MSc STUDENTS

Accumulation behaviours and taphonomic signatures for extant black eagle nests, Aquila verreauxii, in southern Africa.

BLACKBEARD, Marc

A re-examination of the rare Triassic Dinosaur, Eucnemesaurus based on an
articulated skeleton from the Eastern Cape

BOUNTALIS, Alexandra

Cave usage and the implications of multiple taphonomic agents on a faunal assemblage.

The project started in 2010 and is supervised by Dr. Kuhn.

BURRI, Nicole

Depositional history, chronology and climate of the western margin of the Nyls River floodplain, South Africa.

The project started in 2010 and is supervised by Prof. McCarthy.

CHUNNETT, Gordon

Exploration and development of the Styldrift platinum mining prospect in the western Bushveld Complex.

The project is supervised by Prof. Wilson.

COHEN, Brigett

Actualistic investigation of bone modification on mesomammals by mammalian and avian predators: an insight to the Taphonomy of Cooper’s Cave, South Africa.

The project started in 2011 and is supervised by Dr. Backwell.

COLAROSSI, Debra

Geology and geochronology of the Nyl River floodplain sediments, Limpopo Province, South Africa.

The project started in 2011 and is supervised by Prof. McCarthy and Mrs Evans.

DESETA, Natalie

Constraints on the formation of ultramafic and mafic pseudotachylytes in the Schistes Lustre Complex, Corsica.

The project started in 2009 and is supervised by Prof. Ashwal.

FUNYUFUNYU, Todani

The artisanal mining history of the Dem region, Burkina Faso: The geochronology, mining, processing and production of iron ore.

The project started in 2010 and is supervised by Prof. Ncube-Hein.

U / Pb and ⁴⁰Ar / ³⁹Ar geochronology of the Palaeoproterozoic Magondi Supergroup, Zimbabwe.The project started in 2011 and is supervised by Dr. Master.

HAVENGA, Miranda

A structural analysis of the geophysical relationship between linear features and plug-like bodies of sheets 2229ab and 2229ad in the Limpopo Province, South Africa.

The project (part-time) was started in 2006, and the thesis submitted March 2012. It was supervised by Dr. Webb and Prof. Barton (UJ).

HOUGHTON, Kimberley

Is articular morphology of the calcaneus indicative of the different locomotor mode and foot posture among primates?

The project started in 2011 and is supervised by Dr. Carlson and Dr. Zipfel.

JIRAH, Sifelani

Stratigraphy and sedmentology of the Tapinocephalus Assemblage Zone in an area aroung Merweville, South Africa, supervised by Prof. Rubidge.

The project involves mapping out the lithology of the study area, measuring the stratigraphic section of the entire Abrahamskraal Formation in this southwestern corner of the Karoo basin, then collecting fossils and plotting them together with those already in the database to determine ranges for the different taxa in this stratigraphic succession.

KEELING, Rachelle

Do the Australopithecus sediba fossils, found at the Malapa cave site, contain soft tissue?

The project started in 2010 and is supervised by Prof Berger and Dr. de Clerk.

KHOZA, Tshepo

Electromagnetic imaging of the Southern African lithosphere. The project is supervised by Dr. Webb.

LEDWABA, Lesiba

Seismic damage mechanisms at Impala Platinum Mines.

The project is supervised by Prof. Durrheim. Thesis submitted April 2012.

A geophysical investigation into the geology, geometry and the hydrological effects of the South African Pilanesberg Complex and related dykes. The project started in 2012, and is supervised by Dr. Webb.

The intrusion geometry of the Pilanesberg Complex into the Bushveld Complex is investigated using 3D gravity modelling, while the age and intrusive relationship of the Pilanesberg Complex and the Pilanesberg dyke swarm is constrained with geochronology and paleomagnetism.

LESHOMO, Joyce

The project started in 2009 (part-time) and is supervised by Dr. Abiye.

LOOTS, Leticia

Processing and interpretation of a reflection seismic profile across the Cape Fold Belt.

The (part-time) project is supervised by Prof. Durrheim.

Analysis of pre- and impact-induced geological structures in the northern collar of the Vredefort Dome, South Africa.

The project is supervised by Prof. Ncube-Hein and Prof. Gibson.

This study focuses on the nature of pre-Vredefort impact structures in the northern collar, and the timing and character of pseudotachylitic breccia associated with the collar structures.

MATSHEKA, Ratanang

Character, morphology and origin of gold from selected mines in the Yatela and Sadiola goldfields, Mali.

The project started in 2010 and is supervised by Prof. Ncube-Hein.

The character of gold mineralisation at the Yatela mine is different from that encountered anywhere else in the West African Craton. Beziat et al. identified two styles of gold mineralisation for the WAC including quartz-vein and disseminated styles in Burkina Faso. However, gold at Sadiola, Tabakoto and perhaps Segala (all in western Mali) has been classified as intrusive related or skarn related by Theron and Hein based on its spatial and temporal association with the emplacement of local plutons, as stratabound at Loulo because auriferous quartz veins are confined to tourmaline-rich sandstone. In Ghana, gold mineralisation is hosted in shear zones or the immediate hanging wall and footwall to shears. Gold in the Tarkwa succession in Ghana is classified as placer as are numerous occurrences of placer gold in the Phanerozoic palaeo-channels throughout the WAC. Gold mineralisation at Essakane, Gossey, Korizéna and Falagountou orpaillages (artisan) sites in NE Burkina Faso is classified as lode-veinstockwork type gold.

McCLYMONT, Juliet

An analysis of endurance running potential in extant and extinct hominoids: distinguishing the differential locomotor mechanics between hominins.

The project started in 2011 and is supervised by Dr. Zipfel.

African Plate Project, supervised by Dr. Master.

NCUBE, Sinikwe

The petrogenesis and origin of ultramafic enclaves in the Unki mining area of the Great Dyke, Zimbabwe.

The project started in 2010 and is supervised by Prof. Wilson.

NGOBENI, D. David

Hydrogeophysical investigation of the impact of invasive tree species on Groundwater at the Dayspring Children's Village, South Africa. Thesis submitted April 2012.

NORTON, Luke

Taxonomic revision of the rubidgeid gorgonopsians (Gorgonopsia, Synapsida) using modern morphometric and phylogenetic techniques.

The project started in 2008 and is supervised by Prof. Rubidge and Dr. Abdala

An investigation to empirically determine the effect of ants, dermestid beetles and termites on modern and fossil faunal remains.

The project started in 2011 and is supervised by Dr. Backwell and Dr. McKay.

The volcanology of the Goren greenstone belt in Burkina Faso and its potential for base metal deposits, supervised by Prof. Hein and Prof. McPhie.

This project includes geochemical, petrographical and field studies. It also involves the delineation of volcanic facies using lithological relationships in the field, volcanic textures and composition.

Basin Analysis, Palaeontology and Biostratigraphy of the Early to Middle Devonian Bokkeveld Group (Cape Supergroup), Western Cape, South Africa. The project is supervised by Prof. Rubidge, Dr. Zinnah, and Dr. Almond.

Worldwide the Devonian Period is marked by the en masse colonisation and diversification of terrestrial embryophytes, the so called ‘Devonian Explosion’.  Body fossils, as well as ichnofossils indicate that by the Late Devonian to Early Carboniferous, fully terrestrial adapted arthropods (the arachnids, isopods, myriapods and hexapods), as well as tetrapods, were adapted to living on land. In the oceans, fish too underwent radiation with many ancient orders existing concomitantly with more derived orders, in particular actinopterygiian and sarcopterygiian fish as well as true sharks (Neoselachii).  Ammonoid cephalopods also made their first appearance during the Devonian Period.  From palaeontological evidence, rocks of the South African Bokkeveld Group (Cape Supergroup) are considered to have been deposited between the Early to Middle Devonian. Considering the aerial extent of the Group, relatively little research has been undertaken on the sedimentology, stratigraphy and palaeontology of this very important aspect of the South African fossil record.  The rocks of the Bokkeveld Group contain a rich fossil fauna of Malvinokaffric Realm invertebrates, fish and plants. The Bokkeveld Group records sedimentation as a series of five upward coarsening cycles.  Initiation of each cycle is related to a combination of reduction in sediment supply and basin deepening, most likely from extensional subsidence.  Facies models also reveal the relative roles of deltaic and beach sedimentation in generating the five upward-coarsening cycles of the Bokkeveld Group.  Overall the Bokkeveld Group is a shallowing upward sequence with the overlying, conformable, and increasingly terrestrial Witteberg Group.  The pre-cursors and events leading up to potential terrestrial environments in the Witteberg Group, although hinted at by previous work done on the Bokkeveld Group, have not yet been recognised and remain a field of potential study.  This project aims to reassess the sedimentology of the Bokkeveld Group, in addition to discussing lithological relationships within a sequence stratigraphic framework in order to understand dynamics of the Cape Basin at time of sedimentation at three sections in the Cederberg Range, Western Cape.  Fossil assemblages of the Bokkeveld Group too shall be addressed as well as any temporal or spatial controls over their occurrences/ranges in order to discuss any environmental and/or ecologic controls present during this time frame.

WELA, S'Lindile

Lithological, petrographical and geochemical investigations of the M4 borehole, Morokweng Impact Structure, South Africa. The project started in 2010 and supervised by Prof. Gibson and Prof. Andreoli.

YOSSI, Mamadou

Regional structural interpretation using geophysical data from southern Mali and northern Guinea, West Africa craton. The project started in 2010 (part-time) and is supervised by Prof Ncube-Hein.

ZINTWANA, Masibule 

Room 213

Geosciences

Building

The Petrology and Geochemistry of the Marginal and Lower Zones of the Eastern Bushveld Complex, South Africa. The project started in 2011 and is supervised by Prof. Wilson.