Mineral Resources-Environment |
Introduction
Graduate students acquire skills in the scientific fields of Mineralogy, Ore Deposits and Geochemistry, which are directly related to the environmental protection and management. According to the program of this specialization, the postgraduate students focus on issues regarding Economic Geology and Ore Microscopy, Metallogenesis and its connection with the geotectonic environment, Fossil Fuels, Research and Exploitation of Aggregates and Marbles, Environmental Geochemistry, Methods of Prospecting of Mineral Resources, relationship between Mineral Resources and Environment, Modern application of Industrial Minerals, Design and Restoration of Mines and Quarries. Besides the theoretical courses, the graduate students, additionally gain practical education in: rock and mineral processing (crushing, milling, grinding, heating, magnetic separation, separation by heavy solutions) and in laboratory and analytical methods (microscopy, X-ray Diffractometry, chemical analyses, electron microscopy, microthermometry) and are trained how to prepare Environmental Surveys. Additionally, graduate students practiced in the field, as well as in the management of relevant data by using special software packages.
Courses
a/a | COURCES | CODE | C/O | ECTS |
Α΄ SEMESTER |
||||
1 |
Geostatistics |
GGNM101 | C | 4 |
2 |
Geographical Information Systems (GIS) |
GGNM102 | C | 4 |
3 |
Mineral Raw materials and environment |
GMOM101 | C | 6 |
4 |
Laboratory - Analytical Methods |
GMOM102 | C | 6 |
5 |
Modern Applications of Industrial Minerals |
GMOM103 | C | 4 |
6 |
Tectonics and metallogenesis |
GMOM105 | C | 4 |
7 |
Mineral Resources of Greece and Legal Aspects |
GMOM104 | O | 2 |
8 | exploration and Exploitation of aggregates and Marbles | GMOM204 | O | 2 |
9 | FREE ELECTIVE-1 | - | O | 2 |
Β΄ semester | ||||
10 |
ECONOMIC GEOLOGY - ORE MICROSCOPY |
GMOM201 | C | 7 |
11 |
Applied and Environmental Geochemistry |
GMOM202 | C | 6 |
12 |
GEOPHYSICAL METHODS IN MINERAL RESOURCES EXPLORATION |
GGPM207 | C | 4 |
13 |
Field WORK |
GMOM203 | C | 5 |
14 |
design and RESTORATION OF MINES AND QUARRIES – remote sensing |
GMOM204 | C | 4 |
15 |
prospecting, exploration and production activities of hydrocarbons |
GMOM205 | O | 2 |
16 |
Fossil Fuels |
GMOM207 | O | 2 |
17 |
ECONOMY & ENTREPRENEURSHIP |
GGNM201 | O | 2 |
18 |
FREE ELECTIVE-2 |
- | O | 2 |
c ΄ semester | ||||
18 |
MSc Thesis |
GGPM301 | Y | 30 |
Syllabus
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1. GEOSTATISTICS Open or Close
Course: GEOSTATISTICS
Course code: GGNM101
Compulsory/Optional: Compulsory
Lecture duration per week: 2
ECTS: 4
Course content:
Application of statistical techniques to estimate ore reserves. Geostatistical terms: Random Function Model, Stationarity, Declustering, Variograms, Kriging, Simulation. Economic evaluation of the ore deposits. Methods of analysis and interpretation of geological data.
Learning outcomes:
This course aims to provide knowledge about the most important methods of geostatistics used in the calculation of ore reserves and apply methods of analysis and interpretation of geological data with examples.
Teaching: PAPAZACHOS, C. VOUDOURIS
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2. GEOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION SYSTEMS (GIS) Open or Close
Course: GEOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION SYSTEMS (GIS)
Course code: GGNM102
Compulsory/Optional: Compulsory
Lecture duration per week: 2
ECTS: 4
Teaching: D. OIKONOMIDIS, A. MOURATIDIS
Course content:
Digitization and processing layers of point ores, linear faults and polygonal lithological formations. GPS input. Creation of buffer zones. Boolean algebra. Combined use of satellite imagery and GIS. Spatial analysis tools.
Learning outcomes:
Use of GIS commands in order to create mineral potential maps. Delineating prohibited areas due to environmental issues. Land use policy decision-making. Creation of spatial distribution maps in geochemistry. Calculation of extracted volume from a surface quarry.
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3. MINERAL RESOURCES AND ENVIRONMENT Open or Close
Course: MINERAL RESOURCES AND ENVIRONMENT
Course code: GMOM101
Compulsory/Optional: Compulsory
Lecture duration per week: 2
ECTS: 6
Course content:
Industrial minerals and rocks - ore deposits - energy raw materials – trace elements and environment, environmental uses of industrial minerals and rocks. Environmental mineralogy. Legislation and environment. Environmental problems arising from the mining industry and ways of treatment. Examples of Environmental Impact Assessment in quarries and mines. Minerals and rocks used in the rehabilitation and treatment of the Environment.
Learning outcomes:
The course is intended to provide expertise on issues of concern in responses to the environmental problems from quarrying and mining activity with examples of environmental impact studies. Also through this course the students will study the minerals and rocks used in the restoration of the environment in polluted and contaminated areas.
Teaching: A. FILIPPIDIS, N. KANTIRANIS
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4. LABORATORY - ANALYTICAL METHODS Open or Close
Course: LABORATORY - ANALYTICAL METHODS
Course code: GMOM102
Compulsory/Optional: Compulsory
Lecture duration per week: 2
ECTS: 6
Course content:
Sampling procedures in the field, thin and polished sections preparation from rock samples, separation of minerals and rocks, grain size distribution and classification systems, determination of pH and organic matter in water and soils, mineralogical studies by X-ray diffractometry (XRD) and electron scanning microscopy (SEM), microprobe analysis of minerals, methods for chemical analyses of rocks and ores (Atomic Absorption, XRF, ICP-MS), fluid inclusion microthermometry.
Learning outcomes:
This course aims to teach the students the proper sampling methods of rocks, ores and sediments, the laboratory processing of the samples and the methods of analyses of minerals and rocks.
Teaching: N. KANTIRANIS, L. PAPADOPOULOU, V. MELFOS
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5. SPECIAL APPLICATIONS OF INDUSTRIAL MINERALS Open or Close
Course: SPECIAL APPLICATIONS OF INDUSTRIAL MINERALS
Course code: GMOM103
Compulsory/Optional: Compulsory
Lecture duration per week: 2
ECTS: 4
Course content:
Environmental mineralogy, medical mineralogy and biomaterials, industrial minerals and rocks, building and ornamental stones, industrial minerals and rocks of Greece.
Learning outcomes:
This course describes the most significant industrial minerals and rocks and their modern applications. The use of minerals and rocks in the protection and restore of the environment is also discussed, as well as their specialized medical applications but also as biomaterials in dental issues. The course also provides detailed review and description of the industrial minerals and rocks of Greece.
Teaching: N. KANTIRANIS, L. PAPADOPOULOU
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6. MINERAL RESOURCES OF GREECE AND LEGAL ASPECTS Open or Close
Course: MINERAL RESOURCES OF GREECE AND LEGAL ASPECTS
Course code: GMOM104
Compulsory/Optional: Optional
Lecture duration per week: 2
ECTS: 2
Course content:
Study of the regional and local geology in various metallogenetic and quarrying sites of Greece, with detailed assessments of the characteristics of deposits, their types and the genetic models. Mining and quarrying law and legislative framework for the protection of the environment concerning the mining industry. Hydrocarbons law and concessions.
Learning outcomes:
The course focuses on knowledge of the ore deposits of Greece and their characteristics, and also of the Greek legislation on the mining industry and environmental protection.
Teaching: A. GEORGAKOPOULOS
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7. TECTONICS AND METALLOGENESIS Open or Close
Course: TECTONICS AND METALLOGENESIS
Course code: GMOM105
Compulsory/Optional: Compulsory
Lecture duration per week: 2
ECTS: 4
Course content:
Geological controls and tectonic settings of ore deposits. Geometric, kinematic and microstructural analysis of complexly deformed rocks, regions and shear zones related with mineral deposits. Mechanical structure of lithospheric plates and the driving mechanism for their relative movement. Evolution and dynamics of the Earth's core and mantle. Rifting, stretching and loading of continental crust, continental margins, ocean tectonics, mid ocean ridges. Subduction zone and arc mechanics, magmatism, metamorphism and sedimentary basins. Collisional orogens and exhumation. Understand the sequence of processes that contribute to metal enrichment related to plate tectonics, mainly along active plate margins.
Learning outcomes:
This course focuses on the study of geologic and tectonic setting of mineral deposits and their structural controls, and the role of the global lithospheric tectonics in the formation of various ore deposits and metallogenic provinces.
Teaching: MELFOS, A. CHATZIPETROS
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8. EXPLORATION AND EXPLOITATION OF AGGREGATES AND MARBLES Open or Close
Course: EXPLORATION AND EXPLOITATION OF AGGREGATES AND MARBLES
Course code: GMOM106
Compulsory/Optional: Optional
Lecture duration per week: 2
ECTS: 2
Course content:
Various types of building stones with main focus on carbonate rocks as construction materials. Architectural and construction uses. Physical and mechanical properties and methods of measurements. Mineralogical, petrographic and geochemical characteristics. Factors controlling the weathering and deterioration. Distribution of the various building and ornamental stones in Greece. Understand of the stone market size and the exports. Heritage designation of specific materials, mainly marbles, closely associated with ancient Greek culture. Precious stones.
Learning outcomes:
The course focuses on the recognition of the various building stones and ornamental rocks especially in Greece.
Teaching: N. KANTIRANIS, A. KORONEOS
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9. ECONOMIC GEOLOGY – ORE MICROSCOPY Open or Close
Course: ECONOMIC GEOLOGY – ORE MICROSCOPY
Course code: GMOM201
Compulsory/Optional: Compulsory
Lecture duration per week: 3
ECTS: 7
Course content:
Ore Deposit Types: Magmatic Ni-sulfide ore deposits. PGE-, Cr-, V-deposits in mafic and ultramafic rocks. Porphyry and epithermal type deposits. Skarn deposits. Intrusion-related ore deposits. Volcanogenic Massive Sulfide deposits. Carbonate replacement Pb-Zn deposits. Deposits in Metamorphic Terranes. Sediment Hosted Stratiform deposits. Deposits related to chemical sedimentation. Laterite weathering deposits. Supergene oxidized and enriched porphyry and related deposits. Placer deposits. Chemical, petrological, structural, and sedimentological processes that contribute to ore formation. Description of classic deposits representing individual deposit types. Identification of ore minerals in various ore deposit types using reflected light microscopy.
Learning outcomes:
This course focuses on the study of processes responsible for the formation of ore deposits and the important characteristic features of mineralized environments, recognizing and interpreting mineralized rocks in geological context.
Teaching: M. VAVELIDIS, V. MELFOS
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10. APPLIED AND ENVIRONMENTAL GEOCHEMISTRY Open or Close
Course: APPLIED AND ENVIRONMENTAL GEOCHEMISTRY
Course code: GMOM202
Compulsory/Optional: Compulsory
Lecture duration per week: 2
ECTS: 6
Course content:
Geochemical methods for exploration of mineral resources. Geochemical anomalies. Stable isotopes in ore-forming hydrothermal systems (O, H, C, S). Using fluid inclusion data in mineral exploration. Impacts to the environment from the exploitation of minerals and their by-products, as well as the mining waste disposal. Acid Mine Drainage. Contamination risks to soils, lakes, estuaries, and groundwater resulting from mining industry. Environmental geochemical analysis and practical study of contaminated sites and mining pollution.
Learning outcomes:
The aim of this course is to provide knowledge on the distribution of the chemical elements in the mineral deposits and the geochemical methods used for the exploration. This course also focuses on the geochemical processes related with the formation of mineral deposits and the important characteristic features of mineralized environments, including alteration patterns. The aim of this course is also to increase the understanding of how trace heavy and toxic metals are released, transported and accumulate in the mines and the mining wastes and which are the proper restoration methods.
Teaching: A. FILIPPIDIS, V. MELFOS
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11. GEOPHYSICAL METHODS IN MINERAL RESOURCES EXPLORATION Open or Close
Course: GEOPHYSICAL METHODS IN MINERAL RESOURCES EXPLORATION
Course code: GGPM207
Compulsory/Optional: Compulsory
Lecture duration per week: 2
ECTS: 4
Course content:
Uses of seismic, gravitational, magnetic, electrical and electromagnetic methods to measure the physical properties of rocks, and in particular to detect the measurable physical differences between rocks that contain ore deposits.
Learning outcomes:
The course aims in the study of the surface methods to measure the physical properties of the subsurface Earth, along with the anomalies, in order to detect or infer the presence and position of ore minerals.
Teaching: DEPT. OF MINERALOGY-PETROLOGY-ECONOMIC GEOLOGY, DEPT. OF GEOLOGY, DEPT. OF GEOPHYSICS
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12. FIELD TRAINING Open or Close
Course: FIELD TRAINING
Course code: GMOM203
Compulsory/Optional: Compulsory
Lecture duration per week: 2
ECTS: 5
Course content:
Mapping of mines and quarries, sampling methods in the field, collecting samples of minerals, rocks, ores and sediments, excursions to areas of active and past mining and quarrying activity.Learning outcomes::
The field excursions focus on the understanding of the regional and local geology as a framework for mineral deposits formation
Teaching: Μ. ΒΑΒΕΛΙΔΗΣ, Β. ΜΕΛΦΟΣ, Ν. ΚΑΝΤΗΡΑΝΗΣ
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13. DESIGN AND RESTORATION OF MINES AND QUARRIES – REMOTE SENSING Open or Close
Course: DESIGN AND RESTORATION OF MINES AND QUARRIES – REMOTE SENSING
Course code: GMOM204
Compulsory/Optional: Compulsory
Lecture duration per week: 2
ECTS: 4
Course content:
Physical characterization of mine wastes. Materials handling and disposal. Rehabilitation philosophies of mines and quarries. Landform design. Drainage structures. Future land uses. Encapsulation and capping of waste rock/overburden and tailings storage facilities. Description of various satellite images. Spectral bands. Band ratios. False Colour Composite/FCC images. Density slicing. Supervised classification for mining geology purposes. Delineation of residual mining material (scoria). Use of Remote Sensing in resolving geological problems, with emphasis on the rational management of the environment. Examining the water quantity, site-specific, local and regional surface/subsurface hydrology and monitoring techniques and strategies for water management.
Learning outcomes:This course provides knowledge for the landscape restoration at active mines. The students also gain knowledge and skills to develop remote sensing in applied environmental sciences. This course highlights the importance of management of hydrological processes in the mineral Industry. Extracting mineralogical, environmental information and photolineaments out of a satellite image. Export of satellite processing results into GIS environment.
Teaching: M. VAVELIDIS, D. ALIFRAGIS, D. OIKONOMIDIS
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14. PROSPECTING, EXPLORATION, EXPLOITATION OF HYDROCARBONS Open or Close
Course: PROSPECTING, EXPLORATION, EXPLOITATION OF HYDROCARBONS
Course code: GMOM205
Compulsory/Optional: Optional
Lecture duration per week: 2
ECTS: 2
Course content:
Formation of sedimentary basins, sedimentation in basins, diagenesis and characteristics of sedimentary rocks, formation of oilfields, pore pressure and stress conditions through the geological column. The principles of the petroleum system comprising hydrocarbon play concept, source rocks, maturation, migration, reservoirs, traps, and seals. Outline of exploration and production techniques in the petroleum industry. The principles related to evaluating potential reservoirs and the environmental and economical impact of the utilization of hydrocarbon resources. The course covers mechanical and chemical compaction, cap rocks (shales and salt) – overpressure, fluid flow in porous media, petrophysics (well logs and cores), stress conditions in reservoirs, reservoir models, production geology, sandstone reservoirs, carbonate reservoirs and case studies. The course covers the fundamentals of petroleum systems analysis and its use in hydrocarbon exploration. The module includes basic organic geochemistry, concepts and examples of petroleum systems, and petroleum source rocks. Description of the drilling operation, complete review of surface equipment, practical aspects of hydrocarbon production, health, environment, safety and quality control.
Learning outcomes:
The course is aimed at new geosciences graduates wanting to gain a broad and applied technical background that prepares them for a professional career as a petroleum geoscientist. Earth science graduates are in great demand within the petroleum industry. This situation will continue as the exploration and exploitation of hydrocarbons will require a supply of well-trained geoscientists. This course aims to build upon some of the fundamental geology and apply this knowledge in an understanding of petroleum geology and geophysics. After completing this course the students should be able to summarize the earth’s geological history and describe the relationship between petroleum resources and geology. Furthermore they should be able to describe the equipment and methods used for testing wells and delineating the extent of reservoirs. On the basis of reservoir conditions or geological information be able to justify the choice of well trajectory and well target for exploration, production and injection wells.
Teaching: A.GEORGAKOPOULOS
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15. SOLID FOSSIL FUELS Open or Close
Course: SOLID FOSSIL FUELS
Course code: GMOM207
Compulsory/Optional: Επιλογής
Lecture duration per week: 2
ECTS: 2
Course content:
Coal is an organic sedimentary rock that forms from the accumulation and preservation of plant materials, usually in a swamp environment. Coal is a combustible rock and along with oil and natural gas it is one of the three most important fossil fuels. It has a wide range of uses; the most important use is for the generation of electricity. For a coal seam to form, perfect conditions of plant debris accumulation and perfect conditions of subsidence must occur on a landscape that maintains this perfect balance for a very long time. Peat formation and coal petrology are examined. Are also examined chemical, optical and physical properties of coals, while methods for proximate, ultimate analyses and calorific value measurements are presented. Based upon composition and properties coals are assigned to a rank progression that corresponds to their level of organic metamorphism. Lignite has a low energy and high ash content. Investigation of the microscopic texture and structure of peat and coal contributes to the understanding of the origin of coal. Greek lignite reserves and production are also discussed. Lignite is unsuitable for export and is used to generate electricity in power stations located at or near the mine.
Learning outcomes:
Coal geology is a branch within the field of geology which is focused on the study of coal, a tremendously economically important rock found in several regions around the world. Coal is a highly abundant fossil fuel with a number of uses, making coal geologists critical to several industries, including the electricity generation industry and the steel milling industry. The study of coal geology includes a wide variety of coal related topics, including how coal is formed, where it can be found, and how it can be used. Coal formation is of great interest because the process of formation can determine the geological composition of the coal, which in turn determines how the coal can be used and how valuable it is. Knowledge about how coal forms can help coal geologists find new deposits, determine the value of existing deposits, and contribute to general geological knowledge about the history of the Earth.
Teaching: A.GEORGAKOPOULOS
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16. INNOVATION AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP Open or Close
Course: INNOVATION AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP
Course code: GGNM201
Compulsory/Optional: Optional
Lecture duration per week: 2
ECTS: 2
Course content:
The module includes: a) an introduction to entrepreneurship and to the phases of the entrepreneurial process where practical issues relating to the start up, running and management of an SME are discussed, b) working sheets, practical exercises and implementations c) case study analysis and d) site visits to SMEs. e) business plan.
Learning outcomes:
This course aims to facilitate integration of geologists in the production process.
Teaching: -