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Principles and practices of engineering geology and environmental management associated with mining activities.
This course is a final year course aimed at synthesizing geological knowledge and skills for applications to civil and mining engineering. Engineering Geology is a discipline concerned with site and foundation conditions, geological and geotechnical hazards affecting a particular development, and availability of construction materials. Civil site investigation practice involves evaluation using invasive techniques (drilling; trenching; etc) and requires careful consideration of the landscape, geological history and geological materials present. Mining Geology is concerned with all aspects of the mine life cycle, with geological input into exploration and resource estimation, mine design, processing, waste and decommissioning. All of these aspects are highly depended on the ore type, geological setting and geological materials present.GEOL338 develops the basics of site investigation practice, and extends into developing engineering geology models for surface and underground projects in civil and mining engineering applications. It then focuses on interpretation of geological data for applications to mine life stages through the development of geological models. Students completing the course will develop skills and knowledge of principles and practices in both engineering and mining geology. Students will also develop professional communication skills through group work and technical writing.
Goal of the CourseThe overall goal of the course is for students to develop some of the fundamentals skills required for working in two applied streams of geology: engineering geology and mining geology. The first half of the course will focus on the application of geological techniques to engineering projects. The second half of the course will focus on mining life cycle from investigation and model building and how they affect the mine design, to ore processing, waste and mine decommissioning.Students successfully completing this course will be able to:Describe the engineering properties of rocks and soils using geological mapping and description, and engineering geology site investigation techniques. Work effectively in a team to build an engineering geology model in rock and soil to inform engineering project decisions. Communicate the engineering and societal impacts of changes in the engineering geology characteristics of an engineering project over its design life.Analyse exploration geology data to assess ore reserves.Select appropriate mine design, ore processing, mine waste and decommissioning solutions given different ore types and reserves.Summary of the Course ContentThe topics coved by this course are:Effective group work and technical writingEngineering geology description, properties and behaviour of earth materialsSite investigation philosophy and techniques for civil and mining engineering projects Development of engineering models using field and laboratory data Surface and underground design and construction considerations through case studiesMine life cycle and the application of geological assessment techniques to each stageMine design principles and related geotechnical/environmental issuesOre processing, waste management and mine decommissioningThere will be three ½ day field trips; two in term 3 and a fourth in term 4.
This course will provide students with an opportunity to develop the Graduate Attributes specified below:
Critically competent in a core academic discipline of their award
Students know and can critically evaluate and, where applicable, apply this knowledge to topics/issues within their majoring subject.
Employable, innovative and enterprising
Students will develop key skills and attributes sought by employers that can be used in a range of applications.
Engaged with the community
Students will have observed and understood a culture within a community by reflecting on their own performance and experiences within that community.
Globally aware
Students will comprehend the influence of global conditions on their discipline and will be competent in engaging with global and multi-cultural contexts.
GEOL242 and GEOL246
Week # - Week Starting - Lectures - Labs - Topics - Lecturers - Topics29 - 16th July - Engineering Geology Principles and Case Studies; Engineering description of Geological Materials - MCV - Effective team work, preparation for field trip30 - 23th July - Site Investigation and field mapping - MCV - Rock and soil description field trip31 - 30st July - Engineering Geology Models - MCV - Technical report writing and building an engineering geology model32 - 6th August - Engineering Properties of Geological Materials - MCV - ASPAL group assessment33 - 13th August - Changing Properties and Behaviour of Rock and Soil - MCV - Geohazards field trip34 - 20st August - Case Studies and Exam Review - MCV - Tutorial 37 - 10th September - History of mining & target evaluation; resources & reserves - DHB - Introduction to JORC code for resources & reserves38 - 17th September - Surface mining: unconsolidated deposits, soft-rock, quarrying - DHB - Mine or quarry field trip; review of recovery methods39 - 24th September - Open-pit mining of hard-rock ores; underground mining - DHB - Mine or quarry design exercise (1)40 - 1st October - Open-pit & underground mine geotechnics and hydrogeology - DHB - Mine or quarry design exercise (2)41 - 8th October - Environmental aspects of mining; ore processing & tailings dams - DHB 42 - 15th October - Future materials & energy requirements; decommissioning - DHB
Marlene Villeneuve
David Bell
Examination and Formal Tests Final examination (2 hour) - 40%
Bell, F. G; Engineering geology ; 2nd ed; Butterworth-Heinemann, 2007.
Goodman, Richard E; Engineering geology : rock in engineering construction ; J. Wiley, 1993.
Hartley, John S; Drilling : tools and programme management ; Balkema, 1994.
Johnson, Robert Britten , DeGraff, Jerome V; Principles of engineering geology ; Wiley, 1988.
Moon, Charles. et al; Introduction to mineral exploration ; 2nd ed; John Wiley & Sons, Ltd, 2009.
Moore, T. A; Metal contaminants in New Zealand : sources, treatments, and effects on ecology and human health ; Resolutionz Press, 2005.
Smith, M. R. , Geological Society of London; Stone : building stone, rock fill and armourstone in construction ; Geological Society, 1999.
There are no textbooks required for this course, and extensive handouts will be given instead. The following books are recommended reading:Hencher, A. (2012) Practical Engineering Geology. Available online: http://www.crcnetbase.com.ezproxy.canterbury.ac.nz/isbn/978-0-203-89482-8
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PrerequisitesGEOL242 and 15 points from GEOL243-245
Summary of the Course ContentThe topics coved by this course are:• Site investigation philosophy and techniques for civil and mining engineering projects • Rock and soil description, including logging methods for cores and faces• Rock and soil properties and field/laboratory measurement methods• Development of engineering models using field and laboratory data • Surface and underground design and construction considerations through case study examples• Mine life cycle and the application of geological assessment techniques to each stage• Mine design principles and related geotechnical/environmental issues• Ore processing and waste management• Mine decommissioningMarks and GradesThe Department of Geological Sciences uses the following scale to convert marks into grades:100 – 90 A+ 74 – 70 B 54 – 50 C-89 – 85 A 69 – 65 B- 49 – 40 D84 – 80 A- 64 – 60 C+ Below 40 E79 – 75 B+ 59 – 55 C The Department of Geological Sciences reserves the right to adjust this mark/grade conversion, when deemed necessary.Late WorkIt is the policy for this course that late work is not accepted. Or, late work should be accompanied with a detailed explanation of why the work is late. The work will be marked and marks will be subtracted for each day the work is late. Days late include week-end and holidays. Academic LiaisonChristopher Oze (room 329, HUchristopher.oze@canterbury.ac.nzUH, is in charge of liaison with students in geology courses. Each year level will appoint a student representative(s) to the liaison committee at the start of the semester. Please feel free to talk to the Academic Liaison or the student rep about any problems or concerns that you might have.Students with DisabilitiesStudents with disabilities should speak with someone at Disability Resource Service. Their office is room 317 in the Rutherford Building. Phone: 364 2350 (or ext. 6350), email: disabilities@canterbury.ac.nzPolicy on Dishonest PracticePlagiarism, collusion, copying and ghost writing are unacceptable and dishonest practices.• Plagiarism is the presentation of any material (text, data, figures or drawings, on any medium including computer files) from any other source without clear and adequate acknowledgement of the source.• Collusion is the presentation of work performed in conjunction with another person or persons, but submitted as if it has been completed only by the names author(s). • Copying is the use of material (in any medium, including computer files) produced by another person(s) with or without their knowledge and approval.• Ghost writing is the use of another person(s) (with or without payment) to prepare all or part of an item submitted for assessment. In cases where dishonest practice is involved in tests or other work submitted for credit, the student will be referred to the University Proctor. The instructor may choose to not mark the work. Reconsideration of GradesStudents should, in the first instance, speak to the course co-ordinator about their marks. If they cannot reach an agreeable solution, students should then speak to the Head of the Geological Sciences Department. Students can appeal any decision made on their final grade. You can apply at the Registry to appeal the final grade within 4 weeks of the end of the semester. Be aware that there are time limits for each step of the appeals process. Aegrotat ApplicationsIf you feel that illness, injury, bereavement or other critical circumstances has prevented you from completing an item of assessment or affected your performance, you should complete an aegrotat application form, available from the Registry or the Student Health and Counselling Service. This should be within seven days of the due date for the required work or the date of the examination. In the case of illness or injury, medical consultation should normally have taken place shortly before or within 24 hours after the due date for the required work, or the date of the test or examination. For further details on aegrotat applications, please refer to the Enrolment Handbook. You have the right to appeal any decision made, including aegrotat decisions. Missing of TestsIn rare cases a student will not be able to sit a test. In such cases, the student should consult with the course co-ordinator or the Head of the Department of Geological Sciences to arrange alternative procedures. This must be done well in advance of the set date for the test.
Domestic fee $865.00
International fee $3,788.00
* 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 .