Mining Engineering courses

Earth's Building Blocks

Introduction to the common ore and gangue minerals and their crystal structure; Igneous rocks (focusing on layered igneous complexes and granites and associated ores); Sedimentary rocks (clastic and chemical sedimentary rocks as hosts to secondary and replacement ores); Metamorphic rocks (remobilisation of ores and stability problems).

Earth's Processes

Introduction to the surface of the Earth including the number and positions of plates; driving forces behind plate motion (plumes and the internal make-up of the planet); modification of the Earth's surface (physical and chemical weathering and the hydrological and carbon cycles).

The final year mark for GEOL1006A consists of:

• June examination mark: 50%
• Class mark: 50%

The total class mark, obtained from projects, reports, and tests, will comprise the following:

A formal exam of two hours duration will be held in June. This exam will consist of four sections.

• Section A: Minerals
• Section B: Rocks
• Section C: Surface Processes
• Section D: Internal Processes

• Field Guide to Rocks and Minerals of Southern Africa (Pbk) (2004 edition) ISBN: 1868729850 Author: Cairncross, B.
• Earth: Portrait of a Planet (Pbk) (2005 edition) ISBN: 0393160653 Author: Marshak, S.
• The Story of Earth & Life (Pbk) (2005) Authors: McCarthy, T.S.  & Rubidge, B. Publisher: Struik.

Earth's Structure

Geological structures and deformation processes, interpreting geological maps, structural contouring and simple mine plans (block models and maps); principles of stratigraphy, South African stratigraphy.

Earth's Resources

This course provides a basic introduction to the principles of economic geology, mining geology, and some of processes involved in the formation of magmatic, hydrothermal, and sedimentary ore deposits. There will be a focus on ore deposits across Southern Africa throughout this course.

The final year mark for GEOL1007A consists of:

• November examination mark: 50%
• Class mark: 50%

The total class mark, obtained from projects, reports, and tests, will comprise the following:

A formal exam of two hours duration will be held in November. This examination will consist of two sections:

• Section A: Earth's structure 
• Section B: Stratigraphy
• Section C: Earth's resources 

Section C will be weighted at 50% of the total exam mark and Sections A and B at 25% each.

• Mineral Resources of South Africa: A Handbook. 16^th (1998 edition) ISBN: 1875061525 Author: Wilson, M.G.C. & Anhaeusser, C.R.
• An Introduction to Geological Structures and Maps Author: Bennison, G.M. and Moseley, K.A.
• The Story of Earth & Life (Pbk) (2005) Authors: McCarthy, T.S.  & Rubidge, B. Publisher: Struik.

Classification of mineral deposits; Igneous, magmatic-hydrothermal, hydrothermal, and sedimentary/surficial ore forming processes.

South African mineral resources, reserves and production in the global context; the Witwatersrand goldfields; orogenic lode gold deposits in Africa; the Bushveld Complex PGE, chromium and vanadium resources; Southern African base metal deposits; South African iron ore deposits; South Africa’s coalfields; Southern African diamond resources.

Technological and computational advances in exploration and mining geology.

Drilling techniques and methodologies; Downhole surveying; Core orientation; Core logging, sampling and assaying; Drillhole databases.

The Mining Value Chain part I: Mineral exploration; 3D Geological and orebody modelling; Inter-relationship of geology, structure and orebody architecture in mine development.

The Mining Value Chain part II: Mineral resource estimation, classification and reporting; Modifying factors (mining, metallurgical, environmental etc.); Ore reserve estimation, classification and reporting; Monitoring the resources and reserves; Grade control, production and reconciliation.

Block 3 practicals will include at least one report on applied mining and exploration geology.

A 6-7 week long orebody modelling practical will form the core of the practical marks for Block 3 and 4.

Block 4 practicals may include a written report or delivery of a presentation on an ore deposit style and process of extraction.

Throughout the course an emphasis will be placed on the development of professional skills that are appropriate to working in the Mining and Exploration industry. 

A 2 hour examination will be held in November. The examination mark will be combined with the class mark in the proportion 50:50 in determining the final year mark.

The class mark will be based on practicals set during the course.