Eon-ic Bonds: A Geochemical Investigation into Volcanic Heating & Gas Production During the End-Cretaceous Mass Extinction 66 mya, Spencer Koonin, UG '24 (AAE84404)

From Research Princeton Research Day May 2nd, 2024

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Complex chemical footprints are left behind by geological processes. By analyzing the chemical structures of rocks near to the magmatic eruption in the Deccan Traps region 66 million years ago, information can be obtained on maximum temperatures reached, volatile gases produced, and the radius of pyrolysis around each intrusion. This research is a geochemical investigation into the carbon structures of coal-containing rocks nearby volcanism by means of advanced analyses, including attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR). Probing the remarkable sensitivity to thermal environments of "rings" (highly conjugated aromatic structures) within coal reveals correlations between temperature, distance from the dike, and molecular "baking" (pyrolysis) transformations within coal samples. In this way, a "geothermometer" is constructed to calculate the ancient temperature gradients around each dike and to identify radii of coal baking that led to gas production during the mass extinction event. By elucidating the character of affected areas, this research seeks to advance the understanding of the killing mechanism of climate change that resulted from ancient magmatic events.

Date: May 3rd, 2024
Speaker: Spencer Koonin, UG '24 (AAE84404)
Department: Chemistry
Appears In: Princeton Research Day 2024 Research Day

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Eon-ic Bonds: A Geochemical Investigation into Volcanic Heating & Gas Production During the End-Cretaceous Mass Extinction 66 mya, Spencer Koonin, UG '24 (AAE84404)

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