Mineral Resources and Environmental Interactions

In the first part, the aim of the course is the understanding of the basic concepts of economic geology. In particular, 1) definitions related to the concepts of ore and deposit; 2) the understanding of the close relationship between the human society and the exploitation of natural resources of geological origin; 3) the principal economic mechanisms which govern the exploitation of an ore deposit and 4) the main processes induced by the mining activity on the surrounding geological, hydrological, biological and antropic environment. The second part of the course is aimed to provide the knowledge of the main mineralogical and geological (genesis and deposits) features, as well as the most important uses of some industrial minerals and metals.
The third part of the course deals with basic concept related to geoheritage and geotourism and with their use for education and disclosure.
All parts are equipped with real examples that illustrate theory.

Understanding of the basic concepts of economic geology reported above.
Capability of evaluating the importance for the society, the prospection, exploitation and separation methods, and the genetic context of the main mineral resources.
Capability of determining the main factors of environmental risk induced by the exploitation of mineral resources.
Capability to use for education and disclosure the national and international geologic patrimony through concepts related to geoheritage and the different ways it is promoted.