Courses: GEOV243 Aquatic Geochemistry - Autumn 2017

Credits

10.0

Language of Instruction

English

Teaching semester

Autumn

Objectives and Content

The aim of the course is to give an introduction in aqueous geochemistry. The course includes mineral stability and chemical weathering, composition of natural waters, and global geochemical cycles. The course will incorporate use of thermodynamic data and stability diagrams, and give an overview of the processes that control chemical weathering of mineral and rocks, and the composition of waters. Practical calculations will include use of geochemical data to solve various types of geological problems, and give an introduction in geochemical modeling of water-rock reactions.

Learning Outcomes

After completing the course GEOV243 the student should be able to:

- construct and balance chemical equations for weathering reactions

- use thermodynamic data to calculate the solubility of minerals and construct stability diagrams

- use geochemical analyses of rocks and waters to determine and quantify weathering reactions

- describe the most important factors that control weathering rates

- know the main chemical elements and compounds of river water and sea water and explain why

- explain important principles for oceanic element budgets and mass balances

- identify the most important global carbon reservoirs and the flux between these, and explain the most important processes that control the global carbon cycle

Grading Scale

The grading scale used is A to F. Grade A is the highest passing grade in the grading scale, grade F is a fail.