Course Identification
Isotope Geochemistry
Lecturers and Teaching Assistants
Course Schedule and Location
Second Semester
Monday, 09:15 - 12:00, Sussman, Magaritz Rm
17/04/2023
Field of Study, Course Type and Credit Points
Chemical Sciences: Lecture; Elective; Core; 3.00 points
Life Sciences: Lecture; Elective; Regular; 3.00 points
Prerequisites
basic chemistry, differential equations
Background in Earth Sciences is very helpful. Students with no background can attend the course and expect more challenges.
Attendance and participation
Required in at least 80% of the lectures
Grade Breakdown (in %)
Report summarizing two papers
Scheduled date 1
06/08/2023
Estimated Weekly Independent Workload (in hours)
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 exam or a project
Reading: Isotope Geology G. Faure
Pre-requirements, knowledge: basic chemistry, differential equations
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