Unit ENVIRONMENTAL GEOCHEMISTRY

Course
Geosciences for risk and environment management
Study-unit Code
A002125
Curriculum
Geologia applicata alla salvaguardia e alla pianificazione del territorio
Teacher
Francesco Frondini
Teachers
  • Francesco Frondini
Hours
  • 52 ore - Francesco Frondini
CFU
6
Course Regulation
Coorte 2021
Offered
2021/22
Learning activities
Affine/integrativa
Area
Attività formative affini o integrative
Academic discipline
GEO/08
Type of study-unit
Opzionale (Optional)
Type of learning activities
Attività formativa monodisciplinare
Language of instruction
English
Contents
Environmental geochemistry is concerned with the sources, distribution and interactions of chemical elements in the system rock–soil–water–air–life. In the first part of the course, some fundamental concepts in geochemistry and the interactions of deep Earth processes with surface systems are briefly discussed.
The second part is the core of the course and deals with the mobility, speciation and transport of chemical elements (including contaminants) and with the processes that connect geochemical, biological, and geological systems at Earth's surface (bio-geochemical cycles).
The third part of the course uses the isotopes for tracing of the source and transport of chemicals in the environment. Training in the use of geochemical modeling software will be provided with applications to natural systems including chemical weathering and reactive transport of contaminants.
Reference texts
Ottonello, G. 1991 – Principi di Geochimica. Zanichelli. White, W.M. – 2013 Geochemistry. Wiley-Blackwell.
Lecture notes
Educational objectives
The aim of the course is to provide students with the bases needed to address the geochemical study of natural systems.
Main knowledge acquired will be (knowledge and understanding):
the knowledge of principles and methods of environmental geochemistry; the application of thermodynamics and kinetics to geological systems; isotope geochemistry.
The main competence (ability to apply the acquired knowledge) will be: elaboration of geochemical data;
organization of a simple geochemical study.
Prerequisites
In order to be able to understand and apply the techniques described within the course, it is necessary to have a background in thermodynamics, chemical kinetics, petrography and mineralogy. Graduated students with a 3 years degree (bachelor of science) in Geology normally have these prerequisites
Teaching methods
Theoretical lessons and practical training, Seminars, Field trips.
Other information
Attendance is not mandatory but it's strongly recommended
Learning verification modality
Written test, questions with multiple answers, and students' presentations on topics regarding the teaching course.
The written test is aimed to ascertain the knowledge level and the understanding capability of the student on theoretical and methodological contents as indicated in the course program (knowledge and understanding).
The presentation of the seminar will test the student communication skills and his ability to organise a simple research (applying knowledge and understanding).
Extended program
Introduction
Basic concepts in geochemistry, chemical units, stoichiometry.
Composition of Earth system and sub-systems (0.5 CFU)
Geochemical Earth reference model. Compositions of the solid Earth (crust, mantle) and of its fluid envelope. Major (tectonic) geochemical cycles and exogenous cycles.
Key concepts of physical chemistry in geochemistry (0.5 CFU) Thermodynamics of multicomponent (and multiphase) systems.
Thermochemistry. Chemical kinetics.
Surface water and groundwater, weathering and soils (1.5 CFU)
High and low-temperature water-gas-rock interactions.
Weathering and soil formation.
Chemical processes affecting the mobility of major, minor and trace elements in aqueous environment: ionic potential, pH, redox conditions, aqueous speciation.
Chemical transport mechanisms, advection, diffusion and reactive transport.
Contaminants in water and soils: diffuse pollution from agriculture, sewage treatment plants, industrial discharges and radioactive isotopes. Eutrophication of freshwater systems.
Salinization and saline environments.
Acidification: effects of AMD on surface water; interaction of groundwater and surface water with acidic magmatic and geothermal fluids; acid rain.
The Ocean-Atmosphere system (1 CFU)
Chemical composition of the atmosphere, chemical and isotopic composition of seawater.
Steady-state, transient state and residence times of the elements in the ocean-atmosphere system.
Carbonate system and ocean acidification.
Tropospheric ozone and photochemical smog.
Global biogeochemical cycles (1.5 CFU) Carbon cycle
- the long term geologic carbon cycle;
- the short term carbon cycle;
- the human perturbation of the carbon cycle; - CSS carbon sequestration and storage. Global cycling of N, P, S, Hg.
Global water cycle.
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