geokeemiline

Geokeemiline, or geochemical science, is the branch of Earth science that studies the chemical composition of the Earth and the processes that govern the distribution and behavior of elements and isotopes in rocks, soils, water, air, and organisms. It seeks to understand how elements are sourced, transformed, transported, and stored in natural systems, and how human activity alters these processes.

Key subfields include geochemistry (element distributions in Earth materials), isotopic geochemistry (isotope ratios as tracers and chronometers), cosmochemistry (chemical processes in space), and environmental geochemistry (geochemical impacts on water and ecosystems). Methods combine field sampling with laboratory analyses such as inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), X-ray fluorescence (XRF), TIMS or ICP-OES, plus in-situ sensors. Tools include thermodynamic modeling, isotope ratio analysis, and geochemical mapping.

Geokeemiline has wide applications: locating mineral resources and understanding ore genesis, assessing groundwater quality and contaminant transport, studying biogeochemical cycles of carbon, nitrogen, sulfur, and trace elements, and informing climate and environmental research. It also informs planetary science through cosmochemistry, comparing Earth with meteorites and other bodies.

Data are organized in geochemical databases; researchers use geochemical modeling to predict element behavior in soils, rocks, and fluids. The field emphasizes integration with geology, hydrology, ecology, and meteorology to build comprehensive views of Earth systems.