ScienceJuly 9, 2026
geochemistry
/ˌdʒiːoʊˈkɛmɪstri/
Definition
The study of the chemical composition of the Earth and the processes that control the distribution of chemical elements in rocks and minerals.
Etymology
Derived from the Greek 'geo' meaning 'Earth' and the word 'chemistry.' It emerged in the 19th century to describe the application of chemical principles to the study of geological materials.
In the news
In this article, researchers used deep-earth geochemistry to analyze how sulfur and carbon are released from metamorphic rocks, providing evidence for how geological processes contribute to ancient climate change.
FSU scientists find gas emissions from rocks may have contributed to ancient climate swings, mass extinctions
Read the full article ↗Florida State University News