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School of Physical and Mineral Sciences

Department of Geology and Mining

Prof. Hasani Chauke

Dr MTD Rapholo

HOD: Geology and Mining

Message from the HoD

The Department of Geology and Mining seeks to broaden the horizons of everyone who enters into our programmes.  Geology is an all-encompassing science that provides avenues of application for all spheres of physical science.  Join our community and learn to unravel the secrets of the development of the 4.54-Billion-year-old Earth or even how the 13.8-Billion-year-old universe formed.  Learn how to understand the inner workings of the Earth, how volcanoes work and why mountain ranges form, and why they exist where they do.

Travel with us as you learn to understand how time is measured without a clock, what fossils can tell us about the past, and how the “Principle of Uniformitarianism” explains how an understanding of the forces and processes acting on the Earth’s surface today provides understanding of how the many of the Earth’s rocks formed.

Apart from an in-depth grounding in the more academic aspects of the science, our curriculum also aims to provide a strong foundation for those wanting to pursue a career in one of the many commercial areas that fall under the umbrella of Geology. 

Geology is not only the basis of numerous careers in the mineral exploration and mining industries, but also underpins many other areas of work such agriculture, ecology and engineering.  We strive to instil professional attitudes and habits into our students to prepare them for success in their careers after their studies conclude.

On behalf of the staff and students of the Department of Geology and Mining we invite you to become part of our family, expand your mind and move towards an invigorating and enjoyable career.

DEPARTMENTAL RULES & PROGRAMMES

The department has the following main programmes.

Departmental Rules

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Undergraduate Programmes

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Postgraduate Programmes

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Staff & Departmental Committees

Academic Staff
Dr MTD Rapholo Position: Senior Lecturer (HoD) Research Interest
  PhD (UJ), PGDHET (UFH), MSc, BSc (Hons) (UL), BSc Earth Science (SU)
  • Environmental Geology, Artisanal Small-Scale Mining (ASM), Water Quality and Natural Resource Management and the Sustainable utilization of major natural resources, such as land, minerals, and water.
Email: maropene.rapholo@ul.ac.za
Tel: +27 15 268 3089
Location: U Block, Earth Science Building. Office number: – 001
Prof NQ Hammond Position: Associate Professor Research Interest
  BSc (Hons) Geology (Ghana), MSc Geology (Tokyo), PhD Geology (RU)
  • Genetic aspects of ore deposits
  • Gold mineralization in Precambrian terrains
  • Platinum-group elements (PGE) mineralization
  • Hydrothermal REE deposits
  • Fluid inclusion geochemistry of hydrothermal fluid systems.
  • Application of isotopic systematics (carbon, oxygen, sulphur, and Strontium) as natural tracers in hydrothermal fluid systems.
  • Geo-metallurgy
Email: napoleon.hammond@ul.ac.za
Tel: +27 15 268 4025
Location: U Block, Earth Science Building, 1st Floor. Office number: 0005
Prof ZA Tessema Position: Associate Professor Research Interest
  BSc (Hons) Geology and Geophysics (Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia), MSc in Exploration Geophysics (Indian Institute of Technology, India), PhD  Exploration Geology and Geophysics (WITS)
  • Targeting mineral deposits using geological, geochemical, and geophysical data.
  • Numerical modelling of groundwater flow and contaminant transport, the use of isotopes and hydrochemical data for investigation of the origin of groundwater, age, and its distribution in the Earth’s crust.
Email: abera.tessema@ul.ac.za
Tel: +27 15 268 4124
Location: U Block, Earth Science Building, 1st Floor. Office number: – 0006
Prof F Sengani Position: Associate Professor Research Interest
  PhD Mining Engineering (Rock Engineering), MBA (General), MSc Eng (Rock Engineering), BSc (Hons) Mining and Environmental Geology, Rock Mechanics Certificate (Strata Control), Mine Seismology Certificate, Professional Rock Mechanical Scientist (Pri.Sci.Nat).
  • Numerical Simulation, Rock Mechanics, Structural Geology,

Rock Engineering, Tunneling Design, Project Management, Strategic Planning, Mine Planning, Mine Seismology, Mineral Resource and Reserve Estimation, Structural Mapping,
Structural Analysis and Synthesis, Geotechnical Assessments, Safety and Health Analysis, Resource Management
Email: fhatuwani.sengani@ul.ac.za
Tel: +27 15 268 3036
Location: U Block, Earth Science Building, 1st Floor. Office number: – 0011
Ms E Denge Position: Lecturer Research Interest
  PhD (In progress), MSc Geology (UL) BSc (Hons) Geology (UFS)
  • Fossil Fuels, Coal Geology and Petrology, Industrial Minerals and Geotechnical Investigation
Email: elelwani.denge@ul.ac.za
Tel: +27 15 268 4064
Location: U Block, Earth Science Building. 1st Floor. Office  Number: – 0009
Mr M Khanyi Position: Junior Lecturer Research Interest
  MSs (In progress), BSc Geology (UP), BSc (Hons) Geology (UP)
  • Geology and Geochemistry of the Bushveld Igneous Complex and Limpopo Metamorphic Belt.
Email: moosa.khanyi@ul.ac.za
Tel: +27 15 268 4325
Location: U Block, Earth Science Building. 1st Floor. Office number: 0010
Mr T Nemanashi
 Position: Lecturer Research Interest
  BSc (Geology and GIS & Remote Sensing), BSc (Hons) Geology, MSc Geology (UFH)
  • Sedimentology, Basin analysis, Reservoir characterization, Geochemistry, and Petroleum geology.
Email: tshisikhaiwe.nemanashi@ul.ac.za
Tel: +27 15 268 3739
Location: U Block, Earth Science Building. 1st Floor. Office Number:0013
Ms NC Ramakoloi Position: Lecturer Research Interest
  BSc Physical Sciences: Geology
and Chemistry, BSc (Hons) Geology, MSc Geology (UJ), PGCE: Cum Laude (UNISA)
  • Ore deposits, geochemistry, and mineralogy of the various metals and their genesis. Petrology, petrograph, and mineral chemistry of Kimberlites. Thermobarometric studies of Kimberlites and related rocks.
Email: ntshebo.ramakoloi@ul.ac.za
Tel: +27 15 268 4757
Location: U Block, Earth Science Building. 1st Floor. Office number: 0003
Ms KA Ramakadi Position: Lecturer Research Interest
  BSc (Hons), MSc (UL), PGDHET (UFH) Email: kgoetja.ramakadi@ul.ac.za
Tel: +27 15 268 4034
Location: U Block, Earth Science Building. Office number: 012
  • Geochemistry, Mineralogy and Agricultural Geology
Mr F Nkanyane Position: Lecturer Research Interest
  PhD (Geology) candidate – In progress
MSc (Geology), BSc (Hons) (Geology), BSc (Geology) (UL) Email: fumani.nkanyane@ul.ac.za
Tel: 015 268 4843
Office no: U Block, Earth Science Building. 1st Floor, Office 0004
  • Geotechnical Geology, Engineering Geology, Mining Geology, rock mechanics and Structural Geology.
Ms MJ Marweshi Position: Lecturer Research Interest
  PhD (Geology) candidate – In progress, MSc (Geology), BSc (Hons) (Geology), BSc (Geology) (UL) Email: manare.marweshi@ul.ac.za
Tel: 015 268 3779
Office no: U Block, Earth Science Building. 1st Floor, Office number: 0008
  • Numerical modelling of groundwater flow and contaminants transport, Water quality monitoring and water management plan.
Ms AM Nailana Position: Lecturer Research Interest
 

PhD (Geology) candidate – In progress, MSc (Geology), BSc (Hons)  (Geology), BSc (Geology) (UL) Email: anastasia.nailana@ul.ac.za
Tel: +27 15 268 3614
Location: U Block, Earth Science Building. 1st Floor, Office number: 0007
  • Platinum-group elements (PGE) mineralization, gold mineralization
Mr NP Mabala Position: Lecturer Research Interest
  MSc (UL), BSc (Hons) Geology, BSc Geology (UL)
  • Gold prospectivity mapping and exploration.
  • Igneous petrology and petrography.
Email: nare.mabala@ul.ac.za
Tel: +27 15 268 3605
Location: U Block, Earth Science Building. 2nd Floor, Geohydrology Lab Office 001
Ms SG Molomo Position: Junior Lecturer Research Interest
  MEng (In progress), BSc (Hons) Geology (UL), BSc (Geology) Email: selaki.molomo@ul.ac.za
Tel: +27 15 268 3738
Location: U Block, Earth Science Building. 2nd Floor, Geohydrology Lab Office 002
  • Economic geology of Witwatersrand basin. Characterisation of ore mineralisation, differentiation of the Gold and Pyrite ore
  • Sedimentology (Coal and Shale sediment maturity and its provenance)

 

 

Support Staff
Mrs BM Marape Position: Secretary
  National Diploma in Management Assistant, Nkangala TVET college
Email: brenda.marape@ul.ac.za
Tel: +27 15 268 4729
Location: U Block, Earth Science Building. 1st Floor, Office number: 002
Mr S Monyayi Position: Senior Laboratory Technician
  BA (Hons) Public Admin (Unisa), Sample Preparation  in Materialography Certificate _IMP, Laboratory Safety Certificate _ Alec Cameroon
Email: solani.monyayi@ul.ac.za
Tel: 0768547940
Location: U Block, Earth Science Building. Ground Floor, Office 0003
Mr TS Kgarabjang Position: Senior Lab Assistant
  BSc, Honours, MSc Geology (UL) Email: thabo.kgarabjang@ul.ac.za
Tel: 072 812 8409
Location: U Block, Earth Science Building. Ground Floor, Office 001
Mr N Maluleke Position: Senior Laboratory Assistant
  BSc, Honours, MSc Geology (UL)
Email: nsovo.maluleke@ul.ac.za
Tel: 067 383 5603
Location: U Block, Earth Science Building. Ground Floor, Office 005
Ms M Molepo Position: Senior Laboratory Assistant
  MSc (Stockholm University), BSc Hons, BSc (Rhodes University)
Email: molloa.molepo@ul.ac.za
Tel: +27 15 268 4883
Location: U Block, Earth Science Building. Ground Floor, Office 004
Ms MK Teffo Position: Senior Laboratory Assistance
  MSc Geology, BSc Honours Mining Geology, BSc Geology (UL)
Email: mokgadi.teffo@ula.ac.za
Tel: +27 67 050 3031
Location: U Block, Earth Science Building. Ground Floor, Office 002
Departmental Committees

Departmental Management Committee

Dr MTD Rapholo
Prof NQ Hammond
Prof AZ Tessema
Prof F Sengani
Ms NC Ramakoloi

Departmental Assessment Committee

Dr MTD Rapholo
Ms NC Ramakoloi
Prof NQ Hammond (Interim Chair)
Prof AZ Tessema

Departmental Research Committee

Dr MTD Rapholo
Prof NQ Hammond
Prof AZ Tessema
Prof F Sengani

Departmental Excursion Committee

Dr MTD Rapholo
Mr M Khanyi (Interim Chair)
Dr F Sengani
Prof AZ Tessema
Ms E Denge
Ms Molomo Selaki
Ms Manare Marweshi
Mr Fumani Nkanyane
Ms Anastasia Nailana
Mr Nare Mabala
Mr Tshisikhaiwe Nemanashi

Departmental Community Engagement and Marketing Committee

Dr MTD Rapholo
Ms E Denge (Interim Chair)
Ms KA Ramakadi
Ms Molomo Selaki
Ms Manare Marweshi
Mr Fumani Nkanyane
Ms Anastasia Nailana
Mr Nare Mabala
Mr Tshisikhaiwe Nemanashi

Departmental Health and Safety Committee

Dr MTD Rapholo
Ms KA Ramakadi (Interim Chair)
Mr S Monyayi
Ms E Denge
Ms Molomo Selaki
Ms Manare Marweshi
Mr Fumani Nkanyane
Ms Anastasia Nailana
Mr Nare Mabala
Mr Tshisikhaiwe Nemanashi

Honours Research Coordinator

Prof F Sengani

CONTACT DETAILS

HOD: Geology and Mining

Dr MTD Rapholo
Tel: +27 15 268 3089
Email: maropene.rapholo@ul.ac.za

Secretary

Mrs BM Marape
Tel: +27 15 268 4729
Email: brenda.marape@ul.ac.za