Isotope Geochemistry

Provides a thorough and up-to-date overview of radiogenic and stable isotope geochemistry Now in its second edition, Isotope Geochemistry presents a comprehensive introduction to radiogenic and stable isotope geochemistry. The book opens with an overview of the physics and origins of atoms and nuclei, followed by a review of radioactive decay schemes and geochronological techniques such as fission-track and carbon-14 dating. Subsequent chapters cover nucleosynthetic anomalies in meteorites, early solar system chronology, the theory and application of stable isotope geochemistry, isotopic variation in the noble gases, and more. This edition includes new sections on thermochronology, U-He dating, recently published La–Ce isotope data, stable isotopes in ore deposits, nuclear volume and nuclear spin effects, and the application of isotope geochemistry in areas such as agriculture, forensics, and environmental studies. Revised and expanded discussions address topics including isotope cosmochemistry, non-traditional isotopes, nucleosynthesis, advanced U-Pb dating and isotopic analysis technologies, the subcontinental lithosphere, and mass-independent isotope fractionation. Describes the use of radiogenic isotopes in understanding the evolution of the Earth’s mantle, crust, and oceans Explores the use of stable isotopes in areas such as mantle evolution, archeology, paleontology, ore formation, and paleoclimatology Reviews new developments in the understanding of nucleosynthesis, including insights gained from the study of the 2017 neutron star merger detected by gravitational waves Discusses progress in the field of unconventional isotopes, advances in isotope cosmochemistry, and recent data on regional variations in isotopic compositions Illustrated in full color throughout, Isotope Geochemistry, Second Edition is an excellent textbook for undergraduate and postgraduate students in all earth science disciplines.