Geochemistry, Geology 307
Spring 2008
Instructor: Tim Lincoln
Lecture: MWF 9:10-10:00; Lab Tu 2-5
Texts:An Introduction to Environmental Chemistry 2 nd
Ed
Andrews , Biblecombe, Jickells, Liss and Reid
Office: 07 Palenske, 0486
E-mail tlincoln@albion.edu
Prerequisite: Geology 203 or Chemistry 121.
The application of chemical principles to the study of the earth with emphasis on environmental geochemistry. Topics include the distribution of chemical elements within the earth, rock weathering, the chemistry of natural solutions, surface chemistry and the behavior of contaminants in the environment. Laboratories involve both field and laboratory techniques and rely heavily on state-of-the-art instrumentation, including optical emission and x-ray fluorescence spectroscopy and ion chromatography.
.
Visual MINTEQ v2.22
http://www.lwr.kth.se/English/OurSoftware/vminteq/#download
MINTEQ2/PRODEFA2, A geochemical Assessment Model for Environmental Systems:
Version 3.0 Users Manual , Allison, Brown & Novo- Gradac http://epa.gov/ceampubl/mmedia/minteq/USERMANU.PDF
Week Lecture Topics Lab
Jan
21
Reading Assignment
No class Monday MLK
Introduction: Course objectives. Overview, processes governing the distribution of elements, equilibrium, reservoirs and fluxes.
XRD & XRF theory
XRD principles
(class room)
XRF: spectral acquisition worksheet mineral identification
Andrews, Ch 1
XRay websites http://www.matter.org.uk/diffraction/geometry/superposition_of_waves_exercises.htm
http://www.bruker-axs.de/fileadmin/user_upload/xrfintro/sec1_4.html
Jan
28
XRF analytical conditions
Ba spectrum problem
Example of
VisualMINTEQ:
CO2 and ocean chemistry
First order geochemical
XRD: mineralogical analysis of a rock
XRF sample prep mineral identification & short write up (description of minerals) Andrews, p 2-13

processes
Cosmo-chemistry: stars, meteorites, and the earth
Feb 4 Monday Feb 1 X-ray Quiz
Meteorites and the origin of the earth
Minerals I : crystal chemistry and mica structure
Minerals II : other mineral structures and crystal sites
Feb11 Monday Feb 11 Minerals quiz
Modeling fractional crystallization
Exam 1 Friday, Feb 15
Feb18 Aqueous Geochemistry
Free energy and equilibrium constants
Ionic strength and non ideal solutions
Debye- Huckel, mean salt, methods for higher I
Feb 25 Monday Feb 25 Quiz
Acids and Bases
Measurement,
Carbonate equilibria
Controls in natural waters, acidity and alkalinity
Buffering and acidity and alkalinity titrations
Mar 3 Complex ions
Overview, coordination, common types
Equilibrium calculations, modeling with Visual
MINTEQ
Toxicity of cations
( No class Friday)
Mar 10 SPRING BREAK
XRF method development
(run samples)
Statistical interpretation of
XRF data
Short write up of correlations
Begin modeling
Modeling igneous fractionation
Report on geochemistry of planet X (2x)
Intro to ICP development
ICP and IC analysis of local water
method
Meteorites article
Andrews 66-77
Handout
Andrews B 37, 98, 107,
150
Zhu, p32-54
(Langmuir, ch. 4)
Andrews B 81, 198-9
(Langmuir, ch. 5)
Andrews, B49, 150,
154
(Langmuir, ch.3)

Mar 17 Redox reactions
Half cell reactions
Concept of Eh, pE
Calculation of line on Eh-pH diagram
Mar 24
Mar 31
Monday Mar 24 Exam II
Rock Weathering
General processes, rates
Soils & organic compounds
Clays and surface chemistry
Apr 7 Monday Apr 7 Clay quiz
Chemistry of natural waters
Acid mine drainage
Apr 14 Atmospheric Chemistry
Structure of atmosphere
Trace gases
Free radicals
Interpretation of water analysis with MINTEQ
Short write-up of water results
Lab Titrations
Plotted data and short write-up of interpretation
Visual MINTEQ complex ion lab
Results with interpretation as guided by exercise
Adsorption experiments
Short write-up of results
Shale leaching/oxidation experiments
Short write-up of results
Projects 1
Andrews B 78
Andrews 76-140
Andrews, p 76-140
Andrews, p 141-180
Andrews, Ch 3
Apr 21 Special Topics
Mercury in the environment
Carbon Cycle
Apr 28 Catch up and review
Projects 2
Projects 3
Poster or report on project (3x)
EPA Hg overview, handout
Andrews Ch 7
May 6 Tuesday 3:00-5:00 Final exam
Grades:
Exams 3 @ 167 500
Lab reports14 @ 30 420
Quiz 4@ 20 80
Project requirements: The project should include three components, analysis of solid phases
(XRD), analysis of solids or liquids (XRF, ICP, IC), and use of geochemical models, both to predict and interpret results.
Additional resources:
Environmental Applications of Geochemical Modeling

Zhu & Anderson
Software : PHREEQC v2.7 http://water.usgs.gov/nrp/gwsoftware/
Users Guide to PHREEQC
Parkhurst and Apollo
Aqueous Environmental Chemistry ,
Donald Langmuir