This book is a brief summary of the course of lectures in Geochemistry for undergraduate and graduate students from other than Geological Departments (chemists, biologists, ecologists and naturalists). It describes the Earth’s structure and some geological processes. The modern geochemical concepts take proper account of global geological processes and the influence of Cosmos. They are based on the laws and approaches of equilibrium and non-equilibrium thermodynamics. The cycles of energy and chemical elements within the Earth are interrelated with the global geochemical cycle. In addition to the traditional Geochemistry course, this book offers Geochemistry of microorganisms, Geochemistry of dispersed systems, Geochemistry of cryogenesis, and Geochemistry of cryptobiosphere. Features: Provides the reader with a general idea of the Earth’s chemical life and its related global geological events Offers a concise and clear description of the modern concepts in Geochemistry, including new directions such as Geochemistry of Cryogenesis, Geochemistry of Disperse Systems, Geochemistry of Microorganisms, and Geochemistry of Cryptobiosphere Implies a wide application of the thermodynamic approach. Useful for students who, though lacking in geology basics, are experienced in chemistry and biology

Our colleagues from the French-speaking parts of Switzerland - the Suisses romands - and above all the committee of the 3rd Cycle, e Earth Sciences (3 Cycle, Sciences de la Terre) honored us by asking us to give a course on Isotope Geology for the year 1977. The course, entitled Evaluation et Interpretation des Donnees Isotopiques (eval uation and Interpretation of Isotopic Data), was intended to inform earth scientists, graduate and postgraduate, from the western Swiss Universities on the subject of Isotope Geology. Such courses usually consist of two parts: lectures and excursions. Thus, in March 1977, we gave such a two-week course at the Miner alogical Institute of the University of Berne. The first week was devoted essentially to the methods of dating, the second week to the behavior of stable isotopes. In July 1977, on the occasion of an excursion to the Central and Western Alps, we were able to demonstrate our results. Guest professors were invited to make contributions to the course.

Updated throughout with the latest data and findings, the Second Edition of Essentials of Geochemistry provides students with a solid understanding of the fundamentals of and approaches to modern geochemical analysis. The text uses a concepts of chemical equilibrium approach, which considers the reactions that occur as a result of changes in heat production and pressure within the Earth to introduce students to the basic geochemical principles. This text is for those who want a quantitative treatment that integrates the principles of thermodynamics, solution chemistry, and kinetics into the study of earth processes. This timely text contains numerous examples and problems sets which use SUPCRT92 to allow students to test their understanding of thermodynamic theory and maximize their comprehension of this prominent field. New sections introduce current “hot” topics such as global geochemical change with the short and long term carbon cycle, carbon isotopes and the Permo-Triassic extinction event, kinetics and the origin of life and the use of boron and nitrogen isotopes.

Marine geochemistry uses chemical elements and their isotopes to study how the ocean works in terms of ocean circulation, chemical composition, biological activity and atmospheric CO2 regulation. This rapidly growing field is at a crossroad for many disciplines (physical, chemical and biological oceanography, geology, climatology, ecology, etc.). It provides important quantitative answers to questions such as: What is the deep ocean mixing rate? How much atmospheric CO2 is pumped by the ocean? How fast are pollutants removed from the ocean? How do ecosystems react to anthropogenic pressure? This text gives a simple introduction to the concepts, the methods and the applications of marine geochemistry with a particular emphasis on isotopic tracers. Overall introducing a very large number of topics (physical oceanography, ocean chemistry, isotopes, gas exchange, modelling, biogeochemical cycles), with a balance of didactic and indepth information, it provides an outline and a complete course in marine geochemistry. Throughout, the book uses a hands-on approach with worked out exercises and problems (with answers provided at the end of the book), to help the students work through the concepts presented. A broad scale approach is take including ocean physics, marine biology, ocean-climate relations, remote sensing, pollutions and ecology, so that the reader acquires a global perspective of the ocean. It also includes new topics arising from ongoing research programs. This textbook is essential reading for students, scholars, researchers and other professionals.

This book is intended to serve as a text for an introductory course in geochemistry for undergraduate/graduate students with at least an elementary–level background in earth sciences, chemistry, and mathematics. The text, containing 83 tables and 181 figures, covers a wide variety of topics — ranging from atomic structure to chemical and isotopic equilibria to modern biogeochemical cycles — which are divided into four interrelated parts: Crystal Chemistry; Chemical Reactions (and biochemical reactions involving bacteria); Isotope Geochemistry (radiogenic and stable isotopes); and The Earth Supersystem, which includes discussions pertinent to the evolution of the solid Earth, the atmosphere, and the hydrosphere. In keeping with the modern trend in the field of geochemistry, the book emphasizes computational techniques by developing appropriate mathematical relations, solving a variety of problems to illustrate application of the mathematical relations, and leaving a set of questions at the end of each chapter to be solved by students. However, so as not to interrupt the flow of the text, involved chemical concepts and mathematical derivations are separated in the form of boxes. Supplementary materials are packaged into ten appendixes that include a standard–state (298.15 K, 1 bar) thermodynamic data table and a listing of answers to selected chapter–end questions. Additional resources for this book can be found at: www.wiley.com/go/misra/geochemistry.

This textbook is a complete rewrite, and expansion of Hugh Rollinson's highly successful 1993 book Using Geochemical Data: Evaluation, Presentation, Interpretation. Rollinson and Pease's new book covers the explosion in geochemical thinking over the past three decades, as new instruments and techniques have come online. It provides a comprehensive overview of how modern geochemical data are used in the understanding of geological and petrological processes. It covers major element, trace element, and radiogenic and stable isotope geochemistry. It explains the potential of many geochemical techniques, provides examples of their application, and emphasizes how to interpret the resulting data. Additional topics covered include the critical statistical analysis of geochemical data, current geochemical techniques, effective display of geochemical data, and the application of data in problem solving and identifying petrogenetic processes within a geological context. It will be invaluable for all graduate students, researchers, and professionals using geochemical techniques.

Geochemistry at the surface of the earth is dominated by two somewhat antagonistic forces: chemical reactions which attempt to attain a steady state (equilibrium) and geological movement of materials in time and space which changes the parameters that control chemical equilibrium. Another aspect that is extremely important to earth surface geochemistry is the effect of plants on the chemical and physical stability of materials (soils). Plant systems in fact work against the normal chemical changes (loss of silica, potassium, etc.) and the normal physical changes (stabilizing fine grained materials (clays) in the surface zones to avoid erosion). Biological effects are clearly seen in redox effects in the various parts of the earth surface movement cycle; soil formation, stream transport, sedimentation. This book attempts to outline these different parameters and their interactions as they affect earth surface geochemistry in order to give a better understanding of movement and accumulation of elements at the surface of the earth.