In order to develop a mine it is important to understand both the mineral resource and the engineering characteristics of the material being excavated. This module will start by giving an introduction to the planet’s geological resources. You will examine key rock types (igneous, sedimentary and metamorphic) and how their constituent minerals and structures define a range of rock properties. You will learn about the identification and classification of the principal mineral and rock groups, including ore specimens, and how to interpret simple geological maps. The module will go onto provide a fundamental understanding of rock and soil mechanics principles related to underground and surface excavation. The module will also cover classical and geo-statistical estimation techniques that are used for quantifying mineral resources in the mining industry, covering the stages from mineral exploration to resource modelling and resource classification.
INTENDED LEARNING OUTCOMES (ILOs) (see assessment section below for how ILOs will be assessed)
SYLLABUS PLAN - summary of the structure and academic content of the module
