11th Annual CGS Field School

Once again it's nearly that time of the year when the Council for Geoscience (CGS) hosts it's annual geological field school. This year will be the 11th installment of the CGS field school and the organising team is going all out to ensure that the 2016 participants experience the best of South African geology, while being exposed to the fundamental principles of field-based geological observations and interpretations.

Overview of the 11th CGS Field School 2016

South Africa has exceptional geological exposures that provide important evidence of the intricate workings of the early Earth, the origins of Life and of course, an extensive array of economical mineral commodities. The 2016 CGS Field School will aim to expose the participants to much of this with a trip across South Africa.

Notable geological features that will be visited include: 

The Barberton Greenstone Belt - here we will discuss the Archean Earth and how did it function, how was early continental crust created and we will look for early evidence of life. We will also have a two-day mapping exercise across a notable highly strained region and look for evidence supporting early Earth theories.

The Pongola Supergroup - one of the earliest volcano-sedimentary sequences that likely formed atop a continental platform, at a time where much of the Earth was still producing Greenstone Belts. What implications does this region have for the workings of the early Earth?

The Karoo Supergroup - this covers more than two thirds of the surface area of South Africa and hosts some of the world's largest coal reserves and potentially vast shale gas. This is also hosts a significant Permian vertebrate fossil record.

We will also have a mapping exercise of the Gariep Supergroup, in the Gariep Belt, see: Geology of the Gariep Belt and for our participants, do see: Things to Bring

This is just some of the geology we will encounter, for more of the geology we expect to cover, see: (CGS Field School 2015 Day 1&2); and (CGS Field School Day 3-5) and follow us for regular updates about the CGS Field School 2016 edition!

In Living Colour - Eksteenfontein 2015

Here are some more highlights of the Field School 2015. Thanks to Nick Baglow for the awesome pictures!

The Richtersveld is a land faraway, filled with wide expanses and a lifestyle that takes you back centuries.

Every year, some young, wild and willing geoscientists make the long trek here. Unawares and in for big surprises.

Homesickness never strikes, how can it when you are welcomed by mother-like figures who tend to your every need and desire.

Food is plentiful...

However, you must be willing to pay the price [Here, our team decided to visit a local sheep auction. We had R950 in our kitty, bidding started at R950! Suffice to say, we were taught a lesson in the art of auctioneering].

Fun and games do however have to come to an end, and the real work starts.

Once the real work starts, there are the other locals waiting to welcome us.

Information comes in a massive dose: "look parallel to the foliation, and perpendicular to the mineral elongation lineation".

The rocks have a long story to tell - S0 parallel to S1, note the S2 and find S3, with the development of crenulations.

Notes must be taken feverishly to ensure that all the details are recorded.

 Notes must be taken feverishly after the field work too!

 Sometimes notes must be taken while clambering up steep rock faces.

Despite the hardships, there is always time to have fun and be cool.

Sometimes, very, very cool.

So, come on Field School and learn to fly!

See the world.

And make some new friends, colleagues and other geoscientists alike.