Course Syllabus:
EESC V3101 – Geochemistry for a Habitable Planet
Fall 2014
Professor: Philipp Ruprecht
office: Comer 403, LDEO
Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences
phone: 845-365-8635
Office Hours:
T 2:30 - 3:45
556 Schermerhorn email: pruprecht@ldeo.columbia.edu
R 12-1 & 2:30 - 2:55
(need to catch bus at 3 pm to LDEO on Thursdays)
Class Meeting Time: TR 1:10 - 2:25 pm • 506 Schermerhorn
Overview This course tells the story of our planet through geochemistry, following closely the
book by Langmuir & Broecker, How to Build a Habitable Planet. In this course you will learn about
the formation of elements in stars, the formation of Earth in the context of the solar system, the
differentiation of the planet via igneous processes, the origin of the continents, the effects of
water and CO2 on Earth climate, the source of fossil fuel and mineral resources, the origin of life,
and our effect on the planet. Along the way, we will explore principles in isotope geochronology,
trace element geochemistry, aqueous chemistry, stable isotope geochemistry and chemical
proxies in dynamic systems.
Pre-requisites any EESC 1000 or 2000 level course; MATH V1101 (Calculus I); CHEM
C1403 (General Chemistry I)
Required Textbook: How to Build a Habitable Planet, Langmuir & Broecker, 2012,
Princeton Univ. Press; supplemented with additional readings, to be provided at no cost.
Class Schedule & Other Events: Attached is a preliminary class schedule, with topics
for each class, associated readings, problem set due dates, and exam dates. Other
paper readings and written assignments will occasionally supplement the problem sets.
Analytical Project: As a class, work through a small research project. We will collect
samples, analyze them by laser ablation Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometer, and put the data on-line as a published product. All students will take part in at
least one aspect of the project - of sample collection, geochemical analysis, and on-line
production.
Absences: Please let me know if you will not be able to make any classes, and I will
arrange for you to obtain the material, or to take an early exam. Make-up exams require
a written and compelling excuse.
Late Work: Problem sets must be handed in on the date assigned in class. Ten points
will be deducted (out of 100 total points) for each day late.
Grading Criteria:
Hour Exams (2):
Final Exam:
Problem Sets (3):
Class Participation:
Total
30%
24%
36%
10%
100%
Academic Integrity: Students are expected to do their own work on all tests and assignments for this class
and act in accordance with the Faculty Statement on Academic Integrity and Honor Code established by the
students of Columbia College and the School of General Studies. Because any academic integrity violation
undermines our intellectual community, students found to have cheated, plagiarized, or committed any other
act of academic dishonesty can expect to [specify academic sanction: fail the class/receive a zero for the
work in question] and may be referred to the Dean’s Discipline process.
EESC 3101 Schedule, TR 1:10 - 2:25 pm, Fall 2014
Instructor: Prof. Philipp Ruprecht
# Date
Topic
1 Tues 2-Sep
Introduction; Chemistry Review - radioactivity
2 Thurs 4-Sep
The Origin of Elements in Stars
3 Tues 9-Sep
The Origin of Elements in Stars
4 Thurs 11-Sep
Chemistry Review & Planet Formation
5 Tues 16-Sep
The Age of Things: Isochron Method
6 Thurs 18-Sep
The Age of the Solar System: U-Pb
7 Tues 23-Sep
Age of Earth & Core
8 Thurs 25-Sep
The First Few Million Years: Extinct nuclides
Tues 30-Sep
Review and Project Update
Thurs 2-Oct
Exam -1
HtBaHP & Other
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
Ch. 11 Klein (1-15)
Ch. 12 Cox, Bell -14
Alb. (145-150)
Rollinson-6
Alb. (205-210)
Ch. 9
Brown (177-207)
Tues 7-Oct
Thurs 9-Oct
Tues 14-Oct
Thurs 16-Oct
Tues 21-Oct
Thurs 23-Oct
Tues 26-Oct
Thurs 30-Oct
Tues 4-Nov
Thurs 6-Nov
Tues 11-Nov
Thurs 13-Nov
Tues 18-Nov
Thurs 20-Nov
Tues 25-Nov
Thurs 27-Nov
22 Tues 2-Dec
23 Thurs 4-Dec
16
17
18
19
20
21
Magma from the Mantle Oceanic Crust
Mantle, Crust and Back again: Subduction
Comp'n & Formation of Continents
Evolution of Continents
Analytical Methods
Water on Earth
Aqueous Chemistry & Exam Review
Exam-2
no classes - CU Holiday
Surface-Solid Interactions: Weathering
Rain and River Chemistry
Ocean Chemistry
Long-term climate change; CO2; O isotopes
Glacial cycles, climate proxies
Project Update
no class - Thanksgiving
Organic chemistry, carbon cycle, life
Fossil fuels, Mineral resources
FINAL EXAM:
Ch. 21 Alb: 1 (1-6, 17-18)
Ch. 2 Faure: 2 (8-13)
Ch. 3
Ch. 4-5 Alb: 1 (6-17)
Ch. 6 Faure: 16 (276-286)
Faure: 16 (286-290)
Ch. 7 Alb. (127-135)
Brown (355-369)
Faure-20
Berner - Ch8
Ch. 16-17
Ch. 18 Faure-17
Problem
Sets
A out
A due
B-out
B-due
C-out
C-due
Ch. 13 Brown (297-319)
Ch. 19 Brown (319-332)
Tuesday, 12/16/2014
1:10pm - 4:00pm SCH 506
Bibliography
HtBaHP = How to Build a Habitable Planet, Langmuir, C.H. and Broecker, W. (2012) Princeton
University Press
Albarede, F. (2003)Geochemistry, Cambridge Univ. Press.
Berner, E.K. & Berner, R. (1996) Global Environment: Water, Air & Geochemical Cycles. Prentice Hall.
Brownlow, A. (1996) Geochemistry, Prentice Hall.
Cox, K.G., Bell, J.D. & Pankhurst, R.J. (1980) The Interpretaion of Igneous Rocks, George Allen & Unwin.
Klein, E. (2003) Geochemistry of the Igneous Oceanic Crust; Treatise on Geochemistry v. 3: The Crust.
Elsevier.
Faure, G. (1998) Principles and Applications of Geochemistry. Prentice Hall.
Rollinson, H. (1993) Using Geochemical Data. Longman Group, UK.