General Information Course Description Course Objectives Course Topics Grading policy Resources Detailed schedule and reading list 412 Lab syllabus Radiocarbon lab Geochem on the WWW lab

(Winter 2006)
General Information

Dr. Andrea Koziol	Office: SC 076 (basement)
Office Hours: M11 - 2; T, W, Th 1-4 & by appointment	Phone: 229-2954
(See schedule outside my office)	E-mail:andrea.koziol@notes.udayton.edu

Lecture: MWF, 10 - 10:50 AM WH 310 3 credits.

Textbook: Essentials of Geochemistry by John Walther. (required).

A copy of this syllabus is on the web at http://homepages.udayton.edu/~koziola/courses/412.html

Course Description
Study of elementary thermodynamics, aqueous geochemistry, and principles governing the distribution of trace elements, radioisotopes and stable isotopes in igneous, metamorphic and sedimentary rocks. Emphasis on application and solution of geological problems.

Prerequisites
The prerequisite for this course is GEO 201, Mineralogy, or permission of instructor.

Objectives
Geochemistry involves applying the principles of chemistry to the solution of geological problems. Emphasized here are the questions we might want to ask, the best way to answer them, and what that answer means (or doesnÕt mean). Geochemistry helps us make quantitative predictions about the outcomes of chemical reactions that occur in the context of geological processes. Applications of geochemistry are many and cover a wide variety of topics, well beyond any one scientist's interest.

Especially important in geology today are the many applications of isotope geochemistry. Measurements of ratios of radioactive isotopes and their daughter products can tell us about time. Measurements of ratios of stable isotopes can tell us about processes that have taken place.

Course Topics (Much of this flexible in terms of coverage and timing)

Part I. Review of Basics

Atoms, minerals, earthÕs chemical and physical state
Reading: Chap. 1, 2, 5 (refer to detailed reading list)

Part II. Thermodynamics and phase diagrams

Energy and equilibrium. Polymorphs and phase diagrams in igneous and metamorphic settings
Reading: Chaps. 3, 5, 8 (refer to detailed reading list)

Part III. Isotope geochemistry

A. radiogenic nuclides: basics, systems, applications. B. Stable isotope fractionation: basics & examples of water, oxygen, carbon

Readings: Chaps.10, 11, and supplementary readings (refer to detailed reading list)

Part IV. Special topics

In depth study of topics chosen by students
See Chaps. 8, 9, 13, 15, 16 and issues of Elements for ideas

Part V. Water Chemistry Acids and bases; salts and ions; review thermodynamics; stability diagrams, oxidation-reduction reactions; surface water chemistry
Reading: Chaps. 6, 7, 14 (refer to detailed reading list)

Important dates: No class on Jan. 16, March13, 15, 17, April 14, 17.
Midterm exam (written or oral) date to be determined
Final: May 5,12:20 Š 2:10. An earlier time can be arranged.
Last day to withdraw without record: Jan. 25
Last day to withdraw with a 'W': March 22
Last day of class: April 25

Grading Policies

All students should be aware of the University policy on academic dishonesty, which in part is defined as "any attempt by a student to obtain, or to assist another student to obtain, a grade higher than honestly earned."

Exams: There is one midterm exam and a final exam. If a written exam, the format is mostly short-answer questions, and some questions involving longer answers. Upon discussion with the students, we may have an oral exam. There will be no make-up exams except for students with legitimate reasons for missing the exam. The final exam is cumulative.

Case Studies: These are short projects that you research and present to the class. This is an opportunity for you to explore a geochemical topic in depth. Results of your work will be presented orally in class (5 - 10 minutes). You will also turn in a written outline and resource list that will be distributed to the class. I will provide some initial material on a number of topics to get you started. You may also do a topic of your own choosing. This presentation could evolve into your researched paper. Possible topics: acid rain; lead contamination of soils; impact structures on the Earth; mare basalts on the Moon; geochemistry of nuclear waste; geothermometry of metamorphic rocks; glacial 14C time scale calibration; pre-solar grains in meteorites; the 26Al story; the 3He story; water and salt in meteorites; ozone chemistry, exploration of a topic presented in Elements.

Homework: At this level of education, you learn more by doing than by listening to a lecture. In these homework assignments, you will explore and explain a topic, apply geochemical principles, or solve a problem. Hint: Don't leave these assignments until the last moment! Due dates will be given and there will be a 20 % penalty per day for late work. If you are not satisfied with your mark, or wish to work with my feedback to truly learn a concept, you may re-submit a homework assignment by one week after it has been returned to you.

Researched Paper: In this assignment you will learn and practice skills in the following areas: library research; finding, reading and interpreting professional journal articles; analyzing and synthesizing materials from various different sources; writing clearly in scientific style. It is understood that this is NOT YOUR original research, but it is YOUR exposition of a certain topic. Therefore you will need to acknowledge all sources properly and avoid any hint of plagiarism.

Dates to keep in mind: Feb. 15: last date for topic approval. March 31: rough draft due. April 19: Final draft and copies of all research materials due. There is time for one more revision before the end of the semester.

Attendance: You are expected to attend all class sessions. Arriving late to class is distracting to students and professor. Do not schedule medical appointments that conflict with the class schedule. A written medical excuse must be submitted if you cannot attend class due to illness. Do not purchase tickets for transportation that conflict with official school days. If you are having personal or medical difficulties, please contact me as soon as possible. Attendance is not part of your grade, but obviously you will do better if you attend classes.

Overall Evaluation

Midterm	15% of your grade
Final exam	15%
2 Case study presentations	15%
Homework	35%
Researched paper	20%

Resources

Other books are available at Roesch Library. (Look under QE 501 & QE 515.)
Resources on the web include:

Mineralogy and Petrology Research on the Web http://homepages.udayton.edu/~koziolam/resminpet.html

Geochemistry on the WWW http://www.geo.cornell.edu/geology/classes/Geochemweblinks.HTML

Planetary Science Research Discoveries

A periodic table: WebElements http://www.webelements.com/webelements/scholar/index.html

Chart of the nuclides http://sutekh.nd.rl.ac.uk/CoN/

From the US Geological Survey: Understanding Our Planet Through Chemistry

Final Note: Dates, assignments, and policies are subject to change during the course of the semester.

Last updated: Jan. 10, 2006.

Dr. Koziol's homepage

GEO 412 lab syllabus The graphics on this page are courtesy of Jelane's free web graphics