S01: Applications of light stable isotopes to high-temperature problems

Conveners:	Maureen Feinman	(mdf12@psu.edu)
	Sarah Penniston-Dorland	(sarahpd@geol.umd.edu)
Keynote:	Frank Richter	(Chicago)

This session explores various applications of light stable isotopes including H, Li, B, C, N, O, S, and Cl to high-temperature geologic problems. In recent years, studies involving the relatively new systems of Li, B, and Cl isotopes have added new depth to the array of information obtained using traditional light stable isotopes. At the same time, the application of the more traditional systems to high-temperature problems on the surface and interior of the Earth (and beyond) has grown in new and exciting directions. Experimental studies and numerical modelling have provided new insight into both equilibrium and kinetic processes involved in generating stable isotope variations in high-temperature systems. For this session, contributions pertaining to analytical, experimental, and theoretical studies involving newer isotope systems as well as those involving conventional isotope systems, in fields including (but not limited to) igneous and metamorphic petrology, mantle petrology, hydrothermal systems, and meteoritic and lunar science, are encouraged.

S02: What do heavy stable isotopes tell us on high temperature geological processes?

Conveners:	Franck Poitrasson	(Franck.Poitrasson@lmtg.obs-mip.fr)
	Stefan Weyer	(stefan.weyer@em.uni-frankfurt.de)
Keynotes:	Mark Rehkämper	(London)
	Nicolas Dauphas	(University of Chicago)

Much effort has been put in the last decade on the development of precise and accurate measurements of "new" heavy stable isotopes in natural materials for elements like Mg, Si, Ca, Fe, Zn, Cd, Tl... These analytical methods are now mature and the next step is to learn, beyond the study of the range of natural variations of these stable isotopes, what do they tell us about geological processes. Do they provide a new kind of information relative to the traditional stable isotopes like C or O? To assess this, the aim of this session is to gather contributions concerned with the application of these "heavy" stable isotopes to study high temperature cosmochemical and geological processes (condensation-vaporisation, magmatism, metamorphism and fluid-rock interactions).

S03: Microanalytical techniques for stable isotope analysis

Conveners:	Jan Kosler	(jan.kosler@geo.uib.no)
	Paul Mason	(mason@geo.uu.nl)
	Michael Wiedenbeck	(michawi@gfz-potsdam.de)
Keynotes:	Martin Whitehouse	(Stockholm)
	Jean Carignan	(Nancy)

Isotope heterogeneity on the micro-scale is common in geological materials, thus requiring the use of high resolution sampling methods and highly sensitive mass spectrometric techniques. In situ measurements are especially critical in the fields of palaeo-climatology, biogeochemistry, ore forming processes, astrobiology and planetary sciences. This session focuses on the development and application of in situ sampling techniques such as SIMS, laser ablation ICP-MS and lasers in combination with gas source MS. We seek contributions relating to the study of both traditional (H, Li, B, C, N, O, S) and non-traditional (e.g. Mg, Si, Fe, Cu, Zn) stable isotope systems.

S04: Experimental techniques for the study of hydrothermal fluids and silicate melts

Conveners:	Andrew Berry	(a.berry@imperial.ac.uk)
	Karen Rickers	(karen.rickers@desy.de)
Keynote:	Stephen Sutton	(Chicago)
	Christian Schmidt	(Potsdam)

Fluids, melts, and glasses are disorded materials and a variety of techniques are well suited to studies of their composition, chemical speciation, structure, and properties. We encourage contributions on geological fluids which use synchrotron radiation techniques such as X-ray absorption spectroscopy, X-ray fluorescence, and X-ray tomography, as well as methods such as Raman, infrared, NMR, optical, and Moessbauer spectroscopy, together with kinetic measurements. In particular, it is hoped that the session will highlight in situ experimental techniques which address the long standing problem of chemical and physical changes in fluids and melts between the conditions of interest and ambient.

S05: Rare gases in geochemistry

Conveners:	Bernard Marty	(bmarty@crpg.cnrs-nancy.fr)
	Chris Ballentine	(chris.ballentine@manchester.ac.uk)
Keynote:	David Hilton	(La Jolla)

Due to their rarity on Earth and to their inertness, noble gases are perfect tracers of physical processes, such as phase interaction and volatile release and migration mechanisms ranging from the mineral to planetary scale. Their low abundance makes radioactive and nucleogenic isotope additions readily resolvable and provides key temporal information in a variety of systems. The combination of these characteristics now means that noble gases are routinely applied to a host of planetary, terrestrial and environmental problems in equal measure. We invite contributions relevant to all aspects of noble gas geochemistry to bring together this wide community with a common interest in analytical techniques and volatile/fluid systems. Suggested contributions may cover topics as diverse as: origin of planetary building blocks, tracing mantle and atmosphere evolution, new developments in surface dating and thermochronology, tracing aqueous processes, calibrating fluxes of matter between terrestrial reservoirs. This list is by no means inclusive, and if noble gases in any form are your preferred poison, please come and join us at the Cologne 2007 Goldschmidt.

S06: Keeping good time: Frontiers in geochronology

Conveners:	Erik Scherer	(escherer@nwz.uni-muenster.de)
	Yuri Amelin	(yamelin@NRCan.gc.ca)
	Roland Mundil	(rmundil@bgc.org)
Keynotes:	Ethan Baxter	(Boston University) Clarke Medal 2007, GS
	Samuel Bowring	(MIT)
	Mary Reid	(Flagstaff, USA)

Figuring out how Earth and other planets work requires measuring the rates of physical and chemical processes and placing events on absolute timescales. This session explores novel ways of making geochronology as reliable as possible. At the forefront of this endeavor are 1) the improvement of decay constant calibrations, 2) the application of in situ techniques (e.g., SIMS, LA-ICP-MS) to link ages with specific events, processes, and geochemical signatures, and 3) a better understanding of how isotopic clocks respond to metamorphism, deformation, interaction with fluids, and mechanical and chemical weathering. We welcome contributions on these themes, especially those related to calibrating the geologic timescale or to answering fundamental geologic questions.

S07: Limits on precision, accuracy and detection: new advances in isotope and trace element geochemistry

Conveners:	Trevor Ireland	trevor.ireland@anu.edu.au
	Harry Becker	hbecker@zedat.fu-berlin.de
	Carsten Münker	(muenker@uni-bonn.de)
Keynote:	Rick Carlson	(Washington, DC)

Recent developments in analytical instrumentation have opened many new opportunities in geochemical research. Major breakthroughs in the past years include measurements of isotopic ratios at precisions of 10 ppm or better, precise isotopic ratio measurements using in-situ sampling techniques such as laser ablation, and isotopic and trace element abundance measurements at the nanometer scale. Moreover, precision and accuracy of trace element abundance measurements have been greatly improved by the development of new digestion and sampling procedures, and by the application of isotope dilution. We are seeking contributions that highlight new developments and state-of-the-art procedures that will push limits on precision, accuracy and detection in analytical geochemistry.

The following symposium is also relevant to the "New approaches in geochemistry", but emphasizes mantle dynamics: For full description see Symposium 25.

S25: Mantle processes and properties on multiple scales: Observation, experiment, modeling

Conveners:	Gerd Steinle-Neumann	(G.Steinle-Neumann@uni-bayreuth.de)
	Taras Gerya	(taras.gerya@erdw.ethz.ch)
	Chris Ballentine	(chris.ballentine@manchester.ac.uk)
	Paul Tackley	(paul.tackley@erdw.ethz.ch)
Keynote:	Jeannot Trampert	(Utrecht)