EA21920 - EARTH MATERIALS

Module Identifier	EA21920
Module Title	EARTH MATERIALS
Academic Year	2001/2002
Co-ordinator	Dr Nicholas Pearce
Semester	Semester 1
Other staff	Dr Ronald Fuge, Dr Bill Perkins
Pre-Requisite	EA11610
Course delivery	Lecture	22 Hours 11 x 2 hours
	Practical	22 Hours 11 x 2 hours
Assessment	Continuous assessment	Continuous assessment of Laboratory Practicals by submission of practical note book.	40%
	Exam	2 Hours Written exam.	60%
	Resit assessment	Re-submission of practical notebook (40%) and 2 hour re-sit examination (60%).

Brief description

This module considers the origin of the elements, their goechemical classification and behaviour. The distribution of elements within the Earth as a whole will be considered and their behaviour during the major geological processes will be discussed. Applications of isotope geochemistry will be described. The module will relate rock and mineral chemistry to their modes of origins through a series of petrological and numerical practicals, and will provide an integrated approach to petrogenesis. Finally, the applications of geochemistry will be discussed in relation to environmental quality, describing the relationship between natural background, derived from the underlying rocks and modifications due to human activity.

Aims

To introduce students to the basic principles of geochemistry and its applications, and to outline the relationships which exist between the geochemistry, mineraology and petrology ofthe solid materials which make up the planet.

Learning outcomes

On completion of this module, students should be able to demonstrate:

a broad knowledge of general geochemistry
how geochemistry can be applied to the understanding of "whole Earth" processes such as planetary differentiation into core, mantle and crust, and the the processes of magma generation, metamorphism and sedimentation
the application of geochemistry to environmental and health issues.
In addition, students will be able to recognise the main rock groups and rock forming minerals both in hand specimen and in thin section, and will be able to relate these features to the chemistry of rocks.

Reading Lists

Books
G. Faure. Principles of Applications of Geochemistry.
G. Faure. Principles of Isotope Geology.
R.C.O. Gill. Chemical Fundamentals of Geology.
R.C.O. Gill (editor). Modern Analytical Geochemistry.
P. Henderson. Inorganic Geochemsitry.
K.B. Krauskopf and D.K. Bird. Introduction to Geochemistry.
B. Mason and C.B. Moore. Principles of Geochemistry.