Please note: Due to alternative arrangements for teaching and
assessment in place from 18 March 2020 to mitigate against the restrictions in
place due to COVID-19, information shown for 2019/20 may not always be accurate.
Please note: you are viewing unit and programme information
for a past academic year. Please see the current academic year for up to date information.
| Unit name |
Economic Geology |
| Unit code |
EASC30044 |
| Credit points |
10 |
| Level of study |
H/6
|
| Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 2C (weeks 13 - 18)
|
| Unit director |
Dr. Cooper |
| Open unit status |
Not open |
| Pre-requisites |
EASC10001 Geology 1
In addition, Geophysics and Environmental Geoscience students should discuss with the unit director before choosing this unit as an option.
|
| Co-requisites |
N/A
|
| School/department |
School of Earth Sciences |
| Faculty |
Faculty of Science |
Description including Unit Aims
This unit will introduce fundamental concepts in economic geology and the formation of ore deposits, including magmatic and magmatic-hydrothermal systems, supergene enrichment in near surface deposits, sedimentary ore forming processes, kimberlites and diamond exploration, global tectonic controls on ore formation, and the relationship between crustal evolution and metallogenesis.
This broad subject will build upon material covered EASC10001 Geology 1 and in a number of second year units, particularly Independent Development of Geology Skills, Structural Geology, Geochemistry 1 and Mineralogy and Petrology. Practicals will include observations and descriptions of samples from some typical ore deposits, phase diagram analysis, ore deposit cross-section interpretation, and mineral deposit economic assessment projects.
Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the unit, you should:
- Appreciate the wide variety of ore forming processes and their relationships to local geologic setting and global crustal evolution.
- Be able to critically analyse different models of ore body genesis and the factors that lead to ore body formation.
- Be familiar with some of the recent research literature covering the geological controls on economic resources.
- Be able to identify the key ore forming minerals in hand specimen and thin section.
- Demonstrate an understanding of how a mineral deposit is economically assessed.
- Be able to construct a simple ore body geological cross-section on the basis of drill-core reports and surface geology.
Teaching Information
Lectures and practicals.
Assessment Information
Closed 2-hour final examination (60%)
Coursework (40%)
Coursework will comprise:
- a group capital investment exercise evaluated through a written group report (5 pages, 15%) and a final group presentation (10%)
- an ore body cross-section construction and interpretation exercise (15%)
Reading and References
Essential:
- Robb (2005), Introduction to Ore-Forming Processes, Blackwell, 373pp.
Recommended:
- Pohl, 2005, Economic Geology: Principles and Practice, 663pp. Ridley, 2013, Ore Deposit Geology, 398pp.
Further reading:
- Dill, H.G., 2010. The “chessboard” classification scheme of mineral deposits: mineralogy and geology from aluminum to zirconium. Earth-Science Reviews, 100 (1-4), pp.1-420.
