Courses:

Course Info

• Course Number / Code:
• 12.479 (Fall 2006) 
• Course Title:
• Trace-Element Geochemistry 
• Course Level:
• Graduate 
• Offered by :
• Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
  Massachusetts, United States  
• Department:
• Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences 
• Course Instructor(s):
• Prof. Frederick Frey 
• Course Introduction:
•  
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  12.479 Trace-Element Geochemistry
  
  
  
  

  Fall 2006

  
  
  

  
  
  

  Course Highlights

  
  
  

  
  
  12.479 Trace-Element Geochemistry
  
  
  
  

  Fall 2006

  
  
  

  

  The Periodic Table of the Elements is essential for understanding the geochemical behavior of Trace Elements. Elements in yellow squares are Major Elements because their abundances in igneous rocks are typically greater than 0.1 wt.%. Note that the majority of elements (pink squares) have abundance less than 0.1 wt.%; they are Trace Elements. Background photo (from USGS) is a basaltic eruption at Kilauea Volcano, Hawaii. (Image by MIT OpenCourseWare).

  
  
  

  Course Description

  
  
  

  The emphasis of this course is to use Trace Element Geochemistry to understand the origin and evolution of igneous rocks. The approach is to discuss the parameters that control partitioning of trace elements between phases and to develop models for the partitioning of trace elements between phases in igneous systems, especially between minerals and melt. Subsequently, published papers that are examples of utilizing Trace Element Geochemistry are read and discussed.