Goldschmidtberegninger

Goldschmidtberegninger are a set of geochemical calculations based on the framework developed by Victor Moritz Goldschmidt, used to explain and predict how elements distribute themselves during geological and planetary differentiation. The approach draws on Goldschmidt’s classification of elements into lithophile (silicate-loving), siderophile (metal-loving), chalcophile (sulfide-loving), and atmophile (gas-loving) groups, as well as principles of how elements substitute for one another in minerals and how they partition between melts, minerals, sulfides, and metals under varying conditions.

In practice, Goldschmidtberegninger involve comparing element affinities and partitioning behavior to estimate their abundances in different phases for given temperatures, pressures, and redox states. They can be used to model magmatic differentiation, ore-forming processes, and crust-mantle evolution, and to interpret the large-scale distribution of trace elements in rocks. The calculations support interpretations of geological histories and can guide mineral exploration by highlighting expected concentrations of particular elements in target environments.

Limitations include the simplifying assumptions about oxidation state, temperature, pressure, and mineral assemblages. Real systems are complex, often requiring more detailed thermodynamic modeling, numerical simulations, and consideration of kinetic effects. Nonetheless, Goldschmidtberegninger remain a foundational tool in geochemistry and mineralogy for understanding element behavior across geologic processes.