CODES – Centre for Ore Deposit and Earth Sciences

Master's Short Courses

We offer a series of intensively-delivered coursework units as part of our Master of Economic Geology and Graduate Certificate in Economic Geology degrees to help industry geologists to keep up with advances in mineral exploration technology and ore deposit research.

Each unit features an extended format comprising an intensive program of lectures, seminars and practicals, some involving fieldwork in Tasmania or overseas. The unit leaders are specialists selected from industry and universities, and are eminent in their fields. Each unit is available to industry participants as a complete (generally two-week) program, or segments of particular interest can be taken in individual blocks.

All units below are available for the Master of Economic Geology, those with a # are available for the Graduate Certificate in Economic Geology.

Coursework Units Available

Fundamentals of Economic Geology (KEA716)#

next delivery: 8-13 April & 6-10 May, 2024

This unit teaches the fundamental skills needed by all economic geologists. Concepts of key geological concepts, mineralogy, paragenesis, geochemistry and geophysical characteristics of ore-forming environments, and the impact of these data sets on ore genesis and exploration are taught. The unit focusses on identifying and using key tools to recognise the sequence of events that have impacted ore-forming environments, and how these tools can be best used in an exploration context to solve exploration, mineral processing and environmental problems.

Unit Leader: Prof David Cooke

Delivery mode/location: Online

For More Details: Download most recent flyer (PDF 4.6MB)

Ore Deposit Models and Exploration Strategies (KEA712)#

next delivery: 3-8 June & 8-12 July, 2024 (Repeated every even numbered year)

Ore Deposit Models and Exploration Strategies is an up-to-date synopsis  of key ore deposit types including porphyry, epithermal, and skarn deposits, IOCG deposits, magmatic sulfide deposits, orogenic and Carlin-type gold deposits, volcanic-hosted massive sulfide and sea-floor hydrothermal deposits, sediment-hosted-Cu, Zn-Pb and Broken Hill-type deposits. Most deposit types receive the equivalent of a full day of lectures and practical exercises, addressing the location, characteristics, genesis and exploration strategies.

Unit Leaders: Prof David Cooke, Dr Rob Scott

Delivery mode/location: Blended delivery (face to face and online)

For More Details: Download most recent flyer (PDF 1.0MB)

Geodata Analytics (KEA713)#

next delivery: Part 1: 5 August - 13 September, 2024; Part 2 (intensive): 16 - 20 September, 2024; Part 3: 23 September - 27 October, 2024

This unit will provide industry-based geoscientists with an understanding of the fundamental concepts of database handling and manipulation, statistical analyses, pattern recognition and machine learning for the processing, analysis and modelling of large volumes of multivariate geoscience data. This unit will focus on rigorous approaches of the above methods for extracting and visualising meaningful information from geochemical, geophysical and geological information with applications for mineral exploration; ore extraction and processing; and waste management.

This unit is divided into three parts delivered online and in succession.

Unit Leader: Dr Matt Cracknell

Delivery mode/location: Online, delivered via a combination of pre-recorded content, 'live' lectures and discussion 'forums'

For More Details: Download most recent flyer (PDF 1.1MB)

Exploration in Brownfield Terrains (KEA710)

next delivery: 28 October - 2 November & 18-22 November, 2024 
(repeated every even numbered year)

The compilation of large datasets that are common in areas of significant previous exploration can present a challenge for any geologist. This unit is a lab-based unit that looks at exploration in and around mine sites where there is often abundant data. This unit will cover GIS applications, and the interpretation of geochemical and geophysical data at various scales. This information will be enhanced by practical exercises involving the integration of multiple datasets from world-class mineralised districts.

Unit Leader: Dr Rob Scott

Delivery mode/location: Blended delivery (face to face and online)

For More Details: Download most recent flyer (PDF 1.5MB)

Advanced Field Skills in Economic Geology (KEA718)#

next delivery: February, 2025

A field-based unit run in Tasmania that will teach fundamental and advanced mapping and field skills suitable for use in the minerals industry, including field-based rock and mineral identification, fact and form surface mapping, Anaconda-style mapping, structural measurement and graphic logging techniques for drill core, and the use of spectral, geochemical and remote sensing data sets in making and interpreting geological maps.

Unit Leaders: Dr Rob Scott, Dr Lejun Zhang, Dr Francisco Testa, Dr Mike Baker

Delivery mode/location: Face-to-face, Tasmania (Australia)

For More Details: Download most recent flyer (PDF 3.2MB)

Ores in Magmatic Arcs (KEA707)

next delivery: March 2025 (Indonesia)
(repeated every odd numbered year)

A field-based unit  which includes visits to world-class deposits, studies of the regional and local geology, and detailed evaluations of ore deposit characteristics, mineralisation styles and genetic models. Exploration techniques are discussed and evaluated.

Unit Leaders: Prof. David Cooke (Indonesia; South America; Australia), Dr Lejun Zhang (Indonesia; Australia), Dr Yamila Cajal (South America), Dr Mike Baker (South America; Australia)

Delivery mode/location: Face-to-face, Indonesia (~March) | face-to-face, Chile and Peru (~September-October)

For More Details (Tasmania and the circum-Pacific): Download most recent flyer (PDF 607KB)

For More Details (Indonesia): Download most recent flyer (PDF 2MB)

For More Details (South America): Download most recent flyer (PDF 2MB)

Ore Deposit Geochemistry, Hydrology and Geochronology (KEA709)#

next delivery: June - July 2025
(repeated every odd numbered year)

This unit covers a variety of geochemical and geochronological techniques used to interpret environments of ore formation and processes of ore genesis, and discusses the implications of these datasets for mineral exploration. Topics include Ar-Ar, U-Pb and Re-Os geochronology, whole rock and trace element chemistry of igneous rocks, sulfide trace element chemistry, stable and radiogenic isotopes, fluid inclusions and hydrothermal geochemistry.

Unit Leader: Prof David Cooke

Delivery mode/location: Blended delivery (face to face and online)

For More Details: Download most recent flyer (PDF 1.3MB)

Geometallurgy (KEA711)

next delivery: October, 2025 (repeated every odd numbered year)

Geometallurgy involves a quantified and comprehensive approach to ore characterisation in terms of critical processing attributes: including blasting, crushing, grinding, liberation, recovery and environmental management. Key outcomes of improved geometallurgical knowledge are improved forecasting, reduced technical risk, enhanced economic optimization of mineral production, and improved sustainability.

The unit introduces a range of techniques that will enhance the information that geologists produce in the mine environment that are relevant to mining engineers and metallurgists.

Unit Leaders: Dr Angela Escolme, Dr Julie Hunt

Delivery mode/location: Face-to-face, Tasmania (Australia)

For More Details: Download most recent flyer (PDF 1.9MB)

Volcanology and Mineralisation in Volcanic Terrains (KEA708)

next delivery: March, 2026 
(repeated every even numbered year)

This unit provides an introduction to the processes and products of different eruption styles, contrasts in scale and structure of volcanoes, identification of key volcanic facies associations and interpretation of facies variations. Mineralisation and alteration processes related to hydrothermal systems in subaerial and submarine volcanic environments and implications for mineral exploration are included. This unit  is a field based unit with trips to the North Island of New Zealand to examine modern volcanic systems and a trip to the West Coast of Tasmania to examine the well mineralised and altered, Cambrian Mt Read Volcanics.

Unit Leaders: Assoc Prof Rebecca Carey, Prof David Cooke, Dr Martin Jutzeler, Dr Lejun Zhang

Delivery mode/location: Face-to-face, New Zealand (North Island) and Australia (Tasmania)

For More Details: Download most recent flyer (PDF 2.2MB)

More information on each unit will be made available nearing its delivery date.

Enquiries can be made to CODES.Info@utas.edu.au