2024/25 Undergraduate Module Catalogue
SOEE2960 Resources from Rocks and Minerals
10 creditsClass Size: 60
Module manager: Dr Taija Torvela
Email: t.m.torvela@leeds.ac.uk
Taught: Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) View Timetable
Year running 2024/25
Pre-requisite qualifications
Successful completion of Level 1 of registered programmeThis module is not approved as a discovery module
Module summary
The industrial minerals, exploration and mining sectors are important employment avenues for our graduates, and are set to become increasingly as society pursues a low carbon future. Students will be introduced the scientific and economic drivers of the global industrial framework and provided with both the scientific background and transferable skills ’ to enhance employability in both this industry and others relevant to the general discipline. The module will place the processes of aggregate and ore formation in the context of wider geological processes and, where appropriate, current research activities, whilst also addressing subjects generic to the applied geosciences such as chemical and mineralogical characterization of geological materials.Objectives
This module is taught as related learning units: (i) Sedimentary Basins and their Resources and (ii) Resources from Rocks and MineralsResources from Rocks and Minerals
The module is designed to provide an introduction to the geological science which underpins the industrial minerals, exploration and mining sectors, which are important employers of our graduates. In addition, the module addresses subjects generic to the applied geosciences (chemical and mineralogical characterization of geological materials, exploration ) and introduces the importance of economics in the industry and current major shifts in the industry that relate to the low carbon economy. Students will gain an understanding of the career pathways in the sector. The module will incorporate a one-day field class to introduce field approaches to deducing deposit models.
Learning outcomes
1. Demonstrate an understanding of the aggregates industry in the UK.
2. Apply standard identification methods and analytical techniques to characterise mineralized material
3. Predict likely settings of specific types of mineralization on the basis of local and regional geology and wider geological processes.
4. Demonstrate an understanding of the exploration, mining, processing and remediation challenges facing global supply of major commodities and metals necessary for a transition to a low carbon future.
Skills outcomes
Employability, awareness of various career options for geology graduates
Syllabus
1. The UK aggregates industry.
2. The global exploration industry.
3. Mineralogical and chemical analysis of mineralized materials.
4. Geological processes and their link to concentrating metals in the crust.
5. Hydrothermal processes and metal transport, source, transport and trap.
6. Changing demand for metals associated with transition to a low carbon future and implications for the resource industry.
7. Exploration methods: design of exploration programs and interpretation of data.
8. The full exploitation cycle- exploration, social licence- mining, mineral processing and remediation.
Teaching methods
| Delivery type | Number | Length hours | Student hours |
| Fieldwork | 1 | 8.00 | 8.00 |
| Group learning | 5 | 2.00 | 10.00 |
| Lecture | 11 | 1.00 | 11.00 |
| Practical | 4 | 2.00 | 8.00 |
| Private study hours | 63.00 | ||
| Total Contact hours | 37.00 | ||
| Total hours (100hr per 10 credits) | 100.00 | ||
Private study
Students will be expected to invest time over and above class time to gain the appropriate level of mineral recognition skills and to reflect on the employability skills being developed.Opportunities for Formative Feedback
Feedback during practical sessions and on outputs from non- assessed group workFeedback during field activity
Monitoring of progress during class sessions dedicated to formative and assessed posters
Feedback regarding formative poster prior to design of assessed poster
Methods of assessment
Coursework
| Assessment type | Notes | % of formal assessment |
| Poster Presentation | Group Poster | 0.00 |
| Poster Presentation | Poster presentation on a relevant resource | 30.00 |
| Total percentage (Assessment Coursework) | 30.00 | |
Resit for this module will comprise a single mark from a dedicated resit open book examination. The group poster will not form part of the resit.
Exams
| Exam type | Exam duration | % of formal assessment |
| Online Time-Limited assessment | 1 hr 25 mins | 70.00 |
| Total percentage (Assessment Exams) | 70.00 | |
Resit for this module will comprise a single mark from a dedicated 3000 word piece of coursework. The group poster will not form part of the resit.
Reading list
The reading list is available from the Library websiteLast updated: 29/04/2024 16:20:31
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- Undergraduate module catalogue
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