Información del Plan Docente

1.1. Aims of the course

The subject and its learning goals results answer to the following approaches and aims:

The matter " Mineral deposits " has as principal aim that the student is capable of establishing the relation between the processes that take place during the plate tectonic and the mineral deposits formed. This knowledge establishes the basic tools in order that a geologist of exploration (economic geologist) knows the metalogenic provinces and the stratigraphic fertile horizons that are able to contain metals of economic interest. In addition, the economic evaluation of the mineralizations is the clue for carrying out studies of viability, demanded for mining companies. These studies determine, in last instance, the minimal cut-off grades that mineralizations must have for being a producing mine.

4.1. Methodological overview

The methodology followed in this course is oriented towards the achievement of the learning objectives. A wide range of teaching and learning tasks are implemented, such as lectures, laboratory sessions, practice sessions, seminars, fieldwork, exams and autonomous work.

This course has an eminently practical character, therefore the proposed activities are focused on the application of the acquired knowledge. For this reason, this knowledge acquired in lectures will complement each other with the practical activities of laboratory and seminars, where the student will have to demonstrate his knowledge to identify and to characterize different types of deposits, to quantify their economic value and to determine if the exploitation is viable. The seminars will serve to explain and to prepare in group the economic evaluation of a deposit. 

The monitoring of the learning process will be favoured through conventional tutoring and more specific tutoring related to the report that the students have to do in practice sessions. In addition, resource material will be uploaded on the Internet (https://moodle2.unizar.es/add/).

4.2. Learning tasks

This course is organized as follows:

• Lectures (28 hours). Acquisition of the theoretical knowledge on mineral deposits, genesis and distribution patterns.
• Laboratory sessions (8 hours)
• Practice sessions (4 hours). Attendance is required.
• Seminars (4 hours)
• Fieldwork (6 hours). 1-day trip. Fielwork could be coordinate with other subjects
• Exams (5 hours)
• Autonomous work and study (70 hours)
• Tutorials. 

4.3. Syllabus

This course will address the following topics:

Lectures.

• Topic 1. Introduction and important definitions and compilations. Classifications most usually used in mineral deposits.
• Topic 2. Metallogeny through time: continental growth rates, crustal evolution and plate tectonics.
• Topic 3. Divergent margins and metallogeny
• Topic 4. Convergent margins and metallogeny

Practice sessions 

• 1.- Identification of several mineral deposits with polarized microscopy.
• 2.- Interpretation of simple geological maps for mineral exploration. Field techniques.
• 3.- Ore reserve calculation and economic viability estimations.
• 4.- Field practices

4.4. Course planning and calendar

Further information concerning the timetable, classroom, office hours, assessment dates and other details regarding this course will be provided on the first day of class or please refer to the Faculty of Sciences website (https://ciencias.unizar.es; https://cienciastierra.unizar.es) and Moodle.

4.5. Bibliography and recommended resources

In support there is a Moodle course on this subject (http://moodle.unizar.es) with the sylabus of the classes, practical guides for seminars, field guide and the references used for each lesson.