Geology of Gold

Location: School of Geography, Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, The University of Melbourne, and Fosterville area (VIC)

Enrolments: 

Dates: 13-17 March 2023

Times: 09:00-17:00 each day. 

This is a 5-day course of lectures, practical sessions and a field trip, devoted to the Geology of Gold. The course provides a broad coverage of gold geology and exploration, as well as some of the latest research ideas and how they apply to mineral exploration. The course is suitable for Honours and postgraduate students, and for geologists in the mineral industry with some exploration and mining experience. The course is also suitable for government geologists involved in field areas where gold potential exists and who are seeking to relate their work more closely to industry. 

The course covers all major types of gold deposits with emphasis on Archean greenstone and sedimentary rock hosted deposits. The course covers both conventional thinking on different deposit types, and novel ideas with their exploration implications. A two-day field trip ventures into the Victorian gold province and includes visits to the major Fosterville mine, Deborah Mine and a fieldwork exercise at Victoria Hill. Geochemistry, structural geology, regolith and deposit geology are covered at a level to enable participants to take their place comfortably in industry and government teams. An emphasis of the course is on a holistic approach that uses all applicable fields of geology to address the questions pertaining to gold.

The course opens from 8.30am for a 9.00am start on Monday 13th March with the field trip leaving from the university on Wednesday 16th March with a late return on Thursday evening. Lectures resume on campus on Friday 17th of March.

Note: The main entry doors to the Earth Science Building are located one level above the road and are accessed via the stairs or ramp from Elgin Street, or from the bridge across Swanston Street.

We acknowledge the sponsorship from AIG, Kirkland Gold and AusIMM. Students do not pay a fee this year.  Industry participants pay $1000.

To make the payment for this course, please click here.

Further course and assessment information can be found at: https://handbook.unimelb.edu.au/2022/subjects/geol90052

Pre-readings for the course are available and all course participants are expected to have read the pre-reading material prior to the start of the course.

Contact: Prof Dave Phillips: dphillip@unimelb.edu.au


Teacher: Prof David Phillips