280189 VO+SE Cosmochemistry and meteorites (PI) (2015S)

Topics:
* Overview of Meteorites
* Overview of long and short lived isotope systems. Age of solar system.
* 182Hf-182W system. Key to understanding core segregation?
* Nucleosynthesis and presolar grains
* Early solar system processes
* Oxygen isotopic heterogeneity in the early solar system
* Calcium-aluminum inclusions. Current controversies
* Chemical evolution of asteroidal cores from iron meteorites?
* Late accretion? or not?
* Origin and evolution of the Moon.
* What we may know about Mars from SNC meteorites.
* Meteorite lab.

This is a seminar course designed to introduce advanced undergraduate and graduate level students to current theories behind the origin and evolution of our solar system. Many of the topics we will cover are
controversial. Issues we must address include not only the interpretation of chemical and isotopic data, but also the accuracy of data (if two labs measure the same material and get two different answers this may indicate: 1) one or both measurements are wrong, 2) one or both measurements are correct). Students enrolled should have a working knowledge of trace elements and radiogenic isotopes.

General topics we will cover include current theories for the origin of the solar system (not the universe), the age of the solar system, and the relative ages of the assemblage of its parts. We will also spend two classes examining extraterrestrial materials (lunar and meteoritic).

The structure of the course will normally consist of an introduction of a topic by the instructor, coupled with the assignment of topical readings (historic and recent papers), followed by discussion. Students will also be responsible for keeping up with the readings, and each will periodically be assigned the task of directing discussion the week following the introduction.

A review project will be completed by each student by the end of the course. The topic of the project is determined by each student, but must focus on topics germane to cosmochemistry. Both written an oral reports are to be delivered. The purpose of the project is to familiarize the student with some aspect of cosmochemistry not discussed previously in the course, and provide valuable experience in synthesizing, writing and presenting science.