| ECONOMIC
GEOLOGY |
|
| Project
Title |
Mineralogy
and genesis of the Gamsberg-East base metal sulphide deposit
in the Bushmanland part of the Namaqua-Natal Belt. |
| Supervisor |
Prof
Abraham Rozendaal |
| Co-Supervisor |
n/a |
| Support |
some
financial support for project work |
| Description |
The
deposit forms part of a world class group of BHt deposits with
a total resource of 450Mt of Pb-Zn ore. The project is sponsored
and requires one week field work supported by mineralogical
and mineral chemistry studies at Stellenbosch. |
|
| Project
Title |
Heavy
minerals as an indicator of provenance of the Megalodon diamondiferous
channel along the West coast of South Africa. |
| Supervisor |
Prof
Abraham Rozendaal |
| Co-Supervisor |
n/a |
| Support |
Some
financial support for project work |
| Description |
A
sponsored project that requires limited field work, mineralogy
as well as mineralchemistry studies at Stellenbosch. |
|
| Project
Title |
Relationship
between sulphides, PGE’s and PGM’s at Northam Platinum
mine, western Bushveld. |
| Supervisor |
Dr
Jodie Miller |
| Co-Supervisor |
Prof
David Reid, UCT |
| Support |
Logistical
support from Northam Platinum |
| Description |
Despite
numerous studies the relationship between sulphide development,
chromite, PGE's and PGM's remains ambiguous in the parts of
the Bushveld Complex. This project will look at one specific
area of sulphide development within the mineralised horizons
at Northam Platinum mine. Mineral chemistry will be used to
try to determine a relationship between sulphide development
and the distribution of PGE's within recrystallised sections
of the layered sequence that developed due to the draping of
the Merensky cyclic unit over pre-existing chromitite horizons
exposed as a result of extensive pothole development. |
|
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| STRUCTURAL
GEOLOGY AND TECTONICS |
|
| Project
Title |
Structural
controls of melting, melt transfer and granite emplacement –
case studies from the SW parts of the Damara Orogen, Central
Namibia (several projects) |
| Supervisor |
Prof
Alex Kisters |
| Co-Supervisor |
Prof.
Gary Stevens, in case petrological aspects are involved |
| Support |
Transport
(flights), field logistics, analytical costs |
| Description |
The
project title entails a number of projects that can be tailored
to suit the interests of the student and to fit within the larger
work of the current research in the Pan-African (ca. 550-500Ma)
Damara belt in Namibia. The projects are aimed at (1) identifying
the controls of melting in high-grade metamorphic mainly metapelites,
(2) the geometry and connectivity of fracture networks that
enable and facilitate melt extraction and melt transfer, (3)
the linkage of these fracture networks to larger transfer zones;
and (4) the connection of transfer zones with the emplacement
sites of larger plutons. All studies are initially field based
and, for an Honours study, require an initial field season in
early 2007. The projects will form part of a larger research
group including lecturers, post-docs, and MSc students. There
is plenty of scope for follow-up research that may lead into
an MSc or PhD. Requirements are a keen interest in the geology
of high-grade metamorphic rocks and good background in structural
geology and being prepared to undertake field work under sometimes
difficult conditions. |
|
| Project
Title |
Structural
geology of Archaean basement complexes in the Barberton granitoid-gneiss
terrain (several projects) |
| Supervisor |
Prof
Alex Kisters |
| Co-Supervisor |
Prof.
Gary Stevens, Dr. Jean-Francois
Moyen, Dr. Cristiano Lana
– for various petrological and structural aspects of the
projects. |
| Support |
Transport
(flights), field logistics, analytical costs |
| Description |
The
project title entails a number of projects that can be tailored
to suit the interests of the student and to fit within the larger
work of the current research into the early evolution of the
Archaean crust in southern Africa. The projects are aimed at
the structural analysis of selected areas in the high-grade
basement terrain that may hold clues as to the structural evolution
of one of the Earth’s oldest continental nuclei. All projects
form part of the larger research undertaken by lecturers and
post-docs in the Barberton terrain and the Ancient Gneiss Complex
in adjacent Swaziland. |
| |
| |
| PETROLOGY
AND GEOCHEMISTRY |
|
| Project
Title |
Igneous
petrology and geochemistry of the mafic intrusive rocks of the
Monapo Complex, Mozambique and their implications for Gondwana
assembly |
| Supervisor |
Dr
Jodie Miller |
| Co-Supervisor |
Dr
Paul Macey - Council for Geoscience |
| Support |
Limited
logistical and technical support from the Council for Geoscience,
analytical costs |
| Description |
The
Monapo Complex comprises high-grade metamorphic gneisses and
subsidiary carbonate rocks associated with both ultramafic and
felsic intrusive rocks. The rocks crop out in a roughly circular
pattern approximately 50 kms to the west of Moçambique
in the north of Mozambique and are separated from the surrounding
lower grade metamorphic gneisses by a thin-band of mylonitic
rocks. Current interpretation of the Monapo Complex is divided
between it representing a window through to higher-grade rocks
underneath the surrounding country rock, or a klippe representing
a remnant of higher grade rocks from the north emplaced over
the lower grade rocks by thrusting. In the case of the window
interpretation, the tectonic setting of the Monapo Complex can
be likened to that of a metamorphic core complex, in which case
the intrusive rocks may provide the mechanism for the initiation
of the detachment. In the case of the Klippe, the tectonic setting
is linked to processes occurring on a major thrust fault indentified
to the north of the Monapo Complex and possibly linked to terrane
amalgamation during Gondwana times. Understanding the petrogenesis
of the intrusive rocks may help to decide between these two
models. |
|
| Project
Title |
Development
of nepheline-bearing mylonitic pegmatites in the Monapo Complex |
| Supervisor |
Dr
Jodie Miller |
| Co-Supervisor |
Dr
Paul Macey - Council for Geoscience |
| Support |
Limited
logisitical and technical support from the Council for Geoscience,
analytical costs |
| Description |
Spectacular
nepheline-bearing pegmatites in the centre of the Monapo Complex
show the progressive development of intense mylonitic fabrics.
This project will look at the processes that lead to the formation
of the mylonitic fabrics and the implications for the tectonics
of the Monapo Complex. |
|
| Project
Title |
Geochemistry
of Paarl Mountain granite |
| Supervisor |
Prof
John Clemens |
| Co-Supervisor |
|
| Support |
|
| Description |
This
ostensibly homogeneous pluton will be grid-sampled and the major-
and trace-element contents analysed. Minerals will be analysed
using the SEM/probe. Depending on the results, some MC-ICP-MS
Sr isotope data will also be collected. Special attention will
also be paid to the rare magmatic enclaves in the rocks. The
hypothesis to be tested is that granitic bodies such as this
contain hidden heterogeneities that can tell us a good deal
about the origin of the magma, and that this is commonly a rather
complex tale. |
|
| Project
Title |
Melting
and crystallisation phase relations: Do pseudosections tell
the truth? |
| Supervisor |
Prof
John Clemens |
| Co-Supervisor |
|
| Support |
|
| Description |
This
will be a comparison between phase relations calculated using
PERPLE-X software and those determined using experimental petrology.
A lot of faith is placed in the calculations these days, but
we have few if any tests of how accurate the process is. On
a steeming hot day in the field, struggling with lousey outcrop
and desert varnish, many a student will wish they were in a
nice air-conditioned computing lab or the library. This is their
chance. The project will require someone with good mineralogical
and petrological skills. |
|
| Project
Title |
The
Lysterfield Granodiorite and its enclaves |
| Supervisor |
Prof
John Clemens |
| Co-Supervisor |
|
| Support |
No, you
won't get a free trip to Oz. The samples are already here! |
| Description |
The
Late Devonian Lysterfield Granodiorite (from the Dandenong Ranges,
east of Melbourne in Australia) is partly surrounded by a metasedimentary
hornfels aureole and contains abundant enclaves, some of which
are magmatic and others of which may be metamorphic. Samples
of the granodiorite, its enclaves and the wall-rock hornfels
will be examined in thinsection and chemically analysed (XRF
and ICP-MS). It will also be possible to obtain some radiogenic
Sr and Nd isotope analyses, and it may be necessary to analyse
some of the minerals in the rocks using SEM. The idea is to
discover whether any of the enclaves could have been derived
from the wall rocks (and what reactions may have converted them
into the enclaves we have today) and whether the igneous enclaves
are magmatically related to their host granodiorite. |
| |
| ENVIRONMENTAL
SCIENCES |
|
| Project
Title |
Water
resource potential in an arid environment and its impact on
development |
| Supervisor |
Dr.
Jodie Miller |
| Co-Supervisor |
Dr
Christie Rowe University of Cape Town, Dr Benjamin Mapani, University
of Namibia |
| Support |
Transport
(flights), Field and Analytical Costs |
| Description |
The
Naukluft Mountains to the south west of Windhoek are a regional
of relatively high recharge in a region where the rainfall is
generally less than 100 mm per year. As such it is an important
potential water resource for the surrounding area. However,
little is known about the quality of the water, it hydrological
environment and the nature of the recharge. A variety of projects
are on offer to look into different aspects of the groundwater
system in the Naukluft. Email Jodie Miller for more information. |
|
| Project
Title |
Wetland
delineation using redox indicators |
| Supervisor |
Dr.
Cathy Clarke (nee Dowding) |
| Co-Supervisor |
|
| Support |
|
| Description |
Wetlands
play a key role in ecosystem health and aquifer recharge. For
these reasons wetlands are protected in South Africa and no
wetland site may be disturbed. It is therefore important to
be able to distinguish the boundaries of wetlands. This is usually
done by observing redox features within a series of soil profiles.
In some instances however, the redox features within soils are
not visibly apparent and wetland delineation is challenging.
This project aims to establish if redox indicators can be used
for testing redox conditions in the field, thereby creating
a qualitative test for wetland delineation. |
|
| Project
Title |
Metal
sorption capacity of termite mounds found in the Okiep Copper
District, Northern Cape province |
| Supervisor |
Dr
Cathy Clarke (nee Dowding) |
| Co-Supervisor |
|
| Support |
|
| Description |
The
historic mining area of the Okiep copper district is the oldest
mining region in the country. Over 150 years of mining with
little or no regard for environmental impact has created a soil
contamination problem that must rank as one of the worst in
the country. The arid soil system in Namaqualand is complex
and our understanding of contaminant fate and mobility in these
soils is limited. One of the complexities in the soil system
exists in the form of ancient termite mounds, locally known
as heuweltjies. The soil properties of these heuweltjies are
vastly different to the surrounding soils. This study aims at
comparing the differences between the heuweltjie soils and the
inter-heuweltjie soils in terms of their metal sorption and
retention capacities. |
|
| |
| SEDIMENTOLOGY
AND PETROLEUM STUDIES |
|
| 1)
Physical sedimentology, deltaic system evolution |
| Deltaic
sedimentary systems sit at the transition from land to sea.
They come in different shapes and sizes and build out in different
ways accordingly. They constitute important volumes of sedimentary
rocks.
The study of deltaic systems is relevant to sedimentology,
hydrology, and reservoir geology.
In this area two honours projects are offered: |
| |
|
| Project
Title |
Delta
Experiments |
| Supervisor |
Dr
Daniel Mikes |
| Co-Supervisor |
|
| Support |
|
| Description |
The
natural deltaic system is complex and its behaviour is difficult
to study over geological time. To interpret the rock record
we need to understand its response to external factors. A
set-up of laboratory experiments has been carried out for
a range of external variations. The objective of this project
is to compile, analyse, and synthesise the data from these
experiments. The results are to be compared to theoretical
concepts and results from field studies. |
|
| Project
Title |
Delta
Modelling |
| Supervisor |
Dr
Daniel Mikes |
| Co-Supervisor |
|
| Support |
|
| Description |
Laboratory
experiments are time-consuming and hence only a small number
of experiments can be realised. NUmerical simulation on the
other is a means to run a large number of realisations.The
objective of this study is to design a numerical model for
delta growth. The first step will be to reproduce results
from laboratory experiments. The second step will be to run
the model for a set of typical variations of external parametes.
If time allows the third step will be to establish the signature
of particular external variables in the rock record.
|
|
| |
|
| 2)
Marine geology, natural flocculation in estuaries |
Natural
flocculation is the process of aggregation of cohesive sediment.
It occurs in rivers and estuaries and can lead to aggregates
of sand-size that settle at orders of magnitude faster than
the primary particles they are built of. The study of natural
flocculation is therefore relevant to engineering, ecological,
and sedimentological management of estuaries.
In this area two honours projects are offered: |
| |
| Project
Title |
Floc
Experiments |
| Supervisor |
Dr
Daniel Mikes |
| Co-Supervisor |
|
| Support |
|
| Description |
The
natural estuarine environment is complex and monitoring flocs
in it is therefore cumbersome. In order to interpret it, we
need to understand the physical floc growth first.
Floc size is known to depend on a number of parameters. The
objective of this project is to perform a set of flocculation
experiments in a laboratory set-up. Flocs are to be grown
for a range of parameter values.
Data from the experiments is to be compiled, analysed, and
tested to existing theoretical relationships. |
|
| Project
Title |
Floc
Modelling |
| Supervisor |
Dr
Daniel Mikes |
| Co-Supervisor |
|
| Support |
|
| Description |
Laboratory
experiments are elaborate and therefore only a limited number
can be performed. Numerical simulation on the other hand is
a quick means to run numerous simulations.
The objective of this study is to design a numerical model
for flocculation and to test it to experimental data.
The first step will be to reproduce results from laboratory
experiments. The second step will be to design time-series
in estuaries for the independent variables. If time allows
the third step will be to test the data to empirical data
from surveys. |
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