2018/19 Taught Postgraduate Module Catalogue

SOEE5660M Ore Deposits and their Exploitation

15 creditsClass Size: 10

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

Taught: Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun) View Timetable

Year running 2018/19

Pre-requisite qualifications

Satisfactory performance at level 2.
The module is aimed at those students who are keen to find employment within the industry.

This module is mutually exclusive with

SOEE3600

Ore Deposits & Exploitation

This module is not approved as an Elective

Module summary

This module is partly co- delivered with SOEE3600 (Semester1 only) but also includes a ‘mini project’ which forms a supported self-directed learning opportunity in Semester 2. The Semester 1 lecture program introduces you to the exploration and mining industry before considering some important underpinning aspects of ore deposit study such as fluid-rock interactions and methods of analysing geological materials. You will study orogenic gold deposits and the porphyry-epithermal environment in some depth as these deposit types are the focus of a large proportion of current exploration activity and are constantly informed by research within the School. The assessment at Level 5 differs from the Level 3 course in that the reading required for the reports is not wholly prescribed. In addition, assessed practicals will be written up as professional reports rather than in the ‘proforma’ approach adopted at Level 3. The mini project will demand critical evaluation of geochemical, geophysical and exploration data sets and integration with ‘real’ research data generated within the School to develop an exploration strategy which you will describe and justify in a technical report. Generic skills gained from the module include analytical approaches to geological materials, report writing to professional standards, and experience of interrogating multiple ‘real’ data sets with their associated uncertainties.

Objectives

By the end of the module the student will be able to:

- identify the major ore forming minerals and their assemblages in hand specimens and relate textures to the ore forming processes;
- interpret images of polished sections of ore minerals (from RL and SEM) in terms of simple ore paragenesis for specimens from both known and unknown deposit types;
- demonstrate an understanding of the most important type of deposit models for economically important metal commodities;
- evaluate current theories which concern ore deposit formation;
- critically evaluate the current hypotheses relating to a specific deposit model.

Learning outcomes
- Spatial and temporal relationships between primary ore deposits and deformed ore deposits
- Applying knowledge and techniques to ore exploration and ore deposit modelling

Skills outcomes
RL microscopy
TL microscopy
Report writing
Mineral identification in hand specimen

Syllabus

This module will cover:

- Identification of important ore minerals in hand specimen;
- Genetic models for economically important ore deposits including Au, Cu;
- Implications of genetic models of ore deposits for exploration; and
- Characterization of ore mineralization by RL and optical microscopy.

Teaching methods

Delivery type	Number	Length hours	Student hours
Lecture	9	1.00	9.00
Practical	10	2.00	20.00
Seminar	4	1.00	4.00
Private study hours			117.00
Total Contact hours			33.00
Total hours (100hr per 10 credits)			150.00

Private study

- Written tasks associated with practical sessions: 60 hours
- Research and preparation of report: 27 hours -
- Examination of specimens for case study 30 hours

Opportunities for Formative Feedback

- Attendance at lectures and practicals
- Report submissions (Assessed practical weeks 7,11 semester 1 )
- Performance in formative practical in weeks 1,2,3,4,5,8,9,10

Methods of assessment

Coursework

Assessment type	Notes	% of formal assessment
Case Study	Case study report (1,500 words)	30.00
Practical	1,000 words	20.00
Report	Report based on practical	20.00
Essay	1,500 words	30.00
Total percentage (Assessment Coursework)		100.00

Resit comprises a single piece of written work set to examine the key elements of the syllabus (3000 words)

Reading list

The reading list is available from the Library website

Last updated: 06/10/2017

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