Economic Geology and Sustainability
A.Y. 2025/2026
Learning objectives
The aim of the course is to provide students with basic knowledge on the following topics: (a) generalities and peculiarities of the economics of georesources and in particular of metallic minerals, link with international economic and geopolitical contexts; (b) mineral and useful metal deposit formation processes in close relation to different geological and geodynamic contexts; (c) geographical distribution of deposits, correlation with plate tectonic processes and economic and geopolitical consequences; (d) knowledge useful for planning mineral prospecting for the discovery of new mineral resources or in mining for the optimal exploitation of resources.
Expected learning outcomes
At the end of the course the student will be able to know, recognise and evaluate the essential geological, mineralogical, textural and ore deposit characteristics of the main types of mineral deposits, linking them to geodynamic environments, the temporal evolution of the earth's lithosphere and specific geological contexts. These notions form the basis of the profession of mining geologist. The student will also acquire some basic knowledge of ore deposit economics and methods of mineral exploration, exploitation, processing and evaluation covered in the course.
Lesson period: Second semester
Single course
This course cannot be attended as a single course. Please check our list of single courses to find the ones available for enrolment.
Course syllabus and organization
Single session
Responsible
Lesson period
Second semester
In the event that teaching must be delivered during an emergency situation, lectures will be conducted remotely, either in synchronous mode (live streaming via MS Teams) or asynchronous mode (study materials with audio commentary provided by the instructor).
Course syllabus
The course introduces the basic concepts of Economic Geology, contextualising them in the current global economic and international geopolitical juncture; it provides the knowledge and skills related to the classification of mineral deposits and the life cycle of a mine, covering aspects related to exploration, exploitation, evaluation, enrichment, with hints at environmental management. This is followed by an in-depth study of the mineralogical, petrographic, textural and economic characteristics of a wide selection of mineral deposit types of particular regional and global importance, for each of which the main theories and most accredited genetic models are reconstructed.
List of topics:
PART ONE
Recall of the prerequisites indicated for the course.
Basic concepts of sustainability in procurement and environmental sustainability.
Overview of sustainability issues: globalisation and increased mining production, diversification, market instability, geopolitical instability, focus on Critical Raw Materials.
Classification of mineral deposits.
PART TWO
The life cycle of a mine: phases, timing, costs. Mineral exploration: strategies, methods and main survey techniques. Evaluation: resource and reserve, the concept of cut off, by-products, evaluation codes, focus
on JORC and UNECE codes. Underground and surface mining; the main mining methods. Principles and purposes of beneficiation processes; physical properties of minerals and main techniques and equipment for enrichment; degree of liberation and its evaluation, flowsheets of the enrichment process. Pre-, sin- and post-closure environmental management; the different types of mining waste; mining dumps; the main environmental issues specific to active and abandoned mines.
PART THREE
Giacimentological characterisation of some of the most important classes of mineral deposits: the following list constitutes a basic list that may be modified according to course variables.
Mineral deposits - Main minerogenetic geological models and their relationship with the evolution of the Earth's crust and different geodynamic contexts. (a) Deposits related to convergent and collisional environments (deposits related to arc or collisional magmatism, tectonics and hydrothermal activity - porphyry, hypo-epithermal phyllonians, skarn, greisen, chromium and PGE deposits in layered basic plutons and in ophiolites). (b) Deposits related to extensional tectonics at various stages of crustal extension: deposits related to anorogenic magmatism (mafic-ultramafic, layered basic complexes, peralkaline magmas, etc.); deposits related to sedimentation and/or submarine exhalative activity, tectonics, etc. (c) Deposits related to diagenetic processes and their interaction with orogens (d) Deposits related to surface processes (surface alteration/pedogenesis, alluvial/clastic sedimentation, etc.). (e) Deposits related to marine sedimentary and volcanic sedimentary environments: Banded Iron Formation, manganese deposits. (g) deposits related to particular magmatism: Ni deposits related to komatiites, astrophysics, ultramafic intrusive bodies; carbonatites. (i) diamond deposits in kimberlites and lamproites.
List of topics:
PART ONE
Recall of the prerequisites indicated for the course.
Basic concepts of sustainability in procurement and environmental sustainability.
Overview of sustainability issues: globalisation and increased mining production, diversification, market instability, geopolitical instability, focus on Critical Raw Materials.
Classification of mineral deposits.
PART TWO
The life cycle of a mine: phases, timing, costs. Mineral exploration: strategies, methods and main survey techniques. Evaluation: resource and reserve, the concept of cut off, by-products, evaluation codes, focus
on JORC and UNECE codes. Underground and surface mining; the main mining methods. Principles and purposes of beneficiation processes; physical properties of minerals and main techniques and equipment for enrichment; degree of liberation and its evaluation, flowsheets of the enrichment process. Pre-, sin- and post-closure environmental management; the different types of mining waste; mining dumps; the main environmental issues specific to active and abandoned mines.
PART THREE
Giacimentological characterisation of some of the most important classes of mineral deposits: the following list constitutes a basic list that may be modified according to course variables.
Mineral deposits - Main minerogenetic geological models and their relationship with the evolution of the Earth's crust and different geodynamic contexts. (a) Deposits related to convergent and collisional environments (deposits related to arc or collisional magmatism, tectonics and hydrothermal activity - porphyry, hypo-epithermal phyllonians, skarn, greisen, chromium and PGE deposits in layered basic plutons and in ophiolites). (b) Deposits related to extensional tectonics at various stages of crustal extension: deposits related to anorogenic magmatism (mafic-ultramafic, layered basic complexes, peralkaline magmas, etc.); deposits related to sedimentation and/or submarine exhalative activity, tectonics, etc. (c) Deposits related to diagenetic processes and their interaction with orogens (d) Deposits related to surface processes (surface alteration/pedogenesis, alluvial/clastic sedimentation, etc.). (e) Deposits related to marine sedimentary and volcanic sedimentary environments: Banded Iron Formation, manganese deposits. (g) deposits related to particular magmatism: Ni deposits related to komatiites, astrophysics, ultramafic intrusive bodies; carbonatites. (i) diamond deposits in kimberlites and lamproites.
Prerequisites for admission
Basic knowledge of mineralogy, petrography, geochemistry, and georesources.
Teaching methods
The instructors will use the following teaching methods: (a) lectures; (b) in-depth analysis of scientific case studies.
Teaching Resources
Lecture notes from the teacher avvailable on Ariel website.
Robb - Introduction to Ore-Forming Processes - Blackwell Science.
Stephen E. Kesler & Adam C. Simon (2015): Mineral Resources, Economics and the Environment (2nd Edition). Cambridge University Press.
Manuel Bustillo Revuelta (2018) Mineral Resources. From exploration to sustainability assessment. Springer. ISBN: 978-3-319-86468-6
Robb - Introduction to Ore-Forming Processes - Blackwell Science.
Stephen E. Kesler & Adam C. Simon (2015): Mineral Resources, Economics and the Environment (2nd Edition). Cambridge University Press.
Manuel Bustillo Revuelta (2018) Mineral Resources. From exploration to sustainability assessment. Springer. ISBN: 978-3-319-86468-6
Assessment methods and Criteria
The exam will consist of an oral assessment with open-ended questions covering the entire course content. Evaluation criteria include: the ability to organize and present acquired knowledge; the ability to approach and solve a scientific problem; consistency and accuracy of the terminology used; and the depth and precision of the knowledge demonstrated. Assessment type: grade out of thirty. Number of assessments: one; no midterm exams are scheduled. In the event that more than 8 students are registered for the exam session, the possibility of conducting the exam in written form—with open-ended questions and multiple-choice items—will be considered.
GEO/09 - MINING RESOURCES, MINERALOGIC AND PETROGRAPHIC APPLICATIONS FOR THE ENVIRONMENT AND FOR CULTURAL HERITAGE - University credits: 6
Lessons: 48 hours
Professor:
Grieco Giovanni
Professor(s)