réka, Jakab Gergely, Németh Tibor, Sipos Péter, Szalai Zoltán
A brief description of research topics:
A brief description of the research topics that have been or are planned:

  1. Integrated magnetic, geochemical and mineralogical analysis of airborne dust
    Mineralogical and geochemical characterisation of airborne particulate matter, with particular emphasis on the determination of the major heavy metal pollutants, their binding to the carrier phase and chemical leaching studies of their mobilisation to human health.
  2. Impact of landscape patterns on wetland iron balance
    Detailed mineralogical and geochemical characterisation of mosaic ecotopes of wetland soil-vegetation systems, with particular emphasis on the mineralogical-geochemical properties of the diverse iron-oxide phases present in them and the relationship between the geochemical microenvironments.
  3. Complex environmental geochemistry of heavy metal-binding capacity of soil-forming minerals
    A complex environmental geochemical characterisation of the role of soil mineral phases in heavy metal sequestration, with particular emphasis on the effects of pH, other heavy metals and soil mineral phases that play a direct or indirect role in heavy metal sequestration.
Water Geochemistry Research Group - Dr. Fórizs István
Group Leader: Dr. Fórizs István
Group Members: Fórizs István, Kármán Krisztina, Kern Zoltán, Czuppon György, Deák József
A brief description of research topics:
The research team studies elements of the hydrological cycle, including the interaction of water with its environment and the dynamics of water flow, using mainly environmental isotopes, chemical data and modelling software. One of these elements is the determination of spatial and temporal characteristics of the stable isotopic composition of precipitation water (multi-point determination of the isotopic composition of precipitation water, 2D modelling). The other element is groundwater, which is of major importance for drinking water supply, where the leakage hydraulics of the coastal filtered drinking water sources on the Szentendre island and inter-island in the Danube will be investigated and verified with isotopic data, partly in the framework of international cooperation.