Cardiff School of Earth and Ocean Sciences - Cardiff University

BSc Exploration and Resource Geology
(UCAS Code: F621)
BSc Exploration and Resource Geology
(placement year) (UCAS Code: F622)
MESci Exploration and Resource Geology
(UCAS Code: F623)
21
This is a very opportune time to study for a
degree in exploration geology as young skilled
people are in great demand to assist in the
exploration for natural resources to feed
the growing world demand for minerals, oil,
gas and industrial minerals. An exploration
geologist requires a broad range of skills
including: an aptitude for fieldwork, good ICT
skills and the ability to make key decisions
from limited information. Our vocationally
orientated courses will prepare you for a
potentially exciting professional career as a
geologist working in the global hydrocarbon,
metaliferous or bulk mineral industries.
The three year BSc degree focuses on applied
geology, with the exploration, evaluation and
extraction of the Earth’s natural resources.
The aim is to provide an understanding of the
geological, physical and chemical processes
active within the Earth that lead to the
formation of a natural resource. The course
provides training in the specialist fieldwork and
IT skills required by the modern professional
exploration geologist using whenever possible
field-based project work. You will attend
field training courses that include practical
exercises in surveying, geological, geochemical,
geophysical mapping techniques and safety.
This training programme leads on to residential
field courses in the UK and abroad, for
example to Spain, and includes a teambuilding
ice-breaker visit to the Dolaucothi gold mine in
mid-Wales. During field work you learn to draw
detailed geological maps using geological and
geophysical techniques.
During the summer vacation before the third
year, you undertake a six-week industrial
placement or research-based practical
field mapping project module under School
supervision, usually in areas of active
resource exploration. Our extensive network
of contacts in the industry allows us to offer
placements that take you all over the world
working in multinational exploration or junior
companies, providing a real world experience
of the industry. In the autumn of your third
year you will write an assessed report on your
placement. It is also possible to spend a full
year out on an industrial placement, regrettably
however, in the current economic climate
although we will do our best to secure year-long
placements, we are unable to guarantee these.
Year 3 Exploration and Resource Geology students studying
copper deposits on their Cyprus fieldtrip
Gold separation from crushed ore – Gwynfynydd Mine,
North Wales