Geochemical, isotope geochemical and mineralogical investigations on type, origin and transformation of nitrogen in Palaeozoic sedimentary rocks

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The aim of the project is the investigation of the nitrogen cycle in deeply buried and thermally strongly affected zones of sedimentary basins. Besides the nitrogen fixed in organic and inorganic sedimentary material, substantial accumulations of free, molecular nitrogen (N2) occur in certain areas of the Central European Basin. Up to now it is not entirely clear if and under which conditions this molecular nitrogen is liberated from sedimentary matter or whether it is derived partially from "deep sources" (mantle sources). The proposed research work will focus on the chemical and isotopic characterisation of the organic and inorganic nitrogen in Palaeozoic sedimentary sequences. The interactions between these two reservoirs and the mechanisms and conditions of the liberation of molecular nitrogen will be investigated. As a result of this interdisciplinary study we expect fundamental improvements in the perceptions of fluid formation and migration in the course of the structural and thermal evolution of sedimentary basins. This will also have important implications on the exploration strategies for hydrocarbon gases in the Central European Basin and other provinces with N2-rich natural gases.