CEG8605 : Aqueous Geochemistry
- Offered for Year: 2022/23
- Module Leader(s): Professor Neil Gray
- Owning School: Natural and Environmental Sciences
- Teaching Location: Newcastle City Campus
Semesters
| Semester 1 Credit Value: | 10 |
| ECTS Credits: | 5.0 |
Aims
The aim of this module is to introduce some of the techniques that are used to quantify geochemical reactions between dissolved species & mineral phases.
Outline Of Syllabus
Equilibrium, disequilibrium and the Law of Mass Action.
Activity and activity coefficients.
Acids, bases and alkalinity.
Practical equilibrium thermodynamics.
Redox geochemistry; Eh-pH diagrams.
Computer-based geochemical modelling: practice and pitfalls.
Teaching Methods
Teaching Activities
| Category | Activity | Number | Length | Student Hours | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Guided Independent Study | Assessment preparation and completion | 1 | 4:00 | 4:00 | Completion of the Geochemists Workbench workshop |
| Guided Independent Study | Assessment preparation and completion | 1 | 15:00 | 15:00 | Geochemical calculation exercise |
| Structured Guided Learning | Lecture materials | 10 | 1:00 | 10:00 | Online lecture material |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Practical | 1 | 7:00 | 7:00 | Series of guided exercises that can be completed by individual or small groups of students over a nu |
| Guided Independent Study | Directed research and reading | 1 | 20:00 | 20:00 | Directed research of module topics |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Workshops | 6 | 2:00 | 12:00 | Self-driven calculation exercises |
| Guided Independent Study | Reflective learning activity | 1 | 3:00 | 3:00 | Reflective learning |
| Guided Independent Study | Independent study | 29 | 1:00 | 29:00 | Lecture write-up and background reading |
| Total | 100:00 |
Teaching Rationale And Relationship
Specialist knowledge and understanding are primarily imparted via online lecture classes, supported by small group teaching sessions and computer-hosted reference materials. Subject specific skills are taught through a computer-based workshop (practical).
Students are encouraged and expected to learn through reflection and independent reading. They are supported in this by the provision of an extensive, but prioritised, reading list. Observations and discussions during the modelling workshop and small group teaching sessions sessions aid development of understanding. Subject specific skills are learnt through participation in, and reflection on, the small group teaching (tutorial) exercises and computer-based workshop and through completion of geochemical calculations (summative coursework assessment).
Key skills are practised through participation in the computer-based workshop.
Assessment Methods
The format of resits will be determined by the Board of Examiners
Other Assessment
| Description | Semester | When Set | Percentage | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Report | 1 | M | 100 | Aqueous Geochemistry calculation exercise (maximum of 10 pages) |
Formative Assessments
| Description | Semester | When Set | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Written exercise | 1 | M | Practical write up - to be completed during the Geochemists workbench workshop |
Assessment Rationale And Relationship
The specialist knowledge and understanding imparted during this module are assessed by means the successful completion of the final computer based guided practical and its report in a piece of coursework and a single coursework item (a thermodynamic calculation exercise which employs a range of approaches in order to accurately assess student abilities with short essay, calculation and data interpretation components
An alternative assessment will be set for any Semester 1 Study Abroad student taking this module, who will not be in Newcastle during the January assessment period.
Reading Lists
Timetable
- Timetable Website: www.ncl.ac.uk/timetable/
- CEG8605's Timetable