南京大学表生地球化学教育部重点实验室于2011年5月由教育部正式批准立项建设，其前身为1999年成立的表生地球化学研究所。   

实验室依托南京大学地球科学与工程学院，以“地球化学”国家重点学科与“水文学与水资源”国家重点培育学科为主体，以表生环境地球化学研究方法为特色和优势，瞄准国家重大需求和全球环境变化的科学前沿，开展“地球关键带”过程与机理的基础理论、方法学和应用基础研究。实验室总体定位是：研究关键带中发生的物理、化学和生物过程特征，观测从矿物-水界面反应到全球范围的变化，阐明物质的释放-迁移-转化（循环）的控制机理以及在维持生态系统中的作用。   

目前主要设立4个研究方向：

1. 大陆化学风化与环境演变；

2.表生地球化学动力学；

3.水-岩土相互作用与污染防控；

4.元素生物地球化学循环。

       The Key Laboratory of Surficial Geochemistry, Ministry of Education, Nanjing University (previously known as the Institute of Surficial Geochemistry established in 1999) was founded with the approval of the Ministry of Education in May 2011.  

      Hosted by the School of Earth Sciences and Engineering, Nanjing University, the main body of the lab is concerned with the “Geochemistry” (National Key Discipline) and “Hydrology and Water Resource” (National Support for Key Discipline). Aiming at the scientific frontier of global environmental changes, the lab focuses on meeting the national key demands, using the methodology of surficial environment geochemistry. Researches to be carried out include studies on the fundamental theory, methodology, and application of the processes and mechanism in “the critical zone” of Earth. The general research direction of the lab includes: investigation and characterization of the physical, chemical, and biological processes in the critical zone by studying mineral-water interface and applying them to understanding global climate change and environmental problems; illustration of controlling mechanisms of material release-transport-transformation (cycle) and their role in maintaining the ecological balance.  

Ongoing research projects of the lab fall into four categories: 

● Continental chemical weathering and environmental evolution

● Low Temperature Geochemical Kinetics

● Soil-Water Pollution Prevention and Control

● Biological and organic geochemistry