Click Here to view current information
Unit Synopsis
You will be introduced to critical concepts in the application of rock mechanics to mining and geotechnical operations. The methods and procedures you will learn will cover rock testing, design of underground openings, and pillar and ground support design. You will gain an understanding of how underground mining methods can impact infrastructure and aquifers through subsidence. You will also learn how to analyse the stability of slopes generated by open-pit mining operations. Throughout the unit, you will be required to demonstrate professional levels of teamwork and communication. In this unit, you must complete compulsory practical activities. Refer to the Engineering Undergraduate Course Moodle site for proposed dates.
Details
| Level | Undergraduate |
|---|---|
| Unit Level | 2 |
| Credit Points | 6 |
| Student Contribution Band | SCA Band 2 |
| Fraction of Full-Time Student Load | 0.125 |
| Pre-requisites or Co-requisites |
There are no pre-requisites for the unit.
Important note: Students enrolled in a subsequent unit who failed their pre-requisite unit, should drop the subsequent unit before the census date or within 10 working days of Fail grade notification. Students who do not drop the unit in this timeframe cannot later drop the unit without academic and financial liability. See details in the Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework). |
| Class Timetable | View Unit Timetable |
| Residential School |
Compulsory Residential School View Unit Residential School |
Unit Availabilities from Term 2 - 2026
Term 2 - 2026 Profile
Attendance Requirements
All on-campus students are expected to attend scheduled classes - in some units, these classes are identified as a mandatory (pass/fail) component and attendance is compulsory. International students, on a student visa, must maintain a full time study load and meet both attendance and academic progress requirements in each study period (satisfactory attendance for International students is defined as maintaining at least an 80% attendance record).
Recommended Student Time Commitment
Each 6-credit Undergraduate unit at CQUniversity requires an overall time commitment of an average of 12.5 hours of study per week, making a total of 150 hours for the unit.
Assessment Tasks
| Assessment Task | Weighting |
|---|---|
| 1. Written Assessment | 45% |
| 2. Written Assessment | 45% |
| 3. Practical Assessment | 10% |
This is a graded unit: your overall grade will be calculated from the marks or grades for each assessment task, based on the relative weightings shown in the table above. You must obtain an overall mark for the unit of at least 50%, or an overall grade of ‘pass’ in order to pass the unit. If any ‘pass/fail’ tasks are shown in the table above they must also be completed successfully (‘pass’ grade). You must also meet any minimum mark requirements specified for a particular assessment task, as detailed in the ‘assessment task’ section (note that in some instances, the minimum mark for a task may be greater than 50%).
Past Exams
All University policies are available on the Policy web site, however you may wish to directly view the following policies below.
This list is not an exhaustive list of all University policies. The full list of policies are available on the Policy web site.
Feedback, Recommendations and Responses
Every unit is reviewed for enhancement each year. At the most recent review, the following staff and student feedback items were identified and recommendations were made.
Source: Email
Most of the students are full-time workers. The residential school time should be in the same week as other mining units in T2.
The residential school should be scheduled for the same week as other mining units in T2, as this will reduce travel for students.
In Progress
Source: Email
The current unit has 5 assessment sections, which is above the average.
The new unit proposal has been developed to reduce the assessment items from 5 to 3. Two writing assignments should be combined into one, resulting in more comprehensive knowledge coverage.
In Progress
Source: Student Evauation
response of students evaluation
Even one studnet give feedback but needs to improve all the aspects of Rock Engineering for better feedback.
Students are encouraged to complete the SUTE, and additional feedback is obtained at the residential school.
On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:
- Apply various methods of rock testing to determine the relevant design properties of specific rock types
- Design openings, pillars and ground supports for given situations in underground mining
- Describe subsidence associated with various mining methods and identify potential impacts on infrastructure and aquifers
- Analyse slope instabilities for given situations in surface mining operations
- Provide evidence in individual and team-based scenarios of a professional capacity to work, learn, and communicate effectively in oral and written domains.
The Learning Outcomes for this unit are linked with the Engineers Australia Stage 1 Competency Standards for Professional Engineers in the areas of 1. Knowledge and Skill Base, 2. Engineering Application Ability and 3. Professional and Personal Attributes at the following levels:
Introductory
2.4 Application of systematic approaches to the conduct and management of engineering projects. (LO: 2N 5N )
Intermediate
1.2 Conceptual understanding of the mathematics, numerical analysis, statistics, and computer and information sciences which underpin the engineering discipline. (LO: 1I 2I 3I 4I )
1.4 Discernment of knowledge development and research directions within the engineering discipline. (LO: 1I 2I 3I 4I )
1.6 Understanding of the scope, principles, norms, accountabilities and bounds of sustainable engineering practice in the specific discipline. (LO: 1I 2I 3I 4I )
2.1 Application of established engineering methods to complex engineering problem solving. (LO: 2N 3I 4I )
2.2 Fluent application of engineering techniques, tools and resources. (LO: 2I 4I )
2.3 Application of systematic engineering synthesis and design processes. (LO: 2I 3N 4I )
3.1 Ethical conduct and professional accountability. (LO: 1I 2I 3I 5N )
3.2 Effective oral and written communication in professional and lay domains. (LO: 1I 2I 3I 4I 5I )
3.4 Professional use and management of information. (LO: 1I 2I 3N 4N 5N )
3.5 Orderly management of self, and professional conduct. (LO: 1I 2I 5N )
3.6 Effective team membership and team leadership. (LO: 5I )
Advanced
1.1 Comprehensive, theory-based understanding of the underpinning natural and physical sciences and the engineering fundamentals applicable to the engineering discipline. (LO: 1A 2I 3I 4I )
1.3 In-depth understanding of specialist bodies of knowledge within the engineering discipline. (LO: 1I 2A 3I 4I )
1.5 Knowledge of engineering design practice and contextual factors impacting the engineering discipline. (LO: 1A 2I 3A 4I )
Note: LO refers to the Learning Outcome number(s) which link to the competency and the levels: N - Introductory, I - Intermediate and A - Advanced.
Refer to the Engineering Undergraduate Course Moodle site for further information on the Engineers Australia State 1 Competency Standards for Professional Engineers and course level mapping information. https://moodle.cqu.edu.au/course/view.php?id=1511
| Assessment Tasks | Learning Outcomes | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | |
| 1 - Written Assessment | • | • | • | ||
| 2 - Written Assessment | • | • | • | ||
| 3 - Practical Assessment | • | ||||
| Graduate Attributes | Learning Outcomes | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | |
| 1 - Communication | • | ||||
| 2 - Problem Solving | • | • | • | • | |
| 3 - Critical Thinking | • | • | • | • | |
| 4 - Information Literacy | • | • | • | • | |
| 5 - Team Work | • | ||||
| 8 - Ethical practice | • | ||||
| Assessment Tasks | Graduate Attributes | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 10 | |