IGS completes Mozambique mapping project
On schedule, IGS, together with its partners BRGM, Gondwana and PGW, completed a mapping project in north-eastern Mozambique with the delivery of ten geological maps at a scale of 1:50,000 and the accompanying sheet explanations in two volumes for the geology and the mineral resources.
The approved products were passed on to INAMI (Instituto Nacional de Minas) on 11 November 2022.
The project was undertaken within the World Bank-financed Mining And Gas Technical Assistance Project (MAGTAP). Work included the acquisition and compilation of historical data, the interpretation of airborne geophysical data, the compilation of 25 preliminary geological maps, geological mapping of approximately 7,500 km2, inspection and cataloguing of all resource, the assessment of the resource potential, laboratory work (thin sections, whole rock analyses, age determination) and the production of ten geological maps and their accompanying GIS databases at a scale of 1:50000. Furthermore, five sheets of the Geological Map Series 1:250 000 were revised to incorporate the results of the survey.
(For more information please contact us at enquiries@igsint.com)
IGS consortium wins major contract in India
IGS Ltd, as part of IDPeX Pvt Ltd, has signed an agreement with the Odisha Mineral Exploration Corporation Ltd (OMECL) of India to optimise the exploration of mineral deposits in the eastern Indian State of Odisha. This will result in an inventory of auctionable blocks of different minerals.
IDPeX Pvt Ltd is the Indian registered joint venture of IGS Ltd, Datacode International (Pvt) Ltd, and Paterson, Grant & Watson Ltd (PGW). On this project IDPeX is working with consortium partners MSA Group Pty Ltd.
The work program will manage legacy data from exploration agencies of the State of Odisha. New airborne geophysical surveys will follow resulting in the selection of potential mineral blocks for different mineral commodities. The exploration programme will use the latest technologies and adhere to international standards.
Shri D.K. Singh, IAS, Chairman, OMECL said that, “Odisha is a mineral rich state. However, a large part of the State is still unexplored. This exploration program will lead to the discovery of hidden mineral deposits across the state using the latest technology which will help the state to utilise the mineral resources for the development of the State.”
Dr Ash Johnson, Director of IDPeX Ltd said “We are honoured and excited that IDPeX and MSA have been selected by OMECL as their Strategic Technical Consultant for this project. Our knowledgeable local team will work alongside our international experts to deliver auctionable blocks suitable to attract additional domestic and international investment into the State of Odisha.”
Saudi geophysics project update
The Saudi Geological Survey geophysics program covering the Arabian Shield is divided into 3 blocks, with Sander Geophysics flying Block 1 and Xcalibur Multiphysics flying Blocks 2 and 3.
After initial delays due to COVID, there are now four aircraft in country. Block 1 is 17% complete while production in Block 3 has commenced.
IGS is lead partner of the Technical Partner (TP) consortium. The TP team is responsible for providing quality control of contractor data and provides training and advisory services to SGS.
For the geophysics, IGS employees have carried out field inspection visits, generated QC reports and delivered training to SGS geophysicists.
IGS staff performing QA on geophysical data in Nigeria
IGS, in partnership with Paterson Grant and Watson (PGW) of Canada (lead party) and the Bureau de Recherches Géologiques et Minières (BRGM) of France, has been performing quality control of an airborne geophysics program in Nigeria. The World Bank backed Mineral Sector Support for Economic Diversification (MinDiver) project is being conducted by the Nigerian Ministry of Mines and Steel Development (MMSD).
The IGS group is responsible for quality control of data acquisition and interpretation. The acquisition program is currently 30% complete with more than 400k line kms already flown.
IGS staff visit Uganda to QA geochemical field work
From left to right: Dr. Isaiah Tumwikiriz (DGSM Project Manager), Paula Babirye (DGSM Geophysicist), Dr. Reik Degler (IGS Project Geologist/Geochemist)
IGS is contracted by the Ugandan Directorate Of Geological Survey and Mines (DGSM) to quality control a large geological survey. The geological mapping and the stream sediment geochemical survey in the Karamoja region is being carried out by Xcalibur Multiphysics.
IGS geologists are currently reviewing re-mapped regional geological maps (1:250 000 scale) and supporting the implementation of stream sediment sampling. A site visit was made by Dr. Reik Degler in March 2022 for assessment of field work in the Karamoja region and technical meetings with DGSM project management in Entebbe.
Due to safety issues, all field activities are currently suspended for the Karamoja region.
IGS leads a major Saudi geodata acquisition project
In 2021 IGS was appointed as the official technical partner of the Saudi Geological Survey (SGS) for a major geodata acquisition project in Saudi Arabia. The project will expand on previous geological data collections for the Arabian Shield. The project forms part of the Saudi Arabian Vision 2030 to modernize the country, including the mining sector.
IGS is the Lead Party in a consortium with GTK (Finland). IGS has also contracted the Jeddah based geoscientific company Geotech Arabia, PGW geophysicists, and several other independent consultants.
The IGS role in the project includes the QA/QC of the various sub-projects, which are:
- Upgrading existing SGS legacy data sets into a National Geological Database (NGD). The NGD will then host the newly acquired geodata. Some aspects of the NGD will be implemented by GTK, with others implemented by external contractors.
- Establishment of a National Core Library (NCL), with modern borehole scanning and photographic facilities. The NCL will host legacy and future drill cores.
- An airborne magnetic and radiometric geophysical survey over the Arabian Shield, flown at a line spacing of 300 m, and a height of 60 m. Sanders and Excalibur are the appointed contractors for the survey, which is under way.
- A geochemical survey over the Arabian Shield at a density of one sample every 6 km2. Over 100,000 stream sediment samples will be collected and analyzed. The Chinese Geological Survey (CGS) won the contract for this survey and began the first phase of the project in 2022.
- 1:100,00 scale geological mapping over the Arabian Shield covering 271 map sheets. This project will probably start in 2023 and run for a maximum period of 11 years. A National Stratigraphic Committee has been established which will work closely with the mapping contractor throughout the mapping program. The project will begin with a five-year phase concentrating on the areas with well-established high economic mineral potential.
For further enquiries please contact IGS project leader Frik Hartzer (fhartzer@igsint.com).
IGS attends INDABA 2022
It was great to attend Indaba 2022 in person after the Covid 19 restrictions! Peter Zawada (MD), Ash Johnson (COO) and Frik Hartzer (Senior Project Manager) were there and had very constructive discussions with clients, partners, and colleagues. We were particularly pleased to meet with Government Mining/Mineral officials from Saudi Arabia, Mozambique, Guinea, Burkina Faso, Botswana, South Sudan, India, and South Africa, amongst others. Indaba is always a good opportunity to meet Government Ministry and Geological Survey officials. We plan to attend next year, in Cape Town 6 – 9 February 2023.
Launch of geophysics aircraft in Saudi Arabia survey project
As part of the acquisition of detailed geological data of the Arabian Shield, for which IGS is the Technical Partner of the Saudi Geological Survey for the duration of this six year project, the geophysics acquisition project has begun. The aerial geophysical survey work will include a magnetic and radiometric geophysical survey of the entire Arabian Shield in Saudi Arabia.
See Saudi Arabia launches first geological survey aircraft (arabnews.com)
Contract with Saudi Arabia Geological Survey
IGS has been awarded a short term contract to assist the Saudi Geological Survey (SGS) under the project title of ‘Completion of the consulting study for the establishment and development of the National Geological Database (NGD)’.
The project consists of two parts. The first is the completion of a benchmark study which makes a comparison between the current SGS NGD system and similar systems in other international geological surveys. The second part consists of defining the optimum data management solution for SGS in terms of the NGD, as well as transformation of the current system and implementation of a new system. The Geological Survey of Finland (GTK) is a subcontractor to IGS for the purposes of this project which should be completed within the next two months.
The project forms a natural link with a much larger upcoming project in Saudi Arabia which involves the acquisition of detailed geological data of the Arabian Shield. An IGS and GTK consortium has been awarded the contract to act as the Technical Partner of the SGS for the duration of this six year project. The establishment of a comprehensive geological database is one of the pillars of the project. Any enquiries regarding both projects can be directed to Frik Hartzer at IGS.
Appointment of Professor Garth Earls as Executive Chairman of IGS
Garth Earls was appointed to the IGS Board as Executive Chairman of IGS on the 7th January 2021. He brings a wealth of experience from the private and public sectors holding many technical, managerial and leadership roles. He joins IGS at an important time as we emerge from the challenges of 2020 and the Covid-19 pandemic with the prospect of large projects starting in 2021.
IGS wishes to thank Mark Parker who stepped down as Chairman and now holds the position as a Director on the Board. Mark was appointed as Chairman of IGS in January 2017 and since then has been critically important in guiding the company, providing excellent advice and input to the Board and management. He was particularly active in assisting IGS in contract negotiations with the Saudi Geological Survey and the award of the Technical Partner project to the IGS-led consortium. IGS looks forward to his continued input on the Board.