The geologists are focusing on rocks composed of limestone or dolomite, collectively known as carbonates.
Carbonate rocks are the reservoirs for much of the oil and natural gas production in Kansas.
Researchers are interested in the factors that determine how these rocks are deposited in shallow seas. Once we understand the importance of each of these variables, we will have a better understanding of the geologic record. The researchers plan to focus their field work in the area around the Mediterranean Sea on rocks deposited during the Miocene Period of geologic history, which began about 20 million years ago and ended about 5 million years ago. The area is a natural outdoor laboratory ideally suited to the study of these types of rocks. By understanding the different factors that control the deposition of these rocks, we should be able to better isolate the factors that influenced deposition of carbonate rocks in other places.