2023/24 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 1 (Sep to Jan) View Timetable

Year running 2023/24

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 particular focus on copper mineralization given the importance of this element to achieving the low C transition. The module includes a two day field trip to North Wales during reading week that underpins the lecture content and forms the basis for module assessment.

Objectives

-Establishing practical skills: identification of major ore forming minerals and their assemblages in hand specimens. 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.
-Study of real- world scenarios which demand generating conclusions from a range of (imperfect) data sets derived from geological sources (field observations, 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 microscopy
-Interpret mineral assemblages 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 within a report written to professional norms.

Skills outcomes
‘Better Geologists see more rocks’:you will see a lot of rocks in this module, both in the field and in class.

You will have an introduction to iogas software used to aid spatial interpretation of geochemical data sets.

Writing skills: The main assessment is a field report augmented by both in class observations and other data sets.

Syllabus

Identification of important ore minerals in hand specimen;

Fundamental chemical and structural controls on ore deposition
Porphyry and epithermal mineral deposits

Sedimentary- hosted copper deposits
Orogenic gold deposits
Interpreting geochemical data sets
Implications of genetic models of ore deposits for exploration.

Teaching methods

Delivery type	Number	Length hours	Student hours
Fieldwork	2	7.00	14.00
Lecture	9	1.00	9.00
Practical	8	2.00	16.00
Private study hours			61.00
Total Contact hours			39.00
Total hours (100hr per 10 credits)			100.00

Private study

Familiarization with geological specimens (outside practical sessions): 6 hours
Study of specimens related to project write up: 12 hours

Production of work books relating to field trip: 10 hours

Production of final report including background reading of specified and other literature, interpretation of geochemical data sets, report writing: 33 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 type	Notes	% of formal assessment
Written Work	Work books of short answer questions involving text and diagrams focussing on the key elements of the field trip. 750 words.	20.00
Report	Field trip report, 3,000 words	80.00
Total percentage (Assessment Coursework)		100.00

Resit comprises a resubmission of the field trip report only (100%) (3000 words)

Reading list

The reading list is available from the Library website

Last updated: 12/05/2023

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