Out in the field
Nkomati Nickel Mine, South Africa © Anne Belanger.
*Cue your best David Attenborough voice over*:
‘As the midday sun beats down on the giant Nkomati Nickel Mine of South Africa, we find an economic geologist surveying her natural habitat.’
Geologists always need to gem up on their rocks and while the ore collection can help them become familiar with ore deposits from around the world, it will never beat actually going out into the field and seeing the rocks in their real geological setting. This is why all our Museum geologists try their best to go on as many fieldtrips as possible.
Reaping the rewards
Fieldtrips are not only about personal growth. They are a vital method by which the Museum’s ore collection also grows.
When Museum researcher, Dr Robin Armstrong participated in Imperial College’s ‘Society of Economic Geologists’ student chapter fieldtrip to South Africa in the summer of 2014, it was seen as primarily a great opportunity to enhance the ore collection.
And…
…enhance we did! Dr Armstrong returned with a big crate of ore goodies including: samples of copper ore from the Palabora Mine; chromium ore from the Tweefontein Mine; platinum ore from the Mogalakwena Mine and nickel ore from Nkomati Mine.
It can safely be said that Christmas came early this year to the ore collection.
Visit window fifteen and window twenty to view two more samples in the ore collection obtained through fieldwork.
References
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‘As the midday sun beats down on the giant Nkomati Nickel Mine of South Africa, we find an economic geologist surveying her natural habitat.’
Geologists always need to gem up on their rocks and while the ore collection can help them become familiar with ore deposits from around the world, it will never beat actually going out into the field and seeing the rocks in their real geological setting. This is why all our Museum geologists try their best to go on as many fieldtrips as possible.
Reaping the rewards
Fieldtrips are not only about personal growth. They are a vital method by which the Museum’s ore collection also grows.
When Museum researcher, Dr Robin Armstrong participated in Imperial College’s ‘Society of Economic Geologists’ student chapter fieldtrip to South Africa in the summer of 2014, it was seen as primarily a great opportunity to enhance the ore collection.
And…
…enhance we did! Dr Armstrong returned with a big crate of ore goodies including: samples of copper ore from the Palabora Mine; chromium ore from the Tweefontein Mine; platinum ore from the Mogalakwena Mine and nickel ore from Nkomati Mine.
It can safely be said that Christmas came early this year to the ore collection.
Visit window fifteen and window twenty to view two more samples in the ore collection obtained through fieldwork.
References
- Belanger, A. 2014. Nkomati Nickel Mine. [Photograph].
< Back to calendar