On September 24th, 2023, NASA’s OSIRIS-REx mission returned a capsule to Earth carrying material from the carbonaceous asteroid Bennu. This milestone event marked the first time a U.S. mission delivered pristine samples from an asteroid. In this special session, organized on behalf of the OSIRIS-REx sample analysis team, we will look at some of the early science results which provide important information on conditions in the early Solar System. This multidisciplinary session will feature presentations discussing a wide array of topics, such as sources and sinks of prebiotic building blocks, nebular and parent-body processes, relationships between remote sensing and sample analysis findings, and ultimately the origin and evolution of asteroid Bennu. Presentations will provide detailed insights into the organic, geochemical, petrologic, mineralogic, and spectroscopic properties of asteroid Bennu and how these relate to other asteroid samples, such as those recently returned from the asteroid Ryugu, and meteorites. The research on Bennu presented here and the studies to follow will significantly advance our understanding of the Solar System’s formation and potentially the origins of life on Earth.

Volatiles play a crucial role for establishing Earth’s unique mantle rheology and dynamics, its tectonic style, atmospheric composition, and overall its habitability. The volatile composition of a planetary mantle is a consequence of its accretion and differentiation, so it may hold important clues regarding the origin of a planet. On Earth specifically, surface-mantle exchange continues to modify the primordial budgets of mantle volatiles during Earth’ evolution untill present day. Similar processes widely occurring on planetesimals and other terrestrial planets may differ from those on Earth, but serve as important comparisons. We call for contributions on the origin, budget, and dynamics of volatiles in the mantle of Earth and other planets from a breadth of fields within planetary science. Through this session, we invite discussions on elemental and isotopic behavior of volatiles during processes of planetary growth, differentiation, and geological cycling. We invite contributions from all fields of planetary sciences, including but not limited to inclusion studies, isotope geochemistry, experimental petrology, and numerical modelling. Submission from early-career scientists and traditionally under-represented groups are strongly encouraged.

The origin of life is a planetary chemistry problem, spanning planetary science and geochemistry (chemical context) to synthetic organic chemistry (prebiotic syntheses) to biochemistry (hints to abiogenesis from early life). The intersection of these diverse fields can be used to better constrain the possible processes and circumstances surrounding origins of life. Rather than considering these fields independently of each other, treating the process of origins of life as continuous processes operating under plausible planetary environments can potentially improve progress in this traditionally challenging topic. This session will focus on topics related to planetary environments and geochemistry, how these may influence or constrain prebiotic chemistry, and how prebiotic chemistry in turn can provide insight into the local and planetary environments where it can occur. We solicit contributions that use theoretical, experimental, and observational approaches aimed at refining our understanding of the origins-of-life problem and informing future exploration of potentially habitable worlds through the feedback between planetary environments and synthetic chemical pathways.

The formation of the Solar System remains a captivating puzzle, shaped by a myriad of processes spanning from the condensation of gas and dust to the segregation of cores within planetary bodies. This session aims to unravel this intricate tale by integrating various disciplines, including paleomagnetic, isotopic, astronomical observations, simulations, and geochemical-geophysical experiments.

In this session, we welcome abstracts related to how we went “from dust to planets” in the Solar System with a focus on paleomagnetic and isotopic studies, and those interrogating core-mantle segregation in SS bodies. This includes theoretical, experimental, and analytical investigations, as well as astronomical observations and simulations, results of space missions to better understand the earliest conditions and events in the Solar System.

Much effort has been expended over the past three decades in understanding the formation, differentiaton, and physicochemical evolution of the solid Earth and other terrestrial planets. Such effort has profoundly contributed to our understanding of the interactions between planetary interiors with atmospheres, hydrospheres, and biospheres through geological time. This session will focus on the composition and structure of planetary cores, mantles, and crusts in the greater context of the origin and evolution of the Solar System. We welcome contributions providing observational, experimental, and theoretical insights from petrology, mineralogy, geochemistry, and/or geophysics, many of which were pioneered by Bill McDonough.

Melts and fluids are crucial for mass and heat transfer in planetary interiors, and are essential for understanding the dynamics and evolution of terrestrial planets. Volatiles can dissolve in melts and fluids in varying amounts depending on pressure, temperature, and fugacity conditions, significantly altering their physical and chemical properties. For example, volatiles like water can significantly lower the melting temperatures of rocks, modify the melting/crystallization sequence, and affect element partitioning and isotope fractionation, which is vital for chemical differentiation in planetary interiors. The solubility, speciation, and migration of volatiles in melts control magma ingassing and degassing. This also influences the density, viscosity and conductivity, which are responsible for the Earth’s liquid core dynamo and the variability of volcanism. Therefore, a comprehensive understanding of the behavior and effects of volatiles in fluids and melts under high pressure and temperature conditions is crucial for various research domains in Earth and planetary sciences. This session will focus on various aspects of volatiles, melts, and fluids in terrestrial planets' interiors, ranging from the crust to the core through ancient times to modern periods. We welcome contributions on volatiles in melts and fluids, including but not limited to: structural and physiochemical properties of melts and fluids with volatiles; element partitioning and fractionation; crystallization and melting; magma degassing; density; elastic properties; diffusivity; viscosity; conductivity; and their effects on planetary processes occurring at depths. Experimental, analytical, and computational studies are welcomed, and interdisciplinary studies are especially encouraged.

The surface features and internal structures of Earth and other planets are closely connected to the dynamics of deep planetary interiors, which are characterized by widespread thermochemical heterogeneities, seismic anomalies, and magmatic systems and processes. This session invites contributions that combine experimental, theoretical, and computational approaches to studying terrestrial and planetary materials. We include computational modeling across a wide range of pressure, temperature, and redox conditions of planetary interiors, covering the structure, thermodynamics, elasticity, defects, diffusion, deformation, element partitioning, isotope fractionation, and the unique attributes of glasses, melts, and multi-component materials, as well as modeling approaches to the study of all aspects of complex igneous and magmatic systems, from partial melting to magma emplacement.

This session examines broad aspects of rate and date fundamentals and applications. Geochronology and thermochronology provide the methodologies that allow us to determine the rates and durations of the processes that shape our planet. A key subset of these chronometers relies upon the radiogenic production and kinetic behavior of noble gases. In turn, the noble gases themselves serve an important role as key geochemical and geochronologic tracers in a wide range of geologic materials including rocks, minerals, fluids, gases, and extraterrestrial objects. Recent work by the noble gas community has yielded advancements in our understanding of noble gas production, diffusion, partitioning, and solubility in geologic materials. New insights into the fundamentals of noble gas systems, combined with emerging novel chronometers, have enhanced the ability of the geo- and thermochronology communities to disentangle processes such as sediment transport, burial, exhumation, fluid-rock interaction, and fault activity to an unprecedented level. Abstracts in this session cover a wide range of topics, with a particular focus on advances in measurement and data-handling, novel applications, and improved understanding of the fundamentals in noble gas and thermo-geochronologic systems.

The recent advances in field and laboratory studies across a range of spatial and temporal scales have greatly changed our understanding of the geodynamic processes involved in continental collisions, rifting, and the supercontinent cycle. Mapping, structural geology, and geophysical data help in resolving the three-dimensional architecture of rock units and their record of thermo-tectonic events. Petrological and geochemical data, increasingly integrated with geochronology, provide fundamental information on the source and crustal residence times of magmatic activity, as well as constraints on tectonic settings. Developments in mass-spectrometry are enabling trace element and age data on an ever-expanding set of mineral phases that are generated, reset, and reworked. We seek submissions that make use of integrating one or more data sets to increase our understanding of continental assembly, breakup, and the paleogeographic disposition of the continental blocks involved.

Subduction zones are important locations for shaping the Earth's physical and chemical evolution. Processes of subduction zone metamorphism and fluid-mediated mass transfer between subducted lithosphere and overlying mantle wedge result in substantial changes of the properties of the subducting slab, including rheology, mineralogy and chemistry. Understanding the processes and changes in the slab due to subduction metamorphism impacts our understanding of geochemical cycling at subduction zones, the generation of arc volcanoes, the formation of continental crust, and the concentration of elements of economic importance. In this session we invite contributions focusing on studies of natural samples, as well as both experimental and theoretical approaches. We invite studies that use a range of techniques to address these questions, including petrology, thermobarometry, geochronology, novel stable isotope systems, trace elements, and thermodynamic modelling.

Revealing the early chemical evolution of our planet is essential for understanding Earth’s emerging habitability as well as its current chemical architecture. The signatures within the oldest rock and mineral record, when read correctly, can reveal interactions between the mantle, the crust, the atmosphere and the hydrosphere through time providing constraints on Earth’s geodynamic history.

This session welcomes contributions using traditional and novel geochemical approaches, geodynamical modelling, field observations, experiments, geochronology, and petrology for revealing Earth's early chemical history. Key questions include the timing and tempo of crust formation and the reasons for variability; the role of early planetary differentiation and exogenic processes in generating chemical variability; interactions between internal (crust and mantle) and external (atmosphere and hydrosphere) reservoirs, including their potential impact on the biosphere; and the development of innovative tools to shed a new light on mantle–crust differentiation processes.

Crust forms as an outcome of terminal planetary differentiation. On Earth, unique differentiation processes have led to the formation of abundant evolved crust. This crust offers a rich record of Earth’s complex tectonic history and also acts as an important boundary layer that controls mass and energy exchange between Earth’s surface and mantle. These processes have profoundly shaped Earth’s surface environment and altered the physiochemical properties of Earth’s interior. However, we have a limited understanding of the formation, differentiation, and stabilization of the Earth’s crust, including rarely exposed deep crust that immediately overlies the mantle. Furthermore, sporadic formation of evolved crust has also been documented on extraterrestrial planets over the last several decades, adding a new dimension to our understanding of planetary crust evolution. In addition, the impact cratering inculding bolide airburst is another way to shape the curst evolution in very short time, which are not well studied, either. This session welcomes abstracts related to the crustal igneous, metamorphic, weathering processes on Earth, bolide airburst fallout and beyond.

Volcanic arcs produce some of the most explosive eruptions on Earth, and host economically valuable deposits of copper and other metals critical for renewable energies and our sustainable future. Arc volcanism typically results in the formation of stratovolcanoes made up of crystal-rich calc-alkaline magmas, commonly linked to dehydration of the subducting slab followed by protracted differentiation through vertically extensive mush systems. However, subduction zones are intricately complex. They may, for example, involve monogenetic volcanism fed by more direct transfer pathways, as well as distinct eruptive activity in back-arc regions and beyond. A comprehensive understanding of magma generation, transport, and storage across and along arc settings, spanning oceanic to continental systems, is essential to better constrain the links between volcanic arcs, eruption style and hazards, and economic mineralization.

This session invites contributions that delve into magma generation and transfer in subduction settings, exploring their relationships with magmatic architecture, eruption triggers, and mineralization potential. We encourage studies employing field observations, textural evidence, experimental petrology, and geochemical data from elements to isotopes, and from bulk rock to intra-crystal and melt heterogeneities. Additionally, we particularly welcome multi-disciplinary studies involving novel geochemical approaches and advanced computational techniques. We are excited to generate a diverse forum to discuss the intricacies of arc volcanoes across space and time. Join us in this collaborative effort to expand our knowledge of dynamic arc systems and their impact on our planet and society.

Plume-related Large Igneous Provinces (LIPs) are now recognized to have an effect on the Earth System comparable to Plate Tectonics. LIPs can be traced back to >3 Ga and occur on average approximately every 30 myr at least back into the late Archean, and potentially even double that rate (every 15 myr) when oceanic LIPs are included (extrapolated from the record of the past 200 myr).  LIPs play a key role in major geodynamic processes, including regional uplift, formation and evolution of the lithosphere, supercontinent breakup, and ore deposits. Moreover, LIPs directly or indirectly contribute to dramatic environmental and climatic changes, including mass extinctions, oceanic anoxic events, hyperthermal events, global glaciations. LIPs can also be linked to significant silicic magmatism (SLIPs), carbonatites and kimberlites. We welcome contributions from a diverse range of disciplines to encourage a multi-faceted discussion of LIP systems, including igneous and sedimentary geochemistry, geophysics, experimental petrology, geochronology, and studies utilizing chemical and biological proxies in the stratigraphic record. Novel and provocative contributions are particularly encouraged, as well as those from groups underrepresented in the geoscience community.

Subduction zones and their associated volcanoes are loci for volatile element cycling on Earth. Critically,
volatile elements determine how magmatic systems form and develop in this setting. They exert strong
control on melt formation and subsequent differentiation, drive both explosive volcanism and ore
formation after exsolution, and ultimately modulate atmospheric composition over geologic timescales.
That said, critical knowledge gaps exist within our understanding of how these elements are carried
from Earth’s surface into the mantle and back out again. This session seeks interdisciplinary studies
focused on enhancing our understanding of magmatic volatile element cycling and the roles they play in
the compositional evolution of the Earth, volcanic eruption styles and forecasting, and in the formation
of critical mineral ores.
We invite contributions based on field observations, geochemical investigation (including petrologic and
gas emission studies), experimental petrology, and numerical modelling with emphasis on volatile
budgets and degassing, slab dehydration, partial melting, transport mechanisms, mixed volatile
solubilities, and ore formation. Submissions from early career scientists and from under-represented
groups are strongly encouraged.

The session aims to explore the scientific techniques used to study volcanic rocks and their formation processes. It will emphasize the significance of geochemistry, geochronology and kinetics in unraveling the intricate history of volcanic and magmatic rocks. Researchers will present their findings on how these approaches have enhanced our understanding of volcanic eruptions, magma evolution, and the development of volcanic rock sequences. Topics to be discussed include the utilization of radiometric dating methods like U-Pb and Ar-Ar dating to establish the timing of volcanic events, and diffusion studies and modeling aimed at understanding processes and timescales of volcanic eruptions and magma evolution. Moreover, advances in geochemical analysis techniques, including major and trace element analysis, isotopic analysis, and melt inclusion studies, will be explored. By integrating geochemical, geochronological and diffusion data, scientists can reconstruct the temporal and compositional evolution of volcanic systems, offering insights into magma sources, eruption dynamics, and volcanic hazards. This session will provide a platform for researchers to share methodologies, new data, data interpretations, new models, and other recent advancements in this field.

Hydrothermal systems are some of the most dynamic and intriguing environments on our planet, where fluids interact with Earth's subsurface, shaping the geological and chemical landscapes.  The symposium encourages contributions from scientists at all career stages and from broad scope within the field of hydrothermal geochemistry, including the quantification and modeling of aqueous speciation in hydrothermal fluids, inorganic and organic hydrothermal geochemistry, molecular-level modeling of hydrothermal fluid properties, isotope hydrothermal geochemistry, mineral-fluid interaction, and the exploration and utilization of natural hydrothermal and ore-forming systems. The symposium is held in honor of Professor Dr. Terry Seward, a pioneer within the field of hydrothermal geochemistry. Terry's contributions were instrumental, notably in understanding the solubility of ore metals in hydrothermal fluids. His data on gold, silver, lead, zinc, and other compounds continue to serve as cornerstones for modern thermodynamic models, aiding in comprehending understanding of ore deposit formations. Terry's work extended beyond the laboratory, where he worked on natural geothermal and volcanic systems with his efforts having profound insights into the abiotic origins of organic compounds and metal speciation within volcanic and hydrothermal gases.

With the ongoing global efforts towards decarbonization, the exploitation of the subsurface for energy related applications will increase e.g., geothermal energy extraction, CO₂ sequestration, H₂ storage, or even nuclear waste disposal. The underlying hydro-geochemical processes in these subsurface applications set the systems out of equilibrium and can lead to changes in chemical properties, in transport properties due to the alteration of the pore structure, as well as in the mechanical properties of the rock matrix. In turn, these mechanisms can strongly affect the efficiency, the integrity, and the safety of the system of interest. Cross-scale experimental and modelling approaches are needed to generate spatio-temporal insights into hydro-geochemical processes with a realistic description of the subsurface evolution and contaminant transport. This session offers a platform for the discussion of cutting-edge experimental and numerical approaches. We invite contributions that encompass recent advancements, including but not limited to: (i) novel experimental methodologies for characterizing reactive fluid transport in porous media, (ii) theoretical and numerical studies of coupled hydro-geological processes in porous media (iii) upscaling approaches (iv) AI based tools to speed up experimental analyses, geochemical modelling or for upscaling methodologies (v) geochemical modelling and groundwater geochemistry (vi) digital twins.

Interest in molecular hydrogen is soaring as the energy transition in many economies considers hydrogen as a significant energy carrier in the near future. Additionally, discoveries of elevated hydrogen concentrations in natural subsurface fluids have heightened awareness of the possibility of naturally occurring hydrogen as a primary energy resource. Quantifying the processes that produce or oxidize hydrogen, via abiotic or biotic mechanisms face many challenges. Experimental studies on the transport of the gases, and mass transfer of hydrogen and methane from aqueous to gas phases, face obstacles in excluding reactions during transport to precisely derive new data on mass transfer functions at in situ conditions in the subsurface. These studies are critical for subsurface storage of hydrogen and methane as energy carriers.

Studies of near-surface hydrogen fluxes (e.g., in soils) involve the analysis of low concentrations of hydrogen in the field, the temporal variability of hydrogen fluxes, as well as the possibility of artificially producing hydrogen during sampling/drilling. Furthermore, efforts are underway to model the various processes and reactions that influence the potential accumulation of natural hydrogen on a large scale, with the goal of identifying regions for more comprehensive investigation.

To facilitate these endeavours, this session aims to bring together the diverse communities engaged in disciplines relevant to the prospects of subsurface storage of hydrogen and methane as well as geologic hydrogen resources. We encourage presentations from both experimentalists and modellers, fostering the exchange of different methodologies, data, and models.

Mineral deposits are complex systems controlled by both syngenetic and epigenetic processes and are a function of tectonic setting, host rock composition, evolving fluid chemistries, and epigenetic overprint. With increasing demand on metals throughout nearly every aspect of human life, a thorough understanding of how these factors contribute to the variety of mineralogy, composition, alteration assemblages, and textures is essential to understand deposit morphology/geometry, metal tenor, and metal recovery. This variability has also contributed to persistent open questions about the controls on mineral deposit formation impacting both the mineral system (e.g., source region, pathways) and the deposit itself (micro-scale to macro-scale). To aid in evaluating the formation of ore deposits, and thus contribute to future exploration efforts, comprehensive deposit models are needed that combine a variety of geologic and geochemical approaches. As such, this session seeks to attract studies utilizing isotopic, geochemical, analytical, experimental, mineralogical and/or field approaches, or numerical modelling to unravel the complexity of mineral deposits. Research designs using stable and/or radiogenic isotopes, biogeochemical patterns, mineralogical and petrological analyses, trace element studies, and field mapping pertaining to the understanding of ore-forming processes including geochemical zoning, alteration patterns, and critical metal enrichment are particularly encouraged.

Critical elements/minerals (CM) such as REE, transition metals (TMs) (e.g., Co, Ni, Cu) and macronutrients are essential to the world economy and low carbon transition. As the demand for these resources soars, high-grade ores are becoming increasingly scarce. Alternative sources of CMs that can be mined sustainably are therefore needed. 

In this context, large low-grade deposits such as (ultra)mafic TM deposits, emerge as a viable alternative, as do mineral-rich wastes from mining, industry and construction. Some of these natural and waste materials can also serve as feedstock for carbon mineralization (capturing) processes, further reducing the economic and environmental costs. 

The valorisation of low grade and waste materials, however, has multiple challenges, including technical aspects (material performance, extraction/recovery), contamination, and ingrained economic, social and regulatory barriers.  With an ever-evolving knowledge of the environmental and health impact of mining and industrial waste, the ability to trace back the origin of materials and their production chains, with tools such as isotopic or geochemical fingerprinting, also becomes critical.  

This session invites submissions from field, laboratory and modelling studies focusing on: CM occurrence in low grade and waste materials; geoengineering aspects of sustainable recovery and separation; (bio)geochemical, mineralogical, petrological studies of low grade and waste materials (including legacy wastes) and their environmental behaviour (pre or post disposal); novel applications of isotopic or geochemical fingerprinting to trace mining and industrial waste; and  geoengineering aspects of carbon mineralization in these materials. Open discussions on resource management, processing and environmental as well as social impact, are also encouraged.

According to the most recent IAEA Climate Change and Nuclear Power report, nuclear power is among the lowest carbon energy technologies, and potentially an important contributor to a fully decarbonized power system.

This report has revitalised study of the mineralogical, geochemical, and hydrogeological aspects of nuclear waste forms and their long-term storage, and investigation into advanced reactor designs like Gen IV and small modular reactors with high burnup nuclear fuels. Therefore, the following key research areas have come (back) into focus:

• Nuclear fuel cycle, from mining to spent fuel.
• Analysis of the evolving properties and long-term performance of waste forms.
• Mineralogical, mechanical, chemical and hydrological transformations within the various components of a multi-barrier system, especially at materials interfaces, including reactive transport of radionuclides.
• Adsorption and retention of radionuclides onto mineral phases in multi-barrier systems, host rock and natural environment, or the development of secondary phases, under the evolving geochemical environment of a geological disposal facility.
• Biodegradation and radiation effects contributing to the long-term performance of waste forms.
• Novel analytical approaches for tracking radionuclides, and process signatures in materials and through the environment.

In this session, we welcome contributions that further our understanding of these and other related processes and parameters. Researchers working on experimental and modelling studies at various temporal and spatial scales, ranging from molecular to the macro level and at field scales are welcomed.

Our literature is heavily populated with contributions of either simple/singular computer simulations/models or geochemical studies. These are supposed to explain our complex Earth System since its inception 4.5 billion years ago.

We are looking for contributions that embrace models consisting of multiple (M) archives (A), proxies (P), localities (L), and extraneous (e) parameters (MAPLe) to explain the exponentially difficult concepts associated with Earth Systems spanning the Archean to Anthropocene. Thus, contributions from all rock systems/sequences are welcome to help explain their origin and history and how it relates to the formation of our home planet and the evolution of life with its many intricate changes through geologic time. Fresh ideas, outlooks and innovative proposals are welcome, especially from early career scientists and researchers.

Elemental geochemical cycles are significantly influenced by nano- and sub-micron scale particles. Geogenic nanoscale materials play important roles in a variety of systems including but not limited to atmospheric chemistry, nutrient cycling, water chemistry, sediment budgets, dispersion of economically-valuable minerals, and soil chemistry. While geogenic nanoparticles (NPs) dominate global fluxes, the emergence of engineered and incidental NPs is increasingly concerning in localized (e.g. urban) environmental systems. Due to their small size and higher fraction of surface atoms, both natural and anthropogenic NPs have increased reactivity compared to larger particles, often resulting in unique elemental behavior and potential for negative effects on biota.

Measuring NPs in environmental samples is challenging, and obtaining accurate measurements is critical to understanding their full impact on geochemical cycles. Particle number/concentration, mass/size distributions, and elemental/mineralogical composition are all vital to characterizing NP populations. Recent advances in analytical techniques have made all of these measurements possible, however knowledge gaps remain as to their accuracy. Techniques including field flow fractionation (FFF) and single particle ICP-MS can characterize NPs in aqueous suspension, while aerosol particle sizers can evaluate airborne NP populations in situ, and microscopies such as TEM can measure NPs in solid matrices. Closing knowledge gaps in the science of measuring nanoparticles will directly influence the ability to understand their geochemical significance. As such, this session invites contributions that advance the measurement of nanoparticles in environmental systems, and/or contribute to our understanding of nanogeochemical cycles.

X-ray-based (synchrotron and free-electron laser) techniques combined with theoretical simulations have revolutionized many scientific disciplines, including high-pressure research, environmental studies, biology, materials engineering etc. Recent progress in accelerator and detector technologies have paved the way for multiple orders of magnitude increases in X-ray probe sensitivity to address new scientific challenges.

Geochemical samples at ambient and extreme conditions often come with heterogeneous composition and properties which are impossible to evaluate without X-rays. Large scale facilities offer a variety of X-ray-based tools with enhanced features including high spatial and energy resolution, advanced optical techniques, flexible sample environment, sensitivity, and imaging modalities. These instruments have long served the hydro-bio-geochemical community and can provide comprehensive structural and functional analysis of a large array of specimens that range in size from single microorganisms to soil cores to living plants. Meanwhile, the science front is equally driven by the challenges that the high-pressure community faces in exploring the mineral physics and crystal chemistry of geomaterials at elevated pressure, temperature and stress conditions. The superior data quality derived grant access to an infinite number of mineral properties, and in combination with computational approaches, allow the full assessment of countless plausible scenarios that help describe the micro- and macroscopic processes that govern deep planetary interiors.

This session welcomes contributions that describe state-of-the-art resources available to users at large scale facilities around the world as well as contributions that enhance our understanding of the Earth’s geochemistry and the structure of deep planetary interiors through innovative experimental and analytical approaches.

Isotope ratio mass spectrometry is essential to geochemical and cosmochemical research. Recent technical innovations and newly developed methodologies for mass spectrometry techniques, such as AMS, TIMS, (LA)-MC-ICP-MS, (LA)-ICP-MS/MS, SIMS, Noble Gas MS, High Resolution IRMS, and others have spawned new applications in diverse fields of Geoscience. For many microbeam instruments (e.g., SIMS, LA-(MC)-ICP-MS), reference materials are necessary for calibration of signal intensities, ion counting detectors or correction of instrumental mass discrimination.  Even where this is not the case (e.g., atom probe tomography), or where instrument responses are largely independent of the composition and form of target matrices, reference materials matched to analysed mineral matrices are necessary for calibration purposes and method validation and the quantification of accuracy and precision.
 
We invite contributions that emphasize new developments in isotope ratio mass spectrometry, including advances in instrumentation, data treatment and software applications, novel techniques for high precision isotope ratio determination, and development and certification of both non-nuclear and nuclear isotopic reference materials for calibration of isotope ratio measurements (including radiometric ages and related elemental concentrations) and quality control.

This session invites submissions that explore the knowledge-generating power of data science and numerical methods in geochemistry. Welcome topics include quantitative tools to tackle geochemical problems across nano- to macro-scales, inclusive of (but not limited to) quantum mechanics, molecular dynamics, chemical kinetics, biogeochemical processes, hydrodynamics, geodynamics, and planetary dynamics. Methods in statistical learning, machine learning, artificial intelligence, and other numerical methods are increasingly capable of addressing scientific questions that arise in field, laboratory, and simulation work. All works displaying a chosen method in numerical methods or data science as a central tool in generating knowledge are welcome. This session aims to explore the knowledge-generating power of data science methods in and of themselves—either by means of method development or application to a specific scientific question. Another aim of this session is to provide an inclusive opportunity for geoscientists of any background to learn about available computational / data science tools, and to engage with a community actively harnessing the methods to address scientific questions.

The last several years have seen a rapid demand for new techniques for handling and analysis of precious samples from extraterrestrial sources. These include successful return samples from comets, asteroids, and other planetary bodies by the Stardust, Genesis, Hayabusa 1&2 and OSIRIS-REx missions, newly-released and cryogenically-stored Apollo-era soils, and the future return of Martian and lunar samples. Many of these samples are in the form of small sized regolith particles and are thus resolution- and/or atom-limited, requiring new multi-analytical approaches to gain maximum scientific output from a minimal sample volume. Consideration must also be taken to preserve the pristine nature of the samples during storage, preparation, and analysis, minimizing exposure to ambient temperatures and atmosphere. In the case of Martian sample return, planetary protection regulations require initial treatment in a biosafety level 4 (BSL-4) environment, and incorporating robust analytical capabilities into such an environment prior to sample sterilization poses a significant technical challenge in the coming years. Furthermore, researchers are finding new applications for machine learning, computationally-intensive statistical analysis methods, and other software approaches to glean results from ever-growing and correlated, multi-instrumental datasets. This session will bring together new research and technical advances related to planetary science and cosmochemistry, highlighting the particular challenges posed by these extraterrestrial samples.

The co-evolution of the geosphere and biosphere has regulated and sustained the Earth’s four-billion-year habitability. By carefully exploring Earth’s rock record with an interdisciplinary approach, we as a community may glean new insights into the drivers and feedbacks that could foster habitability on planets within and beyond our solar system. We invite submissions that explore how changes in Earth’s surface environments (including but not limited to nutrient cycling, productivity, weathering, and redox dynamics) and solid Earth processes (such as plate tectonics and the formation of large igneous provinces) may have contributed to long-term habitability, as well as submissions that focus on the Earth’s most pivotal time windows, such as the Neoproterozoic-Paleozoic transition. We encourage presentations of case studies drawing from Earth’s rock record, analyses and reinterpretations of global datasets, Earth system models, and open discussions of novel hypotheses that address the patterns, drivers, and effects of co-evolving biological and environmental changes. Apart from investigations of the ancient Earth, we also welcome contributions from astrobiology and planetary science perspectives, such as modern analogs, biosignatures, and the development of proxies that show the potential to be utilized on other planets or moons.

This session aims to bring together interdisciplinary scientists to discuss the evolution of early life, environments, biogeochemical cycles, climate, and ecology throughout Earth’s history. 

The Archean to Proterozoic saw a transition from ‘prebiotic chemistry’ to a world with life, nutrient cycling, and the co-evolution of early life and environment. The Jurassic-early Cretaceous period was marked by tectonic events, volcanism, variations in paleoclimate, and the reconfiguration of paleoceanographic patterns that led to critical changes in ocean redox conditions across many basins. Among many important transitions, the Cenozoic witnessed global cooling and a long-term decline in atmospheric pCO2, shifts in the isotopic and elemental ratios of major ions in seawater, the diversification and expansion of mammalian taxa, changing fluxes from silicate weathering and sulfide oxidation, and a global deepening of the carbonate compensation depth.  

This session invites contributions in early Earth to Cenozoic biogeochemistry, covering topics such as prebiotic geochemistry, nutrient element supply and cycling, the origin and early evolution of life, and the interplay between life, tectonics and the Earth's surface in the development and governance of nutrient cycles. We welcome submissions across a broad range of spatial scales (microscopic to global), approaches (isotopic, genomic, theoretical, numerical), samples (rocks, fossils, modern and ancient sediment), and disciplines (geology, surface processes, atmospheric chemistry, biological/chemical/physical oceanography, marine/terrestrial ecology, geobiology). We especially welcome submissions from early-career researchers, under-represented scientists, and any collaborative studies and discussions between scientists in academia and industry. 

Over the past 4.5 Ga, the dynamic interaction of the lithosphere, atmosphere, and hydrosphere has cultivated various environments suitable for life on Earth. Yet, defining paleoenvironment physicochemical characteristics, biological transitions, and the effect of continental weathering on oceanic chemistry and its sedimentary documentation remains challenging. Aquatic (bio)chemical sediments—carbonates, microbialites, phosphates, cherts, shales, and banded iron formations—capture Earth's environmental history. Enhanced analytical techniques and new proxies have deepened, yet complicated, our understanding of ancient and contemporary depositional contexts. This session aims to be a nexus for insights from field geology, sedimentology, trace element and isotope geochemistry, petrography, and geobiology that aid in better utilization of geochemical proxies in (bio)chemical sediments. We welcome contributions that help to reconstruct paleo-environments, pinpoint redox changes, elucidate seawater chemistry, and explore critical markers, especially during crucial climatic and environmental changes. Also welcome are studies addressing potentially confounding factors such as diagenesis and metamorphism that may perturb or create geochemical excursions in the rock record. The spotlight will be on examining (bio)chemical sediments across aquatic (paleo)-environments, seeking a universal understanding of the co-evolutionary tale of the atmosphere, hydrosphere, biosphere, and lithosphere from the Archean to the present. Importantly, we also support open debates on the shortcomings of current proxies and how modeling and data mining techniques might be used to close the gaps that turn paleo-proxies into paradoxes.

Analysis of deep-time climatic and environmental variation is paramount to progress in understanding fundamental questions of Earth System feedbacks and sensitivity to perturbations including extinctions, large igneous provinces, ice ages, hyperthermalism, as well as oceanic acidification and anoxia. However, reconstruction of deep-time climatic and environmental change from sedimentary records remains challenging. New tools are needed to investigate poorly known aspects of paleoenvironmental systems as well as to test interpretations made using established paleoenvironmental proxies. This session is broadly open to studies aimed at calibration or demonstration of geochemical proxies for reconstruction of deep-time environmental and climatic evolution. For example, recent research has demonstrated the utility of elemental proxies (B/Ga, Sr/Ba, and S/TOC) to assess salinity in ancient shale formations (Wei and Algeo, 2020, GCA). This study has received significant attention, demonstrating a strong interest in further development of salinity proxies for use in paleoenvironmental studies. Given the potential power and unique perspective provided by elemental salinity proxies in paleoenvironmental analysis, further studies are needed—both to test methodological aspects of these proxies, and to further investigate their application to various paleodepositional systems. The scope of this session includes novel proxy development as well as new constraints on existing geochemical proxy records. Topics include proxy calibration in modern or diagenetic systems (e.g., GEOTRACES), experimental constraints, data-model calibrations, and novel proxy applications in the ancient sedimentary record. We encourage submissions with innovative insights regarding mechanisms, feedbacks, or quantitative thresholds driving ancient geochemical perturbations and their relationship with environmental, climatic, and biological evolution.

Large-scale changes to Earth's surface alkalinity budget can strongly impact atmospheric CO2 concentrations with corresponding impacts on planetary climate1. Balance in the carbon cycle is maintained through long-term stabilising feedbacks, such as chemical weathering of silicates and carbonates which leads to the production of alkalinity at rates that depend on CO2 concentrations2,3. In the marine environment, the production of alkalinity drives the precipitation and deposition of carbonate minerals and their removal through burial in marine sediments, which is the ultimate sink for atmospheric CO24. Moreover, given contemporary human-driven climate warming, new approaches are being developed which leverage these natural biogeochemical processes to enhance alkalinity production and increase atmospheric CO2 drawdown. Insight into how Earth's surface alkalinity budget has evolved through time as well as it's sensitivity to human perturbations is, therefore, central to reconstructing biogeochemical and climate dynamics in the Earth system in past, present, and future scenarios.

Here we seek contributions that link dynamics in Earth's alkalinity budget to the response of the Earth-life-climate system. In particular we welcome submission of multidisciplinary studies from various ecosystem types (from the continents to the oceans) and from deep time to the modern, including contemporary climate change mitigation approaches. We encourage contributions that employ applications of inorganic and organic geochemistry, microbiology, chemical and biological oceanography, experimental and analytical isotope geochemistry, modelling, and geoengineering.

1Middelburg et al., (2020)

2Zeebe & Caldeira, (2008)

3Walker et al., (1981)

4Berner (2004)

Weathering plays a pivotal role in regulating atmospheric CO2 levels and maintaining Earth's habitability over geological timescales. Silicate weathering not only acts as a thermostat for global climate but also provides essential nutrients to the ocean, influencing global biogeochemical cycles. In addition, sediments and sedimentary rocks host major carbon, nitrogen, phosphorous, and sulfur reservoirs, among other bio-essential and redox-active elements. In many cases, these elements can be hosted in reactive phases that initiate weathering and set the net effect of sediment recycling on the composition of Earth’s ocean and atmosphere. Understanding both processes are crucial in order to advance our knowledge of global biogeochemical cycles. We solicit contributions from weathering studies in natural (modern and ancient) and experimental settings, spanning different spatial and temporal scales. Topics of interest include mineralogical, geochemical, radiogenic, and metal stable isotope analyses, as well as computational techniques. We welcome research addressing the development and refinement of geochemical and isotopic tracers to discern congruent versus incongruent weathering, the role of secondary minerals, and oxidative weathering processes. Additionally, we seek contributions that address sedimentary recycling processes at Earth’s surface and their implications for global biogeochemical cycles and the interpretation of the rock record. Relevant topics include, but are not limited to, global modeling studies, rock record observations, isotopic and trace element studies of river dissolved and particulate loads, soil profile studies, reactive transport modeling, and laboratory/ incubation experiments.

The imperative to mitigate climate change underscores the urgency for effective carbon dioxide (CO2) removal and storage strategies. This session brings together two critical approaches: recent advances in geochemistry for underground CO2 storage and utilization in the subsurface, and the acceleration of carbon migration from the atmosphere to the lithosphere through engineered CO2 mineralization.

Anthropogenic CO2 removal technologies are essential for limiting global temperature increases and maintaining a habitable planet. This session explores the integration of natural processes with engineered solutions to facilitate CO2 removal and storage. Topics encompass a wide array of methodologies, including bioenergy with carbon capture and storage, enhanced weathering, ocean fertilization, direct air capture and storage, and engineered CO2 mineralization.

Contributions are invited to delve into diverse facets of CO2 removal and storage, ranging from fundamental science to practical applications. This includes investigations into natural analogs, field experiments, storage capacity assessments, geochemical and geophysical modeling, mineral trapping and dissolution, microbial processes, and the utilization of industrial wastes. Additionally, research exploring the environmental, social, and policy dimensions of CO2 removal and storage, including public acceptance and regulatory frameworks, is encouraged.

This session provides a platform to share theoretical insights, experimental findings, and practical implementations aimed at optimizing CO2 removal and storage strategies. By fostering interdisciplinary dialogue and collaboration, it aims to accelerate the development and deployment of effective solutions to combat climate change.

The Critical Zone hosts a dynamic balance of physical, chemical and biological factors, where biogeochemical reactions between minerals,  fluids, and life release and recycle inorganic solutes and nutrients that influence water quality, drive changes in rock properties that influence hydrologic and biogeochemical processes, control the fate and transport of carbon and other nutrients, and serve as a model system that can provide the basis for solutions to pressing environmental and energy problems. The study of the rates and mechanisms of these reactions span detailed laboratory experiments, field data collection and analysis, and sophisticated numerical simulation. Dr. Susan Brantley spent her career elucidating the rates and mechanisms of mineral-fluid interactions and pushing us to advance fundamental understanding of the complex coupling of biogeochemical reactions that shape the near-surface environment through connections with other near surface processes and was an integral part of the definition of a new earth science discipline: Critical Zone Science. This interdisciplinary community is instrumental in elucidating how the Critical Zone will respond to the consequences of a changing climate across a range of timescales and environments. This session will celebrate the career of Dr. Brantley by highlighting advances and cutting-edge research in mineral-fluid interactions and Critical Zone processes.  We welcome submissions from collaborators, former students, and anyone whose research has been inspired or advanced by the work of Dr. Brantley.

The co-evolution of rock-life interactions has driven the evolution of the geosphere and biosphere for most of Earth’s history and led to the formation of microbial communities in diverse environments. Strengthening our understanding of this co-evolution from the micro to global scale through interdisciplinary collaborations and research will then help with predicting and mitigating challenges that society is facing and will face with changes in the Earth system moving forward. In particular, subsurface environments present many opportunities in understanding life-mineral-water interactions in primitive anaerobic environments, and identifying energy and critical mineral deposits associated with microbial activity. Recent research has advanced our knowledge of the distribution and environmental interactions of subsurface microbial communities, and their potential to be used to address pressing global challenges, such as sustainable energy production, carbon sequestration, and other purposes. We encourage abstract submission from anyone whose research intersects at the water-life-rock interface, including subsurface environments, from deep time to modern systems, integrating biologically-focused techniques with those that are traditionally more geochemical and geological, to answer fundamental questions about processes that have driven, are driving, and will drive chemical reactions on the Earth’s surface to subsurface. The topic includes but is not limited to identification of biosignatures in geological records, laboratory simulation of mineral-life interaction, isotopic biogeochemistry and biogeochemical modeling, and molecular and bioinformatic approaches studying metabolic pathways and evolution.

Nitrogen and phosphorus are essential elements to all life. From the past to the present, N and/or P are often considered  two principle nutrients that limit primary production , organic carbon burial, and ultimately atmospheric oxygenation. This, in turn, has significantly influenced the origin of life and early biological evolution. The bioavailability of N and P in various aquatic environments is determined by the balance between inputs and outputs, which are intimately linked to ambient environmental conditions such as redox, pH and temperature. To better understand N and P cycles and their implications for Earth's habitability, this session invites observational, experimental and modelling contributions that address N and P cycling in both ancient and modern environments. We welcome submissions presenting novel geochemical, mineralogical, and biological investigations of N and P cycling from past to present; utilizing laboratory experiments and field investigations to uncover the geo- and bio-controls that govern N and P budgets and their behaviors in different environments; employing numerical models to simulate the connection of N and P cycling and the evolution of Earth surface systems. This session also welcomes contributions from extraterrestrial fields, which explore the potential habitability of other planets and celestial bodies. We aim to bring together scientists from diverse fields that are interested in the biogeochemical cycling of N and P, to comprehensively understand the role of N and P in shaping the habitability of planets.

Microorganisms are recognized to alter mineral structure through dissolution and precipitation reactions which may include a change in redox state in many cases profoundly impacting various environments—ranging from soils to deep subsurface ecosystems. Beyond the environmental influence, these interactions can also have a significant impact on the microbial life driving the reactions impacting bioavailability of carbon and nutrients, trace metals, and for some organisms, sources and sinks for electrons. While these interactions have been observed, the mechanisms underpinning these interactions with minerals are not always well understood. This session invites abstracts investigating the enigmatic interplay between microorganisms and minerals, illuminating underlying mechanisms across domains of life, geological time, and scales (molecules to systems) advancing out understanding of microbe mineral interactions.

Organic geochemistry encompasses topics that range from biogeochemistry to climate science, microbial ecology to petroleum geochemistry, and archaeology to extraterrestrial environments. The field lies at the intersection of isotope geochemistry, high and low temperature geochemistry, paleogeology and paleooceanography, and astrobiology. It has depended critically on analytical innovations, advances in experimental techniques, and the acquisition of unique and difficult to obtain samples. This session invites presentations in all areas of organic geochemistry with the intention of nurturing a network of scientists who rely on organic perspectives and approaches in geochemistry.

Biomineralization and Geobiology: The intersection between life and minerals

Since the dawn of life, biological processes and minerals have been inextricably linked and have shaped the story of Earth's surface. Biominerals, defined as minerals that would otherwise not occur without biological processes at play, serve as skeletons and shells for living organisms, reservoirs of nutrients and elements critical to geochemical cycles, inspiration for materials science, agents for fossilization, and even as hosts for paleoenvironmental proxies. Their importance spans the tree of life across modern and deep time.

This session seeks to bring together biomineralogists, biogeochemists, and geobiologists working an array of topics that speak to this interdisciplinary field, including researchers presenting advances in analytical tools to characterize organic-mineral assemblages, interpretations of biomineral-based proxies, biomineral formation mechanisms, characterization of the diversity and abundance of microorganisms forming minerals, and more.

Exploring a planet's habitability involves both looking for signs of life and the conditions that sustain habitats, such as nutrient biogeochemical cycles. On the one hand, microbial diversity and activity are intricately intertwined with challenging biogeochemical settings across various Earth environments. The study of extreme conditions on Earth serves as a crucial foundation for astrobiology, aiding in the exploration of life's limits and the development and testing of technologies for space missions. On the other hand, involved biogeochemical cycles play pivotal roles in regulating planetary climate, nutrient dynamics, and global productivity. Microbial metabolisms associated with such cycles, particularly C-S-Fe, significantly influence CO₂ fixation, organic carbon remineralization, and planetary redox state over geological timescales. Understanding the interconnectedness of these cycles is essential for unraveling Earth's habitability evolution and assessing potential biosignatures (e.g., biologically influenced carbonate, banded iron formations, and sedimentary pyrite) in both early Earth and extraterrestrial environments.

This session aims to facilitate discussions on these new frontiers of microbiology and recent advancements in understanding the planet’s habitability, including microbiology in extreme environments and biogeochemical cycles in the context of biochemical processes within cells/organisms, in the broader Earth System through time, and in association with potential extraterrestrial biosignatures. We welcome contributions that document diverse approaches, including but not limited to modern environmental chemistry, microbiology, geobiology, geochemistry, astrobiology, and numerical simulations/models that add insights into these new microbial frontiers and involved biogeochemical cycles on Earth and beyond, from deep time to the present.

Global warming disproportionately affects ecosystems of the high-latitude and high-elevation cold regions. The Critical Zone in cold regions comprises components that are particularly vulnerable to warming – snow cover, seasonal frost, and permafrost – as well as soil biota adapted to cold temperatures. Changes in cold regions’ biogeochemistry, hydrology and hydrochemistry are connected to climate feedbacks through greenhouse gas emissions. Research on how cold region microorganisms respond to shifts in environmental conditions is of particular importance for understanding how a warming climate would affect the biogeochemical cycling of carbon, nutrients, metals, and pollutants in the Earth’s cold regions. Meanwhile, warming facilitates the expansion of agriculture, urban growth, and access to natural resources, further adding to the anthropogenic pressures on the cold region ecosystems. The complex interconnection of hydro-bio-geochemical processes in cold regions poses multiple challenges to their realistic representation in earth system models. The cold regions’ Critical Zone therefore requires the integration of process-based investigations with multiscale monitoring and modeling tools. This session focuses on interdisciplinary research that advances our predictive understanding of the biogeochemical processes, microbe-plant interactions, and water quality in cold regions. We welcome presentations that provide new insights into adapted biological activities, hydrogeochemical processes and connectivity in the cold region Critical Zone, changes in carbon and nutrient cycling due to climate warming. We particularly encourage the presentations of newly developed laboratory/field methodologies and coupled experimental and modelling approaches that address the impacts of current and future climate warming and land use change on cold region environments.

Terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems are rapidly changing due to compounding effects of natural and anthropogenic stressors, such as elevated temperatures, hydrologic intensification, industrial processes, and land use changes. These processes interact to create spatially and temporally dynamic gradients of biogeochemical conditions (e.g., redox, pH, temperature, salinity) that impact the cycling of nutrients, metals, and contaminants within and exchanged by terrestrial and aquatic systems. A better understanding of these biogeochemical processes in evolving ecosystems requires innovative approaches that leverage observational and experimental data to generate predictive models that represent natural systems across broad spatial scales.

This session invites contributions that investigate altered biogeochemical processes in terrestrial, aquatic, and coastal interface systems from observational, experimental, and/or modeling perspectives. Topics include but are not limited to: biophysical drivers of geochemical processes, nutrient cycling, and greenhouse gas emissions; impacts of plant function on geochemical processes; and geochemical reactions that modulate the storage, transport, and export of particulates and solutes across the terrestrial-aquatic interface. We also welcome innovative modeling approaches that explore interactions between vegetation, hydrology, and geochemical processes for terrestrial-aquatic interface systems, and/or incorporate data from laboratory experiments or field manipulations.

Aquatic and terrestrial organic matter constitute the most dynamic reservoirs of
organic carbon. Therefore, processes that control turnover of these pools are critical for understanding global biogeochemical cycles across spatial and temporal scales.
Changes in vegetation composition that regulate soil organic matter (SOM) stabilization and destabilization in ecosystems world-wide are potentially altering inputs into aquatic
environments as well. Within the ocean floor, organic matter from both land and the upper ocean is subjected to further processing, where labile components are oxidized to their inorganic constituents and returned to the water column, leaving the more refractory material to be preserved. A fraction of organic matter is also transformed into dissolved form which can re-enter the water column. Physico-chemical complexities of natural organic matter (NOM), including heterogeneity and polyfunctionality further act as precursors in elemental biogeochemical cycling. For example, the association of NOM with redox-sensitive elements like iron, sulfur, nitrogen, or manganese drives redox processes that influence metal speciation, mineral transformation, greenhouse gas emissions, and nutrient bioavailability. Last but not the least, microbial community composition and activity is reliant on the characteristics and availability of NOM for optimal functioning. Therefore, in order to decipher the ultimate role NOM plays in biogeochemical processes, it is essential to develop molecular scale kinetic and mechanistic understanding of these processes in diverse ecosystems ranging from soil, sediments, and wetlands to the ocean floor.

Recent advances in analytical techniques and modeling have revolutionized the application of tracers in various fields, including hydrology, ecosystem analyses, and the study of terrestrial and aquatic systems' interfaces (TAI). Portable and field-operable devices now offer unprecedented insights into temporal and spatial fluid variabilities, while lab-based analytical advancements have expanded the potential of noble gas radionuclides for dating environmental samples. Novel techniques for precise measurements of rare isotopes in fluids provide quantitative constraints on sources and processes, while high-throughput environmental DNA analyses reveal unforeseen hydrological connections and biophysical processes. Combined with tracer-enabled models, deeper insights into natural tracer transport and cycling can be obtained, leading to significant progress in the fields of hydrogeology, ecohydrology, oceanography, paleoreconstruction, critical zone processes, land-atmosphere interactions, and in the study of TAI. 

This session invites contributions focusing on method developments and novel applications involving tracers in water, spanning groundwater, rivers, lakes, oceans, snow, ice, and other fluids, as well as interfaces between water and the solid Earth or the atmosphere. We encourage presentations on the investigation of reactive tracer transport and nutrient cycling, on the assessment of the spatial and temporal distribution patterns of tracers, on unraveling factors modulating TAI and surface water-groundwater exchange processes, and on the analysis of the ecological repercussions of solutes and pollutants within the TAI. Additionally, research endeavors exploring submarine groundwater discharge, saltwater intrusion, and exchange of emerging contaminants and microplastics within the TAI are welcomed. Innovative methodologies, including cutting-edge measurement and modeling tools, machine learning applications, and integrated 

The session will focus on the fate and mobility of hazardous pollutants in the subsurface under climate change conditions. The session welcomes research on field/pilot-scale/lab studies and experiments on recent developments in understanding the fate and transport of hazardous pollutants in subsurface. This session will highlight multi-method approaches at a lab/pilot/demonstrative scales that assess i) hazardous waste sites, ii) soil-water systems contaminated with hazardous chemicals, and iii) wastewater having hazardous chemicals and/or microplastics. This session covers the topics on adsorption, precipitation, dissolution, leachability, and mobility of hazardous pollutants in geological media. Topics related to laboratory experiments, hydrogeological characterization, theoretical analysis and numerical modeling will be discussed. Presentations on disposal of hazardous wastes, forecasting of hazardous pollutants under climate change conditions, and environmental assessment from any fields, such as hydrogeology, earth science, and engineering, are also welcome.

Introducing recent multi-scale advancement in the fate and transport of such as contaminants in subsurface systems under varying conditions, the proposed session will offer a valuable resource/guide for researchers and academicians in the field of the geochemistry, hydrology, and soil/ environmental sciences. This session will also offer extensive updates on multimethod approaches to the manager/field practitioners who are involved in the remediation, restoration, and management of polluted sites.

The session aims to showcase the high technology readiness level studies on (Bio-)remediation of hazardous pollutants, much needed for restoring polluted sites using eco-friendly approaches. This session covers the topics on biostimulation, bioaugmentation, microbiome-based remediation, phytoremediation, algae-based decontamination, nano or biochar materials-based decontamination techniques for hazardous pollutants in soil and groundwater systems. The session highlights the recent lab/field/pilot-scale research and developments in this area, and it proposes to culminate the multimethod approaches to handle i) hazardous solid waste and liquid waste, ii) soil-water systems contaminated with hazardous chemicals, iii) wastewater contaminated with hazardous chemicals/microplastics. Introducing the recent advancement in the (bio-)remediation of such contaminants in soils, surface and groundwater systems under varying conditions, the proposed session will offer extensive updates on multimethod approaches to the manager/field practitioners involved in the remediation, restoration, and management of polluted sites.

Biogeochemical cycles of elements (such as C, S, Mn, Fe) of terrestrial and aquatic systems are driven by molecular processes occurring at aqueous-solid interfaces including redox reactions. These reactions, i.e. the biotic or abiotic transfer of electrons, govern the bioavailability of nutrients (P, Cu, Zn, Mo, etc.) and contaminants (As, Cr, V, Sb, Se, U, etc.), exerting direct control over water quality and soil/sediment health. However, despite decades of attention, many questions related to the impacts of redox mechanisms on nutrient and contaminant cycling from molecular- to ecosystems-scale remain unresolved. For example, colloids, critical components of element budget in redox-dynamic systems, must urgently be considered in field as well as lab experiments and reactive transport models. Redox spatiotemporal heterogeneity should be incorporated into mainstream conceptualizations of soil biogeochemistry. Redox dynamic impact on carbon cycling, and inversely interferences of organic carbon on redox-generated element cycling, stay poorly defined. The mechanisms, rates, and kinetics of electron transfer between microbes and minerals remain poorly characterized. And overall, multiple redox mechanisms driving nutrient and contaminant (im)mobilization are still unresolved.

We welcome contributions that (1) look at these molecular mechanisms in lab as well as field studies, (2) contaminant and mineral transformation in redox dynamic environments in terrestrial, aquatic, and coastal systems, (3) retrospective impact of redox dynamic and carbon cycling, (4) novel methodological insights that highlight mechanistic understanding of these processes, (5) modeling studies that include redox processes and their impact on contaminant and nutrient mobility.

Naturally occurring contaminants, including geogenic contaminants, like arsenic, uranium, and manganese, in surface waters and groundwaters can limit their suitability for use as drinking water supplies. In the United States, public water systems must monitor and treat for regulated geogenic contaminants, while private well supplied drinking water is not regulated and typically infrequently tested and treated. This poses economic, health, and environmental justice concerns and can lead to disparities in safe and affordable water access. Climate change, increases in water demand, and population growth will further exacerbate challenges in achieving universal access to safe drinking water. In this session, we invite contributions that discuss the geochemistry of naturally occurring contaminants in drinking water and/or source water (e.g. rivers, lakes, streams, reservoirs, groundwater, etc.) and their implications for water management and human health. We welcome field- and lab-based studies and modeling studies, and studies that utilize novel interdisciplinary methods. We particularly welcome geochemical studies that inform public policy and public health impacts of naturally occurring contaminants.

In this session we encourage submissions that explore environmental geochemistry and surface/interface science, particularly those that offer insights into the cycling of metals and metalloids in the environment, including isotope fractionation studies. These may include investigation of surface interactions with a wide array of inorganic elements, organic compounds, and microbial communities, including the role of microorganisms in biogeochemical cycling. Research focusing on mineral surface reactions, isotope fractionation phenomena, organic matter interactions, or the behavior of trace elements across diverse environmental compartments is highly encouraged. We also encourage studies using molecular level techniques and modeling approaches intended to understand the geochemical processes involved.

Our goal is to promote a deep understanding, bridging the gap from atomic-scale insights to macro-scale impacts, shedding light on how environmental processes operate across multiple levels. We value diverse perspectives and methodologies in this endeavor.

Contaminants of Emerging Concern (CECs) are a group of pollutants whose sources, behaviour, fate and effect on the environment are not well understood; CECs are also almost completely unregulated. Most CECs were created with intention to better human life and have now turned out to be an environmental hazard. Pharmaceuticals and Personal Care Products (PPCPs) for example, are a major reason for improved health and wellbeing across the world. Ironically PPCPs are also known to cause huge impact on ecosystems, cause antimicrobial resistance and even impact human health directly. There are new compounds being added to the list of CECs all the time, while the research on the effects, sources, fate and removal of these contaminants continues to be limited. Due to improper disposal, lack of treatment and regulations CECs have entered the environmental compartments leading to adverse effects on ecosystems. This session will focus on the behaviour and interactions of CECs after its release to the environment; their modes of transport and their ultimate fate.

The main areas of focus are:

1. The sources, modes of transportation and fate of Contaminants of Emerging Concern
2. Contaminants of Emerging Concern as part of geochemical cycles (Interactions with riverine, soil and other processes)
3. Advances in detection, classification and removal techniques of Contaminants of Emerging Concern
4. Impact of CECs on Human and Environmental Health
5. Antimicrobial resistance due to CECs
6. Climate Change and CECs
7. Other related research on CECs and human health.

Fundamental geochemical knowledge is often at the center of optimal design and implementation of soil and water remediation strategies. For example, in toxic metal(loid) clean-up via soil amendments, phytoremediation, or chemical injections to stimulate in-situ bioremediation of surface and groundwaters, molecular-scale understanding of underlying geochemical drivers has proven essential in successful remediation of a variety of contaminants across ecosystems. Recent advances in synchrotron-based X-ray characterization techniques and the growing use of genomic data have made it possible to identify complex molecular-scale pathways of contaminant geochemical cycling and ensuing bioavailability in the field. This multidisciplinary session aims to showcase environmental remediation projects that have benefited from geochemical approaches and understanding, with a particular emphasis on remediation of inorganic pollutants (e.g., Pb, Cd, Hg, N, P, U, As). We specifically encourage presentations that integrate molecular-scale data with macroscopic measurements to directly investigate the fate of metal(loid) and/or nutrient-derived contaminants at small or large-scale field sites. Laboratory investigations of polluted water or soils derived from contaminated field sites are also welcomed. We look forward to an inspiring session that includes presentations from early-career to senior scientists with diverse expertise to delve into key geochemical processes underpinning environmental remediation.

Robust projections by climate experts indicate that the risk of fires will continue to increase as global warming continues. Although the effects of wildfire on soil biogeochemical processes are less visible than vegetation effects, a myriad of highly variable changes to soil moisture and biogeochemical cycling can occur in response to severe fires. These changes to soil hydrology and soil organic matter (SOM) turnover can have long-lasting impacts on the ability of soils to sustain ecosystem functioning. Most persistent fire induced changes in biogeochemical cycling and contaminant transport after moderate to severe fires are controlled by, and can be understood through, changes in soil conditions that spatially and temporally shift the geochemistry and carbon storage potential of soil minerals. In this session, we invite contributions which explore research priorities in the following categories of fire ecology: (a) characteristics of fire regimes, (b) changing fire regimes, (c) fire effects on above- and below ground ecology; and (d) fire ecology modelling. We identify three emergent themes: the need to study fire across temporal scales, to assess the mechanisms underlying a variety of ecological feedbacks involving fire and to improve representation of fire in a range of modelling contexts. We encourage submissions which include experimental and theoretical contributions, including advances in methodology and analytical techniques to understand how prescribed and wildland fires affect key soil biogeochemical processes, such as mineral transformation, microbially-mediated SOM decomposition, and elemental mobility and contaminant transport at different spatiotemporal scales under a rapidly changing climate scenario.

Emerging contaminants are a multifaceted challenge with far-reaching implications
for ecological functions and human health. The extent and consequences of novel
contaminants derived from everyday activities such as industrial production, pharmaceutical
consumption, personal care product use, agricultural practices, and waste disposal remain
largely unknown. However, increasing awareness of novel contaminant accumulation across
the biosphere has led to the recognition that we are now in a ‘high-risk zone’ of transgressing
a planetary boundary with regard to novel entities in the environment.
Water bodies and terrestrial systems are particularly vulnerable to novel substances
such as PFAS, microplastics, PPCPs, organic solvents, organic/inorganic fertilizers and
pesticides, and biosolids. The wide range of novel contaminants with complex interactions
under varying biogeochemical conditions complicates measuring their abundance, projecting
their environmental trajectory, and assessing risks to human and environmental wellbeing.
The improved understanding of contaminant chemistry in the aqueous and agro/ terrestrial
environment can serve as a key tool in the strategic designing of innovative and sustainable
remediation approaches. This session aims to develop an understanding of progress in
analytical methods to identify emerging contaminants, their fate, and transport under different
geochemical scenarios, while also emphasizing methods for mitigating contaminated water
and soil.
In this session, we equally encourage submissions on (i) advances in analytical
methods (ii) the fate and impact of microplastics/nanoplastics, PFAS, PPCPs, and other
emerging pollutants, and (iii) novel techniques, materials, and approaches to mitigate
contaminated sites. The session covers multiple aspects ranging from lab- and mesocosm- to
field-scale experimental observations.

This session aims to explore human health, ecosystems, the Earth's geological and geochemical systems, and the interconnections between them, under the increasing influences of climate change and human activities. Our session’s focus is on the application of non-traditional stable isotopes and novel geochemical tools as indispensable approaches for studying the impacts of these elements on the environment and human health. Contributions that use an interdisciplinary approach to advance the understanding of planetary health in all its dimensions are welcome. This includes tracing the sources and transport of contaminants across environmental compartments, elucidating the transformation mechanisms of contaminant and nutrient elements, quantifying the bioaccumulation, toxification, and metabolic processes of contaminants in organisms, and rebuilding the evolution of biogeochemical processes.

Key topics include:

- Experimental, modeling, or theoretical studies to elucidate the isotope fractionation mechanism.

- Determining the source, transport, or fate of anthropogenic contaminants in the environment using non-traditional isotopes.

- Studying the metabolism and health effects of metal and organic contaminants in animals or humans using non-traditional isotopes.

- Novel interdisciplinary studies that combine non-traditional isotopes and emerging techniques such as big data and artificial intelligence.

- Use of mineralogical, geochemical and geospatial approaches to improve our understanding of sources, transport, and sinks of pollutants that affect planetary health.

This proposed session seeks to celebrate the distinguished career of Karlis Muehlenbachs, a trailblazer in the field of stable isotope geochemistry and a pioneering contributor to our understanding of the oxygen isotope composition of seawater and hydrothermal systems. For more than 5 decades, his groundbreaking research has significantly advanced our knowledge of Earth's processes and has left an indelible mark on the scientific community. From his seminal contributions to understanding the oxygen isotope composition of seawater to his extensive studies on hydrothermal systems, ore deposits, petroleum systems, amber, and ancient life, Karlis continually applied innovative approaches that have enhanced our comprehension of the processes occurring in these dynamic environments, shedding light on the intricate interplay of geochemical reactions. This session welcomes contributions from researchers, collaborators, and mentees to present their work and share personal reflections on Karlis’s profound influence. Presentations will highlight the enduring impact of his extraordinary career, providing an opportunity for the scientific community to reflect on his contributions and inspire future generations of geochemists.

Seafloor hydrothermal systems have profoundly influenced Earth’s biosphere, lithosphere, hydrosphere, and atmosphere throughout Earth history.  However, their very nature within the oceanic crust drastically limits the temporal extent of direct geologic observations of their existence.  Thus, attempts to correlate seafloor hydrothermal processes with biological evolution, global elemental budgets, and global redox states throughout Earth history generally require interdisciplinary efforts that integrate studies of modern systems, interpretations of the geologic record, novel laboratory experiments, and numerical models.  In this session, we intend to host a forum for presenting and integrating these various sets of observations in order to focus the community’s efforts on answering key questions regarding the role of seafloor hydrothermal processes in the Earth system. In particular, we invite contributions focusing on seafloor measurements of modern hydrothermal systems; studies of recovered oceanic drill core, obducted oceanic lithosphere, or proxy records in ancient sedimentary rocks; experimental exploration of seafloor (bio)geochemical interactions; and integrative numerical models that expand the spatiotemporal scales of these field and experimental observations. Specific focuses could include the role of seafloor hydrothermalism in carbon and other elemental cycles, studies of the linkages between hydrothermal alteration, crustal mineralogy, and seawater geochemistry, and the relation between hydrothermal systems and the tempos and milestones of biological evolution.

Atmospheric aerosols, including both natural and anthropogenic, have a large impact on air quality, global climate, and human health. Understanding of their physical and chemical composition, not mass alone, is becoming increasingly important for assessing their properties and impacts. There are mounting evidences suggesting that main toxicological pathways follow the induction of respiratory oxidative stress upon inhalation of air pollutants by formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the human body. Establishing the relationships between aerosol sources, size, and chemical composition, exposure pathways, biochemical mechanisms, and bioavailability of nutrients is the key for the assessment of air pollutants impacts on human health and climate. Further, understanding the speciation and isotopic analyses of metal ions in different types of aerosols is important to understand their sources and chemical processes during long-range transport and after deposition. For example, Fe isotopes in aerosols transported to the HNLC region in the ocean have been measured to know their sources, and the speciation of Fe to discuss its fractional solubility in seawater. This is important to not only understand the supply of soluble Fe to the ocean as a nutrient for phytoplankton but also their effects on ROS generation. Similarly, speciation and isotopic analysis are important for Zn, Cu, Ni, and any other metal ions in aerosols, which are important from a number of perspectives.

This session will provide a platform to share the effects of aerosols on biogeochemical and environmental aspects, and provide suggestions on various aerosol-related problems, including climate change and human health.

It is widely accepted that substantial carbon dioxide removal (CDR) is required in addition to rapid and significant emissions reductions if we are to keep the extent of global warming caused by anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions to <2 °C above pre-industrial levels. Research into CDR technologies, including approaches such as ocean alkalinity enhancement, direct air capture, bioenergy carbon capture and storage, enhanced weathering and mineral carbonation, amongst others, is progressing at rapid pace, yet there remain considerable uncertainties in quantifying the efficiency of CDR and verifying the security of storage. There is an urgent need to address these uncertainties to unlock financing and facilitate large-scale deployment for all CDR technologies.

This session will focus on the scientific principles, current state-of-the-art, and future requirements for enabling effective measurement, reporting and verification (MRV) of CDR. We seek contributions on all CDR technologies utilising modelling, experimental and/or field-scale approaches. Contributions that explore the wider environmental, social and governmental challenges related to CDR deployment are also invited.

Iron plays a key role in the Earth System. Today, biological productivity is iron-limited in large areas of an iron-poor ocean. In contrast, iron-rich sedimentary rocks found in the geological record suggest that the past ocean has seen iron-rich (ferruginous) states. These geological iron records hold information on past Earth's oxygenation state and oceanic iron cycling. Despite the importance of the iron cycle in the Earth System, there are still many questions about its functioning in the present and past oceans, such as the impact of diagenesis on iron proxies in the rock record and the contribution of different iron sources to the ocean. Iron isotopes are a powerful tool to study iron cycling that could help to constrain iron fluxes in past and present oceans, yet data on iron isotopic signatures in past and present marine environments are still rare and consequently, our understanding of the processes determining iron isotopic signatures is limited.

A combination of approaches should be taken to address the major outstanding questions in marine iron biogeochemical research. This session therefore aims to bring together contributions that target marine iron cycling across a range of spatial and temporal scales, both in present-day environments and in the geological past, using theoretical, isotopic, experimental, or field-based techniques.

Earth's climate system is undergoing rapid change in the modern era. Understanding how its components have responded to past environmental change is critical for refining projections into the near future. We invite studies leveraging both established and novel geochemical proxies to reconstruct important climate parameters such as ice volume, the hydrologic cycle, sea surface and bottom water temperature, marine oxygenation and carbon storage, and primary/export production. Multi-proxy approaches or work integrating biogeochemistry with earth system modeling are also welcome. We encourage submissions from both terrestrial and marine archives spanning a range of timescales, including (but not limited to) deglaciations, glacial-interglacial cycles, climate transitions, and past warm intervals (e.g., the Miocene Climate Optimum, Early Eocene Climate Optimum, etc.).

Stable isotope ratios of hydrogen and oxygen in water are well-established and effective tools for understanding the earth system, yielding fundamental insights into the dynamics of past and present climates. Water isotope-based paleoclimate proxy measurements have provided some of the most important records of past climate change. In the modern earth system, stable water isotope measurements have delivered insights into hydrologic provenance and key physical processes in the ocean, atmosphere, cryosphere, and biosphere. Innovative techniques allowing for high temporal resolution water isotope measurements as well as advances in remote-sensing of water isotopologues have recently produced new research directions in the field. Furthermore, new capabilities surrounding the incorporation of stable water isotopes into both simple and complex modeling frameworks are enabling improved interpretation of stable water isotopes in both modern waters and isotope-based paleoclimate archives. This session welcomes abstracts that pertain to the measurement, modeling, paleo-reconstruction, or application of stable water isotope data to further understanding of past, present, or future variability in the climate system.

Anthropogenic climate change has led to profound changes in Earth’s atmosphere-cryosphere-ocean system. These changes have resulted in substantial ice loss from melting glaciers, warming, and freshening of the surface ocean, and changes in the distribution of dust aerosols, nutrients, trace metals, carbon, and pollutants. This interdisciplinary session focuses on the application of geochemical tracers and proxies and related observational and modeling efforts to improve our understanding of climate and environmental change across a broad range of time scales and geographic areas in the atmosphere-cryosphere-ocean system. We aim to investigate past and present changes in a) the cryosphere, through geochronologic techniques such as terrestrial cosmogenic nuclides, stable isotope systems, uranium series, and novel methods, to assess surface and subglacial change; b) the global dust cycle, through regional paleodust records, the geochemical and mineralogical characterization of dust aerosols, and the use of isotopes, trace elements, and other geochemical proxies to trace dust provenance and to distinguish between natural and anthropogenic sources; and c) the (sub)polar oceans, through new and proven methods that track biogeochemical cycling of nutrients and trace metals, circulation and matter pathways and fluxes, and oceanic conditions and their relationship with climate. We hope to foster interdisciplinary collaboration to stimulate discussion, share knowledge, and improve our understanding of these critical and rapidly changing environments.

Climate and environmental changes are among important challenges facing our society today. The variations in the Earth's climate and environment on land will have the most direct impact on human populations. These variations are well preserved in terrestrial geological records as geochemical proxies. We study them to improve our understanding of Earth's climate evolution through time.

This session will focus on novel approaches and multiproxy developments to investigate terrestrial paleoclimate records in geological samples. We welcome contributions that focus on archives such as speleothems, lake sediments, and paleosols and proxies that include conventional and non-conventional stable isotopes, trace metal analyses, lipid biomarkers such as tetraether lipids, alkenones and others to investigate climate and environmental variability over time.  We anticipate covering a wide range of time periods , hence, long-term records or event-focused anomalous periods are welcome in the session.

We also encourage contributions that help to calibrate such proxy records, for example laboratory experiments, model simulations, field monitoring, and the use of novel analytical instrumentation and data science approaches.

Organisms form minerals, or biominerals, as they inhabit their environments. Inescapably, the environment leaves signatures on the final biomineral, which can then be interpreted as proxies to reconstruct paleo-environments before during and after dramatically changing climates that led to mass extinctions, correlate with modern environments, or predict future responses to climate change. Speakers and listeners from the biomineralization community, the proxies geochemistry community and the environmental and climate change communities will come together to share their separate expertise in this diverse session. We invite contribution from people working on pH, temperature, salinity, elemental or isotopic composition, crystallography, or any other geochemical observations, correlations, and proxies to reveal past, present, and future responses to climate change.

Geochemistry, a multifaceted field that spans Chemistry, Earth, Planetary, and Environmental Sciences, offers unique insights into evolution of planetary compositions and our Earth System processes and responses to drivers of change. However, evidence exists for a significant and ongoing challenges in fostering a diverse and inclusive community. A critical issue is the unequal access to resources, which can perpetuate disparities in representation. Moreover, the multifaceted nature of geochemical research, involving laboratory, field, and computational work, demands varying skill sets and access to a wide array of resources and expert research settings. This can create additional hurdles for aspiring geochemists, further exacerbating global disparities. In recognition of these challenges, we invite presentations that delve into exploring the obstacles contributing to the underrepresentation of marginalized groups and examples of positive actions that have contributed to supporting inclusive culture in geochemistry. Our aim is to understand the nuances and complexities surrounding inequalities in access to resources and opportunities, often resulting in scientific colonialism (e.g., "parachute science", etc.). We encourage discussions on good practices and innovative solutions to eliminate these barriers, including mentorship, networking, funding, institutional initiatives, and the development of national and international policies. This session invites contributions that acknowledges and promote awareness of challenges and good practice that would help build a more equitable, diverse and inclusive geochemical community. Abstract submissions for this session are free of charge and do not preclude the submission of abstracts to other themes as a presenting author, emphasizing our commitment to inclusivity and diversity.

The 21st century is experiencing a diverse array of global challenges that include issues like climate change, future energy scenarios, biodiversity loss, conservation of natural resources, health hazards etc. These critical issues exert profound impacts on socioeconomic and environmental sustainability worldwide. There needs to be more synergy between industry and academic institutions to address these global challenges.

To decipher the complex processes controlling geochemistry, a transversal approach is necessary that connects industry and academia. The objective of the session is to foster more industry-academia partnerships to tackle these complex problems by bringing researchers investigating geochemistry from both domains. We invite contributions addressing issues related to the energy transition, climate change, environmental pollution, biodiversity loss, health hazards etc, with the geochemical toolbox. We also welcome studies that applied a comprehensive approach not relying solely on one analytical method.

Abstract submissions to Theme 14 are free or charge and do not preclude the submission of abstracts to other themes as a presenting author.

The 21st century is experiencing a diverse array of global challenges that include issues like climate change, future energy scenarios, biodiversity loss, conservation of natural resources, health hazards etc. These critical issues exert profound impacts on socioeconomic and environmental sustainability worldwide. There needs to be more synergy between industry and academic institutions to address these global challenges.

To decipher the complex processes controlling geochemistry, a transversal approach is necessary that connects industry and academia. The objective of the session is to foster more industry-academia partnerships to tackle these complex problems by bringing researchers investigating geochemistry from both domains. We invite contributions addressing issues related to the energy transition, climate change, environmental pollution, biodiversity loss, health hazards etc, with the geochemical toolbox. We also welcome studies that applied a comprehensive approach not relying solely on one analytical method.

Abstract submissions to Theme 14 are free or charge and do not preclude the submission of abstracts to other themes as a presenting author.

In the late 1990s, when the volumes of data generated in geochemistry research were rapidly increasing and the World Wide Web made online access to databases possible, the GEOROC (https://georoc.eu/) and PetDB (https://search.earthchem.org/) databases were developed to support researchers with easy access to comprehensive datasets that revolutionized data access and mining in igneous geochemistry (Lehnert et al., 2000, doi:10.1029/1999GC000026). 25 years on, PetDB and GEOROC are the leading, open-access sources of geochemical datasets of terrestrial igneous and metamorphic rocks. They provide free access to curated compilations of rock, mineral, and melt inclusion compositions from thousands of publications, totalling >42 million single data values. The primary purpose of these databases remains to support and facilitate new research using previously published data, and provide the foundation for data analytics and machine learning techniques in modern geochemistry. 

This session will celebrate 25 years of global databases in igneous geochemistry. We invite contributions by anyone who has used GEOROC or PetDB data for their research and in education, industry and policy; and by other data systems that were inspired by PetDB’s and GEOROC’s approach and success. The session will feature introductory talks from the two data systems, reflecting on the history and the future of big data in geochemistry. Join us for a celebratory session to share your personal data story and to learn more about the various ways GEOROC and PetDB data have contributed to the research landscape in geochemistry and beyond (e.g. archaeometry, geohealth, remote sensing) over the past 25 years.

In the late 1990s, when the volumes of data generated in geochemistry research were rapidly increasing and the World Wide Web made online access to databases possible, the GEOROC (https://georoc.eu/) and PetDB (https://search.earthchem.org/) databases were developed to support researchers with easy access to comprehensive datasets that revolutionized data access and mining in igneous geochemistry (Lehnert et al., 2000, doi:10.1029/1999GC000026). 25 years on, PetDB and GEOROC are the leading, open-access sources of geochemical datasets of terrestrial igneous and metamorphic rocks. They provide free access to curated compilations of rock, mineral, and melt inclusion compositions from thousands of publications, totalling >42 million single data values. The primary purpose of these databases remains to support and facilitate new research using previously published data, and provide the foundation for data analytics and machine learning techniques in modern geochemistry. 

This session will celebrate 25 years of global databases in igneous geochemistry. We invite contributions by anyone who has used GEOROC or PetDB data for their research and in education, industry and policy; and by other data systems that were inspired by PetDB’s and GEOROC’s approach and success. The session will feature introductory talks from the two data systems, reflecting on the history and the future of big data in geochemistry. Join us for a celebratory session to share your personal data story and to learn more about the various ways GEOROC and PetDB data have contributed to the research landscape in geochemistry and beyond (e.g. archaeometry, geohealth, remote sensing) over the past 25 years.

This year marks the release of the 3rd edition of the Treatise on Geochemistry. The Treatise provides a comprehensive, integrated summary of the present state of geochemistry, focusing on new developments in the field. It deals with most major subjects ranging from the chemistry of the solar system to environmental geochemistry. The 3rd edition of the Treatise (2024) draws on the expertise of outstanding scientists worldwide and aims to create a key reference work in geochemistry for the next decade. This session encourages submissions in this spirit, with authors asked to prepare a state-of-the-art synthesis reviewing key progress of the past ten years, and pose provocative questions for geochemistry over the next ten years.

This session is open to all authors whether they participated in the 3rd edition of the Treatise or not. Abstract submissions to Theme 14 are free of charge and do not preclude the submission of abstracts to other themes as a presenting author.

As a cross-cutting theme, some abstracts related to Theme 14 will be integrated into the other themes of the conference. These presentations will show how the science represented in Themes 1-13 also has a role in informing the public and affecting policy decisions. In order to identify your abstract as relevant to Theme 14, please submit it to this session, 14z, and indicate the other session in Themes 1-13 in which it should ultimately be scheduled. Once your abstract is approved, it will be moved into the related theme and scheduled as part of the session you named. It will retain a link to Theme 14 so that delegates can find it in both its scheduled session and Theme 14.

Abstract submissions to Theme 14 are free of charge and do not preclude the submission of abstracts to other themes as a presenting author. But please note that to be accepted in Theme 14, abstracts must have a significant component related to informing the public or affecting policy decisions, and not merely a tangential connection.