Economic Geology

This course will involve how we find, extract and use geological raw materials. It will look at the main mineral resources, energy hydrocarbons and building materials as well as the most underrated resource of all, that of water. The course will also look at some case studies of mining and the conflicts of interest, economic, political and environmental associated with the extraction of raw materials and set these against the global geopolitical backdrop. 

WEEK 1  INTRODUCTION. 
Where politics , economics meets geology . How do we find economic
deposits

WEEK 2 MINERAL
DEPOSITS. The metallic deposits, magmatic deposits and the hydrothermal
deposits.

WEEK 3 NON
METALLIC DEPOSITS.  The sedimentary
precipitated deposits such a halite, gypsum and potash and placer deposits such
as gold and diamonds.

WEEK 4 A
CASE STUDY OF A MINING DEVELOPMENT IN MID WALES.

WEEK 5
ENERGY FROM ROCKS HYDROCARBON 1 COAL. 
The origin of coal, its various forms and the issues regarding mining,
political and environmental.  

WEEK 6
ENERGY FROM ROCKS HYDROCARBONS 2 AND 3. The origin of Oil and Natural Gas, its
formation, the development of North Sea oil and gas, global politics surrounding
these deposits and environmental issues.

WEEK 7 A CASE
STUDY OF HYDROCARBON EXTRACTION. The political and environmental issues
surrounding the development of new coal mines, oil fields and fracking.  

WEEK 8
GEOLOGY AND THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY. Building stone , Aggregates, chippings
and stone, cement, clay and China clay.

WEEK 9 WATER
SUPPLIES. The importance of water as a resource. Underground water supplies,
Aquifers. Surface reservoirs with special reference to the British Isles.

WEEK 10 THE FUTURE
OF MINERAL RESOURCES. The finite and exhaustible nature of deposits and the
global demand and  global geopolitical
issues from exploitation in less developed countries. Consolidation of the work
covered during the term.