NIGK21006U Aqueous Geochemistry

Volume 2024/2025
Education

MSc Programme in Geology-Geoscience

Content

The course attendants will:

  • Evaluate water-rock interactions controlling inorganic aqueous geochemistry and element cycling with water movement in the hydrosphere, as well as drinking water quality.
  • Combine the use of classical methods and of 1D-reactive transport modeling (PHREEQC), to substantiate a qualitative and quantitative interpretation of water chemistry development along flow paths (e.g., in aquifers) and diffusion-controlled gradients (e.g., seabed).
  • Trace water chemistry as it develops in the terrestrial hydrological cycle: in rain water, through aquifers and to its discharge, by using major ion chemistry as natural tracers.
  • Formulate and apply problem-specific chemical reactions for aqueous geochemical processes, such as mineral dissolution and precipitation, ion exchange, diffusion and dispersion, surface adsorption and redox processes.
  • Use groundwater chemistry data to delineate the geology, hydrogeology, and hydrological processes such as flow paths and travel times.

 

Exercises and assignments comprise real datasets, presenting the students with major global issues of today that can be observed, evaluated or solved within the discipline of aqueous geochemistry. Modern examples include: silicate weathering and the carbon cycle; permafrost and wetland hydrochemistry; assessing nitrogen cycling using 2D reactive transport modelling; and ocean acidification.

Learning Outcome

Knowledge: Attendants will acquire knowledge on:

  • Major chemistry of water, water quality, and analysis accuracy 
  • The relation between aqueous inorganic geochemistry, sediment mineralogy, and water movement/hydrogeology that control geochemical processes/water-rock interaction (mineral/gas dissolution and precipitation/degassing, saturation state and partial gas pressures, ion exchange, surface complexation, redox reactions) 
  • Diffusion and dispersion in relation to aqueous inorganic geochemistry 
  • Chemical speciation in water, batch and 1D reactive transport modeling with PHREEQC (a free, generic aqueous geochemistry code).

 

Skills: Attendants will acquire skills to:

  • Assess quality of water and water analyses; write and make use of geochemical reaction equations for various water-rock interactions, and equations for diffusion/dispersion;
  • Assess controlling geochemical processes based on water analyses, sediment mineralogy, and hydrogeology;
  • Conduct chemical speciation, batch and 1D reactive transport modeling with PHREEQC.

 

Competences: Competences acquired:

  • Break-down data sets of water analyses, sediment mineralogy and hydrology to evaluate qualitatively and quantitatively the geochemical and physical/hydrogeological processes controlling element fluxes and aqueous geochemistry of the hydrosphere, including groundwater chemistry and drinking water quality.
  • Combine and reformulate general geochemical reaction equations for aqueous and solid-aqueous processes into problem-specific reaction equations which clearly express the nature of the problem at hand.
  • To formulate and test hypotheses, and make predictions, regarding groundwater geochemistry by conducting numerical speciation, batch and reactive transport (flow or diffusion) modeling.

Please see Absalon course page.

BSc in Geology, Physical Geography, Geosciences, Marine Sciences, Environmental Engineering, Inorganic Chemistry, or equivalent is recommended.
The form of teaching is mostly flipped classroom, combined with generally very short introductory lectures, and mostly consisting of class exercises and discussions, case studies, and reading and evaluation of scientific papers. During the course each student will work on the own course notes which in the end will form their own "Guide to Aqueous Geochemistry". This 'guide' is to be handed in by the end of the course.
  • Category
  • Hours
  • Preparation
  • 171
  • Exercises
  • 35
  • Total
  • 206
Written
Oral
Continuous feedback during the course of the semester
Feedback by final exam (In addition to the grade)
Peer feedback (Students give each other feedback)

During the course, the attendants will receive constructive oral feedback from the teacher and written feedback from peer students (using peergrade.io) to their course. The students will receive written feedback (in addition to the mark) to their handed in final report (which constitute the course notes in form of a self made 'Guide to Aqueous Geochemistry'; please see above).

Credit
7,5 ECTS
Type of assessment
Written assignment
Type of assessment details
During the course each student will work on their own course notes which in the end will form their own "Guide to Aqueous Geochemistry". This 'guide' is to be handed in by the end of the course.
Aid
All aids allowed
Marking scale
7-point grading scale
Censorship form
No external censorship
Several internal examiners
Re-exam

For the re-exam, the student must submit a revised version of the above mentioned course notes 'Guide to Aqueous Geochemistry'.

Criteria for exam assesment

See Learning Outcome.