VOLUME 59 . DECEMBER 2019

Joburg Indaba 2019 — investing in resources and mining in Africa

Panellists debating the future of coal mining and the utilisation of the commodity in South Africa as well as

the development of a plan to transition from coal to renewables in a South African context. Mr Brian Dames

(CEO, African Rainbow Energy and Power), Mr Claude Baissac (CEO, Eunomix), Mr Mosa Mabuza (CEO,

CGS) and Mr Mxolisi Mgojo (President, Minerals Council South Africa and CEO, Exxaro).

INSIDE:Joburg Indaba 2019 — investing in resources and mining in Africa I 1Keabetswe Lehong

Let’s hear it from the CGS interns! I 3Thomas Muedi

16th South African Geophysical Association Biennial Conference and Exhibition I 4Emmanuel Chirenje

PanAfGeo mineral resource assessment training I 6Connie Setladi

16th Groundwater Division (GWD) Conference and Exhibition I 7Tebogo Mello

Women in Geoscience workshop in 2020 I 9Ndivhuwo Cecilia Mukosi

Sustainable development in practice: lessons in balancing nature’s steady states with human needs and requirements, Port Elizabeth. A brief geohistory of the greater Marine Drive, Algoa Bay I 10Vindina Mitha

Geoscientific research by the Council for Geoscience (CGS) to assess the mineral and energy resources of South Africa gave delegates from the Economic Geology and Geochemistry (EGG) unit the opportunity to attend the Joburg Indaba, which took place on 2 and 3 October 2019 at the Inanda Club in Sandton, Johannesburg.

The Joburg Indaba brought together CEOs and senior representatives from major mining houses, local and

international investors, government institutions and experts from legal and advisory firms to debate the changing landscape of the mining industry and to provide insight in the expansion and diversification of mining operations and mineral assets. Some of the key issues affecting the mining landscape include South Africa’s energy transition and the impact of this move on the country’s economy. Two narratives around the energy transition discussed were the current energy model, which relies on

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For more information contact:Keabetswe LehongEconomic Geology and Geochemistry+27 (0)12 841 1135klehong@geoscience.org.za

fossil fuels as an energy source, and a narrative that alludes to the need for new cleaner technologies, apart from fossil fuels, that will sustainably supply future energy demands and economic growth.

The CEO, Mr Mosa Mabuza, participated as a member of the panel in the debate focussed on developing a transparent and practical roadmap on ways to steer the energy transition over time. Some of the highlights and insights shared by the panellists included the need for energy leaders to

promote the development of a well-defined and feasible energy resource plan. Furthermore, there is a need to understand and develop a plan that speaks directly to South Africa’s current and future energy demands while executing the commitments to the United Nation’s goals in lowering carbon emissions.

A growing economy requires a sustainable and accessible energy supply. However, it would not be wise for the country to engage on energy transition without proper consideration

of the energy resources and enabling technology in South Africa. Coal remains a major contributor to South Africa’s economy and thus prompts a need to establish cleaner extractive technologies. This will lead to a reduction of the currently high carbon emissions associated, in particular, with energy generation. The panellists encouraged leaders in the coal industry to establish sustainable strategies that will not only secure the mining of coal but also secure energy supply and employment. The Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy, the Honourable Mr Gwede Mantashe, weighed in on the role of coal as the biggest revenue earner in South Africa’s mining industry. The Minister further advised against the premature sterilisation of coal resources. Minister Mantashe also announced the Integrated Resource Plan to be submitted to Cabinet and gazetted before the end of the year.

Other topics covered during the Indaba include the potential contribution of non-fossil fuels, such as battery metals, towards energy generation. These metals include, amongst others, lithium, nickel, copper, cobalt, vanadium, graphite and manganese that are earmarked for cleaner energy generation. This supports the need for the EGG unit to undertake geoscientific research, focussing on battery minerals. Delegates also gained valuable information on the following topics:

• Capital expansion projects and new mines in South Africa

• How modern mining can deliver enduring value for South Africa

• Materials that will benefit from the future energy landscape

• Ways in which mining companies can promote environmental and social responsibility and good governance.

The Honourable Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy, Mr Gwede Mantashe, presenting the Ministerial

keynote address.

CGS delegates who attended the 2019 Joburg Indaba were Sibongiseni Hlatshwayo (Manager, EGG unit),

Leahn Pieterse, Humphrey Mathe (Chairperson, CGS Board) and Keabetswe Lehong.

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Let’s hear it from the CGS interns!

Albie Steyn (Water and Environment) presenting on acid mine drainage and clogging in drill bits due to iron

and manganese build up and Valencia Mashiloane (Stakeholder Relations) presenting on how to manage

stakeholder relations.

The Council for Geoscience (CGS) held internship technical workshops on 17 and 22 October 2019 to grant CGS interns an opportunity to present their work in a constructive forum. The purpose of the workshops was to have the work evaluated by experienced scientists. Interns from both the scientific and support units of the CGS delivered presentations. The interns from regional units connected remotely to the auditorium at head office to present their work. The workshop was arranged by the Human Resources unit, supported by a panel of senior and specialist scientists consisting of Dr P. Cole, Dr J. Cole, Dr V. Midzi, Ms J. Leshomo, Dr C. Hatton, Mr N. Moabi, Mr R. Netshitungulwana, Dr S. Diop and Dr S. Nyale functioning as moderators.

The quality of the talks was extremely high and each presenter discussed his or her topic with confidence and showcased the ability to put together a well-balanced PowerPoint presentation. Talks covered topics ranging from geoscience mapping, economic geology, geochemistry, water and environment, engineering geohazards and geophysics to human resources and stakeholder relations. All presenters responded well to questions, further demonstrating the effectiveness of the CGS internship programme.

For more information contact:Thomas MuediGeoscience Mapping +27 (0)12 841 1089tmuedi@geoscience.org.zaTonia Mahloko and Fikiswa Jama presenting on their experiences and lessons learnt in the Human

Resources unit.

The CGS would like to thank all presenters for the talks they presented and looks forward to future contributions. In addition, the CGS would like to thank the organisers and the IT team for ensuring that the workshop proceeded despite equipment failures owing to electricity load shedding and other technical issues.

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16th South African Geophysical Association Biennial Conference and Exhibition

Ms Karabo Mphuthi staffing the CGS exhibition stand at the 16th SAGA Biennial Conference and Exhibition.

The Council for Geoscience (CGS) participated in the 16th South African Geophysical Association (SAGA) Biennial Conference and Exhibition from 6 to 9 October 2019 at the Southern Sun Elangeni and Maharani in Durban. CGS delegates were led by the Board Member, Mr Xoliswa Mvinjelwa, the CEO, Mr Mosa Mabuza and Dr David Khoza, Executive Manager: Applied Geoscience.

The theme of the conference, “Current Informing the Future”, was broadly aimed at challenging the SAGA 2019 participants to provide new angles of thought on approaches that can assist in solving problems in the future. The technical sessions held during the conference were an ideal platform to engage directly with partners, clients and industry experts to develop thinking and showcase brands.

The conference attracted a range of delegates who included mining juniors and majors, petroleum companies, geophysicists, geologists, hydrologists, geoscience consultants and service providers, geophysical contractors, geoscience researchers, mathematicians, software developers, university and industry academics and students and associated professional societies.

The CGS exhibited as a diamond sponsor. There were 227 registered participants from 23 countries. The CGS presence in terms of registered and participating delegates totalled 30 delegates, 20 presentations and 7 keynote presenters.

Plenary sessions

In a speech presented on behalf of the CEO in the opening plenary, the CGS highlighted the lack of transformation within the geophysical industry and urged the industry to embrace transformation for a better South Africa. The CGS noted the lack of black players in the airborne geophysics industry as an example.

The CGS also called for an end to antagonistic tendencies from some sectors of the industry with respect to the submission of geoscience datasets to the CGS as the mandated custodians according to the laws of the Republic of South Africa.

Technical sessions

The technical sessions had presenters touching on various geoscientific topics including mineral and groundwater exploration, earthquake seismology and advances in data acquisition, processing and interpretation with the use of drones, machine learning and artificial intelligence. The CGS keynote presenters were Dr David Khoza, Dr Nigel Hicks, Mr Emmanuel Chirenje, Dr Vunganai Midzi, Dr Martin Brandt, Dr Emmanuel Sakala and Dr Henk Coetzee. The CGS staff attended capacity building pre-conference training workshops on magnetotellurics, airborne electromagnetics and reflection seismics presented by internationally renowned experts. The SAGA 2019 conference sessions and workshops and lessons learnt were in line with the current CGS geoscientific technical programme projects such as the lithospheric studies in the Northern Cape, groundwater

SAGA President, Mr Emmanuel Chirenje, officially

opening SAGA 2019.

studies in the Eastern Cape and the KDD investigations where MT, airborne EM and seismics are proposed as the main non-invasive mapping tools. The CGS presenters at the technical sessions also took the opportunity to showcase the organisational scientific activities.

CGS exhibition

The CGS exhibition booth showcased and distributed promotional material for marketing purposes. The booth served as a central point of contact for the delegates and various stakeholders during the conference. Furthermore, the

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For more information contact:Emmanuel ChirenjeGeophysics and Remote Sensing+27 (0)12 841 1434echirenje@geoscience.org.za

Executive Manager, Dr David Khoza, presenting a

speech on behalf of the CGS Board and the CEO,

Mr Mosa Mabuza.

CGS Board Member, Mr Xoliswa Mvinjelwa,

addressing the delegates during the CGS question

and answer session.

SAGA 2019 Conference Chairperson, Ms Merriam

Mahlatji, leading the proceedings during the closing

ceremony.

Some of the CGS participants who attended SAGA 2019.

Dr Nigel Hicks (middle) receiving the Krugerrand Gold Coin price from SAGA President, Mr Emmanuel

Chirenje (left), for Best Keynote Presentation. The prize was sponsored by First Quantum Minerals,

represented by Dr Chris Wijns (right).

booth provided a variety of information about the current CGS projects and its contribution towards geophysics.

Various stakeholders such as consultants, academics and organisations visited the booth to enquire about the projects of the CGS. Students in particular engaged with the CGS delegates on career opportunities.

Social media platforms were used to communicate live proceedings as well as to engage with those attending the same sessions. Live Twitter and Facebook

feeds were generated during the sessions to update the public.

The conference provided a networking platform for CGS staff, and opened up opportunities for collaborative engagement in current and future projects and promoting geophysics in South Africa and the rest of Africa. The CGS was represented as the largest body employing geophysicists in South Africa and Africa. The delegates were also able to engage with industry manufacturers of state-of-the-art geophysical equipment. The CGS

exhibition and presentations promoted the visibility of the CGS brand and its commitment to scientific excellence.

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PanAfGeo mineral resource assessment training

Leahn Pieterse,

Tshilidzi Mudau,

Connie Setladi, Given

Lebea and Keabetswe

Lehong attended the

PanAfGeo mineral

resource assessment

training.

Pan-African Geoscience (PanAfGeo) is an European Union–African initiative of which the sole mandate is to improve the geoscientific knowledge and skills of scientists working for African geological surveys by facilitating training sessions and workshops. Training is offered in the following geoscientific domains: geoscientific mapping, mineral resource assessment, artisanal and small-scale mining, environmental management of mines, geohazards, geoheritage and geoscientific information management. In addition, trainees are exposed to the use of satellite imagery, the creation of digital maps, geochemistry and analytical chemistry, economic geology, mineral exploration and geological mapping. PanAfGeo training sessions are tailormade for the African continent, focussing on Africa’s diverse mineral wealth and issues facing mining countries as a result of their mineral wealth and the subsequent exploitation of the resources.

Scientists from the Council for Geoscience (CGS) attended the WP2 mineral resource assessment training session held in Lobatse, Botswana from 9 to 20 September 2019. The scientists who attended the training were Ms Connie Setladi, Ms Keabetswe Lehong, Ms Tshilidzi Mudau, Ms Leahn Pieterse and Mr Given Lebea. The training was attended by 20 delegates from the geological surveys of seven countries, namely Angola, Cameroon, South Africa, Kenya, Sudan, Botswana and Ghana. The main aim of the mineral resource assessment training was to enhance the skills and knowledge of the delegates on mineral resources and to provide guidelines in the evaluation of the minerals of Africa. The training further explored sustainable governance and the exploitation of mineral resources by numerous stakeholders. The training was coordinated by the Geological Survey of Finland (GTK) with assistance by the Botswana Geological Institute. The training programme was presented by

For more information contact:Connie SetladiEconomic Geology and Geochemistry +27 (0)12 841 1106msetladi@geoscience.org.za

two senior geologists from the GTK, Dr Eilu Pasi and Dr Karinen Tuomo.

The primary content of the WP2 mineral resource assessment training was presented in the form of lectures that included theoretical sessions and practical exercises aimed at enhancing trainees’ understanding of the following:

• Evaluation of different types of deposits: gold, nickel, platinum-palladium, diamond, rare metals, titanium, uranium, vanadium, industrial minerals and agrominerals

• Prospectivity mapping, assessment of undiscovered resources

• Mineral exploration and methods, core logging and mineral resource reporting

• Value chain of a mining project

• Presentations of the local geology and mineral deposits by local trainers

• Promoting and attracting investments into minerals, mineral potential and other resources

• Understanding the international mining sector as well as indices used to measure the attractiveness of a country

• Sustainable management of resources.

The trainees were given the opportunity to present research from their respective geological surveys. A total of eight presentations where shared, with the CGS delegates presenting the findings of a research project focussing on copper deposits in the Northern Cape Province, South Africa.

The training provided information relating to the characterisation of mineral systems, new ways of generating numerical estimates and the use of geological evidence in delineating mineral potential areas. The training also provided trainees with insight and expertise on effective methods to follow when assessing the mineral resources of a country. In addition, attending the training served as a networking platform and created potential for future collaboration between the CGS and other geological surveys.

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16th Groundwater Division (GWD) Conference and Exhibition

Ms Joyce Leshomo, Dr Emmanuel Sakala, Mr Matome Sekiba, Ms Lufuno Ligavha-Mbelengwa, Ms Tebogo

Mello, Mr Humberto Saeze, Ms Pamela Nolakana and Ms Phathu Nemaxwi representing the CGS at the

16th Groundwater Division (GWD) Conference and Exhibition.

The 16th Groundwater Division (GWD) Conference and Exhibition was held at the Boardwalk International Convention Centre in Port Elizabeth from 20 to 23 October 2019. The theme for the biennial conference was “Water Demand versus Water Availability and Use — The Key Challenge”. The topics of discussion were groundwater drilling (site selection, borehole construction, pump testing and water quality testing), groundwater management (recharge versus abstraction, groundwater monitoring, cooperation between private groundwater users and the water service providers/authorities), water conservation (bridging the gap between water availability and water use, efficient water usage, addressing user expectations versus water availability) as well as water surety/security (key aspects to be aware of when businesses, enterprises or institutions absolutely depend on the constant availability of water).

The objective of the conference was to provide a platform where various sectors dependent on water were able to convene to learn and share ideas, experiences, challenges and solutions pertaining to groundwater as a sustainable source. The Council for Geoscience (CGS) was represented by Dr Emmanuel Sakala, Ms Joyce Leshomo, Mr Matome Sekiba, Ms Phathu Nemaxwi, Ms Lufuno Ligavha-Mbelengwa, Ms Pamela Nolakana, Ms Olma Makonto, Mr Humberto Saeze and Ms Tebogo Mello.

Ms Joyce Leshomo delivered an oral presentation on groundwater risk mapping in the Karoo Uranium Province in South Africa while Dr Emmanuel Sakala presented on the automation of the interpretation of geoelectrical resistivity using artificial intelligence. Mr Matome Sekiba delivered an oral presentation on airborne and ground geophysical surveys used to investigate the deep geology and geohydrology in the Beaufort West area. Furthermore, Ms Olma Makonto presented a poster on hydrogeochemical mapping in the Kuruman River catchment.

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For more information contact:Tebogo MelloWater and Environment+27 (0)12 841 1031tmello@geoscience.org.za

Mr Humberto Saeze presented on the hydrochemical characterisation of groundwater in the Evander goldfields in Mpumalanga.

Poster presentations were delivered by Ms Lufuno Ligavha-Mbelengwa on the characterisation of aquifers in Beaufort West and Ms Olma Makonto on hydrogeochemical mapping in the Kuruman River catchment of the Northern Cape Province. Ms Tebogo Mello presented on the establishment of sources of water in the mine voids of the East Rand goldfields using stable water isotopes and environmental tracers, Ms Phathu Nemaxwi on 1:100 000 hydrogeological mapping: Kuruman Map Sheet 2723A while Ms Pamela Nolakana outlined the establishment of groundwater chemistry in shallow aquifers in Beaufort West.

The conference was concluded with a field trip undertaken to a site in the Coega Kop wellfield located approximately 20 km north of Port Elizabeth. The site consists of six boreholes drilled for the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality in 2018/19.

The boreholes were drilled to explore alternative sources of water, following the 2010 drought in the municipal area. Water will be extracted from these boreholes and treated for human consumption.

Conference delegates visiting the Coega Kop wellfield where two artesian boreholes were opened.

Artesian boreholes of the Coega

Kop wellfield yielding large volumes

of water.

The boreholes were drilled on a steeply dipping fault and the combined blow yield is 357 L/s. In order to observe the artesian flows, two boreholes were opened during the site visit and large volumes of water gushed out of the holes as soon as the valves were loosened.

The conference highlighted the significance of proper management and protection of the country’s groundwater resources, particularly in view of the drought in various parts of the country.

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For more information contact:Ndivhuwo Cecilia MukosiGeoscience Mapping+27 (0)15 295 3471cmukosi@geoscience.org.za

Women in Geoscience workshop in 2020

Ms Ndivhuwo Cecilia Mukosi.

The African Association of Women in Geosciences (AAWG), together with the Young Earth Scientists (YES) Network and the Council for Geoscience (CGS), will be hosting the “Women in Geoscience” workshop under the theme

Female geoscientist Ms Ndivhuwo Cecilia Mukosi mapping alkaline ring complexes in southern Namibia.

“Geoscience for Society” during the 36th International Geological Congress to be held in India in March 2020.

Women are generally underrepresented in the geosciences, and often face gender-specific challenges while pursuing their academic degrees or upon entering the workforce. This workshop will focus on these challenges and offer opportunities for female geoscientists to connect and network with one other. After a brief introduction from several associations that help to promote the development of female geoscientists, the workshop will feature three keynote speakers, offering their perspectives on what it means to be a successful geoscientist while overcoming stigmas and cultural, political and socio-economic hardships. The keynote presentations will be followed by small group discussions where participants will examine several key issues and propose resolutions for each topic. The small groups will share

their findings with the other participants, leading to a larger conversation about various topics. The workshop will provide students and early-career geoscientists with a variety of thought-provoking themes and the necessary information to enable them to advance in the field of the geosciences.

This workshop will be convened by Ms Ndivhuwo Cecilia Mukosi (CGS), Prof. Ezzoura Errami (President of AAWG, Morocco) and Dr Tanvi Arora (36th IGC LOC, former YES Network Secretary General, India).

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Sustainable development in practice: lessons in balancing nature’s steady states with human needs and requirements, Port Elizabeth. A brief geohistory of the greater Marine Drive, Algoa Bay

Marine Drive is a 24 km stretch of wonder that traverses the southern Cape of Algoa Bay between the M4 terminus and the picturesque seaside village of Schoenmakerskop (3). At its eastern end, the route snakes along the edge of the sea along the suburbs of Humewood (15) and Summerstrand (16), and skirts the inland boundary of the Cape Recife Nature Reserve (8). Continuing west through indigenous coastal forests towards Noordhoek (7), the route once again hugs

Google Earth image showing the following localities referred to in the text: 1. Classen Point; 2. Sardinia Bay; 3. Schoenmakerskop; 4. Mangold’s Pool; 5. The Willows

(Resort); 6. Chelsea Point; 7. Noordhoek; 8. Cape Recife; 9. Cape Recife Settling Ponds; 10. Pollock Beach; 11. Shark Rock Pier; 12. Sand trap pier; 13. King’s Beach;

14. Port Elizabeth harbour; 15. Humewood; 16. Summerstrand. The Headland Bypass Dune Fields of The Driftsands, Noordhoek and Cape Recife are also indicated.

Shelley Bay is the bay between localities 7 and 8. The M4 is also known as the Settlers Highway, the M9 as Heug/Buffelsfontein Roads and the M18 is Victoria Drive/10th

Avenue, Walmer through to Marine Drive, Summerstrand.

the coastline, offering spectacular views of upturned (inclined) whitish quartzite of the Peninsula Formation and the greeny-brown quartzites, conglomerates and pyllites of the Sardinia Bay Formation. An abrupt change representing a geological contact between two groups of rocks with similar formative characteristics occurs at Mangold’s Pool (4). Schoenmakerskop (3) represents the eastern terminus of the Sardinia Bay Marine Protected Area (2).

Schoenmakerskop (3) is one of the sunset-on-sea spots in Port Elizabeth and the resting place of one of the 40 cannons salvaged from the Sacramento wreck in 1977. The ill-fated Portuguese galleon sank off Devil’s Reef in June 1647, leaving 72 survivors, among whom only nine survived the final six month long, 1 300 km trek to Delagoa Bay in Maputo.

Marine Drive is not only a melting pot of tourist, student and local activities, but

GeoClips I 11Geoclips - Volume 59 - December 2019

Image derived

from the web

showing a historical

aerial view of the

Driftsands Headland

Bypass Dune

Field occupying

the suburbs

of Humewood

and Summerstrand.

is also an area where the interrelations between geological processes and human activity can be observed and traced within human time scales.

Cape Recife (8) is the southern terminus of the half-heart Algoa Bay and forms a peninsula that is home to several natural sand bypass systems that transfer sand from St Francis Bay into Algoa Bay. The super highway bypassing sand from Sardinia Bay (2) into Algoa Bay is the Driftsands Headland Bypass System (2). There are also two smaller secondary bypass dune fields — the Noordhoek Bypass System (7–8), which transported sand across the peninsula, and the Cape Recife System (8), which bypasses the tip of Cape Recife.

Beaches are formed by longshore drift, which works in conjunction with the easterly sea currents and represents one of the main processes by which sand and sediment are carried along the shorelines. Sand is washed up onto land and is blown by the prevailing westerly winds to form dune fields immediately downwind of the beaches. Along this part of the coastline, longshore drift, together with continuous sand supplies, coupled with prevailing winds, has caused singular dunes and groups of dunes to coalesce into dune fields; these are much more

efficient and faster in transporting large sand volumes (compared to longshore drift) from bay to bay. The prevailing westerly winds have nudged these dune fields eastwards across the Cape, dumping ~170 000 m3 of sand annually onto the Algoa Bay shoreline.

By far the largest contributor to the sand budget was the Driftsands Dune Field (2). However, largely owing to concerns of northward dune field migration into the main Port Elizabeth harbour (14), dune stabilisation measures were employed, which then paved the way for the development of the suburbs of Summerstrand and Humewood. Two-pronged stabilisation measures were employed between 1870 and 1890. In the west, sand sources to the dune field were tracked and severed; in the east, the leading edge of the dune field was choked with city rubbish. In addition to Rooikrans, Port Jackson and Eucalyptus trees were planted (partially as a commercial benefit); Acacia and rye and pipe grass were also planted. These measures paid off in the early 1900s and, by the 1930s, suburbs began to expand into the area.

Extensive reclamation occurred from the 1970s onwards to prevent the suburbs from being choked with sand. As the city expanded, sewerage

settling ponds (9) were built at Cape Recife but also downwind of the Noordhoek Headland Bypass Dune Field (7–8). From the 1960s, stabilisation measures employed led to the stabilisation of the Noordhoek dune field by the turn of the decade.

The smallest headland bypass dune field is at Cape Recife (8) which is an active example of how sand is detoured across the headland. Older, but vegetated, east–west-trending dune ridges show that this ancient system has been active during at least the last 6 500 years.

Once these dune bypass systems were stabilised, sand supply to beaches along Algoa Bay (but especially along the Port Elizabeth beachfront (10–13)) was cut off. This meant that Algoa Bay — which was used to receiving the 19 million 5 litre bottles of sand (or a volume of just over 5 700 dump trucks) — was suddenly receiving no inputs. Such a drastic change, to a negative sand budget, caused severe erosion, eradicating once beautiful and bountiful beaches and leaving behind bare, rocky shorelines along the greater Algoa Bay area.

To curb the erosion caused by longshore drift, a sand trap was constructed in the form of a lesser-

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Private Bag X112, Pretoria 0001, South Africa / 280 Pretoria Street, Silverton, Pretoria 0184, South AfricaTel: +27 (0)12 841 1911 / Fax: +27 (0)12 841 1221 / www.geoscience.org.za

For more information contact:Vindina MithaMapping Geoscience+27 (0)41 581 1156/64 vmitha@geoscience.org.za

known pier (12) that juts out as a couple of pylons southeast of the Port Elizabeth harbour and north of the Shark Rock Pier (11). Since its construction, the pier has disrupted longshore drift to such an extent that

Shark Rock Pier (top) was built as a breakwater for the main Port Elizabeth harbour. The lesser-known “sand trap” pier (bottom) was built to curb erosion caused

as a consequence of dune stabilisation.

King’s Beach (13) has grown by 800 m in the 80-odd years of existence, forming an artificial beach. Similarly, the Shark Rock Pier (which was constructed in the 1930s as the harbour breakwater), functions as a sand trap.