Dr. Ferenc Forray

Dr. Ferenc L. Forray

Associate Professor

Babes-Bolyai University,

Department of Geology

M.Kogălniceanu 1, 400081 Cluj-Napoca, Romania and

Emil G. Racoviță Institute

Clinicilor 5-7, 400006 Cluj-Napoca, Romania

Interest in: Geochemistry, Isotope geochemistry, Caves, Paleoclimatology, Pollution

e-mail: ferenc.forray@ubbcluj.ro

Education:

Habilitation: Babes-Bolyai University, Geology (Geochemistry), 2016

Postdoctoral: University of California, Davis, (Host: Prof. Alexandra Navrotsky) 2003-2006

PhD: Babes-Bolyai University, Geology, 2002

Research: IfU GmbH Privates Institut für Umweltanalysen, Germany (Prof. Wolfram Scharff) 1997

Research: Stellenbosch University, South Africa (Prof. D.K. Hallbauer) 1996

MsC: Babes-Bolyai University, Geology, 1995

B.S.: Babes-Bolyai University, Geology and geophysical engineer, 1994

Research:

His research interests encompass a broad spectrum of geochemical and environmental topics, emphasizing a multidisciplinary approach to advancing the understanding of geochemical processes. A primary focus involves the detailed geochemical characterization of natural environments, including karst systems, mineral waters, and sedimentary formations. Through isotopic and trace-element analyses, he studies paleoenvironmental and climatic reconstructions, deriving critical insights from cave guano, speleothems, and soil profiles to interpret past environmental changes and anthropogenic influences. Additionally, his study of mineralogy, with particular attention to the thermochemistry of jarosites, focus on processes that shape the Earth’s crust, with relevant implications for planetary science, such as reconstructing Mars’ ancient climate. His current research of extreme environments, such as sulphur- and CO₂-rich caves, represents an integrative approach to understand the interactions between geochemical processes, microbial ecosystems, and environmental evolution.

Selected Publications:

Forray, F. L., Dumitru, O. A., Atlas, Z. D., and Onac, B. P., 2024, Past anthropogenic impacts revealed by trace elements in cave guano: Chemosphere, v. 360, p. 142447. doi: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2024.142447.

Forray, F.L., Onac, B.P., Tanţău, I., Wynn, J.G., Tămaş, T., Coroiu, I., Giurgiu, A., 2015. A Late Holocene environmental history of a bat guano deposit from Romania: an isotopic, pollen and microcharcoal study. Quaternary Science Reviews 127, 141-154 doi: 10.1016/j.quascirev.2015.05.022.

Onac, B.P., Hutchinson, S.M., Geantă, A., Forray, F.L., Wynn, J.G., Giurgiu, A.M., Coroiu, I., 2015. A 2500-year Late Holocene multi-proxy record of vegetation and hydrologic changes from a cave guano-clay sequence in SW Romania. Quaternary Research 83, 437-448. doi: 10.1016/j.yqres.2015.01.007.

Forray, F.L., Smith, A.M.L., Drouet, C., Navrotsky, A., Wright, K., Hudson-Edwards, K.A. & Dubbin, W.E. 2010, Synthesis, characterization and thermochemistry of a Pb-jarosite. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, 74 (1): 215-224.

Navrotsky, A., Forray, F.L. & Drouet, C. 2005, Jarosite stability on Mars. Icarus,  176 (1): 250-253.

Full Publication List

https://scholar.google.ro/citations?user=RsnPBRgAAAAJ&hl=en

Teaching:

Geology (1997 – Present)

Geochemistry (2002 – Present)

Instrumental methods (1997 – Present)

Applied Computer Science in Geology – QGIS (1997 – Present)

Application of GIS in geology (2010 – Present)