Early Earth and life

The following topics will be adressed:
- Reconstruction of the physico-chemical conditions on the Earth’s surface during Hadean and Archean periods (4.5 to 2.4 Ga), leading to the onset and development of early life;
- Characterization of the first atmosphere, first ocean, first continents and their respective evolution during the Precambrian;
- Origin and evolution of living organisms in the Precambrian; presentation of morphological,chemical and isotopic tracers used as tracers of life in the rock record.

Understand and be familiar with geological and geochemical data and concepts derived from the Precambrian geological record, and more specifically, the global models linking the onset of early life and its co-evolution with major surface geological reservoirs (atmosphere, ocean, crust, mantle)

This course includes a number of geochemical tools. Basic knowledge about isotope geochemistry is useful but not mandatory.