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Lecture 1:introduction To Geochemistry Ub

This document provides an introduction to the course GEO 319 Introduction to Geochemistry. It discusses how geochemistry combines geology and chemistry to understand the Earth. Geochemistry is a broad field that uses chemical tools to solve geological problems. It has many applications, including understanding the formation of the Earth and solar system, locating resources, and addressing environmental issues. The document outlines key concepts in geochemistry like elemental distributions, transport processes, and impacts on human health. It also introduces the use of geochemical mapping to illustrate elemental patterns.

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Shatho Lentswe
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98 views

Lecture 1:introduction To Geochemistry Ub

This document provides an introduction to the course GEO 319 Introduction to Geochemistry. It discusses how geochemistry combines geology and chemistry to understand the Earth. Geochemistry is a broad field that uses chemical tools to solve geological problems. It has many applications, including understanding the formation of the Earth and solar system, locating resources, and addressing environmental issues. The document outlines key concepts in geochemistry like elemental distributions, transport processes, and impacts on human health. It also introduces the use of geochemical mapping to illustrate elemental patterns.

Uploaded by

Shatho Lentswe
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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GEO 319

INTRODUCTION TO GEOCHEMISTRY
LECTURE 1
INTRODUCTION

Instructor: Dr. M.S. Makgatlhe-Phesodi

E-mail: [email protected]

Office: Block 247 office 417


Objectives of the lesson

 To provide the learner with an overview of geochemistry as


a discipline in order to:
 Appreciate the diversity of the discipline
 Appreciate the broad application of geochemistry
 Appreciate the fundamental principles of geochemistry
INTRODUCTION

 From the etymology of the word, the field of


geochemistry is somehow a marriage of the fields
of geology and chemistry.
INTRODUCTION..

 How are geology and chemistry combined in


geochemistry? i.e. what is the relationship?

 In geochemistry, we use the tools of chemistry to


solve geological problems; that is we use chemistry
to understand the Earth and how it works.
INTRODUCTION…

 Though geochemistry is a sub-discipline of Earth


Science, it is a very broad topic. So broad that no one
can really master it all.

 Geochemists invariably specialize in one or few aspects,


such as environmental geochemistry, igneous
geochemistry, isotope geochemistry, exploration
geochemistry, organic geochemistry, analytical
geochemistry etc.
INTRODUCTION….

 The contribution of geochemistry to the field of earth


science is enormous and is growing.

 Much of what we know about how the Earth and


the Solar system formed has come from research
on the chemistry of meteorites

 Through geochemistry we are learning how and when


the Earth’s crust formed.
INTRODUCTION…..

 The evidence of the earliest life, at 3.8 gigayears (billion,


abbreviated as Ga), is not fossilized remains, but chemical
traces of life.
 Geochemistry lies at the heart of environmental science
and environmental concerns.
 Problems of acid rains, ozone hole, the greenhouse effect
and global warming, air, water and soil pollution are
geochemical problems.
 Addressing these problems requires knowledge of
geochemistry.
INTRODUCTION……

 Similarly, most of our non-renewable resources, such


as metal ores, form through geochemical processes.

 Locating new sources of these resources requires


geochemical approaches.
INTRODUCTION……

 Geochemistry is very much driven by technology in


modern days.
 Electron microprobe allows us to analyze mineral
grains on the scale of microns in minutes.
 Analytical techniques such as X-ray fluorescence,
inductively coupled mass spectrometers, and laser
ablation allows us to perform analyses in minutes.
INTRODUCTION…….

 All the measurements are done with greater precision


and accuracy than a few decades ago.

 New instruments and analytical techniques continue to


be developed which promises even greater sensitivity,
speed, accuracy and precision.
INTRODUCTION…….

 Every trade has a set of tools, e.g. geologists have their


hammers, compasses, hand lens and maps.
 Geochemists too have a set of tools. These include analytical
equipment, periodic table, software used to present and
interpret the geochemical data.
 It is also critical to understand the abundances and spatial
distributions of the elements in various compartments of the
Earth such as atmosphere, groundwater, soil, surface water,
mantle, core, crust, sediments etc.
 Sampling is the pre-requisite
INTRODUCTION…….
Victor Moritz Goldschmidt
 Goldschmidt was born in Zürich, January 27, 1888, Switzerland

 He died in Oslo, March 20, 1947, Norway

 He was a mineralogist considered to be the founder of modern


geochemistry and crystal chemistry.

 He was the developer of the Goldschmidt Classification of


elements.

 Goldschmidt’s first important contribution was within the field


of geology and mineralogy.
The Goldschmidt Conference is the annual premiere
international meeting on geochemistry. It is owned jointly
by the Geochemical Society and the European Association
of Geochemistry.

On even-numbered years, the conference is organized


by the Geochemical Society.

On odd-numbered years, the conference is organized


by the European Association of Geochemistry.
INTRODUCTION…….

Diversity of geochemical distribution


 It has been found that the distribution pattern of elements is
complicated and can change on local, regional, national to global scale
due to geological setting (geogenic) and human disturbance
(anthropogenic).

 Human beings have altered the environment extensively since


industrialization.

 The degree of anthropogenic influence varies from one place to


another
INTRODUCTION…….

Anthropogenic influence
INTRODUCTION…….

Sketch of geochemical transport and cycle


INTRODUCTION…….

Impact on human health: endemic/disorder


 Human body is continuously achieving energy and
exchanging chemical matter with the environment by
metabolism.
 Over-abundance (excessive) or deficiency, as well as
imbalance of some elements in the environment (food
chain) can induce a few diseases.
 Some of these diseases are confined to particular areas
INTRODUCTION…….
INTRODUCTION…….

Mechanism of transport and transform of elements

 It is necessary to do detailed studies to explain the origin


and source, dispersion and distribution of elements in the
environment

 An effective technique to illustrate elemental


distribution is geochemical mapping.
INTRODUCTION…….
Geochemical Map Distribution of an
element of choice at
a local or regional
scale.
Why Geochemical Maps?

• Mineral resources
• Biology & Agriculture
• Environment & health
• Other

Geochemical anomalies delineated for mineral


resources and environmental problems
INTRODUCTION…….
INTRODUCTION…….
Mining contamination
Contaminants from Mining
INTRODUCTION…….
INTRODUCTION…….
INTRODUCTION…….

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