exploration of new mineral resources – the role of geological mapping, geochemistry, geophysics...

EXPLORATION OF NEW MINERAL EXPLORATION OF NEW MINERAL RESOURCES – THE ROLE OF RESOURCES – THE ROLE OF

GEOLOGICAL MAPPING, GEOLOGICAL MAPPING, GEOCHEMISTRY, GEOPHYSICS AND GEOCHEMISTRY, GEOPHYSICS AND NATIONAL GEOLOGICAL SURVEYSNATIONAL GEOLOGICAL SURVEYS

Earth Sciences for Namibia’s Sustainable Development

G SCHNEIDERG SCHNEIDER

byby

A member of the Organisation of African Geological Surveys



THE NAMIBIAN COMMODITIESTHE NAMIBIAN COMMODITIES

Diamonds andDiamonds and semi-precious stonessemi-precious stones

Uranium and fossil fuelsUranium and fossil fuelsBase metalsBase metalsRare metalsRare metalsPrecious metalsPrecious metalsIndustrial mineralsIndustrial mineralsDimension stoneDimension stoneIndustrial rocksIndustrial rocks



THE IMPORTANCE OF MININGTHE IMPORTANCE OF MININGFFOR THE NAMIBIAN ECONOMYOR THE NAMIBIAN ECONOMY17 % GDP17 % GDP

11 % Taxes11 % Taxes50 % Export-earnings50 % Export-earnings

Diamonds:Diamonds:6 % of world production (value)6 % of world production (value)95-98% Gemstone quality95-98% Gemstone qualityBut: 2009 uranium > diamondsBut: 2009 uranium > diamonds

Royalties:Royalties:5% on5% on unprocessed dimension stone unprocessed dimension stone10% on rough d10% on rough diamondsiamonds1% - 5% on1% - 5% on all other commodities all other commodities



CURRENT NAMIBIAN LICENSESCURRENT NAMIBIAN LICENSES



The Ministry of Mines The Ministry of Mines and Energy promotes and Energy promotes exploration and mining exploration and mining through the services of through the services of a vibrant Geological a vibrant Geological Survey and the Survey and the Directorate of Mining’s Directorate of Mining’s efficient administration efficient administration of modern mining of modern mining legislation.legislation.

PROMOTION OF MINERAL POTENTIALPROMOTION OF MINERAL POTENTIAL

Centrally located in Windhoek, it houses information about some Centrally located in Windhoek, it houses information about some 100 years of exploration in Namibia, as well as modern geological, 100 years of exploration in Namibia, as well as modern geological, geophysical and geochemical data; and provides licensing services.geophysical and geochemical data; and provides licensing services.



0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

Mapping

Exploration

Geophysics

Geochemistry

Research

Geoengineering

Other

Regulatory

Geohazards

Training

Environment

Water reosurces

Land use

Source: OAGS survey.

20 countriesCore



Investors and decision makers need access to geo-Investors and decision makers need access to geo-scientific datascientific data

ComprehensiveComprehensive Easy to useEasy to use Logically represented, well structuredLogically represented, well structured DigitalDigital

The Geological Survey of Namibia has embarked on The Geological Survey of Namibia has embarked on several initiatives:several initiatives:

Digital geological mappingDigital geological mapping Development of laboratoriesDevelopment of laboratories Regional geochemical sampling programmeRegional geochemical sampling programme Historical data archiveHistorical data archive Airborne geophysical survey programmeAirborne geophysical survey programme



DIAMONDSDIAMONDS



MANAGEMENT OF MINING AND DRILLING ACTIVITIESMANAGEMENT OF MINING AND DRILLING ACTIVITIESRegional Consultation FrameworkRegional Consultation FrameworkPolicy HarmonizationPolicy HarmonizationCumulative Impact AssessmentCumulative Impact Assessment

MANAGEMENT OF POLLUTIONMANAGEMENT OF POLLUTIONHarmonizing environmental quality objectives Harmonizing environmental quality objectives Oil pollution contingency plans and regional policyOil pollution contingency plans and regional policy

MAINTAINANCE OF ECOSYSTEM HEALTH +MAINTAINANCE OF ECOSYSTEM HEALTH + PROTECTION OF BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY PROTECTION OF BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY

Vulnerable species and habitats Vulnerable species and habitats Ballast water policyBallast water policyMarine biological diversity conservationMarine biological diversity conservation

BENGUELA CURRENT COMMISSIONBENGUELA CURRENT COMMISSION



HIGH-RESOLUTION AIRBORNE GEOPHYSICSHIGH-RESOLUTION AIRBORNE GEOPHYSICS

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007

Mill

ion

s

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

Line km flown Data Sales [N$]Exploration Expenditure [Mio $] Licenses active

before 1985

1994



HIGH RESOLUTION AIRBORNE GEOPHYSICALHIGH RESOLUTION AIRBORNE GEOPHYSICALSURVEY PROGRAMME IMPACTSURVEY PROGRAMME IMPACT



URANIUM AND GEOPHYSICSURANIUM AND GEOPHYSICS

Rössing South – one of the most significantRössing South – one of the most significantdiscoveries in decadesdiscoveries in decades

Highest grade uranium deposit in the WorldHighest grade uranium deposit in the WorldResources of 267 million lbs @ 488 ppm UResources of 267 million lbs @ 488 ppm U33OO88

Planned commissioning 2013Planned commissioning 201315 million lbs/a U15 million lbs/a U33OO88



URANIUM AND GEOPHYSICSURANIUM AND GEOPHYSICS



STRATEGIC ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESS-STRATEGIC ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESS-MENT OF THE NAMIB URANIUM RUSHMENT OF THE NAMIB URANIUM RUSH

CumCumulatiulati

veveimpaimpa

ctscts

There was a clear need to establish There was a clear need to establish comprehensive comprehensive Environmental Baseline data Environmental Baseline data to to underpin environmental assessments (EIAs), underpin environmental assessments (EIAs), contribute to EMPs and to the over-all process of contribute to EMPs and to the over-all process of progressing with exploration and potential progressing with exploration and potential mining license applications in a National Park.mining license applications in a National Park.There was also an urgent need for a There was also an urgent need for a aa process of process of systematic analysis of environmental impacts systematic analysis of environmental impacts which extends the aims and principles of EIA which extends the aims and principles of EIA upstream in the decision making process, beyond upstream in the decision making process, beyond the project level and when major alternatives are the project level and when major alternatives are still open (SEA definition according to UNDP, still open (SEA definition according to UNDP, 2002) and a Land use Strategy of all areas 2002) and a Land use Strategy of all areas affected by uranium mining, and in particular in affected by uranium mining, and in particular in the Namib Naukluft Park.the Namib Naukluft Park.



Key objectives of the Stragtegic Environmental AssessmentKey objectives of the Stragtegic Environmental AssessmentAnalyse environmental, economic and social impacts of uraniumAnalyse environmental, economic and social impacts of uranium

exploration and mining, and assess cumulative, synergistic andexploration and mining, and assess cumulative, synergistic and antagonistic aspectsantagonistic aspects

Formulate development options to avoid or minimize negative Formulate development options to avoid or minimize negative impacts and to enhance positive impactsimpacts and to enhance positive impacts

Provide recommendations in the form of Strategic ManagementProvide recommendations in the form of Strategic Management Plans (which indicate actions, responsible actors + timeframes) forPlans (which indicate actions, responsible actors + timeframes) for sustainable development and trigger their implementation.sustainable development and trigger their implementation.

Assessment of cumulative, synergistic + antagonistic aspectsAssessment of cumulative, synergistic + antagonistic aspectsPractical issuesPractical issuesPublic concernsPublic concernsOpportunities + threatsOpportunities + threatsConstraintsConstraintsThe way forwardThe way forward



Rare Earth ElementsRare Earth Elements

MappingMappingGeochemical analysisGeochemical analysisHyper-spectral surveyHyper-spectral surveyResearch into the genesisResearch into the genesis

of carbonatitesof carbonatites



SMALL SCALE MININGSMALL SCALE MININGTaylor-made assistanceTaylor-made assistanceInterpretation of geological dataInterpretation of geological dataAlternative resourcesAlternative resourcesTrainingTrainingValue-addingValue-addingMarketingMarketing



RECOMMENDATIONSRECOMMENDATIONSGeology underlies everythingGeology underlies everythingDeveloped countries have a good geological data baseDeveloped countries have a good geological data baseThe first geological map was published in England in 17.. and The first geological map was published in England in 17.. and

triggered the industrial revolutiontriggered the industrial revolution Developing countries need strong Geological SurveysDeveloping countries need strong Geological SurveysGeo-scientists need better recognition and must be involved inGeo-scientists need better recognition and must be involved in

decision making processesdecision making processesGood investment (funding) for Geological Surveys will beGood investment (funding) for Geological Surveys will be

returned manyfold in the form of mineral investment, reductionreturned manyfold in the form of mineral investment, reduction of opportunity costs and improved environmental economicsof opportunity costs and improved environmental economics

Quality high-resolution airborne geophysical data are essentialQuality high-resolution airborne geophysical data are essentialEnvironmental; research is a pre-requisite for sustainabilityEnvironmental; research is a pre-requisite for sustainabilitySupport to Small Scale Mining is an ideal tool to broaden theSupport to Small Scale Mining is an ideal tool to broaden the

benefit derifed from a country‘s mineral endowmentbenefit derifed from a country‘s mineral endowmentGeo-data must be accessable and available at resonable pricesGeo-data must be accessable and available at resonable pricesWe only have one planet, use Geo-scientists to manage it to theWe only have one planet, use Geo-scientists to manage it to the

best advantage of mankindbest advantage of mankind



THANK YOU!THANK YOU!

exploration of new mineral resources – the role of geological mapping, geochemistry, geophysics...

Documents

geological survey of

vibrant geological survey

role of geological mapping

uranium mining

countries core slide

uranium diamonds royalties

geochemical data

airborne geophysics