This textbook is intended as an introduction to geochemistry for geology students in their senior year or in their first year of graduate work.At that time in their education, students are ready to relearn those principles of chemistry that are especially applicable to the study of geological processes. Geochemistry can enhance their understanding of these processes and can teach them to apply principles of chemistry to the solution of geological problems. Geologists in virtually all branches of the science can benefit from an introductory course in geochemistry because it can help them to make quantitative predictions about the outcome of chemical reactions that occur in the context of many geological processes <...>

Reservoir modeling exists within the context of the reservoir management function. Although not universally adopted, reservoir management is often defined as the allocation of resources to optimize hydrocarbon recovery from a reservoir while minimizing capital investments and operating expenses [Wiggins and Startzman, 1990; Satter and Thakur, 1994; Al-Hussainy and Humphreys, 1996; Thakur, 1996]. These two outcomes - optimizing recovery and minimizing cost - often conflict with each other. Hydrocarbon recovery could be maximized if cost was not an issue, while costs could be minimized if the field operator had no interest in or obligation to prudently manage a finite resource. The primary objective in a reservoir management study is to determine the optimum conditions needed to maximize the economic recovery of hydrocarbons from a prudently operated field. Reservoir modeling is the most sophisticated methodology available for achieving the primary reservoir management objective. <...>

Application of earth sciences to the solution of civil engineering problems, or geotechnics, constitutes the subject of this book. The point of view is that of the engineer, and the earth sciences, particularly geology, have been brought into the engineering pattern only when they have direct bearing upon the problems under discussion. The authors goal is to present only those basic geotechnical principles that can provide a solid basis for the solution of problems connected with the natural environment of an engineering structure, particularly the surrounding ground. Case histories have been used only for the elucidation of principles. <...>

The problem of application of geochemical methods in prospecting for metals has become progressively more urgent in recent years. Credit ought to be given to our geophysicists, who were the first to raise this problem and also the first to undertake its solution.