Undergraduate Course: Practical Geochemistry and Data Analysis (EASC10103)
Course Outline
| School | School of Geosciences |
College | College of Science and Engineering |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 10 (Year 3 Undergraduate) |
Availability | Not available to visiting students |
| SCQF Credits | 20 |
ECTS Credits | 10 |
| Summary | This course will provide an overview of a range of geochemical tools used on GeoSciences, and will provide practical hands-on experience of the procedures required to produce geochemical data. The course will also provide training in the use of computer programming and its application to data analysis using geochemical examples. The course will develop students' ability in generation and testing of scientific hypotheses and in the communication of scientific findings through report writing. |
| Course description |
May be subject to change
Week 1: Basic Programming and Data Visualisation
Week 2: Regression
Week 3: Multivariate Regression (online programming test)
Week 4: Time Series Analysis
Week 5: Spatial Correlations
Week 6: Numerical solution of differential equations
Week 7: Probability
Week 8: Overview
Geochemical Theory: Semester 1, Weeks 1-8 (1.5 hour lecture/practicals)
Week 1: Background/Introduction to the use of geochemistry in GeoSciences
Week 2: Element portioning 1
Week 3: Element portioning 2 (+practical 1.5 hours)
Week 4: Stable isotope fractionation (theory)
Week 5: Stable isotope fractionation (practice) (+practical 1.5 hours)
Week 6: Radioactive decay and geochronology (+practical 1.5 hours)
Week 7: Radiogenic isotopes/paleoceanography/and sampling (+practical 1.5 hours)
Week 8: Interpreting sediment Geochemistry (EG students); Radiogenic isotopes and dating (Geol students)
Week 10: Revision seminar
Laboratory measurements: Semester 1, week 10 and Semester 2 Weeks 1-5 (3 hour sessions, effectively 1/2 days) [ the timing of these analytical sessions will likely have to be spread out over Sem 1 and 2 due to availability of facilities and time available for students to prepare samples.
Semester 1, Week 10:
Introduction to geochemical methods and introduction to the mini-project (EG/Geology specific)
Students placed into groups of 4
Semester, Weeks 1-4
Each group will do 4 types of geochemical measurement: XRF/XRD, ICP (or solution based analysis), SEM (image and spot analyses), Colourimetry or Titration
Each group will have 3 hours of supervision per technique to prepare samples for analysis. This preparation time will include a brief description of the physics that underpins each of the measurement techniques. This background on each of the methods will be reinforced with online learning materials and a short online test.
Mini-project write-up support (Semester 2, weeks 5-8)
Week 5: 1st mini-project tutorial (1/2 hour)
Groups of 4 will present their data to a tutor and will outline what scientific questions their reports will be based around.
Semester 2: Week 6 Lecture on Report writing
Semester 2: weeks 6-7 Individual tutorial (1/2 hour)
Each student will bring revised scientific questions with proposed/initial data analyses for feedback and guidance.
Semester 2: weeks 8 or 9 Hand in final Report
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Course Delivery Information
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| Academic year 2017/18, Not available to visiting students (SS1)
|
Quota: None |
| Course Start |
Full Year |
Timetable |
Timetable |
| Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) |
Total Hours:
200
(
Lecture Hours 13,
Seminar/Tutorial Hours 1,
Supervised Practical/Workshop/Studio Hours 39,
Revision Session Hours 1,
Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 4,
Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours
142 )
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| Assessment (Further Info) |
Written Exam
25 %,
Coursework
75 %,
Practical Exam
0 %
|
| Additional Information (Assessment) |
Written exam 25%
Coursework 75%
Assessment will consist of:
1. Online programming test (semester 1, week 3 or 4) 25%
3. Exam (end of sem 1) 25%
4. Mini Project Report (submitted sem 2) 50%
In class programming test sem 1 week 9
Theory exam sem 1 Dec diet
Preliminary report submission sem 2 week 6
Final report submission sem 2 week 9
|
| Feedback |
Feedback on the programming aspect of the course will be provided during the practical sessions.
Feedback on geochemical theory will be provided in a revision session and via Q&A hosted on a Learn discussion forum.
Feedback on the analytical project hypotheses constructions and write up will be via a set of tutorials in semester 2. |
| Exam Information |
| Exam Diet |
Paper Name |
Hours & Minutes |
|
| Main Exam Diet S1 (December) | | 1:30 | |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- Develop an understanding of the fundamental science that underpins a range of inorganic geochemistry tools for Earth Scientists
- Appreciate the processes that are required to extract accurate geochemical data from natural samples
- Acquire skills in computer programming
- Develop an understanding of a range of data processing/analysis techniques and the ability to determine suitable data analysis approaches to test hypotheses
- Be able to identify suitable scientific objectives that can be addressed with geochemical measurements, and suitable data analysis
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Reading List
William M. White. (n.d.). Geochemistry.
Francis Albarède. (2009). Geochemistry: An Introduction (Second edition..). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Hugh R. Rollinson (Hugh Richard), 1949-. (1993). Using geochemical data: evaluation, presentation, interpretation. Harlow: Longman Scientific & Technical.
John C. Davis. (2002). Statistics and data analysis in geology (Third edition..). New York; Chichester: John Wiley.
Steve McKillup. (2010). Geostatistics Explained: An Introductory Guide for Earth Scientists. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Ellam Rob. (2016). Isotopes: A Very Short Introduction (1st ed., p. 152).
David. Waltham. (2000). Mathematics: a simple tool for geologists (Second edition..). Oxford: Blackwell Science.
Essential maths for geoscientists: an introduction. (2014). Chichester, West Sussex: John Wiley & Sons, Incorporated.
Tom Scott. (n.d.). One simple interview question. YouTube.
Additional Journal articles will be provided for relevant lectures
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Additional Information
| Graduate Attributes and Skills |
Not entered |
| Keywords | Geomaterials,Evolution of the Living Earth,Earth Modelling and Prediction |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Dr Alex Thomas
Tel: (0131 6)50 8749
Email: Alex.Thomas@ed.ac.uk |
Course secretary | Miss Eilein Fraser
Tel: (0131 6)50 5430
Email: Eilein.Fraser@ed.ac.uk |
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