George Mason University
Graduate Course Approval/Inventory Form
Please complete this form and attach a copy of the syllabus for new courses. Forward it as an email attachment
to the Secretary of the Graduate Council. A printed copy of the form with signatures should be brought to the
Graduate Council Meeting. Complete the Coordinator Form on page 2, if changes in this course will affect
other units.
Please indicate:
__X___ NEW
____ MODIFY
Local Unit: Environmental Science and Policy
Course Abbreviation: GEOL
____ DELETE
Graduate Council Approval Date:
Course Number: 613
Full Course Title: Environmental Geochemistry and Mineralogy
Abbreviated Course Title (24 characters max.): Soil Science
Credit hours: 3
Repeatable for Credit?
Program of Record: Environmental Science and Policy
___ D=Yes, not within same term
___ T=Yes, within the same term
__x_ N=Cannot be repeated for credit
Up to hours
Up to hours
Activity Code (please indicate):
_x__ Lecture (LEC) ___ Lab (LAB)
___ Recitation (RCT)
___ Studio (STU)
___ Internship (INT) ___ Independent Study (IND)
____ Seminar (SEM)
Catalog Credit Format 3 :3 :0
Course Level: GF(500-600) __x__ GA(700+) ____
Maximum Enrollment: 20
Prerequisites or corequisistes:
For NEW courses, first term to be offered:
Catalog Description (35 words or less) Please use catalog format and attach a copy of the syllabus for new
courses.: The main goal of this course is to explore current hot topics and aid students in developing
intellectual skills needed to identify key research problems. Students will also improve their writing and
presentation skills.
For MODIFIED or DELETED courses as appropriate:
Last term offered:
Previous Course Abbreviation:
Previous number:
Description of modification:
APPROVAL SIGNATURES:
Submitted by:
________________________________ email: ________________
Department/Program:
College Committee:
________________________________ Date: __________________
________________________________ Date: _________________
Graduate Council Representative: ________________________________ Date: __________________
GEORGE MASON UNIVERSITY
Course Coordination Form
Approval from other units:
Please list those units outside of your own who may be affected by this new, modified, or deleted course. Each of these units must
approve this change prior to its being submitted to the Graduate Council for approval.
Unit:
Head of Unit’s Signature:
Date:
Unit:
Head of Unit’s Signature:
Date:
Unit:
Head of Unit’s Signature:
Date:
Unit:
Head of Unit’s Signature:
Date:
Unit:
Head of Units Signature:
Date:
Graduate Council approval: ______________________________________________ Date: ____________
Graduate Council representative: __________________________________________ Date: ____________
Provost Office representative: _________________ _______________________
Date: __________
Environmental Geochemistry and Mineralogy
GEOL 613
EVPP 613
Starts: Spring Semester 2006
Time: Mondays 4:30 – 7:30
Readings: Selected from current volumes of the Mineralogical Society of America’s Reviews in Mineralogy
Series and most current readings from the literature. Specific papers will be chosen on the basis of what is the
best latest work.
Course Objectives: To read and discuss advanced topics and papers relating to environmental geochemistry
and mineralogy. The main goal of this course is to explore current hot topics and aid students in developing
intellectual skills needed to identify key research problems. Students will also improve their writing and
presentation abilities.
Structure of the Course: A 20 to 30 minute lecture by the instructor on the topic of the day will be made
followed by extensive discussion by students and the instructor.
Student Audience: Graduate students in Geology, Environmental Science and Policy, Chemistry, Engineering.
This course may also be attractive to professionals in the local environmental consulting industry.
Related Geology Courses: Mineralogy, Geomorphology, Sedimentary Geology, Soil Science.
Related Environmental Science and Policy courses: Applied Ecology Microbial Ecology, Wetland Ecology
and Management, Environmental Toxicology
Related Chemistry Courses: Organic Chemistry, Fundamental Inorganic Chemistry, Physical Chemistry,
Hazardous Materials Waste Management, Environmental Chemistry of Organic Chemicals, Introduction to
Solid Surfaces.
Related Engineering (CEIE) Courses: Soil mechanics, Introduction to Environmental Engineering
Role in Research: Students who take this seminar will augment research capabilities not only in geology but in
environmental science and policy as well as chemistry and potentially civil engineering. The course will
broaden the universities’ research capabilities overall.
Paper and Presentation: The paper should be 12 pages of text, not including figures. At least 20 references
should be cited. Format for citations should be that in the journal "Geology". Presentations will be 15 minutes
and in power point format.
Grade: The grade will be 60% participation in discussion, 20% paper, 20% presentation.
Topics:
1
Mn-oxyhydroxides I. Focus will be on the Geologic environments, geochemical stability diagrams
and the structures of pyrolusite, groutite todorokite and romanechite.
2
Mn-oxyhydroxides II. TEM and synchrotron radiation investigations of phase transformations and
structural variation.
3
Zircon and apatite as nuclear waste repository phases. The properties useful for nuclear waste
storage for each phase will be examined as will the effects of radiation damage on the crystal
structures.
4
Uranophane and Uranite. The crystal chemistry and the structures of these common uranium
minerals will be investigated.
5
Radon. The uranium decay series will be discussed. The sedimentary geochemistry of U
accumulation in black shales and phosphate rock will be discussed and the geology of major radonproblem areas will be presented.
6
Optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) dating – techniques. The physics of OSL dating will be
examined and the benefits and pitfalls of techniques will be discussed.
7
Optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) example – Lake Michigan Dunes. The use of OSL dating
of Lake Michigan beach ridges will be explored and shown how the technique can be used to
reconstruct lake level for the past 4700 years.
8
Manz Filter – natural biologic filtration in developing regions. The principles and mechanisms of
sand filtration will be discussed. Antibacterial properties of the Manz system will be explored.
9
Arsenic contamination in ground waters – southeast Asia. Arsenic geochemistry will be reviewed.
Sources and hydrogeochemistry of As in aquifers in Bangledesh will be examined.
10
Biomineralization – Bacteria on Mars? The arguments for and against magnetite as evidence for life
on mars will be discussed.
11
Vermiculite – details on an important soil mineral. The structure and crystal chemistry of vermiculite
will be discussed.
12
Organo-clays – Organo-vermiculite structures I. Bulk powder radiation studies of organovermiculites will be explored.
13
Organo-clays – Organo-vermiculite structures II. Single crystal studies of organo-vermiculites will
be explored.
14
Student presentations.
15
Student presentations.