Annual Report - Society of Economic Geologists

SOCIETY OF ECONOMIC GEOLOGISTS, INC.
7811 Shaffer Parkway • Littleton, CO 80127-3732 USA
Tel: 1.720.981.7882 • Fax: 1.720.981.7874
E-mail: studentprograms@segweb.org
Student Chapter Annual Report Form
The purpose of this form is to report on Student Chapter activities over the previous year. The report provides a useful medium
to document the status and progress of individual chapters. Annual Reports are used to evaluate applications for SEG support
and to keep Student Chapter information up-to-date on the SEG website. Please provide a summary of Student Chapter
activities in a concise form as suggested below. Description of programs may be supported by a limited number of photographs
and figures in a format appropriate for publishing on our website.
Submission Deadline: 30th September
Submit to: studentprograms@segweb.org
This form should be submitted with the Student Chapter Membership Information form
Month/Year Reported — From: Mo./Yr_______________________ Jan/2013
To: Mo./Yr. _______________________
Dec/2013
Student Chapter Name: _________________________________________________________________________________
South African Student Chapter of the Society of Economic Geologists
Student Chapter Mailing Address: ________________________________________________________________________
University of the Witwatersrand, School of Geosciences, Private Bag 3, WITS 2050
Student Chapter Website : _______________________________________________________________________________
N/A
Student Chapter Executive Committee (each must be SEG Student Member in good standing) (type “Vacant” if position not filled):
President: ___________________________________________ Russell Johnson
________________________________________
rdouglasj777@gmail.com
Name
E-mail
Vice President: ___________________________________________
Darren Tiddy
________________________________________
darrentiddy@yahoo.com
Name
E-mail
Secretary: ___________________________________________ Grace Coetzee
________________________________________
mouse88g@gmail.com
Name
E-mail
Treasurer: ___________________________________________ Luke Peters
________________________________________
lfhpeters@gmail.com
Name
E-mail
Student Chapter Academic Sponsor (must be SEG Fellow Member in good standing):
__________________________________________ Judith Kinnaird _________________________________ judith.kinnaird@wits.ac.za ______________________
+27 11 717 6583
Name E-mail Phone
_____________________________________________________________________________
University of the Witwatersrand, School of Geosciences, Private Bag 3, WITS 2050
______________________
Address
Fax
Student Chapter Industry Sponsor (SEG Fellow Membership is highly recommended; Industry Sponsor should not be affiliated with the
student chapter’s institution):
__________________________________________ Paul Nex _________________________________ pnex@umbono.co.za ______________________
+27843595225
Name E-mail Phone
_____________________________________________________________________________ ______________________
Address
Fax
Sponsoring Institution or Company (name): _________________________________________________________________
EGRI
Attach a list of names of all Student Chapter members (please indicate by * if SEG Student Member).
On a separate page(s) provide a summary of annual activities:
1. Regular meetings, lectures
2. Field trips (dates, area visited, field trip leaders, number of participants, sponsors, benefits for students). Note: this is
not the place for a detailed field trip report that is required from a Student Chapter who has received SEG funds.
3. Organization of conferences, workshops, short courses (theme, number of participants, benefits for students)
4. Participation in conferences, workshops, short courses (theme, number of participants from the Student Chapter, benefits
for students)
5. Fund-raising programs
6. Other programs
7. Future plans Aug2009VS

Name Surname Title email
member of
SEG
Alan Brower Mr broweralan@gmail.com No
Anzani Nenzhelele Mr nenzhelelea@yahoo.com No
Ayanda Bulose Mr francistoiler@gmail.com No
Balingile Mangcu Mr bmangcu@yahoo.com No
Bavisha Koovarjee Ms bavishark@gmail.com No
Bianca McGeer Ms binxmcg@gmail.com No
Boitumelo Ntlhoro Ms blntlhoro@gmail.com No
Cameron Pen-Clarke Mr cpennclarke@gmail.com No
Catherine Hill Ms katiehillsa@gmail.com No
Cynthia Muvhango Ms cynthiamuvhango@yahoo.com No
Darren* Tiddy Mr darren.tiddy@gssa.org.za No
Elelwani Masengana Ms elewanimasengana@yahoo.com No
Ernest Moitsi Mr moitsiernest@yahoo.com No
Freddy Chikwiri Mr freddychikwiri@gmail.com No
Given Matlou Mr 200935691@student.UJ.ac.za No
Gomolemo Kgame Mr kgamegomolemo@gmail.com No
Grace* Coetzee Ms mouse88g@gmail.com Yes
Grant* Bybee Mr grant.bybee@Wits.ac.za No
Isaac Mabonda Mr ikkie99maths@yahoo.com No
Itumeleng Mabelebele Ms itumabelebele1@gmail.com No
Koketso Ntseke Ms kayntseke@gmail.com No
Lechelle Goslin Ms lechellegoslin@gmail.com No
Luke* Peters Mr lfhpeters@gmail.com Yes
Mandisa Hlongwane Ms mandisagh@gmail.com No
MaNoka Marageni Mr roxly@live.com No
Mapadi Olifant Ms 561635@students.Wits.ac.za No
Martha Amwaama Ms mnmamwaama@gmail.com No
Marungwane
"Shaddy" Ramashapa Ms marurams@gmail.com No
Marvin Rankudu Mr motswaselerankudu@gmail.com No
Mathapelo Molekane Ms mb.molekane@hotmail.com No
Mathapelo Molekane Ms mb.molekane@hotmail.com No
Mehrnaz Siahi Ms mehrnazsiahy56@yahoo.com No
Mikateko Kubayi Mr dmkubayi@gmail.com No
Murendeni Nemufulwi Mr nemufulwi.murendeni7@gmail.com No
Natalie Brand Ms nats0203@gmail.com No
Ngokoana Rosemary Chepape Ms ngokoanarosemary@yahoo.com No
Noxolo Zinhle Skosana Ms 201202810@student.UJ.ac.za No
Obone Sepato Mr ob.sepato@gmail.com No
Phumlani Kubeka Mr phumlanikubeka@yahoo.com Yes
Portia Kolobe Ms portiakolobe@yahoo.com No
Princess Zethu Ncamphalala Ms zncamphalala@gmail.com No
Puseletso Magampa Ms daph.seal@gmail.com No
Ramphelane Maila Mr ramphelane.p@gmail.com Yes
Russell* Johnson Mr rdouglasj777@gmail.com Yes
Sara* Turnbull Ms sarajane136@gmail.com Yes
Sello Mashabela Mr sello.mashabela@students.Wits.ac.za No
Sigidang Freedom Mr oriee@live.com No
Sphesihle Hlongwane Ms phesihlehlongwane@gmail.com No

Tahira Moosa Ms tahira.moosa@mtn.blackberry.com No
Thobeka Nkomo Ms nkomothobeka@gmail.com No
Travis White Mr t-rav11@hotmail.com No
Trishya Owen-Smith Ms
trishya.ownsmith@students.Wits.ac.za
No
Tshegofatso Majane Ms tshegolorenzo@gmail.com No
Vhuawelo Awelani Ralikhwatha Mr awelaniralikwatha@yahoo.com No
Vincent Makhubela Mr vkhubz@gmail.com No
Vutomi Vumani Ms 201223309@student.UJ.ac.za No
Zandile Mjoli Ms zandile.mjoli@gmail.com No
Zubair Jinnah Dr zubair454@gmail.com No

South African Student Chapter of the Society of Economic Geologists (SAS-
SEG) Annual Report.
SAS-SEG is composed of undergraduate, postgraduate and post-doctoral students from the
University of the Witwatersrand (Wits) and the University of Johannesburg (UJ). For 11 years SAS-
SEG has acted as a platform upon which students from both Universities are able to interact with
each other as well as with the metals and mining industry. SAS-SEG provides the vital link between
industry and academia, focusing on the economic geology sector. The generous support we receive
from the SEG is invested in a variety of activities, allowing for the successful integration of students
and industries alike.
The 2013 organizing committee curtailed the allocated memberships for this year to only allow
students who are beginning their 2 nd year of Geology and upward. This was done to alleviate
pressure on the organizing committee and allow equal opportunities to all members without having
to turn away applications for various activities. Exceptions were made where first year students
directly requested that they be included in SAS-SEG, ensuring that these students were interested in
the different geological fieldtrips and benefit from our activities. Currently there are 59 members
affiliated with SAS-SEG.
SAS – SEG Activities
1. Ice Breaker Braai – University of the Witwatersrand
Date: 08/03/2013
Attendance: 67
The first event of the academic year is the Ice Breaker Braai. Due to the fact that SAS-SEG is
composed of students from two universities, it is necessary to bring all members together,
introducing the current committee at the same time as facilitating the interaction between the
students from both institutions. This event encourages members to make friends and become
familiar with the all SAS-SEG members as these are the people they will be travelling with to various
deposits on long overland trips. The braai is traditionally held at the University of the Witwatersrand
due to availability of facilities. At the braai members are encouraged to suggest ideas for what they
wish to experience during the forthcoming year as well as the localities they wish to visit.

2. Bushveld Trip – (Two Rivers platinum and Andalusite Resources Mine)
Date: 12/07/2013
Attendance: 18
The Bushveld trip was designed to take the members on a tour around the World famous Bushveld
igneous province, highlighting the discovery sight at Dwars River where the chromitite layers are
exposed, as well as the sedimentary rocks from the Transvaal Supergroup through which it has
intruded. The trip commenced at the Two Rivers platinum mine in the eastern limb of the Bushveld
complex where members were treated to an underground visit to an active face. The mine gave the
students perspective on the conditions experienced when working underground in a noisy, wet and
humid climate at the same time as showing them the nature of the chromite and platinum orebodies
underground. The Two Rivers mine concluded our site with a hearty meal and excellent powerpoint
presentation of what their future plans are. Our trip then led us on the lengthy trip to our campsite
at the Sky Africa Investments Caravan Campsite where we setup camp and had dinner around a
large bonfire. Early the next morning we broke camp and moved onward to the Andalusite
Resources operation. Andalusite Resources took the group on a comprehensive tour from the mining
sector all the way through to the processing plant. In the processing plant andalusite is used to make
ceramics, particularly with regard to the manufacture of bricks.
3. Open Day- University of the Witwatersrand
Date: 14/08/2013
Attendance: 100
Besides our efforts to expose students to the mining sector by taking them on fieldtrips, it is still
necessary to host evenings and functions which bring industry to them, allowing the members who
aren’t able to attend these trips get exposure. SAS-SEG 2013 thought that the best way to do this
would be by hosting talks and networking evenings at convenient locations. This offers members an
opportunity to further their knowledge in industry topics and techniques, whilst at the same time,
building up their contact lists for potential job applications etc.
The open day featured 3 companies which gave meaningful presentations about their companies or
about the industry they are involved in. From an industrial perspective the open day presents

emerging companies with a chance to promote themselves and their product to academic staff and
other industry members.
Feedback from both members and companies indicated that this type of event was greatly
appreciated and valuable creating the right environment in which interaction between parties can
take place.
4. Pelindaba – Nuclear Energy Corporation of South Africa (NECSA)
Date: 29/08/2013
Attendance: 8
Pelindaba is a 20MW material research nuclear reactor situated 50km North of Johannesburg. The
site serves various industrial, medical and research applications, many of which have direct
application to the geosciences. The facility is a non-power generating reactor. The SAFARI-1 reactor
has been in operating since 1965.
Irradiation facilities are used on picked mineral specimens which are then ablated by laser in the Ar-
Ar geochronology facility at the University of Johannesburg. The site also houses a new X-ray
tomography facility which is available for research purposes and was funded by the Department of
Science and Technology. Applications into environmental impacts as well as ore characterisation are
currently being explored using this three dimensional imaging technique. Other X-ray analytical
techniques, such as X-ray fluorescence and diffraction, are housed on site.
Being a nuclear facility, the reactor provides a strong neutron source. The small-angle neutron
scattering and neutron reflectometry facility is currently being upgraded. A geologist working for
NECSA (South Africa Nuclear Energy Corporation) gave a presentation on the geological investigative
work being undertaken at the only low level radiation waste facility in Africa, Vaalputs. From
measuring the stress fields and seismic activity, to dating of surrounding fault movement as well as
chronological work on the groundwater and other geohydrological investigations to improve the
knowledge base and environmental constraints at Vaalputs.
5. Whistler Conference – Whistler Canada
Date: 24-27/09/2013
Poster presented in the foyer of the conference centre.

6. Geoquiz – Wanderers Golf Club
Date: 17/10/2013
Attendance: 130
The annual Geoquiz is a fun evening directed towards concluding the year on a high note. As in
previous years, this event is an outstanding success and whilst the quiz itself is a learning curve for
students it also provided an opportunity for them to socialize with guests on a casual level.
Due to its great success the Geoquiz will be held in the Wanderers Country Club for the first time in
an attempt satisfy demand. Participants are comprised of students from all years of study,
academics from both Witwatersrand University and the University of Johannesburg as well as
geologists from industry. Teams are divided according to level of geological knowledge in order to
keep the playing field fair. This encourages teams of strangers to consolidate and come together in
order to stand a chance win the coveted title of “Geoquiz Champion for the year”.
The night includes a three course meal, drinks and prizes. To attend this function a nominal
participation fee of R30 per member, R40 per non-member and R60 per academic/industry
participant. The funds collected are reserved for the start of the next year when the new SAS-SEG
committee takes over.
Sponsorship received:
Leapfrog – R5000
Wirsam Scientific & Precision Equipment – R2000
GSSA – R2000
CCIC – R2000
TECT – R2000
Shango Solutions – R1000
Red Dog Scientific Services – R1000
SAFECO – 130 hard hats
GeoExplore Store – Prizes for the Geoquiz.
Geoquiz – Wanderers Golf Club.

Conclusion
I would like to thank the SEG for the generous sponsorship offered during the course of the year,
without which none of our activities would’ve been possible. The $1000 awarded to SAS-SEG greatly
promotes a variety of diverse and exciting activities which stimulate learning and participation
within SAS-SEG.
On behalf of SAS-SEG and the organising committee I would like to thank you for your annual
support.
Russell Johnson (President of SAS-SEG)