Maria Schönbächler: Catalogue data in Spring Semester 2016

Name Prof. Dr. Maria Schönbächler
FieldIsotope Geochemistry
Address
Inst. für Geochemie und Petrologie
ETH Zürich, NW D 81.2
Clausiusstrasse 25
8092 Zürich
SWITZERLAND
Telephone+41 44 632 37 92
Fax+41 44 632 11 79
E-mailmaria.schoenbaechler@erdw.ethz.ch
DepartmentEarth Sciences
RelationshipFull Professor

NumberTitleECTSHoursLecturers
651-0254-00LSeminar Geochemistry and Petrology0 credits2SM. W. Schmidt, O. Bachmann, C. A. Heinrich, M. Schönbächler, D. Vance
AbstractSeminar series with external and occasional internal speakers addressing current research topics. Changing programs announced via D-ERDW homepage (Veranstaltungskalender)
ObjectivePresentations on isotope geochemistry, cosmochemistry, fluid processes, economic geology, petrology, mineralogy and experimental studies. Mostly international speakers provide students, department members and interested guests with insight into current research topics in these fields.
ContentWöchentliches Seminar mit Fachvorträgen eingeladener oder interner Wissenschafter, vornehmlich zu Themen der Geochemie, Isotogengeologie, Hydrothermalgeochemie, Lagerstättenbildung, Petrologie, Mineralogie und experimentelle Studien.
651-3400-00LGeochemistry3 credits2VM. Schönbächler, D. Vance
AbstractIntroduction to geochemistry and its application to the study of the origin and evolution of the Earth and planets.
ObjectiveGain an overview of geochemical methods used in various fields of Earth Sciences and how they can be applied to study geological processes in the Earth’s mantle, crust, oceans and atmosphere.
ContentThis course is an introduction into geochemistry with a special focus on the basic concepts used in this rapidly evolving field. The course deals with the geochemist's toolbox: the basic chemical and nuclear properties of elements from the periodic table and how these elements can be used to ask fundamental questions in Earth Sciences. The important concepts used in solid-solution-gas equilibria are introduced. The concepts of chemical reservoirs and geochemical cycles are discussed with examples from the carbon cycle in the Earth. The course also addresses geological applications in low- and high-temperature geochemistry, including the formation of continents, the differentiation of the Earth, the geochemistry of ocean and continental waters.
Lecture notesAvailable
LiteratureH. Y. McSween et al.: Geochemistry - Pathways and Processes,
2nd ed. Columbia Univ. Press (2003)

William White: Geochemistry, Wiley-Blackwell Chichester (2013)
Prerequisites / NoticePrerequisite: chemical thermodynamics, basic inorganic chemistry and physics.
651-4228-00LTopics in Planetary Sciences Information 2 credits2GM. Schönbächler, H. Busemann, A. Khan, P. Tackley
AbstractThe course will be based on reading of research papers. Themes can vary from year to year and will cover planetary geophysics, geochemistry and the dynamical evolution of planetary bodies. The format of the course will be centered on short lectures introducing a theme, followed by a presentation of one or more papers by a student or group of students and an open discussion of the topic.
ObjectiveThe goal of the course is discuss topics in planetary sciences, which were not covered in the general planetary science courses. The course also aims at training the student's ability to critically evaluate research papers, to summarize the findings concisely in an oral presentation, and to discuss these in the group.
ContentThemes will vary from year to year and suggestions from students are welcome.

Possible topics include:
- Formation of the terrestrial planets
- Evolution of terrestrial bodies (Mercury, Venus, Moon, Mars, Vesta) and icy moons (Ganymede, Callisto, Enceladus)
- Active asteroids/main-belt comets
- Geophysical and geochemical exploration of planetary bodies (e.g., remote sensing, meteorite studies, seismology, electromagnetic sounding, gravity, and geodetic).
Prerequisites / NoticeThe students are expected to have passed either course 651-4010-00L Planetary Physics and Chemistry or course 651-4227-00L Planetary Geochemistry.