What is Stable Isotope Geochemistry?

Syllabus (new)

Term Paper Instructions

Stable Isotope Laboratory

    - Laboratory exercise 1
 

• Characteristics of isotopes ( Slides )

• Historical background (see Mass Spectrometry slides)
  

• Mass spectrometry ( Slides )
  

• Conventions, notations, and standards ( Slides )
  

• Theoretical basis of isotopic fractionation

• Kinetic fractionation
• Equilibrium fractionation

• Oxygen (¹⁸O/¹⁶O) and hydrogen (²H/ ¹H) isotopes

• Introduction   ( Slides )  
• Distribution of oxygen isotopes in nature (Figure)
• Distribution of hydrogen isotopes in nature (Figure)
• Fractionation relations (Figure)
• O, H, and He isotopes as tracers in natural waters ( Newell (He isotopes): Paxton's slides)
• Applications in igneous and metamorphic petrology  ( Igneous Slides , Metamorphic Slides )  

• Sediments ( Slides )  
• Isotope paleotemperatures, isotope stratigraphy, and paleoclimates
• Quaternary ( Slides )
• Tertiary ( Slides ) ( Zachos: Stella's slides)
• Mesozoic and Paleozoic
 
• Carbon isotopes (¹³C/¹²C)

• Introduction  ( Slides )
• Carbon cycle and geochemistry
• ¹³C/¹²C variations in nature (Figure)
• Fractionation relations
• Organic matter - C3 and C4 plants; food webs 
• Natural gas and petroleum
• Natural waters
• Seawater ( Slides )
• Groundwaters ( Slides )
  
• Sedimentary carbonates
  
• Global carbon cycle and global change
• Carbonate diagenesis
• Carbon isotope stratigraphy ( Bohm: Josiah's Slides , Katz: Nanping's slides)
  
 

• Sulfur and Iron isotopes (³⁴S/³²S)

• Sulfur cycle and geochemistry  ( Slides )
  
• ³⁴ S/³²S variations in nature; fractionation relations
• Sulfur cycling in groundwaters and pore waters
• Sulfur isotopic variations in seawater - evidence of global change
• Iron isotopes ( Johnson: David's Slides )
  
 
• Nitrogen isotopes (¹⁵N/¹⁴N)

• Nitrogen cycle and geochemistry
• Organic matter; food webs
• Groundwaters