Coal Mine Engineering Geology as a Trans-Tasman learning experience in a university postgraduate course

Fieldwork is at the heart of engineering geology, viewed by academics, students and industry as a ubiquitous element of geoscience tertiary education. Fieldwork is considered an extremely effective experiential (i.e. “learning-by-doing”) teaching and learning method. In engineering geology, much of the learning pedagogy is focused on applied problems such as dams, tunnels, state highways and landslides, dealing with issues of “ground risk”. Due to the obvious safety (and legal) implications of students visiting operating mine sites, such applied learning experiences are often confined to PowerPoint slides in classrooms, or sometimes virtual fieldtrips using a range of technologies. This can produce challenges to fostering engagement. Here, the development of a one-day graduate-level engineering geology fieldclass based at two operating open-cast mines is presented. The trip is structured to develop the students’ awareness of the first priority of such workplaces, health and safety. The students then follow a mini “Cook’s Tour” led by mine staff, around the open-cast mines, recording geological features, and are prompted to consider engineering hazards relating to the interaction of geology and operations. Students then log core in a mine core shed, observe and record stratigraphy and significant features such as defects and strength variability. Post-fieldtrip, the students analyse borehole geophysical logs, and undertake kinematic analysis and limit equilibrium modelling of highwall stability, incorporating this into an assessed report. Comparisons with Bowen Basin opencast and underground coal mines are encouraged, via provision of industry datasets. Opportunities, and challenges to future expansion of such fieldtrips are also discussed.