Hobart
This unit is designed as an immersive, hands-on learning experience. Students are expected to participate in all lectures, practical classes, and the six-day field excursion to western Tasmania, which forms a core component of the unit.
If exceptional circumstances beyond a student's control prevent attendance at part of the unit, the teaching team will work with the student to identify appropriate alternative activities, where possible, to support achievement of the unit learning outcomes.
Introduction
Tasmania preserves an extraordinary geological record spanning more than 1.4 billion years of Earth history. Shaped by the assembly and breakup of ancient supercontinents, the island showcases an exceptional diversity of rock types, geological processes, and mineral systems. Its rugged mountains, spectacular coastlines, and extensive rock exposures provide one of the world's most accessible and exciting natural laboratories for learning geology in the field.
In this intensive unit you will combine classroom learning with immersive field-based training giving you a unique opportunity to explore geological concepts where they can be observed directly in the landscape. The unit begins with lectures and practical classes in Hobart, providing the geological framework and analytical skills needed to interpret Tasmania's remarkable geology.
The centrepiece of the unit is a six-day field excursion to western Tasmania in early February. You will investigate world-class geological sites and gain hands-on experience in sedimentology, tectonics, volcanology, structural geology, and ore deposit geology. Working alongside academic staff in the field, you will learn how geologists collect, interpret, and integrate geological data to reconstruct Earth's history and understand the processes that shape our planet.
The unit concludes in Hobart, where observations from the field are synthesised and placed within a broader global context, linking Tasmania's geology to major events in Earth's evolution and the development of modern continents.
Whether you are pursuing a career in geology, mining, environmental sciences, or geoscience research, this unit provides valuable practical skills that are highly regarded by employers and postgraduate programs. It is also an ideal choice if you are fascinated by Earth's history and want to experience first-hand the forces that have shaped mountains, landscapes, continents, and mineral resources over geologic time.
Summary
| Unit name | The Making and Breaking of Continents: Western Tasmania Field Geology |
| Unit code | KEA306 |
| Credit points | 12.5 |
| College/School | Sciences and Engineering School of Natural Sciences |
| Discipline | Centre for Ore Deposit and Earth Sciences |
| Coordinator | Professor Sebastien Meffre |
| Available as an elective? | Yes |
| Delivered By | University of Tasmania |
| Level | Advanced |
Availability
| Location | Study period | Attendance options | Available to | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hobart | Summer |
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- Key:
- On-campus
Off-Campus- International students
- Domestic students
Note
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Key Dates
| Study Period | Start date | Census date | WW date | End date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summer | 04/01/2027 | 12/01/2027 | 25/01/2027 | 14/02/2027 |
* 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 (refer to How do I withdraw from a unit? for more information).
Unit census dates currently displaying for 2027 are indicative and subject to change. Finalised census dates for 2027 will be available from the 1st October 2026. Note census date cutoff is 11.59pm AEST (AEDT during October to March).
Learning Outcomes
- Safely collect geological information in the field and laboratory
- Research crustal and regional scale problems in earth sciences
- Interpret Earth processes through the evaluation of field and laboratory information and data
- Synthesise and communicate the results of laboratory studies, field investigations and literature reviews in scientific writing
Fee Information
| Field of Education | Commencing Student Contribution 1,3 | Grandfathered Student Contribution 1,3 | Approved Pathway Course Student Contribution 2,3 | Domestic Full Fee 4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 010703 | $1,235.00 | $1,235.00 | not applicable |
- Available as a Commonwealth Supported Place
- HECS-HELP is available on this unit, depending on your eligibility3
- FEE-HELP is available on this unit, depending on your eligibility4
1 Please refer to more information on student contribution amounts.
2 Please refer to more information on eligibility and Approved Pathway courses.
3 Please refer to more information on eligibility for HECS-HELP.
4 Please refer to more information on eligibility for FEE-HELP.
If you have any questions in relation to the fees, please contact UniConnect or more information is available on StudyAssist.
Please note: international students should refer to What is an indicative Fee? to get an indicative course cost.
Requisites
Prerequisites
KEA208 AND KEA209Teaching
| Teaching Pattern | pre-recorded lectures weekly, 10x 1 hr tutorial sessions, 10 x 3-hr lab sessions, 6 day excursion |
|---|---|
| Assessment | Fieldwork sketches, notebooks, cross section, and maps (20%)|Weekly open-book quiz (20%)|Field trip report (30%)|Practicals (30%) |
| Timetable | View the lecture timetable | View the full unit timetable |
Textbooks
| Required |
Required readings will be listed in the unit outline prior to the start of classes. |
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