Distribution of chemical elements in natural materials (solids, liquids and gaseous matrices). Modelling of physical-chemical processes in different natural environments. Evaluation of the mobility of chemical elements, focus on the behaviour of toxic metals. Determination of the background values of chemical elements or species. Characterisation of anomalous areas from a geochemical point of view.
Graphical-numerical analysis of geochemical data.
1) Principles and applications of geochemistry. G. Faure, Prentice Hall, 1998, isbn: 0-02-336450-5
2) Principles of Environmental Geochemistry
G. Nelson Eby, Yhompson Brooks/Cole, ISBN 0-122-29061-5
3) Geochemical and Biogeochemical reaction modelling, 2008
Craig B. Bethke, Cambridge University Press, ISBN 978-0-521-87554-7
4) Metodi matematici e statistici per le scienze della Terra, 2006, Vol. III, Tecniche statistiche
A. Buccianti, F. Vlacci, F. Rosso, Liguori editore
Learning Objectives
Knowledge acquired:
The course provides a basic preparation for the understanding of the main geochemical and biogeochemical processes underlying the mechanisms of partition of the chemical elements in natural materials.
Competence acquired: Students acquire knowledge to manage geochemical and biogeochemical data in a correct way, validate their correctness for an analytical point of view and to construct conceptual models able to describe the investigated phenomena (natural or antrophical) in a critical way.
Skills acquired (at the end of the course): Students acquire the skills to evaluate and quantify the behaviour of chemical elements in different natural frameworks with the final aim to understand the partition processes among different geological matrices and natural reservoirs.
Prerequisites
Courses required: Inorganic and organic chemistry, Mineralogy, Petrografy
Courses recommended: Geology
Teaching Methods
Traditional lessons and practical data analysis in computer room (use of the software R).
Further information
Frequency of lectures, practice and lab: Frequency of lessons is highly recommended, but not mandatory.
Teaching tools: Blackboard, video-projector for computer, overhead projector, practical lessons for data analysis in computer room. Use of the Moodle platform for e-learning.
Type of Assessment
Oral exam. First part: discussion of a scientific paper given by the teacher. Second part: Minimum 3 questions on the developed program.
Course program
Origin of the chemical elements. Nucleosynthesis. Stellar evolution, origin of the solar system, earthlike and outer planets. Meteorites, chemical composition and classification. Chemical differentiation of the earth. Geochemical and biogeochemical cycles of the elements.Basic principles (chemical bounding, types of chemical reactions), thermodynamics description of equilibrium, measurement of disequilibrium. Chemical equilibrium: conceptual models, governing equations, uncertainty. Reaction processes: mass transfer, geochemical buffers, kinetics of chemical reactions. Geochemistry of the gaseous phase. Geochemistry of the aqueous phase. Geochemistry of soils and sediments. Radioactive and stable isotopes as tracers of natural and anthropogenic processes. Evaluation of geochemical hazard, determination of background values, anomalous geochemical values. Graphical and numerical analysis of data, Geochemical mapping by using linear geostatistics principles.