Olivier BEYSSAC

- Laboratoire de Géologie (CNRS UMR 8538), Ecole Normale Supérieure, Paris -

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Research statement

My personal interest is in understanding the evolution of solid carbonaceous material in natural environment. This research was first dedicated to the study of carbonaceous materials from metamorphic rocks using Raman spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy. We have also performed an experimental study of graphitisation to discuss the role of pressure, temperature, carbon precursor and time on this complex transformation. Altogether, we have shown that the degree of graphitisation determined by Raman spectroscopy of carbonaceous material (RSCM) can be used as a quantitative geothermometer indicating the peak metamorphic temperature. I am now interested in testing the RSCM method in various metamorphic contexts and in confronting the results with other petrological and/or thermochronological constraints.

Recently, I have been involved in projects dedicated (i) to the search of biogenicity in metamorphic carbonaceous material and more generally to the fossilization of organic matter and (ii) to the fate of metamorphic carbons during erosion.

Towards more details on graphitization during metamorphism : click here

Towards more details on how to estimate metamorphic temperature using the RSCM method : click here

Towards my publication list : click here

Keywords : Carbon, graphitization, graphite, Raman spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, metamorphism, nature, disordered carbonaceous material, erosion.

Funding : INSU/DyETI, INSU/Reliefs, CIFRE IFP, ANR Geocarbons, Caltech CTO.

Some ongoing research projects

	HP-HT EXPERIMENTS ON CARBONS Experimental study of the transformations of carbonaceous material under pressure and/or temperature and time: - Laser-driven shock experiments on graphite and diamond. This work is performed in collaboration with Thibaut de Resseguier (LCD Poitiers) and Jean-Pierre Petitet (LIMHP Villetaneuse). Experiments have been performed by Thibaut thanks to the LULI facility (Ecole Polytechnique, Palaiseau).
	THERMAL STRUCTURE AND EXHUMATION OF TAIWAN Characterization of the thermal structure and exhumation Taïwan. This work was initiated as a Caltech Tectonics Observatory (CTO) project in collaboration with Jean-Philippe Avouac and Ken Farley (GPS Caltech), Martine Simoes (PhD GPS Caltech/ENS Géologie, now a postdoc at Geosciences Rennes), Yue-Gau Chen (NTU Taiwan) and Yu-Chang Chan (Academia Sinica). More details on the Taiwan project can be found on the CTO webpage. This project was initially funded by CTO (PI Avouac) and now by ANR ACTS Taiwan (PI Lallemand),
	RSCM Method Developing and testing the RSCM method in various contexts : - Himalaya in Nepal and India in collaboration with Jean-Philippe Avouac and his group (GPS Caltech) and Julien Célérier (ANU Canberra), - Alpine orogen in western Europe with Bruno Goffé (ENS Géologie), Betico-Rifan system in Morrocco & Spain (PhD François Négro, now a postdoc in Neuchatel) and old metamorphic complexes in Morrocco (PhD Abdeltif Lahfid). Part of this project was funded by a INSU/DyETI project (PI Beyssac) and now is funded by ANR Geocarbons (PI Beyssac), - a new project consists in confronting RSCM results with other methods in collaboration with Christian chopin (ENS Géologie) and Walter Maresch (Universitat Bochum) with a particular application to Cuba. This project is supported by a Procope exchange program (PI Chopin).
	EROSION AND THE FATE OF CARBON A study of erosion and alteration of carbonaceous material from metamorphic rocks in the Alps. This work is performed in collaboration with Bruno Goffé (ENS Géologie), Jean-Noël Rouzaud (ENS Géologie) & Sylvain Huon (BIOMCO Paris). This project is funded by a INSU/Relief project (PI Beyssac). Recently, I have started a collaboration with Valier Galy and Christian France-Lanord (CRPG Nancy) to follow the fate of fossil carbon from the erosion of the Himalayan-Tibet system.
	FOSSILIZATION PROCESSES A study of the origin of carbonaceous material in metamorphic rocks including an experimental approach. This work is performed in collaboration with Bruno Goffé (ENS), Karim Benzerara and François Guyot (IMPMC Paris). The PhD candidate on this project is Sylvain Bernard (ENS Géologie). This project is funded by ANR Geocarbons (PI Beyssac).

Want more details on my research? Contact me (beyssac - at - geologie.ens.fr) !

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