Donald J. DePaolo, Instructor

UC Berkeley • Class of 1951 Professor of Geochemistry, Dept of Earth and Planetary Science

475 McCone Hall
University of California
Berkeley, CA 94720-4767

T • (01) 510/643-5064
F • (01) 510/642-9520

From FALL 2005...

Earth & Planetary Science 124/224

Isotopic and Trace Element Geochemistry
Course control no. 19071 (124)/19149 (224)
Tu Th 11-12:30, 365 McCone Hall

• Lectures 3 hrs per week
• Discussion section 1 hr per week

EPS 124/224 introduces students to nuclear processes and current research applying nuclear chemistry to geochemical and geophysical processes.

This course covers:

• Aspects of nuclear chemistry -types of radioactive decay, nuclear properties, radiation detection, nuclear reactions, nucleosynthesis, and cosmic rays
• Geochronology-using cosmogenic nuclides, ¹⁴C, ⁴⁰K, ⁴⁰Ar, ⁸⁷Rb-⁸⁷Sr, U-Pb, U series
• Isotopic tracer studies-using radiogenic isotopes such as Nd, Pb, Sr, Hf, Ca, U, Th, Os, ³He...
• Mathematical models of natural transport processes amenable to study using isotopic methods
• Review of isotope geochemistry methods applied to the study of earth processes and cosmochemistry

Texts for the course:

• Required: Dickin (2005), Radiogenic Isotope Geochemistry (paperback; approx $70), Cambridge University Press; ISBN 0521 530172
• Optional: Lilley, J.S. (2001), Nuclear Physics: Principles and Application (paperback $50 new, hardback $155 new, $85+ for used), John Wiley & Sons; ISBN 0471 979368
• Extensive (250+ pages) course notes (nominal fee for copy costs)

Related courses:

• EPS 203 Introduction to marine geochemistry
• EPS 290 (1) Seminar topics in geochronology
• EPS 290 (4) Seminar topics in isotope geochemistry

To read more about these courses:
http://eps.berkeley.edu/www/department/classes.shtml

Course outline

Earth and Planetary Science 224: Isotopic Geochemistry
Lectures presented by students, visitors, and instructor

Outline

Part 1: Introduction to Nuclear Physics

• Rutherford scattering and nuclear models
• Quantum mechanical principles relevant to isotope geochemistry
• Nuclear properties, Binding energy
• Radioactive decay modes
• Arithmetic of radioactive production and decay
• Interaction of radiation with matter, radiation detectors
• Nuclear reactions involving charged particles
• Neutrons and neutron capture reactions
• Nucleosynthesis, stellar evolution, elemental and isotopic abundances
• Fission, Fission reactors

Part 2: Principles of Isotope Geochemistry

• Mass spectrometry (lab tours)
• Isotopes as tracers for geologic processes
• Fractionating vs. Non-fractionating isotope systems
• Geochronology (Rb-Sr, U-Th-Pb, Sm-Nd, Re-Os, U series, Ar-Ar, radiocarbon)
• Cosmic rays and Cosmogenic Isotopes
• Applications of Isotopes in Geologic Processes
• Ocean mixing and mantle evolution (box models)
• Flow and transport problems (groundwater, magma transport)
• Diffusion problems (in soils, mineral grains, pore fluids)
• Problems in geomorphology (cosmogenic isotopes on the earth and moon)
• Nebular processes, Planetary formation, and Cosmochronology
• Water isotopes and the water cycle
• Magmatic processes and timescales
• Evolution of the crust, atmosphere, oceans
• Current Problems and Recent Advancements

Course Credit (approximate)

• Problem sets (40%)
• Midterm (25%)
• Student presentation (15%; optional for undergrads)
• Take-home final (20%)

Additional Resources on Reserve at Earth Sciences Library

• Introductory Nuclear Physics, by Kenneth S. Krane,
  Wiley, John & Sons, Incorporated, 1987
• Nuclear and Radiochemistry, 3rd Edition
  Friedlander, G., Kennedy, J.W., Macias, E.S. and Miller, J.M., John Wiley and Sons, NY. c1981.
• Principles of Isotope Geology, 2nd Edition
  Faure, G., John Wiley and Sons, NY., 1986.
• Principles and Applications of Inorganic Geochemistry
  Faure, G., Macmillian Publishing Co., Englewood Cliffs, NJ., 1991.
• Neodymium Isotope Geochemistry: An Introduction.
  DePaolo, D.J., Springer-Verlag, NY., 1988.
• Introduction to Geochemical Modeling
  Albarede, F., Cambridge University Press, NY., 1995.
• Noble Gas Geochemistry
  Ozima, M. and Podosek, F.A., Cambridge University Press, NY., 1983.