Geology of Earth Resources
Course objectives: The objectives of this course in Earth Resources are: (i) acquainting students
(majors and non-majors) with the basic tools necessary for studying earth resources, (ii)
understanding the different types of Earth resources, (iii) understanding the processes of
formation of various economic ore deposits, (iv) understanding the processes and conditions
necessary for the formation of oil and gas deposits, (v) understanding the relationship between
the distribution of ores, oil, gas, and coal, and Plate Tectonics, and (vi) gaining some knowledge
of the environmental problems associated with the extraction and utilization of earth resources.
Textbooks: Most reading assignments will be from: "Ore Geology and Industrial Minerals: An
introduction" by Anthony Evans. Additional readings will be assigned from a number of other
textbooks, which are either available in the library, or will be placed in 228. Some lecture notes
will be handed out throughout the semester. The students are advised not to rely entirely on the
lecture notes which will only contain a brief outline of the subject matter, and are thus
encouraged to take notes during lectures and do all the assigned reading.
Field trips: This class has one field trip to a nearby area of some economic significance/
potential.
Labs: Possible, depending on the emphasis/ curriculum/ departmental policy/ sample
availability. Lab exercises would focus on textures of ore deposits, identifying ores, assessing
reserves, identification of ore minerals using reflected light microscopy.
Other Useful Textbooks
Evans, A. M., 1997: An introduction to Economic Geology and its environmental impact.
Blackwell Scietific publications, 364 pp.
Beydoun, Z. R., 1991. Arabian Plate Hydrocarbon Geology and Potential. AAPG, 77 pp.
Guilbert, J. M. and Park, C. F., 1986. The Geology of Ore Deposits. W. H. Freeman &
Co, 984 pp.
Hunt, J. M., 1996. Petroleum Geochemistry and Geology. W. H. Freeman & Co, 743
pp.
Levorsen, A.I., 1967. Geology of Petroleum. W. H. Freeman & Co. 724 pp.
Selley, Richard C., 1998. Elements of Petroleum Geology. Academic Press. 470 pp.
Earth Resources
Syllabus & Tentative Schedule
lecture
1-3
Topic
Reading
Introduction and basic principles
Definitions: Resources, Ore, Protore, Gangue, Grade, Cutoff grade,
Reserves, Industrial rocks and minerals.
Overall market trends and relative importance of Ore and industrial rocks
& minerals
Mechanisms of concentration
1-25
4, 5
Classification of Ore deposits
Descriptive classifications, Genetic classifications
A modified form of Lindgren's Classification.
Chapter 6
6
Morphology of ore deposits
Syngenetic and epigenetic ores, Structures of ore bodies
7
8, 9
MT exam 1
Textures of Ore Deposits
Textures of magmatic ore deposits
Textures of hydrothermal ore deposits: Replacement textures, Open
space filling textures
Textures characteristic of surface or near surface deposits
10 - 13
Mineralogical, Geochemical and geochronological techniques used 42 – 51; 84 for studying ore deposits
95
Mineral Parageneses, paragenetic sequences and zoning
Wall rock alteration
Geochemical characterization of wall rock alteration and ore body zoning
Fluid inclusions and their applications to the study of mineral deposits.
Geothermometry and geobarometry
Stable isotopes
Geochronological techniques
14
15
16
17
18
19
Magmatic Ores
A- Deposits associated with ultrabasic and basic rocks
Chromite deposits, PGM’s.
Cu-Fe-Ni sulfides
Diamonds in Kimberlites
Carbonatites
B- Deposits associated with acid and intermediate rocks
Pegmatites
Greisens
Hydrothermal ore deposits
Origin, Properties, Migration, Metal transport capability, Deposition and
ground preparation.
Types of Hydrothermal deposits.
Types of hydrothermal veins
20
Volcanogenic Massive Sulfides
21
MT exam 2
22, 23
Porphyry Cu deposits
Definition, Classification, Characteristics, Origin.
24
Base Metal Lode Deposits
General characteristics of Mesothermal deposits
Characteristics of Base Metal Lode Deposits
Origin
Chapter 2
40 - 42
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 12
55 - 69
202 - 210
p. 171 - 186
213 – 215;
217 - 221
25
Epithermal Deposits
General characteristics
Types: epithermal Au veins, disseminated Au deposits, Ag deposits
(Creede - type), U vein deposits, Unconformity associated U deposits
(Athabasca type), Sn and W vein deposits.
221 – 231
Chapters 17
& 18
27, 28
29
30
Sediment hosted and Sedimentary Ore Deposits (stratiform,
stratabound & placer)
Types; Processes of Ore formation
Stratiform Cu deposits
Mississippi Valley Type Deposits
Mn ores & BIF’s
Placer deposits
31
Residual Deposits and Supergene enrichment
Chapter 19
32 - 33
Industrial Minerals
Chapters 20
& 21
34 - 36
Oil & Gas (UTM International Week: Oil in the Middle East).
notes
37, 38
Coal
notes
39, 40
Geothermal & nuclear energy
notes
41, 42
Ore Deposits in Space and time
Chapters 23
& 24
26
190 - 202
233 - 239
253 - 261
244 - 253
Metallogenic Epochs
Plate Tectonic Setting of Ore Deposits
43, 44
Environmental impact of mineral exploitation
notes