Program Overview

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Program Details

Course Overview

The course "Early Earth - Formation and History" is a part of the MSc Programme in Geology-Geoscience. The course focuses on the geochemical evolution of Earth from 4.6 Ga to 2.5 Ga, including the geochemistry and mineralogy of Earth components, high-temperature geochemical processes, and the use of isotopic tracers to constrain the evolution and differentiation history of the early Earth.

Learning Outcomes

The course aims to provide students with knowledge of:

• Geochemical evolution of Earth during the Hadean and Archean
• Geochemistry of early Earth's major reservoirs (core, mantle, crust) and the use of (isotope-) geochemical signatures
• Important relevant short and long-lived isotopic tracers
• Geochemistry of major meteorite classes and their relationship to the origin and evolution of the Earth and solar system
• Understanding, summarizing, and presenting modern scientific research contributions

Skills and Competences

Upon completion of the course, students will be able to:

• Demonstrate an understanding of the processes that led to the Earth's formation and its prime differentiation
• Describe the general characteristics of the different geochemical reservoirs within the Earth and the interplays between them
• Recite the milestones in Earth's early evolution and understand the processes that led to the Earth's formation and its prime differentiation
• Be familiar with the past processes that led to the structure of the Earth's crust-mantle-core system

Teaching and Learning Methods

The course will be taught through a combination of theory exercises and ad hoc lectures, with study and presentation of relevant scientific articles in small groups during confrontation time.

Literature

The course literature will be available on Absalon.

Recommended Prerequisites

It is beneficial to have gone through the courses "High temperature isotope geochemistry and geochronology," "Melting in the Earth's mantle - tracing sources and processes," and "Mineral Resources" before taking this course.

Assessment

The course will be assessed through a written assignment and an oral examination. The written assignment will be handed in two weeks before the oral examination, and the oral examination will use the written assignment as its point of departure.

Course Details

• Course type: Single subject courses (day)
• Workload: 206 hours
• Language: English
• Course number: NIGK21003U
• ECTS: 7.5
• Programme level: Full Degree Master
• Duration: 1 block
• Placement: Block 2
• Schedule group: C1
• Capacity: 25

Department and Faculty

The course is offered by the Department of Geoscience and Natural Resource Management, Faculty of Science.