2023
Environmental Geochemistry
Name: Environmental Geochemistry
Code: GEO12543M
6 ECTS
Duration: 15 weeks/156 hours
Scientific Area:
Geology
Teaching languages: Portuguese
Languages of tutoring support: Portuguese, English
Regime de Frequência: Presencial
Sustainable Development Goals
Learning Goals
Understand the active the geochemical processes on the Earth surface;
Understand the active the geochemical processes in the interface Geosphere-Hydrosphere-Biosphere;
Understand the behavior of the chemical elements in the general framework of External Geodynamics;
Capacity to diagnose the main mechanisms of rocks weathering;
Understand the behavior of the pollutants in natural ground and superficial water.
Understand the active the geochemical processes in the interface Geosphere-Hydrosphere-Biosphere;
Understand the behavior of the chemical elements in the general framework of External Geodynamics;
Capacity to diagnose the main mechanisms of rocks weathering;
Understand the behavior of the pollutants in natural ground and superficial water.
Contents
1. Geochemistry as a geoscience to the study of interaction of geospheres in the Earth surface.
2. Chemical equilibria: Ions in solution and ionic mobility in natural fluids. Equilibrium acid-base on natural fluids.
3. Geochemistry of the oxide-reduction process: sedimentary environments and pH and Eh boundaries,Oxide-reduction and the sedimentation.
4. Analytical methods in environmental geochemistry: analytical chemistry techniques and phase composition techniques.
5. Geochemistry of weathering.
5.a. Weathering of the rocks monuments: Mechanisms in the decline of the rocks of monuments, pathologies: characterization and diagnosis, examples.
6. Adsorption and ionic exchange on the surface of minerals.
7. New Minerals: Precipitation-dissolution and stability, Retention of pollutant metals, wastes and landfills
8. Hydro-geochemistry and transport of pollutants
9. Potentially toxic metal geochemistry: Origins of metals, Mobility of metals in natural environments
10. Correction strategies
2. Chemical equilibria: Ions in solution and ionic mobility in natural fluids. Equilibrium acid-base on natural fluids.
3. Geochemistry of the oxide-reduction process: sedimentary environments and pH and Eh boundaries,Oxide-reduction and the sedimentation.
4. Analytical methods in environmental geochemistry: analytical chemistry techniques and phase composition techniques.
5. Geochemistry of weathering.
5.a. Weathering of the rocks monuments: Mechanisms in the decline of the rocks of monuments, pathologies: characterization and diagnosis, examples.
6. Adsorption and ionic exchange on the surface of minerals.
7. New Minerals: Precipitation-dissolution and stability, Retention of pollutant metals, wastes and landfills
8. Hydro-geochemistry and transport of pollutants
9. Potentially toxic metal geochemistry: Origins of metals, Mobility of metals in natural environments
10. Correction strategies
Teaching Methods
The evaluation will be made in two alternative ways: (1) Continuous evaluation: 3 theoretical works distributed by the semester with answers to several questions and resolution of case studies (60%) and a laboratory component in the last teaching week, which will include the student's participation in practical works and presentation of reports concerning the laboratory activities (40%); (2) Final evaluation: Presentation of a monograph concerning the subject taught that includes the resolution of 3 case studies (60%) and presentation of a report concerning the laboratory activities that will be carried out during the last teaching week (40%).
Teaching Staff
- Rita Maria Ferreira Fonseca [responsible]
