Description
Study the chemical composition and reactions of rocks, minerals, soils, waters, and gases to understand Earth processes and address resource and environmental challenges. Apply chemistry, physics, and mathematics to design sampling programs, analyze samples and isotopes, and model geochemical cycles, fluid-rock interactions, and contaminant transport. Support exploration, reclamation, carbon storage, and hazard assessment through mapping, laboratory analysis, and reporting.
- • Analyze and interpret geochemical datasets from rock, soil, water, gas, and sediment samples.
- • Plan and conduct geochemical field programs, including sampling, drilling oversight, and in situ measurements.
- • Characterize mineral, rock, soil, and fluid composition using wet chemistry, ICP-MS/OES, XRF, XRD, GC-MS, or stable isotope methods.
- • Reconstruct fluid-rock interaction, alteration, or diagenetic histories from mineralogical and trace element data.
- • Prepare geochemical maps, cross sections, speciation diagrams, and technical reports.
- • Design exploration geochemistry surveys and interpret pathfinder elements to locate ore or hydrocarbon systems.
- • Assess groundwater and surface water quality, geochemical baselines, and contaminant transport and attenuation.
- • Conduct reactive transport, equilibrium speciation, or thermodynamic modeling with software such as PHREEQC, TOUGHREACT, or Geochemist's Workbench.
- • Advise on remediation strategies for acid mine drainage, tailings, and contaminated sites.
- • Communicate findings through technical reports, peer-reviewed papers, and conference presentations.
- • Calibrate and operate laboratory instruments; develop QA/QC plans and validate analytical results.
- • Test rocks, soils, and industrial materials using optical, X-ray, thermal, and acid digestion techniques.
- • Develop or customize scripts and software to process, visualize, and interpret geochemical data.
- • Integrate geochemical, geological, and geophysical datasets using GIS and statistical tools.
- • Support mine planning by characterizing waste rock and ore geochemistry, acid rock drainage (ARD) and metal leaching (ML) risks.
- • Collaborate with health researchers on geogenic contaminants such as arsenic, fluoride, and radon.
- • Evaluate environmental and climate impacts of mineral dust and aerosols and propose mitigation measures.
- • Develop strategies for lower-impact extraction, processing, and mine closure based on geochemical behavior.
- • Assess flaring, fugitive emissions, and gas utilization options using organic and isotopic geochemistry.
- • Identify and evaluate sources of critical minerals and platinum group elements using exploration geochemistry.
- • Screen and rank sites for carbon capture and storage using mineral trapping and leakage risk analysis.
- • Assess geothermal prospects using fluid chemistry, gas ratios, and scaling or corrosion potential.
- • Provide geochemical input for nuclear waste management, including sorption, solubility, and buffer performance.
- • Research geochemical processes relevant to carbon sequestration, hydrogen storage, and subsurface energy systems.
- • Design monitoring programs to verify the effectiveness of soil and groundwater remediation.
- • Analyze paleoclimate proxies such as isotopes and trace metals in ice, speleothems, or sediments to inform climate models.
- • Review and synthesize scientific literature and technical reports to support project decisions.
- • Contribute to natural hazard assessments via gas and water geochemistry at volcanoes, faults, or landslide sites.
- • Support engineering projects with geochemical input on materials durability, corrosion, and cement interactions.
- • Evaluate and source aggregates or industrial minerals based on chemical suitability and deleterious constituents.
- • Ensure compliance with environmental regulations and data management standards.
- • Teach, mentor, or train staff and students in geochemical methods and safety.
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This site includes information from O*NET by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license. Career Clutch has modified some of this information for student readability. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.
Last reviewed: Jan 2026
