Geochemistry - An introduction

Paperback  262 pages, 107 diags, 7 tabs, 4 exercises  ISBN 0521891485      £32.00

From measuring geological time, through unravelling the evolution of continents, ocean and mantle, to understanding climate change, modern geochemistry is a discipline which pervades nearly all of the Earth Sciences. Geochemistry provides a broad introduction to the subject, which concentrates on the inorganic chemistry of the condensed part of our planet. This new textbook is written by the author of the authoritative and widely acclaimed Introduction to Geochemical Modelling (Cambridge, 1995). Emphasizing general principles rather than specific observations, Professor Albarède leads the reader through the simplest concepts of physics and chemistry behind geochemical processes. He covers fields central to geochemistry, such as crystal chemistry, mass balance and element transport, and geochemical dynamics. A broad range of applications is introduced, in natural water systems, the deep Earth and planetary processes. Geochemistry is an ideal textbook for undergraduate students, and will also provide an accessible introduction for researchers working in related fields.

Reviews

€€ a welcome addition to the growing number of undergraduate texts on geochemistry € In summary, this is an effective entry-level text that deserves to be widely read.€
Times Higher Education Supplement