The student will be able to interpret basic isotopic notations and diagrams, and independently use some of the main tools for calculating and interpreting the isotopic signatures of rocks and related materials.

Mineralogy and Petrography; Mathematics, Chemistry and Physics for Geology.

After a general introduction to isotope geochemistry, the course will generally focus on two main subjects: radiogenic and stable isotope geochemistry. First, basics of radiogenic isotope geochemistry and geochronology will be introduced, highlighting most commonly applied decay systems and their applications in geology, planetary and environmental sciences. Radiogenic isotope courses will introduce different decay systems (Rb-Sr, Sm-Nd, Lu-Hf, Re-Os, U-Pb, and “extinct” and cosmogenic nuclides), and their applications with the focus on understanding absolute ages of rocks and planetary materials (e.g. meteorites). The concepts of understanding the source regions of rocks and petrogenetic environments based on their radiogenic isotopic composition will be presented. Second, basics of stable isotope geochemistry will be introduced: equilibrium isotope fractionations, kinetic isotope fractionations, mass-dependent and mass-independent fractionations. The course will introduce traditional (C, H, N, O) and non-traditional (e.g. Fe, S) isotopic systems and their applications in geology, or interactions of geologic systems with biosphere, atmosphere and hydrosphere. Course activities will also involve calculating isotopic notations and creating isotopic diagrams for different applications, as well as literature review in adequate topics.

Hugh Rollinson, Victoria Pease, 2021. Using Geochemical Data: To Understand Geological Processes. 2nd edition, Cambridge University Press: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781108777834 M. White, 2020. Geochemistry. Wiley. ISBN: 978-1-119-43805-2. Vari capitoli in Heinrich D. Holland, Karl K. Turekian, 2014. Treatise in Geochemistry. Elsevier. ISBN 978-0-08-098300-4 (e.g. Chapter 1.12: https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-08-095975-7.00115-7).

After a general introduction to isotope geochemistry, the course will focus on two main subjects: radiogenic and stable isotope geochemistry. First, basics of radiogenic isotope geochemistry and geochronology will be introduced, highlighting most commonly applied decay systems and their applications in geology, planetary and environmental sciences. Radiogenic isotope courses will introduce different decay systems (Rb-Sr, Sm-Nd, Lu-Hf, Re-Os, U-Pb, and “extinct” and cosmogenic nuclides), and their applications with the focus on understanding absolute ages of rocks and planetary materials (e.g. meteorites). The concepts of understanding the source regions of rocks and petrogenetic environments based on their radiogenic isotopic composition will be presented. Second, basics of stable isotope geochemistry will be introduced: equilibrium isotope fractionations, kinetic isotope fractionations, mass-dependent and mass-independent fractionations. The course will introduce traditional (C, H, N, O) and non-traditional (e.g. Fe, S) isotopic systems and their applications in geology, or interactions of geologic systems with biosphere, atmosphere and hydrosphere. Course activities will also involve calculating isotopic notations and creating isotopic diagrams for different applications, as well as literature review in adequate topics.

Frontal instruction, basic classroom exercises, and literature review/seminar

Oral exam/seminar

This course explores topics closely related to one or more goals of the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (SDGs)