isotopengeochemische

Isotopengeochemie, also known as isotope geochemistry, is a subdiscipline of geochemistry that utilizes the variations in isotopic composition of elements to study a wide range of geological and environmental processes. Isotopes are atoms of the same element that have different numbers of neutrons. These variations, though often subtle, can serve as powerful tracers for understanding the origin, history, and evolution of materials and systems.

The principle behind isotope geochemistry is that during physical and chemical processes, different isotopes of an element may behave slightly differently due to their mass difference. This difference in behavior leads to fractionation, where the relative abundance of isotopes changes in different materials or at different stages of a process. By measuring these isotopic ratios using techniques like mass spectrometry, scientists can infer the conditions under which these processes occurred.

Isotope geochemistry has diverse applications. In Earth sciences, it is used to determine the age of rocks and minerals (radiometric dating), trace the movement of fluids and gases in the Earth's crust, reconstruct past climate conditions by analyzing isotopes in ice cores and sediments, and unravel the origin of magmas and ore deposits. Environmental applications include tracking pollution sources, studying hydrological cycles, and monitoring biogeochemical processes. In planetary science, isotopic analysis helps understand the formation and evolution of planets and meteorites.