RIVERS STATE UNIVERSITY

NKPOLU OROWORUKWO, PORT HARCOURT.

SUBMITTED BY:
OKEY, S HADRACH FRANCIS

MAT. NO.:
DE.2021/4904

COURSE CODE:
GEO359

COURSE TITLE:
GEOCHCEMISTY

COURSE LECTURER:
PROF. H.O NWANKWOALA

ASSIGNMENT
1a. Why do we study Geochemistry?
1b. Discuss the relevance of geochemistry in geo-environmental
assessment

2a. What is Weathering?

2b. State and elaborate on the types of weathering reactions

3a. Write notes on the law of mass action and ionic strength
3b. What are the various applications of thermodynamics to the study of
geochemistry?

MAY, 2024.
 1a.
Firstly, Geochemistry is the interdisciplinary scientific study of the chemical
composition, distribution, and transformations of elements and compounds within the
Earth and other planetary bodies, as well as their interactions with geological
materials, living organisms, and the environment. It encompasses a wide range of sub-
disciplines, including but not limited to;

Cosmochemistry: Investigates the chemical composition and processes of celestial

bodies, such as planets, moons, asteroids, and meteorites, to understand their
formation and evolution.
Solid Earth Geochemistry: Focuses on the chemical composition, mineralogy, and
petrology of rocks and minerals in the Earth's crust, mantle, and core, as well as the
processes that govern their formation, alteration, and recycling through geological
time.
Hydrogeochemistry: Studies the composition and behavior of chemical elements and
compounds in surface water, groundwater, and the hydrological cycle, including their
interactions with geological formations, anthropogenic pollutants, and biological
processes.
Based on the above note here are some of the reasons why we study Geochemistry;
Understanding Earth's Processes: Geochemistry helps us understand how the Earth
formed and how it continues to evolve over time. By studying the distribution and
behavior of elements and compounds, we can learn about processes such as plate
tectonics, volcanic activity, and the formation of minerals.

Resource Exploration: Geochemistry plays a crucial role in the exploration and

extraction of natural resources such as oil, gas, minerals, and water. By analyzing the
chemical composition of rocks, soil, and water, geochemists can identify potential
deposits and assess their economic viability.

Environmental Monitoring: Geochemistry is essential for monitoring and managing

environmental pollution and degradation. By studying the distribution and movement
of contaminants in air, water, and soil, scientists can assess the impact of human
activities on ecosystems and develop strategies for remediation and conservation.

Climate Change Research: Geochemistry provides valuable insights into past

climate conditions and helps us understand the drivers of climate change. By

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analyzing isotopic ratios and trace elements in ice cores, sediment layers, and other
geological records, researchers can reconstruct past climates and predict future trends.

Planetary Exploration: Geochemistry is used to study the composition of other

planets, moons, and asteroids in our solar system. By analyzing meteorites, lunar
samples, and data from space missions, scientists can gain insights into the formation
and evolution of celestial bodies beyond Earth.

In summary, Geochemistry serves as an interdisciplinary nexus, seamlessly

integrating principles from geology, chemistry, physics, and biology. Its holistic
approach delves into the chemical intricacies of Earth and celestial bodies, unraveling
their compositions and dynamic processes. Through meticulous study, geochemists
illuminate the inner workings of natural phenomena, enabling profound insights into
our environment. Moreover, their research arms society with the knowledge needed to
confront contemporary issues head-on, from environmental degradation to resource
scarcity. In essence, geochemistry stands as a cornerstone of scientific inquiry,
enriching our comprehension of the cosmos and empowering us to tackle the
complexities of our world.
1b

Identification of Contaminants:
Geochemistry serves as a cornerstone for identifying both naturally occurring and
human-made contaminants within various environmental matrices such as soil, water
bodies, and atmospheric particles. Through meticulous analysis of elemental
concentrations and compound distributions, geochemists can accurately pinpoint the
sources of pollution and evaluate their potential impacts on environmental and human
health.

Assessment of Environmental Processes:

Within the intricate web of environmental processes like weathering, erosion,
sedimentation, and biogeochemical cycling, geochemistry offers invaluable insights
into the intricate mechanisms governing the fate and transport of pollutants. By
unraveling these processes through geochemical analyses, researchers can anticipate
how contaminants may propagate and persist over time, aiding in the formulation of
effective management and mitigation strategies.

Monitoring Environmental Changes:

Geochemical monitoring stands as a vital pillar in the continuous surveillance of
environmental quality fluctuations. Regular assessments of geochemical parameters in
soil, water, and air samples provide indispensable data for detecting trends, evaluating
the efficacy of remedial actions, and promptly addressing emerging environmental
concerns, thereby facilitating adaptive management approaches.

Evaluation of Remediation Strategies:

In the realm of environmental remediation, geochemistry plays a pivotal role in
guiding the selection and implementation of appropriate strategies for contaminated
sites. By thoroughly characterizing the chemical composition and behavior of
contaminants, geochemists can prescribe tailored remediation techniques such as
bioremediation, chemical treatment, or containment, ensuring maximal efficacy in
reducing pollutant concentrations and mitigating associated risks.

Assessment of Natural Resource Management:

Geochemical analyses offer indispensable support for the sustainable management of
precious natural resources like groundwater, soil, and minerals. Through
comprehensive examinations of the geochemical properties of these resources,
policymakers and resource managers can make well-informed decisions regarding
extraction, utilization, and conservation practices, thus minimizing adverse
environmental impacts and fostering long-term sustainability.

Prediction and Risk Assessment:

Leveraging geochemical insights, scientists can predict and assess environmental risks
associated with a spectrum of natural disasters, including earthquakes, volcanic
eruptions, and landslides. By scrutinizing geochemical indicators and precursor
signals, researchers can delineate high-risk zones vulnerable to geological hazards,
enabling the development of robust early warning systems and proactive measures to
safeguard human populations and ecosystems.

2a.
WEATHERING
Weathering simply, has to do with the breaking down or disintegration of pre-existing
rocks into finer and smaller particles known as sediments.
Weathering represents the natural transformation of rocks and minerals over extended
periods due to exposure to environmental factors. It's an essential aspect of Earth's
geological processes, involving the gradual breakdown of surface materials into
smaller fragments or altered forms. weathering processes profoundly influence the
formation of soils, sedimentary rocks, and various landforms, playing a vital role in
sculpting Earth's surface and facilitating the cycling of minerals and nutrients within
ecosystems.
This transformative process occurs through a combination of physical, chemical, and
biological mechanisms.
 2b
Weathering could occur in three forms;
1. Physical Weathering
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2. Chemical Weathering
3. Biological Weathering
1. PHYSICAL WEATHERING
Physical weathering occurs when physical processes affect the rock, such as changes
in temperature or when the rock is exposed to the effects of wind, rain and waves.
Water can get into cracks in a rock and, if it freezes, the ice will expand and push the
cracks apart.
ELEMENTS OF PHYSICAL WEATHERING;
i. Abrasion
ii. Frost and thaw
iii. Pressure release (uploading)
iv. Thermal Cycling

1. ABRASION:
This is the most common element of physical weathering. The agents that could lead
to abrasion are
a. Water
b. Wind
c. Glacier
d. Gravity
Abrasion occurs when sediments rub or grind against each other. It occurs due to the
frictional movement of sediments against each other. For abrasion to occur there are
two required conditions
a) The sediment(s) must be in transport
b) There must be more than one sediment in transport or otherwise there must be a
bed rock which is not taking part in the transportation.
MAJOR FACTOR AFFECTING ABRASION
MINERALOGY OF THE SEDIMENT(S): Different Minerals react differently to
abrasion, not all minerals wear away or weather at the same rate. Some minerals are
harder than others and they are more resistant to weathering than the softer minerals.
So many others factors.
IMPORTANT FACTORS TO DRAW OUT FROM ABRASION
 a. During transportation the grainsizes of sediments reduce due to abrasion,
therefore the father the sediments travel the smaller they get in size.
b. Abrasion increases the roundness of a sediment: this simply means that
abrasion smoothens a sediment, by smoothening the sharp edges of the
sediments due to the rubbing of sediments against themselves or against the 4
bed rock. From this it could be inferred that transported sediments increase
the roundness as they are being transported. This is only valid if there is no
fresh breakage of sediments.
Note: Roundness of sediments increases away from the source of the sediments
provide there is no fresh breakage of sediments, which also implies that round and
grainsize can be used to determine direction of sediment transport.

ii. FROST AND THAW

This kind of physical weathering is not common in our environment because we do
not have the necessary climate condition required for it to take place. Frost and Thaw
requires a climate where the temperature swings between freezing point (0 o), below
freezing point (<0oC) and normal liquid temperature (>0 oC). for frost and Thaw to
take place it means there is a pre-existing crack and fissure in the rock through which
water can seep in. this water that seeps in may initiate chemical weathering, but at this
point our main concern is physical weathering. When this water in the rock freezes the
volume increase by 9%. Due to this increase in volume, the rock expands with this,
with time more water, seeps into the rock and when they freeze the rock keeps
expanding. This process will continue up to extent where the rock finally gets broken
down. Rocks or sediments that break out from the frost and thaw kind of physical
weathering are known as TALUS. This is useful for paleoclimatic reconstruction.

Note: It is very important to note that during physical weathering the mineralogy of
the rock never changes, it typically remains intact regardless of the mode of physical
weathering be it by abrasion, frost and thaw or by pressure release or thermal cycling.

2. CHEMICAL WEATHERING
Chemical weathering typical changes the mineralogy or mineral compositions of the
rocks. It leads to a chemical reaction which leads to the change in the mineralogy of
the rock.
AGENTS OF CHEMICAL WEATHERMING
i. Acid – Carbonation
ii. Oxygen – Oxidation
iii. Water – Hydrolyses, Hydration
i. ACID:
Rainwater results due to the evaporation of water vapour from the ocean min most
cases. When this water goes to the atmosphere, it is supposed to condense and
precipitate back as non-acidic but due to the considerable amount of carbon dioxide 5
(CO2) present in the atmosphere the water will react with the carbon dioxide (CO 2) to
form a carbonic acid
H2O + CO2  H2CO3
Carbonic acid is a weak acid, if it falls on human body it has no effect. If this carbonic
acid (H2CO3) seeps into a rock through the cracks and fissures of the rock containing
minerals soluble in the acid for instance calcite, the calcite is going to be dissolved
and then the rock is weakened. This kind of chemical weathering is known as
CARBONATION.
Note: We must not have an acid rain for carbonation to occur
ii. OXYGEN
Rocks contain metals, if oxygen reacts with a metal, it will form a metallic oxide
(rust), this process is known as oxidation. During this process of oxidation, the
metallic minerals are broken down. For example, if oxygen reacts with iron minerals
in a rock, it will form an iorn oxide e.g Fe2O3 (hematite).
Oxidation is the reason why some sedimentary rocks has reddish brown in the field,
indicating that oxidation form of weathering has taken place.
iii. WATER
The action of water on rocks leads to hydration and hydrolysis
Hydration: In hydration the action of water on the rock changes entirely the
mineralogy of the rock. For example, a mineral known as anhydrite changes to
gypsum when it reacts with water.
Hydrolysis: In hydrolysis the water reacts with the minerals and dissolves the mineral
forming a solution, either acid solution or salt solution. In many rocks for example,
sodium minerals interact with water to form a saltwater solution.
Note: in hydration a new mineral is formed but in hydrolysis a new mineral is not
formed, rather a solution is formed, it could be an acid solution or a salt solution.

3. BIOLOGICAL WEATHERING
Biological weathering seems to be chemical weathering, but because it is causes by
plants and animals it is classified as biological weathering. Certain microorganisms,
plants and fungi in rocks produce organic acids or compounds that act as chelating
agents. This chelates helps to break down minerals in rocks leading to biological
weathering. One of the organism that lead to biological weathering is;
Lichen: when it grows on rock surfaces it induces an acid known as chelate which
slowly weakens the minerals bonds, causing the rock to break down over time.
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3a.
THE LAW OF MASS ACTION
The law of mass action elucidates the relationship between the concentrations of
reactants and the rate of a chemical reaction. Simply put, it asserts that the rate of a
reaction is directly proportional to the product of the concentrations of the reactants,
with each concentration term raised to the power of its respective stoichiometric
coefficient.
Expression: In a chemical reaction aA+bB→cC+dD, the law can be mathematically
expressed as:
Rate=k[A]a[B]b
Here, k signifies the rate constant, [A] and [B] represent the concentrations of reactants
A and B, while a and b denote their stoichiometric coefficients.
Equilibrium Constant K: When the forward and reverse reaction rates reach
equilibrium, the law of mass action is instrumental in defining the equilibrium
constant K:
K= [C]c[D]d
[A]a[B]b
This constant quantifies the equilibrium concentrations of products and reactants and
provides insights into the direction and extent of the reaction at equilibrium.

Applications:
 Understanding the law of mass action is pivotal in analyzing chemical equilibrium
systems, enabling predictions about the direction in which reactions proceed under
varying conditions.
 It serves as a cornerstone in chemical kinetics, aiding in the determination of
reaction mechanisms and rate laws through experimental observations and
mathematical modeling.

IONIC STRENGTH:
Ionic strength (I) serves as a metric for quantifying the overall concentration of ions in
a solution, encompassing both the abundance and charge of ions present.
For solutions hosting multiple ions, ionic strength (I) can be computed using the
formula:
I=2 ∑ ci zi2
 1
In this equation, ci denotes the molar concentration of ion i, while zi signifies the
charge of the ion. The summation encompasses all ions within the solution.
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Significance:
 Ionic strength exerts a profound influence on the behavior and interactions of ions
in solution, thereby impacting various chemical equilibria and reaction kinetics.
 Its consideration becomes indispensable in scenarios involving solutions with high
ionic concentrations, necessitating corrections to accurately determine equilibrium
constants and reaction rates.

Applications:
 Across disciplines such as biochemistry, environmental chemistry, and chemical
engineering, understanding ionic strength is paramount for elucidating phenomena
like solubility, buffer capacity, and the conformational dynamics of biomolecules
in solution.
 Furthermore, its incorporation into theoretical frameworks facilitates the precise
modeling and prediction of solution-phase reactions, offering valuable insights into
diverse chemical processes.
3b.
1. Identifying Mineral Deposits: Thermodynamics plays a pivotal role in the
exploration and evaluation of mineral deposits, guiding prospectors in
identifying favorable geological settings and predicting the distribution of
economically viable ores. By assessing the thermodynamic controls on mineral
solubility, precipitation, and alteration reactions, geochemists can unravel the
complex interplay of geologic, hydrothermal, and metamorphic processes that
govern ore formation. This thermodynamic approach not only aids in mineral
resource assessment but also informs sustainable mining practices and
environmental stewardship.

2. Harnessing Geothermal Energy: Geothermal energy, derived from the Earth's

heat, represents a renewable and sustainable resource with significant potential
for power generation and heating applications. Thermodynamics plays a pivotal
role in the exploration, development, and utilization of geothermal reservoirs by
quantifying heat extraction rates, fluid-rock interactions, and reservoir
sustainability. Through thermodynamic analysis, engineers and geoscientists
can optimize geothermal production strategies, mitigate reservoir depletion
risks, and assess the environmental impacts of geothermal energy extraction on
local ecosystems and groundwater resources.
3. Analyzing Element Cycling: The cycling of elements through Earth's
geospheres, including the lithosphere, hydrosphere, atmosphere, and biosphere,
is intricately linked to thermodynamic equilibrium and kinetic processes.
Thermodynamics provides a quantitative framework for studying elemental
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partitioning, speciation, and fluxes in geochemical systems, offering insights
into biogeochemical cycles, nutrient dynamics, and the evolution of Earth's
surface environments over geological time scales. From the weathering of rocks
to the formation of sedimentary deposits, thermodynamic principles underpin
our understanding of elemental mobility and redistribution within Earth's
interconnected reservoirs.

4. Explaining Chemical Weathering: Chemical weathering, a fundamental

geological process, is governed by thermodynamic principles that dictate the
energetics of mineral dissolution and secondary phase precipitation. Through
thermodynamic analysis, researchers can quantify the driving forces behind
dissolution reactions, considering factors such as mineral surface properties,
solution chemistry, and environmental conditions. Furthermore, thermodynamic
models facilitate the prediction of mineral weathering rates and the formation of
secondary minerals, contributing to our understanding of landscape evolution,
soil development, and nutrient cycling in terrestrial ecosystems.

5. Studying Planetary Bodies: Beyond Earth, thermodynamics offers a universal

framework for investigating the composition, evolution, and geophysical
processes of planetary bodies within our solar system and beyond. By applying
thermodynamic principles to analyze planetary materials, such as meteorites,
lunar rocks, and planetary atmospheres, scientists can unravel the history of
planetary formation, differentiation, and surface interactions. Thermodynamic
modeling of planetary interiors, volcanic eruptions, and atmospheric dynamics
provides crucial insights into the habitability, geologic activity, and potential
for life beyond Earth, advancing our understanding of planetary science and
astrobiology.

6. Understanding Phase Changes: Thermodynamics is instrumental in

comprehending the intricate processes of mineral formation and transformation
within Earth's crust and mantle. By delving into thermodynamic principles,
geochemists can elucidate the conditions under which minerals crystallize from
magmas or precipitate from aqueous solutions. Moreover, thermodynamic
phase diagrams offer a comprehensive visualization of mineral stability fields,
shedding light on the complex interplay between temperature, pressure, and
chemical composition in shaping Earth's diverse mineral assemblages.
7. Modeling Geochemical Processes: Thermodynamic modeling techniques,
such as Gibbs energy minimization and reaction path calculations, empower
researchers to simulate and predict the behavior of geochemical systems under
diverse environmental conditions. These models integrate thermodynamic 9
databases, kinetic constraints, and thermodynamic affinity calculations to
simulate reaction pathways, equilibrium states, and phase transitions in
geological settings. From magma chamber dynamics to diagenetic reactions in
sedimentary basins, thermodynamic models offer valuable predictive tools for
interpreting field observations, designing laboratory experiments, and
forecasting geological processes on various spatial and temporal scales.