This book aims to explore basic principles, concepts and applications of geochemistry. Topics include chemical weathering, impacts on living beings and water, geochemical cycles, oxidation and redox reactions in geochemistry, isotopes, analytical techniques, medicinal, inorganic, marine, atmospheric, and environmental applications, as well as case studies. This book helps in understanding the chemical composition of the earth and its applications. It also includes beneficial effects, bottlenecks, solutions, and future directions in geochemistry.

Table of Contents:
Preface xiii 1 Toxic Geogenic Contaminants in Serpentinitic Geological Systems: Occurrence, Behavior, Exposure Pathways, and Human Health Risks 1 Willis Gwenzi 1.1 Introduction 2 1.2 Serpentinitic Geological Systems 4 1.2.1 Nature, Occurrence, and Geochemistry 4 1.2.2 Occurrence and Behavior of Toxic Contaminants 5 1.2.2.1 Chrysotile Asbestos 5 1.2.2.2 Toxic Metals 5 1.2.2.3 Rare Earth Elements 6 1.3 Human Exposure Pathways 7 1.3.1 Occupational Exposure 7 1.3.2 Non-Occupational Exposure Routes 7 1.3.2.1 Inhalation of Contaminated Particulates 7 1.3.2.2 Ingestion of Contaminated Geophagic Earths 8 1.3.2.3 Ingestion of Contaminated Drinking Water 8 1.3.2.4 Ingestion of Contaminated Medicinal Plants 8 1.3.2.5 Ingestion of Contaminated Wild Foods 9 1.4 Human Health Risks and Their Mitigation 10 1.4.1 Health Risks 10 1.4.1.1 Chrysotile Asbestos 10 1.4.1.2 Toxic Metals 11 1.4.1.3 Rare Earth Elements 11 1.4.2 Mitigating Human Exposure and Health Risks 12 1.4.2.1 Risk Analysis 12 1.4.2.2 Risk Evaluation 12 1.4.2.3 Risk Mitigation 13 1.4.2.4 Overview of Mitigation Interventions 13 1.5 Future Perspectives 13 1.6 Conclusions 14 Acknowledgements 15 References 15 2 Benefits of Geochemistry and Its Impact on Human Health 23 Abel Inobeme, Charles Oluwaseun Adetunji, Muhammad Akram, Maliki Munirat, Inamuddin, Umme Laila, S.O. Okonkwo, Saher Islam and Jonathan Inobeme 2.1 Introduction 24 2.2 General Overview of Geochemistry and Human Health 25 2.2.1 Types of Geochemistry 26 2.2.2 Some Beneficial Effect of Some Mineral With Health Benefits 26 2.2.2.1 Magnesium 27 2.2.2.2 Manganese 27 2.2.2.3 Calcium 27 2.2.2.4 Cobalt 28 2.2.2.5 Copper 28 2.2.2.6 Zinc 29 2.2.2.7 Iron 29 2.2.2.8 Sodium 29 2.2.2.9 Arsenic 30 2.2.2.10 Chlorine 30 2.2.2.11 Iodine 30 2.2.2.12 Potassium 31 2.2.2.13 Fluoride 31 2.2.3 Application of Geochemistry on Human Health 32 2.3 Conclusion and Recommendations 33 References 34 3 Applications of Geochemistry in Livestock: Health and Nutritional Perspective 37 Charles Oluwaseun Adetunji, J. Inobeme, Inamuddin, Muhammad Akram, A. Inobeme, Khuram Shahzad, Maliki Munirat, Saher Islam, Noshiza Majeed and S.O. Okonkwo 3.1 Introduction 38 3.2 General and Global Perspective About Geochemistry in Livestock 39 3.3 Types of Geochemistry and Their Numerous Benefits 41 3.3.1 Analytical Geochemistry 42 3.3.2 Isotope Geochemistry 43 3.3.3 Low Temperature Geochemistry 43 3.3.4 Organic and Petroleum Geochemistry 44 3.4 Application of Geochemistry in Livestock 44 3.5 Geochemistry and Animal Health 44 3.6 General Overview of Geochemistry in Livestock’s Merits of Geochemistry/Essential Minerals in Livestocks 45 3.6.1 Specific Examples of Authors That Have Used Essential Minerals in Livestock 47 3.6.2 Livestock in Relation to Geominerals 48 3.6.3 Trace Minerals Parallel Importance in Livestock 48 3.6.4 Heavy Metals Impact Livestock 49 3.7 Conclusion and Recommendations 50 References 51 4 Application in Geochemistry Toward the Achievement of a Sustainable Agricultural Science 57 Muhammad Akram, Charles Oluwaseun Adetunji, S.O. Okonkwo, Inamuddin, Umme Laila, J. Inobeme, A. Inobeme, Saher Islam and Maliki Munirat 4.1 Introduction 58 4.2 General Overview on the Utilization of Geochemistry and Their Wide Application on Agriculture 59 4.2.1 Classification 60 4.2.2 Chemical Composition of Rocks 60 4.2.3 Effect of Some Beneficial Minerals in Agriculture 60 4.2.4 Beneficial Mineral Nutrients That are Crucial to the Development of Plants 62 4.2.4.1 Micronutrients 63 4.3 Role of Geochemistry in Agriculture 65 4.4 Geochemical Effects of Heavy Metals on Crops Health 65 4.5 Conclusion and Recommendations 69 References 69 5 Geochemistry, Extent of Pollution, and Ecological Impact of Heavy Metal Pollutants in Soil 73 Abhiroop Chowdhury, Aliya Naz and Diksha Sharma 5.1 Introduction 74 5.2 Material and Methods 75 5.2.1 Review Process 75 5.2.2 Ecological Risk Index 75 5.3 Toxic Heavy Metal and Their Impact to the Ecosystems 76 5.3.1 Arsenic 76 5.3.2 Cadmium 77 5.3.3 Chromium 78 5.3.4 Copper 78 5.3.5 Lead 79 5.3.6 Nickel 79 5.3.7 Zinc 80 5.4 Metal Pollution in Soil Across the Globe 80 5.5 Ecological and Human Health Risk Impacts of Heavy Metals 85 5.6 Conclusion 87 References 87 6 Isotope Geochemistry 93 Praveen Kumar Yadav, Amit Kumar Mauraya, Chinky Kochar, Lakhan Taneja and S. Swarupa Tripathy 6.1 Introduction 93 6.2 Basic Definitions 94 6.2.1 The Notation 94 6.2.2 The Fractionation Factor 95 6.2.3 Isotope Fractionation 95 6.2.3.1 Kinetic Isotope Fractionation 95 6.2.3.2 Equilibrium Isotope Fractionation 96 6.2.4 Mass Dependent and Independent Fractionations 97 6.3 Application of Traditional Isotopes in Geochemistry 98 6.3.1 Geothermometer 98 6.3.2 Isotopes in Biological System 98 6.3.2.1 Carbon (C) 99 6.3.2.2 Nitrogen (N) 100 6.3.3 Isotopes in Archaeology 100 6.3.4 Isotopes in Fossils and the Earliest Life 101 6.3.5 Isotopes in Hydrothermal and Ore Deposits 101 6.4 Non-Traditional Isotopes in Geochemistry 102 6.4.1 Application in Tracing of Source 102 6.4.2 Application in Process Tracing 103 6.4.3 Biological Cycling 104 6.5 Conclusion 105 References 105 7 Environmental Geochemistry 111 Sapna Nehra, Rekha Sharma and Dinesh Kumar 7.1 Introduction 111 7.2 Overview of the Environmental Geochemistry 112 7.3 Conclusions 120 7.4 Abbreviations 121 Acknowledgment 121 References 121 8 Medical Geochemistry 127 Hosam M. Saleh and Amal I. Hassan 8.1 Introduction 128 8.2 The Evolution of Geochemistry 129 8.3 This Science has Expanded Considerably to Become Distinct Branches 129 8.3.1 Cosmochemistry 131 8.3.2 The Economic Importance of Geochemistry 131 8.3.3 Analytical Geochemistry 132 8.3.4 Geochemistry of Radioisotopes 132 8.3.5 Medical Geochemistry and Human Health 134 8.3.6 Environmental Health and Safety 137 8.4 Conclusion 142 References 143 9 Inorganic Geochemistry 149 Sathasivam Pratheep Kumar, Triveni Rajashekhar Mandlimath and M. Ramesh 9.1 Introduction 149 9.2 Elements and the Earth 150 9.2.1 Iron 150 9.2.2 Oxygen 151 9.2.3 Silicon 152 9.2.4 Magnesium 152 9.3 Geological Minerals 152 9.3.1 Quartz 152 9.3.2 Feldspar 153 9.3.3 Amphibole 153 9.3.4 Pyroxene 153 9.3.5 Olivine 153 9.3.6 Clay Minerals 153 9.3.7 Kaolinite 154 9.3.8 Bentonite, Montmorillonite, Vermiculite, and Biotite 154 9.4 Characterization Techniques 155 9.4.1 Powder X-Ray Diffraction 155 9.4.2 X-Ray Fluorescence Spectra 156 9.4.3 X-Ray Photoelectron Spectra 156 9.4.4 Electron Probe Micro-Analysis 156 9.4.5 Inductively Coupled Plasma Spectrometry 157 9.4.6 Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy 157 9.4.7 Scanning Electron Microscopy Analysis 158 9.4.8 Energy Dispersive X-Ray Analysis 158 9.5 Conclusion 159 References 159 10 Introduction and Scope of Geochemistry 161 Triveni Rajashekhar Mandlimath, Sathasivam Pratheep Kumar and M. Ramesh 10.1 Introduction 161 10.1.1 Periodic Table and Electronic Configuration 162 10.1.1.1 Periodic Table 162 10.1.1.2 Electronic Configuration 164 10.2 Periodic Properties 164 10.2.1 Ionization Enthalpy 164 10.2.2 Electron Affinity 165 10.2.3 Electro-Negativity 166 10.3 Chemical Bonding 166 10.3.1 Ionic Bond 166 10.3.2 Covalent Bond 166 10.3.3 Metallic Bond 167 10.3.4 Hydrogen Bond 167 10.3.5 Van der Waals Forces 167 10.4 Geochemical Classification and Distribution of Elements 167 10.4.1 Lithophiles 167 10.4.2 Siderophiles 168 10.4.3 Chalcophiles 169 10.4.4 Atmophiles 169 10.4.5 Biophiles 169 10.5 Chemical Composition of the Earth 169 10.6 Classification of Earth’s Layers 170 10.6.1 Based on Chemical Composition 170 10.6.2 Based on Physical Properties 170 10.7 Spheres of the Earth 171 10.7.1 Geosphere/Lithosphere 171 10.7.2 Hydrosphere 172 10.7.3 Biosphere 172 10.7.4 Atmosphere 172 10.7.5 Troposphere 173 10.7.6 Stratosphere 173 10.7.7 Mesosphere 174 10.7.8 Thermosphere and Ionosphere 174 10.7.9 Exosphere 174 10.8 Sub-Disciplines of Geochemistry 175 10.9 Scope of Geochemistry 175 10.10 Conclusion 176 References 176