Study Programmes 2016-2017
GEOL0282-1  
Sedimentary and environmental geochemistry
Duration :
20h Th, 20h Pr
Number of credits :
Master in geography : climatology (120 ECTS)3
Lecturer :
Nathalie Fagel
Language(s) of instruction :
French language
Organisation and examination :
Teaching in the first semester, review in January
Units courses prerequisite and corequisite :
Prerequisite or corequisite units are presented within each program
Learning unit contents :
Introduction to sedimentary and environmental geochemistry
The course will be divided in two parts.
The fisrt part will be dedicated to the distribution of the elements in the geochemical earth reservoirs and the influences of the sedimentary processes on the exchanges between the reservoirs and their compoitions.
The second part will be focused on environmental contamination. Human perturbations, in particular related to mining activies, will be evidenced in soils and sedimentary archives. Three groups of elemnst will be investigated: the element trace metals, the nutriments (N, P, S) and the radioactive elements.
Examples from literature and from own projects.
Learning outcomes of the learning unit :
To understand the geochemical approach.

At the end the students should be able to play with some geochemical tools in order to interpret geochemical profiles in sedimentary records, to identify the origin of the main supplies, to decipher between natural and anthropogenic contributions,...
Prerequisite knowledge and skills :
basic knowledge of general chemistry and thermodynamics.
Planned learning activities and teaching methods :
TP - varoious kind of exercices with computer (bring your laptop if any). Calculation from database using simple spreadsheet (e.g., excel). Research on Internet. Use of specific softwares.
Mode of delivery (face-to-face ; distance-learning) :
The cursus will be given the first semester (2h theory followed by 2h exercices). The course will be given in French, the slides are in English.
Theory - Powerpoint of main concept.
TP:
Various exercises : Calculation from database using simple spreadsheet (e.g., excel); bibliographical research; application of specified software,...
Laptop requested.
Note the presence during TP is mandatory.
Recommended or required readings :
Written support & Copy of slidesavailable
Assessment methods and criteria :
Examination will include two parts.
Theory - Individual oral examination (15 minutes + preparation - 60% of final quotation). Comments of figures and/or tables presented during the lectures.
TP - (a) Written report of the TP (1-2 page for each TP - 20% of final quotation). (b) Bibliographic research on one topic selected among a given selection. Maximum 2 students. Oral synthesis in 10 minutes (evaluation = 20%).
Work placement(s) :
Organizational remarks :
Lectures will start on monday 9/9 from 8.30 am (local R88, Buildoing R88).
Contacts :
Nathalie Fagel, Chargée de cours, Department of Geology. UR AGEs - Argiles, Géochimie et Environnements sédimentaires Sart Tilman, B18, Allée du 6 Août, B-4000 Liège Tel: 04/366.22.09 Fax: 04/366.2029 e-mail: nathalie.fagel@ulg.ac.be www. ages.ulg.ac.be