Analytical Techniques in Earth and Environmental Science

EART33001 Analytical Techniques in Earth and Environmental Science 10 Semester 1 Undergraduate Level 6 Romain Tartese Unit coordinator 1 FHEQ level (Framework for Higher Education Qualifications) ' Last part of a Bachelors ' European Credit Transfer & Accumulation System Rating : 5.0 This unit will cover X-ray and vibrational spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, diffraction, tomography, electron beam analysis, and DNA sequencing technologies. Examples will be drawn from petrology, geochemistry, environmental chemistry, palaeontology, and other areas of Earth and Environmental sciences to illustrate key points.Modern research relies on a range of instruments, thus once the core concepts are established new and more specialist methods will be introduced. A 1-hour lecture will outline the basic theory for each method, which will be followed by a 2-hour practical exercise to explore their capabilities and limitations. Discussions during practicals and lectures will include concrete examples of recent research applications and data processing.   This unit will cover X-ray and vibrational spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, diffraction, tomography, electron beam analysis, and DNA sequencing technologies. Examples will be drawn from petrology, geochemistry, environmental chemistry, palaeontology, and other areas of Earth and Environmental sciences to illustrate key points.Modern research relies on a range of instruments, thus once the core concepts are established new and more specialist methods will be introduced. A 1-hour lecture will outline the basic theory for each method, which will be followed by a 2-hour practical exercise to explore their capabilities and limitations. Discussions during practicals and lectures will include concrete examples of recent research applications and data processing.   <div> The aim of this course is to teach the student the fundamental physical and chemical principles which underpin modern analytical methods in Earth and Environmental Science research. This knowledge is fundamental to a career as a practicing scientist in these fields.</div>  <figure class="table" style="width:500px;"><table border="1" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1"><tbody><tr><td colspan="2" rowspan="1">On the successful completion of the course, students will be able to:</td><td>Developed</td><td>Assessed</td></tr><tr><td>ILO 1</td><td>Describe a range of analytical methods used in Earth and Environmental Sciences.</td><td>X</td><td>X</td></tr><tr><td>ILO 2</td><td>Summarise some cutting edge developments in analytical methodology.</td><td>X</td><td>X</td></tr><tr><td>ILO 3</td><td>Solve basic calculations that relate key variables (energy, wavelength) of electromagnetic radiations. </td><td>X</td><td>X</td></tr><tr><td>ILO 4</td><td>Illustrate how some of the methods studied might be adapted to new applications. </td><td>X</td><td>X</td></tr><tr><td>ILO 5</td><td>Design ad-hoc research protocols using the knowledge gained during the course. </td><td>X</td><td>X</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>  Lecture 1 – Introduction (RT)Introduction to the range of analytical techniques available to the geologist and environmental scientist. Which analytical method is suitable for a given problem.No practical the first week.   Lecture 2 - X-ray Diffraction (RT)Practical - Techniques for bulk solid characterisation. Theory and practical exercises. Lecture 3 - ICP-OES/ICP-MS (RT)Inductively Coupled Plasma - Optical Emission Spectrometry and Mass Spectrometry. Practical - Fundamentals of ICP spectrometry.   Lecture 4 - Scanning Electron Microscopy & Electron Probe Micro Analysis (RT)Practical – Back-scattered and secondary electron imaging. Quantitative spatially resolved mineral analysis. Energy and wavelength dispersive analysis. Quantification of results. Calculation of mineral formula. First assessed practical, due practical 5. Lecture 5 – Analysis of solids by mass spectrometry (RT)Practical – LA-ICP-MS and SIMS: ion beam physics, mass resolution, analytical protocols, data processing and quantification. Lecture 6 – Raman and FTIR Spectroscopy (RT)Practical – Spectroscopy techniques applied to fluids, gasses, and solids. Lecture 7 – X-ray Absorption Spectroscopy (RT)Practical – Extended X-ray Absorption Fine Structure (EXAFS) and X-ray Absorption Near Edge Structure (XANES). Lecture 8 - X-ray Computed Tomography (MB)Practical - Magnification, reconstruction, beam hardening, data analysis, filters, spatial resolution.Second assessed practical, due practical 9. Lecture 9 – Liquid and Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (MB)Practical – Interpreting different types of chromatograms. Lecture 10 – Proteomics and Genomics (MB)Practical – Interpreting tandem mass spectra and protein BLAST searching; Interpreting DNA sequencing data and phylogenetic analyses with MEGA. Lecture 11 - Review Session (RT & MB)  Each week, lectures will cover the theory behind each analytical method.  This will be complemented by relevant material, made available on Canvas at least one week in advance of each lecture.   Practical sessions will then reinforce the knowledge acquired during lectures, and explore with concrete examples and exercises how we use each method in practise. Selected practical exercises will be assessed, normally 2 throughout the semester. They will be due the following week. Worked practicals will be posted on Blackboard after the session each week (or after assessments are complete for the assessed practicals). The final week will include a revision session for which the students may submit detailed questions concerning the material. This will form the basis of an overview presentation to ensure that the material is understood as clearly as possible. 1 Written exam 50% 3 Report 25% 8 Practical skills assessment 25% <figure class="table"><table border="1" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="0"><tbody><tr><td style="height:68px;width:102px;">Assessment type</td><td style="height:68px;width:85px;">% Weighting within unit</td><td style="height:68px;width:76px;">Hand out and hand in dates</td><td style="height:68px;width:85px;">Length </td><td style="height:68px;width:170px;">How, when and what feedback is provided</td><td style="height:68px;width:123px;">ILO tested</td></tr><tr><td style="height:101px;width:102px;">Report-Assessed Practical 1</td><td style="height:101px;width:85px;">25</td><td style="height:101px;width:76px;">Week 4Week 5</td><td style="height:101px;width:85px;">As appropriate</td><td style="height:101px;width:170px;">Via turnitin, 2 weeks afterwards</td><td style="height:101px;width:123px;">1,3,5</td></tr><tr><td style="height:101px;width:102px;">Report- Assessed Practical 2</td><td style="height:101px;width:85px;">25</td><td style="height:101px;width:76px;">Week 8Week 9</td><td style="height:101px;width:85px;">As appropriate</td><td style="height:101px;width:170px;">Via turnitin, 1 week afterwards</td><td style="height:101px;width:123px;">1,3,5</td></tr><tr><td style="height:101px;width:102px;">Final Examination</td><td style="height:101px;width:85px;">50</td><td style="height:101px;width:76px;">Exam period</td><td style="height:101px;width:85px;">1 hour 30 minutes</td><td style="height:101px;width:170px;">As scheduled</td><td style="height:101px;width:123px;">All</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>  BSc (Hons) Earth and Plan Scie BSc (Hons) Earth (Geology) Third Year Optional BSc (Hons) Earth and Plan Scie BSc (Hons) Earth (Planet Sci) Third Year Optional BSc (Hons) Earth and Plan Scie BSc (Hons) Earth (Geochemistr) Third Year Mandatory BSc (Hons) Earth and Plan Scie BSc (Hons) Earth (Resources) Third Year Optional BSc (Hons) Earth and Plan Scie BSc(Hons)Earth&Plan Sci-Palaeo Third Year Mandatory MEarthSci (Hons) Ea and Pl Sci MEarthSci (Hons) Earth (Geolo) Third Year Optional MEarthSci (Hons) Ea and Pl Sci MEarthSci (Hons) Earth (Plane) Third Year Optional MEarthSci (Hons) Ea and Pl Sci MEarthSci (Hons) Earth (Geoch) Third Year Mandatory MEarthSci (Hons) Ea and Pl Sci MEarthSci (Hons) Earth (Resou) Third Year Optional MEarthSci (Hons) Ea and Pl Sci MEarthSci (Hons) Earth (Palae) Third Year Mandatory MEarthSci (Hons) Earth Industr MEarthSci EPS w IE (GeoChem) Third Year Mandatory MEarthSci (Hons) Earth Industr MEarthSci EPS Yr Industry (ER) Third Year Optional MEarthSci (Hons) Earth Abroad MEarthSci EPS Abroad (PS) Third Year Optional MEarthSci (Hons) Earth Abroad MEarthSci EPS w YA (Geochem) Third Year Mandatory MEarthSci (Hons) Earth Abroad MEarthSci EPS Abroad (ER) Third Year Optional MEarthSci (Hons) Earth Abroad MEarthSci EPS Yr Abroad (Pala) Third Year Mandatory BSc (Hons) Environmental Sci BSc (Hons) Envir Science (PEP) Third Year Optional BSc (Hons) Environmental Sci BSc (Hons) Env Science (EECB) Third Year Optional BSc (Hons) Environmental Sci BSc(Hons) Envir Science (ACS) Third Year Optional MEnvSci Environmental Science MEnvSci Environ Science (EECB) Third Year Optional MEnvSci Environmental Science MEnvSci Environ Science (ACS) Third Year Optional MEnvSci Env Sci with Ind Exp MEnvSci Env Sci with IE (EECB) Third Year Optional MEnvSci Env Sci with Ind Exp MEnvSci Env Sci with IE (ACS) Third Year Optional MEnvSci Env Sci with Int Study MEnvSci Env Sci with IS (EECB) Third Year Optional MEnvSci Env Sci with Int Study MEnvSci Env Sci with IS (ACS) Third Year Optional MEarthSci (Hons) EPS with Res MEarthSci (H) EPS (ER) with Re Third Year Optional MEarthSci (Hons) EPS with Res MEaSc (H) EPS w R (GeoChem) Third Year Mandatory MEarthSci (Hons) EPS with Res MEaSc (H) EPS (Plan Sci) w Res Third Year Optional MEarthSci (Hons) EPS with Res MEaSc (H) EPS (Paleo) with Res Third Year Mandatory MEnvSci (Hons) Env Sci w Resea MEnSc (H) Env Sci (PEP) w Res Third Year Optional MEnvSci (Hons) Env Sci w Resea MEnSc (H) Env Sci w RP (ACS) Third Year Optional MEnvSci (Hons) Env Sci w Resea MEnSc (H) En Sc (EECB) with RP Third Year Optional N GeneralGill R. (1997) Modern Analytical Geochemistry: An Introduction to Quantitative Chemical Analysis Techniques for Earth, Environmental and Materials Scientists.Potts P.J. (1987) A Handbook of Silicate Rock Analysis.Putnis A. (2012) An Introduction to Mineral Sciences.Rollinson H.R (1993) Using Geochemical Data: Evaluation, Presentation, Interpretation.  Wogelius R.A. and Vaughan D.J. (2013) Analytical, Experimental, and Computational Methods in Environmental Mineralogy, in Environmental Mineralogy II, EMU Notes in Mineralogy 13.Technique specificBoss B.B. and Fredeen K.J. (2004) Concepts, Instrumentation and Techniques in Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectrometry.Egerton R.F. (2016) Physical Principles of Electron Microscopy.Henderson G., Neuville D., and Downs R. (2015) Spectroscopic Methods in Mineralogy and Material Sciences.Mottana A. and Burragato F. (1990) Absorption spectroscopy in mineralogy.Nelms S.M. (2005) Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry Handbook.Reed S.J.B. (2005) Electron Microprobe Analysis and Scanning Electron Microscopy in Geology.  van der Heide P. (2014) Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry: an introduction to principles and practices.  Lectures 11 Practical classes & workshops 18 0 71 <figure class="table"><table border="1" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="0"><tbody><tr><td style="height:68px;width:139px;"> </td><td style="height:68px;width:85px;">Type</td><td style="height:9.75pt;padding:0cm;width:169.5pt;" width="226">Example student activity  </td><td style="height:68px;width:75px;">Total Hours</td><td style="height:68px;width:160px;">New material</td><td style="height:68px;width:104px;">Consolidation and Practice</td></tr><tr><td style="height:39px;width:139px;">Contact time (students are in front of staff)</td><td style="height:39px;width:85px;">Lecture (new material)</td><td style="height:39px;width:75px;">Mostly listening & taking notes (mostly new material)</td><td style="height:39px;width:75px;">10</td><td style="height:39px;width:160px;">10</td><td style="height:39px;width:104px;"> </td></tr><tr><td> </td><td>Lecture (revision/examples)</td><td>Mostly listening & taking notes (no new material- revision of course)</td><td>1</td><td> </td><td>1</td></tr><tr><td style="height:101px;width:139px;"> </td><td style="height:101px;width:85px;">Practical (new material and practice. Typically 25-50% of practical time is spent on new material)</td><td style="height:101px;width:75px;">Interactive individual or group work (problem solving, experiments, watching demonstrations, describing and interpreting samples, paper-based exercises, computer-based exercises)</td><td style="height:101px;width:75px;">18</td><td style="height:101px;width:160px;">6</td><td style="height:101px;width:104px;">12</td></tr><tr><td style="height:101px;width:139px;"> </td><td style="height:101px;width:85px;">Tutorial</td><td style="height:101px;width:75px;">Interactive small group work</td><td style="height:101px;width:75px;"> </td><td style="height:101px;width:160px;"> </td><td style="height:101px;width:104px;"> </td></tr><tr><td> </td><td>Seminar/examples class</td><td>Working on and discussing questions (here: field seminar)</td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td></tr><tr><td>Independent study time</td><td style="height:9.75pt;padding:0cm;width:131.5pt;" width="175">Pre/post lecture work  </td><td>Reading own notes, re-solving examples, prep work, revisit podcast</td><td>10</td><td>0</td><td>10</td></tr><tr><td> </td><td>Pre/post practical work/write up</td><td>Complete practical work, prep work, reading feedback</td><td>6</td><td>0</td><td>6</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>