Outline#
Attention
Course last offered Spring 2025.
Course Description#
In geochemistry, we use the tools of chemistry to understand the Earth and how it works. Principles of thermodynamics and kinetics will be applied to understand key processes that control of the geochemistry of the Earth, from the low temperature and pressure conditions of Earth’s surface environment to higher temperature and pressure conditions in Earth’s interior. We will consider processes operating on time scales of millions (planetary formation) to hundreds (climate change) of years. The lab will provide hands-on experience using real data to solve geological problems.
Learning Outcomes#
Below is a list of some specific knowledge and skills you can expect to gain through this course. This term you will:
- Use thermodynamics to understand chemical variation across the solar system (refractory and volatile phases)
- Use geochemical data from rocks and meteorites to model the chemical composition of Earth
- Develop a thermodynamic basis for chemical partitioning between crystals and melt
- Predict the behavior of trace elements in both open and closed systems that are either melting or crystallizing
- Use melting models and the average composition of the oceanic and continental crust to reconstruct the history of mantle melting and continental crust creation
- Use radioactive decay to determine when a sample was extracted from Earth's primitive mantle
- Develop a thermodynamic basis for stable isotope fractionation
- Gain practical understanding on how we measure the mass-to-charge ratio of elements and isotopologues to determine the chemical and isotopic composition of geochemical samples
- Use equilibrium reactions of CO2 in seawater to understand the relationships between carbonate saturation, alkalinity, pH, and future climate change
- Make quantitative comparisons of data and models to determine the best model parameters
- Use truncations of the Taylor series to numerically solve differential equations that represent time-dependent geochemical models
Weekly Calendar#
Week
Date
Topic
1
M Jan 6
Lecture 1
Course introduction
Th Jan 9
Lecture 2
Making the elements
No lab
2
M Jan 13
Lecture 3
Equilibrium conditions
Th Jan 16
Lecture 4
Condensation
Lab 1
Partial melting of olivine
3
M Jan 20
Class cancelled for AME Roundup
W Jan 22
Last day to add course
Th Jan 23
Lecture 5
Making the Earth
Lab 2
Trace elements in Earth's mantle
4
M Jan 27
Lecture 6
Trace elements
Th Jan 30
Lecture 7
Batch and fractional crystallization
Lab 3
Trace element partitioning
5
M Feb 3
Lecture 8
Batch and fractional crystallization
Th Feb 6
Lecture 9
Parial melting and explaining the crust
Lab 4
Chemical differentiation of the Earth
6
M Feb 10
Lecture 10
Mid-term review
Th Feb 13
Mid-term
Chemistry of Earth
Lab 4
Chemical differentiation of the Earth
7
M Feb 17
Reading Break
Th Feb 20
Reading Break
No lab
8
M Feb 24
Lecture 11
Radioactive decay
Th Feb 27
Lecture 12
Model ages
F Feb 28
Last day to drop a course without penalty of failure
Lab 5
Sm-Nd Decay
9
M Mar 3
Lecture 13
The Atmosphere
Th Mar 6
Lecture 14
The Long Term Carbon Cycle
Lab 6
The long term carbon cycle
10
M Mar 10
Lecture 15
Past climate
Th Mar 13
Lecture 16
Stable isotopes
Lab 7
Measuring stable isotopes
11
M Mar 17
Lecture 17
CO2 in seawater
Th Mar 20
Lecture 18
CO2 in seawater
Lab 8
Cenozoic climate
12
M Mar 24
Class cancelled
Th Mar 27
Lecture 19
Alkalinity
No lab
13
M Mar 31
Lecture 20
Carbonate saturation
Th Apr 3
Lecture 21
Review