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.

Introduction to geochemistry: 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.

Atmosphere: 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.

Hydrosphere: the water cycle. Water-rock interaction processes. 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.

Isotopic geochemistry: notes on the main isotopes of light elements (hydrogen, oxygen, carbon, nitrogen) used in the understanding of the hydro(geo)logical cycle and in environmental geochemistry.

Pedosphere: 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.

Principles of contamination of soils and waters: Heavy metals, organic and inorganic pollutants and asbestos; notes on the evaluation of the natural geochemical background.

Sampling and analytical techniques: water sampling and analysis; measurement and sampling of a gas (e.g. accumulation chamber, soil gas survey); sampling strategies; notes on the main analytical techniques used in geochemistry.

Basic knowledge of chemistry, mineralogy and geology

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.

Knowledge and understanding. At the end of the course the student must have assimilated the fundamental knowledge in the field of general, environmental and isotopic geochemistry. The student must demonstrate the ability to recognize and describe the main geochemical processes that can occur in waters, soils and the atmosphere, know geochronological dating techniques, and integrate compositional, isotopic and geological information for the purpose of understanding the (geo)chemical evolution of the different geological-environmental matrices. These skills will be tested through an oral exam.

Applying knowledge and understanding. The student must be able to correctly use geochemical terminology and know the main components that characterize the different geological-environmental matrices. In particular, they should be able to know the methodologies and evolutionary processes related to the study of water, gases and soils in the geochemical field. These skills will be assessed through an oral exam.

Making judgements. The student must be able to describe in a causal way the compositions, evolutionary processes and classifications of the main geological-environmental matrices. This ability will be verified with an oral exam with targeted application questions.

Communication skills. The student must be able to describe and synthesize the main geological-environmental matrices from a geochemical and isotopic point of view through the use of a specific and correct technical language.

Learning skills. The student must be able to build their own path of scientific growth in the geochemical field in a critical and autonomous way, being able to use the acquired knowledge. These skills, as far as possible, will be stimulated by the teacher by proposing in-depth studies.

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

Exercises and field trips.

Teaching

Lectures and field trips.

Innovative teaching methods

The course includes:

- frontal lessons;

- classroom exercises, related to water classification;

- field trips related to: i) water sampling; ii) know and understand the processes linked to geothermal activity; iii) know the water-rock-gas interaction processes (eg speleogenesis).

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

Further in-depth texts and scientific articles recommended, upon request, by the teacher during the course.

Assessment

Oral exam. The test includes questions on all topics of the program. This exam method was chosen as it allows to adequately verify the student's preparation. The evaluation criteria are: knowledge of the main concepts and fields of application of geochemistry, the degree of articulation of the response and mastery of the specific language.

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.

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

Further in-depth texts and scientific articles recommended, upon request, by the teacher during the course.

Assessment

Oral exam. The test includes questions on all topics of the program. This exam method was chosen as it allows to adequately verify the student's preparation. The evaluation criteria are: knowledge of the main concepts and fields of application of geochemistry, the degree of articulation of the response and mastery of the specific language.

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.