Department of Earth Sciences
South African geological record is superb and unique, providing a world-class natural laboratory for those interested in research in the earth sciences. The rapidly growing concern with environmental issues related to human activities, such as mining, provides for an important research focus on environmental geochemistry.
The department is also host to a Research Chair in Experimental Petrology as part of the South African Research Chair Initiative (SARChI).
The postgraduate population of the Department is cosmopolitan and, in recent years, we have attracted students from Germany, Namibia, the UK, Zimbabwe, France, Japan and Gabon.
FIELDS OF RESEARCH
Tectonics and orogenic processes
Petrogenesis of granite rocks
Trace-element and isotope geochemistry
Shear-zone hosted gold deposits
Massive sulphide deposits
Heavy mineral placer deposits
Metallogenesis of mobile belts
Hydro-geochemistry and pollution
Postgraduate Qualifications
HONOURS DEGREES
MASTER'S DEGREES
DOCTORAL DEGREES