geological survey of namibia
DESCRIPTION
GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF NAMIBIA. GSN. A member of the Organisation of African Geological Surveys. EXPLORATION OF NEW MINERAL RESOURCES – THE ROLE OF GEOLOGICAL MAPPING, GEOCHEMISTRY, GEOPHYSICS AND NATIONAL GEOLOGICAL SURVEYS. by. G SCHNEIDER. - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
EXPLORATION OF NEW MINERAL RESOURCES – THE ROLE OF
GEOLOGICAL MAPPING, GEOCHEMISTRY, GEOPHYSICS AND NATIONAL GEOLOGICAL SURVEYS
Earth Sciences for Namibia’s Sustainable Development
G SCHNEIDERby
A member of the Organisation of African Geological Surveys
Earth Sciences for Namibia’s Sustainable Development
A member of the Organisation of African Geological Surveys
THE NAMIBIAN COMMODITIES
Diamonds and semi-precious stones
Uranium and fossil fuelsBase metalsRare metalsPrecious metalsIndustrial mineralsDimension stoneIndustrial rocks
Earth Sciences for Namibia’s Sustainable Development
A member of the Organisation of African Geological Surveys
THE IMPORTANCE OF MININGFOR THE NAMIBIAN ECONOMY17 % GDP
11 % Taxes50 % Export-earnings
Diamonds:6 % of world production (value)95-98% Gemstone qualityBut: 2009 uranium > diamonds
Royalties:5% on unprocessed dimension stone10% on rough diamonds1% - 5% on all other commodities
Earth Sciences for Namibia’s Sustainable Development
A member of the Organisation of African Geological Surveys
CURRENT NAMIBIAN LICENSES
Earth Sciences for Namibia’s Sustainable Development
A member of the Organisation of African Geological Surveys
The Ministry of Mines and Energy promotes exploration and mining through the services of a vibrant Geological Survey and the Directorate of Mining’s efficient administration of modern mining legislation.
PROMOTION OF MINERAL POTENTIAL
Centrally located in Windhoek, it houses information about some 100 years of exploration in Namibia, as well as modern geological, geophysical and geochemical data; and provides licensing services.
Earth Sciences for Namibia’s Sustainable Development
A member of the Organisation of African Geological Surveys
0102030405060708090
MappingExplorationGeophysicsGeochemistryResearchGeoengineeringOtherRegulatoryGeohazardsTrainingEnvironmentWater reosurcesLand use
Source: OAGS survey.
20 countriesCore
Earth Sciences for Namibia’s Sustainable Development
A member of the Organisation of African Geological Surveys
Investors and decision makers need access to geo-scientific data
Comprehensive Easy to use Logically represented, well structured Digital
The Geological Survey of Namibia has embarked on several initiatives:
Digital geological mapping Development of laboratories Regional geochemical sampling programme Historical data archive Airborne geophysical survey programme
Earth Sciences for Namibia’s Sustainable Development
A member of the Organisation of African Geological Surveys
DIAMONDS
Earth Sciences for Namibia’s Sustainable Development
A member of the Organisation of African Geological Surveys
MANAGEMENT OF MINING AND DRILLING ACTIVITIESRegional Consultation FrameworkPolicy HarmonizationCumulative Impact Assessment
MANAGEMENT OF POLLUTIONHarmonizing environmental quality objectives Oil pollution contingency plans and regional policy
MAINTAINANCE OF ECOSYSTEM HEALTH + PROTECTION OF BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY
Vulnerable species and habitats Ballast water policyMarine biological diversity conservation
BENGUELA CURRENT COMMISSION
Earth Sciences for Namibia’s Sustainable Development
A member of the Organisation of African Geological Surveys
HIGH-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
ions
0
100
200
300
400
500
600
Line km flown Data Sales [N$]Exploration Expenditure [Mio $] Licenses active
before 1985
1994
Earth Sciences for Namibia’s Sustainable Development
A member of the Organisation of African Geological Surveys
HIGH RESOLUTION AIRBORNE GEOPHYSICALSURVEY PROGRAMME IMPACT
Earth Sciences for Namibia’s Sustainable Development
A member of the Organisation of African Geological Surveys
URANIUM AND GEOPHYSICSRössing South – one of the most significant
discoveries in decadesHighest grade uranium deposit in the World
Resources of 267 million lbs @ 488 ppm U3O8
Planned commissioning 201315 million lbs/a U3O8
Earth Sciences for Namibia’s Sustainable Development
A member of the Organisation of African Geological Surveys
URANIUM AND GEOPHYSICS
Earth Sciences for Namibia’s Sustainable Development
A member of the Organisation of African Geological Surveys
STRATEGIC ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESS-MENT OF THE NAMIB URANIUM RUSH
Cumulati
veimpa
cts
There was a clear need to establish comprehensive Environmental Baseline data to underpin environmental assessments (EIAs), contribute to EMPs and to the over-all process of progressing with exploration and potential mining license applications in a National Park.There was also an urgent need for a a process of systematic analysis of environmental impacts which extends the aims and principles of EIA upstream in the decision making process, beyond the project level and when major alternatives are still open (SEA definition according to UNDP, 2002) and a Land use Strategy of all areas affected by uranium mining, and in particular in the Namib Naukluft Park.
Earth Sciences for Namibia’s Sustainable Development
A member of the Organisation of African Geological Surveys
Key objectives of the Stragtegic Environmental AssessmentAnalyse environmental, economic and social impacts of uranium exploration and mining, and assess cumulative, synergistic and antagonistic aspectsFormulate development options to avoid or minimize negative impacts and to enhance positive impactsProvide recommendations in the form of Strategic Management Plans (which indicate actions, responsible actors + timeframes) for sustainable development and trigger their implementation.
Assessment of cumulative, synergistic + antagonistic aspectsPractical issuesPublic concernsOpportunities + threatsConstraintsThe way forward
Earth Sciences for Namibia’s Sustainable Development
A member of the Organisation of African Geological Surveys
Rare Earth Elements
MappingGeochemical analysisHyper-spectral surveyResearch into the genesis
of carbonatites
Earth Sciences for Namibia’s Sustainable Development
A member of the Organisation of African Geological Surveys
SMALL SCALE MININGTaylor-made assistanceInterpretation of geological dataAlternative resourcesTrainingValue-addingMarketing
Earth Sciences for Namibia’s Sustainable Development
A member of the Organisation of African Geological Surveys
RECOMMENDATIONSGeology underlies everythingDeveloped countries have a good geological data baseThe first geological map was published in England in 17.. and
triggered the industrial revolution Developing countries need strong Geological SurveysGeo-scientists need better recognition and must be involved in
decision making processesGood investment (funding) for Geological Surveys will be
returned manyfold in the form of mineral investment, reduction of opportunity costs and improved environmental economics
Quality high-resolution airborne geophysical data are essentialEnvironmental; research is a pre-requisite for sustainabilitySupport to Small Scale Mining is an ideal tool to broaden the
benefit derifed from a country‘s mineral endowmentGeo-data must be accessable and available at resonable pricesWe only have one planet, use Geo-scientists to manage it to the
best advantage of mankind
Earth Sciences for Namibia’s Sustainable Development
A member of the Organisation of African Geological Surveys
THANK YOU!
www.mme.gov.na