Tutorials

The tutorials below show how you can use The Geochemist's Workbench® to quickly solve a variety of problems in geochemistry. Click on an image to launch the corresponding tutorial.

If you have installed the GWB software, click on the icon shown underneath each diagram to download an input file pre-configured to calculate the diagram shown. (If two or more GWB icons appear, save all files to your desktop, then double-click on the first.)

Be sure to check out as well our collection of YouTube videos of the techniques shown in the tutorials below. Interested in creating your own GWB video tutorial? Visit our video webpage to learn how.

Looking for more? Try our self-paced training from the GWB Online Academy. The online course sequences there will take you from beginner to expert!


Tour of GWB
Tour of GWB Essentials GWB Essentials   
Tour of GWB Standard GWB Standard   
Tour of GWB Professional GWB Professional   
Using GWB
How do I use the GWB dashboard? GWB dashboard      
How do I use drag-and-drop? Drag-and-drop      
How do I import scatter data? Scatter data   
How do I add a reaction trace? Reaction trace   
How do I use Gtplot? Gtplot   
How do I edit XY plots in Xtplot? XY plots   
How do I edit map view plots in Xtplot? Map view plots   
How do I animate results in Xtplot? Animate results   
How do I export animations to create video clips? Create video clips   
How do I view my command history? Command history   
How do I use spelling completion? Spelling completion   
How do I suppress the formation of certain minerals, species, or gases? Suppress species      
How do I temporarily alter equilibrium constants? Alter log Ks   
How do I overlay my diagrams? Overlay diagrams   
How do I manage my results files? Manage results files   
How do I retrieve numerical data from my plots? Export numerical data   
How do I export plots and save images? Export plots   
How do I use the GWB forum? GWB forum   
Diagrams
How do I make a Piper diagram? Piper diagram    Download GSS datasheet 
How do I make a solubility diagram? Solubility diagram    Download Act2 input    
How do I make an Eh-pH diagram? Eh-pH diagram    Download Act2 input    
How do I plot multiple samples? Multi-sample plots    Download GSS datasheet 
How do I make a Ternary diagram? Ternary diagram    Download GSS datasheet 
How do I make a Durov diagram? Durov diagram    Download GSS datasheet 
How do I make a Schoeller diagram? Schoeller diagram    Download GSS datasheet 
How do I make a Stiff diagram? Stiff diagram    Download GSS datasheet 
How do I make a Radial plot? Radial plot    Download GSS datasheet 
How do I make a bar chart? Bar chart (ion balance)    Download GSS datasheet 
How do I make a pie chart? Pie chart (ion balance)    Download GSS datasheet 
How do I make a speciation diagram? Speciation diagram    Download React input    
How do I make a mosaic diagram? Mosaic diagram    Act2 
How do I make a temperature-fugacity ratio diagram? Temperatue-fugacity ratio diagram    Download Tact input 
How do I make an XY plot? Cross plots    Download GSS datasheet 
How do I plot error bars on my data? Error bars    Download GSS datasheet 
How do I make a fugacity-pH diagram? Fugacity-pH diagram    Download Act2 input 
How do I make a flash (scaling) diagram? Flash diagram    Download React input 
How do I make solid solution diagram? solid solution diagram    Download Act2 input 
How do I create a time series plot? solid solution diagram    Download GSS datasheet 
Geochemical spreadsheet
How do I mix samples in GSS? Mix samples in GSS      
How do I convert units in GSS? Convert units   
How do I calculate mineral saturation and gas fugacity in GSS? Mineral saturation and gas fugacity   
How do I transfer my data from Excel to GSS? Transfer from Excel to GSS   
How do I make plots from my data in GSS? Plotting from GSS    GSS  
How do I calculate the distribution of species in GSS? Species distribution   
How do I calculate TDS and other fluid properties in GSS? TDS and fluid properties   
How do I flag analyses in GSS? Flag noncompliance   
How do I compare replicates and standards in GSS? Compare replicates and standards   
How do I use undo-redo in GSS? Undo Redo   
How do I launch SpecE8 and React from GSS? Launch SpecE8 and React   
Reaction balancing
How do I balance chemical reactions automatically? Balance reactions    Download Rxn input  
How do I figure the equations for equilibrium lines and points? Equilibrium equation    Download Rxn input  
How do I determine equilibrium temperatures? Equilibrium temperature    Download Rxn input  
How do I calculate equilibrium constants? Equilibrium constants    Download Rxn input  
How do I calculate the free energy change of a reaction? Free energy change    Download Rxn input  
How do I fit equilibrium constants to a temperature polynomial? Temperature Polynomial    Download Rxn input  
How do I find which of a mineral's polymorphs is stable? Polymorphs    Download Rxn input  
How do I balance a solid solution reaction? Solid solution    Download Rxn input  
Speciation modeling
How do I figure concentrations and activities? Concentration and activity    Download SpecE8 input  
How do I determine a fluid's redox state(s)? Redox state    Download SpecE8 input  
How do I calculate mineral saturation? Set a fluid in equilibrium with a mineral? Mineral saturation and gas fugacity    Download SpecE8 input  
How do I apply the "Pitzer equations" for activity coefficients? Pitzer equations    Download SpecE8 input  
How do I account for surface complexation? Sorption    Download SpecE8 input  
How do I set concentration in terms of elemental equivalent? Protonated or deprotonated species? Elemental equivalents   
How do I calculate electrical conductivity at elevated temperatures? Electrical conductivity   
How do I define a fluid in equilibrium with a solid solution? Solid solution    Download SpecE8 input  
Reaction path modeling
How do I model water-rock interaction? Water-rock interaction    Download React input  
How do I simulate fluid mixing? Fluid mixing    Download React input  
How do I simulate evaporation? Evaporation    Download React input  
How do I make a sliding activity path? Sliding pH    Download React input  
How do I define a simple polythermal (sliding temperature) run? Polythermal run    Download React input  
How do I model the kinetics of redox reactions? Redox kinetics    Download React input  
How do I account for enzymes and catalysts? Enzymes    Download React input  
How do I model the kinetics of microbial metabolism? Microbial metabolism    Download React input  
How do I model microbial growth and decay? Microbial growth and decay    Download React input  
How do I factor in thermodynamic limits to microbial metabolism? Thermodynamic limits    Download React input  
How do I model mixed microbial communities? Mixed microbial communities    Download React input  
How do I model kinetic association and dissociation of aqueous complexes? Complexation kinetics    Download React input  
How do I simulate kinetics of sorption and surface complexation? Sorption kinetics    Download React input  
How do I model kinetic gas transfer reactions? Gas transfer kinetics    Download React input  
How do I set custom rate laws for kinetic reactions? Custom Rate Laws   
How do I report the factor limiting time step length? Explain time steps   
How do I set a cutoff for compute-intensive simulations? Set a cutoff   
How do I simulate glass dissolution? Glass dissolution    Download React input  
How do I pick up calculation results? Pick up results    Download React input  
How do I chain kinetic reactions together? Chain together kinetic reactions    Download React input  
How do I model isotope fractionation? Set a cutoff    Download React input  
Phase2 diagrams
How do I construct a phase diagram? Constructing a diagram    Download Phase2 input  
How do I set axis variables? Equilibrium equation   
How do I create a true predominance diagram? Predominance diagram    Download Phase2 input  
How do I create a mineral solubility diagram? Mineral solubility    Download Phase2 input  
How do I create a gas solubility diagram? Gas solubility    Download Phase2 input  
How do I create a mineral stability diagram? Mineral stability    Download Phase2 input  
How do I show mineral assemblages on my phase diagram? Mineral assemblage    Download Phase2 input  
How do I create an isotope fractionation diagram? Isotope fractionation    Download Phase2 input  
How do I create a surface complexation diagram? Surface complexation    Download Phase2 input  
How do I add a kinetic reaction axis on a phase diagram? Kinetic reaction axis    Download Phase2 input  
How do I plot a cross section of my phase diagram? Cross section    Download Phase2 input  
Reactive transport modeling
How do I model advection? Dispersion? Advection, dispersion, and diffusion    Download X1t input  
How do I model sorption? Sorption    Download X1t input     
How do I model biodegradation? Biodegradation    Download X1t input  
How do I model surface complexation? Surface complexation    Download X1t input  
How do I model colloidal transport? Mobile colloids    Download X1t input  
How do I model microbial communities? Mixed microbial communities    Download X1t input  
How do I model dissol'n and precip'n kinetics? Dissolution and precipitation    Download X1t input  
How do I construct a dual porosity domain? Dual porosity    Download X1t input  
How do I model isotope transport? Isotope transport    Download X1t input  
How do I simulate heat transfer? Heat transfer    Download X1t input  
How do I add reaction intervals? Reaction intervals   Download X2t input  
How do I add injection and production wells? Wells    Download X2t input  
How do I set the coordinate system? Coordinate system    Download X2t input  
How do I create an irregular grid? Irregular grid    Download X2t input  
How do I set the permeability? Setting permeability    Download X2t input  
How do I simulate pure diffusion? Pure diffusion    Download X1t input  
How do I account for domain heterogeneity? Heterogeneity   
How do I set transient field variables? Transient field variables   
How do I plot a breakthrough curve? Breakthrough curve    Download X2t input  
Editing thermo
How do I view and edit thermodynamic datasets? Viewing thermo datasets   
How do I add new elements, species, and reactions? Adding elements, species, and reactions   
How do I add new solid solutions? Solid Solutions   
How do I transfer entries to other datasets? Transfer thermo data entries   
How do I edit Kd, Freundlich, and Langmuir datasets? Kd, Freundlich, and Langmuir isotherms   
How do I edit ion-exchange datasets? Ion-exchange datasets   
How do I edit two-layer datasets? Two-layer datasets   
How do I edit three-layer datasets? Two-layer datasets   
How do I use basis swaps? Swapping in TEdit   
What's a redox pivot? Redox pivots   
How do I decouple redox reactions? Decouple   
How do I make redox coupling reactions from basis species? Transient field variables   
How do I use the summary panes? Summary Panes   
How do I update my dataset? Updating Datasets   
How do I import PhreeqC data? Import PhreeqC   
How do I import and export EQ3/6 data? Import export EQ3/6