Abstract:
The karstified dolomites of the Chuniespoort Group are the only readily
available water resource for the expanding rural, urban and industrial complexes in Gauteng and
Rustenburg, South Africa. The importance of the aquifer is not matched with any sound scientific
based protection areas to prevent any potentially harmful activities from degrading the resource.
The present pressure on expansion of urban development onto dolomite is cause for major concern due
to the enormous potential for pollution of the dolomitic aquifers underlying these areas as well as
the renowned surface instability of South African dolomites.
The concept of vulnerability mapping is an important decision tool when expansion of urban areas
onto dolomitic land must be evaluated. This methodology was applied to the well known Cradle of
Humankind World Heritage Site. A combination of vulnerability maps with surface stability
classification systems, sharing a common database is proposed for a comprehensive risk assessment
of karst terrains.Brief
Biography of the Speaker:
- 1996: MSc in Geography ('Diplom'): Department of Geography, Ruhr-University of Bochum.
- 2001: PhD in Hydrogeology ('Dr.rer.nat.'): Department of Applied Geology, University of Karlsruhe.
Title of thesis: Investigation of contaminant transport in fractured rock with special emphasis on matrix diffusion.
- 2001 - 2003: Scientific assistant, Institute of Geology, University of Bonn.
- Since 2004: Senior Lecturer in Hydrogeology, Department of Geology, University of Pretoria, South Africa.
Research foci: Basement and karst aquifers
- Since 2007: Director, Water Geosciences Consulting, Pretoria, South Africa.
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