GEOL20003 Building Earth: Rocks, Minerals, Magmas
University of Melbourne · Level 2 · 12.5 points · Runs in 2026: Semester 1.
- Final exam 50%
- About 4 class hours a week
Is GEOL20003 hard?
GEOL20003: Harder. Makes it harder: Reviewers say it’s hard (3 reviews), Reviewers say it takes a lot of time.
What you learn
How igneous, metamorphic and sedimentary rocks form, and how to identify them in the lab and the field.
After it you can
- Classify rocks in hand specimen and thin section
- Infer how rocks formed from minerals and texture
- Read a rock's history from field observations
What you need first
12.5 points of level 1/2 ERTH/GEOL/GEOG/CHEM/BIOL
What it leads to
- GEOL30002 Tectonics and Geophysics
- GEOL30003 Sedimentary Geology and Hydrogeology
- GEOL30004 Geochemistry
- GEOL30009 Field Geology
Careers
Helps toward: Geologist, Meteorologist
How it’s assessed
Reports and essays 50%, Final exam 50%
Student reviews and ratings
Summarised from 3 students on StudentVIP (2015–2024)
- Fun and engaging, especially the hands-on pracs looking at rocks under the microscope and the field trip.
- Content is hard and detail-heavy with lots to memorise, and the exam is applied and difficult.
- Best for geology majors; not recommended as a casual elective or breadth subject.
A summary of public reviews, not scored here.
Taken this subject? Rate it anonymously (difficulty, workload, marking, would you recommend it) and leave a tip for next year's students. Rate GEOL20003
Quick answers
- When is GEOL20003 offered?
- Runs in 2026: Semester 1.
- What do I need before taking GEOL20003?
- Needs 12.5 points of level 1/2 ERTH/GEOL/GEOG/CHEM/BIOL.
- Does GEOL20003 have a final exam?
- Yes, the final exam is 50% of the mark. Assessment: Reports and essays 50%, Final exam 50%.
- Is GEOL20003 hard?
- From 3 student reviews on StudentVIP: Fun and engaging, especially the hands-on pracs looking at rocks under the microscope and the field trip.
- What do students say about GEOL20003?
- Fun and engaging, especially the hands-on pracs looking at rocks under the microscope and the field trip. Content is hard and detail-heavy with lots to memorise, and the exam is applied and difficult. Best for geology majors; not recommended as a casual elective or breadth subject.
- How many class hours a week does GEOL20003 have?
- 4 h a week in class
- Can I take GEOL20003 as breadth?
- Yes, for: Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Biomedicine, Bachelor of Commerce, Bachelor of Design, Bachelor of Fine Arts (Acting), Bachelor of Fine Arts (Animation), Bachelor of Fine Arts (Dance), Bachelor of Fine Arts (Film and Television), Bachelor of Fine Arts (Music Theatre), Bachelor of Fine Arts (Production), Bachelor of Fine Arts (Screenwriting), Bachelor of Fine Arts (Theatre), Bachelor of Fine Arts (Visual Art), Bachelor of Music.
- What can I take after GEOL20003?
- 4 subjects need it first, for example GEOL30002, GEOL30003, GEOL30004, GEOL30009.
- Can I rate GEOL20003?
- Yes. If you've taken it, rate it anonymously on this page (difficulty, workload, marking, would you recommend it) and leave a tip for next year's students. Averages show once 3 students have rated it; tips are checked before they appear.
Source: University of Melbourne Handbook 2026
Always confirm in the official Handbook.
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