Exploration and Mining Geology - 2019 entry

This module 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.

It builds on geological knowledge acquired at undergraduate level and CSMM109. This module runs concurrently with CSMM110 and is intended for students of the MSc Exploration Geology Programme.

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 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 geo-scientific 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 synthesise 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;

- 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;

- Principles of grade control;

- Resources & Reserves;

- Further activities include:

- Desk study of the regional geology, metalliferous and industrial mineral resources and mining activities of an important world-mining region or commodity as well as social impact;

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

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

As above, one piece of Coursework (60%) and/or one Exam (40%).

Basic reading:

Web based and electronic resources:

ELE – http://vle.exeter.ac.uk/

A list of web resources and academic papers are available through ELE. In addition, the course site contains comprehensive online resources including lectures, PowerPoint presentations, documents and reference material in pdf format, mp3 podcasts, videos, e-tivities, discussion boards; and links to the University of Exeter electronic library and its comprehensive resources.

Other resources:

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)

Reading list for this module: