Colloquium: Dr. Qian Tian - From Diatoms to Diagenesis: The Formation and Transformation of Biogenic Silica

Dr. Qian Tian INSTAAR visiting scientist; Institute of Subtropical Agriculture, Chinese Academy of Sciences Topic: From Diatoms to Diagenesis: The Formation and Transformation of Biogenic Silica Academic Host: Shaily Rahman Abstract: Biogenic minerals provide a link between biological processes and the geological cycling of elements, yet their composition and reactivity can continue to evolve from formation through burial. Diatom biogenic silica provides a particularly useful system for exploring this continuum. Continental weathering supplies silicon and other elements to aquatic environments, where diatoms convert dissolved Si into biogenic silica. Following deposition, biogenic silica may be recycled through dissolution, preserved in sediments, or transformed into secondary minerals during early diagenesis. How the properties acquired during biomineralization influence these subsequent transformations remains poorly understood. In this talk, I will present our work on the interactio...