GEOLOGY 2504 - Economic & Mine Geology II

North Terrace Campus - Semester 2 - 2015

The course looks at the major magmatic ore deposits of diamond, nickel, platinum group elements, chromium and vanadium and examples of major hydrothermal ore deposits of base metals, gold, tin, tungsten, uranium, rare earth elements and surficial deposits of iron, manganese, nickel, cobalt, gold and gems. This information will be integrated with introductory material on exploration, exploitation, minerals processing, metals marketing and mine financing.

  • General Course Information
    Course Details
    Course Code GEOLOGY 2504
    Course Economic & Mine Geology II
    Coordinating Unit School of Physical Sciences
    Term Semester 2
    Level Undergraduate
    Location/s North Terrace Campus
    Units 3
    Contact Up to 6 hours per week
    Available for Study Abroad and Exchange Y
    Assumed Knowledge C&ENVENG 1011 & GEOLOGY 1104 or equivalent
    Restrictions Available to B Sc (Mineral Geoscience) & B Eng (Mining) students only
    Course Description The course looks at the major magmatic ore deposits of diamond, nickel, platinum group elements, chromium and vanadium and examples of major hydrothermal ore deposits of base metals, gold, tin, tungsten, uranium, rare earth elements and surficial deposits of iron, manganese, nickel, cobalt, gold and gems. This information will be integrated with introductory material on exploration, exploitation, minerals processing, metals marketing and mine financing.
    Course Staff

    Course Coordinator: Professor Karin Barovich

    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 differentiate between resources and reserves and how to estimate them;
    6 understand and describe resource operations from exploration to development;
    7 be conversant with resource distribution during the evolution of the Earth;
    8 demonstrate ability to understand the debate about some controversial issues affecting mining and society.
    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)
    Knowledge and understanding of the content and techniques of a chosen discipline at advanced levels that are internationally recognised. 1-6
    The ability to locate, analyse, evaluate and synthesise information from a wide variety of sources in a planned and timely manner. 3,7,8
    An ability to apply effective, creative and innovative solutions, both independently and cooperatively, to current and future problems. 7,8
    A proficiency in the appropriate use of contemporary technologies. 5,6
    A commitment to continuous learning and the capacity to maintain intellectual curiosity throughout life. 1,8
    A commitment to the highest standards of professional endeavour and the ability to take a leadership role in the community. 1,6,8
    An awareness of ethical, social and cultural issues within a global context and their importance in the exercise of professional skills and responsibilities. 8
  • Learning & Teaching Activities
    Learning & Teaching Modes
    This course will be delivered by the following means:
    • 3 x 1-hour lectures per week
    • 1 x 3-hour practical per week
    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
    The Minerals Industry – Part 1
    The Minerals Industry – Part 2
    Economic Geology in Practice – including: the exploration process, discovery, resources and reserves.
    Week 2 Ore Forming Processes
    Ore Deposit Classifications
    Tectonic Location of Ore Deposits
    JORC Code – resource and reserve estimation. Set Essay 1
    Week 3 Liquid magmatic Cu-Ni-PGE deposits and stratiform chromite deposits
    Alpine (podiform) chromitites and pegmatite deposits
    Carbonatites
    Common sulphide and oxide minerals.
    Week 4 Volcanic Hosted Deposits
    Sedimentary Exhalative Deposits
    Kimberlites and Diamonds
    Cash flow analysis and feasibility studies
    Week 5 Iron Ore Deposits
    Hematite Iron Ore Deposits
    Magnetite Iron Ore Deposits
    Formation of Companies, regulations, raising finance, program planning, budgeting and expenditure monitoring.
    Final Date for submission of Essay 1 -- 5pm 22 August.
    Week 6 Archean Gold
    Slate Belt Gold
    First In-class test
    Tenement application, management and reporting
    Week 7 Introduction to the Magmatic-Hydrothermal Continuum
    Global distribution of magmatic-hydrothermal deposits and breccia deposits
    Porphyry systems
    Textures and fabrics in ore samples.
    Week 8 Skarns
    Epithermal deposits I
    Second In-class test
    Importance of gold mineralogy in ore processing
    Set Essay 2
    Week 9 Iron-Oxide-Copper-Gold (IOCG) deposits
    The Olympic Province - IOCG deposits in South Australia
    IOCG deposits in the Cloncurry District, Queensland and discussion of research gaps
    Important minor metals.
    Week 10 Coal Deposits
    Oil Deposits
    Gas Deposits
    Minerals processing, concentration, smelting, sale and marketing, transportation, tailings and mine rehabilitation.
    Week 11 Surface Regolith Related Deposits
    Weathering and Supergene Deposits
    Sedimentary Precipitate Deposits
    Environment, Native Title and Occupational Health and Safety.
    Final date for submission of Essay 2 – 5pm 17 October
    Week 12 Alluvial and Eluvial Deposits
    Industrial Minerals Deposits
    Industrial Minerals Deposits
    Mining and Society – current issues.
  • 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
     Essays (x2)
    10% each
    Formative and Summative

    20%

    No 2,3,4,7 Week 5 & 11
    Practical assignments Formative and Summative 20% No 1-8 Week 6 & 8
    Tests (x2)
    10% each
    Formative and Summative 20% No 1-8 Week 7 & 12
    Final Exam Summative 40% No 1-8 Exam Week
    Assessment Detail
    Essays: (20% of total course grade)
    The two essays are between 2,000 and 3,000 words. The first essay will be set in week 2 and is to be submitted by week 5. The second essay will be set in week 8 and is to be completed by week 11.

    Practical assignments: (20% of total course grades)
    Practicals will include some tutorial work and working in small groups. There will be two practical assignments in week 6 and week 8. These are multiple choice.

    Tests: (20% of total course grades)
    There will be two in-class tests the first in start of week 7 covering material from weeks 1-6. The second in end of week 12 covering material from weeks 7-12 T. The tests comprise one essay question and multiple choice.

    Final Exam: (40% of total course grades)
    There will be a final 3 hour examination with four questions worth 25% each to be answered.
    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
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