Key facts
UNE unit code: GEOL120
*You are viewing the 2026 version of this unit which may be subject to change in future.
- Trimester 2 - On Campus
- Trimester 2 - Online
- Armidale Campus
- Yes
- Yes
- Yes
- 6
Unit information
As climate change and our reliance on fossil fuels reach a critical juncture globally, knowledge of issues in solid earth and environmental geology can add value to many scientific careers.
Extending your foundation from GEOL110, this unit offers a deeper dive into the building blocks of the planet, the materials that make up Earth’s crust and the processes driving their formation.
Hands-on experience with minerals, igneous and volcanic rocks enables you to learn about tectonic processes occurring within Earth’s crust, and the principles of sedimentology, palaeontology and stratigraphy facilitate understanding of processes that have shaped the surface of the Earth in deep time.
You will use real world applications of geophysical methods and environmental geology to explore Australia’s geological evolution, structural and metamorphic geology, and the occurrence and origin of natural resources.
Practical exercises provide key learning experiences, to reinforce the unit’s core concepts.
Offerings
For further information about UNE's teaching periods, please go to Principal Dates.
| Teaching period | Mode/location |
|---|---|
| Trimester 2 | On Campus, Armidale Campus |
| Trimester 2 | Online |
*Offering is subject to availability
Intensive schools
| Start | Finish | Duration | Attendance | Offerings | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TBA | TBA | 4 days | Mandatory Intensive School | All offerings | This Intensive School is mandatory for online and on-campus students. |
Enrolment rules
Notes
The School of Environmental and Rural Science considers all practical/laboratory/tutorial activities as essential to student learning. Attendance and participation in all practical/laboratory/tutorial classes (sessions) is mandatory - exemptions will not be granted without supporting evidence.
Please refer to the student handbook for current details on this unit.
Unit coordinator(s)
Learning outcomes
Upon completion of this unit, students will be able to:
- demonstrate a technical and conceptual understanding of key geologic principles including plate tectonics, stratigraphy, structural geology, palaeontology, natural hazards, mineral and energy resources and be familiar with First Nations knowledge systems as they pertain to geoscience;
- describe the formation and composition of igneous, sedimentary and metamorphic rocks and be able to identify and interpret common rocks and minerals in hand sample;
- interpret and synthesise information from geologic and topographic maps to reconstruct geologic histories and produce geological cross sections; and
- effectively use written and verbal communication to explain geoscientific concepts.
Assessment information
Assessments are subject to change up to 8 weeks prior to the start of the teaching period in which you are undertaking the unit.
| Title | Must Complete | Weight | Offerings | Assessment Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A Series of Practical Exercises | Yes | 20% | All offerings | Laboratory and practical exercises No. Words: equivalent to 1500 |
| Case Study - Assurance Task | Yes | 15% | All offerings | The Case Study assignment includes a geologic mapping exercise, rock and mineral identification and description (learning tasks), and a group discussion (assured task). No. Words: 1000 |
| Field Trip Workbook | Yes | 10% | All offerings | A series of short and long answer questions No. Words: equivalent to 750 |
| Final Examination - Assurance Task | Yes | 40% | All offerings | No. Words: 2000 To pass this unit, you must achieve a minimum cumulative total of 50% across Practical Examination - Assurance Task and Final Examination - Assurance Task, and meet all other passing requirements in the unit. There is a supervised exam at the end of the teaching period in which you are enrolled. The exam will be online with supervision via webcam and screen sharing technology. Coordinated by UNE Exams Unit. |
| Practical | Yes | All offerings | The School of Environmental and Rural Science considers all practical/laboratory/tutorial activities as essential to student learning. Attendance and participation in all practical/laboratory/tutorial classes (sessions) is mandatory - exemptions will not be granted without supporting evidence. | |
| Practical Examination - Assurance Task | Yes | 15% | All offerings | Rock, mineral and cross section exam - will be held at the mandatory intensive school. No. Words: equivalent to 2000 To pass this unit, you must achieve a minimum cumulative total of 50% across Practical Examination - Assurance Task and Final Examination - Assurance Task, and meet all other passing requirements in the unit. |
Learning resources
Textbooks are subject to change up to 8 weeks prior to the start of the teaching period in which you are undertaking the unit.
Note: Students are expected to purchase prescribed material. Please note that textbook requirements may vary from one teaching period to the next.
Earth: Portrait of a Planet, 7th International Student Edition
ISBN: 9780393882766
Marshak, S., W. W. Norton 7th Ed. 2022
Text refers to: All offerings
Note: Recommended material may be held in the University Library — purchase is optional.
Geotours Workbook: A Guide for Exploring Geology Using Google Earth
ISBN: 9781324000969
Wilkerson, M.S., Wilkerson, M.B., & Marshak, S., W. W. Norton 2nd Ed. 2017
Text refers to: All offerings
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