Study information

GIS for Mineral Explorationists and Geoenvironmental Engineers - 2025 entry

MODULE TITLEGIS for Mineral Explorationists and Geoenvironmental Engineers CREDIT VALUE15
MODULE CODECSMM219 MODULE CONVENERUnknown
DURATION: TERM 1 2 3
DURATION: WEEKS 11 0 0
Number of Students Taking Module (anticipated) 50
DESCRIPTION - summary of the module content
Provides an introduction to basic and advanced GIS skills used by geologists, scientists and engineers in the mining and environmental industry. You will learn and familiarise with the most fundamental tools and software packages used to collect, analyse, manipulate and display spatial datasets.
 
Prerequisite modules for MSc cohort: Undergraduate module(s) in GIS
AIMS - intentions of the module
The module introduces and develops advanced spatial visualisation and modelling skills associated with the daily work of an exploration geologist and environmental scientist. These include practical work on a number of spatial datasets and will guide the student from simple data visualisation to designing geodatabases and spatial modelling/ mineral potential mapping practicals.  The module caters for the needs of senior undergraduate and postgraduate students and will therefore be split into the following components:
 
  • Basics of GIS and cartography: Applicable to all module participants.
  • Specialised GIS streams: Three specialised GIS pathways are offered for (1) 3rd year undergraduate and MSc MEM and (2) MSc Exploration and Mining Geology students.
     
After completing this module you will be able to confidently apply GIS methods and software packages in the applied geoscience sector. The module provides the foundation knowledge for CSMM193 Exploration Targeting of the MSc Exploration and Mining Geology Programme.

 

INTENDED LEARNING OUTCOMES (ILOs) (see assessment section below for how ILOs will be assessed)

On successful completion of this module you should be able to:

Module Specific Skills and Knowledge

1. Discuss basic and advanced GIS methods, in particular GIS and spatial data handling and integration
2. Confidently use GIS software packages
3. Handle spatial data and generate maps and databases for the purpose of subsequent interpretations
4. Explain how spatial analysis works in the context of discipline-specific problem solving.

Discipline Specific Skills and Knowledge

5. Systematically and critically explore the use of GIS for acquisition, analysis, interpretation and presentation of geo-scientific data relevant to the mineral exploration, environmental and mining industry.
6. Understand and evaluate the design of spatial data collection to provide appropriate data for subsequent GIS-based analysis. Sources of data will encompass literature, laboratory and field based materials and information.
7. Synthesise and evaluate complex spatial data, make sound judgments and communicate the results to others, along with an ability to make recommendations relevant to decision-making in an applied structural setting.

Personal and Key Transferable / Employment Skills and Knowledge

8. Select and utilise a full range of online learning resources and software packages to analyse, synthesise and interpret data. This includes GIS software, academic papers, book chapters, discussion boards and online individual and group activities
9. Demonstrate commercial awareness with regards to exploration techniques
10. Discuss complex issues, report on them and communicate the results to others.

 

SYLLABUS PLAN - summary of the structure and academic content of the module
Basics of GIS and Cartography 
  • Introduction to the use of GIS in the geology, surveying and environmental sectors
  • Coordinate systems and georeferencing
  • Data collection from different sources including base maps, satellite images, local databases, field mapping works and…
  • Making vectors and some vector analysis
  • Creating and editing data 
  • Relationship between common data formats and databases with GIS Geodatabases 
  • Symbology and Visualisation 
  • Map production and Cartography
  • Software packages: ArcGIS Pro, Google Earth, Surfer
 
MSc Exploration Geology specialisation 
  • Spatial analysis and Interpolation  
  • Data integration methods  
  • Fuzzy logic in GIS and Mineral Potential Mapping
 
3rd Year Undergraduate and MSc MEM (Mining Environmental Management) specialisation 
  • An introduction to Remote Sensing GIS layers in Mining Environmental Management 
  • Layer Integration weighted with multi-criteria decision-making methods (MCDM) in Mining-Environmental projects 
  • Site selection projects from data collection to layer integration, with Map production and technical reporting for a mining-environmental project

 

LEARNING AND TEACHING
LEARNING ACTIVITIES AND TEACHING METHODS (given in hours of study time)
Scheduled Learning & Teaching Activities 30 Guided Independent Study 120 Placement / Study Abroad 0
DETAILS OF LEARNING ACTIVITIES AND TEACHING METHODS
Category Hours of study time Description
Scheduled Learning & Teaching activities 30 Lectures, practicals and drop-in sessions. Focus will be on developing computing skills and familiarisation with industry standard software.
Guided independent study 120 Coursework and using online resources with guidance from UoE staff.

 

ASSESSMENT
FORMATIVE ASSESSMENT - for feedback and development purposes; does not count towards module grade
Form of Assessment Size of Assessment (e.g. duration/length) ILOs Assessed Feedback Method
Drop-in sessions Variable 1-10 Verbal
Discussion boards Variable 1-10 Written (on discussion boards)

 

SUMMATIVE ASSESSMENT (% of credit)
Coursework 100 Written Exams 0 Practical Exams 0
DETAILS OF SUMMATIVE ASSESSMENT
Form of Assessment % of Credit Size of Assessment (e.g. duration/length) ILOs Assessed Feedback Method
Geological Mapping in GIS & Databasing 40 4 pages incl. geological map and GDB files 1-3, 8, 10 Written/Verbal
GIS project 60 15 pages and processed fieldwork files 1-10 Written/Verbal

 

DETAILS OF RE-ASSESSMENT (where required by referral or deferral)
Original Form of Assessment Form of Re-assessment ILOs Re-assessed Time Scale for Re-assessment
Geological Mapping and Databasing Coursework 1-3, 8, 10 Referral/deferral period
GIS Project (Poldice) Coursework 1-10 Referral/deferral period

 

RE-ASSESSMENT NOTES
Deferral – if you have been deferred for any assessment you will be expected to submit the relevant assessment. The mark given for a re-assessment taken as a result of deferral will not be capped and will be treated as it would be if it were your first attempt at the assessment.
 
Referral – if you have failed the module overall (i.e. a final overall module mark of less than 50%) you will be expected to submit the relevant assessment. The mark given for a re-assessment taken as a result of referral will be capped at 50%.
RESOURCES
INDICATIVE LEARNING RESOURCES - The following list is offered as an indication of the type & level of
information that you are expected to consult. Further guidance will be provided by the Module Convener

Basic reading:

All ArcGIS workflows are described on the ESRI support web pages detailed below. This should be your first call for all technical ArcGIS matters.

 

Recommended background reference books are:

Bonham-Carter, G.F., 1994. Geographic Information Systems for geoscientists—modelling with GIS. Pergamon, New York, 398 p.

 

Additional reading material (chapters on GIS and Mineral Potential Mapping) are:

Carranza, 2002. Geologically-Constrained Mineral Potential Mapping. Examples from the Philippines. ITC Publication No. 80, 496p.

Carranza, 2008. Geochemical Anomaly and Mineral Prospectivity Mapping in GIS. 1st edition. Elsevier, 368p

Moon, C., Whateley, M. and Evans, M. (eds.), 2005. Introduction to Mineral Exploration. Wiley. 2nd edition. 496p.

Marjoribanks, R., 2010. Geological Methods in Mineral Exploration and Mining, 2nd edition, Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2010. 238p.

 

ELE

A list of web resources and academic papers are available through ELE. In addition, the course site contains comprehensive online resources including lectures, PowerPoint presentations, documents and reference material in pdf format, mp3 podcasts, videos, e-tivities, discussion boards; and links to the University of Exeter electronic library and its comprehensive resources.

 

Web based and electronic resources:

Module is largely delivered by a dedicated ELE website that also involves links to external corporate, professional, educational websites and YouTube.

http://support.esri.com/en/knowledgebase/Gisdictionary/browse (useful GIS dictionary provided by ESRI)

http://resources.arcgis.com  (useful website for ArcGIS forums, online help and support)

http://help.arcgis.com/ (another useful ArcGIS online help website) 

 

Other resources:

The site will have additional literature resources from external professional bodies, technical guides and manuals and use of company annual reports.

 

Reading list for this module:

Type Author Title Edition Publisher Year ISBN
Set Bonham-Carter, G. F. Geographic Information Systems for Geoscientists: Modelling with GIS Pergamon, 398p 1994
Set Carranza Geologically-Constrained Mineral Potential Mapping. Examples from the Philippines ITC Publication No. 80, 496p. 2002
Set Carranza, E. J. M. Geochemical Anomaly and Mineral Prospectivity Mapping in GIS 1st Elsevier, 368p 2008
Set Moon, C.J., Whateley, M.K.G., Evans, A.M. (eds) Introduction to Mineral Exploration Electronic Blackwell Science 2006
Set Marjoribanks, R. Geological Methods in Mineral Exploration and Mining 2nd Chapman & Hall 2010
CREDIT VALUE 15 ECTS VALUE 7.5
PRE-REQUISITE MODULES None
CO-REQUISITE MODULES None
NQF LEVEL (FHEQ) 7 AVAILABLE AS DISTANCE LEARNING No
ORIGIN DATE Monday 22nd June 2020 LAST REVISION DATE Thursday 21st August 2025
KEY WORDS SEARCH Coordinate systems, cartography, surveying, mineral, exploration, ore, deposits, geology, exploration, GIS, cartography, mineral potential mapping

Please note that all modules are subject to change, please get in touch if you have any questions about this module.