Module Identifier |
GG21510 |
Module Title |
PHYSICAL ANALYSIS OF MATERIALS |
Academic Year |
2003/2004 |
Co-ordinator |
Dr Paul A Brewer |
Semester |
Semester 1 |
Pre-Requisite |
GG10610 Only available to 2nd year intending honours geographers and environmental scientists in the second year of their degrees. |
Course delivery |
Practical | 30 Hours Practicals / Field Days. 10 x 3 hours (4 practicals involving field sampling) |
Assessment |
Assessment Type | Assessment Length/Details | Proportion |
Semester Assessment | Laboratory Report: | 80% |
Semester Assessment | In-Course Assessment: | 20% |
|
Learning outcomes
By the end of this module students:
1. Will have a training in safe laboratory procedures.
2. Will be proficient in the appropriate sampling and analytical procedures for a variety of sediments.
3. Will be able to interpret sediments from a variety of depositional environments.
Aims
To furnish students with sampling, interpretational and analytical skills, permitting them to analyse natural materials.
Content
This practical module provides instruction in the laboratory methods of the analysis of natural materials. All stages of sediment analysis are included in this course, from field sampling to sample preparation, analysis and interpretation. Both coarse and fine fraction sediment analysis techniques are utilised to discriminate between the sediments sampled from different environments of deposition. Three practicals, towards the end of the course, are devoted to further sediment sampling and analysis techniques. The following practical timetable is planned for this module:
-
Introduction to sediments
-
Fieldwork: sediment sampling
-
Fieldwork: sediment sampling
-
Coarse fraction analysis: dry sieving
-
Coarse fraction analysis: dry sieving
-
Fine fraction analysis: hydrometer method / sedigraph
-
Fine fraction analysis: pipette method / sedigraph
-
Fieldwork: suspended sediment sampling
-
Physical properties of sediments
-
Environmental Discrimination
-
Compilation and analysis of results
In the interests of safety, all students will be required to purchase a laboratory coat for use during the practical classes.
Reading Lists
Books
Dackombe, R.V. and Gardiner, V. (1983) Geomorphological Field Manual
Allen & Unwin
Goudie, A. (1990) Geomorphological Techniques
Unwin Hyman
Notes
This module is at CQFW Level 5