Eurasian Plate, African Plate, Philippine Plate: does this bring back memories of geography lessons? Earthquakes are triggered when these tectonic plates collide and when one of them slides under the other one. This process is called subduction. “We don't know exactly what is happening beneath our feet,” Marko Bermanec regrets. Except when these rocks rise to the surface and reveal something about these processes. As it happened once on the Greek island of Siros, for example, where rocks rose to the surface from a depth of up to 60 kilometres.
“We can see that fluids have flowed through the rocks,” explains the earth scientist. In his PhD thesis, he is now investigating the role this material played in the movement of the plates. “To understand better,” adds the young researcher, “how earthquakes, volcanic eruptions and subsequent tsunamis develop.”
The Croatian-born researcher has investigated these questions for more than a year at the University of Graz under the supervision of geologist Jesse Walters. Prior to that, he studied in Zagreb and Bern. He brought further research topics with him from there. For example, he is also devoting himself to pegmatites. These are coarse-grained rocks that contain economically important earths and ores such as lithium, niobium and tantalum.
Earth's history
Bermanec is also fascinated by the history of our planet. “During the pandemic, field studies were not possible. That's why I focused on this topic,” he explains his interest. He looks into the innermost depths of rocks to find clues about the Earth's development with the help of molecules. Marko Bermanec collaborated on an international paper that caused quite a stir. The scientists discovered evidence that life may have existed as early as 3.33 billion years ago and photosynthesis 2.52 billion years ago. science.apa.at/power-search/8174337410004380183
Stones have lined Marko Bermanec's path since childhood. “I started collecting minerals when I was in primary school,” he recalls. Today, he mainly collects new insights that he also wants to share. “After all, what’s my knowledge worth for if I don't pass it on?” he says, explaining his motivation for research and teaching. Bermanec will be doing that over the next three years at the University of Graz and in the surrounding area. “The Alps are a huge and exciting source of different rock types and geological processes.”