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Subfield · Earth and Planetary Sciences

Geochemistry and Petrology research

Geochemistry and Petrology is a subfield of Earth and Planetary Sciences. Science Explorer counts 128k research works in it since 1950. 19.4% of them reached the world's top 10% most cited for their field and year.

In short: scientific study of the chemical composition of the Earth and other planets, focusing on the processes and conditions that influence the formation, structure, and composition of rocks and minerals.

Research works
128k
fractional, since 1950
In the world top 10%
25k
per year above
Top-10% rate
19.4%
share of its works in the world top 10%
Topics
6
Growth, 2013–17 → 2018–22
+27%
the tick is no change

What is Geochemistry and Petrology research about, and what is growing?

By the world's output in 2019–23, its most used keywords are Rare Earth Elements, Geochemistry, Manganese Oxides, Sedimentary Rocks, Groundwater, Isotopes. Gaining share since 2009–13: Rare Earth Elements, Manganese Oxides, Sedimentary Rocks, Coal Geochemistry, Trace Elements. Losing share: Geological Modeling, Uncertainty Analysis, Neutron Emissions, Piezonuclear Reactions.

▲ gaining share of this field◆ holding its share▼ losing share

Size is the world's fractional works in 2019–23 in the topics tagged with each word; colour compares the word's share of this field with 2009–13. Each links to the topic it comes from most.

All 14 words, with their numbers
  1. Rare Earth Elements12k▲ 1.33×2 topics
  2. Geochemistry10k▲ 1.19×2 topics
  3. Manganese Oxides7,763▲ 1.33×1 topic
  4. Sedimentary Rocks7,763▲ 1.33×1 topic
  5. Groundwater7,399▲ 1.28×1 topic
  6. Isotopes7,399▲ 1.28×1 topic
  7. Coal Geochemistry4,366▲ 1.33×1 topic
  8. Trace Elements4,366▲ 1.33×1 topic
  9. Geological Modeling3,869▼ 0.48×1 topic
  10. Uncertainty Analysis3,869▼ 0.48×1 topic
  11. Gemstones2,345◆ 0.89×1 topic
  12. Petrology2,345◆ 0.89×1 topic
  13. Neutron Emissions463▼ 0.71×1 topic
  14. Piezonuclear Reactions463▼ 0.71×1 topic

Which countries lead Geochemistry and Petrology research?

On research quality in 2022–2025, China, the United States and India rank highest in Geochemistry and Petrology. By volume, China and the United States publish the most (6.8k and 2.5k works in 2022–2025).

By research quality, 2022–2025

  1. 1 China · #2 all time 23.1% top 10% · 6.8k works
  2. 2 United States · #1 all time 13.2% top 10% · 2.5k works
  3. 3 India · #6 all time 18.8% top 10% · 1.5k works
  4. 4 France · #5 all time 14.6% top 10% · 685 works
  5. 5 Germany · #4 all time 20.0% top 10% · 548 works
  6. 6 United Kingdom · #3 all time 17.8% top 10% · 460 works
  7. 7 Australia · #8 all time 23.0% top 10% · 402 works
  8. 8 Canada · #7 all time 19.3% top 10% · 420 works
  9. 9 Italy · #10 all time 18.3% top 10% · 409 works
  10. 10 Egypt · #21 all time 21.8% top 10% · 253 works

The track on each row is that row’s top-10% rate. The ranking itself is the composite score, which the rate is only one part of.

Of 21 countries ranked in Geochemistry and Petrology. Composite of field-normalised excellence (50%), output (30%) and citations (20%); the bracket is the all-time rank.

All countries ranked in Geochemistry and Petrology

By volume, 2022–2025

  1. 1 China 6.8k works
  2. 2 United States 2.5k works
  3. 3 India 1.5k works
  4. 4 Russia 903 works
  5. 5 France 685 works
  6. 6 Germany 548 works
  7. 7 United Kingdom 460 works
  8. 8 Brazil 450 works
  9. 9 Japan 447 works
  10. 10 Indonesia 430 works

How concentrated that is

The same countries as shares of everything the list above accounts for. A node where two countries do two thirds of the work and one spread evenly across twelve read alike as a ranking and not at all alike here.

China: 46.0%United States: 16.9%India: 10.5%Russia: 6.1%6 others listed: 20.5%46%largest
China6,769 · 46.0%United States2,481 · 16.9%India1,542 · 10.5%Russia903 · 6.1%6 others listed3,019 · 20.5%

Shares of the rows listed above, not of the whole node.

Which institutions lead Geochemistry and Petrology research?

Chinese Academy of Sciences (China) ranks first in Geochemistry and Petrology on research quality in 2022–2025, followed by China University of Mining and Technology and China University of Geosciences.

By research quality, 2022–2025

  1. 1 Chinese Academy of Sciences China · Beijing · #2 all time 27.9% top 10% · 229 works
  2. 2 China University of Mining and Technology China · Xuzhou · #5 all time 31.4% top 10% · 190 works
  3. 3 China University of Geosciences China · Wuhan · #8 all time 29.7% top 10% · 188 works
  4. 4 China University of Geosciences (Beijing) China · Beijing · #12 all time 22.3% top 10% · 216 works
  5. 5 University of Chinese Academy of Sciences China · Beijing · #18 all time 30.7% top 10% · 115 works
  6. 6 Central South University China · Changsha · #53 all time 27.6% top 10% · 105 works
  7. 7 China Geological Survey China · Beijing · #63 all time 18.7% top 10% · 126 works
  8. 8 Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique France · Paris · #3 all time 21.0% top 10% · 86 works
  9. 9 Ministry of Natural Resources China · Beijing · #78 all time 23.5% top 10% · 83 works
  10. 10 Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences China · Beijing · #48 all time 17.9% top 10% · 92 works

The track on each row is that row’s top-10% rate. The ranking itself is the composite score, which the rate is only one part of.

Of 13 institutions above the floor of 40 fractional works in Geochemistry and Petrology.

Top 100 Geochemistry and Petrology institutions

By volume, 2022–2025

  1. 1 Chinese Academy of Sciences China 229 works
  2. 2 China University of Geosciences (Beijing) China 216 works
  3. 3 China University of Mining and Technology China 190 works
  4. 4 China University of Geosciences China 189 works
  5. 5 China Geological Survey China 126 works
  6. 6 University of Chinese Academy of Sciences China 115 works
  7. 7 United States Geological Survey United States 106 works
  8. 8 Central South University China 105 works
  9. 9 Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences China 92 works
  10. 10 Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique France 86 works

Who are the leading researchers in Geochemistry and Petrology?

Among the most productive authors in Geochemistry and Petrology, N. David Mermin, James N. Galloway and Derek R. Lovley rank highest on the composite score.

  1. 1 N. David Mermin United States · #1,111 worldwide 2.1k citations · 120 works
  2. 2 James N. Galloway United States · #1,677 worldwide 2.3k citations · 100 works
  3. 3 Derek R. Lovley United States · #1,727 worldwide 2.2k citations · 87 works
  4. 4 Frank J. Millero United States · #2,568 worldwide 2k citations · 109 works
  5. 5 E. Bruce Watson United States · #2,836 worldwide 1.8k citations · 98 works
  6. 6 Paul J. Steinhardt United States · #2,985 worldwide 2.3k citations · 109 works
  7. 7 William A. Fowler United States · #3,170 worldwide 1.6k citations · 82 works
  8. 8 Alfred Kröner Germany · #3,562 worldwide 2.3k citations · 105 works
  9. 9 S. M. McLennan United States · #3,665 worldwide 1.6k citations · 121 works
  10. 10 Timothy W. Lyons United States · #3,986 worldwide 2.2k citations · 96 works

Re-ranked on the composite score from the 4,740 highest-output authors in Geochemistry and Petrology. Identities come from OpenAlex author disambiguation, which occasionally merges or splits people.

Top 100 Geochemistry and Petrology researchers

Where is Geochemistry and Petrology research done?

The largest centres of Geochemistry and Petrology research in 2022–2025 are Beijing (China), Wuhan (China), Nanjing (China) and Moscow (Russia). Among places with at least 20 works in it, it is an unusually large share of all research in Miass and Reston.

Largest cities, 2022–2025

  1. 1 Beijing China 1.9k works
  2. 2 Wuhan China 380 works
  3. 3 Nanjing China 327 works
  4. 4 Moscow Russia 323 works
  5. 5 Xi'an China 255 works
  6. 6 Guangzhou China 225 works
  7. 7 Chengdu China 222 works
  8. 8 Paris France 212 works
  9. 9 Shanghai China 206 works
  10. 10 Qingdao China 203 works

Where it is the local speciality

  1. MiassRU · 22.2 works87×
  2. RestonUS · 107.0 works22×
← less than its size predicts1×more →

Location quotient: how much more of its research is in Geochemistry and Petrology than the world average.

See Geochemistry and Petrology on the map

Geochemistry and Petrology research by country

The best places for Geochemistry and Petrology research inside each country, with that country's researchers and world standing.

Where is the best place to study Geochemistry and Petrology?

Among universities, judged by research, China University of Mining and Technology, China University of Geosciences and China University of Geosciences (Beijing) score highest, combining excellence, specialisation, size, growth and international reach. Research strength is one signal when choosing where to study; it does not measure teaching.

0%20%40%mean 26.87%fractional works in this node (log) →share in the world top 10% →China University of Mining and Technology: 190, 31.4%China University of Geosciences: 188, 29.7%China University of Geosciences (Beijing): 216, 22.3%East China University of Technology: 35, 13.7%Hebei University of Engineering: 19, 30.4%Xi'an University of Science and Technology: 33, 40.5%Chengdu University of Technology: 79, 18.3%Chang'an University: 50, 31.1%University of Chinese Academy of Sciences: 115, 30.7%Indian Institute of Technology Dhanbad: 25, 20.6%China University of …China University of …China University of …East China Universit…
above the meannear itbelow it

One dot per university in the table below. The upper left is the interesting corner: small places doing unusually strong work.

#UniversityScoreTop 10%SpecialisationWorksGrowth
1China University of Mining and Technology China 69.431.4%11.5×190 +1.2%
2China University of Geosciences China 66.829.7%19.7×188 -40.8%
3China University of Geosciences (Beijing) China 62.222.3%35.3×216 -35.2%
4East China University of Technology China 53.613.7%18.4×35 +126.5%
5Hebei University of Engineering China 53.030.4%10.2×19 -11.9%
6Xi'an University of Science and Technology China 52.840.5%6.8×33 -50.1%
7Chengdu University of Technology China 51.618.3%13.3×79 -69.7%
8Chang'an University China 51.531.1%6.3×50 +2.1%
9University of Chinese Academy of Sciences China 50.330.7%3.3×115 +23.9%
10Indian Institute of Technology Dhanbad India 50.120.6%5.9×25 +345.3%

Universities only. Score blends excellence (30%), specialisation (25%), size (20%), growth (15%) and international reach (10%), 2015–2022; growth compares 2010–14 with 2015–19.

Is Geochemistry and Petrology research growing?

Output in 2018–2022 was 27% higher than in 2013–2017, peaking in 2025. The fastest-growing topics are Coal and Its By-products, Groundwater and Isotope Geochemistry and Geochemistry and Elemental Analysis.

19801990200020102020
grewheldshrank

The same series as a ribbon — one cell per year, darker for more. The line above answers how much; this answers when.

Which topics inside it are moving

Growth and decline on one axis around a shared zero. Two lists side by side hide the thing that matters: whether the growth dwarfs the decline, or the other way round.

  1. Coal and Its By-products+107%
  2. Groundwater and Isotope Geochemistry+86%
  3. Geochemistry and Elemental Analysis+73%
  4. Mineralogy and Gemology Studies+11%
  5. Cold Fusion and Nuclear Reactions+10%
  6. Geological Modeling and Analysis-20%
← shrinkingno changegrowing →

Growth in output from 2005–09 to 2015–19. Every topic is a page of its own.

What does Geochemistry and Petrology include?

Geochemistry and Element…32kGeochemistry and Elemental Analysis: 32k fractional worksGroundwater and Isotope …31kGroundwater and Isotope Geochemistry: 31k fractional worksGeological Modeling and Analysis: 26k fractional worksCoal and Its By-products17kCoal and Its By-products: 17k fractional worksMineralogy and Gemology …17kMineralogy and Gemology Studies: 17k fractional worksCold Fusion and Nuclear Reactions: 5,094 fractional works

Area is fractional works in that topic. Every name below is a page of its own.