Module Information
Course Delivery
Delivery Type | Delivery length / details |
---|---|
Lecture | 34 Hours. Energy 3 x 3 hrs; Water 4 x 2 hrs; Bulk Materials 3 x 3 hrs; Metals 4 x 2 hrs |
Practical | 16 Hours. Water 4 x 1 hr; Bulk Materials 2 x 3 hrs; Metals 2 x 2 hrs, 2 x 1 hr |
Assessment
Assessment Type | Assessment length / details | Proportion |
---|---|---|
Semester Assessment | In course essay (Energy Resources) Semseter 1 | 25% |
Semester Assessment | In course essay (Water Resources) & practical (Sands/Gravel) (equally weighted) Semester 2 | 25% |
Semester Exam | 2 Hours Examination (Water Resources/Building Materials) Semester 2 | 25% |
Semester Exam | 2 Hours Examination (Metals) Semester 1 | 25% |
Supplementary Assessment | Resubmit failed components | 50% |
Supplementary Exam | 2 Hours Resit failed components | 50% |
Learning Outcomes
On succesful completion of this module, students should be able to demonstrate knowledge of:-
- Energy resources, formation, exploration and extraction (where relevant) uses and environmental impacts
*Water resources and their management and environmental impact inclusive of hydrogeology
*Bulk Materials, inclusive of aggregates, building stones, sand and gravels, cement and bricks, exploration testing and environmental impacts
*Metals and Mineral Deposits. The formation of key ore and mineral deposits (iron, aluminium, uranium, base metal, strategic metals, gold), their extraction and mineral processing methods and the impact on the environment of these processes
Aims
The aim of this module is to introduce students to the most important of Earth's physical resources in terms of their use, formation, exploration, extraction, processing and environmental impacts. This will be structured under four main topics: Energy; Water; Bulk Materials and Metals
Brief description
- Energy Resources will be discussed under the following topics: nuclear power; coal and hydrocarbons, geothermal and renewable energy.
- The Water Resources part of this module will describe the water cycle, discuss water management and usage, surface water and groundwater, and provide an introduction to hydrogeology.
- The part of the module on Bulk Materials will cover the following topics: building stones; aggregates; sands and gravels; bricks.
- Under the Metal and Mineral Deposits part of this course, the formation of key mineral deposits (iron, aluminium, uranium, base metal, strategic metals, gold), their extraction and mineral processing methods and the impact on the environment of these processes will be discussed.
Content
- General introduction and introduction to energy
- Electricity: the U.K. National Grid. Nuclear power
- Coal and hydrocarbons (oil and gas)
- Geothermal and renewable energy
- Renewable energy, hydropower, geothermal energy
- Water cycle
- Surface water
- Groundwater
- Hydrogeology
- Building stones and bricks
- Aggregates and cement
- Sands and gravels
- Sands and gravels (practical)
- Sands and gravels (practical)
- Mineral extraction and processing
- Iron
- Aluminium
- Base metal deposits (lead, zinc, copper)
- Uranium and strategic metals
- Gold and precious metals
Reading List
Recommended TextBishop, V. and Prosser, R (1986) Water Resources Primo search Edwards, R. and Atkinson, K (1986) Ore Deposit Geology Primo search Manning, D.A.C (1994) Introduction to Industrial Minerals Primo search Ramage, J (1997) Energy Primo search Wills, B.A (1997) Mineral Processing Technology Primo search
Notes
This module is at CQFW Level 5