GEOLOGY 2504 - Mineral Resources II

North Terrace Campus - Semester 2 - 2022

The course looks at the minerals industry and the geology and mineralogy of major ore deposits including copper, gold and iron. This information will be integrated with introductory material on the exploration process, mining methods, minerals processing, metals markets and socio-economic factors.

  • General Course Information
    Course Details
    Course Code GEOLOGY 2504
    Course Mineral Resources II
    Coordinating Unit School of Physical Sciences
    Term Semester 2
    Level Undergraduate
    Location/s North Terrace Campus
    Units 3
    Contact Up to 5 hours per week
    Available for Study Abroad and Exchange Y
    Course Description The course looks at the minerals industry and the geology and mineralogy of major ore deposits including copper, gold and iron. This information will be integrated with introductory material on the exploration process, mining methods, minerals processing, metals markets and socio-economic factors.
    Course Staff

    Course Coordinator: Dr Richard Lilly

    Course Timetable

    The full timetable of all activities for this course can be accessed from Course Planner.

  • Learning Outcomes
    Course Learning Outcomes
    A successful student in this course should be able to:
    1 understand the nature and importance of the Australian Resource Industry;
    2 describe the variety of mineral deposits and how they are found and formed;
    3 identify common rock types and minerals found in and around ore deposits;
    4 demonstrate knowledge of the variety of ore-forming processes;
    5 understand and describe resource operations from exploration to development;
    6 demonstrate ability to understand the debate about some controversial issues affecting mining, society and the environment
    University Graduate Attributes

    This course will provide students with an opportunity to develop the Graduate Attribute(s) specified below:

    University Graduate Attribute Course Learning Outcome(s)

    Attribute 1: Deep discipline knowledge and intellectual breadth

    Graduates have comprehensive knowledge and understanding of their subject area, the ability to engage with different traditions of thought, and the ability to apply their knowledge in practice including in multi-disciplinary or multi-professional contexts.

    1,2,3,4

    Attribute 2: Creative and critical thinking, and problem solving

    Graduates are effective problems-solvers, able to apply critical, creative and evidence-based thinking to conceive innovative responses to future challenges.

    2,3,5,6

    Attribute 3: Teamwork and communication skills

    Graduates convey ideas and information effectively to a range of audiences for a variety of purposes and contribute in a positive and collaborative manner to achieving common goals.

    1,5,6

    Attribute 4: Professionalism and leadership readiness

    Graduates engage in professional behaviour and have the potential to be entrepreneurial and take leadership roles in their chosen occupations or careers and communities.

    1,2,3,4,5,6

    Attribute 5: Intercultural and ethical competency

    Graduates are responsible and effective global citizens whose personal values and practices are consistent with their roles as responsible members of society.

    5,6

    Attribute 8: Self-awareness and emotional intelligence

    Graduates are self-aware and reflective; they are flexible and resilient and have the capacity to accept and give constructive feedback; they act with integrity and take responsibility for their actions.

    5,6
  • Learning Resources
    Online Learning
    Online content will be used to ‘bring the field to the student’ in the form of short field-based videos including cultural heritage.
  • Learning & Teaching Activities
    Learning & Teaching Modes
    This course will be delivered by the following means:
    • 2 x 1-hour lectures per week
    • 1 x 3-hour practical per week

    Part 1: The mineral industry, ore forming processes and mineral deposits.
    Part 2: Mining, society and the environment
    Part 3: The exploration and mining processes
    Workload

    The information below is provided as a guide to assist students in engaging appropriately with the course requirements.

    A student enrolled in a 3 unit course, such as this, should expect to spend, on average 12 hours per week on the studies required. This includes both the formal contact time required to the course (e.g., lectures and practicals), as well as non-contact time (e.g., reading and revision).
    Learning Activities Summary
    Schedule
    Lectures Practicals
    Week  1 Economic and Mine Geology: Course Overview and Introduction to the Minerals Industry  Ore Minerals
    Week 2 Ore Forming Processes and Mineral Deposits I: Introduction to Magmatic Ore Deposits Ore Minerals II
    Week 3 Ore Forming Processes and Mineral Deposits II: Introduction to Hydrothermal Ore Deposits Breccias
    Week 4 Ore Forming Processes and Mineral Deposits III: Hydrothermal Ore Deposits Oxide Minerals
    Week 5 Fossil Fuels: Introduction to Coal and Petrolium Geology Oil and Gas Drill Data 
    Week 6 Mining and Society (including cultural heritage) Self-Led Learning Exercise
    Week 7 The Exploration Process: Exploration geochemistry and target definition Regolith Interpretation
    Week 8 The Uranium Industry The Uranium Industry
    Week 9 The Mining Process: Introduction to mining (open pit and underground) Drill Core Logging
    Week 10 Mining and the Environment: including field visit to Brukunga mine, Adelaide Hills Brukunga Mine Visit
    Week 11 The Real World of Mining: Reporting and 3D modelling JORC Code Exerise
    Week 12 The Real World of Mining: The Future of Mining and Industry Careers Session Careers Session
  • Assessment

    The University's policy on Assessment for Coursework Programs is based on the following four principles:

    1. Assessment must encourage and reinforce learning.
    2. Assessment must enable robust and fair judgements about student performance.
    3. Assessment practices must be fair and equitable to students and give them the opportunity to demonstrate what they have learned.
    4. Assessment must maintain academic standards.

    Assessment Summary
    Assessment Task Task Type Percentage of total assessment for grading purposes Hurdle
    Yes/No
    Outcomes being assessed/achieved  Due date
    Lecture Test 1 Formative and Summative

    15%

    No 2, 4 Week 4
    Lecture Test 2 Formative and Summative

    15%

    No 4, 5 Week 8
    Practical exam Formative and Summative

    30%

    No 3, 6 Week 12
    Exam Summative 40% Yes 2, 4, 5 Exam Week
    Assessment Related Requirements
    Assessment Item with Hurdle or compulsory component % needed to meet hurdle or requirement to meet compulsory component Is additional assessment available if student does not meet hurdle requirement or compulsory component, if no please explain If additional assessment is available, explain what type
    Exam 50% Yes Resit exam
    Assessment Detail
    Lecture Tests (2 x 15%)
    Two tests will be held during lectures in weeks 4 and 8. These tests are both formative and summative. They will assess the students’ knowledge of lecture material up to that point.

    Practical Exam (30%)
    A practical exam will be held in class session during week 11 or 12. This exam will cover aspects of hand sample mineral and rock identification, drill core logging and appraisal of alteration styles associated with mineralisation. The exam will bring together components of the practical material from previous weeks’ practicals to test understanding of this material.

    Exam (40%)
    An exam is set at the end of the course to ensure summative knowledge of the course material.

    Submission
    Late Submission
    If an extension is not applied for, or not granted then a penalty for late submission will apply. A penalty of 10% of the value of the assignment for each calendar day that the assignment is late (i.e. weekends count as 2 days), up to a maximum of 50% of the available marks will be applied. This means that an assignment that is 5 days late or more without an approved extension can only receive a maximum of 50% of the marks available for that assignment.
    Course Grading

    Grades for your performance in this course will be awarded in accordance with the following scheme:

    M10 (Coursework Mark Scheme)
    Grade Mark Description
    FNS   Fail No Submission
    F 1-49 Fail
    P 50-64 Pass
    C 65-74 Credit
    D 75-84 Distinction
    HD 85-100 High Distinction
    CN   Continuing
    NFE   No Formal Examination
    RP   Result Pending

    Further details of the grades/results can be obtained from Examinations.

    Grade Descriptors are available which provide a general guide to the standard of work that is expected at each grade level. More information at Assessment for Coursework Programs.

    Final results for this course will be made available through Access Adelaide.

  • Student Feedback

    The University places a high priority on approaches to learning and teaching that enhance the student experience. Feedback is sought from students in a variety of ways including on-going engagement with staff, the use of online discussion boards and the use of Student Experience of Learning and Teaching (SELT) surveys as well as GOS surveys and Program reviews.

    SELTs are an important source of information to inform individual teaching practice, decisions about teaching duties, and course and program curriculum design. They enable the University to assess how effectively its learning environments and teaching practices facilitate student engagement and learning outcomes. Under the current SELT Policy (http://www.adelaide.edu.au/policies/101/) course SELTs are mandated and must be conducted at the conclusion of each term/semester/trimester for every course offering. Feedback on issues raised through course SELT surveys is made available to enrolled students through various resources (e.g. MyUni). In addition aggregated course SELT data is available.

  • Student Support
  • Policies & Guidelines
  • Fraud Awareness

    Students are reminded that in order to maintain the academic integrity of all programs and courses, the university has a zero-tolerance approach to students offering money or significant value goods or services to any staff member who is involved in their teaching or assessment. Students offering lecturers or tutors or professional staff anything more than a small token of appreciation is totally unacceptable, in any circumstances. Staff members are obliged to report all such incidents to their supervisor/manager, who will refer them for action under the university's student’s disciplinary procedures.

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