GEOL0296-1

Duration

15h Th, 15h Pr, 1d FW

Number of credits

	Master in geology (120 ECTS)	4 crédits
	Master in geology (60 ECTS)	4 crédits

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

Clay minerals are present in various natural materials like soils, sediments and sedimentary rocks. They are characterized by peculiar physical and chemical properties, mainly due to their small size (micrometric scale)and sheet cristalline framework.
We will study the origins of clays and their applications in both fundamental (e.g., paleoclimatology, paleoceanography) and applied research (e.g., agronomy, landfill sites). Specific clay sample preparation and analyses will be investigated: x-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM), transmission electronic microscope (TEM), Infrared spectroscopy IR,...

Learning outcomes of the learning unit

Presentation of the variuous applications of clay geology in both fundamental and applied sciences.

Prerequisite knowledge and skills

Basic mineralogical knowledge. The main critalline structures of clay minerals will be quickly revised.

Planned learning activities and teaching methods

Study of a clay sample. Sample preparation. Analyses by X-ray diffraction and complementary techniques (e.g., ATG). Qualitative and quantitative interpretation using specific softwares (EVA, TOPAZ).

Mode of delivery (face-to-face ; distance-learning)

Course will be given during the first semester. 8 x 4h, lecture followed by exercices and sample treatment in the laboratory

Assessment methods and criteria

The examination will be divided in two parts.
A 15 minutes oral examination: after a delay for preparation, comments on figures and/or tables from the lectures (70% of the final quotation).
TP - Written report of one clay sample analysis (max. 4 pages) and oral presentation (within 5 minutes) focusing on the identification of the sample and its potential applications (30% of the final quotation).

Work placement(s)

Organizational remarks

The lectures and practises will be given during the first semester from monday 18/9 pm (2-6 pm, room B88, building B18). Any comments to improve the syllabus are welcome.

Contacts

Nathalie Fagel Professor Department of Geology.
UR AGEs - Argiles, géochimie et environnements sédimentaires. Quartier Agora, Sart-Tilman B18, 14 Allée du 6 Août, B-4000 Liège. Tél: 04/366.22.09 Fax: 04/366.20.29 E-mail: Nathalie.Fagel@ulg.ac.be Nathalie.Fagel@ulg.ac.be www.ages.ulg.ac.be

Clays and environment