CA23124 - Social, biological and climatic impacts of salt ages (SaltAges)

Salt and its deposits are valuable for Human Society and play a role in modifying the Earth System. Giant salt deposits have accumulated repeatedly throughout the history of the Earth in restricted evaporitic basins formed by the opening or closure of ocean basins. The precipitation and weathering of these massive evaporites alter the physical and chemical properties of the ocean, driving regional and global climate change, and the distribution and evolution of biota. The exploitation of these huge salt deposits has also played an important role in the development of human civilization as these minerals are essential for life. They remain critical for the planet’s sustainable future as storage places for hydrogen, carbon dioxide and nuclear waste. Despite this, salt-related geohazards, such as sinkholes and landslides, are poorly understood, particularly offshore. The purpose of SaltAges is to connect geoscientists, biologists, archaeologists, sociologists, historians, economists, engineers and artists to: 1) investigate the causes of salt giant formation and its role in local, regional and global climatic and biological events; 2) explore the role of salt deposits in the evolution of human society and culture in the past, present and future; and 3) develop a network of young researchers and innovators with appropriate skills and experience to lead the future scientific, industrial and societal development in this and other challenging topics.