earth-sciences

Isotope Geochemistry

The science of isotopic signatures in Earth materials — radiometric age dating, stable isotope fractionation, isochron analysis, cosmogenic nuclide exposure dating, and isotope mixing models for tracing geological processes.

isotope geochemistryradiometric datingstable isotopesisochroncosmogenic nuclidesisotope mixinggeochronology

Isotope geochemistry uses the natural variations in isotopic ratios to unlock the history of rocks, water, and the atmosphere. Radioactive decay clocks in minerals reveal the ages of the oldest crystals on Earth, while subtle mass-dependent fractionation of stable isotopes records ancient temperatures, biological activity, and fluid pathways through the crust.

These simulations let you perform virtual radiometric dating, explore equilibrium and kinetic fractionation, construct isochron diagrams, calculate cosmogenic exposure ages, and unmix multi-component isotopic signatures — all with interactive controls grounded in real geochemical equations.

5 interactive simulations

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Cosmogenic Nuclide Exposure Dating

Simulate cosmogenic nuclide production and exposure age calculation — explore how cosmic ray flux, altitude, latitude, and erosion rate control surface exposure dating

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Isochron Method & Age Determination

Simulate the isochron method — explore how multiple samples with different Rb/Sr ratios define a line whose slope reveals the rock's age

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Isotope Mixing Models

Simulate isotopic mixing between two or three end-members — explore how mixing proportions and end-member compositions produce hyperbolic mixing arrays in isotope space

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Radiometric Dating & Decay Curves

Simulate radioactive decay and age determination — explore how half-life, parent-daughter ratios, and decay constants constrain the ages of rocks and minerals

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Stable Isotope Fractionation

Simulate equilibrium and kinetic isotope fractionation — explore how temperature, mass difference, and reaction kinetics partition stable isotopes between phases