The distribution of porosity and permeabiilty depends on (1) processes that occurred during and shortly after deposition of the U. Muschelkalk carbonate sediments in the Middle Triassic, and on (2) events of mineral dissolution (porosity enhancement), mineral precipitation (pore clogging) and fracturing that occurred later upon deep burial and uplift of the unit during the Alpine orogeny. Accordingly, two PhD projects, supported by four MSc projects, are directed at elucidating these key processes.