Problems in Geochemistry - supplemental college coursework

Problems in Geochemistry

A self-guided course of study in geochemistry and statistics with a focus on environmental and archaeological applications

for preparation of junior-senior level geology majors

by Russ Colson

(colson@mnstate.edu)

Course Description: This independent study self-learning module provides a guided opportunity to practice applying concepts from an applied geochemistry course through science reasoning challenges, real-world geology problems, and self-guided labs. Problems include applying geochemical principles to interpretation of archaeological and environmental data with consideration of statistics, analytical methods, phase chemistry, isotopes, and chemical partitioning, with a review of phase diagrams, including fence diagrams, 1- and 2-components phase diagrams, Bowen's Reaction Series, and the Le Chatelier Principle.

Each of the lessons below provides both a topical review (sometimes brief enough that you may need to supplement with outside reading), often with recorded asynchronous lectures, and a set of self-guided lab exercises that engage you in applying the topical concepts to science reasoning challenges or real-world problems. These are substantive online labs, many requiring statistical and conceptual reasoning and problem solving, and should be done slowly and carefully so as to figure out the concepts involved, with the exercise of figuring it out being more valuable than the ‘answer’ that comes at the end.

These materials are appropriate for a 1-2 semester credit college course, meaning that 60 hours is a reasonable time to complete the course. These lessons are intended as a supplement to a concurrent course in applied geochemistry, although a person with a strong science background and a willingness to do the suggested online readings and work through the lessons slowly and carefully might successfully navigate this course independently.

Review:

Gold, Pollution, and Farmland Part 1 Lecture: Geochemical differentiation (12:57 min)

Gold, Pollution, and Farmland Text Part 1 Text: Partitioning puzzles, interactive text

Gold, Pollution, and Farmland Part 2 Lecture: Core formation, Ore formation and Pollutant migration (25:48 min)

Gold, Pollution, and Farmland Part 2 Text: Core formation, Ore formation, and Pollutant migration, interactive text

Phase diagrams:

Chemistry and Phase Diagrams in Geology: Lecture

Phase Diagrams in Aqueous Geochemistry: Interactive Text

Aqueous Geochemistry and Ore Deposits: Interactive Text

Bowen's Reaction Series and Phase Diagrams, Introductory Lecture

Introductory Test of Bowen's Reaction Series and Phase Diagrams, Interactive Text

Mineralogy-1 and 2-Component Phase Diagrams