- BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE MODULE
This module has two components. Component one on Hydrology deals with the water cycle where some concepts like precipitation, evaporation, soil moisture / infiltration, groundwater and surface water will be discussed. The second component on Dynamic equilibria deals with environmental interactions and the main geochemical cycle; anthroposphere and industrial ecosystems; Speciation and remediation of some selected heavy metals with negative impact on the ecosystem.
- LEARNING OUTCOMES
At the end of the module the student should be able to:
- Describe clearly the hydrological cycle
- Explain clearly the concept of precipitation, evaporation, soil moisture / infiltration, groundwater and surface water
- Establish links between the above mentioned concepts
- Distinguish different environmental compartments
- Describe different equilibria of elemental geochemical cycle
- Describe different organometallic compounds cycles of tin, lead and mercury
- Interpret and discuss the pourbaix diagrams of lead, mercury, tin, chromium and arsenic
- Explain the speciation of heavy metals, their equilibria and their toxicity.
- Advise on remediation and recycling processes
Welcome Notes
Dear Participants,
This is to welcome you once again to this very interesting Module (CHM Earth Science).
This course will introduce you to principals of crystallochemistry, Various diffraction techniques including X-ray crystallography and X-ray diffraction, the only widely used techniques for determination of accurate structural data at the atomic and molecular level, Introduction to Geology, Minerals Constituting the Rocks, Optical properties of the Minerals and Earth in Space and in Time.
Objectives
- The aim is to prepare students to know how to use this and related techniques in various fields such as synthetic and analytic, organic and inorganic chemistry, metal-organic materials and frameworks, materials science, pharmaceutical sciences, and geochemistry.
- This module also encloses the geochemistry and geology of earth; geological and geochemical processes; genetic and descriptive mineralogy; the optical properties of the minerals; the minerals that have economical impact; application of spectroscopic methods.
Course Graduate Attributes & Learning Outcomes
- General introduction to crystallochemistry
- Basics and theoretical concepts of diffraction techniques
- Geological and chemical composition of earth and solar system and Major aspect of geology and geochemistry of Rwanda
- Understand in particular the Rwanda mineralogical and geological aspects
- Geological processes; petrography, rock alteration and soil formation, volcanism and earth quake, tectonic process.
Course Facilitators:
Dr. Gratien Habarurema (habatheos@gmail.com), Phone: +250788887035 (Module leader)
Dr. Digne Rwabuhungu (drwabuhu@gmail.com), Phone: +250788665258
For more details about the moodle/topic, you can contact any of the above-mentioned Lectures, and we are thankful to all your contribution.