Geochemical data
All electromagnetic waves travel at the speed of light (3 x 10 8 ms -1 ) and are discussed in terms of wavelength and frequency The electromagnetic spectrum
Spectrometry
The K emission spectrum of copper
X-ray spectrum of an olivine
An atom of the element carbon (C) The nucleus contains 6 protons and 6 neutrons Six electrons orbit the nucleus, confined to specific orbits called energy-levels The first shell can only contain 2 electrons The second shell can contain 8 electrons In the case of a carbon atom, the second shell is therefore half full and contains only 4 electrons
A typical rock analysis
Common types of magma
Composition of Earth shells Elements wt% CrustMantleCore ContinentalOceanicUpperLowerOuterInner O Si Al Fe Ca K Na Mg Ti C0.3 H0.2 Mn Ni 520 Cr 0.51
Nucleosynthesis « Bethe’s cycle »
Elements stability
Elements abundance Lights > Heavies Even > Odd Abundance peak close to Fe (n=56)
Solar system abundance
Formation of a planetary nebula -
Planetary nebulas
Temperature gradients in the planetary nebula
Formation of the solar system
Differenciation of planets