Module Information
Course Delivery
| Delivery Type | Delivery length / details |
|---|---|
| Lecture | 10 Hours. |
| Practical | 12 Hours. |
| Other | Field course, Anglesey 4 days, South Wales 2 days |
Assessment
| Assessment Type | Assessment length / details | Proportion |
|---|---|---|
| Semester Assessment | Report on the application of BS5930 methods for soil description (750 words) | 10% |
| Semester Assessment | Report on the application of individual analytical methods to particular media (2000 words) | 15% |
| Semester Assessment | Report on field sampling exercises (1500 words) | 25% |
| Semester Assessment | Report on suggested remediation methods for the field site to appropriate environmental quality guidelines (3000 words) | 50% |
| Supplementary Assessment | Resubmission of failed components | 100% |
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this module students should be able to:
1. Devise and implement a sampling programme for geochemical analyses
2. Prepare water samples in the laboratory for geochemical analyses
3. Make rational, scientific judgements on the validity and application of particular analytical methods to particular environmental media
4. Select appropriate environmental quality guidelines for water and soil quality
Brief description
A Masters level module which provides and introduction to practical environmental geochemistry. This course will provide students with the introduction to basic sampling of waters and sediments for geochemical analysis. The sampling programme will be team based and devised "on the day" by students attending a long weekend field course in Anglesey. This course will also demonstrate all necessary field measurement and collection methods (pH, Eh, conductivity), and will form the basis of a small report on sampling. Geochemical analyses of the materials collected will be conducted back in the laboratory, each technique used being included in laboratory reports, and the full data set will be integrated into a final repoprt suggesting remediation methods for the area sampled.
Content
1. Methodology for sampling waters, sediments and soils for geochemical analysis and field measurement
2. Field course to Anglesey for field sampling of contaminated sediments and waters
3. Introduction to laboratory sample preparation and analyses for AAS, ICP-MS and ion chromatography
4. Environmental quality guidelines (geochemical) for waters and soils
Module Skills
| Skills Type | Skills details |
|---|---|
| Application of Number | Numerical handling is required in calculating concentrations, interpreting analytical data. |
| Communication | Scientific report writing |
| Improving own Learning and Performance | Develop inedepent work associated with practical classes |
| Information Technology | Use of computers and spreadsheets for performing/plotting geocehmical data. Students will have to search the internet for information on remediation techniques and quality standards e.g. data from the EC, EA, USEPA, WHO. The students will make use of BIDS/WoK etc and other searching facilities to obtain informatioon which will be included in the remediation report. |
| Personal Development and Career planning | Discussion with staff involved concerning relevance of examples to real life applications, and relevance to careers. |
| Problem solving | Devise a sampling strategy for waters from a river system in the field |
| Research skills | Researching and applying methods for presentation and interpretation of geochemical data. Researching remediation techniques. |
| Subject Specific Skills | The development of sampling strategies and field measurement techniques, the implementation of sampling methods, the appropriate application of a range of analytical methods in environmental geochemistry. |
| Team work | Field sampling exercise condcuted as a team |
Reading List
Recommended TextA.W. Rose, H.E. Hawkes and J.S. Webb (1979) Geochemistry in Mineral Exploration Academic Press Primo search Donald Langmuir (1997) Aqueous Environmental Geochemistry Prentice Hall Primo search Gunter Faure (1998) Principles and Application of Geochemistry Prentice Hall Primo search James I. Drever (1997) The Geochemistry of Natural Waters Prentice Hall Primo search R.C.O. Gill (1998) Modern Analytical geochemistry Longman Primo search R.M. Garrells and C.L. Christ (1990) Solutions, Minerals and Equilibria Harper/Geoscience/Jones and Bartlett Primo search
Notes
This module is at CQFW Level 7