Welcome to the Department of Geology!

Geology is a very broad field in science incorporating different aspects related to Earth, its history, and our present interaction with it. Energy, water and environment are the challenging topics for geoscientists in the 21^st century on a regional to global scale. South Africa’s energy and mineral resources need to be addressed in the context of global resource management to ensure sustainability. 

Many departments in South Africa and the world offer geology degrees and focus research that mostly on mining and economic geology. In our department we offer degree programmes in Geology, Hydrogeology and Engineering Geology, providing graduates sought after in industry, locally and abroad. Our graduates work wider than just mining given our department’s unique research focuses that go beyond our historical focuses.

We are still continuing our involvement in mining and stratigraphy in fine tuning and delineating stratigraphy by specialised researchers in our department. With all our specialists, focused research and teaching programmes we are all mostly geologists with a wide array of different specialities that make our department unique.

What Makes us Unique?

Our department plays a crucial role in contributing to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by providing a unique perspective on the interfaces between science and engineering, the natural and built environments, and the past, present, and future. One of the department’s primary research focusses lies in the study of gas dynamics. Initially centred on the vadose (unsaturated) zone, our investigations have expanded to encompass interactions between surface water, groundwater, and soil water in both natural and altered environments. This interdisciplinary approach bridges engineering geology and hydrogeology, enhancing our understanding of subsurface water-air systems, and notably urbanised and anthropogenically altered areas.

Our unique suite of specialised equipment enables precise measurements of radon (Rn) and hydrogen (H) concentrations in soils and water. These data serve various purposes, and our ongoing research reflects our commitment to advancing knowledge in this field. Radon, in conjunction with stable isotopes, aids in tracing water origins within surface water and groundwater. Meanwhile, hydrogen analysis informs us about the occurrence and migration of this gas through soils.

Additionally, our in-house statistician contributes a distinctive perspective to our research endeavours and educational programs. Furthermore, we explore emerging areas such as carbon capture and storage and paleoclimate science, positioning our department at the forefront of innovative environmental science. In addition, our economic geology helps in the search for critical elements that are urgently needed in the development of future technologies.    

Mission and Vision

The Department of Geology at the University of Pretoria fully endorses maintaining professional and ethical values in its teaching activities, research practices and community engagement. We regard it our duty to strive to produce graduates at all levels who are not only fully-trained geoscientists but also fully-rounded human beings with integrity. We aim to:

1. Be the most respected Geology Department on the African continent.
2. Be the best academic and professional output for engineering geologists and hydrogeologists on the African continent.
3. Produce excellent graduates who fully understand the tenets of geological science and can apply these to the practice of their profession with integrity and inquisitive minds, and who respect the environment;
4. Carry out internationally recognised research to the highest standards;
5. Serve our South African, African and global communities.