This is an archived handbook for a previous year. The current undergraduate and postgraduate handbooks can be viewed using the links above.

Undergraduate Handbook 2016-2017 (archived)

Module GEOL1111: Environment and Resources

Department: Earth Sciences

GEOL1111: Environment and Resources

Type	Level	Credits	Availability	Module Cap	Location
Tied	1	20	Available in 2016/2017		Durham

Tied To

Pre-requisites

None.

Corequisites

None.

Excluded Combinations

None.

Aims

To understand the mode of formation, distribution and extraction of the Earth's resources and energy.
To understand the Earth’s water cycle in terms of both quantity and quality.

Content

Environmental chemistry.
Resources (water, ores, fossil fuels).

Learning Outcomes

Subject-specific Knowledge

To explain the generation, migration and extraction of hydrocarbon reserves.
Understand the formation and characteristics of the principal mineral ores.
Will have acquired subject knowledge and understanding in geological principles, terms, definitions and classifications.
Will have acquired subject knowledge and understanding in ecological, biological and geochemical processes and their role in shaping the Earth.
Will have acquired subject knowledge and understanding in Earth’s natural resources and the techniques used to locate and exploit them.
Will have acquired subject knowledge and understanding of the Earth’s water cycle.
Will have acquired subject knowledge and understanding in the role of the geologist in society with regard to economic development and environmental sustainability.

Subject-specific Skills

Will have acquired intellectual and practical skills in order to apply geological principles and methodologies to the solution of familiar and unfamiliar problems.
Will have acquired intellectual and practical skills to synthesise information/data from a variety of sources.
Will have acquired intellectual and practical skills to analyse, evaluate/interpret geological data.

Key Skills

Critical analysis
Research capability
Scholarship
Practical competency
Independent learning
Numeracy
IT skills
Information skills
Literacy
Innovation and creativity
Time management
Continuing personal development
Commercial awareness
Environmental awareness

Modes of Teaching, Learning and Assessment and how these contribute to the learning outcomes of the module

The module is delivered through a mix of one-hour lectures and two-hour practicals, supported by handouts and web-based background reading and other materials held on DUO.
The practicals form an important component of the module allowing hands-on learning and experience of tackling and solving graphical-based problems that help re-enforce key concepts introduced during lectures.
Summative assessment comprises poster presentation based on web-research, practical write up, and resource projects.
Formative assessment is provided in practical SAQ's and revision sessions

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

Activity	Number	Frequency	Duration	Total Hours	Attendance Monitored
Lectures	20	1 per week	1 hour	20	Yes
Practicals	20	1 per week	2 hours	40	Yes
Preparation and reading				140
Total				200

Summative Assessment

Component	Component Weighting	Element	Element Weighting
Examination	60%	two hour unseen written examination	100%
Coursework	40%	Continual Assessment 1	25%
		Continual Assessment 2	25%
		Continual Assessment 3	25%
		Continual Assessment 4	25%

Formative Assessment

Simple tests such as self assessment questions and DUO tests throughout the courses. Two pieces of formative work.

Students who do not attend monitored activities shown under Teaching Methods and Learning Hours, or who fail to complete the summative or formative assessment(s) specified above, may be subject to the Academic Progress procedures defined in the University's General Regulation V, and may be required to leave the University.