By Sharyn Macnamara
Sara Turnbull, senior exploration geologist for SRK Exploration, takes us on an excursion into the realities of, and the need for, exploration and discovery of critical minerals in South Africa.
Sara Turnbull, senior exploration geologist for SRK Exploration. Images supplied by SRK Exploration
Sara Turnbull’s reputation precedes her in the field of geology in Africa. As a senior exploration geologist for SRK Exploration with over 10 years of field experience in exploration and mining, and widespread regional and international exposure to different geological terranes and commodities, Turnbull says, “Investing in new mines equates to investing in the future.” Critical minerals like graphite, lithium, cobalt, nickel, copper and uranium – among many others – are key in the global drive towards combatting climate change, which is essential for the future of an evermore populous world; but more directly, these minerals are key to the continuation of the South African mining industry.
“There is currently a shortage of new, undeveloped deposits to feed the drive for critical minerals and low carbon technologies,” says Turnbull. According to statistics released by the International Energy Agency (IEA), Global investment in the development of critical minerals increased by 20% in 2021 and 30% in 2022. Despite this, it is predicted there will still be a deficit in the future, she explains. It is vital for industry, governments and other stakeholders in South Africa to strategise collaboratively to encourage investment in exploration. The country’s rich mineral endowment is one of its greatest assets and includes many commodities not previously at the centre of the South African mining industry.
Exploration challenge – high risk, high capital
“That being said, the high-risk profile of exploration in South Africa typically comes with a large capital outlay requirement, although significantly less than the capital expenditure for building a mine. Exploration has become more expensive because the more accessible deposits have already been discovered and mined,” says Turnbull. This together with the additional local issues involving power, logistics and security creates a challenging environment for exploration. She adds that the new frontier in exploration in South Africa will therefore require innovative ways to find deposits and more ingenuitive ways to attract investors.
Turnbull explains that SRK – being a multidisciplinary consultancy with access to many expert skillsets, having been in the exploration and mining game for decades and with its knowledge of both the local and international terranes and markets – is able to understand both sides of the proverbial coin, both from a junior explorer or major miner’s point of view, and that of an investor.
Sara Turnbull’s reputation precedes her in the field of geology in Africa.
“Integrated, scientific geological approach”
The company has taken an innovative “integrated scientific geological approach” to assist clients in navigating this challenging exploration environment. “We collect and present to our clients independent and trustworthy interpretations and recommendations based on all available data, using smart tech and data science, algorithms and machine learning where they can enhance deposit knowledge and understanding. Utilising generative exploration approaches, mineral endowment models, exploration maturity assessment and market data, we can assist clients in asset selection and prioritisation. By collating geological evidence with such portfolio management methodologies, clients can go to market with credible investment opportunities, development plans and strategies.”
In summary, “using what we know for sure in combination with historical data, with the help of machine learning, we can start predicting in a more powerful way as to where we should be focusing funds.” These techniques have been developed to work just as well in underexplored data-poor areas, as they do in data-rich near-mine environments.
“Investing in new mines equates to investing in the future”
The beauty of the new global spend drive in critical minerals is the possibility to start the mines of the future on a stronger footing than mines of the past. “People are starting to invest in the mines of tomorrow where Economic, Social and Governance factors (ESG), and even geopolitical considerations are addressed right up front.” Turnbull talks passionately about a case in point – what she terms, “the less glamourous” graphite.
Graphite forms the primary component of a battery’s anode, while there are a variety of interchangeable elements, like lithium, nickel, cobalt to name a few from which cathodes are made, explains Turnbull. However, all batteries require graphite – and therein lies the significance of the mineral. “So, on a geopolitical level, China has dominated the anode space, which means the whole world is dependent on it for supply. China manufactures 90% of the anodes globally and even the 10% that are made elsewhere are dependent on materials that come out of China. There is so much more at play in the exploration for critical elements than simply geology.”
Adding to this argument, Turnbull emphasises the significance of South Africa’s mineral and metal endowment, saying, “We should work on critical mass synergies and collaborate as industry and government to encourage more investment into the exploration of these critical commodities, as well as the baseline infrastructure we already possess to start filling the gap in the global deficit. There is just not enough airtime given to this critical drive. The new cadastre system could be used as a trusted tool, which will go a long way to facilitate and power strategic plans in the future. However, there is a lot more work to be done.” Turnbull says that SRK is very active on the exploration front in sub-Saharan countries like DRC, Tanzania, Mozambique, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Madagascar, Namibia, Angola and Gabon. Although there is some activity in South Africa, there is potential for so much more. “As a country we are just not leveraging the opportunity as we should do – in graphite alone, there are a number of mines that could potentially be brought back online. The Northern Cape should be getting more attention too and manganese is another commodity that offers great opportunity in South Africa.”
Future critical skills and talent gap
With global needs and more drive in the exploration space, Turnbull expresses a concern over the declining number of students pursuing geoscience and mining engineering degrees, resulting in a talent shortage in the industry. She highlights the importance of encouraging students to pursue Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) subjects, particularly geosciences, and the need for industry to provide adequate support through graduate programmes to provide complementary industry skills to the academic experiences of graduates. This should start at grassroots school level too. Afterall, “The mining of tomorrow is in the hands of the students of today,” says Turnbull, adding, “More women should be encouraged to join STEM fields, as a combination of both genders makes for a very powerful team on the ground.”
The excitement of a geological discovery – firsthandExploration – the first boots on the ground and first eyes on the treasures the Earth shares with human beings – offers an excitement and adventure which is centuries old, and Turnbull has had the privilege of experiencing this firsthand as a senior exploration geologist. Sara has both on-site technical and managerial expertise, as well as corporate advisory skills. She has been part of multi-disciplinary teams that have progressed numerous projects from greenfields to feasibility phase and then into production. Turnbull shares some memories of her experiences when she began her career as a geologist working for a multi-commodity Australian listed junior explorer, managing geological teams looking for alluvial gemstones, graphite, vanadium, gold and coal in Mozambique. Living in a tented camp for six years, is not for sissies – its hard work, but very exciting too. She describes the challenges of arriving in a remote area where the basics available in a fly camp are a tent and water – one’s only luxuries. She adds that longer term camps are set up for developing projects, where a water well may need to be drilled, otherwise this precious commodity must be trucked in. Developed camps where the setup is a little more formal, often have a camp manager in charge and a generator is available for power. She explains the extraordinary meeting of cultures that take place in community engagements, which are always the first port of call for permission to work in the area despite holding a government exploration permit. The traditional rituals required for appeasement of spiritual entities; the blessing of the land and the exchanging of small, significant gifts like chickens and soccer team uniforms; the trust built in these relationships forged on the ground and the inherent security of being part of the community – these are all part of the depth of the experience in exploring in remote areas. For Turnbull, the thrill of being the first human being to set eyes on precious and rare rock drilled from the ground, and the sense of achievement in witnessing the development of a project and the support and upliftment of surrounding communities from the ground up, when ESG principles are followed by companies who explore and mine with social conscience – these are the real gems in the experience. The long-term benefits of exploration seen through the development and growth in remote communities positively affected by exploration activities are the tangible results of industry working with communities for the good of all. |