A Base Metal Excursion in Southern Namibia

A base metal excursion was arranged under the auspices of the Geological Society of Namibia during the long weekend of 1st May to 4th May 2026. The explorationists - a diverse group of children, students, professionals, and retirees, drove from all over Namibia to Noordoewer on Friday, where they camped on the banks of the Orange River, which was in full flood.

On Saturday, members were hosted by Koryx at the Haib project, famous for being the region's oldest porphyry copper deposit. From there, the convoy travelled through spectacular scenery along the banks of the Orange River toward Rosh Pinah. Highlights of the route included a large variety of birdlife along the river, including a flock of "lost" pelicans resting on an island in the flooded waters. The contrast of lush green grapevines against the stark desert landscape was awe-inspiring. There was also clear evidence of an active past and present diamond mining industry along the river, marked by numerous tailings dumps of pebbles and cobbles. The convoy camped just 5 km outside of Rosh Pinah.

After a quick breakfast on Sunday, we arrived at the gates of the Rosh Pinah mine. We were greeted by the welcoming smile of Liborius Albertze, the safety officer, who thoroughly took us through the mine's safety protocols. Next, Linus and Takashaya provided a geological welcome, presenting the history of the mine from its early discovery by M.D. McMillan to the production of its first ore within just six years. From there, it has been a 63-year bumpy ride as commodity markets experienced cycles of highs and lows. The mine is now owned by the Appian Capital Advisory group, which took over in 2023.

Because very few participants had direct knowledge of the deposit, the Rosh Pinah team expertly contextualized it. They traced its history from the breakup of the Rodinia supercontinent at ~750 Ma, through the development of the Rosh Pinah graben, to a complex sedimentological model combined with volcanics. This environment resulted in a massive zinc and lead sulphide deposit, classified as a hybrid Volcanogenic Massive Sulphide (VMS) - Sedimentary Exhalative (SEDEX) type deposit, with the main ore minerals being sphalerite and galena.

The team provided vivid descriptions of the deposit's formation as a stratiform orebody on the Ore Equivalent Horizon (OEH)—a laterally discontinuous unit segmented by various feeder faults. This fragmentation separated the deposit into distinct orebodies with a zoned chemistry dependent upon their proximity to the major western feeder fault. The variable sedimentary lithology was explained alongside its associated ore mineralogy. Additionally, the team outlined the subsequent D1 and D2 folding and brecciation that occurred during the closure of the basin, explaining the intense structural complexity imposed on the orebody. They noted that during this metamorphic phase, substantial remobilisation by hydrothermal fluids took place, adding further structural and chemical complexity.

This excursion was truly a fantastic learning experience, not only for the young students but for every participant involved. As the saying goes, a geologist is only as good as the rocks they see and the mineralisation processes they understand. Heartfelt thanks go to the organising committee of the Geological Society of Namibia, and especially to our hosts at Rosh Pinah who made this exceptional learning opportunity possible and Koryx the hosts at the “Haib”.

The drive home took participants along various scenic routes, with stops at the impressive Neckertal Dam and views of the vibrant green grass blending into the Namib dunes near Sossusvlei. Everyone arrived home safely, richer in both geological knowledge and new friendships.