Who we are?

We are part of the Isotope Group at UNIGE

We study the timing and mechanisms of brittle deformation processes using various isotope tracers to better understand the seismic cycle and the role of fluids in active fault zones around the world.

What we do?

We specialised in micro-scale analyses of fault-related structures such as vein-fill and slickenfibrues and we use LA-ICPMS dating approach to unravel their formation mechanism and timing (U-Pb and U-Th).  We work with oriented samples and study their growth mechanisms using both microscope  (XPL) and cathodoluminescent (CL) imaging.

Perach Nuriel, PhD

Geochronology, Geochemistry, Structural geology and tectonics

I am a Geologist, working with various methods such as geochronology, isotope geochemistry, and micro-structural analyses to unravel the geological history of major active plate boundaries with the hope to provide a better understanding of the seismic cycle and the role of fluids in active fault systems.

I have worked in the Dead Sea Fault, North and East Anatolian faults, and in the Eastern California Shear Zone, and currently have projects in Switzerland western Jura Haute-Chaine.

Lab members

Guillaume Bugnon

MSc student

Project

Location: Jura Haute-Chaine

I am studying the temporal and structural evolution of the western Jura Haute-Chaine using U-Pb calcite dating and 3D structural analyses.

Juan Filpe correa briceno

MSc student

Project

Location: Chenillet ophiolite, France

I am studying the temporal and structural evolution of the Chenille ophiolite, and how it developed from MOR to oceanic core complex. I am using  U-Pb dating of ophicalcite and U-Th/He analyses of the ultramaphic units in the Chenillet ophiolite.

Leopold chicoine

PhD student

Project

Location: Levant

I am studying the tectonic and climatic evolution of the Levant since the early Miocene using state-of-the-art U-Th-Pb geochronology of 'dirty carbonate'sediments.

Naomi iwamura

Occasional assistant

Project

Naomi wants to become a marine biologist but for now she helps our terrestrial projects!

Projects

News

February 2026

1.9 million-year-old finding points to the earliest evidence of humans outside of Africa

Our new dating shows ‘Ubeidiya is at least 1.9 million years old, forcing scientists to rethink how it compares with other early human sites.

Link
6 July 2025

Carbonate LA-ICPMS workshop

We co-organised the secound carbonate LA-ICPMS workshop that was held in Goldschmidt 2025 in Prague with more than 50 participants from 14 different countries.

Link
12-15 July, 2025

KIND workshop

We co-organised the ICDP KIND workshop - Lake Kinneret Drilling: reconstructing Pliocene-Quaternary hydroclimate and seismic history of the Levant (KIND). 12-15 July 2025, GFZ, Potsdam, Germany with more than 60 participants from 12 different countries.

Link
April 2025

Our new U-Th lab at UNIGE!

Our new U-Th geochronology lab at UNIGE is ready! With 3 new laminar-flow boxes we are ready to do U-Th analyses of various carbonate material.

Link

Contact us!

We are happy to hear from you.

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