Module Information

Module Identifier
EA22500
Module Title
EARTH RESOURCES
Academic Year
2009/2010
Co-ordinator
Dr Charles Bendall
Semester
Semester 1 (Taught over 2 semesters)
Pre-Requisite
EA11610 or EA11510
Other Staff
 

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)  Semester 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

Course outline is as follows:

  1. General introduction and introduction to energy
  2. Electricity: the U.K. National Grid. Nuclear power
  3. Coal and hydrocarbons (oil and gas)
  4. Geothermal and renewable energy
  5. Renewable energy, hydropower, geothermal energy
  6. Water cycle
  7. Surface water
  8. Groundwater
  9. Hydrogeology
  10. Building stones and bricks
  11. Aggregates and cement
  12. Sands and gravels
  13. Sands and gravels (practical)
  14. Sands and gravels (practical)
  15. Mineral extraction and processing
  16. Iron
  17. Aluminium
  18. Base metal deposits (lead, zinc, copper)
  19. Uranium and strategic metals
  20. Gold and precious metals

Reading List

Recommended Text
Bishop, 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