Geochemistry

The field of geochemistry involves study of the chemical composition of the Earth and other planets, chemical processes and reactions that govern the composition of rocks and soils, and the cycles of matter and energy that transport the Earth's chemical components in time and space.

The most important fields of geochemistry are:

1. Isotope geochemistry: Determination of the relative and absolute concentrations of the elements and their isotopes in the earth and on earth´s surface.
2. Examination of the distribution and movements of elements in different parts of the earth (crust, mantle, hydrosphere etc.) and in minerals with the goal to determine the underlying legalities of distribution and movement.
3. Cosmochemistry: Analysis of the distribution of elements and their isotopes in the cosmos .
4. Organic geochemistry: A study of the role of processes and compounds that are derived from living or once-living organisms.
5. Applications to Environmental and Hydrological studies.

The man considered by most to be the father of modern geochemistry was Victor Goldschmidt, and the ideas of the subject were formed by him in a series of publications from 1922 under the title ‘Geochemische Verteilungsgesetze der Elemente’.

See also: Petrology, Important publications in geochemistry

Further reading

• Bernard Gunn: The Geochemistry of Igneous Rocks
• Gunter Faure: Principles of Isotope Geochemistry., ISBN 0471864129
• Cl.J. Allègre, G. Michard, R.N. Varney, Introduction to Geochemistry, ISBN 90-277-0497-X,
• Victor Moritz Goldschmidt: Father of Modern Geochemistry by Brian Mason (ISBN 0-941809-03X)