Isotope Geochemistry

Catalog description

This course provides a comprehensive introduction to radiogenic and stable isotope geochemistry. Beginning with a brief overview of nuclear physics and nucleosynthesis, it then reviews radioactive decay schemes including and their use in geochronology. Subsequent classes cover nucleosynthetic anomalies in meteorites and early solar system chronology and the use of radiogenic isotopes (including Uranium-series) in understanding the evolution of the Earth’s mantle, crust, and oceans. Attention then turns to stable isotopes reviewing the basic principles involved in controlling stable isotopes during both equilibrium and kinetic fractionation, followed by their application on diverse topics but particularly on climate evolution. Finally, the course explores recent developments including unconventional stable isotopes, mass-independent fractionation, isotopic ‘clumping’, noble gasses isotopes and their applications.