• This Course will cover:
• The origins of the elements, and their absolute and isotopic abundances in the solar system,
• Fundamental geochemical controls of elemental distribution within the terrestrial planets,
• The behaviour of elements in various mineral structure,
• The composition of the major chemical reservoirs in Planet Earth (crust, mantle and core) and how they formed and changed composition through time using phase diagrams to describe the formation of major rock types such as granites and basalts,
• The principles of stable and radiogenic isotope geochemistry applied to understanding the time scales of evolution of different reservoirs in the Earth and tracing the processes that exchange materials between these reservoirs,
• Approaches to geochronology,
• Theory and analytical methods for determining the chemical and isotopic compositions of Earth materials.

Practical classes emphasise methods of geochemical data collection and presentation, and their quantitative evaluation and interpretation. They include the use of computers and visits to analytical laboratories.

This course will include a research paper. 

Note: Graduate students attend joint classes with undergraduates but will be assessed separately.

On satisfying the requirements of this course, students will have the knowledge and skills to:

 1. Understand and explain element behaviour in a geological context and relate this to how elements redistribute within the Earth.

 2. Distinguish the main chemical domains in the Earth, and discuss processes of reservoir interaction.

 3. Demonstrate understanding of the major chemical and petrological processes that form and modify the Earth's crust and mantle

 4. Plot and compare and analyse geochemical data from different rock types and reservoirs.

 5. Use radiogenic and stable isotopes to trace geological processes and produce age data

 6. Explain the theory and operation of major methods for the analysis of rock and mineral samples.

PG Assessment will be based on theory exams and practicals.

•  Theory exam composed of essay questions to be held at a negotiated time before the mid-semester break (30% LO 1-4).
•  Theory exam composed of essay questions to be held at the end of the semester  (30% LO 1, 4-6).
•  8 assignments on practicals out of the 12 made available distributed over the entire semester. Practical assignments will focus on handling, representation and calculation of data (20%, LO 3-6) 
• One essay on a selected topic (20%).

UG Assessment will be based on theory exams and practicals.

• Theory exam composed of essay questions to be held at a negotiated time before the mid-semester break (35% LO 1-4).
• Theory exam composed of essay questions to be held at the end of the semester  (35% LO 1, 4-6).
• 8 assignments on practicals out of the 12 made available distributed over the entire semester. Practical assignments will focus on handling, representation and calculation of data (30%, LO 3-6) 

A maximum of 39 hours of lectures and 26 hours of laboratory classes including tutorials

Bachelor degree; with either first year Geology or first year Chemistry

Bachelor degree including Earth Science or Chemistry to the first year level.

Incompatible with EMSC2015

Online materials