EXPLORATION OF NEW MINERAL RESOURCES THE ROLE OF GEOLOGICAL
MAPPING, GEOCHEMISTRY, GEOPHYSICS AND NATIONAL GEOLOGICAL SURVEYS
Earth Sciences for Namibias Sustainable Development G SCHNEIDER by
A member of the Organisation of African Geological Surveys Slide 2
Earth Sciences for Namibias Sustainable Development A member of the
Organisation of African Geological Surveys THE NAMIBIAN COMMODITIES
Diamonds and semi-precious stones semi-precious stones Uranium and
fossil fuels Base metals Rare metals Precious metals Industrial
minerals Dimension stone Industrial rocks Slide 3 Earth Sciences
for Namibias Sustainable Development A member of the Organisation
of African Geological Surveys THE IMPORTANCE OF MINING FOR THE
NAMIBIAN ECONOMY 17 % GDP 11 % Taxes 50 % Export-earnings Diamonds:
6 % of world production (value) 95-98% Gemstone quality But: 2009
uranium > diamonds Royalties: 5% on unprocessed dimension stone
10% on rough diamonds 1% - 5% on all other commodities Slide 4
Earth Sciences for Namibias Sustainable Development A member of the
Organisation of African Geological Surveys CURRENT NAMIBIAN
LICENSES Slide 5 Earth Sciences for Namibias 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 Minings 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. Slide 6 Earth
Sciences for Namibias Sustainable Development A member of the
Organisation of African Geological Surveys Source: OAGS survey. 20
countries Core Slide 7 Earth Sciences for Namibias Sustainable
Development A member of the Organisation of African Geological
Surveys Investors and decision makers need access to geo-
scientific data Comprehensive Comprehensive Easy to use Easy to use
Logically represented, well structured Logically represented, well
structured Digital Digital The Geological Survey of Namibia has
embarked on several initiatives: Digital geological mapping Digital
geological mapping Development of laboratories Development of
laboratories Regional geochemical sampling programme Regional
geochemical sampling programme Historical data archive Historical
data archive Airborne geophysical survey programme Airborne
geophysical survey programme Slide 8 Earth Sciences for Namibias
Sustainable Development A member of the Organisation of African
Geological Surveys DIAMONDS Slide 9 Earth Sciences for Namibias
Sustainable Development A member of the Organisation of African
Geological Surveys MANAGEMENT OF MINING AND DRILLING ACTIVITIES
Regional Consultation Framework Policy Harmonization Cumulative
Impact Assessment MANAGEMENT OF POLLUTION Harmonizing environmental
quality objectives Oil pollution contingency plans and regional
policy MAINTAINANCE OF ECOSYSTEM HEALTH + PROTECTION OF BIOLOGICAL
DIVERSITY PROTECTION OF BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY Vulnerable species and
habitats Ballast water policy Marine biological diversity
conservation BENGUELA CURRENT COMMISSION Slide 10 Earth Sciences
for Namibias Sustainable Development A member of the Organisation
of African Geological Surveys HIGH-RESOLUTION AIRBORNE GEOPHYSICS 0
1 2 3 4 5 6
19941995199619971998199920002001200220032004200520062007 Millions 0
100 200 300 400 500 600 Line km flownData Sales [N$] Exploration
Expenditure [Mio $]Licenses active before 1985 1994 Slide 11 Earth
Sciences for Namibias Sustainable Development A member of the
Organisation of African Geological Surveys HIGH RESOLUTION AIRBORNE
GEOPHYSICAL SURVEY PROGRAMME IMPACT Slide 12 Earth Sciences for
Namibias Sustainable Development A member of the Organisation of
African Geological Surveys URANIUM AND GEOPHYSICS Rssing South one
of the most significant discoveries in decades Highest grade
uranium deposit in the World Resources of 267 million lbs @ 488 ppm
U 3 O 8 Planned commissioning 2013 15 million lbs/a U 3 O 8 Slide
13 Earth Sciences for Namibias Sustainable Development A member of
the Organisation of African Geological Surveys URANIUM AND
GEOPHYSICS Slide 14 Earth Sciences for Namibias Sustainable
Development A member of the Organisation of African Geological
Surveys STRATEGIC ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESS- MENT OF THE NAMIB URANIUM
RUSH 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. Slide 15
Earth Sciences for Namibias Sustainable Development A member of the
Organisation of African Geological Surveys Key objectives of the
Stragtegic Environmental Assessment Analyse environmental, economic
and social impacts of uranium exploration and mining, and assess
cumulative, synergistic and exploration and mining, and assess
cumulative, synergistic and antagonistic aspects antagonistic
aspects Formulate development options to avoid or minimize negative
impacts and to enhance positive impacts impacts and to enhance
positive impacts Provide recommendations in the form of Strategic
Management Plans (which indicate actions, responsible actors +
timeframes) for Plans (which indicate actions, responsible actors +
timeframes) for sustainable development and trigger their
implementation. sustainable development and trigger their
implementation. Assessment of cumulative, synergistic +
antagonistic aspects Practical issues Public concerns Opportunities
+ threats Constraints The way forward Slide 16 Earth Sciences for
Namibias Sustainable Development A member of the Organisation of
African Geological Surveys Rare Earth Elements Mapping Geochemical
analysis Hyper-spectral survey Research into the genesis of
carbonatites of carbonatites Slide 17 Earth Sciences for Namibias
Sustainable Development A member of the Organisation of African
Geological Surveys SMALL SCALE MINING Taylor-made assistance
Interpretation of geological data Alternative resources
TrainingValue-addingMarketing Slide 18 Earth Sciences for Namibias
Sustainable Development A member of the Organisation of African
Geological Surveys RECOMMENDATIONS Geology underlies everything
Developed countries have a good geological data base The first
geological map was published in England in 17.. and triggered the
industrial revolution triggered the industrial revolution
Developing countries need strong Geological Surveys Developing
countries need strong Geological Surveys Geo-scientists need better
recognition and must be involved in decision making processes
decision making processes Good investment (funding) for Geological
Surveys will be returned manyfold in the form of mineral
investment, reduction returned manyfold in the form of mineral
investment, reduction of opportunity costs and improved
environmental economics of opportunity costs and improved
environmental economics Quality high-resolution airborne
geophysical data are essential Environmental; research is a
pre-requisite for sustainability Support to Small Scale Mining is
an ideal tool to broaden the benefit derived from a countrys
mineral endowment benefit derived from a countrys mineral endowment
Geo-data must be accessible and available at reasonable prices We
only have one planet, use Geo-scientists to manage it to the best
advantage of mankind best advantage of mankind Slide 19 Earth
Sciences for Namibias Sustainable Development A member of the
Organisation of African Geological Surveys THANK YOU!
