Course Identification

Isotope Geochemistry
20252161

Lecturers and Teaching Assistants

Dr. Yael Kiro
Sourav Ganguly

Course Schedule and Location

2025
First Semester
Thursday, 11:15 - 14:00, WSoS, Rm 5
07/11/2024
30/01/2025

Field of Study, Course Type and Credit Points

Chemical Sciences: Lecture; Elective; Core; 3.00 points
Life Sciences: Lecture; 3.00 points

Comments

Tomorrow's (January 9) lecture will be at Perlman building room 404, hours remain the same.

Prerequisites

basic chemistry

Background in Earth Sciences is very helpful. Students with no background can attend the course and expect more challenges. 

Restrictions

40

Language of Instruction

English

Attendance and participation

Required in at least 80% of the lectures

Grade Type

Numerical (out of 100)

Grade Breakdown (in %)

20%
80%
Report summarizing two papers

Evaluation Type

Seminar

Scheduled date 1

N/A
N/A
-
N/A

Estimated Weekly Independent Workload (in hours)

5

Syllabus

Isotope Geochemistry (3 h course)

  • Introduction: nucleosynthesis, physics of nucleus, modes of radioactive decay, the decay constant
  • Equations of radioactive decay and growth
  • Rb-Sr system
  • Sm-Nd system
  • U-Th-Pb system
  • K-Ar
  • U-Th disequilibrium and U-series
  • C-14
  • Radiogenic isotopes as provenance and mixing equations
  • Stable isotopes (O, C)
  • Cosmogenic isotopes (if time would allow)
  • Analytical measurements of isotopes

 

  • Exercise every week and a final assignment summarizing two papers

Reading: Isotope Geology G. Faure

Pre-requirements, knowledge: basic chemistry,

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of the course, the students will gain:

Fundamental knowledge in isotope geochemistry, radioactive decay, geochronology and applications to Earth Sciences

Reading List

Isotope Geology G. Faure

Website

N/A