Structural Geology for Exploration and Mining (online)
This four-week online course will teach you the basics of structural geology and how to analyse structures in drill core. It will emphasise the importance of structural geology to the exploration and mining industry, and teach the basics of what to measure, methods of measurement, and how to record data.
This is an online course, delivered in English, and is designed for you to complete in your own time and at your own pace. Delivery will be via a variety of online and interactive activities such as illustrated articles, short videos and quizzes.
Please note: We are only able to accept payment by credit card for this course. You will receive access to the course materials no later than 1 week after making payment. You will have access for 2 months from the date you first access the learning materials.
The course has been developed by Professor Thomas Blenkinsop.
| Start date | 17 March 2025 | |
|---|---|---|
| Days and times | 4-week course to be taken in your own time | |
| Fee | £250 (you will receive access to the course no later than 1 week after making payment) |
Who it’s for
- geologists working on mining and exploration projects
- undergraduates on geology and exploration related degrees
What you’ll learn
On completion of the course delegates should be able to:
- clearly describe why structural analysis is so important in mineral exploration
- identify, describe and understand the formation of the major types of structures found in deformed rocks
- describe basic drilling procedures and the potential limitations of working with drill core
- know about the different tools used to measure structures in drill core
- identify and measure structural features in drill core
- confidently record, present and analyse the data
- relate structures to likely controls on ore bodies
Topics covered
- geometry and formation of structures in deformed rocks
- structures as seen in drill core
- an introduction to drilling and ore bodies
- structural measurements needed in drill core
- a systematic and unified method for measuring planar and linear structures
- recording, analysing and presenting structural measurements from drill core
Equipment
You will not require any specialist equipment and only need access to a computer with high speed internet.
Teaching and useful information
This is an online course, delivered in English, and is designed for you to complete in your own time and at your own pace. Delivery will be via a variety of online and interactive activities such as illustrated articles, short videos and quizzes.
There is also an end of course test to assess learning. If you achieve 50% or more, we will send you an e-certificate of completion.
The course is structured into 4 weeks of learning content. Each week consists of 13-15 activities that should take 10 to 20 minutes each to complete.
This course is asynchronous, but you will have the opportunity to contact the lead tutor, and we will be in touch to schedule a live session date.
The course will be delivered via the University's virtual learning platform, Learning Central. Your individual login details will be emailed to you a few days before your course access begins.
You will have access to the course materials for two months.
Benefits
Knowledge covered in this course is not available comprehensively from other sources.
This course has been developed by Professor Tom Blenkinsop, an academic at our School of Earth and Environmental Sciences. Tom has 30 years’ experience in structural analysis. Much of this has been carried out in the context of consultancy for problems of hydrothermal mineralisation for major mining companies.
Through this experience he has developed a unified and systematic approach to structural analysis, which includes new and simple methods of dealing with structures such as lineations, folds, and shear zones.
The methodology is outlined in Industrial Structural Geology: Principles, Techniques and Integration.*
The course teaches how to implement the method at a practical level.
*Blenkinsop, T. O. M., Doyle, M., & Nugus, M. (2015). A unified approach to measuring structures in orientated drill core. In Richards, F. L., Richardson, N. J., Rippington, S. J.,Wilson,R.W.&Bond, C. E. (eds) Industrial Structural Geology: Principles, Techniques and Integration. Geological Society, London, Special Publications, 421.
