Distribution of chemical elements in natural materials (solids, liquids and gaseous matrices) and their geochemical cycles. Linear and non linear dynamics in complex natural systems, interactions among different reservoirs. Stationary, variability, resilience. Graphical-numerical and statistical analysis of geochemical data (Matlab, R).
1) Environmental and low temperature geochemistry. P. Ryan, Wiley Blackwell, 2014.
2) Introduction to Geochemistry. Principles and Applications. K.C. Misra, Wiley-Blackwell, 2012.
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
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.
Students acquire knowledge to manage geochemical and biogeochemical data (R and Matlab software) 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 anthropic) in a critical way.
Students acquire the skills to evaluate and quantify the behaviur of chemical elements in different natural frameworks with the final aim to understand the partition processes among different geological matrices and natural reservoirs.
Prerequisites
Required courses: Inorganic and organic chemistry, Mineralogy, Petrography
Recommended courses: Geology
Teaching Methods
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. Use of the Matlab and R software.
Further information
Frequency of lectures, practice and lab: Frequency of lessons is highly recommended, but not mandatory.
Type of Assessment
Final oral exam with discussion of the content of a scientific article given by the teacher. Three further questions on the arguments of the developed program.
Course program
Origin of the chemical elements. Stellar evolution, origin of the solar system, earth-like and outer planets. Meteorites, chemical composition and classification. Chemical differentiation of the earth. Geochemical and biogeochemical cycles of the elements and their link with the periodic tabel. Thermodynamics description of equilibrium, measurement of disequilibrium, kinetics of chemical reactions. Geochemistry of the gaseous phase. Geochemistry of the aqueous phase. Geochemistry of soils and sediments. Evaluation of the geochemical hazard, determination of background values, anomalous geochemical values. Systems with linear and non-linear dynamics, stationary, varaibility and resilience. Graphical and numerical statistical analysis of data. Geochemical mapping by using linear geostatistics principles. Use of the Matlab/R software platform.