Corsi di studi in Scienze Geologiche (L-34 e LM-74)

The course requires a good understanding of general and inorganic chemistry and geochemistry of the general concepts of the base

 

Provide an overview of the chemical nature of the earth's crust and chemical evolution of the planet Earth. Provide a set of basic knowledge about the geochemical characterization of anthroposphere and the importance of chemical and geological phenomena in all of the environmental sphere. We will examine the most important pollution sources both natural and anthropogenic that their geochemical implications, and will illustrate some of the techniques most common remediation; will discuss some topics of current interest as that of the danger related to the storage of nuclear waste

 

After the lessons cycle the students should have a more clear visions of the geological environment from a geochemical point of view. Also they should have developed a clear insight on the interaction between environment and pollution phenomena, and of the interaction between air, water and soil/rocks with the more common pollutant. Some of the more important cases of pollution at local and global scale are shown as examples. Deep discussion was conducted about the analytical techniques for sampling and checking of the environment, and about the pollution control and recovery, for a geologist can have a base to judge and suggest the correct way for the environment protection.

 

The oral examination is organized in 4 to 8 questions to verify the knowledge and the skills of the student, about the topic discussed during the lessons, and it's capability to make connection between different arguments of the lessons and connections with real examples.
Alternatively, the student (alone or in group) colud organize an oral presentation (about twenty minutes each) on topics strictly related to the subject of environmental geochemistry but still not debated in the lessons, to proof his skillfulness in the organization, connection and transmission of scientific informations connected with environmental geochemistry

 

 

Isotope Geochemistry:
Nucleosynthesys and Isotopes. Cosmic Abundance of the elements,
Abundance of the elements in solar system and on Earth. Stable and
Radioactive Isotopes. Isotopical fractionation. Analytical method for
Isotope geochemistry.
Environmental isotopes (H,C,O,N). Water cycle studies through the use of
isotope techniques. Water datation. Tritium. Introduction of isotope
techniques applied t Palaeoecology and Palaeoclimatology.
Athmosphere
Structure, evolution and composition of the atmosphere. Atmospheric
pollution, most common inorganic and organic pollutant. Main
consequences: Acid rain, climatic evolution, greenhouse effect. Evolution
and fate of atmospheric pollutant. Introduction to sampling and analysis
of atmospheric pollutant.
Waters
The most common inorganic and organic pollutant in water cycle. Urban,
industrial, mining and agricultural sources of pollutant. Fate and
evolution of water pollutant. Introduction to remediation techniques and
their geochemical basis. Introduction to legislation about water pollution
and conservation. Introduction to sampling and analysis of natural waters
and water pollutants.
Soils and acquifers
Pedosphere. Soil pollution. Rock substrate. Interaction between soils,
shallow waters and deep waters. Heavy metals and organic pollutants.
Natural evolution of pollutants in soil and rock substrate. Introduction to
remediation techniques and their geochemical basis. Introduction to soil
and rock sampling and analysis of natural soils and soil pollutants.
Dangerous and radioactive waste.
Energy production. Traditional and green methods for energy production.
Radioactivity. Nuclear energy: principles and production. Radioactive
waste and inertization techniques. Geological settings for nuclear waste
repository.
Medical Geology
Interaction between environment, regional geology and population.
Natural pollutant. Some case studies: arsenic in groundwater, fluoride
contamination, natural heavy metal pollution.

 

Presentations of the teacher.

Items Magazines.

Texts of Geochemistry Online

Recommended books: Dongarra G.; Varrica D. Geochemistry and Environment Edises Publisher - Naples.