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2020/21 Undergraduate Module Catalogue

SOEE3600 Ore Deposits and their Exploitation

10 creditsClass Size: 25

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

Taught: Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) View Timetable

Year running 2020/21

Pre-requisite qualifications

Satisfactory performance at level 2.

This module is not approved as a discovery module

Module summary

This module is designed for students who may wish to follow a career path into mineral exploration or mining. You will gain expertise in the identification of important ore minerals and gain a wider understanding of the techniques which can be applied to characterise geological materials. In depth studies of some economically important ore deposit type will provide an appropriate background level of knowledge for entry to the minerals industry. You will explore the relationships between ore deposition and wider geological processes drawing upon information generated by both industry and academia. There will be a one day field trip (Covid permitting).

Objectives

-Establishing practical skills: identification of major ore forming minerals and their assemblages in hand specimens, and using RL. Analysis of outputs from different analytical approaches applied to characterization of earth materials.
-Linking the interpretation of physical features in minerals and ores to their processes of formation. -Developing familiarity with some deposit models for some economically important metal commodities
-Introduction to critique evaluation of published literature in the context of ore forming processes.
-Simulating real- world scenarios which demand generating conclusions from a range of (imperfect) data sets derived from geological sources (geochemical, lithological, structural, mineralogical) to evaluate the nature of resources in a given area.
-Demonstrating the relevance of academic study to an applied geoscience

Learning outcomes
By the end of the module the students will be able to:
-Identify minerals in hand specimen and using RL microscopy
-Interpret mineral assemblages identified in '1' and ore textures in terms of ore forming processes
-Demonstrate an advanced understanding of the formation and exploitation of some economically important ore deposit types
-Demonstrate the ability to critical evaluate published work
-Synthesize data sets derived from different sources to develop a conclusion

Skills outcomes
‘Better Geologists see more rocks’:you will see a lot of rocks in this module


Syllabus

Identification of important ore minerals in hand specimen;

Characterizing geological materials

Origins of crustal fluids

Genetic models for economically important ore deposits including Au, Cu,;
Implications of genetic models of ore deposits for exploration.

Teaching methods

Delivery typeNumberLength hoursStudent hours
Class tests, exams and assessment22.004.00
Fieldwork17.007.00
Lecture91.009.00
Practical82.0016.00
Seminar12.002.00
Private study hours62.00
Total Contact hours38.00
Total hours (100hr per 10 credits)100.00

Private study

Familiarization with geological specimens (outside practical sessions): 12 hours
Production of 2000 word report (background reading, report production: 20 hours
Final integrated practical write up (research, generation of written answers: 20 hours

Preparation for field trip and associated seminar: 10 hours

Opportunities for Formative Feedback

Observation of students in practical classes
Observation of students on field trip and in post field trip seminar.

Methods of assessment


Coursework
Assessment typeNotes% of formal assessment
Practical2,000 words50.00
Written Work2,000 words50.00
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: 20/08/2020 15:10:30

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