TRAINING REPORT NO. 13

EARTH SCIENCE AND MARINE GEOLOGY TRAINING PROGRAMME

JANUARY - MARCH 1987

BASIC EARTH SCIENCE AND MARINE GEOLOGY COURSE

COURSE INSTRUCTOR'S REPORT APRIL 1987

Russell Howorth Training Co-ordinator CCOP/SOPAC

Prepared for: As a contribution by :

Committee for Co-ordination United Nations Development of Joint Prospecting for Programme - RAS/86/125

Mineral Resources in South Pacific Offshore Areas (CCOP/SOPAC) Work Programme

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Included in the Course Instructor's Report are the following Appendices:

Appendix 1: Outline or Course

Appendix 2: Actual Daily Schedule.

Appendix 3: Self Assessment Questionnaires.

Appendix 4: Examination Papers

Appendix 5: Press Release at completion or course

EARTH SCIENCE AND MARINE GEOLOGY TRAINING PROGRAMME

January - March 1987

COURSE INSTRUCTOR'S REPORT

1. INTRODUCTION:

The Basic Earth Science and Marine Geology Course was held at the Institute of Marine Resources, University of the South Pacific From 5 January to 27 March 1987, as part of the Earth Science and Marine Geology Training Programme being organised by CCOP/SOPAC. This course is the First course of the Certificate in Earth Science and Marine Geology awarded jointly by the University of the South Pacific and Victoria University of Wellington.

The Course Instructor was Dr R Howorth, Training Co-ordinator CCOP/SOPAC and Senior Lecturer in Geology, Department of Geology, Victoria University of Wellington, assisted by Mr Talanofuka Kitekei'aho, a Tongan MSc student in Geology. Course Technician was Mr Fiu Manueli, Institute of Marine Resources, University of the South Pacific.

2. FUNDING:

The course was Financed by Funds made available From the Commonwealth Fund For Technical Co-operation, the Government of New Zealand, and UNDP. A donation was received From Western Mining Exploration, Placer Pacific and International Geological Services each for one employee these companies sponsored.

3. PARTICIPANTS:

A total of 17 participants attended the course; they were from 6 countries in the region: Cook Islands (2), Fiji (7), Papua New Guinea (I), Solomon Islands (4), Tuvalu (1) and Western Samoa (2). The affiliations of the participants were as Follows:

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4. CONTENT OF THE COURSE:

The outline of the course is given in Appendix 1. The actual daily schedule is given in Appendix 2. The daily work programme, except during field work was run on a 08.00-10.00; 10.30-12.00; 13.00-15.00; 15.30-16.30 basis: 6 1/2 hour day with the first half-hour in the morning and afternoon being reserved ~or students' own study. Out o~ the 60 course days, 12 were spent in the field.

5. BUDGET:

A draft budget for the courses was F$56,285. A statement of income and expenditure will be provided later to the donors once accounting has been completed.

Semi Luvuiwai, Isimeli Nagata and Jonati Railala all Fiji nationals, were sponsored each by the three mining companies for which they work.

6. PARTICIPANT ASSESSMENT/EXAMINATIONS:

Each participant was assessed on performance during the courses (50%) and by 2 x 2 hour examinations (50%) at the end of each course.

Work was continually reviewed by discussion sessions based on self-assessment questionnaires (Appendix 3). The examination papers are given in Appendix 4. The final results for each course were submitted to the Director of IMR on March 27th. A copy of the results has also been submitted to the Director of CCOP/SOPAC for advice to member countries along with a confidential report on each student.

Two students failed to gain the 50% final mark required to pass.

7. TRAINING PROGRAMME 1988

Under the Regional Work Programme element for training, it is proposed to run two Advanced courses in 1988. Advanced Course 1. Earth Materials from January 4 - February 12 and Advanced Course 2: Marine Geology and Earth History from February 15 - March 25.

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8. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS:

Many people provided invaluable assistance which contributed to the success of the courses:

- CCOP/SOPAC staff: for their willing help and co-operation.

- IMR staff: for their willing co-operation, especially once again the skipper and crew or the RV Aphareus

- Mineral Resources Department: for agreeing to loan equipment, where necessary.

- Wavalevu Village, Yasawa: to all the villagers or Wayalevu who, once again, made us welcome.

- Mr Dick Dale: for giving time to speak to the group on Water Resources Assessment in small islands.

- R/V Moana Wave: Crew and chief scientist or the R/V Moana Wave for allowing the group to visit the vessel.

- R/V Sonne: Crew and chief scientist or the R/V Sonne for allowing the group to visit the vessel.

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APPENDIX 1: OUTLINE OF COURSE

BASIC EARTH SCIENCE AND MARINE GEOLOGY COURSE

(i) Broad physical Features of the earth: origin and

timescale, geometry, plate tectonics, internal structure, surface structure, morphology, oceanography.

(ii) Brief discussions of offshore and onshore mineral exploration and resources, and energy resources in the southwest Pacific region.

(iii) Major rock and mineral groups; recognition and description of common rock Forming and economic minerals in hand specimen; recognition and description of common rock types in hand specimen; simple classification of rocks.

(iv) Laboratory thin sectioning techniques, making thin sections of rhyolite/granite/andesite/diorite/basalt gabbro/sandstone/conglomerate/limestone; use of petrological microscope; optical properties of common rock Forming minerals; use of thin section work in rock classification.

(v) Laboratory techniques in sieving sediments and data presentation using simple statistics.

(vi) Topographic and bathymetric map interpretation; 3-D thinking; surface morphology; contours; uses of maps and cross-sections and block models.

(vii) Geological map interpretation; 3-D thinking; outcrop patterns of simple dip strata - effect of angle of dip and -topography; recognition of simple Faults estimation of dip and throw; uses of structural contours; three-borehole type problems; simple Folds; simple unconformities; completing a geological map given partial outcrop and assuming simple structures.

(viii) Introduction to Geophysical Surveying; properties of seismic waves, principles of refraction surveying, carrying out two Field surveys and subsequent data reduction and report.

(ix) Introduction to Marine Surveying; short cruise; echo sounding; simple navigation; use of sextant For inshore position Fixing; inshore sparker and boomer transects;

collecting 1-2 metre gravity cores and grab samples. (All necessary work can be carried out in Suva Harbour).

(x) Geological Field mapping: Field trips pace and compass traversing; perspective sketching; uses of scales; measuring dips and dip directions; locating geological boundaries, recording in Field notebook, outcrop description, accurate sample collecting/location recognition of zones of alteration and mineralisation; interpreting mesoscopic structures observed; plotting up Field maps/data sheets, Follow up laboratory work and report preparation.

APPENDIX 2: ACTUAL DAILY SCHEDULE

APPENDIX 3: ASSESSMENT QUESTIONNAIRES

APPENDIX 4: EXAMINATION PAPERS