Current drilling depth: 1619.4 m We’ve finally intersected thin stringers of norite and feldspathic pyroxenites, our first real change in lithology in several weeks! The proportion of olivine has also increased from <1% to just under 10%, marking a notable shift in the mineralogy. This marks an exciting turning point in the core, and it's going to be very interesting to see what comes next as we continue drilling deeper.
In the blink of an eye, we’ve reached the 1600 m mark in drilling, a fantastic milestone hot on the heels of our 1500 m breakthrough! This achievement is especially worth celebrating given the challenges we faced with slow progress after intersecting those lamprophyre dykes. The road to 1700m has officially started.
Happy Monthly Break, with a current depth of 1562.32 As we take this time to pause and recharge, I want to extend a heartfelt thank you to each of you for your continued dedication and hard work. Moments like these are a great reminder of the strong team spirit we share. We also want to express our sincere appreciation for the BVDP t-shirts; they were a thoughtful gesture, and we looked fantastic in them!
Today was a fantastic day on site, marked by great teamwork and scientific progress! First, Katlego took the lead with core sampling for noble gas analyses. Her precision and professionalism stood out, excellent work, Katlego! Your careful handling and attention to detail set the tone for the day. Following that, Mpho carried out microbiological sampling with equal focus and diligence. These samples are crucial for our broader understanding of the site’s microbial ecosystem, and Mpho did a great job in making sure everything was collected properly. Big thanks to them and everyone who helped.
We’ve hit 1500m! A massive milestone, and one that didn’t come easy. Through every setback, challenge, and long shift, this team kept pushing, and this is the result. We take pride in what we’ve accomplished. Let’s keep drilling forward. 2000m HERE WE COME!
As part of our commitment to operational efficiency and safety, we are taking extra measures to lessen delays caused by the lamprophyre dyke fragments. Today, the team is applying a resin seal around the dykes to ensure the hole is completely sealed and stabilized before we proceed with further drilling operations. These proactive steps are essential to maintaining momentum and avoiding future disruptions.
Current drilling depth is 1478.20 m! The rate of core recovery has been slower than usual. This is a result of upward pressure from underground water pushing against the downward force as we lower the drilling tube (inner tube). In addition, we’ve been facing challenges with the inner tube getting stuck in the hole several times, which has affected our recovery rate in the past week. However, today the drillers held a productive meeting with MDEX to explore solutions to these technical issues. We're optimistic that the adjustments discussed will increase our drilling pace next week.
We had the privilege of showcasing the Bushveld Drilling Project (BVDP) core to the ICDP's panels at the Council for Geoscience (CGS) today. With cores on display from different ICDP drilling projects the event proudly demonstrated the impact of ICDP drilling funds in South Africa. The delegates also had the opportunity to see first-hand what happens to the core material upon arrival at the Donkerhoek core repository, including how it is prepared and scanned for hyperspectral imaging. We extend our sincere gratitude to the CGS for also hosting a wonderful dinner. The delegates thoroughly enjoyed the warm hospitality and delicious South African cuisine.
2025-04-14
Today has been a very busy day on site. The drillers wrapped up pulling out the last sets of barrels, getting everything ready for the upcoming cementation. Meanwhile, Mpho and Yohey have been on top of preparing the samples and sending them out for analysis. Fingers crossed for a smooth cementing process in the next few days.
2025-04-08
We are currently drilling through a very thick orthopyroxenite layer in the Lower Zone, which has been intruded by multiple lamprophyre dykes. This has certainly presented its own set of challenges, but we know we’ve got what it takes to tackle them. Our current depth stands at 1456.55 meters.
2025-04-03
Today was a great testament to the power of teamwork and collaboration! Sue and Trey worked seamlessly together to scan the core material and to ensure the core boxes were successfully shipped to Donkerhoek. At Donkerhoek, Clements was on top of things, receiving and scanning the core and preparing to load them in the morning for pXRF scanning. The team's coordination is making a real impact, and we’re all excited to see the data soon—good luck to Clements with the processing! On the site, the drilling team continues to push forward with excellent progress, maintaining the integrity of the core as they drill deeper into the Lower Zone. The current depth stands at 1445.6 m, and everything is on track. Today’s success was a direct result of everyone’s dedication and teamwork—let’s keep up the momentum and continue working together to achieve great things!
2025-04-02
Current depth: 1438.6 m We've successfully drilled through all the cement in the hole and have now started drilling into the orthopyroxenites of the Lower Zone. We're incredibly excited to be drilling in the Bushveld Complex again, and we look forward to intercepting more lithologies as we continue our drilling project. The drilling team is working tirelessly with exceptional dedication, and we are deeply grateful for their tireless efforts.
2025-04-01
Current depth: 1433.2 m. We’re kicking things off strong with the removal and clearing of the cement placed before the drillers' break. We’re still in the process of loading the barrels into the hole, setting up for the next phase as we prepare to drill lithologies from the Bushveld Complex again. We’re excited to see what new rocks will emerge as we get closer to intercepting the lower levels of the Lower Zone. Let’s keep the energy high, stay focused, and push forward, we’ve got this!
2025-03-25
Today marks a significant milestone in the hole-cementing process as the team begins with detailed water testing at the hole to ensure its cleanliness and quality before we proceed with cementing. Prior to this, the team carefully assessed the suitability of the growing plant for cementing tomorrow. As we move forward, let’s continue to work with precision, focus, and collaboration to make steady progress toward our goal
2025-03-24
After successfully navigating multiple intersections with lamprophyre dykes and fault zones, we have finally reached the lower zone lithologies—an exciting milestone that marks the perfect moment to begin cementing the hole and ensure its stability. Today, we retrieved our final core sample at 1433.2 meters and began flushing out the drilling fluids with clean water, setting the stage for a smooth and efficient cementing process ahead.
2025-03-21
Absolutely beautiful! This core box has captured the beauty of the Earth's dynamic processes. The lamprophyre meeting the dolerite dykes tells a profound story of geological forces at work, where pressure and heat have shaped these lithologies. Truly a sight to behold for anyone who appreciates the wonders of geology!
2025-03-18
Today, our drilling operations faced an unexpected interruption. The inner tube used in the drilling process became stuck in the hole, requiring immediate attention. The team first attempted to pull it out with cables to avoid removing the rods and delay drilling. Unfortunately, these efforts were unsuccessful, and we had to remove the barrels to locate the inner rod. Although this delay has set us back temporarily, we are now in the process of reloading the barrels and will resume drilling soon. This challenge is a reminder that setbacks can happen on the road to success, but they are not the end of the journey. We remain focused and committed to overcoming obstacles and continuing our work towards progress.
2025-03-17
One of the most important aspects of drilling is the dip and azimuth of the hole being drilled. This is crucial to ensure we are targeting the desired lithologies and avoiding major structures such as sills and dykes. The orientation of the hole is also vital for geological modeling, as it allows us to accurately estimate the orientations of the rocks intercepted in the hole. To that end, we conducted a survey to check the hole's orientation, and we are more than satisfied with the current alignment. Let the drilling continue
2025-03-14
On March 9th, we successfully passed through the Lamphrophye dyke, which had been intercepted at a depth of 1275 meters in Hole B, halting drilling last year. After a week of surveying the lithologies beneath the dyke, we can now confidently celebrate the successful re-intersection into the Bushveld Complex. This is truly a momentous achievement and one worth celebrating.
2025-03-05
Water is a key component in drilling operations. To test the quality of the water used for the drilling fluid, we conducted a comprehensive water properties test, including pH, hardness, chemistry, and other key factors. The results confirm that the water in the BVDP meets the required quality standards, with all tested parameters falling within acceptable limits.
2024-12-04
Hole B was drilled from 110.6m to 1269.20m and then stopped. This was due to technical difficulties and the intersection of a lamprophyre dyke over the last 5m.
Due to a significant deviation of dip direction and azimuth over the last 100m, it was decided to cement the bottom of the hole (approximately last 100m) and then try and re-direct the hole.
After four attempts to cement the bottom of the borehole, it was finally cemented from 1150m to 1269.20m.
Additionally - New drill rods were supplied to site to replace the rods that were initially being used.
A directional wedge is now be inserted in Hole B so that the new hole can be deflected away from the dyke and in so doing, correct the dip and azimuth. During this process, the plan is to direct the hole as much as possible so that it will be perpendicular to the known layering of the Bushveld Igneous Complex lithologies.
Sue Webb and Bob Trumbull visited the Council for Geoscience's (CGS) core depository today and saw BVDP cores being scanned. They also met up with colleagues at head office.
Visit to ICDP BVDP site by Bob Trumbull Freddie Roelefse, Justine Magson, Mabatho Mapiloko, Stuart Hill and Susan Webb discussing various aspects of the core.
Drilling will resume tomorrow. Meanwhile Mabatho is catching up with core logging and the drillers insert the new rods down the hole in preparation of drilling.
2024-10-10
Due to the inclination of the hole now being 12° we are currently putting a new strategy into place to correct this. Meanwhile the drillers are pulling out the rods to replace the drill bit as well as to inspect the rods at the base of the hole as they appear to be bending.
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!
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.
