PRINCIPLES OF GEOCHEMISTRY

Prerequisites & course information

Requisites: G L E/GEOSCI 360 , ( CHEM 109 , 104 , or 115 ) and G L E/GEOSCI 370 or concurrent enrollment in G L E/GEOSCI 370 , or graduate/professional standing Course Designation: Core GenEd - Natural Science & Wellness Level - Intermediate L&S Credit - L&S Liberal Arts and Science Grad 50% - Counts toward 50% graduate coursework requirement Repeatable for Credit: No Last Taught: Spring 2026 Learning Outcomes: 1. Explain the principles of inorganic chemical bonds. Audience: Both Grad & Undergrad 2. Explain elementary thermodynamics and its basis underlying petrologic phase diagrams. Audience: Both Grad & Undergrad 3. Explore how major- and trace-element geochemistry can constrain the evolution of the Earth's mantle and crust in relation to plate tectonics. Audience: Both Grad & Undergrad 4. Apply the principles of radioactive decay to geochronology using common radioactive isotope systems employed in the geosciences. Audience: Both Grad & Undergrad 5. Explain the principles of stable isotope geochemistry and how it applies to the hydrologic system, fluid-rock interaction, and evolution of the oceans and biosphere. Audience: Both Grad & Undergrad 6. Utilize equilibrium speciation calculations in aqueous electrolyte solutions, including use of public-domain geochemical simulation software. Audience: Both Grad & Undergrad 7. Use information on geochemical reaction pathways and earth-surface physical processes to determine key low-temperature processes such as sediment diagenesis, chemical weathering, and organic matter decomposition. Audience: Both Grad & Undergrad 8. Synthesize multiple types of geochemical information, obtained from the rock record, to explain specific worldwide changes in Earth's past. Audience: Graduate Learning Outcomes: 1. Explain the principles of inorganic chemical bonds. Audience: Both Grad & Undergrad 2. Explain elementary thermodynamics and its basis underlying petrologic phase diagrams. Audience: Both Grad & Undergrad 3. Explore how major- and trace-element geochemistry can constrain the evolution of the Earth's mantle and crust in relation to plate tectonics. Audience: Both Grad & Undergrad 4. Apply the principles of radioactive decay to geochronology using common radioactive isotope systems employed in the geosciences. Audience: Both Grad & Undergrad 5. Explain the principles of stable isotope geochemistry and how it applies to the hydrologic system, fluid-rock interaction, and evolution of the oceans and biosphere. Audience: Both Grad & Undergrad 6. Utilize equilibrium speciation calculations in aqueous electrolyte solutions, including use of public-domain geochemical simulation software. Audience: Both Grad & Undergrad 7. Use information on geochemical reaction pathways and earth-surface physical processes to determine key low-temperature processes such as sediment diagenesis, chemical weathering, and organic matter decomposition. Audience: Both Grad & Undergrad 8. Synthesize multiple types of geochemical information, obtained from the rock record, to explain specific worldwide changes in Earth's past. Audience: Graduate