Learning objectives
Upon successful completion, students should be able to:
• Explain the mechanics of radiometric dating
• Discuss the most important geochronometers and their applications
• Define the stable isotope terminology and notations
• Discuss the principles of stable isotope fractionation
• Discuss the most important applications of stable isotopes in paleoclimatology, (paleo)ecology, archeology, and hydrology
• Illustrate the most important isotopic analytical techniques, particularly mass spectrometry
• Analyze real isotopic datasets using Microsoft Excel
Prerequisites
None.
Course unit content
This course is designed to provide an introduction to the principles and applications of isotope geochemistry, and to briefly summarize the analytical techniques used in the field. The course is divided into two parts. The first part will focus on radioactive isotope geochemistry and its most important geologic application (geochronometry). The second part will focus on stable isotopes with emphasis on oxygen, hydrogen, carbon, nitrogen, and sulfur and with applications in paleoclimatology, ecology and paleoecology, archeology, and hydrology.
Full programme
Part 1-Radioactive isotope geochemistry
Nuclear mechanics
Decay methods
Cosmochemistry
Analytical methods
Geochronometry
Rubidium-Strontium method
Potassium-Argon method
Argon-Argon method
Uranium-Lead method
Samarium-Neodymium method
Cosmogenic isotopes
Part 2. Stable isotope geochemistry
Fractionation
Notation
Stable isotope hydrology
Oxygen isotopes in carbonates
Oxygen isotopes in phosphates
Carbon isotopes in terrestrial plants
Carbon isotopes in aquatic plants and in sediment organic matter
Carbon isotopes in carbonates and phosphates
Nitrogen isotopes
Sulfur isotopes
Clumped isotopes
Parte 2. Geochimica degli isotopi stabili
Frazionamento
Notazioni
Idrologia degli isotopi stabili
Isotopi dell’ossigeno nei carbonati
Isotopi dell’ossigeno nei fosfati
Isotopi del carbonio nelle piante terrestri
Isotopi del carbonio nelle piante acquatiche e nella parte organica dei sedimenti
Isotopi del carbonio nei carbonati e fosfati
Isotopi dell’azoto
Isotopi dello zolfo
Clumped isotopes
Bibliography
White; Isotope Geochemistry Notes, 2003, Available for free at: http://www.geo.cornell.edu/geology/classes/Geo656/656notes03.html
Sharp; Principles of Stable Isotope Geochemistry, Pearson Prentice Hall, 2017, 2nd Edition.
Available free at: http://digitalrepository.unm.edu/unm_oer/1/
PowerPoint slides of lectures
Teaching methods
The assessment methods consist in quizzes, in class and homework assignments, exams, and a final project. Each class has an in-class assignment, with a variable number of quantitative questions on the topic of the day. The course has six quizzes, each has 10 multiple choice questions. Exams (one midterm and one final) consist of multiple-choice questions, quantitative problems, and short answer/diagram questions.
Assessment methods and criteria
The assessment methods consist in quizzes, in class and homework assignments, exams, and a final project. Each class has an in-class assignment, with a variable number of quantitative questions on the topic of the day. The course has six quizzes, each has 10 multiple choice questions. Exams (one midterm and one final) consist of multiple-choice questions, quantitative problems, and short answer/diagram questions.
Other information
None.
