Introduction to Geochemistry

• Credit value: 15 credits at Level 4
• Tutor: to be confirmed
• Assessment: four weeksheet assignments (10% each) and a two-hour examination (60%)

This module will provide the principles of inorganic chemistry necessary for an understanding of mineralogy, petrology and low-temperature geological processes. You will develop the mathematical skills necessary for understanding these inorganic chemical principles, and develop practical skills in solving geochemical problems through a series of written exercises.

Indicative module content

• Atomic structure
• The periodic table bonding and electronegativity
• Chemical reactions and formulae
• Chemical equilibrium
• The nature of minerals
• Properties of water and solutions
• The phase rule and elementary phase diagrams
• Kinetics of geological processes
• Thermo-dynamics
• The chemistry of the Earth
• The use of isotopes in geology

By the end of this module, you will:

• understand abstract concepts in geochemistry
• recognise specific groups of chemical elements and their role in geological processes
• see the relevance of chemistry in other areas of geology
• be aware of micro- and macro-scales in geochemistry
• be able to synthesise information on a variety of geochemical topics
• be able to relate specific chemical knowledge to a geological context
• demonstrate skills in: ordering and prioritising; pragmatic thinking and analysis; graph construction and interpretation; mathematics; thinking in three dimensions; balancing chemical equations; preparing and writing summaries of chemical concepts.