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Environmental Geochemistry - ENV00019I

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  • Department: Environment and Geography
  • Module co-ordinator: Prof. Mark Hodson
  • Credit value: 20 credits
  • Credit level: I
  • Academic year of delivery: 2022-23
    • See module specification for other years: 2021-22

Module will run

Occurrence Teaching period
A Autumn Term 2022-23 to Spring Term 2022-23

Module aims

This module aims to provide the student with an understanding of and ability to predict key chemical processes that occur in contaminated and natural environments.

Module learning outcomes

By the end of the module, within the context of reactions occurring in the environment you should be able to:

  • discuss the rates of chemical reactions
  • explain specific and non-specific adsorption
  • perform simple experiments to demonstrate adsorption
  • predict the stability of minerals
  • use computer models to predict mineral stability and water chemistry
  • apply isotopes for temperature reconstruction and dating
  • explain and predict redox reactions

Generic / Employability Skills:

Students will develop the skills necessary to predict and model reactions in the environment from both a theoretical and practical perspective. This will involve experience of chemical calculations, modelling and wet chemistry. The practicals will also lead to the development of data handling and reporting skills.

Key generic skills will include:

  • being able to carry out calculations
  • reporting experimental data
  • writing reports
  • time management

Assessment

Task Length % of module mark
Essay/coursework
Web based Short Answer Questions throughout term		 N/A 5
Essay/coursework
Web based Short Answer Questions throughout term		 N/A 5
Online Exam -less than 24hrs (Centrally scheduled)
Environmental Geochemistry Open Exam		 3 hours 70
Practical
Practical Exam		 N/A 20

Special assessment rules

None

Additional assessment information

Formative work is embedded through out the module via wet chemistry practicals which allow for the development of skills assessed in the practical exam and paper-based practicals which allow for practice of the types of work examined in the Open book exam and the web-based short questions.

Reassessment

Task Length % of module mark
Online Exam -less than 24hrs (Centrally scheduled)
Environmental Geochemistry Open book exam		 3 hours 100

Module feedback

Students will receive feedback informally throughout the course during the practicals that are designed to enhance understanding of the lecture material and develop practical skills.

Answers with feedback on the short answer questions will be released on the VLE after the deadline for each set of questions.

Feedback on the written and practical exams will be via a class session where students can access their scripts in Term 3.

Indicative reading

Principles of Environmental Geochemistry Nelson Eby

Principles and applications of inorganic geochemistry Gunter Faure


The information on this page is indicative of the module that is currently on offer. The University is constantly exploring ways to enhance and improve its degree programmes and therefore reserves the right to make variations to the content and method of delivery of modules, and to discontinue modules, if such action is reasonably considered to be necessary by the University. Where appropriate, the University will notify and consult with affected students in advance about any changes that are required in line with the University's policy on the Approval of Modifications to Existing Taught Programmes of Study.