Environmental Geology • The lectures provide an overview about the geological processes at the surface and subsurface of the earth • endogenic processes on the basis of plate tectonics (crustal dynamics, rock deformation, earthquakes, magmatic and volcanic activites) • exogenic surface processes (weathering, erosion, transport and sedimentation in various environments) • environmental aspects and anthropogenic influences on the theses processe The lecture is accompanied by an excursion (240822): a field trip to an active mining site. Topics: Geological setting, mining technology, economic and political aspects, environmental impact of mining activities. Raw Materials and Resource Economics The lecture provides information about raw materials and resources of energy, metals, industrial minerals etc. Emphasis is laid on the genesis, the world-wide distribution, the utilisation, the trade ways and volume, the substitution potential, the recycling possibilities and the environmental relevance of different raw materials. Important aspects are world resource balances and resource management of different regions. Also prognosis and scenarios for selected materials are presented. The lecture is further complemented by a weekend course (exercise): UE POLIS (240829). This class is a simulation and gives the students the opportunity to act as a responsible person in the field of raw material and resource policy. Participants assume political positions and represent different regions of the world with the task to manage the emerging problems and act for the interests of their region controlled by oppositions, NGO's and the UN.

Learning outcomes

At the end of the module the student are able: • to understand the nature of geological processes and the role of these processes for the life on earth • to get to know the methods of investigation of these processes • to realize the interaction between geological processes, environment, anthropogenic activities • to study methods for the protection of natural hazards • to become acquainted to the processes of the formation of different raw materials • to understand how raw material economy and raw material policy works • to realize the ambivalence between the utilisation of natural resources and the protection of the environment • to get a personal relation to raw material issues by being responsible for raw material policy during a simulation course • to be able to present working results in an oral presentation and to defend them in an open discussion

Assessment

• Written examination, 90 min. - Environmental Geology, 50 % • Written examination, 90 min. - Raw Materials and Resource Economics, 50% Excursion and exercise are mandatory.

Literature (4)

Press & Sievers: Earth
Grotzinger, J.: Understanding earth
Script provided by the chair, internet sources
Material provided by the chair

Remarks

Short coming changes will be announced during the first lecture.

Modules

Geosciences and Natural Resources

Contents

Learning outcomes

Assessment

Remarks