2017/18 Undergraduate Module Catalogue

SOEE1212 Gold and Precious Metals

10 creditsClass Size: 36

Module manager: Dr Rob Chapman
Email: r.j.chapman@see.leeds.ac.uk

Taught: Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) View Timetable

Year running 2017/18

Pre-requisite qualifications

A level Geology for non Earth & Environment students, or SOEE1570/1580.

Module replaces

SOEE1210

This module is not approved as a discovery module

Module summary

The history of gold exploration in Great Britain and Ireland goes back 4000 years to the beginning of the Bronze Age, and the Romans recovered silver from lead ores. There is even a locality where platinum (and other platinum group elements (PGEs) are found, and in several places in the south west of England and southern Scotland the gold contains high concentrations of palladium. In this course we will study the geology of precious metals. We will look at various occurrences in the UK and Ireland but also place these in the context of generic models for mineralization used by exploration geologists worldwide. The module is aimed at students who wish to reinforce their understanding of minerals and the mineralization processes through an introduction to the most important ore deposit types. You will also have an introduction to the minerals industry and the roles that geologists play within it Mineral exploration is a very practical business and therefore the course includes a compulsory field trip. Here you visit some gold bearing areas in Scotland and learn how to evaluate a small gold deposit- by collecting your own gold- which you keep. We teach you how to pan for gold- and every few years someone finds a nice nugget. The course is particularly suitable to those who are aiming to register on our minerals pathway- but also provides an opportunity for anyone to examine an important industry in which many recent graduates are engaged.

Objectives

On completion of the module, students will be able to:
1. demonstrate an understanding of the various geological processes by which gold and precious metal mineralization are formed;
2. interpret the methods used to recover precious metals from their ores according to the mineralogy of those ores, ;
3. demonstrate an elementary understanding of traditional and contemporary methods of exploration for mineralization;
4. apply an understanding of the nature of mineralization to the history of exploration and exploitation of precious metals in the British Isles;
5. demonstrate the ability to accurately observe and record information in the field.

Syllabus

Overview of the minerals industry, the history of mining precious metals in the UK, styles of mineralization and mineralogy of gold. Exploration for precious metals and its use in exploration, exploration techniques and their uses, how precious metal ores are processed.

Teaching methods

Delivery type	Number	Length hours	Student hours
Fieldwork	1	5.00	5.00
Fieldwork	2	8.00	16.00
Lecture	10	1.00	10.00
Private study hours			69.00
Total Contact hours			31.00
Total hours (100hr per 10 credits)			100.00

Private study

- Background reading : 30 hours
- Revision: 40 hours.

Opportunities for Formative Feedback

- Contributions to discussion in class
- Engagement with fieldwork.

Methods of assessment

Coursework

Assessment type	Notes	% of formal assessment
Poster Presentation	Group poster relating to 1 day of the fieldwork	20.00
Total percentage (Assessment Coursework)		20.00

See below for format for resits

Exams

Exam type	Exam duration	% of formal assessment
Standard exam (closed essays, MCQs etc)	1 hr 15 mins	80.00
Total percentage (Assessment Exams)		80.00

Resit will be a single piece of written work which integrates the field experience with the module content 3000 words 100%

Reading list

The reading list is available from the Library website

Last updated: 06/10/2017

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