Geochemistry
by William M. White
Category: Science

This book provides a comprehensive introduction to the field ofgeochemistry. The book first lays out the ‘geochemicaltoolbox’: the basic principles and techniques of moderngeochemistry, beginning with a review of thermodynamics andkinetics as they apply to the Earth and its environs. These basicconcepts are then applied to understanding processes in aqueoussystems and the behavior of trace elements in magmaticsystems. Subsequent chapters introduce radiogenic and stableisotope geochemistry and illustrate their application to suchdiverse topics as determining geologic time, ancient climates, andthe diets of prehistoric peoples. The focus then broadens to theformation of the solar system, the Earth, and the elementsthemselves. Then the composition of the Earth itself becomes thetopic, examining the composition of the core, the mantle, and thecrust and exploring how this structure originated. A final chaptercovers organic chemistry, including the origin of fossil fuels andthe carbon cycle’s role in controlling Earth’s climate,both in the geologic past and the rapidly changing present. Geochemistry is essential reading for all earth sciencestudents, as well as for researchers and appliedscientists who require an introduction to the essentialtheory of geochemistry, and a survey of its applications in theearth and environmental sciences. Additional resources can be found at: ahref="http://www.wiley.com/go/white/geochemistry"www.wiley.com/go/white/geochemistry/a