Annual Report - Society of Economic Geologists

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.