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ESC-30146 - Module Specification
School of Life Sciences
Faculty of Natural Sciences

For academic year: 2025/26 Last Updated: 04 December 2025

ESC-30146 - Extractive Resources and Critical Minerals
Coordinator: Elliot Carter
Lecture Time: See Timetable...
Level: Level 6
Credits: 30
Study Hours: 300
School Office: 01782 734414

Programme/Approved Electives for 2025/26

None

Available as a Free Standing Elective

No

Co-requisites

None

Prerequisites

None

Barred Combinations

None

Description for 2025/26

In this module, you'll explore ore geology and geological resources, focusing on the geological processes that form these resources and the methods for their exploration, extraction and management. Alongside this you will gain insights into the environmental and societal impacts of resource extraction, and understand the challenges and opportunities for sustainable and responsible extraction of natural resources.

Aims
The module aims to provide students with the opportunity to explore ore geology and geological resources, focusing on the geological processes that form these resources and the methods for their exploration, extraction and management. Through examination of diverse resources, including fossil fuels and renewables like wind, solar, geothermal, and hydropower students will also gain insights into the environmental and societal impacts of resource extraction, ultimately enabling them to understand the challenges and opportunities for sustainable and responsible extraction of natural resources.

Intended Learning Outcomes

systematically describe, evaluate and interpret igneous, metamorphic, hydrothermal and sedimentary processes and how these are applicable to the formation and extraction of geological and energy resources: 1,2
systematically describe and evaluate exploration and extraction techniques/methods: 1,2
critically evaluate data to develop a systematic understanding of how geological, extractive and economic factors influence a resource’s economic viability: 1,2
critically compare different resources and their extraction in terms of societal, economic, and environmental impacts/sustainability: 1,2
apply numeric and practical skills relevant to ore body and resource extraction: 1,2

Study hours

- Lecture classes = 16 x 2 hrs = 32 hours
- Practical classes = 16 x 3 hrs = 48 hours
- Private study, assignment completion 220 hours

School Rules

None

Description of Module Assessment

1: Practice Based Assessment weighted 50%
Practical Exercise Portfolio
Portfolio of practical exercises from in-class sessions during the semester covering a range of skills and topics relevant to critical minerals and resource extraction (equivalent of 3000-3500 words)

2: Report weighted 50%
Mini-project
Mini research project based on an aspect of critical minerals or ore geology. Students will be given a real dataset and have the opportunity to do an independent research project based on analysis of this data, integrating and synthesising this with information from their own reading and course materials. Word limit 3000 words with a large component of data analysis and visualisation (i.e. students should produce original figures equivalent to another ~1000 words).

The University undertakes a continuous review of its teaching and research provision to ensure programmes are of a high quality and changes may be made to modules where it is necessary and reasonable to do so. Please be aware that minor changes to modules, such as a change to an individual assessment, can occur up until enrolment, although we endeavour to give you as much notice as possible of any changes. Details about the circumstance in which changes are made to programmes can be found in the Student Agreement, available at: https://www.keele.ac.uk/legalgovernancecompliance/governance/actcharterstatutesordinancesandregulations/studenttermsconditions/

Last Updated: 04 December 2025