B015666 - GEOCHEMISTRY AND LABORATORY

Italian

Evolution of the universe, of the solar system and of our planet. Geochemical characterization of the geological materials. Geochemical reactions in the different geological environments. Geochemical laws for the definition of the distribution of the elements in the geochemical spheres. Introduction to Isotope Geochemistry. Chemical equilibria in acqueous solutions. Statistical methods applied to geochemical data. Lab practices. The students will be using analytical instrumentations.

Principles and Applications of Geochemistry (2nd Edition) Gunter Faure
Introduction to Geochemistry Ronald Krauskopf
AppeloC.A.J., Postma D. (1994, 2007) Geochemistry, Groundwater and Pollution. Balkema
Venturelli G. (2003) Acque, Minerali e Ambiente. Pitagora

Understanding of the geochemical processes and geochemical cycles of the elements of our planet during its evolution. Application of the thermodynamic geochemistry for the definition of the geochemical reactions in the water-rock-gas interactions. Classification of the natural waters and gases and their geochemical characterization for the definition of the origin of the solutes and gas compounds, respectively.
Knowledge of the problematic related to the application of the geochemical and isotopic techniques. Main analytical methods for rocks and waters to be carried out in laboratory.

Courses required: Chemistry
Courses recommended: Mineralogy

All the lectures are presented in ppt and they will be distributed to the students on a weekly basis.

12CFU Attending the course is not mandatory but highly recommended.

Oral exam: the student should answer to several questions related to the main topics of the course. The critical capability of the course topics will be evaluated.
During the course tests will be expected

Geochemistry in the Earth Sciences. Solar system. The origin of the elements. Meteorites. The abundance of elements in the Earth System. Periodic properties of elements and geochemical influence on behaviour. The rules of Goldschmidt and classification of the elements. Elements of thermodynamics and thermochemistry. The geochemical spheres and the geochemical cycles. Introduction to organic geochemistry. The chemical alteration. Water-rock interaction processes. Introduction to isotope geochemistry: stable and radioactive isotopes.
Evaporitic rocks. Saturation and oversaturation conditions. Eh-pH diagrams. Chemical equilibria in acqueous solutions. Laboratory practices for the determinations of selected geochemical parameters in rocks and waters.
Graphical and numerical techniques of geochemical data analysis.

The course of Geochemistry with labs include the following Agenda 2030 goals: n. 3, n. 4, n. 6, n. 7, n. 15