ECONOMIC GEOLOGY
Course Name Course ID Prerequisites
Economic Geology EMR231 EMR 201, EMR 202
Time Table for Course Lectures
INTRODUCTION TO ECONOMIC GEOLOGY (EMR 231)
Week Topic
1
Introduction to the course
- Definition of economic geology and its relationship to the other branches of geology – Origin of the economic geology branch and its development along the different ages 2
Materials of mineral deposits (mineral, ore, primary ore mineral, secondary ore mineral, and gangue mineral)
Ore grade – Industrial minerals and proto-ore – Mineralization and mineralizer – Evaluation of ore deposits
3
Ore controls and ore guides - The use of ore minerals as geothermometers and geobarometers – Zoning in ores
Paragenesis – Dating of ore deposits using field criteria, radioactive decay of some elements, and paleomanetism – Metallogenic provinces
4
Exam
Followed by a visit to the geologic museum to see some of the studied rock types Association of ore deposits with the different types of rocks –– Classification of ore deposits according to origin
5 Magmatic deposits (early and late magmatic deposits) Ore deposits of the hydrothermal solutions
6 Metasomatism and metasomatic deposits
Bacteriologic deposits – Volcanic exhalative processes and the associated deposits 7 Metamorphism and the associated ore deposits
An educational film viewing about the formation of some ore deposits in the geologic museum [1]
8
Sedimentary ore deposits – Type of weathering in relation to the produced ore deposits – Residual ore deposits (types and conditions of their formation)[2]
Exam followed by a visit to the geologic museum to see some ore minerals 9
- Formation and occurrence of the residual bauxite deposits - Formation and occurrence of the residual laterite deposits
- Formation and occurrence of the residual iron, nickel, and manganese deposits 10
Gossan, method of formation and its importance in mineral exploration
Distribution of the titles of the concise scientific reports about elements of economic importance – Discussion the methods of writing the report
11
Placer deposits (their formation, factors controlling their precipitation and types of associated minerals)
Placer deposits Au, Pt, and Sn
12 Beach, wind, and alluvial Placer deposits
Evaporites, sulfer, phosphate, and carbonate deposits 13
Exam
Followed by a visit to the geologic museum to see some of the ore deposits of the Kingdom.
A brief notes on the minerals and rocks in industry and their economic importance 14
Place of Occurrence of the important mineral deposits such as Au, Ag, Fe, Cu, Zn, Pb, etc.
in the Kingdom
Presenting a sketch showing the main metallurgy stages for an ore deposit. – A brief notes on the stages of mineral exploration
15 Study of ore mineral handspeciemens in the economic geology lab.
General revision - the concise scientific reports dead time Final Exam
References:
[1] An Introduction to Economic Geology and Its Environmental Impact, by Evans M., 1997. Blackwell Science. 364 p.
[2] Economic Mineral Deposits, by Jensen, M.L., Bateman, A.M., 1981. John Wiley and Sons, N.Y
[3]
Economic Geology and Mineral Resources in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Third Edition, by Yamani, M.A. (1406 H): (in Arabic) Best
& Christiansen (2000).
