Ore Geology

The course focuses on the formation of hydrothermal ore deposits.

Fieldwork in Bergslagen, Sweden, the location for the Ore Geology field trip. Photo: Iain Pitcairn

• Course structure

  Fieldtrip

  The Bergslagen ore district forms part of the Svecokarelian orogen within the Fennoscandian shield and contains over 6000 mineral deposits and prospects and has been an important producer of metals for more than 1000 years. The district has a wide variety of ore types dominated by sulfide and Fe-oxide ores and has 3 currently active mines including the world class Zinkgruvan and Garpenberg Zn-Pb-Ag deposits. Many of the oxide and sulphide bearing deposits show enrichments in so called “critical materials”, metals and minerals required for development of modern technologies such as Co, Bi, In, Ga, Ge, W and the REEs and there is currently a major effort to quantify and to understand CM mineralisation in the district. The field trip focuses on understanding the geology of the district and the processes that have contributed to the formation of the deposits. We investigate the volcanic and sedimentary stratigraphy, the abundant hydrothermally altered volcanic rocks and the ore deposits themselves. The exact itinerary depends on whether and when we are allowed to visit the active mines and we will most likely be changing accommodation each evening as we tour through the district. As the field trip is in october the weather can be variable. It is essential that you are properly equipped for long field days in cold and wet conditions.

  Assessment

  The course will be split into a series of modules which will be assessed separately. These modules may vary from year to year depending on the schedule of the course but may include the following:

  1. Ore mineral identification in hand specimen and using reflected light microscopy. This module will involve learning to identify a list of sulfide and oxide minerals both in hand specimen and using microscopy, learning some common ore mineral textures and to describe a paragenetic sequence based on textural relationships. This module is assessed with a practical exam.
  2. IoGAS modules – These modules introduce the program IoGAS which is an excellent tool for investigating geochemical data and is commonly used by mining and exploration companies worldwide. We use the program to identify rock types and investigate aspects of the geochemistry in ore forming systems. These modules are assessed via short reports.
  3. Field trip. We will aim for a 5-day field trip to Bergslagen. The main tasks for the students are to take field notes and to present a scientific article relevant to the geology of Bergslagen in the field to the other students. Both your field notebooks and a review of your assigned article will be assessed.
  4. Essay. Depending on the schedule and other aspects of the course, the final assessment may be an essay on an aspect of ore formation in Bergslagen.

• Schedule
  The schedule will be available no later than one month before the start of the course. We do not recommend print-outs as changes can occur. At the start of the course, your department will advise where you can find your schedule during the course.

  • Schedule GG8117 AU 2023 Period 2 Daytime 100% On campus

• Course literature

  Note that the course literature can be changed up to two months before the start of the course.

  The course book is “Introduction to Ore Forming Processes” and published articles that will be handed out in class will complement Robb.

  Robb, L., 2020
  Introduction to ore forming processes, 2 ed
  Wiley-Blackwell
  ISBN: 9781119967507

• Course reports

  Course evaluations allow the possibility to affect and take responsibility for your own learning and gives important information for our work with pedagogical development.

  It's important that all students complete the course evaluations after each course, it gives the Department the opportunity to improve the courses' quality.

  The course evaluation is composed of a number of questions and specific questions for each course. If you, as a student, want to contribute with more course specific questions you may send them to studies@geo.su.se.

  If you haven't received the course evaluation for your finished course, or if you have other questions regarding course evaluations at IGV please contact studies@geo.su.se.

  Course evaluation = student's review of the course
  Course report = course leader's reflections about the review

  • Course report GG8117 AU 2023 Kursvärdering/Course evaluation
  • Course report GG8117 AU 2021 Course evaluation
  • Course report GG8117 AU 2019 Course evaluation
  • Course report GG8117 AU 2019
  • Course report GG8117 AU 2017 Course evaluation
  • Course report GG8117 AU 2017
  • Course report GG8117 AU 2015 Course evaluation

• Contact
  Elisabeth Däcker

  Administrativ studierektor

  elisabeth.dacker@geo.su.se

  08-674 78 70

  See profile page for Elisabeth Däcker

  

  • Visiting address
  • S 316
  • Svante Arrheniusväg 8 C, Geohuset

  Iain Pitcairn

  Associate professor of Ore geology

  iain.pitcairn@geo.su.se

  08-674 78 38

  See profile page for Iain Pitcairn

  

  • Visiting address
  • R 431
  • Svante Arrheniusväg 8 C, Geohuset