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Division of Environmental & Life Sciences
800 Level Postgraduate Unit Descriptions

800 Level Units | 400 Level Units

GEOS 800 Earth Science Project
4 postgraduate credit points
Division Staff
Offered: DX3, A 5000 word paper, students to contact a supervisor. The subject matter may take the form of a review of the literature, or of an individual investigation, or both. A written report of the content of the seminar must be presented in a style for publication or a seminar presentation given.

GEOS 807 Problems in Sedimentary Geology
4 postgraduate credit points
Professor Talent, Assoc. Professor Mawson
Offered: X, Only on demand, Prereq. PHS and Prereq. or Coreq. GEOS 424 and GEOS 425. It is recommended that intending students have already taken GEOS 255, GEOS 260, GEOS 383 and GEOS 397.
A field-based unit for postgraduate palaeobiology students. The focus is on the discrimination of communities in the field, mapping of these as parts of sedimentary units, and measurement, collection and logging of stratigraphic sections as a basis for preliminary biozonation of macro-faunas. Advanced laboratory work could form part of dissertations.

GEOS 809 Geophysics Laboratory Projects
4 postgraduate credit points
Geophysics staff
Offered: DX3, Students to contact a supervisor.
An approved laboratory or computer project in an area of geophysics. Completion of the project must be accompanied by a report written in a style suitable for publication.

GEOS 813 Geophysics reading Project
4 postgraduate credit points
Geophysics staff
Offered: DX3, Students to contact a supervisor.
An approved reading project in an advanced topic from an area of geophysics. A presentation of a seminar and written written report are required on completion of this project.

GEOS 815 Principles of Deformation
4 postgraduate credit points
Dr Durney
Offered: Odd years, by arrangement.
The physical principles underlying deformation of rocks applied to concepts and analysis of various types of geological structure. Stress, strain, progressive deformation and material properties as tensor quantities. Fracture patterns and shear zones. Finite deformation in two dimensions; problems of distortion of primary structures, mechanical hypotheses of cleavage, boudinage, folding and refolding.

GEOS 816 Geophysics
4 postgraduate credit points
Offered: X1, Excl. GEOS268. For students without previous formal studies in geophysics but a quantitative inclination.
The collection and interpretation of gravity, magnetic, seismic, and electrical data; the use of these methods in assesmbling the currently held view of the earth's structure, and their use in geophysical exploration. Off-campus field work will be undertaken.

GEOS 817 Volcanic Geology
5 postgraduate credit points
Dr Flood, Dr Shaw Offered: X1, Even years, Prereq. GEOS 260 or equivalent.
Reconstruction of ancient (pre-Cenozoic) circum-Pacific magmatic environments by comparison with modern magmatic environments. The unit focuses on a reconstruction of a Palaeozoic volcanic-plutonic terrain in eastern New South Wales, based on field work and literature research.

GEOS 818 Volcanic Geology
5 postgraduate credit points
Dr Flood, Dr Shaw Offered: X1, Odd years, Prereq. GEOS 260 or equivalent.
Modern (Cenozoic) magmatic environments of the Pacific as a key to reconstruction of ancient magmatic environments. Field work and literature research form the basis for description and interpretation of the active magmatic environments of New Zealand and assessment of their relevance to the reconstruction of Palaeozoic volcanic-plutonic terrains in eastern New South Wales.

GEOS 819 Coal Environments
4 postgraduate credit points
Dr Conaghan Offered: X3, Only on demand, Prereq. GEOS 383 or equivalent.
Environmental analysis of coal measures in eastern Australia at local, basinal and suprabasinal scales. Modern analogues will be reviewed as a basis for environmental reconstructions.

GEOS 820 Chemical Sedimentology
4 postgraduate credit points
Professor Hostetler Offered: X3, Even years, Prereq. GEOS 260 or GEOS 252; CHEM 102 or equivalent, recommended GEOS 383; CHEM 206 or GEOS 261 or equivalents.
A unified treatment of the role of groundwater, surface water and ocean water in precipitatin and alteration of sediment and other surface material. The treatment is quantitative rather than descriptive and is framed around the principles of phase equilibria and mobility and cycling of elements in surface and near-surface environments.

GEOS 821 Earth Science
4 postgraduate credit points
Assoc. Professor Green Offered: X2, Excl. GEOS 113, GEOS 115, For students without previous formal studies in geology.
Overview of the materials of the solid earth linking the cyclic changes affecting them with surface and internal processes. This ranges from degradation (weathering and soils), erosion (landscape development) to deposition (sedimentary rocks) to renewal (igneous and metamorphic rocks), and is considered in a plate tectonic processes, behaviour of magmas and location of resources. Identification of common minerals, rocks and ores, together with analysis of geological information onsimple geological maps. Short trips close to Sydney provide practical experience in the field.

GEOS 823 Mining and Processing
5 postgraduate credit points
Mr Gutsche Offered: X3, Odd years. Recommended GEOS 826. For students without previous formal studies in mining and metallurgy.
The mining component covers underground and surface mining methods for mineral deposits and includes explosives usage, transportation systems and safety aspects. The processing component covers mineralgraphic assessment of ores, separation, beneficiation, concentration methods, metal production, refinding and disposal of marketable products.

GEOS 826 Mineral Economics Field Project
6 postgraduate credit points
Mr Gutsche Offered: V2, Even years.
Thirteen field days are spent visiting important mineral deposits, mining and metallurgical operations in Tasmania and Victoria. The technical and economic-managerial aspects fo the operation are investigated during and following inspection and discussion with mining industry personnel.

GEOS 831 Ore Reserves and Statistics
4 postgraduate credit points
Offered: Odd years.
Ore reserve estimation by classical weighting methods, bu conventional statistics, and by geostatistics: Practical work includes using the University computers to carry out geostatistical reserve estimate in detail.

GEOS 832 Ore Deposit Environments
5 postgraduate credit points
Dr Lusk Offered: X3, Even years.
Designed for graduates with a major study in geology. Other students may be admitted if they can demonstrate a suitable background.
The unit studies ore deposits of the world which constitute prominent classes described in the literature, and interprets the geologic environment in which they occur in terms of tectonic setting, stratigraphic and structural control, palaeogeographic setting, depositional environment, rock associations and geochemical associations, together with geothermometric, stable isotopic and other pertinent data. Through the media of assignments and seminars students are required to define the key search parameters for the various classes of ore deposits considered.

GEOS 834 Mineral Industry Topics
4 postgraduate credit points
Mr Gutsche Offered: X1,X2.
A lecture program on economics-based problems in the mineral industry, alternatively the D3 offering consists of a 5000 word paper related to the student's industrial experience.

GEOS 835 Geomechanics
5 postgraduate credit points
Dr Durney, Mr Gutsche Offered: X3, Even years, Prereq. Basic studies in mathematics or physics; major studies in earth sciences, engineering or pedology. For students without previous formal studies in soil or rock mechanics.
The mechanical behaviour of soil and rock materials is studied from the engineering geology and geomorphological viewpoints. Application to problems in mining and civil engineering work. Composition, engineering properties and classification of soils and rock materials; modification and stabilisation. Elementary elastic theory; stress and strain analysis methods, common stability problems.

GEOS 844 Applied Palaeontology
4 postgraduate credit points
Dr Bischoff Offered: X2, Prereq. GEOS821 or 3cp in biology.
Application of palaeontology to the solving of stratigraphic, palaeobiologic, and environmental problems; practical introduction to procedures in micropalaeontological laboratories.

GEOS 846 Mineralogy and Microscopy
4 postgraduate credit points
Dr Shaw Offered: X2, Even years, Prereq. GEOS 821 or equivalent.
Use of the petrographic microscope in the optical study of common mineral groups. Review of chemical variation in the rock-forming minerals. Petrological interpretation of the microstructures (textures) of important igneous, metamorphic and sedimentary rocks leading to an understanding of the processes controlling the development of these microstructures in magmatic, solid state, subaerial and depositional environments.

GEOS 849 Structural Analysis
4 postgraduate credit points
Dr Durney Offered: X1 Prereq. GEOS 821 andGEOS 224.
An advanced study in structural analysis with reading and seminars on studies from classical fold belts. The offering consists of taped lectures, practical work and directed field work in the Yass district.

GEOS 857 Advanced Meteorology
5 postgraduate credit points
Offered: D2, Prereq. PHS.
Theoretical aspects of mesoscale meteorology; thermodynamics; equations of motion; continuity equations; circulation and vorticicity; perturbation theory; fronts and frontogenesis; cyclones and cyclogenesis; numerical prediction; the general circulation of the atmosphere.

GEOS 859 Applied Climate Study
4 postgraduate credit points
Offered: D2, Prereq. GEOS 393 or GEOS321.
Air pollution in the atmospheric boundary layer including emissions and monitoring. Atmospheric radiation and climate data analysis. Application in urban areas, especially Sydney, and implication for urban planning.

GEOS 860 Climate Modelling
5 postgraduate credit points
Dr Pitman Offered: D2, Prereq. PHS; GEOS320 or GEOS 379 or GEOS 393 or GEOS 321 or GEOS 364 or GEOS 392.
Theoretical and practical aspects of climate modelling are reviewed including the implimentation of global models on computers and the integration of satellite data into initialisation and validation data sets.

GEOS 861 Boundary Layer Processes
4 postgraduate credit points
Offered: D1, Prereq. GEOS 320; GEOS 393 or GEOS 379.
Interractions between the land surface and the atmosphere and their effects on the boundary layer. This unit is of interest to climatologists, ecologists, agricultural and forest meteorologists, physical geographers and applied physicists.

GEOS 862 Hydrology
4 postgraduate credit points
Dr Brierly Offered: Only on demand.
Magnitute/frequency relations in rivers; geomorphic impacts of flood, human impacts on runoff, and implications for sediment balances in river channels and on floodplains.

GEOS 863 Applied Geomorphology
4 postgraduate credit points
Assoc. Professor Blong Offered: Only on demand.
A detailed consideration of applied hillslope geomorphology, in particular, the identification of erosion sources and sediment sinks, use and abuse of the universal soil-loss equation, slope stability analysis, and a range of other applied topics.

GEOS 871 Special Problems in Human Geography
4 postgraduate credit points
Dr Hudson Offered: Only on demand.
Students will investigate selected problems in human geography including theoretical and methodological issues, illustrated with practical research investigations.

GEOS 875 Structural Petrology
4 postgraduate credit points
Dr Durney Offered: E3, Prereq. GEOS340 and GEOS 395.
Interpretation of microstructures and preferred orientation in terms of deformation mechanisms, recovery and recrystallisation processes. Principles governing the chronological analysis of multiply deformed rocks. Mechanisms and thermodynamic aspects of solution, deposition and fluid-rock interaction during deformation, with emphasis on syntectonic veining, progressive deformation, incremental strain analysis and cleavage development.

GEOS 878 Advanced Soils
4 postgraduate credit points
Dr Mitchell Offered: Only on demand.
Extended treatment of topics such as soil fabric, organic cycle interactions and surface processes.

GEOS 887 Geochemistry
4 postgraduate credit points
Assoc. Professor Batts Offered: Only in odd years.
An introduction to organic chemistry as appropriate to organic systems in a geologic environment. Topics include oil shales and black shales, petroleum source rocks, and the origin of coal. Chemical processes which occur on maturation will be considered. Research techniques, and limitations, that are currently in use in fossil fuel studies are also discussed.

GEOS 899 Geoscience Research Topic
12 postgraduate credit points
Geophysics and Mining Staff Offered: D1, D2, X3. Students to contact lecturers.
The research project can form 25 percent of the total Master ofGeoscience program and consists ofresearch whichmay include a critical literature review. It will allow the student to demonstrate the successful application of knowledge gained from formal units to an area of specialised research. The student will be encouraged to spend as much time as possible on campus to access library resources if these are not otherwise available and may be assigned an individual supervisor depending upon the area of the topic. It may be used in other programs also.

MNEC 800 Economics
4 postgraduate credit points
Offered: One week block on campus block session.
Introduces the principles of economic analaysis with special attention to Australia. The topics to be covered include: aims and methodology of economics; survey of economic thought; introduction to macroeconomic analysis including nation income and expenditure accounting, money supply, investment, theory of multiplier, the external sector, fiscal, monetary and income policy.

MNEC 801 Geological Resources
4 postgraduate credit points
Offered: X2. On demand only. On campus session.
Introduces the philosophy and practice of exploration, discovery and definition of energy and mineral resources and aims to provide an understanding of the basic concepts and problems encountered in the geological delineation of resources. The topicsx to be covered include search theory, probabalistic approaches to estimate the distribution of ore environments and ores; oil, gas and coal analogues; target selection and exploration techniques.

MNEC 802 Analytical Methods for Mineral Economics
6 postgraduate credit points
Offered: X1. Odd years. On campus session.
Aims to provide the analytical tools required in the economic analysis of the mienral and energy industry. The topics that will be covered include: statistical decisions techniques; elements of computational probability, population, samples and distributions; comparison of independent data samples; correlation and regression; analysis of k x 2 and other two-way tables; analysis of variance; introduction to simple non-parametric and robust methods.

MNEC 804 Mineral Economics II
5 postgraduate credit points
Offered: X2. Even years. On campus session.
Demand and supply analysis. Elasticities of supply and demand. Commodity pricing. Risk in the resources industry. Taxation under conditions of uncertainty. Mineral supply economics. Economies of scale. Joint products. The fundamentals of spatial economics and exhaustion theory. Market failures in the resources sector: Protection and barriers to trade, monopoly and oligopoly in the resources industry, environmental externalities.

MNEC 805 Mine and Property Valuation I
4 postgraduate credit points
Offered: X1. Odd years. On campus session.
Aims to provide the student with the analytical tools to assess and evaluate the financial viability of a mineral property at various stages during exploration and development. The unit emphasises the use of discounted cash-flow techniques to estimate the after-tax net present value of an existing or proposed mineral project.

MNEC 805 Mine and Property Valuation II
5 postgraduate credit points
Offered: X2. Odd years. Prereq. MNEC 802, MNEC 805. On campus session.
This second unit concentrates on the theory of probabilistic discounted cash-flows, including: Utility functions, resource risk analysis; Monte Carlo and Latin Hypercube methods in DCF analysis; evaluation of risks; fundamentals of capital markets theory.

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Created: by R Firkin. Last update: 18th March 1997