Stefan Loehr

Biography

Professor at Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences,Macquarie University.

Research Interest

My research interests lie broadly in the field of biogeoscience, where I aim to understand how life influences geologic processes and vice-versa. To answer these questions, I study mainly fine-grained sedimentary rocks. Not only do these preserve an unparalleled, high-resolution record of the past, they also play a key role in biogeochemical cycles that are fundamental to the Earth System (e.g. C, Fe, S). I utilise a combination of fieldwork, analytical, experimental and modeling approaches to extract, validate and interpreted this information. My research includes both fundamental questions such as the interplay of biological activity and inorganic minerals in organic matter burial in marine sediments, but also more applied research motivated by the challenges facing society today. Current research interest include: (i) Organic carbon preservation and burial in shales. (ii) Animal-sediment interactions in low-oxygen settings: what is the biogeochemical impact of benthic meiofaunal burrowers, and how far back into the sedimentary record does their influence extend? (iii) Palaeoredox proxies in shales (iv) Weathering and soil formation, in particular the impact of wildfires (v) Shale petrology and diagenesis (vi) What makes a good unconventional shale reservoir? (vii) Development and application of high resolution imaging and microanalysis tools for mudrock characterization and paleoenvironmental analysis