Simon Fraser University
Engaging the World

Course Outlines

Fall 2022 - EASC 601 G100

Advanced Groundwater Geochemistry (3)

Class Number: 5923

Delivery Method: In Person

Overview

  • Course Times + Location:

    Sep 7 – Dec 6, 2022: Thu, 8:30–10:20 a.m.
    Burnaby

  • Exam Times + Location:

    Dec 18, 2022
    Sun, 3:30–6:30 p.m.
    Burnaby

  • Instructor:

    Diana Allen
    dallen@sfu.ca
    1 778 782-3967
    Office: TASC 1 Room 7239

  • Prerequisites:

    Undergraduate course in hydrogeology recommended (or permission of instructor).

Description

CALENDAR DESCRIPTION:

Advanced topics in understanding water-rock interactions and the geochemistry of groundwater during processes such as weathering and recharge, acid mine drainage, diagenesis and hydrothermal ore deposit formation. The course focuses on the physical and chemical principles that govern the geochemistry of groundwater with emphasis on water sample collection and analysis, chemical thermodynamics, gas-water-rock interactions and geochemical modeling.

COURSE DETAILS:

General:

Advanced topics in understanding water-rock interactions and the geochemistry of groundwater. The course focuses on the physical and chemical principles that govern the geochemistry of groundwater with emphasis on water sample collection and analysis, chemical thermodynamics, gas-water-rock interactions, groundwater hydrogeochemistry and geochemical modeling.

Course Topics:

  1. Water Quality, Sampling and Analysis
  2. Solutions, Minerals and Equilibria
  3. From Rainwater to Groundwater
  4. The Carbonate System
  5. Mineral Weathering and Silicates
  6. Clay Minerals and Ion Exchange
  7. Flow and Transport Processes
  8. Reduction Oxidation
  9. Adsorption and Trace Metals
  10. Isotopes
  11. Kinetics
  12. Geochemical Modelling (throughout course)

Course Organization:

One 2-hour lecture and one 3-hour laboratory per week. The assignments and term project are based on the theory part of the course, and these will be distributed during lab time. Students will also present short synopses of select papers and present a term research paper.

Grading

  • Lab Assignments 30%
  • Term Project 20%
  • Midterm Exam 10%
  • Final Exam 20%
  • Research Paper Presentation 15%
  • Synopses of Papers 5%

Materials

REQUIRED READING:

Appelo, C.A.J. and Postma, D.  2005. Geochemistry, Groundwater and Pollution, 2nd edition. CRC Press

Available through online access from the library
ISBN: 9781439833544

RECOMMENDED READING:

  • Morel and Hering, Principles and Applications of Aquatic Chemistry, Wiley-Interscience, 558pp. Available through online access from the library.
  • Drever, J.I., 1997. The Geochemistry of Natural Waters, Prentice Hall, Inc., 436pp.
  • Langmuir, D., 1997. Aqueous Environmental Geochemistry, Pearson/Prentice Hall, 600pp.
  • Stumm, W. and Morgan, J.J., 1996. Aquatic Chemistry. Wiley-Interscience, 1022 pp.

REQUIRED READING NOTES:

Your personalized Course Material list, including digital and physical textbooks, are available through the SFU Bookstore website by simply entering your Computing ID at: shop.sfu.ca/course-materials/my-personalized-course-materials.

Graduate Studies Notes:

Important dates and deadlines for graduate students are found here: http://www.sfu.ca/dean-gradstudies/current/important_dates/guidelines.html. The deadline to drop a course with a 100% refund is the end of week 2. The deadline to drop with no notation on your transcript is the end of week 3.

Registrar Notes:

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: YOUR WORK, YOUR SUCCESS

SFU’s Academic Integrity website http://www.sfu.ca/students/academicintegrity.html is filled with information on what is meant by academic dishonesty, where you can find resources to help with your studies and the consequences of cheating. Check out the site for more information and videos that help explain the issues in plain English.

Each student is responsible for his or her conduct as it affects the university community. Academic dishonesty, in whatever form, is ultimately destructive of the values of the university. Furthermore, it is unfair and discouraging to the majority of students who pursue their studies honestly. Scholarly integrity is required of all members of the university. http://www.sfu.ca/policies/gazette/student/s10-01.html