Daily News
Project Acronym: BVDP | State: Operational Phase | Expedition ID: 5067
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- (inserted: 07.10.2024 19:37)
BVDP: 2024-10-07 ˇ
Current depth: 1236.20 m
Drilling crew joining together the straigthened drilling rods. Current depth: 1236.20 m.
- (inserted: 25.09.2024 19:37)
BVDP: 2024-09-25 ˇ
Outreach: visiting Dihlabakela high school
Speaking to over 100 learners at Dihlabakela high school, near the drilling site! Lots of great questions about drilling (especially diamonds in the drill bit). Susan Webb was joined by Moyagabo Rapetsoa from the Wits Seismic team!
- (inserted: 20.09.2024 19:37)
BVDP: 2024-09-20 ˇ
WITS Seismic team on site
WITS Seismic team conduction a geophysical survey on the Driekop farm.
- (inserted: 18.09.2024 19:37)
BVDP: 2024-09-18 ˇ
Core has been packed, ready to be transported to CGS.
The first upper 100 meters of core material have been packed, ready to be transported to the Council for Geoscience in Pretoria where they will be scanned.
- (inserted: 17.09.2024 19:37)
BVDP: 2024-09-17 ˇ
Drilling resumed today, with current depth at 1071.20m
- (inserted: 13.09.2024 19:37)
BVDP: 2024-09-13 ˇ
Collecting magnetic susceptibility readings
Kgaugelo, Sipho and Karabo collecting magnetic susceptibility readings.
- (inserted: 12.09.2024 19:37)
BVDP: 2024-09-12 ˇ
Drill Bit Change
Drillers pulling out the rods to replace the drill bit.
- (inserted: 11.09.2024 19:37)
BVDP: 2024-09-11 ˇ
Trouble shooting MiniRuedi
Rolene, Justine and Katlego trouble shooting the gas line for the MiniRuedi.
- (inserted: 26.08.2024 19:37)
BVDP: 2024-08-26 ˇ
Wolf Maier (Cardiff University) visiting Core Repository at University of the Free State
Prof Wolf Maier (Cardiff University) visited the Drill Core Repository of the University of the Free State on 26 - 27 August 2024 to collect samples from donated drill cores within the BVDP project. He has sampled across the Lower Critical – Upper Critical Zone transition up to the level of the UG2 chromitite and intends to obtain whole-rock lithophile and platinum-group element data for comparison with existing data from the Western Limb of the complex.
- (inserted: 24.08.2024 19:37)
BVDP: 2024-08-24 ˇ
Packer technicians assembling their equipment on site.
- (inserted: 16.08.2024 19:37)
BVDP: 2024-08-16 ˇ
Thrilled to have the Impala team on site today!
2024-08-16: Our project Manager Kwena Mathopa with Sifiso Mthethwa, Thanda Mokoena and Lufuluvhi Ramunyisi. - (inserted: 14.08.2024 19:37)
BVDP: 2024-08-14 ˇ
Visit to sample donated cores of the BVDP project
“Dr Wilhelm Nikonow and Dominic Göricke of the BGR sampling donated cores from BVDP borehole 5067_2_A (BH7772) at the University of the Free State in Bloemfontein (12-14 August 2024). They intend to characterise a continuous section through the Main Magnetite Layer using micro-XRF and LIBS.
- (inserted: 12.08.2024 19:37)
BVDP: 2024-08-12 ˇ
Current depth: 899.45 m
On our way to a significant milestone—approaching the 1000 km depth mark.#BVDP #1000kmMilestone #BushveldComplex #DrillingProject #DeepDrilling
- (inserted: 09.08.2024 19:37)
BVDP: 2024-08-09 ˇ
Celebrating Women's Day with 884 m depth
Celebrating women's day on site today....to breaking barriers!
- (inserted: 07.08.2024 19:37)
BVDP: 2024-08-07 ˇ
Visit by the BVDP microbiologists
It was a pleasure having Yohey, Jens and Julio on site over the past few days. Until we meet again, may your research continue to thrive!
- (inserted: 06.08.2024 19:37)
BVDP: 2024-08-06 ˇ
Further training in microbiology sample preparation
Mpho and Kwena received training on the Nitrogen gas use and flaming of the microbiology samples.
- (inserted: 05.08.2024 19:37)
BVDP: 2024-08-05 ˇ
Visit by the BVDP microbiologists on site while passing 800 m depth
An eventful day today as we welcomed back Johey Suzuki, Jens Kallmeyer, and Hulio Castillo Hernandez to the drill site!
- (inserted: 02.08.2024 19:37)
BVDP: 2024-08-02 ˇ
Current depth: 788.45 m
Today the drilling paused due to maintenance on the drill rig.
- (inserted: 01.08.2024 19:37)
BVDP: 2024-08-01 ˇ
Drilling paused due to maintenance.
Today the drilling paused due to maintenance on the drill rig.
- (inserted: 25.07.2024 19:37)
BVDP: 2024-07-25 ˇ
Current depth at 770 m
The stratigraphy has been established, we have drilled through MG 1-4, LG 5-7. Freddie has taken a sample at 690.9 m to prepare a thin section which will help confirm the presence of olivine.
- (inserted: 24.07.2024 19:37)
BVDP: 2024-07-24 ˇ
Current depth at 750 m
At the same time: The kitchen has been relocated to the new container while the earlier kitchen container now became the home of Mini Ruedi, which is constantly monitoring the gas composition of the mud fluid. It has been successfully set up. Katlego has received training from Roelene and feels much more confident.
- (inserted: 23.07.2024 19:37)
BVDP: 2024-07-23 ˇ
Current depth at 734 m
The BVDP site 3 core laid out at the core yard.
- (inserted: 19.07.2024 19:37)
BVDP: 2024-07-19 ˇ
Current depth at 686 m
A new laboratory container arrived on site.
- (inserted: 18.07.2024 19:37)
BVDP: 2024-07-18 ˇ
Current depth at 686 m
Drillers changing the lifting robe from single to double line to accommodate for heavy lifting.
- (inserted: 15.07.2024 19:37)
BVDP: 2024-07-15 ˇ
Crossing further massive chromitite seams
LG-6 Chromitite massive seams intersected at 620.5 (1.5 cm thick) and at 621.5 (0.15 cm thick).
- (inserted: 13.07.2024 19:37)
BVDP: 2024-07-13 ˇ
Borehole survey after reaching 608 m depth
Steven from Master Drilling preparing to survey the borehole at 608 m.
- (inserted: 12.07.2024 19:37)
BVDP: 2024-07-12 ˇ
Second chromite layer with thickness of nearly 1 m
This afternoon, we intersected two LG-6 massive chromitite seams separated by a 1m thick pyroxenite layer. The first seam was encountered at 606.1 m with a thickness of 0.40 m, and the second seam at 607.4 m with a thickness of 0.95 m. The seams have been sampled for microbiology purposes.
- (inserted: 11.07.2024 19:37)
BVDP: 2024-07-11 ˇ
Massive chromitite seam at 579.91 m
LCZ LG-7 massive chromitite seam (30 cm thick) was intersected at 579.91 m. A 72 cm long microbiology sample was collected, which includes a pyroxenite hanging wall (30 cm) and footwall (12cm).
- (inserted: 10.07.2024 19:37)
BVDP: 2024-07-10 ˇ
Current drilling depth at 569 m
Wrapping up the day as the sun sets with the current drilling depth at 569 m.
- (inserted: 03.07.2024 19:37)
BVDP: 2024-07-03 ˇ
First appearance of visible sulphide mineralization
We have encountered the first appearance of visible sulphide mineralization at 500 m, manifesting as fine disseminations within feldspathic pyroxenite. The current depth is 518 m.
- (inserted: 27.06.2024 19:37)
BVDP: 2024-06-27 ˇ
Guests from the Council for Geoscience (CGS)
We were thrilled to host esteemed guests from the Council for Geoscience (CGS) on the BVDP drill site today! We had insightful and productive discussions about geology, sharing knowledge and exploring new ideas. A big thank you to our visitors for their valuable contributions and for making this day a remarkable one! #Geology #CGS #KnowledgeSharing #EarthSciences
- (inserted: 26.06.2024 19:37)
BVDP: 2024-06-26 ˇ
Current bottom depth of 460 m
Today we had our lable printer working full time and added lables to the core boxes while reaching a current bottom depth of 460 m.
- (inserted: 15.06.2024 19:37)
BVDP: 2024-06-15 ˇ
Borehole logging carried out at drill site of BVDP
Survey being carried out by Wireline.
- (inserted: 14.06.2024 19:37)
BVDP: 2024-06-14 ˇ
Preparing for wireline logging of the upper 320 m
Preparing for wireline logging of the upper 320 m at the BVDP drill site
- (inserted: 13.06.2024 19:37)
BVDP: 2024-06-13 ˇ
Master Drilling drill crew packing core boxes for transport to Marula Mine core yard
Master Drilling drill crew packing core boxes for transport to Marula Mine core yard
- (inserted: 12.06.2024 19:37)
BVDP: 2024-06-12 ˇ
Drilling is now at 326 m
While the hole is being cemented Mabatho is undertaking lithological logging of the drill core. In the background the core boxes are stackedand ready to move to the Marula Mine core yard
- (inserted: 04.06.2024 19:37)
BVDP: 2024-06-04 ˇ
While waiting on the drilling to continue past 136 m, the science team carries out maintenance of...
Maintenance of the seismic sensors.
- (inserted: 23.05.2024 19:37)
BVDP: 2024-05-23 ˇ
Installation of Mini Ruedi
The mini reudi getting installed! Hurray!!
- (inserted: 22.05.2024 19:37)
BVDP: 2024-05-22 ˇ
Geomicrobiology in BVDP
During today's weekly meeting, Prof. Yohey Suzuki from Japan, demonstrated the use of UV light on water samples as part of the Geomicrobiology research of the BVDP drilling project.
- (inserted: 15.05.2024 19:37)
BVDP: 2024-05-15 ˇ
Mini Ruedi finally arrived
Today the instrument for the gas monitoring arrived at WITS university.
- (inserted: 14.05.2024 19:37)
BVDP: 2024-05-14 ˇ
Software training
With the cement having to dry in the borehole there is time for to catch up with additional work to be done. Today there was a training session to allow for downloading directional borehole logging data.