Georesources and Sustainability

Period: Second semester

Course unit contents: 

- Georesources
Definition and classification: resources vs. reserves; georesource types.
Basics on genesis, composition and geological-geographical distribution of metallic, industrial and energetic resources.
Present and future of georesources: use, availability (the Hubbert peak model; the Zipf’s Law), global resource estimation and trends, environmental impact of mining, “green mining”, mine waste mining. Critical raw materials and raw materials for the energy reconversion.
- Building materials and ornamental stones
Properties of natural and artificial building materials, and the influence of climate change on degradation processes, and consequent vulnerability of cultural heritage; reuse of materials as secondary raw materials.
- Natural hydrogen resources and CO2 capture
- Laboratory activities will provide an overview of methods for observation, classification and analysis of georesources and geomaterials.

Planned learning activities and teaching methods: Taught lessons with the aid of PowerPoint presentations and, in some cases, video materials. Lab classes (group work) will allow the macroscopic examination of representative ore samples.