OCEAN 330
Mineral & Energy Resources of the Sea
Fall 2009
T-Th * 10:30-11:45 am * MSB 315

COURSE SYLLABUS†

	AUG 25			Introduction to course	JW/GM
	27			Peak Everything I: Population & Fossil Fuels	GM
	SEPT 1			Mid-ocean ridges, basins and trenches	GM
	3			Overview of submarine hydrothermal systems	GM
	8			Origins of high and low-temperature hydrothermal deposits	GM
	10			Recyling of ocean crust and the Geostill Concept	GM
	15			Chemistry of hydrothermal vents and polymetallic sulfides I	GM
	17			Chemistry of hydrothermal vents and polymetallic sulfides II	GM
	22			Introduction to Ocean Energy	JW
	24			Oil and gas deposits; Future oil provinces	JW
	29			Oil and Gas: Resources & politics of oil & gas	JW
	OCT 1			Oil spills & oil spill recovery	JW
	6			Methane hydrates	JW
	8			OTEC (Ocean thermal energy conversion)	JW
13			Wind power		JW
15			Wave power		JW
20			Current and tidal power		JW
22			Energy futures, hydrogen, fuel cells		JW
27			*** MIDTERM EXAMINATION ***
29			Placer deposits		GM

NOV 3		Phosphorites I	GM
5		Phosphorites II	GM
10		*** VETERANS DAY HOLIDAY ***
12		Geology of ferromanganese crusts and nodules	GM
17		Chemistry of crusts and chemical variability with age	GM
19		Platinum and phosphorite-rich layers:  Seawater vs. extraterrestrial sources	GM
24		Peak Everything II: Minerals	GM
26		*** THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY ***
DEC 1		Fresh water and desalination	JW
3		Mining technology for manganese nodules, crusts and sulfides	JW
8		Marine minerals development - Legal and environmental issues	JW
10		Marine minerals as possible economic deposits, world metal markets *** LAST DAY OF CLASSES ***	JW
Thur DEC 17		9:45 am - 11:45 am, MSB 315       *** FINAL EXAMINATION ***	JW

                           Distribution of Grade Points:        Homework Assignments           20%
                                                                              Midterm Exam                          40%
                                                                              Final Exam                               40%

Student Learning Outcomes (SLOs)
Upon successful completion of OCN 330, the student should be able to:

• Understand the various types of marine minerals, their mode of formation and their importance geologically and economically.
• Understand the various options for deriving energy from the ocean and the potential advantages and disadvantages of each.
• Understand the legal, environmental, economic and technical difficulties in extracting  minerals and energy from the ocean.