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University of Southern Queensland

School of Civil Engineering & Surveying

Course Number: CIV2403 Course Name: Geology & Geomechanics

Assessment No: 2 Internal 

External 

This Assessment carries 100 of the 1000 marks total for this Course.

Examiner: Dr Ali Mirzaghorbanali Moderator: Dr Andreas Nataatmadja

Assignment: Assessment 2 – Geology Component

Date Due:

18 September 2017

Penalty for Late Submission:

Loss of all marks for the assessment (See note 3. of assessment information in course specification).

Assignments are to be submitted to USQ.

Please use *.doc, *.docx, *.rtf, *.pdf format only to submit your assignment.

Please use the naming convention:

REPORT-1-LastName.pdf

where:

Y is the Report number;

By submitting this assignment, you agree to the following Student Declaration:

I hereby certify that no part of this assignment has been copied from any other student’s work or from any other source except where due acknowledgement is made in the assignment. No part of this assignment has been written for me by any other person except where such collaboration has been authorised by the Examiner concerned.

This assignment must be submitted electronically through the drop box on the CIV2403 Study Desk by the due date. No other modes of submission will be accepted. All requests for extensions must be directed to the examiner of CIV2403, Dr Ali Mirzaghorbanali.

CIV 2403 Geology & Geomechanics …. Assessment 2 Page 2

Published by

CIV 2403 – Geology & Geomechanics

University of Southern Queensland

Toowoomba Queensland 4350

www.usq.edu.au

Copyrighted material reproduced herein are used under the provision of the

No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or

transmitted in any form or by any means electronic, mechanical, photocopying,

recording or otherwise without prior permission.

CIV 2403 Geology & Geomechanics …. Assessment 2 Page 3

CIV2403 S2, 2016 Geology Assignment.

Preamble

An existing mining company wants to a build a tailings dam for their mining operation on

the Ringo Diorite that contains base metals and is seeking a suitable site that will ensure a

permanent storage of the contaminated material. Their choice of locations is limited to

roughly a 7km x 5km region, the visible area of the regional MiddleBack Geology Map. The

company needs to understand the geology as fault reactivation is common in this region and

can result in the failing of the tailings dam.

A) Regional Geology Task: You are required to establish a geological column and

determine the geology history of the region in order to help identify 3 potential dam sites for

a tailings dam (Regional Geology Map; Topographic Map; Appendix 1). Therefore, a brief

summary (2 pages) of the geological history of the region should be discussed, including a

note on the tectonic setting. The brief summary includes a geological column that has the

oldest unit at the base and the youngest at the top. It may be helpful to also identify

structural features, such as the six major fault zones that are detailed, within this column.

Factors that should be identified within the geological history include aspects such as

unconformities, igneous events, deformational events and metamorphic grade. Faults should

be identified along with the movement along these faults. The plate tectonic settings need to

be identified, where possible, and placed within the geological history. Evidence needs to be

included regarding the principle of superposition for the geological history and appendices

may be used.

(40 marks)

B) Cross Sections: Two cross sections, with no vertical exaggeration, need to be constructed that best

highlighted the geology of the region, particularly focusing on where the potential dam sites

could be located (1 page):

1. An initial cross section needs to be constructed running north east – south west. 2. A second cross section running north west – south east should be constructed.

(20 marks)

C) Potential Dam Sites: Identify three potential dam sites along any of the water ways found within the map for a

dam of approximately 200m x 100m x 5m. Each potential dam site should be on a different

geological unit to ensure that a range of geological factors are considered and the best

potential site is chosen. An analysis of each site should be conducted and a comparison of

the various sites should detail the strengths and weaknesses of each site (2 pages –

appendices may be included; Geology Map; Topographic Map; Appendices 1 & 2).

There needs to be a final selection of the best dam site based on an evaluation of the three

selected sites that considers all of the data presented. Further site investigation

recommendations to verify the viability of the site need to be included (1 page) prior to

seeking tenders to actually construct the dam.

(40 marks)

CIV 2403 Geology & Geomechanics …. Assessment 2 Page 4

Figure 1: Geology Map

CIV 2403 Geology & Geomechanics …. Assessment 2 Page 5

Figure 2: Topography

CIV 2403 Geology & Geomechanics …. Assessment 2 Page 6

Appendix 1: Rock Unit & Summary

Ringo Diorite Base Metal Bearing Ore Material

Retirement Rhyolite

Rhyolite plugs, domes and horizontal flows with distinct flow banding common throughout.

Freyer Granodiroite

Mostly deeply weathered regolith with kaolinite extensively found throughout saprolite and grus and rare tors at surface.

Pillow Basalt Exhibits spherical zones within the basalt thus forming many intersecting discontinuity sets with altered chloritic material on the exteriors of the pillow basalt.

Holly Quartzite

Massive quartzite outcrops dominate the topographic profile compared to the surrounding weaker rock. Tight folding within unit where competency contrast.

Queen Quartzite Highly deformed quartzite outcrops dominate the topographic profile. Tight folding within unit where competency contrast within unit exists.

Moriah Mudstone

Inter-bedded Quartz mudstone with inter-bedded permeable carbonaceous sandstone and impermeable shales.

Gladiator Granite

Muscovite granite and granodiorite, biotite-hornblende pegmatite with abundant sericite and kaolinite. Granite heavily jointed throughout and joints are associated with many faults that are not recorded.

Castor Quartzite Quartzite outcrops dipping 25 NNE in the south compared to 10 SSW in the north. Relatively little cover on this rock.

Quartz Sandstone

Poorly sorted clast supported quartz sandstone with a range of rounded to angular lithic fragments contained within the matrix.

Cranford Chert Radiolarian identified within bands of chert interbedded with fine pelitic sediments.

Dugan Andesite Phenocrysts of plagioclase found within a fine grained matrix of augite and minor quartz inclusion.

Sphinx Dolerite Hornblende and biotite dolerite, grey, fine to medium-grained; commonly weathered and of a hypabyssal origin.

Trugeon Gneiss Almandine garnet rich gneiss. Highly deformed with many faults.

Garnet Hornfels Calc-Silicate hornfels prominent around margins of intrusive rock types and there is often gradational boundaries between the marble and the hornfels.

Amphibolite Schist

Predominately mafic in origin and deformed to the same grade as the Trugeon Gneiss. Highly deformed with many faults and shear zones.

Reach Sandstone

Quartz sandstone, siltstone, mudstone, sandstone, lithic conglomerate and thin coal bands common throughout. Typically friable and porous.

Crinoidal Limestone

Limestone, carbonaceous shale, chert and sandy siltstone. Common fossils found throughout, particularly crinoids. Cavities common throughout.

Hotel Hornfels Garnet and Wollastonite found close to the Granodiorite grading to chlorite and dolomite facies minerals further away from the intrusion.

Pegasus Pegmatite

Diorite with biotite-hornblende pegmatite crystals, commonly strongly weathered with abundant sericite and kaolinite.

Pink Syenite Hornblende phenocrysts with interspersed muscovite syenite. Mostly deeply weathered regolith with smectite extensively found in saprolite and grus.

Biotite Schist Predominantly biotite-muscovite schist, commonly cleaved and multiply deformed. Highly weathered.

Marble Massive marble unit with relict crinoids observed throughout the highly faulted unit.

Redback Marble Calc silicate hornfels prominent around margins of intrusive rock types and there is often gradational boundaries between the marble and the hornfels.

Horseshoe Marble

Almandine hornfels prominent around margins of intrusive rock types and there is often gradational boundaries between the marble and the hornfels.

Qtz Feld Porphyry

Granite Porphyry with quartz, orthoclase and plagioclase phenocrysts in a course grained matrix with much evidence of deformation and weathering.

CIV 2403 Geology & Geomechanics …. Assessment 2 Page 7

Appendix 2: Typical Permeability of Rock Units

Rock Unit Permeability (mD)

Ringo Diorite 0.001

Retirement Rhyolite 0.002

Freyer Granodiroite Weathered: 48 Fresh: 0.001

Pillow Basalt Chloritic Material: 33 Fresh Basalt: 0.001

Holly Quartzite

0.002

Queen Quartzite 0.002

Moriah Mudstone Deformed: 45 Fresh: 0.001

Gladiator Granite Weathered: 28 Fresh: 0.001

Castor Quartzite 0.002

Quartz Sandstone Deformed: 25 Fresh: 12

Cranford Chert 0.0001

Dugan Andesite 0.0002

Sphinx Dolerite 0.0004

Trugeon Gneiss Deformed: 8 Fresh: 0.001

Garnet Hornfels 0.002

Amphibolite Schist Deformed: 25 Fresh: 1

Reach Sandstone Weathered: 56 Fresh: 7

Crinoidal Limestone Deformed: 25 Fresh: 10

Hotel Hornfels 0.004

Pegasus Pegmatite Weathered: 56 Fresh: 0.003

Pink Syenite Weathered: 22 Fresh: 0.006

Biotite Schist Deformed: 25 Fresh: 13

Marble Deformed: 68 Fresh: 15

Redback Marble Deformed: 38 Fresh: 5

Horseshoe Marble Deformed: 28 Fresh: 6

Qtz Feld Porphyry Weathered & Deformed: 12 Fresh: 0.002

CIV 2403 Geology & Geomechanics …. Assessment 2 Page 8

Page – 8

Assessment Criteria for Geology Report 2 Report 2 – Name S2 2017

Criteria Level 1 – Level 2 – Level 3 – Level 4 – Level 5 –

Marks 0-20% 20-40% 40-60% 60-80% 80-100%

Task A

Regional Geology Task

40 marks

0 – 8 marks Geological Column

Absent or Incoherent Minimal identification of

unconformities, igneous events, deformational events and metamorphic grade, faults identified and plate tectonics partially identified.

Geological stratigraphy and events poorly explained, with little to no aspects of tectonic settings included.

9 – 16 marks Geological Column includes

most rock types in some order. Limited identification of

unconformities, igneous events, deformational events and metamorphic grade, faults identified and plate tectonics partially identified.

Geological stratigraphy and events explained incompletely, with minimal tectonic settings included.

17 – 24 marks Geological Column includes

all rock types in partial order and major events

Unconformities, igneous events, deformational events and metamorphic grade, faults identified and plate tectonics partially identified.

Geological stratigraphy and events explained partially, including aspects of tectonic settings.

25 – 32 marks Geological Column includes

all rock types in order and major events.

Unconformities, igneous events, deformational events and metamorphic grade, faults identified and plate tectonics correctly identified.

Geological stratigraphy and events explained, including tectonic settings.

33 – 40 marks Geological Column includes

all rock types in order and events. Unconformities, igneous

events, deformational events and metamorphic grade, faults identified and plate tectonics correctly identified in order.

Geological stratigraphy and events fully explained, including all aspects of tectonic settings.

Task B

Cross Sections

20 marks

0 – 4 marks Cross Sections are of

poor quality with many inaccuracies and little relevant labelling.

Cross Sections present isolated data that has aspects related to the geology.

5 – 8 marks Cross Sections are of low

quality and have several inaccuracies and/or mislabeling.

Cross Sections present data that has aspects related to the geology.

9 – 12 marks Cross Sections are generally

of acceptable quality but have some inaccuracies and/or mislabeling.

Cross Sections generally present relevant data that reflects the geology.

13 – 16 marks Cross Sections are generally

of good quality and have few inaccuracies and/or mislabeling.

Cross Sections mostly present relevant data that accurately reflects the geology.

17 – 20 marks Cross Sections are generally

of excellent quality and have appropriate labelling.

Cross Sections always present relevant data that accurately reflects the geology.

Task C

Potential Dam Sites

40 marks

0 – 8 marks Three dam sites located. Little to no geology

information regarding each site researched and provided.

Evaluation of little data with respect to site with poor geology research recommendations.

9 – 16 marks Three dam sites located,

poorly justified with supporting evidence.

Partial geology information regarding each site researched and provided.

Evaluation of some data to determine appropriate site location with few geology research recommendations.

17 – 24 marks Three dam sites located

appropriately, partially justified with supporting evidence.

Geology information regarding each site researched and provided.

Evaluation of data to determine appropriate site location with research recommendations.

25 – 32 marks Three dam sites located

appropriately, mostly justified with supporting evidence.

Relevant geology information regarding each site researched and provided.

Evaluation of most data to determine appropriate site location with mostly appropriate geology research recommendations.

33 – 40 marks Three dam sites located

appropriately, justified with appropriate supporting evidence.

Highly relevant geology information regarding each site researched and provided.

Evaluation of all data to determine appropriate site location with appropriate geology research recommendations.

Total Note: Report Presentation and Harvard AGPS Referencing, in Task A & C, will be marked within each relevant section.

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