Explore UCD

UCD Home >

GEOL40600

Academic Year 2023/2024

Fieldwork (GEOL40600)

Subject:
Geology
College:
Science
School:
Earth Sciences
Level:
4 (Masters)
Credits:
7.5
Module Coordinator:
Professor Peter Haughton
Trimester:
Spring
Mode of Delivery:
On Campus
Internship Module:
No
How will I be graded?
Letter grades

Curricular information is subject to change.

This module consists of 2 field-based courses.

The geology of the South-Pyrenean foreland basin system records an extended history of deformation and sedimentation adjacent to the evolving Pyrenean mountain belt. Deformation stepped deeper into the foreland in the region south of the central Pyrenees generating a series of interconnected wedge-top sub-basins. This 10-day field–based course will track the tectonic and depositional history of these interlinked basins, working from east to west along the sediment dispersal path from mountain source area across the shoreline and downslope into deep-water.

The Irish Orefield is a world-class Zn-Pb-Cu carbonate-hosted ore province, with several historic and active mines. This 3-day field-based course will unravel the structural evolution of the Irish Missisippian rift basin, the influence of this rifting on carbonate host rocks deposition, and the formation of Zn-Pb mineralisation in Lisheen and Abbeytown. Activities will include drillhole and outcrop based data collection and analysis in Ireland.

About this Module

Learning Outcomes:

On completion of this field module, participants should be able to:

(1) Identify key depositional elements and stacking patterns across a range of terrestrial, paralic and deep-water depositional systems.

(2) Characterise and interpret the ductile and brittle structures developed in an evolving rift basin and in an evolving mountain belt.

(3) Appreciate the interplay of tectonic and climate controls on sequence, basin and mountain belt evolution.

(4) Link surface and subsurface datasets to predict 3D architecture.

(5) Characterise a base metal deposit and identify structural and lithological controls on its emplacement

(6) Draw on practical examples of how geomodelling can be used to address subsurface characterisation.

Indicative Module Content:

This module consists of 2 field-based courses. A two week field course in the Spanish south-central Pyrenees, an area where spectacular surface geology can be combined with subsurface seismic and borehole datasets. The course will involve a series of one and two-day exercises built around depositional architecture, stratigraphic prediction, structural analysis, tectonic-sedimentary interactions, fractured rock characterisation and geomodelling. The second course visits the Irish Orefield, a world-class Zn-Pb-Cu carbonate-hosted ore province, with several historic and active mines. This 3-day field-based course will unravel the structural evolution of the Irish Missisippian rift basin, the influence of this rifting on carbonate host rocks deposition, and the formation of Zn-Pb mineralisation in Lisheen and Abbeytown. Activities will include drillhole and outcrop based data collection and analysis in Ireland.

Student Effort Hours:
Student Effort Type Hours
Specified Learning Activities

25

Autonomous Student Learning

35

Lectures

2

Field Trip/External Visits

96

Total

158


Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
Participants will undertake a series of field-based exercises, both individually and in teams.

Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations

Not applicable to this module.


Module Requisites and Incompatibles
Not applicable to this module.
 

Assessment Strategy
Description Timing Open Book Exam Component Scale Must Pass Component % of Final Grade In Module Component Repeat Offered
Fieldwork: Assessment of field sheets, field exercises and field notebooks Varies over the Trimester n/a Standard conversion grade scale 40% No
100
No

Carry forward of passed components
No
 

Resit In Terminal Exam
Summer No
Please see Student Jargon Buster for more information about remediation types and timing. 

Feedback Strategy/Strategies

• Feedback individually to students, on an activity or draft prior to summative assessment
• Group/class feedback, post-assessment

How will my Feedback be Delivered?

Not yet recorded.

Name Role
Dr Aline Melo Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Dr Koen Torremans Lecturer / Co-Lecturer