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Books > Earth & environment > Earth sciences > Geology & the lithosphere > Geochemistry
About three years ago Catherine de Berg and I published a short article in Nature in which we attempted to explain why the chemistry of the atmosphere of the Earth is today so completely different from that of our two neighbor ing planets, Mars and Venus. Our atmosphere is composed mainly of N2 and O with traces of A, H0, CO , 0 , etc. , while the atmospheres of both 2 2 2 3 Mars and Venus are almost entirely made up of CO , Also, the Earth appears 2 to be the only one ofthe three planets which has oceans ofliquid water on the surface. Since the presence of liquid water on Earth is probably an essential requirement for life to have originated and evolved to its present state, the question of the apparent absence ofliquid water on Mars and Venus suddenly acquires significant proportions. In our paper in Nature, and later in a more detailed discussion of the subject (Planetary Atmospheres, in Exobiology, edited by C. Ponnamperuma, North Holland Publishing Co. ), we tried to describe why we believe that in the early history of the solar system all the terrestrial planets lost the atmospheres of H2 and He which they had acquired from the solar nebula at the time of their formation. These planets, completely devoid of atmos pheres, like the Moon today, started accumulating new gases which were exhumed from the interior by the commencement of volcanic activity.
The Evolution of Matter explains how all matter in the Universe developed following the Big Bang and through subsequent stellar processes. It describes the evolution of interstellar matter and its differentiation during the accretion of the planets and the history of the Earth. Unlike many books on geochemistry, this volume follows the chemical history of matter from the very beginning to the present, demonstrating connections in space and time. It provides also solid links from cosmochemistry to the geochemistry of Earth. The book presents comprehensive descriptions of the various isotope systematics and fractionation processes occurring naturally in the Universe, using simple equations and helpful tables of data. With a glossary of terms and over 900 references, this volume is a valuable reference for researchers and advanced students studying the chemical evolution of the Earth, the Solar System and the wider Universe.
Several important developments in our understanding of the chemistry of weathering have occurred in the last few years: 1. There has been a major breakthrough in our understanding of the mechanisms controlling the kinetics of sil icate dissolution, and there have been major advances in computer modeling of weathering processes. 2. There has been a growing recognition of the importance of organic solutes in the weathering process, and hence of the inter-relationships between mineral weathering and the terrestrial ecosystem. 3. The impact of acid deposition ("acid rain") has been widely recognized. The processes by which acid deposition is neutral ized are closely related to the processes of normal chemical weathering; an understanding of the chemistry of weathering is thus essential for predicting the effects of acid deposition. 4. More high-qual ity data have become available on the chemical dynamics of smal I watersheds and large river systems, which represent the integrated effects of chemical weathering.
This book is an outgrowth of my interest in the chemistry of sedimentary rocks. In teaching geochemistry, I realized that the best examples for many chemical processes are drawn from the study of ore deposits. Consequently, we initiated a course at The University of Cincinnati entitled "Sedimentary Ore Deposits," which serves as the final quarter course for both our sedimentary petrology and our ore deposits sequence, and this book is based on that teaching experience. Because of my orientation, the treatment given is perhaps more sedimentological than is usually found in books on ore deposits, but I hope that this proves to be an advantage. It will also be obvious that I have drawn heavily on the ideas and techniques of Robert Garrels. A number of people have helped with the creation of this book. I am especially grateful to my students and colleagues at Cincinnati and The Memorial University of Newfoundland for suffering through preliminary versions in my courses. I particularly thank Bill Jenks, Malcolm Annis, and Dave Strong. For help with field work I thank A. Hallam, R. Hiscott, J. Hudson, R. Kepferle, P. O'Kita, A. Robertson, C. Stone, and R. Stevens. I am also deeply indebted to Bob Stevens for many hours of insightful discussion.
The first edition of this book was published in 1965 and its French translation in 1966. The revised second edition followed in 1967 and its Russian translation became available in 1969. Since then, many new petrographic observations and experimental data elucidat- ing reactions in metamorphic rocks have made a new approach in the study of metamorphic transformation desirable and possible. It is felt that this new approach, attempted in this book, leads to a better unders- tanding of rock metamorphism. The concept of metamorphic facies and subfacies considers asso- ciations of mineral assemblages from diverse bulk compositions as characteristic of a certain pressure-temperature range. As new petrographic observations accumulated, it became increasingly difficult to accommodate this information within a manageable framework of metamorphic facies and subfacies. Instead, it turned out that mineral assemblages due to reactions in common rocks of a particular composi- tion provide suitable indicators of metamorphic conditions. Metamorphic zones, defined on the basis of mineral reactions, very effectively display the evolution of metamorphic rocks. Thus the im- portance ofreactions in metamorphic rocks is emphasized. Experimen- tal calibration of mineral reactions makes it possible to distinguish reac- tions which are of petrogenetic significance from those which are not. This distinction provides guidance in petrographic investigations un- dertaken with the object of deducing the physical conditions of metamorphism.
Chemical petrology is essentially the physical chemistry of rocks and associated fluids, although it also borrows heavily from such other sciences as mineralogy. In terms of fundamentals it is firmly grounded in chemical thermodynamics and kinetics. In its treatment of terrestrial environments it grades imperceptably into sedimentology, geochemistry, and geophysics and in extraterrestrial environments into cosmochemistry. It is one of the most important branches of planetology and meteoritics. The unity of approach of thermodynamics and kinetics to processes in these diverse environments is stressed in this book by numerous examples which have been chosen to illuminate different aspects of the subject. Thus we have discussed in some depth such problems as the genesis of layered basic complexes, calc-alkaline batholiths, chondri tic meteorites, and the surface-atmosphere interaction of the planet Venus because these are important and because they are particularly good illustrations of the chemical petrology approach. Considerable attention also has been devoted to volcanic processes. In our treatment of metamor phism in particular, an attempt has been made to correlate and integrate the vast number of recent experimental, theoretical, and field studies. However, we have not attempted a comprehensive survey of all known rock types or occurrences, nor did we review all the diverse opinions and conclusions on the origins of controversial rocks. Instead we have chosen to stress interpretations we regard as following most directly from the evidence."
'The most incomprehensible thing about the world is that it is comprehensible.' ALBERT EINSTEIN, 1950 The tremendous progress of recent years in the field of isotopes in the earth sciences has proved invaluable in attempting to solve a varied spectrum of geological and geochemical problems. The lunar exploration programmes provided rocks for analysis, stimulating refinements in mass spectrometry which were later used for terrestrial samples too. Among significant advances was the development of electrostatic tandem accelerator mass spectrometers allowing the precise measure ment of abundances of cosmic radionuclides. Also, new geochronometers were devised, for instance those dependent upon the radioactive decay of samarium-I47 to neodymium-I43, lutetium-176 to hafnium-176, rhenium-I87 to osmium-I87 and potassium-40 to calcium40, these supplementing prior dating methods. Their impact as regards the origin of igneous rocks was considerable. Isotopic compositions of neodymium, strontium, lead and hafnium in these rocks showed that magmas from the mantle are often crustally contaminated. In addition, isotopic compositions of carbon, oxygen and sulphur aided the elucidation of aspects of petrogenesis. These and many other facets of the subject are discussed in this book."
The first edition of this book was published in 1965 and its French translation in 1966. The revised second edition followed in 1967 and its Russian translation became available in 1969. Since then, many new petrographic observations and experimental data elucidat- ing reactions in metamorphic rocks have made a new approach in the study of metamorphic transformation desirable and possible. It is felt that this new approach, attempted in this book, leads to a better unders- tanding of rock metamorphism. The concept of metamorphic facies and subfacies considers asso- ciations of mineral assemblages from diverse bulk compositions as characteristic of a certain pressure-temperature range. As new petrographic observations accumulated, it became increasingly difficult to accommodate this information within a manageable framework of metamorphic facies and subfacies. Instead, it turned out that mineral assemblages due to reactions in common rocks of a particular composi- tion provide suitable indicators of metamorphic conditions. Metamorphic zones, defined on the basis of mineral reactions, very effectively display the evolution of metamorphic rocks. Thus the im- portance of reactions in metamorphic rocks is emphasized. Experimen- tal calibration of mineral reactions makes it possible to distinguish reac- tions which are of petrogenetic significance from those which are not. This distinction provides guidance in petrographic investigations un- dertaken with the object of deducing the physical conditions of metamorphism.
How large is the natural variation in concentration of the various elements in different media? How do the oft-cited "World average concentrations" in different media compare with actual analytical data? How low a detection limit do I need to attain if I want to analyse for an element in soils, sediments, water or plants? All these questions and many more can be answered by using this unique reference book. It collates data on the most important properties and uses of all naturally occurring chemical elements. It combines these with data obtained from actual analyses of different sample media (soil, stream sediment, stream water, ground water, plants, human body fluids). This combination of facts and actual data makes this book suitable for learning and teaching applied geochemistry as well.
Proceedings of the NATO Advanced Study Institute, Aussois, France, September 4-15, 1985
During the last few years, carbonatites have received a considerable amount of attention. Some of this interest was no doubt kindled by the importance of volatiles in the Earth's mantle, particularly CO , by the fact that carbonatites 2 can be used to monitor the chemical evolution of the sub-continental upper mantle, and by the fact that carbonatites may be effective metasomatizing agents at both mantle and crustal levels. The interest in Oldoinyo Lengai has extended over at least 100 years, but it was not until the eruptions of 1960, when the unique carbonatitic nature of its lavas was recognized, that the volcano took on special significance in volcanology and igneous petrology. The recognition of carbonatitic flows coin cided with the first successful laboratory experiments carried out on carbonatitic melts. Since then, Oldoinyo Lengai has formed a cornerstone in all carbonatite discussions. It is probably true to say that the findings from Oldoinyo Lengai have dominated our ideas about carbonatites, in spite of the fact that the alkali rich, natrocarbonatitic lavas of Oldoinyo Lengai are markedly different from other carbonatites.
This volume contains the lectures presented at the Advanced Study Institute on "New Trends in Coal Science" which was held at Datca, HUgla, Turkey during August 23 - September 4, 1987. The book includes 23 chapters which were originally written for the meeting by some of the world's foremost investigators. Chemists everywhere are carrying out exciting research that has important implications for the energy and fuels industries and for society in general. For the near future, coal resources will continue to be of great importance and science and technology of the highest order are needed to extend this fossil energy resource and to utilize it in an economical way that is also environmentally acceptable. These were the main purposes for the organization of this NATO ASI. The Institute constituted two working weeks on structure and reactivity of coal and so is the book. Through the presentation of many specific recent results on structure and characterization of coal and its products the potential of new instrumental techniques is presented in the first part of the book. Finally the reactivity of coals at different conditions both in laboratory and industry is discussed. We hope that the volume will be of great use to research workers from academic and industrial background. In addition it could serve as a textbook for a graduate course on coal science and technology.
MYRON J. MITCHELL* The biota of soils constitute an integral part of both natural and agronomic ecosystems. The soil microflora and fauna in conjunction with the belowground portion of the Metaphyta or higher plants constitute the living milieu, components of which are in intimate association with each other as well as the abiotic constituents of the soil. Since these associations or interactions are important in regulat ing both the flux and availability of energy and nutrients, the central theme of the present book focuses on these interactions. The effects of microfloral and faunal inter actions with regard to overall ecosystem dynamics and specific critical processes will be examined. HISTORICAL ASPECTS The coverage of this volume is an extension of a vast body of literature which dates back to the 18th century. A brief compendium of major books and reviews published from 1960 to 1983 is given chronologically in Tables 1 and 2, respectively. Russell (1961) has reviewed work in the 1800's during which some of the basic tenets on the relationships between plant nutrition and soil properties became estab lished. In this period agricultural science was founded and the study of soil bacteriology began. The evolution of soil biology up to the early 1970's has been described by Satch211 in the volume edited by Dickinson and Pugh (1974). *Department of Environmental and Forest Biology, SUNY, College of Environmental Science and Forestry, Syracuse, NY 13210 2 ~ .
For the first time in human history, developments in many branches of science provide us with an opportunity of formula ting a comprehensive picture of the universe from its beginning to the present time. It is an awesome reflection that the carbon in our bodies is the very carbon which was generated during the birth of a star. There is a perceptible continuum through the billions of years which can be revealed by the study of chemistry. Studies in nucleosynthesis have related the origin of the elements to the life history of the stars. The chemical elements we find on earth, HYdrogen, Carbon, Oxygen, and Nitrogen, were created in astronomical processes that took place in the past, and these elements are not spread throughout space in the form of stars and galaxies. Radioastronomers have discovered a vast array of organic molecules in the interstellar medium which have a bearing on prebiological chemical processes. Many of the molecules found so far contain the four elements, C, N, 0, H. Except for the chem ically unreactive He, these four elements are the most abundant in the galaxy. The origin of polyatomic interstellar molecules is an unresolved problem. While we can explain the formation of some diatomic molecules as due to two atom collisions, it is much more difficult to form polyatomic molecules by collisions between diatomic molecules and atoms. There may be other produc tion mechanisms at work such as reactions taking place on the surface of interstellar dust grains."
One of the basic concepts of ocean biogeochemistry is that of an ocean with extremely active boundary zones and separation boundaries of extensive biochemical interactions. The areas of these zones are characterized by a sharp decrease of element migration intensity and consequently the decrease in their concentrations gave the boundaries for the naming of the geochemical barriers (Perelman, 1972). For the purposes of biogeo chemistry the most important ones are the boundaries of separation between river-sea, ocean-atmosphere, and water-ground (Lisitzin, 1983). The most complicated of them is the river-sea boundary, where the biogeochemical processes are the most active and complicated (Monin and Romankevich, 1979, 1984). The necessity of studying organic matter in rivers, mouth regions and adjoining sea aquatories has been repeatedly pointed out by v.I. Vernadsky (1934, 1960) who noted both the importance of registration of solid and liquid run-off of rivers, coming into the sea, and "the quality and the character of those elements, which are washed-down into the sea", emphasizing that "wash-down of organic substances into the sea is of great value". The interest in studying organic matter in natural waters, including river and sea waters, has grown considerably over the last 30 years. During this period essential material was collected on the content and composition of organic matter in various types of river waters of the USSR, and this was published in papers by B.A Scopintzev, AD. Semenov, M.V.
Hydraulic parameter identification is a crucial step in hydrogeological investigations. The book proposes a unique and generalized interpretation method for single and multiple pumping tests made in groundwater reservoirs with layered heterogeneity and with or without lateral anisotropy. This method eliminates the drawbacks of the numerous and frequently applied interpretation methods. The book also presents an introduction to inverse modeling, resulting in optimal parameter values with their joint confidence region and the corresponding residuals. Cross sections through this multidimensional region elucidate the relation between the shape of this region and some statistical parameters describing the reliability of the identified parameters. This method is demonstrated by means of five pumping or recharge tests.
Manganese nodules were first discovered on the ocean floor 160 miles south-west of the Canary Islands on February 18, 1803, during the first complex oceano logical cruise of the Challenger. They surprised researchers by their unusual shape and also by their unusual chemical composition; nevertheless for many years after wards, they were considered merely as one of Nature's exotic marine tricks. After the Secpnd World War, a comprehensive investigation of the World Ocean started, and new data were obtained on a wide distribution of manganese nodules and their polymetallic composition, that made scientists consider nodules as one of the major characteristics of the deep oceanic zone. Recently, meaning since the 1960's, nodules have been recognized as a potential ore source, investigation of which is stimulated by the progressive depletion of land-based mineral resources. Several generations of scientists from various countries have contributed to the problem of exploration of manganese nodules on the ocean floor. Though the problem has been posed, it has not been solved yet because it required, in its turn, a scrutiny of some fundamental aspects such as composition, nature, accretion r'ate of nodules and retrieval of nodule fields. These problems have been discussed in thousands of papers and larger publications; see, in particulare, Mero, 1965; Horn, 1972; Morgenstein, 1973; Bezrukov, 1976; Glasby, 1977; Bischoff and Piper, 1979; Lalou, 1979; Manganese nodules, 1979; Varentsov, 1980; Cronan, 1980; Manganese nodules . . ., 1984, 1986."
Granulites are, by definition, rocks that crystallized at high temperatures. It is generally agreed that they were formed in regions where the geothermal gradient exceeded normal continental values. These rocks commonly display coronitic mineral fabrics which may be used to trace the thermal and geodynamic history of the continental crust. In the same way that eclogites provide information on the earliest stages of some orogenic episodes, granulites usually tell us about later events, including thermal anomalies, thermal reequilibration, CO streaming, crustal melting, and 2 differentiation of the continental crust. Their study is particularly important if we are to under stand the nature of the middle and lower continental crust. Consistent with the contributions I received, the contents of this volume fall into four general areas: Crustal Evolution, Regional Syntheses, F1uids and Petrological Equilibria, Geochemistry and Geophysics. These represent an up-to-date reflection of the centres of interest in the field of granulites. The first manuscripts arrived in September 1988 while the conference was held, the last contribution arrived in November 1989, more than a year later. I apologize to those who were prompt and took deadlines seriously, but I believe that it was worth waiting to secure a product covering most of the important aspects concerning granulite genesis. All papers were vetted by at least two reviewers. I would like to thank RJ. Arculus, N.T. Arndt, P. Barbey, SR. Bohlen, AM. Boullier, M. Brown, T. Chacko, 1.D. Clemens, K.C. Condie, J.C. Duchesne, C. Dupuy, w.G."
Viewed from space, the Earth appears as a globe without a beginning or an end. Encompassing the globe is the atmosphere with its three phases- gaseous, liquid, and solid--moving in directions influenced by sunlight, gravity, and rotation. The chemical compositions of these phases are determined by biogeochemical cycles. Over the past hundred years, the processes governing the rates and reactions in the atmospheric biogeochemical cycles have typically been studied in regions where scientists lived. Hence, as time has gone by, the advances in our knowledge of atmospheric chemical cycles in remote areas have lagged substantially behind those for more populated areas. Not only are the data less abundant, they are also scattered. Therefore, we felt a workshop would be an excellent mechanism to assess the state of-knowledge of the atmospheric cycles of sulfur and nitrogen in remote areas and to make recommendations for future research. Thus, a NATO Advanced Research Workshop ' he Biogeochemical Cycling of Sulfur and Nitrogen in the Remote Atmosphere" was held at the Bermuda Biological Station, St. Georges, Bermuda, from 8-12 October 1984. The workshop was attended by 24 international scientists known for their work in atmospheric cycling in remote areas. This volume contains the back ground papers and the discussions resulting from that workshop. The workshop was organized along the lines of the atmospheric cycle. There were working groups on emission, transport, transformation, and deposi tion."
Proceedings of the NATO Advanced Research Workshop, Bremen, Germany, October 10-14, 1988
In the Fall of 1988, 64 geologists and geophysicists from 11 countries met in Killarney, Ontario, on the north shore of Lake Huron to examine evidence that suggests that the continental crust is exposed in cross-section at several key locations on the Earth's surface. The meeting, which was held under NATO auspices as an Advanced Study Institute, was a landmark event in that it was the first time that many of the lead scientists working on these complexes in relative isolation around the world had' ever gathered together to compare results. The present volume is a compendium of the invited lectures given on the principle sections, plus an array of supporting papers on these and other sections as well as on related topics such as crustal emplacement mechanisms, deformation and rheology. Nearly all of the best known sections are represented, including the Ivrea Zone, Calabria, the Kapuskasing Zone, Fiordland and many others. It is our hope that this Volume will serve as a reference for Earth scientists who are trying to understand levels of the crust not normally exposed to view, as well as a point of departure for new research and a teaching aid to new entrants in this relatively new field of study.
This book represents the proceedings of the 9th written by a very active group of physicists at Kongsberg seminar, held at the Norwegian Mining the University of Oslo - physicists interested in Museum located in the city of Kongsberg about complex systems in general and geo-like systems 70 km Southwest of Oslo. The Kongsberg district in particular. is known for numerous Permian vein deposits of The content of the book is organized into three native silver, and mining activity in the area lasted major parts following the introductory chapter. for more than 300 years, finally ceasing in 1957. Chapters 2 to 7 primarily treat the role of fluids The previous eight Kongsberg seminars were in specific geological environments, ranging from focused on ore-forming processes and all of these sedimentary basins (Chapters 2-3) to contact were organized by Professor Arne Bj0rlykke, now metamorphic/hydrothermal scenarios (Chapters director of the Norwegian Geological Survey. 4-5) and regional metamorphic settings (Chapters Since process-orientated research tends to break 6-7). The following four chapters (8-11) focus down the traditional barriers between the different on various properties of fluid-rock systems that geological disciplines, this seminar has always are critical in controlling flow and transport been a meeting point for people with a variety through rocks. These include: mineral solubility of geological backgrounds.
Agriculture in the industrial world has gone A common interest of the contributors is increas through dramatic changes over the past decades. ing the understanding of the turnover of carbon Mechanization in combination with high inputs of and inorganic nutrients in terestrial ecosystems. fertilizers and pesticides has turned deficits of agri The authors approach this topic from different cultural products into surplus. Over the same directions depending on their interests and ex period we have experienced increased environment pertise. Difficulties are identified in the quantifica al problems in both the atmosphere and our water tion of below-ground production where death and resources, which have been associated with the re-growth, if incorporated into the calculations, changes in management practices. can change production figures considerably as Concern about the potential pollution by compared to values derived from "peak" estimates. nitrogen fertilizers as well as the low utilization The role of root-derived carbon is investigated in efficiency of applied nitrogen by plants has created relation to nutrient competition between roots and a need for a better understanding of nitrogen microorganisms, the cost of N2 fixation and the cycling in the plant-soil-water system. To achieve decomposition of organic nitrogen. Mycorrhizae this, it is neccessary to study process interactions use root-derived carbon and their roles in phos and process regulation in an ecosystem context. phorus conservation and in supplying nutrients to During the last decade many ecosystem studies the host are exemplified.
Three symposia on environmental geochemistry in tropical countries, held in Niter6i, Brazil (1993), in Cartagena, Colombia (1996) and in Nova Friburgo, Brazil (1999), made it very clear that tropical geochemistry is of world standard and fast increasing in multi disciplinarily and impact on important geochemical paradigms. It has additionally strong links with the economy of tropical countries, such as mining and industrialisa tion and is in full development for treating environmental problems caused by human activities of urban or industrial origin. We must compliment Prof. Jorge Abriio and his colleagues in Brazil and Dr. Gloria Prieto and her colleagues in Colombia for these ini tiatives. The participation of respectively 180 and 150 scientists, coming from 15 different countries for the first and second symposia, has shown that a large interest exists for tropical environmental geochemistry. It also demonstrates the necessity to understand tropical environmental problems. The organisation of a large international symposium is not possible without the assistance of state and federal authorities, for which those of Brazil and Colombia have to be complimented. The 3rd Symposium on Environmental Geochemistry in Tropical Countries was the last of the series and was attended by 22 countries and 170 participants and treated a number of related environmental and economic problems."
This book provides a detailed description of light absorption and absorbents in seawaters with respect to provenance, region of the sea, depth of the occurrence and trophicity. The text is based on a substantial body of contemporary research results taken from the subject literature (over 400 references) and the work of the authors over a period of 30 years. |
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