ENVIRONMENTAL GEOCHEMISTRY
GEOCHIMICA AMBIENTALE
| A.Y. | Credits |
|---|---|
| 2021/2022 | 8 |
| Lecturer | Office hours for students | |
|---|---|---|
| Marco Taussi | Every day by appointment |
| Teaching in foreign languages |
|---|
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Course with optional materials in a foreign language
English
This course is entirely taught in Italian. Study materials can be provided in the foreign language and the final exam can be taken in the foreign language. |
Assigned to the Degree Course
| Date | Time | Classroom / Location |
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| Date | Time | Classroom / Location |
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Learning Objectives
The course aims to illustrate:
- the main geochemical processes and cycles of the elements that have affected our planet during its evolution;
- the main chemical components and processes that occur in the environmental matrices (air, water, soil);
- geochemical reactions in water-gas-rock interaction processes;
- the main classifications of waters and their geochemical characterization for the definition of the origin of the solutes;
- the application of geochemical and isotopic techniques applied to environmental issues.
Program
Geochemistry in Earth Sciences. The origin of the elements: the processes of stellar nucleosynthesis. Meteorites. The abundances of the elements in the Solar System. Composition and distribution of the elements in the Earth. Periodic properties of the elements and influence on geochemical behavior. Goldschmidt's rules and classification of the elements of the periodic table. Terrestrial heat flow and hints on geothermal energy. Main techniques for radiometric dating of geological materials. | Composition, structure and evolution of the atmosphere. Air pollution, the most common inorganic and organic pollutants. Main consequences: acid rain, greenhouse effect, climate change, ozone hole. Geological storage of CO2. | The water cycle and the use of oxygen and hydrogen isotopes. Water classification. Geochemistry of continental waters (rivers). Aqueous solutions. Evaporites. Notes on the most common pollutants of surface waters and aquifers. Notes on pollution related to industrial, urban, agricultural, mining activities. | Pedogenesis. The main physico-chemical properties of the pedosphere. The solid, liquid and gaseous constituents of soils. The horizons that characterize a soil. Factors affecting the behavior of chemical elements in the soil. Notes on soil and subsoil pollution. Interactions with groundwater and waters. Heavy metals, organic and inorganic pollutants and asbestos. Water-rock interaction processes. | Notes on the isotopes of light elements (hydrogen, oxygen, carbon, nitrogen). | Sampling and analysis of a water. Measurement and sampling of a gas (e.g. accumulation chamber, soil gas survey). Notes on the main analytical techniques used in geochemistry.
Bridging Courses
Basic knowledge of chemistry, mineralogy and geology
Learning Achievements (Dublin Descriptors)
Students who have passed the exam will be able to acquire basic knowledge on elementary and isotopic geochemistry to be applied to the study of issues related to the various sectors of the Earth Sciences and will be able to deal with the in-depth study of the subject developed in advanced courses.
Teaching Material
The teaching material prepared by the lecturer in addition to recommended textbooks (such as for instance slides, lecture notes, exercises, bibliography) and communications from the lecturer specific to the course can be found inside the Moodle platform › blended.uniurb.it
Teaching, Attendance, Course Books and Assessment
- Teaching
Frontal lessons
- Attendance
Attendance is not compulsory, but strongly recommended
- Course books
- Course lessons (in pdf available in moodle)
- Principles and Applications of Geochemistry. Gunter Faure
- Introduction to Geochemistry. Ronald Krauskopf
- Assessment
Oral exam. The test includes questions aout all the topics of the program.
At the end of the course the students will have to demonstrate that they have acquired a basic knowledge on the distribution, combination and migration of elements (and their isotopes) in the different compartments of the Earth, and on the characteristics of the main environmental matrices.
- Disability and Specific Learning Disorders (SLD)
Students who have registered their disability certification or SLD certification with the Inclusion and Right to Study Office can request to use conceptual maps (for keywords) during exams.
To this end, it is necessary to send the maps, two weeks before the exam date, to the course instructor, who will verify their compliance with the university guidelines and may request modifications.
Additional Information for Non-Attending Students
- Teaching
Non-attending students are invited to consult the didactic material uploaded on Moodle (slides discussed in class) through which it will be possible to further study the volumes indicated in the “Course books” section.
- Course books
- Course lessons (in pdf available in moodle)
- Principles and Applications of Geochemistry. Gunter Faure
- Introduction to Geochemistry. Ronald Krauskopf
- Assessment
Oral exam. The test includes questions aout all the topics of the program.
At the end of the course the students will have to demonstrate that they have acquired a basic knowledge on the distribution, combination and migration of elements (and their isotopes) in the different compartments of the Earth, and on the characteristics of the main environmental matrices.
- Disability and Specific Learning Disorders (SLD)
Students who have registered their disability certification or SLD certification with the Inclusion and Right to Study Office can request to use conceptual maps (for keywords) during exams.
To this end, it is necessary to send the maps, two weeks before the exam date, to the course instructor, who will verify their compliance with the university guidelines and may request modifications.
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