Instructors: P. Deines, H.Ohmoto

Text: Gunter Faure “Principles of Isotope Geology 2nd Ed.”, John Wiley & Sons, 589p, (1986). Supplement: J.W. Valley and D.R. Cole, editors “Stable Isotope Geochemistry”, Reviews in Mineralogy & Geochemistry, Volume 43, 662p (2001)

Credits: 3

Short Description: There are few areas in the Geosciences in which stable and radiogenic isotopes are not applied to understand the timing and physical and chemical conditions of geologic processes. This course introduces the student to the principles that make such applications possible. Although the course is divided into two equal sections, covering radiogenic and stable isotopes respectively, it is the aim of the course to provide the student with an insight of the complementary nature of the two areas of study and the interconnections between them.

Radioactive and Radiogenic Isotopes: This section of the course, taught by P. Deines,  begins with a discussion of the formation of the elements and the instrumentation used to determine isotopic composition variations. Subsequently  the course focuses on  the various age methods that have been developed to measure time intervals covering the whole span of the Earth's history, and  explores what  additional petrogenetic information can be derived from  variations in the abundance of  radiogenic isotopes. Several lectures are dedicated to the study of cosmogenic nuclides and what can be learned from them. A short discussion of extinct radio nuclides and their cosmologic significance follows. The section closes with an examination of the methods used to establish a geologic time scale. Problems are assigned on a regular basis  and are due one week after their assignment. In addition, students prepare a 10 page report on any aspect of geochronology, or the application of radiogenic isotopes, that has lead to a significant advance in the understanding of a geologic process.

Stable Isotope Geochemistry: This part  of the course is taught by H. Ohmoto.  The lecture/discussion sessions of this section will focus on the principles, promises, and limitations in the applications of stable isotopes (H, C, O, S, N, Si, Fe) to various geological and biological problems. Opportunities will be given to conduct a laboratory-based, mini research project to the interested students (optional).
 
 

For more information on the two sections
 click on links below

Radioactive and Radiogenic Isotope Section