Wits launches the Earth Observatory and CORES
- Wits University
The University of the Witwatersrand has launched two initiatives that place Africa at the centre of global earth-science innovation.
The Earth Observatory and the African Research Centre for Ore Systems Science (CORES) are a significant step towards a more responsible, inclusive, sustainable and technologically advanced minerals sector.
The Earth Observatory, housed within the Wits School of Geosciences, is the only facility of its kind on the African continent. Its facilities enable a range of cutting-edge geoanalytical techniques, including sample preparation and geometallurgy, as well as isotopic and geophysical analysis. The Observatory’s advanced instrumentation is not all available anywhere else in Africa. For example, automated mineralogy and U-Pb age-determination systems allow researchers, students, and industry collaborators to explore Earth’s deep history and identify resources vital to the clean-energy transition.
South Africa’s mineral wealth is written in some of the oldest rocks on Earth. The Kaapvaal Craton, Barberton Greenstone Belt, and Vredefort Dome tell a 3.5-billion-year story of planetary evolution, meteorite impacts, and mineral formation. For more than a century, Wits scientists have been instrumental in decoding that record.
Wits scientists have shaped the world’s understanding of how the planet’s earliest crust formed and how those ancient processes underpin today’s mineral wealth. The Earth Observatory extends this legacy, translating deep-time knowledge into future sustainability.
Opening the event, Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Research and Innovation, Professor Lynn Morris said the launches symbolised how Wits research “connects the past, present, and future through science that directly serves society.” She noted that Africa’s resource landscape, when guided by ethical, data-driven research, “can drive innovation, sustainability, and opportunity for generations to come.”
From ore to AI
A complementary initiative, the African Research Centre for Ore Systems Science (CORES), will lead the integration of economic geology, extractive processes, and data-driven innovation.
“We meet in the second quarter of the 21st century with fresh challenges and opportunities,” said Professor Glen Nwaila, Director of CORES. “Decarbonisation, energy security, and resilient supply chains hinge on critical minerals. Communities rightly demand that mining be safer, cleaner, and more transparent. CORES is our instrument for that work. We aim to bridge the gap between ore, process, product, and waste through geoscience, engineering, and data science.”
Nwaila noted that CORES’ predecessor, the Economic Geology Research Institute (EGRI), taught the world how to read ancient rocks, but CORES will help the world make better decisions under uncertainty.
The climate crisis and geosciences reimagined
“The climate crisis presents a compelling reason to dedicate a career to geosciences,” said Professor Grant Bybee, Head of the Wits School of Geosciences. He noted that geoscientists, working alongside a responsible mining industry, will facilitate a just and sustainable transition by ensuring the ethical sourcing of critical metals such as lithium, nickel, and copper.
He added that Wits’ heritage continues to evolve: “For over 120 years, Geosciences has shaped industries and scientific frontiers. We will continue to demonstrate that geoscience is indispensable to sustainability and to deliver graduates ready to secure the metals and knowledge that will power a just, green future.”
Bybee honoured the Earth Observatory’s researchers and operations staff who perform and facilitate cutting-edge research, inspiring the next generation of geoscientists. “Every lecturer, technician, and administrator here contributes to South Africa’s scientific future.”
Celebrating collaboration
The launch event, themed Earth, Elements and Innovation, included mining and technology industry leaders and partners, as well as representation from the Minerals Council South Africa. The evening concluded with guided tours of the Earth Observatory and CORES facilities, showcasing this one-of-a-kind facility in Africa, as well as the collaborative ecosystem that enables it.
“These initiatives,” said Morris in closing, “show how science, sustainability, and society can converge. Wits not only contributes to global knowledge, but leads it.”