Mineral Deposits

Recommended Prerequisites

Course Units: Mineralogy and Petrology; Structural geology; Geological mapping.

Prerequisites advised the level of Generic Skills: a) instrumental - competence of analysis and synthesis; competence in organization and planning; competence in joint interdisciplinary content; competence to apply in practice theoretical knowledge already acquired; competence to solve problems; b) Personal - critical thinking competence; skills in autonomous work and group work; c) systemic - skills in planning and research.

Teaching Methods

Lectures, practical of laboratory and field work will be carried out. Teaching methods fall into: the Cognitive Model of Education - oral presentation with deductive strategies; critical teaching with the presentation and discussion of problems; research, with deductive and inductive strategies; in Learning Interpersonal Models - Research Work Group.

Learning Outcomes

UC aims to give: knowledge in the identification of metallic and non-metallic minerals using reflected light microscope and X-ray diffraction and thermal analysis records, and to acquire knowledge about the resource utilization characteristics. In this sense, the students should: identify minerals in polished surfaces; identifying minerals based on X-ray diffraction registers and phase transformations in thermal analysis; list the characteristics necessary for each use function of the mineral; describe and analyze specific cases applied to different types of geological context.

Work Placement(s)

No

Syllabus

1. Renewable and non-renewable resources. General information on the evolution and consumption mineral resources over time. Importance of mineral resources in products used on a daily basis.
2. Industrial mineral, industrial rock, dimension stone concepts. Legislation associated with the exploitation of geological resources in Portugal.
3. Water: natural, mineral-industrial and spring waters; differences in requirements and uses.
4. Industrial minerals and rocks: applications, geological associations, leading manufacturers and Portuguese and world cases.
5. Main types of mineralization and geological processes that lead to the accumulation of metals. 

Assessment Methods

Assessment
Report of a seminar or field trip: 10.0%
Synthesis work: 25.0%
Laboratory work or Field work: 25.0%
Frequency: 40.0%

Bibliography

CRAIG, J. R., VAUGHAN, D. V. & SKINNER, B. J. (2001). Resources of the Earth: origin, use, and environmental impact. Prentice Hall, New Jersey, 520pp.

DGEG (nd). Os Recursos Geológicos na Economia Nacional - Enquadramento, Políticas e Estratégias. Disponível em http://www.dgeg.pt/

HARBEN, P. W. & BATES, R. L. (1984). Geology of the Nonmetalics. Metal Bulletin Books Ltd. Surrey, England.

IXER, R.A.; DULLER, P.R., (1998) Virtual Atlas of Opaque and Ore Minerals. Disponível em http://www.smenet.org/opaque-ore/

PICOT, P. & JOHAN, Z. (1977). Atlas des mineraux metalliques. Mémoires du BRGM, nº 9, 403pp.

ROBB, L. (2005). Introduction to ore-forming processes. Blackwell, Oxford, 373pp.

TAYLOR, R. (2009). Ore Textures. Recognition and Interpretation. Springer-Verlag, Berlin, 288pp.

VELHO, J.L. (2005), Mineralogia Industrial, princípios e aplicações. Lidel, Lisboa, 606p