The South African National Geoscience Library

A major African geoscience map collection

A collection of unpublished reports and prospecting borehole logs

A publication and map shop

The SAGEOLIT national geoscience bibliographic database

A publishing section

The National Core Library, containing a large collection of borehole cores and cuttings from South African geological strata

Gem, mineral and rock collections in the Geoscience Museum which offers educational facilities to scholars, tourists and the public

The palaeontology collection (fossils)

Airborne surveys (high density)

Modelling and interpretation

Ground surveys (all techniques)

Determination of physical properties

Palaeomagnetic measurements

Reconstruction of old data

Groundwater exploration (borehole siting)

Groundwater pollution plume mapping

Seismic-hazard assessment

Seismic-risk assessment

Seismological research into safety at mines

Operation of the South African National Seismograph Network (SANSN)

Participation in the Comprehensive Nuclear Test-Ban Treaty

Regional geochemical mapping on a sampling-density grid of one soil (or stream-sediment) sample per km2. Samples are analysed on a Simultaneous X-ray Fluorescence Spectrometer (SXRF) for As, Ba, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe2O3T %, MnO %, Nb, Ni, Pb, Rb, Sb, Sc, Sn, Sr, TiO2 %, Th, U, V, W, Y, Zn and Zr.

Regional geochemical trends are mapped.

Small- to medium-sized outcropping ore bodies are identified.

Mapping and sampling of ore deposits

Mineralogical and physical characterisation

Mineral-commodity reports and maps for specific purposes

Assistance to small-scale miners

Industrial minerals

Maintenance of the COREDATA and COAL databases

Maintenance of the SAMINDABA mineral-deposits database

Engineering-geological and geotechnical expertise

Engineering-geological site investigations aimed at dams and dam safety, tunnels, pump stations and reservoirs

Construction-material investigations

Slope-stability investigations

Structure or Urban Development plans

Engineering-geological Database (ENGEODE)

Regional engineering-geological mapping

Research, focusing on understanding the dolomitic environment and its stability

Standard or customised GIS products and data sets

Cartographic production of maps as part of the CGS standard map series, as well as customised products for clients

Managing the GEODE corporate database, which is used to store and manage spatially referenced geoscientific data. GEODE has a modular structure consisting of a borehole database (prospecting borehole logs), a coal borehole database, SAMINDABA (localities and attributes of mineral commodities), ENGEODE (engineering-geological data), and GEODE/GIS (geological, geophysical, geotechnical, geochemical and metallogenic spatial data)

Planning and assessment of rural water-supply systems

Groundwater resource assessments (quantification, flow determination and water quality studies)

Groundwater sustainability studies for both resources and water supply schemes

Management of groundwater resources, including exploration

Groundwater- and contaminant-transport modelling

Management of groundwater contamination (e.g. impact of mining, as well as of waste and sanitation facilities)

Hydrogeological mapping

Environmental Management Programme Reports (EMPRs)

Specialist environmental drilling services (direct push methods, as well as gas and water sampling)

Mineralogy and Petrology

Basic and detailed petrographic descriptions

Modal and strain analysis

Analysis of the alkali-aggregate-reaction potential of rocks used in construction

Scanning-electron microscope (SEM) and electron microprobe analysis

X-Ray Diffractometry (XRD)

Reflection and transmission methods

Qualitative and quantitative mineral composition of all types of rocks and soils

Examination and identification of fine particles, especially clay materials

Analytical chemistry

X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF) to determine major and trace elements

Atomic Absorption (AA) analysis

Classical wet-chemistry analysis

Rare-earth-element analysis

Water analysis

Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometer (ICP-MS) analysis

Ion Chromatography (IC) analysis

GF-AA (Graphite Furnace Atomic Absorption) spectrometer analysis of gold and platinum samples in the low ppb range

Mineral-separation laboratory

Isotope studies

Sulphur-isotope ratios in sulphates and sulphides

Carbon-isotope ratios in graphite

Carbon- and oxygen-isotope ratios in carbonates

Stable-isotope laboratory

Rb-Sr, Sm-Nd, Pb-Pb, U-Pb and Sr marine chronostratigraphy

Modern ultra-clean laboratory

Thermal-ionisation mass spectrometers

Specialised rock-crushing and mineral-separation facilities

Selection of zircons for dating purposes

Fingerprinting of soil and water pollution by means of stable- (H, O, C, S) and radiogenic- (Sr, Pb) isotope and hydro-chemical means

Provenance studies of ivory and rhino horn

Environmental investigations

Environmental Impact Assessments

Mine Environmental Management Plans

Pollution investigations

Risk assessment

Laboratory Services

Batch and Kinetic leach testing

Marine geophysical surveying

Near-shore and continental-shelf mapping

Resource surveys of heavy minerals, marine placer diamonds, potash and phosphate

Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs)

Marine geoscience database

Wreck surveys

Marine engineering-site surveys

Coastal- and estuarine-sediment dynamics

Scientific diving surveys

Regional geological mapping at various scales for national and international clients

Site-specific geological mapping assisting Applied Geosciences

Sedimentological studies and basin analysis

Soil and palaeosol classification and mapping

Structural, metamorphic and igneous investigations in complex metamorphic terranes

Compiling national and international thematic maps

Petrographic investigations

Remote Sensing and Spatial Analysis

Geohydrology and groundwater investigations at catchment scale

Coastal Geology and recent geological changes

Mineral assessment and development and metallogenic mapping

Sedimentology of estuarine and coastal environments

Palaeoseismic investigations for critical facilities

Regional structural analysis of intensely deformed terranes

Structural assessment of groundwater aquifers

Petrology of high-grade metamorphic and igneous rocks

Thermobarometry of metamorphic terranes

Metallogenesis of ore deposits using petrographic and geochemical analysis

Regolith characterisation and mapping for infrastructure development and mineral exploration

Landslide and mass movement susceptibility mapping

Engineering-geological mapping and site investigations

Development-potential geotechnical assessment and mapping

Cemetery site investigations and planning

Environmental Impact Assessments and Environmental Management

Programmes for prospecting, quarry development and mining

Specialist geoscientific contributions for environmental impact assessment processes

Advanced structural and microstructural analysis

Thermobarometric analysis of metamorphic terranes

The provision of authoritative checking and standardisation of all stratigraphic terminology used by the secretariat of the South African Committee for Stratigraphy (SACS) which is based in the Central Regions Unit

The maintenance of the SACS database, which is used to record and administer the stratigraphic terminology for South African stratigraphy

Palaeontological research specialising in: biostratigraphy, sedimentary stratigraphy, the reconstruction of depositional environments, Palaeoichthyology, Permo-Triassic mammal-like reptiles, and Plio-Pleistocene mammals