Close
This module introduces the student to theoretical and practical aspects of radiometric geochronology and stable isotope geology.
Coordinator: Prof Pieter Vermeesch
- Module details
Title Isotope Geology UG Code GEOL0017 Coordinator Prof Pieter Vermeesch Other Contributors Dr Susan Little Term 2 Credit 15 credits Written Exam 70% (3 hours unseen written exam) Coursework 30%
Pre-Requisites none Maths & Stats Content and Requirement basic math (arithmetic, rearranging equations) Total Number of Hours of Student Work 188 hours Hours of Lectures/Seminars 20 hours Hours of Practicals/Problem Classes 20 hours Hours of Tutorials 0 Days of Fieldwork 0 Other None - Content
The following topics will be introduced, discussed and analysed:
- Nucleogenesis, isotopes, radioactivity, mass spectrometers, isotope dilution
- The age of the Earth, the geologic time scale, relative and absolute dating, 14C dating
- The age equation, the Rb-Sr, Sm-Nd, Re-Os and Lu-Hf methods, isochrons
- The U-Pb and Pb-Pb methods, concordia
- K-Ar and 40Ar/39Ar dating
- Thermochronology with the U-Th-He and fission track methods
- U-series disequilibrium dating
- Basic error propagation
- Extinct nuclides
- Mantle isotope geochemistry: element compatibility and how it affects isotopes (Nd, Hf, Pb, Sr, Nd) and crustal evolution
- Principals of stable isotopes: notation, isotope fractionation, kinetic and equilibrium fractionation, stellar isotope production
- High temperature oxygen isotopes: sun, meteorites, mantle (igneous and metamorphic)
- Low temperature oxygen and hydrogen isotopes: ocean, temperature, glaciation
- Carbon isotopes: carbon cycle, plants, fossil fuels
- The long-term carbon cycle: The carbonate system, and palaeo-CO2 records (B isotopes); Palaeo-weathering and the long-term C cycle (Sr, Os, Pb, Li isotopes)
- S isotopes: biogenic fractionation, sulphur cycle, rise of oxygen (MIF and MDF S isotopes) and isotope evolution of marine sulphate
- Ocean circulation: 14C, Nd, Pa isotopes Low-temperature U series: alpha decay, coral dating (+14C), ocean productivity
- Transition metal isotopes: oceans and critical zone
AIMS
To enable the students to:
- understand and interpret published isotope data
- understand Earth processes through isotope geochemistry
- identify suitable isotope ratios for their own geochemical applications
OUTCOMES
- Introduce the physical and chemical processes that determine the isotopic composition of Earth materials, including nucleosynthesis, radioactivity and fractionation processes
- Provide a basic understanding of mass spectrometry
- Derive the basic mathematical underpinnings of the radiometric age equation, isochrons and the U-Pb concordia diagram
- Provide a rigorous background in error propagation
- Provide a broad overview of the natural processes that can lead to mass-dependent fractionation of stable isotopes
- Explain how stable isotopes measurements can be used to understand said natural processes, both in the solid Earth and its fluid envelopes.
Practical and transferable outcomes:
- Understanding of the cycling of matter and the flows of energy into, between and within the solid Earth, hydrosphere, atmosphere and biosphere.
- The chemistry, physics, biology and mathematics that underpin our understanding of Earth structure, materials and processes.
- Geological time, including the principles of stratigraphy, radiometric dating.
- The multidisciplinarity and interdisciplinarity of geochemical approaches
- The range of spatial and temporal scales geochemistry covers
- Appreciating issues of sample selection, accuracy, precision and uncertainty during collection, recording and analysis of data
- Preparing, processing, interpreting and presenting data, using appropriate qualitative and quantitative techniques and packages
- Solving numerical problems using computer and non-computer-based techniques