Exploring Geochemistry in the Classroom Using GEOROC Data

Access the data from the GEOROC Homepage (more info) .

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This webpage was created for SERC by Heather Rissler and Aleshia Mueller in consultation with Bä

Initial Publication Date: December 13, 2006

The Dataset

The Geochemistry of Rocks of the Oceans and Continents (GEOROC) is a database that provides chemical and isotopic data for rocks, minerals, and melt/fluid inclusions. GEOROC data is from multiple geological settings including convergent margins, ocean islands, seamounts, oceanic plateaus, submarine ridges, ocean-basin flood basalts, continental flood basalts, archean cratons, greenstone belts, and intraplate and rift volcanics. The site contains analyses for over 150,000 rock, mineral, and inclusion samples. Users can search the database by bibliography, tectonic setting, geographic coordinates, chemistry, or petrography.

Use and Relevance

Geochemists study the distribution of all of the known elements in this universe. Many of them study the composition of rocks and minerals on Earth and why they are found where they are. GEOROC is useful to anyone interested in geochemistry because it provides important geochemical data on volcanic whole rocks, minerals and inclusions and Archean cratons from various locations around the world. The data can be used to analyse and classify samples, compare similar rocks from different parts of the world, compare compositionally varied rocks from geographically similar settings, learn the name of a rock using information about it's composition, or to try and understand what a collection of elements experienced before solidifying into their current distribution to create a rock or mineral. Geochemists can also combine elements in new distributions to create new materials that could be used in our everyday lives.

Use in Teaching

This data can be used to teach the following topics and skills in geochemistry, petrology, and minerology.

Topics

  • Volcanic and plutonic igneous rocks
  • Mantle xenoliths
  • Volcanic glasses
  • Metamorphic rocks
  • Inclusions (glass, minerals, and fluid)

Skills

  • Generating graphs from raw data (using programs such as Excel)
  • Interpreting petrological data (including chemical composition of rocks in % weight and ppm)
  • Examining the function of plate tectonics in the formation of igneous rocks
    Igneous Rock Compositions and Plate Tectonics
  • Generating "Harker" diagrams to analyze compositional changes and make petrologic interpretations
  • CompositionalDiversity in Volcanic Suites
  • Crystallization-Differentiation of Basaltic Magma
  • Learning to think like a scientist

    • Exploring the Data

    Data Type and Presentation

    Data is presented as tables in HTML format and can be downloaded as an Excel compatible (comma delimited text) format.

    Accessing the Data

    Users can query data by bibliography, tectonic settings, geography, chemistry, or petrography (including volcanic rocks, plutonic rocks, and mantle xenoliths). Once a query path is chosen, data sets can be further refined by a variety of selection criteria, including rock type (e.g., volcanic), rock name (e.g., alkali basalt), and chemical composition. There is also a collection of precompiled files that can be downloaded as .csv files for use in Exel.

    Manipulating Data and Creating Visualizations

    Raw data can be be used to generate graphs and diagrams.

    Tools for Data Manipulation

    Netscape 4.x or higher Internet Explorer 5.x or higher is recommended. Enable JavaScript for the GEOROC site. Please use American or English regional settings.

    Spreadsheet and graphing programs like Exel can be used to manipulate the data.

    About the Data

    Collection Methods

    Collection methods vary greatly. For some data sets, the collection method (such as dredging or drilling) is indicated, but this information is not provided for all data sets. References associated with data sets are given and users could search through primary literature for details regarding collection methods and analyses.

    Limitations and Sources of Error

    Age data is not consistently given in all data sets. Sources of error are not directly given in the datasets, and therefore the references given should be examined by users who would like information regarding data limitions and sources of error.

    References and Resources

    Scientific References that Use this Dataset

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    Education Resources that Use this Dataset

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    Other Related Scientific References

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    Related Links

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