geokemisk

Geokemisk is a term used primarily in Norwegian and Swedish to describe matters relating to geochemistry, the branch of science that studies the chemical composition of the Earth and the processes that govern the distribution and behavior of chemical elements and isotopes in minerals, rocks, soils, waters, and the atmosphere.

Geochemical research seeks to explain where elements occur, why their abundances vary, and how chemical reactions during weathering, metamorphism, magmatism, sedimentation, and hydrothermal activity alter the composition of Earth materials. It covers natural cycles, element mobility, and the interactions between geology and chemistry.

Methods commonly employed include field sampling and laboratory analyses such as inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) and X-ray fluorescence (XRF), isotope ratio analysis, mass spectrometry, and chromatography. Data interpretation often uses geochemical modeling and geostatistics.

Applications of geokemisk research include mineral and energy resource exploration, environmental geochemistry and pollution assessment, groundwater quality studies, soil science, and the study of planetary bodies where similar chemical processes operate. It interacts with related disciplines such as mineralogy, petrology, hydrology, and volcanology.

In Scandinavian usage, geokemisk emphasizes the chemical aspects of geological systems, and the term is used in education, research, and industry to describe geochemical investigations within a geological context.