GEOL338-12S2 (C) Semester Two 2012

Engineering and Environmental Geology

15 points

Details:
Start Date: Monday, 9 July 2012
End Date: Sunday, 11 November 2012
Withdrawal Dates
Last Day to withdraw from this course:
  • Without financial penalty (full fee refund): Sunday, 22 July 2012
  • Without academic penalty (including no fee refund): Sunday, 7 October 2012

Description

Principles and practices of engineering geology and environmental management associated with mining activities.

Engineering Geology as a discipline is concerned with site and foundation conditions, geological and geotechnical hazards affecting a particular development, and availability of construction materials. All civil and mining projects impact on the natural environment, and concern for sustainable development requires careful consideration and the mitigation of negative effects of projects. Conventional civil site investigation practice involves evaluation using invasive techniques (drilling; trenching; etc), and can benefit from the use of non-invasive geophysical methods to provide additional site data. Mining operations and their environmental impacts require careful consideration of the landscape, and of the geochemical effects associated with ore recovery, processing and waste management.

GEOL338 develops the basics of site investigation practice, and extends into rock mechanics studies for surface and underground projects. Specific applications of engineering geology to mining geotechnics and related environmental management are then developed, with a series of case studies to conclude the course. The course is focused on practical solutions to engineering issues. Students completing the course will have a sound understanding of principles and practices in both engineering and environmental geology, and will have necessary background for postgraduate study in Engineering Geology or Environmental Science.

Learning Outcomes

  • Students successfully completing this course will have knowledge of:
  • The nature and investigation requirements for civil engineering projects.
  • The importance of rock mass characteristics in civil construction practice.
  • Field and laboratory testing methods for engineering design purposes.
  • The fundamentals of rock mechanics for surface and underground projects.
  • The role of engineering geology in mining projects and related geotechnics.
  • The environmental management issues associated with mining projects.
  • A range of case studies illustrating engineering and environmental geology.

Prerequisites

GEOL242 and 15 points from GEOL243-245

Course Coordinator

For further information see Geological Sciences Head of Department

Assessment

Assessment Due Date Percentage  Description
Laboratories on site investigation and field mapping/logging 20% Laboratories on site investigation and field mapping/logging
Laboratories on rock mechanics and data analysis 20% Laboratories on rock mechanics and data analysis
Laboratories on mine geotechnics and environmental issues 20% Laboratories on mine geotechnics and environmental issues
Final examination 40% Final examination

Course links

Library portal

Additional Course Outline Information

Academic integrity

The topics coved by this course are:
• Site investigation philosophy and techniques for civil engineering projects
• Rock and soil description, including logging methods for cores and faces
• Selected examples of design and construction practice for civil projects
• Intact rock properties and field/laboratory measurement methods
• Influence of rock defects on strength and stability of rock masses
• Surface and underground design and construction in rock, with examples
• Mine design principles and related geotechnical/environmental issues
• Engineering of tailings dams and methods of safe construction
• Acid mine drainage investigation and related remediation requirements
• Selected case studies illustrating engineering and environmental geology.

techniques for civil engineering projects
• Rock and soil description, including logging methods for cores and faces
• Selected examples of design and construction practice for civil projects
• Intact rock properties and field/laboratory measurement methods
• Influence of rock defects on strength and stability of rock masses
• Surface and underground design and construction in rock, with examples
• Mine design principles and related geotechnical/environmental issues
• Engineering of tailings dams and methods of safe construction
• Acid mine drainage investigation and related remediation requirements
• Selected case studies illustrating engineering and environmental geology.

Indicative Fees

Domestic fee $718.00

International fee $3,350.00

* All fees are inclusive of NZ GST or any equivalent overseas tax, and do not include any programme level discount or additional course-related expenses.

For further information see Geological Sciences .

All GEOL338 Occurrences

  • GEOL338-12S2 (C) Semester Two 2012