Overview
This unit aims to provide students with knowledge of the structure, composition and mode of formation of the more common rock forming minerals, the classification of rock types and genesis of metallic and non metallic ores. You will gain an appreciation of geological time and a knowledge of the major geological processes that have sculptured and impacted Planet Earth since its formation. On completion of the unit, you will be able to define and identify the more common Earth Resources (minerals, ores, fossil fuels, soil and water), describe the geological processes which form them, and relate these processes to the unifying theory of Geology, Plate Tectonics. The principles of geoconservation, geoheritage and sustainability are introduced and embedded as themes throughout this unit.
Details
Pre-requisites or Co-requisites
There are no requisites for this unit.
Important note: Students enrolled in a subsequent unit who failed their pre-requisite unit, should drop the subsequent unit before the census date or within 10 working days of Fail grade notification. Students who do not drop the unit in this timeframe cannot later drop the unit without academic and financial liability. See details in the Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework).
Offerings For Term 1 - 2026
Attendance Requirements
All on-campus students are expected to attend scheduled classes - in some units, these classes are identified as a mandatory (pass/fail) component and attendance is compulsory. International students, on a student visa, must maintain a full time study load and meet both attendance and academic progress requirements in each study period (satisfactory attendance for International students is defined as maintaining at least an 80% attendance record).
Recommended Student Time Commitment
Each 6-credit Undergraduate unit at CQUniversity requires an overall time commitment of an average of 12.5 hours of study per week, making a total of 150 hours for the unit.
Class Timetable
Assessment Overview
Assessment Grading
This is a graded unit: your overall grade will be calculated from the marks or grades for each assessment task, based on the relative weightings shown in the table above. You must obtain an overall mark for the unit of at least 50%, or an overall grade of 'pass' in order to pass the unit. If any 'pass/fail' tasks are shown in the table above they must also be completed successfully ('pass' grade). You must also meet any minimum mark requirements specified for a particular assessment task, as detailed in the 'assessment task' section (note that in some instances, the minimum mark for a task may be greater than 50%). Consult the University's Grades and Results Policy for more details of interim results and final grades.
All University policies are available on the CQUniversity Policy site.
You may wish to view these policies:
- Grades and Results Policy
- Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework)
- Review of Grade Procedure
- Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure
- Monitoring Academic Progress (MAP) Policy and Procedure - Domestic Students
- Monitoring Academic Progress (MAP) Policy and Procedure - International Students
- Student Refund and Credit Balance Policy and Procedure
- Student Feedback - Compliments and Complaints Policy and Procedure
- Information and Communications Technology Acceptable Use Policy and Procedure
This list is not an exhaustive list of all University policies. The full list of University policies are available on the CQUniversity Policy site.
Feedback, Recommendations and Responses
Every unit is reviewed for enhancement each year. At the most recent review, the following staff and student feedback items were identified and recommendations were made.
Feedback from Lecturer and Industry feedback
Add information on indigenous issues into the mining cycle lectures.
Develop new teaching resources on indigenous issues (Native Title, cultural awareness) for the mining cycle lectures and during fieldwork exercises.
Feedback from Student feedback
Continue to provide tactile practical sessions during Residential School field and laboratory sessions.
Continue to update field and laboratory resources and equipment to use during Residential School fieldwork.
- Identify earth materials such as common rock forming minerals, rock types, ores, fuels and describe the processes that form them
- Explain geological time and the methods used to determine age, stratigraphy and rate of earth processes
- Relate geological processes and time to plate tectonics
- Apply geological knowledge of rock types, geological time, earth processes and tectonics to create a geological history and simple geological map of a defined geographic area
- Explain how human interaction with earth processes and materials can impact the environment
- Prepare project reports and demonstrate an effective, professional level of teamwork and communication, and support collaborative peer group learning.
The Learning Outcomes for this unit are linked with the Engineers Australia Stage 1 Competency Standards for Professional Engineers in the areas of 1. Knowledge and Skill Base, 2. Engineering Application Ability and 3. Professional and Personal Attributes at the following levels:
Introductory
Intermediate
Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Learning Outcomes
| Assessment Tasks | Learning Outcomes | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | |
| 1 - Written Assessment - 25% | ||||||
| 2 - Practical Assessment - 30% | ||||||
| 3 - Group Work - 20% | ||||||
| 4 - Written Assessment - 25% | ||||||
Alignment of Graduate Attributes to Learning Outcomes
| Graduate Attributes | Learning Outcomes | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | |
| 1 - Communication | ||||||
| 2 - Problem Solving | ||||||
| 3 - Critical Thinking | ||||||
| 4 - Information Literacy | ||||||
| 5 - Team Work | ||||||
| 6 - Information Technology Competence | ||||||
| 7 - Cross Cultural Competence | ||||||
| 8 - Ethical practice | ||||||
| 9 - Social Innovation | ||||||
| 10 - First Nations Knowledges | ||||||
| 11 - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultures | ||||||
Textbooks
Mineral & Rock Kit
- Edition: NA
- NA
- Binding: Other
Rocks and Landscapes of the National Parks of Central Queensland
- Edition: 1 (2006)
- Authors: Willmott, W
- Geological Society of Australia
- Brisbane Brisbane , Queensland , Australia
- ISBN: https://handbook.cqu.edu.au/facet/unit-profiles/profile/PHYG12003/2020/HT1#:~:te
- Binding: Paperback
IT Resources
- CQUniversity Student Email
- Internet
- Unit Website (Moodle)
- Zoom (both microphone and webcam capability)
All submissions for this unit must use the referencing style: Harvard (author-date)
For further information, see the Assessment Tasks.
a.hammond@cqu.edu.au
m.qureshi@cqu.edu.au
Week 1
Begin Date: 09 Mar 2026Module/Topic
- Lecture 1a: Introduction to Planet Earth & Tectonics - 1
- Lecture 1b: Rock Forming Minerals - 1
Chapter
- Chernicoff & Whitney 2007: Chapters 1 & 2; Appendices B & D
- Links provided in Moodle.
Events and Submissions/Topic
- Practical 1: Rock-Forming Minerals
-
Weekly Zoom Tutorial Session
Week 2
Begin Date: 16 Mar 2026Module/Topic
- Lecture 2a: Introduction to Planet Earth & Tectonics - 2
- Lecture 2b: Rock Forming Minerals - 2
Chapter
- Chernicoff & Whitney 2007: Chapters 1 & 2; Appendices B & D
- Links provided in Moodle.
Events and Submissions/Topic
- Practical 2: Rock-Forming Minerals Continued
-
Weekly Zoom Tutorial Session
Week 3
Begin Date: 23 Mar 2026Module/Topic
- Lecture 3a: Intrusive Igneous Rocks & Processes
- Lecture 3b: Extrusive Igneous Rocks & Processes
Chapter
- Chernicoff & Whitney 2007: Chapters 3 & 4
- Links provided in Moodle.
Events and Submissions/Topic
- Practical 3: Igneous Rocks
-
Weekly Zoom Tutorial Session
Week 4
Begin Date: 30 Mar 2026Module/Topic
- Lecture 4a: Weathering & Sedimentary Rocks
- Lecture 4b: Sedimentary Rocks
Chapter
- Chernicoff & Whitney 2007: Chapters 5 & 6
- Links provided in Moodle.
Events and Submissions/Topic
- Practical 4: Sedimentary Rocks
-
Weekly Zoom Tutorial Session
Week 5
Begin Date: 06 Apr 2026Module/Topic
- Lecture 5a: Metamorphism & Metamorphic Rocks - 1
- Lecture 5b: Metamorphism & Metamorphic Rocks - 2
Chapter
- Chernicoff & Whitney 2007: Chapter 7
- Links provided in Moodle.
Events and Submissions/Topic
- Practical 5: Metamorphic Rocks
- Weekly Zoom Tutorial Session
Week 6
Begin Date: 13 Apr 2026Module/Topic
- Lecture 6a: Earth Structures - Folds, Faults & Fabrics - 1
- Lecture 6b: Earth Structures - Folds, Faults & Fabrics - 2
Chapter
- Chernicoff & Whitney 2007: Chapter 9
- Links provided in Moodle.
Events and Submissions/Topic
- Practical 6: Introduction to Geological Maps & Structures
- Weekly Zoom Tutorial Session
Field Guide to your local geology Due: Week 6 Thursday (16 Apr 2026) 11:59 pm AEST
Vacation Week - Non Teaching Week
Begin Date: 20 Apr 2026Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 7
Begin Date: 27 Apr 2026Module/Topic
- Lecture 7a: Stratigraphy - Dating Techniques & Geological Time - 1
- Lecture 7b: Stratigraphy - Dating Techniques & Geological Time - 2
Chapter
- Chernicoff & Whitney 2007: Chapter 8
- Links provided in Moodle.
Events and Submissions/Topic
- Practical 6: Introduction to Geological Maps & Structures
- Weekly Zoom Tutorial Session
Week 8
Begin Date: 04 May 2026Module/Topic
- Compulsory Residential School: Laboratory Practicals & Field Trips (05 May to 08 May)
- Lecture 8a: Weathering & Soil/Regolith Formation - 1
- Lecture 8b: Weathering & Soil/Regolith Formation - 2
Chapter
- Textbook (Willmott): Chapter 1
- Chernicoff & Whitney 2007: Chapter 5
- Links provided in Moodle.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Compulsory Residential School
- Please note that FULL DAY attendance is required each day to PASS this unit.
- Tasks to be undertaken include:
- Review of mineral and rock identification techniques
- Introduction to Geological Maps & Structural Geology
- Practical Test during Residential School
- Daily field trips to local geosites and meeting industry professionals
- Field mapping exercise
- Field trip report
Practical Assessment Due: Week 8 Wednesday (6 May 2026) 6:00 pm AEST
Week 9
Begin Date: 11 May 2026Module/Topic
- Lecture 9a: Groundwater/Hydrogeology
- Lecture 9b: Groundwater/Hydrogeology
Chapter
- Chernicoff & Whitney 2007: Chapter 16
- Links provided in Moodle.
Events and Submissions/Topic
- Weekly Zoom Tutorial Session
Week 10
Begin Date: 18 May 2026Module/Topic
- Lecture10a: Glaciers & Ice Ages
- Lecture 10b: Palaeoclimates & Climate Change
Chapter
- Chernicoff & Whitney 2007: Chapter 17
- Links provided in Moodle.
Events and Submissions/Topic
- Weekly Zoom Tutorial Session
Group Field Work Due: Week 10 Wednesday (20 May 2026) 11:59 pm AEST
Week 11
Begin Date: 25 May 2026Module/Topic
- Lecture 11a: Natural Resources & Economic Geology - 1
- Lecture 11b: Indigenous perspectives and mining cycle
Chapter
- Chernicoff & Whitney 2007: Chapter 20
- Links provided in Moodle.
Events and Submissions/Topic
- Weekly Zoom Tutorial Session
Week 12
Begin Date: 01 Jun 2026Module/Topic
- Lecture 12a: Natural Resources & Economic Geology - 2
- Lecture 12b: Unit Summary & Review
Chapter
- Chernicoff & Whitney 2007: Chapter 20
- Links provided in Moodle.
Events and Submissions/Topic
- Weekly Zoom Tutorial Session
Exam Week
Begin Date: 08 Jun 2026Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Vacation/Exam Week
Begin Date: 15 Jun 2026Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
1 Written Assessment
This assessment is designed to test and apply your newly acquired rock and mineral identification skills in the real world i.e. the field situation, to source site-specific geological information and to hone your scientific report writing skills. The aim is to synthesize this publicly available information and to produce a high quality geological field guide.
Scenario
You have been asked by your local Rotary Club, as the “geological expert”, to lead a field trip that will look at some geological features of interest in your local area. You are to produce a “Geological Field Guide” for participants.
This exercise may require some fieldwork within your local area.
HINT: Undertake an internet search to glean ideas from existing field guides in the published literature e.g. Australian Geological Society and other professional society field guides.
Further support material for this assessment task will be posted in Moodle along with some Exemplars. We will discuss this assessment item during the weekly in-class and on-line Zoom Tutorials and in Moodle Forums.
Week 6 Thursday (16 Apr 2026) 11:59 pm AEST
Submit electronically via Moodle with your name, unit code and assignment number i.e. NAME_ENAR12016_Assignment Title
Assignments will be returned within a fortnight once all have been submitted for assessment
You will be assessed on your ability to write a well researched, succinctly written and well illustrated scientific document. Please view the unit's Moodle site for the assessment criteria rubric associated with this assessment item. Carefully read the details outlined in the assessment criteria rubric before commencing the assessment item. Prior to finalizing your submission ensure that you check to see that you have addressed all of the assessment criteria outlined in the rubric.
Further discussion about your topic and the assessment criteria will be undertaken via in-class and online Zoom Tutorials, Moodle Forums and Posts.
AI ASSESSMENT SCALE - AI PLANNING
You may use Al for planning, idea development, and research. Your final submission should show how you have developed and refined these ideas.
- Identify earth materials such as common rock forming minerals, rock types, ores, fuels and describe the processes that form them
- Relate geological processes and time to plate tectonics
2 Practical Assessment
The Practical Test (1.5 hour duration plus 10 minutes reading time) will test your mineral and rock identification skills and your geological map interpretation skills.
Enrolled students will undertake their Practical Examination during the second day (afternoon) of their Residential School. Please bring your rock and mineral kits to the Residential School as you will be going over (revising) the practicals already attempted each week prior to the Residential School. It is strongly advised that you have attempted ALL of your practical work prior to attending the Residential School.
Week 8 Wednesday (6 May 2026) 6:00 pm AEST
Submit offline with your name, unit code and assignment number i.e. NAME_ENAR12016_Assignment Title
Practical Exam marks will be posted in Moodle within a fortnight once all have been submitted for assessment.
You (individually) will be assessed on your:
- Ability to identify hand specimens of the more common rock-forming minerals by applying your newly acquired knowledge of their diagnostic properties and the key tests used in their characterization.
- Ability to classify igneous, metamorphic and sedimentary rocks
- Ability to interpret simple geological structures, geological successions and timing from geological and topographical maps
- Ability to read a geological map to make resource and environmental management decisions
- Ability to draw geological cross-sections
- Ability to operate some commonly used geological equipment e.g. geological compass, global positioning system, hand lens, tablet with geological software.
This assessment does not have a 72-hour grace period for submission as it is undertaken during a Residential School session under test conditions within a set time limit.
This is a non-use of AI assessment item, undertaken during a practical test.
- Identify earth materials such as common rock forming minerals, rock types, ores, fuels and describe the processes that form them
- Explain geological time and the methods used to determine age, stratigraphy and rate of earth processes
3 Group Work
This assessment item is designed to test the recently acquired rock and mineral identification, rock classification and geological mapping skills of small groups of students (Group Work) in the natural setting, the field. The "Group Work" will take the form of a simple geological field mapping exercise (transects) over a defined geographic area using some basic geological instruments, tablets and software. The operation of these instruments and software will be demonstrated at the onset of the mapping exercise during the Residential School.
Further details pertaining to the mapping tasks will be demonstrated to the combined cohort of Internal (ROK) and Distance students during the field trip component of the Residential School. Each Group are to submit a combined or group report online for assessment via Moodle. It will take the form of a short written report, that includes maps, photographs and field sketches.
The type and nature of field mapping activities to be conducted is dependent upon a number of variables, namely weather conditions and accessibility to geo-sites on the day. Consequently, some changes to tasks may need to be made on the day/s of the field trip.
Week 10 Wednesday (20 May 2026) 11:59 pm AEST
Submit electronically via Moodle with your names, unit code and assignment number i.e. NAME_ENAR12016_Assignment Title
Assignments will be returned within a fortnight once all have been submitted for assessment
Each group will be assessed on it's ability to:
- Conduct a simple geological mapping exercise in the field by utilizing some basic geological tools e.g. geological compass, hand lens, an aerial base map, global positioning system, digital tablet with geological software, etc.
- Identify and classify the rocks and minerals observed at the delegated field mapping site/s
- Produce a geological map and cross sections based on the group's field observations and measurements
- Unravel the stratigraphic succession (rock record and history) at the designated field site/s and to relate this to Plate Tectonics theory.
Please note that some aspects of these criteria may be altered on the day due to unforeseen circumstances i.e. inclement weather conditions, tidal conditions, accessibility of geo-sites or other factors.
AI ASSESSMENT SCALE - AI PLANNING
You may use Al for planning, idea development, and research. Your final submission should show how you have developed and refined these ideas.
- Apply geological knowledge of rock types, geological time, earth processes and tectonics to create a geological history and simple geological map of a defined geographic area
- Prepare project reports and demonstrate an effective, professional level of teamwork and communication, and support collaborative peer group learning.
4 Written Assessment
During the course of 2 days of field work during the Residential School (07 to 08 May) a number of sites of geological interest in the Rockhampton area will be visited. At each of these geo-sites you will be asked to make notes on the rocks and minerals encountered, their geological ages, the geological features observed and to take photographs and GPS positions for your records. This information will be recorded on Digital Tablets, CQU to provide, as well as in your field notebooks.
The objective of this assessment item is for you (individually) to relate your field observations to the major geological events that have occurred in Central Queensland i.e. relate these geosites to the Central Queensland stratigraphic column of geological events in (see page 6 in Willmott, your text book). You will need to relate the rocks and landforms you encountered during your field work to their corresponding geological time periods. These, in turn, are to be related to geological events. This field information is to be placed into your field report, which each member of the class is to submit i.e. it's an individual assessment item.
Further details as to the tasks to be performed at each of the field sites visited will be outlined during the onset of the Residential School and during the duration of the field trips. Tasks may alter on the days/s due to unforeseen circumstances e.g. inclement weather conditions, accessibility to geo-sites etc. Instructions on the use of Field Tablets and other geological equipment and software will be provided both prior to and during the 2 days of field work.
Exam Week Thursday (11 June 2026) 11:59 pm AEST
Submit electronically via Moodle with your name, unit code and assignment number i.e. NAME_ENAR12016_Assignment Title
Assignments will be returned within a fortnight once all have been submitted for assessment
This assessment item is to take the form of a Field Report. Marks will be awarded for:
- Adequacy and accuracy of field descriptions
- Neatness and clarity of field sketches, photographs and maps
- Ability to present a coherent and logical geological sequence of events and the ability to place these within the prevailing plate tectonic model.
- General presentation and layout of the report
- Readability and grammar
- Use and adequacy of referencing.
Note: this assessment item will be discussed further during Moodle forums and tutorials both prior to and after the conclusion of the residential school field trips.
AI ASSESSMENT SCALE - AI PLANNING
You may use Al for planning, idea development, and research. Your final submission should show how you have developed and refined these ideas.
- Apply geological knowledge of rock types, geological time, earth processes and tectonics to create a geological history and simple geological map of a defined geographic area
- Explain how human interaction with earth processes and materials can impact the environment
As a CQUniversity student you are expected to act honestly in all aspects of your academic work.
Any assessable work undertaken or submitted for review or assessment must be your own work. Assessable work is any type of work you do to meet the assessment requirements in the unit, including draft work submitted for review and feedback and final work to be assessed.
When you use the ideas, words or data of others in your assessment, you must thoroughly and clearly acknowledge the source of this information by using the correct referencing style for your unit. Using others’ work without proper acknowledgement may be considered a form of intellectual dishonesty.
Participating honestly, respectfully, responsibly, and fairly in your university study ensures the CQUniversity qualification you earn will be valued as a true indication of your individual academic achievement and will continue to receive the respect and recognition it deserves.
As a student, you are responsible for reading and following CQUniversity’s policies, including the Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure. This policy sets out CQUniversity’s expectations of you to act with integrity, examples of academic integrity breaches to avoid, the processes used to address alleged breaches of academic integrity, and potential penalties.
What is a breach of academic integrity?
A breach of academic integrity includes but is not limited to plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion, cheating, contract cheating, and academic misconduct. The Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure defines what these terms mean and gives examples.
Why is academic integrity important?
A breach of academic integrity may result in one or more penalties, including suspension or even expulsion from the University. It can also have negative implications for student visas and future enrolment at CQUniversity or elsewhere. Students who engage in contract cheating also risk being blackmailed by contract cheating services.
Where can I get assistance?
For academic advice and guidance, the Academic Learning Centre (ALC) can support you in becoming confident in completing assessments with integrity and of high standard.
What can you do to act with integrity?
