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This course aims to teach students about the formation and distribution of rocks and minerals and the associated energy resources on Earth. Their temporal and spatial distribution have implications for their exploration and exploitation from both economic and environmental perspectives.ÌýStudents will be taught about subsurface carbon and hydrogen storage in geological formations in the context of energy transition. This will draw parallels with hydrocarbon prospectivity drawing comparison as applicable, and informing where transfer of knowledge is possible.ÌýThere will be emphasis on integrating information across different scales, from outcrop observations in the field trip with basin scale geomodelling, and fundamental rock characteristics in the micro to nano scales.Ìý

By the end of this module students will have knowledge and understanding of:

• Classification, identification and mineralogy of common rocks, in the laboratory (hand specimens) and in the field (compulsory fieldtrip to S England in Reading Week Term 1) as well as in built structures (day fieldtrip to British Library).
• Comparison of the different rock types in their natural settings and as used as building stones in urban settings, in terms of their origin, distribution and potential preservation over time taking into account impacts of climate change.
• The concepts of plate tectonics on a global and regional scale through deep time.
• The interaction of geology with landforms, to guide in the location and formation of subsurface storage sites for the accumulation of energy deposits, and their potential for the underground storage of carbon and hydrogenÌýto drive the energy transition.
• Engineering and resource aspects of geological materials including modelling subsurface resources in 3D (by application of an industrial software).