Hobart
Involves 3 days of excursions. Students are expected to contribute toward excursion accommodation costs
Introduction
One of the greatest challenges we face in society today is the management of waste with the mining industry producing billions of tonnes of mine waste annually. If these wastes are inappropriately managed then environments and communities in proximity to the mines can be severely impacted. Motivated by this, the unit focuses on geoenvironmental issues that relate to how human activities can affect geological materials, and problems that can arise from such interactions. This will be taught through lectures, diverse practicals and local fieldtrips. The unit provides an introduction to aqueous geochemistry and environmental geophysics. The unit also includes 3.5 days of field work in western Tasmania. Specific components of the course include: Environmental Geochemistry, covering basic principles of aqueous geochemistry for geoscientists; Mine wastes, covering environmental impacts of mining and an introduction to mining, mineral processing and geometallurgy; Rehabilitation of contaminated sites including hydrology, and Environmental Geophysics, covering application of non-invasive geophysical techniques to assess environmental geology problems.
This unit is designed to bring students' knowledge of these topics up to graduate level, adequate for school teaching and for continuation into 4th year (Honours), now recognised as the minimum professional level of training. This unit is required for undertaking Honours in Environmental Geology and is desirable for Honours in General Geology, Economic Geology, Marine Geoscience and Geophysics.
Summary 2021
| Unit name | Environmental Geology |
|---|---|
| Unit code | KEA348 |
| Credit points | 12.5 |
| Faculty/School | College of Sciences and Engineering School of Natural Sciences |
| Discipline | Earth Sciences |
| Coordinator | Clare Miller |
| Teaching staff | Prof David Cooke, Dr Angela Escolme, Dr Julie Hunt and Dr Jonathan Cloutier |
| Level | Advanced |
| Available as student elective? | Yes |
| Breadth Unit? | No |
Availability
Note
Please check that your computer meets the minimum System Requirements if you are attending via Distance/Off-Campus.
Units are offered in attending mode unless otherwise indicated (that is attendance is required at the campus identified). A unit identified as offered by distance, that is there is no requirement for attendance, is identified with a nominal enrolment campus. A unit offered to both attending students and by distance from the same campus is identified as having both modes of study.
Special approval is required for enrolment into TNE Program units.
TNE Program units special approval requirements.
* The Final WW Date is the final date from which you can withdraw from the unit without academic penalty, however you will still incur a financial liability (see withdrawal dates explained for more information).
Fees
Requisites
Prerequisites
Teaching
| Teaching Pattern | 2x1-hr lectures, 3-hr practical weekly (13 wks), 3 days field work |
|---|---|
| Assessment | Assignments and practical assessments throughout semester 2 and excursion (40%); theory exam in Nov (60%) |
| Timetable | View the lecture timetable | View the full unit timetable |
Textbooks
| Required | |
|---|---|
| Recommended | Mine Wastes by B.G. Lottermoser Introducing Groundwater by M. Price |
The University reserves the right to amend or remove courses and unit availabilities, as appropriate.