Geological and Mining Exploration

Code: GEO07151M

6 ECTS

Duration: 15 weeks/156 hours

Scientific Area: Geological Engineering

Teaching languages: Portuguese

Languages of tutoring support: Portuguese

Presentation

Presenting the prospecting as a multidisciplinary science that uses skils from others scientific areas (Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, Geology, Mineralogy, etc.) and integrates them with the objective to find and evaluate mineral deposits.

Sustainable Development Goals

Educação de qualidade - Assegurar a educação inclusiva, e equitativa e de qualidade, e promover oportunidades de aprendizagem ao longo da vida para todos.

Água limpa e saneamento - Garantir disponibilidade e manejo sustentável da água e saneamento para todos.

Energia limpa e acessível - Garantir acesso à energia barata, confiável, sustentável e renovável para todos.

Trabalho decente e crescimento económico - Promover o crescimento económico sustentado, inclusivo e sustentável, emprego pleno e produtivo, e trabalho decente para todos.

Cidades e comunidades sustentáveis - Tornar as cidades e os assentamentos humanos inclusivos, seguros, resilientes e sustentáveis.

Consumo e produção responsáveis - Assegurar padrões de produção e de consumo sustentáveis.

Learning Goals

The theoretical component of this course's main goal is the study of the fundamentals and methods of geological prospecting.
Knowing how to plan and execute a survey campaign is another goal of this discipline. With this aim is to provide students a more comprehensive training in this field.
The practical part comprises a small survey campaign with strategic study of heavy minerals and execution of a survey report. In addition Portuguese examples are analyzed for geochemical anomalies cases in order to make contact with students the problems of interpretation that arise in geochemical exploration. The use of computer systems and information technology is extensive, and implemented in the practical work.

- Objectives and scope of the prospection: Concepts of resources and reserves, general notes of mineral economy and mining legislation.
- Phases and planning of a survey project: Strategic exploration, tactical exploration and mineral deposit evaluation.
- Remote analysis: Remote detection and multispectral images analysis. Acquisition and image processing with drone.
- Geological prospection: Mineralometric studies. Thematic cartography. Guide levels and geological models. Survey trenches.
- Geophysical prospection: Geophysical methods and their applications. Meaning of geophysical data.
- Geochemical prospection: Objective and planning of a geochemical survey. Concepts of geochemical mobility and dispersion.Background and anomalies.
- Computer graphics: Analysis, data interpretation and construction of 3D geological models.
- Drilling and evaluation: Drilling analysis and log construction. Calculation of contents and volumes.
- Case studies of exploration/exploitation in Portugal.

Teaching Methods

In lectures the theoretical concepts for understanding the different prospecting methods will be provided. In practical classes students solve exercises and test geophysical and geochemical exploration techniques. In field work students make a small survey campaign with study of heavy minerals and observe the execution of a survey campaign carried out by specialists from mining sector.

Each student does a review work (monograph) on mineral prospection. For this purpose, it will be used the b-on platform for searching and Moodle platform for work supervision.

The classes will be presented by members of the University of Évora, occasionally being invited external specialist to teach specific topicsas seminars.

The continuous evaluation will consider practical activities reports (40%), writing a review paper (40%) and its oral presentation (20%).
In alternatively final exam.