geochemistry
Earth's elemental study
Geochemistry is the study of Earth's chemical composition and the chemical processes that shape it—how elements distribute themselves in rocks, water, soil, and atmosphere.
The field bridges geology and chemistry, examining everything from volcanic gases to ocean salinity to the formation of ore deposits.
Geochemistry helps us understand climate change by analyzing ice cores.
Study of life-driven elemental cycles
- low-temperatureLacking heat, cool
- high-temperatureVery great heat
- geochronologyStudy of geological ages
Extraterrestrial rocks on Earth
- asteroidsSmall solar orbiters
- cometsIcy bodies orbiting stars
- planetaryOf or relating to worlds
- chondritesMeteorites with chondrules
nucleosynthesis · differentiation · volatiles · refractory · carbonaceous · martian
Atomic number twins
- carbonSixth element, atomic symbol C
- oxygenElement eight, colorless gas
- hydrogenSimplest atomic element
- nitrogenElement seven, colorless gas
sulfur · iron · calcium · magnesium · potassium · sodium · phosphorus · uranium
Record of ownership
- paleoclimatePast geological climate conditions
- contaminationIntroduction of impurities
- groundwaterWater in underground rock
- fingerprintingRecording unique digit patterns
Atmospheric breakdown of materials
- metamorphismHeat-pressure mineral alteration
- hydrothermalHot water underground
- leachingDissolving out by liquid
- precipitationAtmospheric water deposit
adsorption · redox · dissolution · ion-exchange · fractionation · partitioning · mobility · speciation
Silicon-oxygen bonded minerals
- carbonatesDissolves CO2 into liquid
- sulfatesSO₄-containing compounds
- oxidesOxygen-bonded compounds
- phosphatesSalts of a certain acid
halides · quartz · feldspar · calcite · dolomite · olivine · pyroxene · amphibole
Study of light-matter interaction
- chromatographyTechnique separating mixtures by differential migration
- SIMSIon beam surface analysis
- precisionAccuracy of measurement
- accuracyDegree of correctness
calibration · standards · digestion · extraction · instrumentation · laboratory
biogeochemistry
Study of life-driven elemental cycles
- low-temperatureLacking heat, cool
- high-temperatureVery great heat
- geochronologyStudy of geological ages
meteorites
Extraterrestrial rocks on Earth
chondrites · nucleosynthesis · differentiation · volatiles · refractory · carbonaceous · martian
isotopes
Atomic number twins
- carbonSixth element, atomic symbol C
- oxygenElement eight, colorless gas
- hydrogenSimplest atomic element
nitrogen · sulfur · iron · calcium · magnesium · potassium · sodium · phosphorus · uranium · lead
provenance
Record of ownership
- paleoclimatePast geological climate conditions
- contaminationIntroduction of impurities
- groundwaterWater in underground rock
weathering
Atmospheric breakdown of materials
- metamorphismHeat-pressure mineral alteration
- hydrothermalHot water underground
- leachingDissolving out by liquid
precipitation · adsorption · redox · dissolution · ion-exchange · fractionation · partitioning · mobility · speciation · buffering
silicates
Silicon-oxygen bonded minerals
- carbonatesDissolves CO2 into liquid
- sulfatesSO₄-containing compounds
- oxidesOxygen-bonded compounds
phosphates · halides · quartz · feldspar · calcite · dolomite · olivine · pyroxene · amphibole · mica
spectroscopy
Study of light-matter interaction
- chromatographyTechnique separating mixtures by differential migration
- SIMSIon beam surface analysis
- precisionAccuracy of measurement
accuracy · calibration · standards · digestion · extraction · instrumentation · laboratory
- sciencesbiology, physics, astronomy, mathematics, ecology
- academic fieldsmathematics, biology, physics, history, philosophy
- earth scienceatmosphere, earthquake, volcano, crust, eruption
- moonfull moon, lunar, crescent moon, new moon, half moon
- Physical Sciencesphysics, astronomy, meteorology, mechanics, thermodynamics
- chemistryatom, atoms, molecule, molecules, elements
geochemistrybiology
Study of organisms
physics · astrophysics · ecology · zoology · botany
geochemistryparticle physics
Study of subatomic constituents
astrochemistry · quantum mechanics · astrophysics · nuclear chemistry · cosmology
- isotope geochemistryStudy of atomic variants in nature