Techniques in Mining Geology - 2019 entry

Provides an introduction to practical geological skills used by geologists in mineral exploration and mining. This includes how to initiate, run and organise exploration programmes and control grade at operating mines. A key feature is a field visit to a major mining district to see and discuss how these skills are currently used.

It builds on geological knowledge acquired at undergraduate level and CSMM109.

The module introduces and develops key practical techniques and skills associated with the role of mining and exploration geologists. These include geological fieldwork techniques in mineralised areas including surface mapping; the importance of desk studies; and working as a member of a team.

On successful completion of this module, you should be able to:

Module Specific Skills and Knowledge:

1 Know and apply key exploration methods, explain and demonstrate how exploration programmes are devised;

2 Understand the role of a geologist in mining and how the geologist interacts with other disciplines;

3 Be able to handle data normally used in mining and exploration to generate information for geological and general management;

4 Understand the geological framework of major mining regions of the world, including one world-class province;

Discipline Specific Skills and Knowledge:

5 Have a systematic understanding, and a critical awareness of a wide variety of techniques for the acquisition, analysis, interpretation and presentation of geoscientific data relevant to the mining industry;

6 Be able to apply these techniques in the search for, assessment and extraction of minerals. Sources of data will encompass literature, laboratory and field based materials;

7 Have the ability to synthesis and evaluate complex geological data, make sound judgments and communicate the results to others, along with an ability to make recommendations relevant to decision-making in the mining industry;

Personal and Key Transferable / Employment Skills and Knowledge:

8 Have developed and promoted his/her learning and problem-solving skills;

9 Be able to gather original and other complex data from a variety of sources (fieldwork, library, internet and others), analyse and synthesise the data, and make reasonable deductions; and, have the ability to utilise a full range of computer-based learning resources as an autonomous learner;

10 Have developed the ability to work as a member of a team;

11 Be able to discuss complex issues, report on them and communicate the results to others.

Mineral Exploration (Benedikt Steiner):

• Structure and strategy of exploration programmes;
• Health & Safety in the mineral exploration sector;
• Operations Support & Logistics, budgeting of exploration programmes;
• Geological reconnaissance and desktop studies;
• Geological data management;
• Exploration geochemistry: (1) surface sampling surveys, (2) interpretation and (3) analytical geochemistry & QAQC;
• Drilling Methods & Core Logging;

Production Geology (Paul Wheeler):

• Role of the Geologist in mining operations;
• Production Geology;
• Principles of grade control;
• Resources & Reserves.

Introduction to computerised methods in mining geology using industry standard packages, e.g. ioGas, ArcGIS, Maptek Vulcan.

Mining Geology Fieldwork: general mapping and recording of mineralised structures, core logging.

Field trip to a major mining region (usually Ontario OR W Australia OR Namibia) and production of report.

As above, one piece of Coursework (50%), and/or one Exam (50%).

Basic Reading:

Journals:

Economic Geology, Ore Geology Reviews, Mineralium Deposita, Industrial Minerals, Transactions of the Institution of Mining and Metallurgy, Section A. Mining Industry, Section B. Applied Earth Sciences (now known as Applied Earth Science).

Web based and Electronic Resources:

ELE - http://vle.exeter.ac.uk/

Reading list for this module: