Study of mineral assemblages in ore deposits. Mass balances, isochons, trace elements mass balance in water courses and environmental applications. Ion exchange, mineral surfaces, mineral adsorbing properties, isotherms. Reaction kinetic, AMD, ABA tests. Ionic strength, Debjie-Hueckel eq., second law of Fick. Testing for AMD. Fluid inclusions. Stable isotopes geochemistry in environmental problems. Mineralogy and geochemistry of the heavy metals and metalloids of environmental interest.
Textbooks:
Appelo e Postma: geochemistry groundwater and pollution (Balkema)
Sheperd, Rankin and Alderton: A practical guide to fluid inclusion studies (Blackie)
Learning Objectives
Trapping mechanisms of trace elements in the natural environment and their mobility. Geothermobarometry, reflected light microscopy, fluid inclusions characteristics.
CFU: 6. Contact class and laboratory.
Teaching tools
Optical light microscopy equipped with a microthemometric stage, laboratory of applied mineralogy. Reflected light microscopy
Type of Assessment
Exam modality:
practical and oral test
Course program
Mobility of elements, and elements. Protolith properties. Mass balances. Isochons. Clays and Fe oxides: properties and adsorption, equilibrium constants and coeff. selectivity. Isotherms, KS, Keq,, ion exchange between cations in different valence. Inner and outer sphere complexes, double layer theory. Debye-Hueckel equation, coprecipitation distribution coefficient, IAP and SI. Diffusion and transport, retardation coefficient, sequential extraction, isotope applications to environmental problems. Reaction kinetics, AMD and ABA tests. Notions of environmental legislation. Mineralogy and geochemistry of heavy metals. Fluid inclusions: classification, applications and microthermomety principles.