GEOLOGY 3500 - Exploration Methods III
North Terrace Campus - Semester 1 - 2017
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General Course Information
Course Details
Course Code GEOLOGY 3500 Course Exploration Methods III Coordinating Unit School of Physical Sciences Term Semester 1 Level Undergraduate Location/s North Terrace Campus Units 3 Contact Up to 7 hours per week, plus field trip Available for Study Abroad and Exchange Y Incompatible GEOLOGY 3017 and GEOLOGY 3018 Assessment Final exam, practical exercises linked to field work, tests Course Staff
Course Coordinator: Professor Graham Heinson
Course Timetable
The full timetable of all activities for this course can be accessed from .
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Learning Outcomes
Course Learning Outcomes
This course aims to introduce students to the techniques used to measure and map geologic,
geophysical and geochemical characteristics of the lithosphere, with applications to mineral and energy exploration.
It also aims to provide students with the theoretical background to each technique (including its strengths and limitations), the methods of data collection, analysis and interpretation and an appreciation of the exploration scenarios in which each technique may apply.
The anticipated knowledge, skills and/or attitude to be developed by the student are:
Demonstrated knowledge of:
1 Demonstrated proficiency in common practical skills in resource exploration 2 The scientific basis of mineral, energy and natural resource exploration 3 The generic characteristics of economic mineral and energy resources –
geological, geophysical and geochemical anomalism4 The geophysical techniques (seismic, gravity, magnetic, electrical and
electro-magnetics)5 The geochemical techniques (sampling media, sampling strategies,
analytical techniques)6 Field based data collection – sampling strategies 7 Demonstrated understanding of the importance of data quality –
collection, analysis, processes techniquesUniversity Graduate Attributes
This course will provide students with an opportunity to develop the Graduate Attribute(s) specified below:
University Graduate Attribute Course Learning Outcome(s) Deep discipline knowledge
- informed and infused by cutting edge research, scaffolded throughout their program of studies
- acquired from personal interaction with research active educators, from year 1
- accredited or validated against national or international standards (for relevant programs)
1, 2, 3, 4, 5 Critical thinking and problem solving
- steeped in research methods and rigor
- based on empirical evidence and the scientific approach to knowledge development
- demonstrated through appropriate and relevant assessment
1, 6, 7 Teamwork and communication skills
- developed from, with, and via the SGDE
- honed through assessment and practice throughout the program of studies
- encouraged and valued in all aspects of learning
6, 7 Career and leadership readiness
- technology savvy
- professional and, where relevant, fully accredited
- forward thinking and well informed
- tested and validated by work based experiences
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 Intercultural and ethical competency
- adept at operating in other cultures
- comfortable with different nationalities and social contexts
- able to determine and contribute to desirable social outcomes
- demonstrated by study abroad or with an understanding of indigenous knowledges
6 Self-awareness and emotional intelligence
- a capacity for self-reflection and a willingness to engage in self-appraisal
- open to objective and constructive feedback from supervisors and peers
- able to negotiate difficult social situations, defuse conflict and engage positively in purposeful debate
6, 7 -
Learning Resources
Recommended Resources
The following will be provided: lecture notes handouts, practical notes handouts,
Field Exercise Guide
Recommended texts:
Introduction to mineral exploration (Moon, Whateley and Evans), 2nd Ed, 2006, Blackwell Publishing
Geophysics for the Mineral Exploration Geoscientist (Dentith and Mudge), 2014, Cambridge University Press
Online Learning
Additional course-related material is available through MyUni We use it
often. Students should regularly check the MyUni website for important course-related announcements. Teaching materials, field trip info, reminders and course documentation will also be posted on this site.
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Learning & Teaching Activities
Learning & Teaching Modes
This course comprises:
Two lectures of 1 hour each per week
One practical of 4 hours per week
Two days field data acquisition timetabled during lecture/prac days
Workload
The information below is provided as a guide to assist students in engaging appropriately with the course requirements.
Lecture
2 hours of lecture and 1 hour preparation
Practicals
4 hours practical work most weeks
1 hour per week extra reading time and completing some practical exercises for assessment
Field work
Scheduled during lecture, practical sessions
3 hours per week extra reading and report writing from fieldwork
TOTAL HRS PER WEEK
Up to 6 contact hours
Up to 6 non-contact hoursLearning Activities Summary
Schedule Week 1 The science and practice of mineral and energy exploration week 2 Minerals and energy resources in the Australian setting Week 3 Geochemical techniques Week 4 Geochemical techniques Week 5 Geochemical techniques Week 6 Geophysical techniques Week 7 Geophysical techniques Week 8 Geophysical techniques Week 9 Geophysical techniques Week 10 Geophysical techniques Week 11 Geophysical techniques Week 12 Exploration case studies Specific Course Requirements
This course includes 2 x 1-day field work to an exploration site in Adelaide Hills. -
Assessment
The University's policy on Assessment for Coursework Programs is based on the following four principles:
- Assessment must encourage and reinforce learning.
- Assessment must enable robust and fair judgements about student performance.
- Assessment practices must be fair and equitable to students and give them the opportunity to demonstrate what they have learned.
- Assessment must maintain academic standards.
Assessment Summary
Assessment Task Task Type Percentage of total assessment for grading purposes Hurdle
Yes/NoOutcomes being assessed/achieved Due date Weekly tests
(8 x 5%)Summative & Formative 40%
No 1,2,3,4,5 Field trip report Summative & Formative 20% No 4,5,6,7 Week 12 Exam Summative 40% No 1,2,3,4,5,6,7 Exam period Assessment Related Requirements
Attendance is compulsory at all scheduled practical sessions.
The learning outcomes for this course are substantially dependent on laboratory and field experience and practice. Therefore, missing any practical class in a semester will result in a grade of FAIL being recorded for the course.
Students are able to apply for an allowed absence from a practical session for medical or compassionate reasons by submitting an absence form with appropriate supporting documentation to the course coordinator. Application forms can be downloaded from
Practicals missed due to medical or compassionate reasons must be made up (opportunity permitting; contact the course coordinator for details, as soon as possible to discuss options). All students who miss a practical will receive an email at their 成人大片 student account with instructions on the action to be taken to organise a make-up practical.
Assessment Detail
Weekly Tests (8, each worth 5%):
A weekly test (on the previous weeks materials) will be given at the start of each lab class, and will be worth 5% of the years marks. .
Field based practical exercises and report (20%):
This assessment covers 2 days of field based data acquisition and practicals which will cover geochemical survey planning, geophysical data processing, presentation and interpretation and integration of multiple datasets collected by the students at the field site. The weekly activities will be compiled and summarised as an exploration report to be handed up subsequent to the Week 12 practical.
Exam (40%):
The exam is intended as a measure of summative knowledge of the course material.Submission
Late Submission
If an extension is not applied for, or not granted then a penalty for late submission will apply. A penalty of 10% of the value of the assignment for each calendar day that the assignment is late (i.e. weekends count as 2 days), up to a maximum of 50% of the available marks will be applied. This means that an assignment that is 5 days late or more without an approved extension can only receive a maximum of 50% of the marks available for that assignment.Course Grading
Grades for your performance in this course will be awarded in accordance with the following scheme:
M10 (Coursework Mark Scheme) Grade Mark Description FNS Fail No Submission F 1-49 Fail P 50-64 Pass C 65-74 Credit D 75-84 Distinction HD 85-100 High Distinction CN Continuing NFE No Formal Examination RP Result Pending Further details of the grades/results can be obtained from Examinations.
Grade Descriptors are available which provide a general guide to the standard of work that is expected at each grade level. More information at Assessment for Coursework Programs.
Final results for this course will be made available through .
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Student Feedback
The University places a high priority on approaches to learning and teaching that enhance the student experience. Feedback is sought from students in a variety of ways including on-going engagement with staff, the use of online discussion boards and the use of Student Experience of Learning and Teaching (SELT) surveys as well as GOS surveys and Program reviews.
SELTs are an important source of information to inform individual teaching practice, decisions about teaching duties, and course and program curriculum design. They enable the University to assess how effectively its learning environments and teaching practices facilitate student engagement and learning outcomes. Under the current SELT Policy (http://www.adelaide.edu.au/policies/101/) course SELTs are mandated and must be conducted at the conclusion of each term/semester/trimester for every course offering. Feedback on issues raised through course SELT surveys is made available to enrolled students through various resources (e.g. MyUni). In addition aggregated course SELT data is available.
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Policies & Guidelines
This section contains links to relevant assessment-related policies and guidelines - all university policies.
- Academic Credit Arrangements Policy
- Academic Integrity Policy
- Academic Progress by Coursework Students Policy
- Assessment for Coursework Programs Policy
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- Coursework Academic Programs Policy
- Intellectual Property Policy
- IT Acceptable Use and Security Policy
- Modified Arrangements for Coursework Assessment Policy
- Reasonable Adjustments to Learning, Teaching & Assessment for Students with a Disability Policy
- Student Experience of Learning and Teaching Policy
- Student Grievance Resolution Process
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