Duration
26h Th, 1d FW, 26h Labo., 32h Proj.
Number of credits
Lecturer
Abdellatif Elghali, Stoyan Gaydardzhiev
Language(s) of instruction
English language
Organisation and examination
Teaching in the first semester, review in January
Schedule
Units courses prerequisite and corequisite
Prerequisite or corequisite units are presented within each program
Learning unit contents
- General overview of the mineral resources sector.
- Definitions of ore, resource, reserve.
- Mineral production and consumption statistics.
- General concepts of metallogeny
- Economic Geology of:
- Deposits related to hydrothermalism associated to magmas;
- Hydrothermal deposits related to sedimentary /structural features;
- Deposits formed in sedimentary/evaporitic environments;
- Detrital deposits;
- Deposits formed by superficial weathering;
- Deposits linked to metasomatism, metamorphism, diagenesis
Learning outcomes of the learning unit
- Understand the diversity and complexity of the geological contexts of the main metallic ore deposits.
- Be able to imagine the best exploration tools criteria for each kind of mineral resource
- Be able to establish a clear link between the ore deposit type (nature) and the most appropriate excavation technique (engineering) to optimize resources
- Understand the geopolitical context prevailing for each metallic resource and suggest possible actions to mitigate EU and regional critical dependency.
- Plan a resource exploitation strategy to lower the impact of geological and mineralogical characteristics on the downstream mineral processing
- Be able to gather information and communicate to the wider society the challenges of extracting resources in complex natural environments
- Have the right background in economic geology to be a creative partner in an environmental remediation team
Prerequisite knowledge and skills
General Geology
Planned learning activities and teaching methods
The course is given entirely in English.
Practical work is bilingual French/English.
Students may ask questions in French or English and, if necessary, request further explanations in French.
LECTURES in the form of modules of 1h30 to 2h00 using an illustrated PPT and possibly videos or additional images.
Samples of real ores from the main deposits around the world are circulated during the course to enable students to handle them and learn to recognise their main characteristics.
(for health or practical reasons, samples could also be presented using an image-sharing platform such as Cytomine).
GROUP WORK
1) A PowerPoint presentation: on a specific genetic model, illustrating an example of a world-class deposit and the extraction methods used in relation to the deposit's characteristics.
2) POSTER (digital version): Carrying out a documentary research project on the production and consumption statistics of a critical component.
FIELD
Afternoon excursion to discover a major mineral industry site in Belgium
SEMINARS
One or two specialist seminars given by professionals (exploration, raw materials and steelmaking, etc.)
Mode of delivery (face to face, distance learning, hybrid learning)
Frontal instruction (2h) to explain the geological context of each deposit
Hands-on learning (2h) to manipulate samples
Face-to-face discussions and interaction with young researchers and scholars in the field
Cooperative learning including team work, realization and presentation (pitch) of a poster in front of peers
Course materials and recommended or required readings
Required:
Power Point presentations available through e-Campus
ARNDT N., GANINO Cl, KESLER St. - Metals and Society - An Introduction to Economic Geology, Springer, 2012
Recommended:
IIED, Breaking New Ground: Mining, Minerals and Sustainable Development (final report of the International Institute for Environment and Development).
ROBB L. - Introduction to ore-forming processes - Blackwell, 2009
JEBRAK M. et MARCOUX E. - Géologie des ressources minérales, 2008 (ISBN : 978-2-551-23737-1) or Geology of Mineral Resources (english version), (ISBN : 978-1-897095-73-7).
Exam(s) in session
Any session
- In-person
written exam ( open-ended questions )
Written work / report
Further information:
Exam(s) in session
Any session
- In-person
written exam ( open-ended questions )
Written work / report
Further information:
THEORY (60%): One main question concerning the formation mechanism of two deposits of different types, focusing on the characteristics (size, grade, geometry, host rocks, etc.) that will have an impact on mining techniques and the environment.
A series of short supplementary questions on geopolitics, mineralogy, the order of magnitude of grades, the posters presented in class, etc.
One question in the written exam concerns the identification of macro samples viewed during the course.
Scientific rigor, clarity of structure and illustration, and attention to presentation are essential assessment criteria.
PowerPoint PRESENTATION (20%): An oral presentation in English to the class (10-15 minutes) explaining a given genetic model. The presentation will be illustrated by a case study of a world-class deposit, the mining methods in use and the associated facilities.
WRITTEN AND ORAL PRESENTATION (10%): Group work (2-3 students) focusing on the key production and consumption statistics for a given metal. Research will be based on the European RMIS portal but may include other sources (e.g. USGS, BGS, etc.). This research project is summarized on an A0 poster (digital version) and presented to the class in 5 minutes.
Assessment will focus on the overall quality of the poster (structure, illustrations, sources, etc.) and the clarity of the oral presentation.
The quality of oral expression in English is NEVER part of the assessment. It may, however, be the subject of an indicative oral assessment.
MINERAL SKETCHBOOK (10%): The sketchbook will be compiled during practical sessions in class, during which students will be asked to sketch ore samples representative of the types of deposits studied and to annotate their distinguishing characteristics (texture, color, appearance, patina, average density, luster, paragenesis, etc.). Assessment will focus on the presentation of the sketchbook (organization, tidiness, etc.), its comprehensiveness, and, in particular, the quality and clarity of the information provided.
WOOCLAP: Quizzes will be held during certain lessons and from one lesson to the next (not on a regular basis). They will not be marked, but may earn students up to 1 bonus mark towards their final mark, depending on their final ranking across all the quizzes.
Work placement(s)
Organisational remarks and main changes to the course
Contacts
Mrs Rosalia FIORENTINO
Tél. : 04/366.95.27, e-mail : emerald@uliege.be
Mr Valentin OGE
Teaching & Research assistant
GeMMe
Sart Tilman B52
e-mail : Valentin.Oge@uliege.be
04/366.95.28