High Temperature Geochemistry and Cosmochemistry

Introduction

This field enlists a range of scientific disciplines (e.g. chemistry, physics, mathematics, petrology, geology) to address questions involving the accretion of planets, early history of our planet, the style of mantle convection, deep Earth cycling of volatiles, the interaction of the solid Earth with the surface environment, and many more.  The following list of classes is an example curriculum for a student interested in Cosmochemistry/Solid Earth Geochemistry.  Current or prospective students are invited to consult with faculty members to develop a course plan that best suits their needs.

Graduate Courses

  • EPS 206 Solid Earth Geochemistry and Cosmochemistry: A Primer
  • EPS 240 Isotopes and Trace Element Geochemistry and Geochronology
  • EPS 241 Isotope Geochemistry and Processes of Planetary Evolution
  • EPS 243 Geochemical and Cosmochemical Thermodynamics
  • EPS 245 Petrological Approaches to Understanding the Earth’s System
  • EPS 247 Ocean Ridges and the Earth System
  • EPS 248 Topics in Mineral Physics and Chemistry

Faculty

Typical undergraduate backgrounds for students are listed in parenthesis.

  • Rebecca Fischer: Accretion, core formation, and composition of the deep interiors of Earth and other terrestrial planets; high-pressure, high-temperature mineral physics experiments with planetary-scale modeling (solid earth geophysics and geochemistry, planetary science, physics, chemistry, computer science, applied math)
  • Stein Jacobsen: Accretion and early differentiation of Earth, cosmochemistry, meteorites, crust-mantle and sea water evolution (chemistry, geology/Earth sciences)
  • Charles Langmuir: Solid earth geochemical cycle, petrology, volcanology, ocean ridges, convergent margins, ocean islands, composition and evolution of the earth's mantle (chemistry, geology/Earth sciences)