Course

Resources from the Earth

Faculty
Science & Technology
Department
Earth & Environmental Sciences
Course code
EAES 1900
Credits
3.00
Semester length
15 weeks
Max class size
35
Method(s) of instruction
Lecture
Seminar
Typically offered
Fall
Winter

Overview

Course description
This course is an overview of resources that are extracted from the Earth. Origin, extraction, use, economic effects and environmental impact will be discussed. Resources to be studied include energy, metals, industrial minerals, other minerals, soil, water and groundwater. A field trip may be scheduled.
Course content

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.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Learning activities

Lecture and seminar.  A field trip may be scheduled.

Means of assessment

Evaluation will be carried out in accordance with Douglas College policy.  The instructor will present a written course outline with specific evaluation criteria at the beginning of the semester.  Evaluation will be based on the following:

Term papers, projects          10 - 40%

Assignments                         0 - 20%                   

Midterm Exam                      20 - 30%

Final Exam                           30%

 

 

Learning outcomes

Upon completing the course, a 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.

Textbook materials

Students should consult the bookstore for the latest required course materials, including textbook.

Textbook:   Craig, J.R., Vaughn, D.J., Skinner, B.J; Earth Resources and the Environment; Prentice Hall or an equivalent text.

Requisites

Prerequisites

None

Corequisites

None.

Equivalencies

Course Guidelines

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.

Course Transfers

These are for current course guidelines only. For a full list of archived courses please see https://www.bctransferguide.ca

Institution Transfer details for EAES 1900
Alexander College (ALEX) ALEX SOSC 1XX (3)
Athabasca University (AU) AU GEOL 313 (3)
Capilano University (CAPU) CAPU SCEL 1XX (3)
College of the Rockies (COTR) COTR GEOL 1XX (3)
Langara College (LANG) LANG GEOL 1XXX (3)
North Island College (NIC) NIC GEO 1XX (3)
Simon Fraser University (SFU) SFU EASC 107 (3)
Thompson Rivers University (TRU) TRU GEOL 1XXX (3)
University Canada West (UCW) UCW SCIE 1XX (3)
University of British Columbia - Okanagan (UBCO) UBCO EESC_O 1st (3)
University of Northern BC (UNBC) UNBC GEOG 1XX (3)
University of the Fraser Valley (UFV) UFV GEOG 1XX (3)
University of Victoria (UVIC) UVIC EOS 1XX (1.5)
Vancouver Community College (VCC) No credit
Vancouver Community College (VCC) VCC EVSC 1XXX (3)

Course Offerings

Winter 2025

CRN
15327
section details
CRN Days Instructor Status More details
Maximum seats
35
Currently enrolled
13
Remaining seats:
22
On waitlist
0
Building
New Westminster - South Bldg.
Room
S3805
Times:
Start Time
14:30
-
End Time
16:20