2024
Geochemistry applied to Paleontology
Name: Geochemistry applied to Paleontology
Code: GEO10334M
6 ECTS
Duration: 15 weeks/162 hours
Scientific Area:
Geology
Teaching languages: Portuguese
Languages of tutoring support: Portuguese, English
Regime de Frequência: Presencial
Sustainable Development Goals
Learning Goals
When studying the ancient environments the paleontology can benefit of the data from isotope geology and from the
geochemistry. The information about the faunal associations and the morphological characteristics of the specimen can be complemented with information about their geochemical details allowing the development of more accurate paleoenvironmental reconstructions. Several examples can be cited such as: (i) calculation of the sea water paleotemperatures from marine fossils using the 18O/16O ratios of the exoskeletons; (ii) determination of paleoceanographic conditions through the determination of εNd in sediments and fossils; (iii) evaluate the oxygenation of the water column in a marine environment from the rare-earth concentrations of fossils and sediments.
This course intends to provide a view of the main geochemical and isotopic tools (radiochronology excluded), with applications in paleontology.
geochemistry. The information about the faunal associations and the morphological characteristics of the specimen can be complemented with information about their geochemical details allowing the development of more accurate paleoenvironmental reconstructions. Several examples can be cited such as: (i) calculation of the sea water paleotemperatures from marine fossils using the 18O/16O ratios of the exoskeletons; (ii) determination of paleoceanographic conditions through the determination of εNd in sediments and fossils; (iii) evaluate the oxygenation of the water column in a marine environment from the rare-earth concentrations of fossils and sediments.
This course intends to provide a view of the main geochemical and isotopic tools (radiochronology excluded), with applications in paleontology.
Contents
1) Introduction: the chemical elements
a)Element abundance in the Universe
b)The chemical composition of the Earth's crust
c)The geochemical classification of the elements
2)Isotopes
a)Stable isotopes and radiogenic isotopes
b)Characteristics of the stable isotope systems with geological interest
c)Mechanisms of fractionation of the stable isotopes
3)Isotopic systems with interest to the Paleontology
a)Oxygen and Carbon
i)Characteristics and properties
ii)Fractionation equations
iii)Paleoenvironmental information: paleotemperature, paleohydrology and paleovegetation
4)The rare-earth elements
a)Chemical properties
b)Mechanisms of fractionation in surficial environments
c)Application in paleoenvironmental studies.
5)Neodymium isotopes: paleoceanographic applications
6)The geochemistry and the Stratigraphy: general concepts and applications
7)Geochemical changes during diagenesis and metamorphism.
a)Element abundance in the Universe
b)The chemical composition of the Earth's crust
c)The geochemical classification of the elements
2)Isotopes
a)Stable isotopes and radiogenic isotopes
b)Characteristics of the stable isotope systems with geological interest
c)Mechanisms of fractionation of the stable isotopes
3)Isotopic systems with interest to the Paleontology
a)Oxygen and Carbon
i)Characteristics and properties
ii)Fractionation equations
iii)Paleoenvironmental information: paleotemperature, paleohydrology and paleovegetation
4)The rare-earth elements
a)Chemical properties
b)Mechanisms of fractionation in surficial environments
c)Application in paleoenvironmental studies.
5)Neodymium isotopes: paleoceanographic applications
6)The geochemistry and the Stratigraphy: general concepts and applications
7)Geochemical changes during diagenesis and metamorphism.
Teaching Methods
The course will be supported by lectures in which the main theoretical concepts will be taught and on theoretical-practical applications of the concepts. Each module will have a set of exercises that will comprise the different possibilities of applications for the systems under consideration to the paleontological problems.
The ranking will result from an exam (theoretical-practical) and a monograph each with a weighting coefficient of 50%.
The ranking will result from an exam (theoretical-practical) and a monograph each with a weighting coefficient of 50%.
Teaching Staff (2022/2023 )
- Carlos Alexandre da Silva Ribeiro [responsible]
Certificações
