This course is not active. Please contact Department Chair for more information.
1. Earth resources and society: Population and economic growth, exploitation and consequences, resources versus reserves, economic cycles.
2. Plate tectonics and resources: rock cycle, plate tectonics overview, igneous and metamorphic processes, shallow subsurface processes, surface processes, marine processes.
3. History of Earth resources: early exploitation of resources, the colonial era, modern resource trends, history of resources in Canada.
4. Environmental impacts related to Earth resources: resource extraction, usage, and waste disposal.
5. Resources, their properties, occurrence and use:
a) Energy: Fossil fuels, nuclear energy, geothermal energy, other renewable energy resources.
b) Metals and metaloids: Iron, aluminum, titanium, magnesium, silicon, nickel, chromium, base metals, precious metals, exotic metals.
c) Industrial minerals used in fertilizers, chemicals, building materials, others.
d) Gemstones: diamonds, rubies, sapphires, emeralds, others.
e) Water and groundwater: hydrologic cycle, occurrence, quality, production, conservation.
f) Soil: formation, properties, uses, conservation.
6. Future of Earth resources.
Lecture and seminar. A field trip may be scheduled.
Term papers, projects 10 - 40%
Assignments 10 - 20%
Midterm Exam 20 - 30%
Final Exam 30 - 40%
Upon successful completion of the course, the student will be able to:
1. describe the relationship between society and the demand and use of Earth resources.
2. describe the concept of plate tectonics and the major related earth processes, and explain how occurrence of important resources is related to tectonics.
3. understand that environmental impacts follow from use of resources, and be able to discuss important impacts and mitigating activities.
4. name important mineral and metal resources and discuss how they are extracted and used.
5. name important energy resources and discuss how they are harnessed or extracted.
6. describe the occurrence, use and extraction of groundwater and water.
7. describe uses and conservation of soil.
Students should consult the bookstore for the latest required course materials, including textbook. The course will use Craig, J.R., Vaughn, D.J., Skinner, B.J.; Earth Resources and the Environment; Prentice Hall or an equivalent text.
None.
None.
No equivalent courses.
Course Guidelines for previous years are viewable by selecting the version desired. If you took this course and do not see a listing for the starting semester / year of the course, consider the previous version as the applicable version.
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| Institution | Transfer Details for GEOL 1900 | |
|---|---|---|
| There are no applicable transfer credits for this course. | ||