Pre-Conference Field Trip | FT01 View all field trips
Diamond Excursion – A Visit to the Namibian Diamond Mega-Placer
Description
Since the initial discovery of diamonds in 1908 near Lüderitz, this regional composite placer deposit has yielded over 100 million carats of +95% gem quality stones. Most of this diamond production has been recovered from a variety of placer types that range in age from contemporary deposits to those that are some 42 million years old. Diamond Area No. 1, which will be the focus of the trip, hosts four major placer types: fluvial placers, marine placers, deflation placers, and aeolian placers.
This excursion, which offers a very rare opportunity to travel through the relatively pristine coastal desert environment of the Sperrgebiet, will cover all four of the major placer types starting on the Orange River followed by the marine deposits close to the town of Oranjemund, then working north through the Sperrgebiet. The excursion will not only cover the geologic aspects of the placer, but also the unique mining operation within the onshore marine environment. The excursion ends at Bogenfels in the Sperrgebiet, and the exit point will be at Rotkopf a few kilometers east of Luderitz.
The focus of this trip will be the unique Namibian diamond mega-placer deposit. A combination of factors including climate and weather systems, crustal structure, timing, provenance, and drainage history combined to produce the mega-placer. In some areas today, unique and innovative mining methods are used to recover the diamonds. All of this will also be included. This trip will provide an opportunity to see deposits and mines generally not accessible without special permits.
Accommodation will be at a lodge in Oranjemund and catering accommodation at historical buildings during the Sperrgebiet leg of the excursion. Please bring along a sleeping bag and bath towel. Options for sleeping bag rentals will be made available.
Weather conditions will vary significantly, from extremely hot along the Orange River to cold and windy along the coast and in the Sperrgebiet. Please make provisions for this in terms of clothing. A sunhat, sunscreen, and water bottle are essential.
Although meals will be catered for, please provide for your own snacks if required between meals. Please let the organizers know well in advance about any dietary restrictions.
As we will be entering into active mining areas, please bring along personal protective equipment (PPE) such as a reflective vest and steel capped shoes.
NOTE: A basic background check will be required in advance of the trip in order for attendees to access the restricted areas. Additional details regarding this will be shared by the trip leaders in the coming weeks.
About the Leaders
Gottfried Grobbelaar
Namdeb Diamond Corporation
Gottfried is a graduate of the University of Stellenbosch (B.Sc. Hons). He has worked in the diamond and uranium sectors within Namibia and currently heads Namdeb Diamond Corporation's exploration section. Collectively he has 18 years' experience with Namdeb and has worked on all the placer types within Namdeb's mineral licenses. Apart from the diamond exploration function he also manages Namdeb's non-diamond exploration programs.
Jana Jacob
Namdeb Diamond Corporation
Jana is a graduate of the University of Stellenbosch (B.Sc. Hons). She obtained an M.Sc. from the University of Cape Town and a Ph.D. from the University of the Witwatersrand (WITS) in 2016. Her entire working career has been in Nambia for Namdeb Diamond Corporation. She specialized in contextualized risk mitigation associated with alluvial diamond deposition and resource estimation.
Roger Swart
BlackGold Geosciences
Roger is a graduate of Rhodes University in South Africa. His entire working career has been in Namibia for the Geological Survey of Namibia (1982-1994), National Petroleum Corporation of Namibia (1994-2007) and as a consultant (2007 to present). For the Survey he was involved in multiple projects mapping various areas of Namibia. During this time he completed a Ph.D. on the Zerrissene Turbidite Complex. At Namcor he worked on the petroleum potential of the Neoproterozoic Nama Group as well as mapping the offshore. During this time he became interested in the long term evolution and denudational history of the sub-continent. Subsequent to this he worked as a consultant in the petroleum and diamond industries founding BlackGold Geosciences. He recently led the field work for the Statoil (now Equinor) and Sonangol project in the onshore Namibe Basin.
Registration
Early Deadline: July 22, 2024
Regular Deadline: September 12, 2024
| |
Early |
Regular |
| SEG Professional Member |
US$1,995 |
US$2,095 |
| SEG Student and Recent Graduate Members |
SOLD OUT |
| Non-member |
US$2,195 |
US$2,295 |
| All prices are in United States dollars (USD). SEG reserves the right to cancel this event should minimum attendance numbers not be met by July 22, 2024. All registrants will be given a full refund should SEG cancel the field trip. Cancellation policy, event photography, dietary restrictions, and more are detailed in the SEG Conference terms and conditions. |
All field trip registrants will be required to provide proof of emergency medical evacuation coverage in order to participate in conference field trips. Individuals may conveniently purchase this coverage online through various organizations such as International SOS or utilize existing coverage that they may already have through their employment. Further details and additional required documentation will be shared with registrants.
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