Master of Economic Geology

Program Overview

The Master of Economic Geology program at the University of Tasmania is a specialized degree designed for industry and government geologists. It focuses on ore deposit types, exploration strategies, and ore processing characteristics, equipping students with the knowledge and skills needed for the exploration and exploitation of mineral deposits. The program is offered on a part-time, external basis, with full-time admission available for students with financial and logistical support and a research proposal.

Program Outline

Degree Overview:

• Overview:
• Specialized Masters degree in Economic Geology designed for industry and government geologists.
• Nuclei of the postgraduate teaching program at the ARC Centre of Excellence in Ore Deposits (CODES).
• Part of the National Minerals Geoscience Masters Program.
• Usually offered on a part-time, external basis.
• Objectives:
• Increase and update knowledge and skills required by geoscientists for the exploration and exploitation of mineral deposits.
• Accomplished through completion of six short courses and an in-depth research project OR eight short courses.
• Courses cover a spectrum of topics relevant to the exploration mining industries.
• Program Description:
• Students who can provide evidence of financial and logistical support, and provide a research proposal will be considered for full-time admission.
• Students considering full-time admission must contact the program coordinator, Dr.
Rob Scott, to discuss their plans.

Outline:

• Content:
• Economic Geology, focusing on ore deposit types, exploration strategies, and ore processing characteristics.
• Geological knowledge and methods of geoscientific investigation for finding, describing, and interpreting ore deposits.
• Professional judgments informed by geological and regulatory knowledge and ethical, social, and environmental considerations.
• Original research to address problems pertinent to the mining value chain.
• Contextualization and communication of minerals industry information to professional and non-professional audiences.
• Structure:
• Requires 200 credit points, consisting of 150 credit points of coursework units and 50 credit points consisting of either a Research Thesis (Research Pathway) or capstone units (Professional Pathway).
• All units weighted at 25 credit points.
• Course Schedule:
• Available in both semester and non-semester modes:
• Semester 1, Semester 2, Summer school, Winter school, Spring school
• Part-time, external basis is most common.
• Full-time admission requires financial and logistical support, as well as a research proposal.
• Modules:
• Core Modules:
• KEA712: Ore Deposit Models and Exploration Strategies
• KEA716: Fundamentals of Economic Geology
• Core Option Modules (Choose 1):
• KEA707: Ores in Magmatic Arcs
• KEA708: Volcanology and Mineralisation in Volcanic Terrains
• KEA718: Advanced Field Skills in Economic Geology
• Elective Modules (Choose 3):
• KEA707: Ores in Magmatic Arcs
• KEA708: Volcanology and Mineralisation in Volcanic Terrains
• KEA709: Ore Deposit Geochemistry, Hydrology and Geochronology
• KEA710: Exploration in Brownfield Terrains
• KEA711: Geometallurgy
• KEA713: GeoData Analytics
• Research or Professional Pathway:
• Research Pathway:
• KEA724: Thesis Project - Part A
• KEA725: Thesis Project - Part B
• Professional Pathway:
• Any two of the following four units:
• KEA709: Ore Deposit Geochemistry, Hydrology and Geochronology
• KEA710: Exploration in Brownfield Terrains
• KEA711: Geometallurgy

Teaching:

• Teaching Methods:
• Lectures, tutorials, and practical sessions.
• Fieldwork and laboratory work.
• Research projects.
• Faculty:
• Highly qualified and experienced academic staff from the University of Tasmania and the minerals industry.
• Unique Approaches:
• Emphasis on practical skills and industry relevance.
• Strong industry partnerships.
• Access to state-of-the-art research facilities.

Careers:

• Career Paths:
• Geoscientists in the mining industry:
• Exploration geologists
• Mine geologists
• Geotechnical engineers
• Government geologists:
• Geological Survey geologists
• Environmental regulators
• Research scientists
• Academia