|
Lecturer(s)
|
-
Sedláček Jan, doc. Mgr. Ph.D.
|
|
Course content
|
1. Basic concept of environmental geology, man as an agent of geological changes. Closeness of the Earth system, butterfly effect concept. 2. Impacts of natural geological processes on the environment (volcanism, earthquakes, tsunami, landslides, floods). Geological processes invoked by man (desertification, landslides, sinks, drying of lakes). 3. Earth systems and cycles of the main biogenic elements (C, O, N, S, P), examples of cycles of trace elements (Pb, As, Be, Sn). 4. Hydrological cycle, hydrosphere. Atmosphere, climatic changes, anthropogenic influencing of the atmosphere. 5. Utilization and state of natural resources. Absolute and relative sustainability of natural resources. Estimates of exhaustibility of individual elements (?peak metals?). The impact of exploitation of raw materials on the environment. 6. Soil as a resource, degradation of soil by contamination, salinization, erosion. 7. Non-renewable energy sources, impacts of fossil fuel exploitation on the environmental impact of fossil fuels combustion, solid wastes from it, impact on the atmosphere. Acid rains problem, forest decay, concept of critical zone. 8. Nuclear energetics, resources of nuclear raw materials, economic and environmental impacts of nuclear energy utilization, radioactive wastes and their management. 9. Overview of renewable energy resources, economic and environmental aspects of renewable resources. Waste to energy. 10. Wasre management and environment pollution. Recycling as the only possibility of mankind´s survival. Neutralization of wastes as a process leading to formation of secondary raw materials. Neutralization of hazardous wastes. Treatment of liquid wastes. 11. Wastes and geological environment. Mining wastes. Wastes dispersal, introduction of wastes into soil. Landfilling. Utilization of geological processes in waste neutralization ? concentration, neutralization, formation of geochemical barriers. 12. Weathering as a source of raw materials as well as a process leading to degradation of the environment (AMD, ARD) as well as to degradation of cultural heritage.
|
|
Learning activities and teaching methods
|
|
Lecture
|
|
Learning outcomes
|
The course provides the students with principles of geological sciences in relation to solving of various environmental problems.
The students should be able to: - explain the central position of minerals in the environment, - describe their formation and transformations in supergenesis and technogenesis, - debate their impact on activities of man and microorganisms. - identify the positive aspects of exploitation of minerals in industry, agriculture and households, - describe the utilisation of their sorption and ion-exchange properties for the preservation of the environment - debate the negative aspects of mining and processing of minerals. - explain the role of mineralogy in processing and liquidation of wastes (with special emphasis on radioactive waste and its natural analogues) and in preservation of cultural heritage.
|
|
Prerequisites
|
unspecified
|
|
Assessment methods and criteria
|
Written exam
knowledge of the presented problems
|
|
Recommended literature
|
-
Bobrowsky, P. T. (2005). Geoenvironmental mapping: methods, theory and practice. Leiden: A.A. Balkema Publishers.
-
Craig, J. R., Vaughan, D. J., & Skinner, B. J. (2011). Earth resources and the environment. Upper Saddle River, N.J: Pearson Prentice Hall.
-
Ďurica, D., Holý, M., & Suk, M. (2008). Člověk jako geologický činitel. Brno: Moravské zemské muzeum.
-
Ďurica, D., Suk, M., & Ciprys, V. (2010). Energetické zdroje včera, dnes a zítra. Brno: Moravské zemské muzeum.
-
Fečko, P., Čablík, V. (eds.). (2005). Možnosti zpracování odpadů po důlní a metalurgické činnosti. 262 s. VŠB - Technická univerzita Ostrava.
-
Gruško, J., M. (1992). Handbook of Dangerous Properties of Inorganic And Organic Substances in Industrial Wastes. 352 s. Vyd. CRC.
-
Holland, H., D. - Turkenian, K., K. (execut. eds.). (2005). Treatise on Geochemistry, Vol. 1-10. Elsevier.
-
Marfunin, A., S. (1998). Advanced Mineralogy: Volume 3: Mineral Matter in Space, Mantle, Ocean Floor, Biosphere, Environmental Management, and Jewelry. 444 s. Springer.
-
Paquet, H. - Clauer, N. (eds.). (1997). Soils and Sediments. In: Mineralogy and Geochemistry. Springer Verlag, Berlin.
-
Sittig, M. (1980). Metal and Inorganic Waste Reclaiming Encyclopedia (Pollution Technology Review). 591 s. Noyes Pubns.
|