Understanding Our Planet
Through Chemistry
.
This U.S.Geological Survey site shows how chemists and geologists use analytical
chemistry to: determine the age of the Earth; show an extraterrestrial
body collided with the Earth; predict volcanic eruptions; observe atmospheric
change over millions of years; and document damage by acid rain and pollution
of the Earth's surface.
.
Compiled by Joseph E. Taggart, Jr.
Edited by Carole A. Bales and Sonja K. Runberg
Graphics and photos by Richard P. Walker, Shawn T. Smith, and
Steven M. Smith
Composition by Margo L. Johnson
INDEX
Foreword
I. Introduction
II. Understanding the Earth
IIa. History recorded in chemistry
How old is
the Earth?. ...................... Bruce Doe (retired)
Elements,
isotopes, and radioactivity. ..... Bruce Doe (retired)
Digesting
rocks. ............................. Richard
O'Leary
(303) 236-2493 roleary@usgs.gov
.................................................. Richard Sanzolone
(303) 236-1856 rsanzolo@usgs.gov
Disaster
from space ........................ Glen Izett
(retired)
............................................... Frederick Lichte
(retired)
IIb. Geologic processes
IIc. Environment
IId. Pollution
Acid
rain steals our heritage. Philip Baedecker (retired)
.............................................. Victor Mossotti
(650) 329-5284 mossotti@usgs.gov
The chemistry
of mine drainage. ............ Walt Ficklin (deceased)
................................................. Kathleen Smith
(303) 236-5788 ksmith@usgs.gov
IIe. Pollution prevention
Cleaning
up coal burning. ..................... Curtis Palmer
(703) 648-6185 cpalmer@usgs.gov
................................................... Robert Finkelman
(703) 648-6412 rbf@usgs.gov
..................................................... Susan Tewalt
(703) 648-6437 stewalt@usgs.gov
.................................................. Allen Meier
(303) 236-1902 ameier@usgs.gov
III. Mapping the chemistry of the Earth's surface
IIIa. Assessment of public lands
IIIb. Geographic Chemistry: National Geochemical Data Base
IIIc. Public Health and Safety: Element maps of soils
IV. Can we depend on chemical analyses?
RETURN to USGS Home
Page.
RETURN to Central Region's
Mineral Resource Surveys Home Page.
URL http://minerals.cr.usgs.gov/gips/aii-indx.htm
Hypertext Version Created by Joseph E. Taggart, Jr.; jtaggart@usgs.gov