Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry
North Dakota State University
GEOLOGY / CHEMISTRY 428 / 628:
Geochemistry
Syllabus
Dates: Spring Semester 2025
Time: Tuesday and Thursday, 11:00 am - 12:15 p.m.
Location:Sugihara Hall 248
Instructor: B. Saini-Eidukat, office Sugihara Hall 208, tel 701-231-8785
email: bernhardt.sainieiduk@ndsu.edu
Office Hours:Wed 9:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. or by appointment
Text: Faure, G., Principles and Applications of Geochemistry, 2nd ed., Prentice Hall
Web Site: http://www.ndsu.edu/pubweb/~sainieid/geochem/
This course provides a non-laboratory introduction to aqueous geochemistry. The prerequisites are Chemistry 121 or 150. We will examine chemistry of the Earth, groundwater, isotopes, global geochemical cycles, geochemical modeling, and environmental geochemistry. The course will be taught as a combination of lectures, in-class exercises and discussion, guest speakers, homework assignments, and student presentations.
| Faure Chapter | Topic |
| 1 and 4: all; 2 and 3: skim; 7: portions; 8.5: p. 105 - 106 | What is the Earth made of? Geochemical classification of the elements; Review of Earth materials; element abundances in the lithosphere and hydrosphere |
| 9 | Chemical equilibria; acids and bases |
| 10 | Solubility of solids: carbonate equilibria; K-feldspar-kaolinite reactions |
| 11 | Thermodynamics; activities |
| 12, 13 | Mineral stability diagrams; clay minerals |
| 14 | Oxidation-reduction reactions and Eh-pH diagrams |
| 17 | Isotopes in water chemistry |
| outside readings | Organic materials in geochemistry |
| portions of 19 - 25 | Applications of geochemistry; consequences of weathering; composition of surface waters; geochemical modeling; selected areas of interest |
Student Project Reports:
Short Oral Presentations
Written Reports (for graduate students)
Intended Student Outcomes:
Examinations and Grading:
Grading will be based on three exams (short answer, multiple choice and essay), occasional quizzes, approximately six homework assignments, and a project. Each person will undertake an independent class project on some aspect of Aqueous Geochemistry, and will present results as a short class presentation. Graduate students will be required to submit a paper based on their class project.
| Grading: | |
|---|---|
| Three exams | 60 % |
| Quizzes and homework | 20% |
| Term Project: | 20% |
The final letter grade will be assigned based on the following table, unless the class average deviates significantly from 75%. In the latter case, a "curve" will be applied.
| Exam Dates: | |
|---|---|
| Exam 1 | (To Be Announced) |
| Exam 2 | (To Be Announced) |
| Exam 3 | Tuesday, May 13, 1:00 pm |
Special Needs: Any students who need special accommodations for learning or who have special needs are invited to share these concerns or requests with the instructor as soon as possible.
Academic Responsibility: All work in this course must be completed in a manner consistent with NDSU University Senate Policy, section 335: Code of Academic Responsibility and Conduct (https://www.ndsu.edu/fileadmin/policy/335.pdf)
This syllabus is subject to revision.