Course

Exploration and Mining 2

Faculty
Science & Technology
Department
Earth & Environmental Sciences
Course code
EAES 2910
Credits
4.00
Semester length
15 Weeks
Max class size
20
Method(s) of instruction
Lecture
Lab
Course designation
None
Industry designation
None
Typically offered
Winter

Overview

Course description
This course covers mining issues such as reserve evaluation, mine development, mining methods, environmental assessment and protection, mine closure and reclamation, and case studies of projects (advanced exploration to closure). Field trips may be required.
Course content
  • Evaluation of advanced mineral exploration properties, resource/reserve estimation, mine project feasibility
  • Mining methods (underground, open pit, solution mining) and mining equipment/technology
  • Geological mapping in open pits and underground mines
  • Mineral processing
  • Environmental impacts, protection and mitigation
  • Mine closure
  • Case studies of exploration leading through mining
Learning activities

Lectures and Labs. Occasional field trips may be required.

Means of assessment

Assessment will be in accordance with the Douglas College Evaluation 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:

Assignments and labs 25 - 40%

Project(s) 10 - 25%

Quizzes 0-10%

Term tests 25%

Final Exam 25%

Total 100%

Learning outcomes

Upon successful completion of the course, students will be able to:

  • calculate a simplified reserve estimate.
  • describe mining methods and their associated technology and processing.
  • explain geological tasks in a mine, including mapping, core logging and others.
  • discuss environmental concerns and mitigation strategies used in exploration and mining.
  • describe the process of mine closure.
  • compare and contrast case studies of mineral exploration and mining.
Textbook materials

Textbooks and materials are to be purchased by students. A list of required and textbooks and materials is provided for students at the beginning of the semester. Example texts may include:

  • Stephens, R.; Mineral Exploration and Mining Essentials;  Pakawau GeoManagement Inc., current edition or an equivalent text

Optional Textbooks:  

  • Moon, C.J, Whately, K.G., Evans, A.M.; Introduction to Mineral Exploration; Blackwell Publishing, current edition or an equivalent text
  • Coe, A.L.; Geological Field Techniques;  Wiley-Blackwell Publishing, current edition or an equivalent text

Additional course materials: "Rite in the Rain" waterproof booklet or equivalent, rock hammer, hand lens, mineral identification kit, safety eyewear

Requisites

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.

(Current)

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 2910
Athabasca University (AU) AU GEOL 3XX (3)
Capilano University (CAPU) CAPU SCEL 2XX (4)
College of the Rockies (COTR) COTR GEOL 2XX (3)
Langara College (LANG) LANG GEOL 2XXX (3)
Nicola Valley Institute of Technology (NVIT) No credit
Simon Fraser University (SFU) No credit
Thompson Rivers University (TRU) TRU GEOL 2XXX (3)
Trinity Western University (TWU) No credit
University of British Columbia - Okanagan (UBCO) UBCO EESC_O 360 (3)
University of Northern BC (UNBC) UNBC GEOG 2XX (3)
University of the Fraser Valley (UFV) UFV GEOG 2XX (4)
University of Victoria (UVIC) UVIC EOS 2XX (1.5)
Vancouver Community College (VCC) VCC EVSC 2XXX (3)
Vancouver Community College (VCC) No credit
Vancouver Island University (VIU) VIU GEOL 2nd (4)

Course Offerings

Winter 2025