Entry requirements

120 credits with 90 credits in science/engineering (physics, chemistry, biology, mathematics, earth science, computer science, material science), including 15 credits in mathematics or physics. Proficiency in English equivalent to the Swedish upper secondary course English 6.

Learning outcomes

After completing this course, the students shall be able to:

• critically assess major mineral provinces and resources, their properties and suitability for exploitation,
• critically evaluate the potential impacts of mining minerals and processing on the environment, human health, and ways to mitigate the environmental impacts and social challenges of sustainable mining,
• manage, digitally process, analyse and visualise geoscientific data using current AI technology.

Content

We investigate the mineral resources of major ore provinces. We use fundamentals of geo-data science and AI for data visualisation, analysis and pattern recognition to aid the assessment of mineral resources. There are many environmental issues associated with mining and mineral processing, including water pollution, soil degradation and loss of biodiversity. Additionally. there is a complex relationship between mining, the environment and issues of sustainability, including climate change, the energy transition. worker safety and other socio-political issues. Furthermore we discuss how mining policies are developed and the relationship between mining and the economy is explored. Throughout the course, we make extensive use of case studies, for techno-socio-economic valuation of mineral resources within the environmental, social, and governance (ESG) framework.

Instruction

Lectures, computer exercises, case-based learning, seminars.

Assessment

Written hand-in assignments (2 hp), written and oral presentation of project work (3p).

If there are special reasons for doing so, an examiner may make an exception from the method of assessment indicated and allow a student to be assessed by another method. An example of special reasons might be a certificate regarding special pedagogical support from the disability coordinator of the university.