GEOL 5260 - Principles of Geochemistry

Overview of geochemical behavior of fluids that interact with rocks. Emphasis on solutions, equilibria, and thermodynamics in dilute solutions such as surface water, groundwater, and seawater. Magmatic waters also considered. Geochemical aspects of diagenesis, metamorphism, and radiometric dating also discussed.

Requisites:
Credit Hours: 4
Repeat/Retake Information: May not be retaken.
Lecture/Lab Hours: 3.0 lecture
Grades: Eligible Grades: A-F,WP,WF,WN,FN,AU,I
Learning Outcomes:

Be conversant with the styles of sediment and rock alteration during burial of geological materials, from diagenesis to high-grade metamorphism.
Comprehend the influences of a variables such as temperature and moisture as they pertain to chemical weathering of rocks and minerals.
Graduate student oral presentations and written papers will be longer than undergraduate equivalents by 5 minutes and 5 pages, respectively. Graduates will answer three additional essay questions on exams to demonstrate their superior level of synth
Graduate students are expected to perform at a higher level than undergraduates and must be able to better synthesize information.
Grasp the concepts of dissolution and precipitation of various rocks and minerals.
Know the basic thermodynamic principles of enthalpy, entropy, and Gibb’s Free Energy as they apply to geological materials.
Understand the essentials of solutions and equilibria as they pertain to a variety of geological fluids such as groundwater, seawater, surface water, and magmatic waters.
Understand the key principles in the geochemistry of radiometric age dating.