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Course Catalog 01/02


Environmental Engineering

SBL013 Geochemistry 6.0 ECTS credits

TIMEPERIOD:
Quarter III

LANGUAGE:English/Swedish

EXAMINER
Björn Öhlander Prof


PREREQUISITES
SBL001 Geology, or equivalent.

COURSE AIM
The aim of the course is to summarize the significant facts and ideas concerning the distribution of the elements in rocks, soil and water, and the processes responsible for this. The course is a necessary basis for the environmental geochemistry courses.

CONTENTS
General geochemistry.
General geochemical principles. Composition of the universe, the earth in relation to the universe, the structure and composition of the earth.
Occurrence and geochemical character of the elements.
The geochemical character of the elements, distribution of the elements in relation to the various spheres of the earth.
Geochemical thermodynamics.
The fundamental relationships, sources of thermodynamic data, application of thermodynamics to geochemical and geological problems.
Geochemistry of igneous rocks.
Composition of igneous rocks, composition of igneous minerals, crystallization in silicate melts, trace element distributions, petrogenic modelling using chemical parameters.
Geochemistry of sedimentary rocks.
Composition of sedimentary rocks, weathering, physiochemical factors in sedimentation, the chemical differentation of sedimentation.
Geochemistry of metamorphic rocks.
Composition of metamorphic rocks, composition of metamorphic minerals, metamorphism and the phase rule, the facies principle, metasomatism, ultrametamorphism, the geochemical cycle.
Isotope geochemistry.
The fundamental relationships, the U-Pb zircon method, the Rb-Sr system, the K-Ar system, stable isosopes and their applications to the geological and geochemical problems.
The atmosphere.
Composition of the atmosphere, the evolution of the atmosphere, constancy of atmospheric composition.
The hydrosphere.
Composition of the hydrosphere, the composition of seawater, the composition of terrestrial waters, the balance of dissolved matter in seawater, the history and evolution of the hydrosphere.
The biosphere.
Composition of the biosphere, the biogenic deposits, the concentration of minor elements in biogenic deposits, evolution of the biosphere.
Methods for geochemical exploration and environmental monitoring.

TEACHING
Lectures.

EXAMINATION
Written examination at the end of the course.

COURSE GRADE SCALE: U, 3, 4, 5

ITEMS/CREDITS
Compulsory assignment 0.75ECTS
Written exam 5.25ECTS

COURSE LITERATURE
Arthur H. Brownlow: Geochemistry, 2nd edition. Prentice Hall.

Further information: International Office

Valid for the academic year 01/02.

Web Editor: Karin.Lindholm@dc.luth.se


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LULEÅ UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY
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Last edited 2001-12-17