Hydrogeochemistry

Lectures:

• Introduction. Chemical and physical properties of water, surface and ground water, oceans. Chemical equilibrium, kinetics, solubility, saturation index.
• Measurements and analyses, techniques, accuracy and analytical errors, laboratories and standards.
• Composition of natural surface and ground waters. TDS, conductivity, hardness, major, minor and trace elements in waters, gases, radioactive species. Physical properties (smell, turbidity, conductivity).
• Influences on water composition: origin and values of ions in water environment, water-rock interaction. Carbonate and SiO2 systems.
• Chemical reactions and processes in aquatic environment: reactions, precipitation/dissolution, speciation and complexation, redox reactions, mixing, sorption, ion exchange, evaporation, temperature influence, karstification, transport.
• Numerical modeling of hydrogeochemical processes and reactions, quantitative calculations. Inverse modeling, determination of origin and changes of ground waters.
• Classification of waters and facies.
• Thermal and thermomineral waters.
• Isotopes in hydrogeochemistry (fractionation, values, age dating, geothermometers).
• Pollutants and water protection.
• Display of water composition by maps and geochemical diagrams (Piper, Durov, Schoeller…).
• Water legislation on composition and quality of surface and ground waters.
• Presentation of recent actual activities and problems.

Exercises:

Calculation and computer exercises (hand calculations, MS Excel, geochemical software Phreeqc for Windows).