Unit convenor and teaching staff |
Unit convenor and teaching staff
Lecturer
Christopher Firth
by arrangement
Jennifer Rowland
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Credit points |
Credit points
3
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Prerequisites |
Prerequisites
12cp at 100 level or above
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Corequisites |
Corequisites
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Co-badged status |
Co-badged status
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Unit description |
Unit description
This is a general education unit that introduces students to the technical, social, economic and environmental aspects that lie behind the production and use of mineral and energy resources in Australia and the rest of the world. The end products of these resources are familiar to us as steel for cars, aluminium for pots and pans, crude oil for petrol and coal for electricity. Nowadays, we have to consider acid rain, the greenhouse effect, heavy metal pollution, radiation, land degradation and land rights. Scarcity and resource exhaustion are also concerns. We demand and accept the goods and services provided by the minerals industries, including the increased wealth resulting from mineral exports, yet increasingly oppose the development of the resources that produce these goods. This does not mean that opposition to development is necessarily bad, or that development is necessarily good. What it does mean is that it is important to look at the broad picture rather than emotions. Learn about questions like: What is the economic importance of Australian mining? What are the environmental problems associated with this mining? Where are Australia's fossil fuels? How long will they last? Debate topics like: Should Australia adopt nuclear power as a 'clean' energy source? Should Australia, like Norway, insist on mining companies contributing to long term community wealth?
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Information about important academic dates including deadlines for withdrawing from units are available at https://www.mq.edu.au/study/calendar-of-dates
On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:
If you apply for Disruption to Study for your final examination, you must make yourself available for the week of July 24 – 28, 2017. If you are not available at that time, there is no guarantee an additional examination time will be offered. Specific examination dates and times will be determined at a later date.
Name | Weighting | Hurdle | Due |
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Assignment 1 | 10% | No | 17/3/17 |
Assignment 2a | 5% | No | 31/3/2017 |
Assignment 2b | 25% | No | 26/5/17 |
ReadinGame Quiz | 10% | No | Week 13 |
Practicals | 10% | No | Throughout semester |
Final exam | 40% | No | TBA |
Due: 17/3/17
Weighting: 10%
Explain the significance of ONE of the following metals on a national and global scale.
Include what the metal is used for, its economic significance and any environmental or social consequences of its extraction and use.
Due: 31/3/2017
Weighting: 5%
The extraction and use of minerals and energy resources is commonly a controversial topic that garners much attention in the news media. Examples include CSG exploration in northern NSW, development of a nuclear waste repository in SA, growth of the renewable energy industry in Australia, potential impacts of the Carmichael coal mine on the Great Barrier Reef.
Chose a minerals and energy resource issue that interests you and evaluate it, considering benefits and issues for all stakeholders.
A 250 word proposal explaining what you want to research and why it is relevant is due by the 31st March.
Due: 26/5/17
Weighting: 25%
The extraction and use of minerals and energy resources is commonly a controversial topic that garners much attention in the news media. Examples include CSG exploration in northern NSW, development of a nuclear waste repository in SA, growth of the renewable energy industry in Australia, potential impacts of the Carmichael coal mine on the Great Barrier Reef.
Chose a minerals and energy resource issue that interests you and evaluate it, considering benefits and issues for all stakeholders.
Once your proposal has been approved by the unit convenor you may proceed with the full 2500 word assignment, which is due by the 26th May.
Due: Week 13
Weighting: 10%
We will be using a custom designed and built, online learning tool; “The ReadinGAME”. This game is designed to operate on a calender week cycle (from Sunday to Sunday), and involves you being able to ask a question related on the weeks material from the readings and lectures. You will then be able to answer questions posed by other students, and most importantly, you will not only be able to score points for correctly answering the questions, but you will also be able to comment and discuss the questions, and rate whether they are good/not so good questions etc.
Importantly, in the process you will be learning and reinforcing the weeks material as well as having a lot of fun- it can be quite addictive.
To play, follow the link in iLearn, and simply ask a question relevant to the weeks material. You will then be able to play, by answering other questions and watching how your score accumulates. You will also be able to give feedback on other peoples questions and monitor your performance. There are multiple scoring paths, and different types of scores to achieve, depending on you interests.
At the end of the semester there will be a quiz worth 10% of question derived from the ReadinGAME.
Due: Throughout semester
Weighting: 10%
Two practicals will be chosen at random for marking - 5% each
Due: TBA
Weighting: 40%
Final exam on material from lectures, assignments and pracs.
Delivery is via lectures, which are recorded. Quizzes and assignments can be done online through iLearn, and all assignments may be submitted through iLearn or emailed directly to the lecturer. Attendance at tutorials/practicals is compulsory for internal students.
Week
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Lecture A
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Lecture B
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Tutorial session |
Week 1
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Lect 1: Introduction BFS |
Lect 2: Global Mining Industry I CF |
No Tutorial |
Week 2
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Lect 3: Global Mining Industry II CF |
Lect 4: The Exploration Process CF |
Mineral exploration: Identifying a target (or, where is it?) |
Week 3
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Lect 5: Mining and Processing technology CF |
Lect 6: Metals and industrial minerals CF |
Mineral exploration: Evaluating a resource (or, how much is it worth!) |
Assignment 1 Due 5pm Fri 18/3 |
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Week 4
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Lect 7: Supply and demand in the minerals industry CF |
Lect 8: Financing the Minerals Industry CF |
No Tutorial |
Week 5
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Lect 9: Mining and Environment CF |
Lect 10: Land Use, Native Title CF |
Watch Presentations of Fellow students |
Week 6
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Lect: 11: Strategic commodities: REE CF |
Lect 12: Mining and Society CF |
Strategic Commodities: REE |
Mid semester Break |
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Week 7 | Lect 13: Supply, Demand, Energy CF | Lect 14: Uranium CF | No Tutorial |
Assignment 2 Due 5pm Fri 29/4 | |||
Week 8
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Lect 15: Oil and Gas SG |
Lect 16: Coal SG |
Future Gas Sources in Australia |
Week 9
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Lect 17: Alternative Energy I CF |
Lect 18: Alternative Energy II CF |
No Tutorial |
Week 10
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No Lectures- Allocated time for assignment 3 |
No Tutorial |
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Assignment 3 Due 5pm Fri 27/5 |
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Week 11
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Lect 19: Air Pollution CF |
Lect 20: Climate CF |
Human Induced Climate Change and mass extinctions: fact or fiction? |
Week 12
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Lect 21: Sustainable Development I CF |
Lect 22: Sustainable Development II CF |
Revision Q&A |
Week 13
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No Lecture |
No Tutorial |
BFS = Dr Bruce Schaefer; CF = Dr Chris Firth; SG = Prof Simon George
Macquarie University policies and procedures are accessible from Policy Central. Students should be aware of the following policies in particular with regard to Learning and Teaching:
Academic Honesty Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/academic_honesty/policy.html
Assessment Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/assessment/policy_2016.html
Grade Appeal Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/gradeappeal/policy.html
Complaint Management Procedure for Students and Members of the Public http://www.mq.edu.au/policy/docs/complaint_management/procedure.html
Disruption to Studies Policy (in effect until Dec 4th, 2017): http://www.mq.edu.au/policy/docs/disruption_studies/policy.html
Special Consideration Policy (in effect from Dec 4th, 2017): https://staff.mq.edu.au/work/strategy-planning-and-governance/university-policies-and-procedures/policies/special-consideration
In addition, a number of other policies can be found in the Learning and Teaching Category of Policy Central.
Macquarie University students have a responsibility to be familiar with the Student Code of Conduct: https://students.mq.edu.au/support/student_conduct/
Results shown in iLearn, or released directly by your Unit Convenor, are not confirmed as they are subject to final approval by the University. Once approved, final results will be sent to your student email address and will be made available in eStudent. For more information visit ask.mq.edu.au.
Macquarie University provides a range of support services for students. For details, visit http://students.mq.edu.au/support/
Learning Skills (mq.edu.au/learningskills) provides academic writing resources and study strategies to improve your marks and take control of your study.
Students with a disability are encouraged to contact the Disability Service who can provide appropriate help with any issues that arise during their studies.
For all student enquiries, visit Student Connect at ask.mq.edu.au
For help with University computer systems and technology, visit http://www.mq.edu.au/about_us/offices_and_units/information_technology/help/.
When using the University's IT, you must adhere to the Acceptable Use of IT Resources Policy. The policy applies to all who connect to the MQ network including students.
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