EARTHSCI 203 : Earth’s Resources and Future

Science

2025 Semester One (1253) (15 POINTS)

Course Prescription

Humans depend on Earth’s mineral and energy resources, but they are finite and their use creates environmental wastes. The course focuses on mineral and rock formation, and how they can be interpreted to understand the natural processes operating in the Earth System. Examines the expanding and changing use of resources and the need for stewardship of Earth for our future.

Course Overview

Earth's resources and energy are finite, and their careful use is critical for the future of society and Nature. This fundamental Earth Science course that gives students training in the laboratory identification of rocks and minerals, and how the processes that formed them can be interpreted.  This provides the basic skills needed for investigating geologic problems at and near Earth’s surface, and for resource exploration and use. The practical course is centered on introducing students to the optical microscope and its use in identifying minerals and describing and explaining rock textures. Rocks are also examined at a hand-specimen scale to equip students for field investigation. The theory course covers all major tectonic and environmental processes that are recorded in rocks, and how they are interpreted.  

Course Requirements

Prerequisite: 60 points passed or 30 points from ENV 100-103

Capabilities Developed in this Course

Capability 1: People and Place
Capability 2: Sustainability
Capability 3: Knowledge and Practice
Capability 4: Critical Thinking
Capability 5: Solution Seeking
Capability 6: Communication
Capability 7: Collaboration
Graduate Profile: Bachelor of Science

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, students will be able to:
  1. Describe and explain the main processes that result in mineral and rock formation, and how they are interpreted in relation to global Earth processes (Capability 3 and 4)
  2. Demonstrate practical and analytical research skills based on microscopy of minerals and rocks (Capability 3)
  3. Use the principles and methods of mineral and rock identification to solve geologic problems such as hazard assessment and resource use (Capability 3 and 5)
  4. Communicate effectively using appropriate language and present information clearly by recording laboratory observations and interpretations (Capability 6 and 7)
  5. Demonstrate intellectual curiosity and work autonomously to solve geologic problems and understand Earth processes on local and global scales (Capability 2, 4 and 5)
  6. Evaluate the issues associated with finite Earth energy and resources (Capability 1, 2, 4 and 5)

Assessments

Assessment Type Percentage Classification
Microscope test 10% Individual Coursework
Petrology Laboratories 50% Group & Individual Coursework
Final Exam 40% Individual Examination
Assessment Type Learning Outcome Addressed
1 2 3 4 5 6
Microscope test
Petrology Laboratories
Final Exam

Special Requirements

Must complete compulsory work (practical and theory); and obtain an overall (cumulative) mark of 50%. Microscope test and Petrology laboratories are practical. Final exam is theory.

Workload Expectations

This course is a standard 15 point course and students are expected to spend 10 hours per week involved in each 15 point course that they are enrolled in.

For this course (120 hours + 30 hours final exam prep), you can expect 30 hours of lectures and 36 hours of practical laboratories. Outside of these formal contact hours, you can expect to spend up to 24 hours of reading and thinking about the content (over 12 weeks); and 30 hours of work on assignments and/or test preparation. In addition, you can spend up to 30 hours for final examination preparation.

Delivery Mode

Campus Experience

Attendance is expected at scheduled classes including lectures and laboratories/tutorials to complete components of the course. Lectures will be available as recordings but other learning activities including laboratories/tutorials will not be available as recordings.

Attendance on campus is required for the final examination.

The activities for the course are scheduled as a standard weekly timetable .

Learning Resources

Course materials are made available in a learning and collaboration tool called Canvas which also includes reading lists and lecture recordings (where available).

Please remember that the recording of any class on a personal device requires the permission of the instructor.

Highly recommended practical text for laboratory work:
  • MacKenzies WS, Adams, AE, (2001), A colour atlas of rocks and minerals in thin section. Manson Publishing.

Useful text for igneous rocks and those continuing in this topic:
  • Gill, R (2010), Igneous rocks and processes: a practical guide. Wiley-Blackwell.

Useful text for sedimentary rocks and those continuing in this topic:
  • Tucker, ME, (2001), Sedimentary Petrology: an introduction to the origin of sedimentary rocks. (3rd edition).

General texts:
  • Blatt, H., et al. 2006. Petrology: igneous, sedimentary and metamorphic. W.H. Freeman & Co., New York
  • Best, M.G. 2003. Igneous and Metamorphic Petrology. Blackwell Publishing. (2nd edition)

Student Feedback

During the course Class Representatives in each class can take feedback to the staff responsible for the course and staff-student consultative committees.

At the end of the course students will be invited to give feedback on the course and teaching through a tool called SET or Qualtrics. The lecturers and course co-ordinators will consider all feedback.

Your feedback helps to improve the course and its delivery for all students.

There was no significant negative feedback. We plan to continue to revise laboratory work based on our observations of processes that were successful.  

Academic Integrity

The University of Auckland will not tolerate cheating, or assisting others to cheat, and views cheating in coursework, tests and examinations as a serious academic offence. The work that a student submits for grading must be the student's own work, reflecting their learning. Where work from other sources is used, it must be properly acknowledged and referenced. A student's assessed work may be reviewed against electronic source material using computerised detection mechanisms. Upon reasonable request, students may be required to provide an electronic version of their work for computerised review.

Class Representatives

Class representatives are students tasked with representing student issues to departments, faculties, and the wider university. If you have a complaint about this course, please contact your class rep who will know how to raise it in the right channels. See your departmental noticeboard for contact details for your class reps.

Copyright

The content and delivery of content in this course are protected by copyright. Material belonging to others may have been used in this course and copied by and solely for the educational purposes of the University under license.

You may copy the course content for the purposes of private study or research, but you may not upload onto any third party site, make a further copy or sell, alter or further reproduce or distribute any part of the course content to another person.

Inclusive Learning

All students are asked to discuss any impairment related requirements privately, face to face and/or in written form with the course coordinator, lecturer or tutor.

Student Disability Services also provides support for students with a wide range of impairments, both visible and invisible, to succeed and excel at the University. For more information and contact details, please visit the Student Disability Services’ website http://disability.auckland.ac.nz

Special Circumstances

If your ability to complete assessed coursework is affected by illness or other personal circumstances outside of your control, contact a member of teaching staff as soon as possible before the assessment is due.

If your personal circumstances significantly affect your performance, or preparation, for an exam or eligible written test, refer to the University’s aegrotat or compassionate consideration page https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/academic-information/exams-and-final-results/during-exams/aegrotat-and-compassionate-consideration.html.

This should be done as soon as possible and no later than seven days after the affected test or exam date.

Learning Continuity

In the event of an unexpected disruption we undertake to maintain the continuity and standard of teaching and learning in all your courses throughout the year. If there are unexpected disruptions the University has contingency plans to ensure that access to your course continues and your assessment is fair, and not compromised. Some adjustments may need to be made in emergencies. You will be kept fully informed by your course co-ordinator, and if disruption occurs you should refer to the University Website for information about how to proceed.

The delivery mode may change depending on COVID restrictions. Any changes will be communicated through Canvas.

Student Charter and Responsibilities

The Student Charter assumes and acknowledges that students are active participants in the learning process and that they have responsibilities to the institution and the international community of scholars. The University expects that students will act at all times in a way that demonstrates respect for the rights of other students and staff so that the learning environment is both safe and productive. For further information visit Student Charter https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/forms-policies-and-guidelines/student-policies-and-guidelines/student-charter.html.

Disclaimer

Elements of this outline may be subject to change. The latest information about the course will be available for enrolled students in Canvas.

In this course you may be asked to submit your coursework assessments digitally. The University reserves the right to conduct scheduled tests and examinations for this course online or through the use of computers or other electronic devices. Where tests or examinations are conducted online remote invigilation arrangements may be used. The final decision on the completion mode for a test or examination, and remote invigilation arrangements where applicable, will be advised to students at least 10 days prior to the scheduled date of the assessment, or in the case of an examination when the examination timetable is published.