Aqueous Geochemistry

3 units

Introduction to the geochemistry of natural waters and the processes that alter their composition. Key principles of aqueous geochemistry are introduced and then used to describe the main controls of the chemistry of pristine and polluted soil, surface, and ground water environments. Topics covered include mineral solubility, complexation, acids and bases, carbonate chemistry, rock weathering and clay formation, adsorption and ion exchange, redox reactions, microbial energetics and redox zonations, the geochemistry of iron, sulfur, trace elements, and radionuclides, and geochemical kinetics. Geochemical modeling will be introduced.