Geochemistry - AB240008
Title: Geochemistry
Guaranteed by: Department of Environmental Chemistry (240)
Faculty: Faculty of Environmental Technology
Actual: from 2022
Semester: winter
Points: winter s.:4
E-Credits: winter s.:4
Examination process: winter s.:
Hours per week, examination: winter s.:2/1, C+Ex [HT]
Capacity: unlimited / unlimited (unknown)
Min. number of students: unlimited
State of the course: taught
Language: English
Teaching methods: full-time
Teaching methods: full-time
Level:  
Guarantor: Kroužek Jiří Ing. Ph.D.
Interchangeability : B240008
Examination dates   
Annotation -
This course brings the theoretical basis of geochemistry and related branches with focus on environmental chemistry. Students will learn about the chemical description of the pedosphere, its biology and the physical characterization of the soil environment that affects its chemistry. Students will also get acquainted with the main physico-chemical and chemical processes which takes place in the pedosphere including the basic natural geochemical cycles of the most important elements, as well as the anthropogenic soil degradation processes. The course will cover basic aspects of geology and geography. This course will help students to better understand the applied environmental engineering focused on the soil environment. These skills are further developed in the follow-up master's study towards practice.
Last update: Fialová Jana (10.05.2019)
Aim of the course -

The output of this course will be the knowledge of:

  • basic terminology in the fields of geochemistry, geology, pedology, hydrogeology and geography
  • a comprehensive chemical and physical description of the pedosphere
  • chemical and physico-chemical processes occurring in the soil
  • impacts of human activity on the soil environment
Last update: Fialová Jana (10.05.2019)
Course completion requirements -

In order to successfully complete this course, students have to obtain a credit and pass the final exam. To obtain credit, students have to pass credit test containing calculations and prepare a short 5 min presentation with informations related to the specific topic. The credit is obligatory condition for admission to the final exam. The final exam will consist of two parts - a written test and an oral exam.

Last update: Fialová Jana (10.05.2019)
Literature

Recommended:

  • White, William M.. Geochemistry. Hoboken, NJ: A John Wiley & Sons, Ltd, 2013, s. ISBN 978-1-119-43805-2.
  • Fetter, C. W.. Applied hydrogeology. Long Grove, IL: Waveland Press, 2018, s. ISBN 978-1-4786-3709-7.
  • Ryan, Peter Crowley. Environmental and low temperature geochemistry. Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons, 2020, s. ISBN 9781119568582.

Optional:

  • Hillel, Daniel, Rosenzweig, Cynthia, Baker, Ralph S., Warrick, Arthur W.. Environmental soil physics. Sand Diego, CA: Academic Press, 1998, s. ISBN 0-12-348525-8.
  • Appelo, C. Anthony J., and Dieke Postma. Geochemistry, groundwater and pollution. London, UK: CRC Press, 2005, s. ISBN 9780429152320.
  • Evangelou, V.P.. Environmental Soil and Water Chemistry: Principles and Applications. : John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 1998, s. ISBN 978-0471165156.
  • MITCHELL, J. K., & SOGA, K.. Fundamentals of soil behavior. New York: John Wiley & Sons, 2005, s. ISBN 978-0-471-46302-7.

Last update: Kroužek Jiří (03.09.2024)
Syllabus -

1. Introduction and definition of basic concepts, definitions and principles

2. Fundamentals of geology - endogenous and exogenous geological processes, geological structure of the Czech Republic, geological maps

3. Pedosphere - soil cover of the Earth, soil formation and development, soil-forming factors, conditions and processes, soil profile, soil regimes

4. Chemical composition of soil - inorganic components, soil minerals, crystallography, mineralogy

5. Chemical composition of soil - soil organic matter

6. Physical properties of soil - soil grain, soil structure, soil porosity

7. Physical-chemical processes in soil - chemical and phase equilibria in soil, thermodynamics, soil solution

8. Physical-chemical processes in soil - adsorption in soil, ion exchange, redox reaction and soil kinetics

9. Soil organisms and biological activity in soil

10. Geochemical cycles C, N, P, S, Ca, K, Na, Mg

11. Basics of hydrogeology - flow in saturated and unsaturated zone, types of groundwater collectors, Darcy law, heat in soil, atmogeochemistry

12. Soil protection and physical and chemical degradation of soil - contamination by organic pollutants and metals, atmospheric deposition / acidification

13. Soil protection and physical and chemical degradation of soil - eutrophication, decontamination technology / possibilities of remediation, transport of contamination, legislation

14. Basics of geography - geographic and astronomical coordinates, sphere calculations, GPS

Last update: Fialová Jana (10.05.2019)
Learning resources -

https://geology.com/

Last update: Fialová Jana (10.05.2019)
Registration requirements -

General and Inorganic Chemistry I

Physical Chemistry I

Recommended: Environmental Chemistry or Environmental Engineering, Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry

Last update: Fialová Jana (10.05.2019)