CANOPUS 01/07 - Southern African Meteorite Recovery Program

While two potential finds were returned to the University of the Witwatersrand Geology Department for analysis, none proved to be meteorites.

The team wish to thank the South African Heritage Resources Agency for kindly providing a permit to collect any meteorite finds in specific areas, and especially Ms Mary Leslie.

The staff of NECSA [Nuclear Energy Corporation of South Africa] are also thanked for their kind assistance, especially Dr Marco Andreoli [Pelindaba], Kobus Byleveld [Manager:Vaalputs Facility], and Rhona – who went out of her way to make our expedition one to remember, by providing a guided tour of the facility and local sights.

The expedition search area was defined by Dr Dion Brandt to be the Vaalputs National Nuclear Waste Disposal site about 100Km SE of Springbok in the Northern Cape.

A large scale satellite image was made available. This was scanned and used in situ.

Vaalputs is a large site [about 20Km on the long side] area split by a public road. The area to the West of the road [Garies] moves westward into mountains and includes the accommodation facilities. 1:50000 map number is 3018 Loeriesfontein.

Friday 13 April 2001	The team met at Florida and drove on the standard route to Potchefstroom, Klerksdorp, Wolmaraanstad, Schweizer-Reineke, Vryburg, Kuruman, Upington, Pofadder, Springbok then South to Vaalputs, arriving at 18:00. Rhona from the Vaalputs staff arrived to meet us.
Saturday 14	Rhona kindly provided a tour of the Vaalputs Nuclear Waste facility. We met the Dachshunds and their puppies, as well as the cat and the tame meerkat. We were shown the indigenous gardens, the pits and Rhona stopped in the road to collect a little tortoise for Jane. We performed the first meteorite search in the vicinity of the airfield, recovering one potential one [Peter Baxter – SA50, which turned out to be a concretion of some sort]. We saw leopard tracks and springbok. Rhona took us to see the museum and canyon behind the Stoflkoof camp site in the afternoon. We then did a hike which took in springbok, jackal and a quiver tree forest [kokerboom]. Some viewing was washed out by strong winds, which made the telescope unstable.
Sunday 15	Rhona took us to the big kokerboom and Quoi-San paintings. Another meteorite search at Vaalputs, during which team members saw a puffadder [Peter], a hare and tortoises. A spectacular sunset was duly photographed. Later Rhona and family arrived to view the sky, but we were clouded out.
Monday 16	In the morning we hunted for meteorites South of Stofkloof. Some took a different route and Paul, Lyn and I went back to find them. Saw the moon, Venus, sunspots in daylight viewing. In the pre-dawn sky saw M57.
Tuesday 17	Rob, Freda and Jane left. Started out at 05:15 to watch the sun rise at the canyon. Watched steenbok, brown duiker and heard an owl. Drove to Kap-Kap in the morning, a circular structure seen on the satellite image. Hunted in the area at the back of the Garing chalets. Lyn found almandine garnet. Had dinner [a braai] at chalets.
Wednesday 18	Peter, Eric and Paul left. Lyn, John and I still here. Had full breakfast at Garing after breaking camp, cooked by John and Lyn. Left on gravel road to Garies. John got stuck in sandy river bed crossing and we had to dig him out. Found a vein of haematite. Also found the Namaqualand Wollastonite Mine (PTY) at Garies. Travelled on the main road from Garies through Kamieskroon to Springbok. Camped at Namastad [R10.00/night]. It was noisy and John slept in a Nama hut.

Thursday 19	Late start. Visited Carolusberg Copper Mine [not much found]; followed by Hoit’s Mine [a bunch of mines together] – nice specimens; Stayed at Springbok Caravan Park [better] . Saw dassies and birds.
Friday 20	Traveled North from Springbok through Steinkopf to Port Nolloth. Saw Khoraans, Baboons and found Muscovite schist. Met up with chap who farms oysters, abalone and Knysna seahorses. John bought some oysters. John and I enjoyed fresh oysters that night. Later visited Steinkopf library where we saw their rock collection and the guy who donated them came round and sold me a quartz crystal, later taking us into the veld to collect some for ourselves. Stayed again at Springbok Caravan Park.
Saturday 21	Left Springbok and arrived at Black Mountain Mine, Aggenys. Mr. Pottie Potgieter, Chief Geologist showed us maps of the different ore bodies and gave us specimens. Then to Pofadder. Upington, Prieska, Douglas. Visited the confluence of the Orange and Vaal Rivers after sunset. Camped at Kimberley Caravan Park.
Sunday 22	Kimberley – Home. Saw rhinos and flamingoes.

This proved to be one of the nicest expeditions so far. The presence of Dr Buchanan gave us the confidence that we were looking for the right kind of material, even if we didn’t find a meteorite.

The next expedition will take place in a dune field North of Upington, but South of the Kalahari Gemsbok National Park. Dates will be announced closer to the time.