44960 - Environmental Geochemistry

Academic Year 2011/2012

  • Teaching Mode: Traditional lectures
  • Campus: Bologna
  • Corso: Second cycle degree programme (LM) in Geology and Land Management (cod. 8027)

Learning outcomes

The student will aquire knowledge of the factros controlling the dispersion of chemical elements in the surface environment and in different environmental matrices (soil, sediment, water, gases). the student knows the how to conduct sampling and analysis and is able to describe and interpret geochemical data. in particular the student will be able to: plan and execute sampling of different environmental matrices; elaborate and present the data, using statistical and cartographic tools; suggest solution to remediate contaminated situations.

Course contents

Recall of some geochemical principles, with attention to low temperature geochemistry (weathering processe, redox state of the environment, properties of solid particles). Sampling strategy. suitable matrices in enviromentally-oriented geochemical studies. Atmosphere, Hydrosphere (rain, surface water, groundwater). Solid matrices (soils, stream sediments, alluvial sediments, lacustrine sediments). Biological matrices (vegetation, animals). availability and bioavailability: selective and sequential chemical extraction. Data handling: geochemical anomaly definition and identification. Natural background: definition and estimation. Geochemical barrier: definition, types and examples. Systematic geochemistry: description of the properties and geochemical charatcters of some environmentally important chemical elements (As, Ba, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Mo, Ni, Pb, PGE, Se, Sb, Sb, Tl, U, Zn). Interaction with the biosphere: dose-response relation in toxicological studies.

Readings/Bibliography

  • Dongarrà G., Varrica D. Geochimica e ambiente. Edises ed.

  • Eby N.G. Principles of environmental geochemistry. Thomson ed.

  • Lima A., De Vivo B., Siegel F.R. Geochimica ambientale. Liguori ed.

  • De Vivo B. Elementi e metodi di geochimica ambientale. Liguori ed.

  • Dall'Aglio M. Geochimica ambientale e salute. principi e applicazioni. Aracne editrice

Teaching methods

power point presentation, worked examples, field excursion. laboratory work.

Assessment methods

oral exam

Teaching tools

power point presentation, worked examples, field excursion. laboratory work

Office hours

See the website of Enrico Dinelli