Evaluation of mineral potential by geological, geophysical and geochemical methods. Economics of gold exploration and mine development. A critical study of the origin, and differentiation of the earth, evolution of the crust, and plate tectonics. Geology of the continents and ocean basins. Regional tectonic analysis of precambrian shields, platforms, orogenic belts, and a review of internal energy sources.
Emphasis is on North America.
The applications of continuum physics to geological problems. Topics include plate tectonics, stress and strain in solids, elasticity and flexure, heat transfer, gravity, fluid mechanics, rock rheology, faulting, and flow in porous media. An advanced study of mineral deposits, time and space in deposition, theories of deposition and their effect on exploration. Discussions based on maps, logs, and samples from the world's typical mineral deposits. Investigations of an advanced nature leading to the preparation of a thesis or dissertation.