Aqueous Geochemistry
Course content
The course attendants will:
- Learn basics of aqueous speciation, mineral-, gas-, and redox-equilibria, and adsorption-desorption processes.
- Trace water chemistry as it develops in the terrestrial hydrological cycle: in rain water, through aquifers and to its discharge, by using major ion chemistry as natural tracers.
- Evaluate water-rock interactions controlling inorganic aqueous geochemistry and element cycling with water movement in the hydrosphere.
- Combine the use of classical methods and of 1D-reactive transport modeling (PHREEQC), to conduct qualitative and quantitative interpretations of water chemistry development along flow paths (e.g., in aquifers) and diffusion-controlled gradients (e.g., seabed).
- Work with threats to drinking water quality and to natural environments from contamination.
- Formulate and apply problem-specific chemical reactions for
aqueous geochemical processes, such as mineral dissolution and
precipitation, ion exchange, diffusion and dispersion, surface
adsorption and redox processes.
Exercises comprise real datasets, presenting the students with major global issues of today that can be observed, evaluated or solved within the discipline of aqueous geochemistry. Examples include: silicate weathering and the carbon cycle; permafrost and wetland hydrochemistry; assessing nitrogen cycling using reactive transport modelling; and ocean acidification.
MSc Programme in Geology-Geoscience
Attendants will acquire knowledge on:
- Major chemistry of water, aqueous speciation, water quality, and analysis accuracy.
- The relation between aqueous inorganic geochemistry, sediment mineralogy, and water movement/hydrogeology that control geochemical processes/water-rock interaction (mineral/gas dissolution and precipitation/degassing, saturation state and partial gas pressures, ion exchange, surface complexation, redox reactions).
- Diffusion and dispersion in relation to aqueous inorganic geochemistry.
- Chemical speciation in water, batch and 1D reactive transport modeling with PHREEQC (a free, generic aqueous geochemistry code; requires PC/laptop).
Attendants will acquire skills to:
- Assess quality of water and water analyses; write and make use of geochemical reaction equations for various water-rock interactions, and equations for advection, diffusion and dispersion.
- Assess controlling geochemical processes based on water analyses, sediment mineralogy, and hydrogeology.
- Conduct chemical speciation, batch and 1D reactive transport modeling with PHREEQC (required PC/laptop).
- Calculate contaminant retardation and derive contaminant travel times and spreading.
Attendants will aquire competences to:
- Break-down data sets of water analyses, sediment mineralogy and hydrology to evaluate qualitatively and quantitatively the geochemical and physical/hydrogeological processes controlling element fluxes and aqueous geochemistry of the hydrosphere, including groundwater chemistry and drinking water quality.
- Combine and reformulate general geochemical reaction equations for aqueous and solid-aqueous processes into problem-specific reaction equations which clearly express the nature of the problem at hand.
- To formulate and test hypotheses, and make predictions, regarding groundwater geochemistry by conducting numerical speciation, batch and reactive transport (flow or diffusion/dispersion) modeling.
The form of teaching is as flipped classroom which includes a high degree of preparation by the students, including text book reading videos, power points, exercises, quizzes, and preparation of questions that students bring to the classroom. In the classroom, we discuss the questions, and conduct exercises and group work. During the course, each student in addition will work on the own compendium which in the end will form their own "Guide to Aqueous Geochemistry" – handing in this compendium is required to attend the final written exam.
Please see Absalon course page.
We use the software PHREEQC in the course. The software requires PC laptop and cannot run on MacBook.
BSc in Geology, Physical Geography, Geosciences, Marine Sciences, Environmental Engineering, Inorganic Chemistry, or equivalent is recommended.
During the course, the attendants will receive constructive oral feedback from the teacher, and teaching assistants, and written feedback from peer students to their course notes.
- ECTS
- 7,5 ECTS
- Type of assessment
-
On-site written exam, 4 hours under invigilation
- Type of assessment details
- The written exam will be partly multiple choice, partly other questions/exercises.
- Examination prerequisites
-
As a prerequisite for attending the final written exam, the compendium—in the form of each student's "Guide to Aqueous Geochemistry"—should be handed in prior to the examn via Digital Exam.
- Aid
- Only certain aids allowed (see description below)
The physical course text book or a printed version of it
The compendium printed out
Calculator
- Marking scale
- 7-point grading scale
- Censorship form
- No external censorship
Several internal examiners.
- Re-exam
-
Identical to ordinary exam. Students who did not turn in the compendium—in the form of each student's "Guide to Aqueous Geochemistry"— should hand it in three weeks prior to the reexam.
Criteria for exam assessment
See Learning Outcome.
Single subject courses (day)
- Category
- Hours
- Preparation
- 171
- Theory exercises
- 35
- English
- 206
Kursusinformation
- Language
- English
- Course number
- NIGK21006U
- ECTS
- 7,5 ECTS
- Programme level
- Full Degree Master
- Duration
-
1 block
- Placement
- Block 1
- Schedulegroup
-
A
- Capacity
- 50 - unless you register in the late-registration period (BSc and MSc) or as a credit or single subject student.
- Studyboard
- Study Board of Geosciences and Management
Contracting department
- Department of Geoscience and Natural Resource Management
Contracting faculty
- Faculty of Science
Course Coordinator
- Søren Jessen (2-81784e77757c3c79833c7279)
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