We have finally got settled into Tsumeb. Been here for 4 weeks now, and are finally getting to know the town and where to go. It really is pretty little town, with parks and monuments, very friendly atmosphere, little crime. It is amazing how clean it is compared to the rest of southern africa. There is no litter anywhere, and the municipality does well to keep it that way. The environs are also amazing. I never knew that clouds could be so different from other places. The sunsets here are always wonderfull, and the clouds just seem to have an amazing effect.
We are living right on the edge of town, next to the airport that never gets used, so we are able to go walking through the bush often. The dog loves it!
Tsumeb is very quiet on the weekends, and as we are at work on the main street, we get to see the town dead. One Sunday, 5 hours went past before we saw a person walk down the street!
The project we have got going is quite interesting. It is another copper deposit, but with many more intersting things than the last one. We are trying to control mining at two different mines, as well as doing near mine exploration to try and find them something more to mine. Tsumeb mine is historically extremely important, in term of mineralogy. About 10 new minerals were described here, and it is the type locality for a further 20, and well as being the only place in the world where some are found. The main mine is now finished, and we are concentrating on the surrounding areas.
Our wonderfull purple house!
Cat sitting happily far away from dog.
Deserted main street with our offices to the right of the shaft.
The old shaft with some pretty clouds.
Our bunch: Vitek, Rainey, Jacques, me, Dy, Kath.
Sky above town.
A beautifull sunset, that looks as if an asteroid has hit the town.
Molten copper burning in the smelter 5m away. Quite hot!
Molten copper being poured
The hole we go into.
About to go in.
See, we do actually find stuff.
Me and Ina discussing rocks.
Rob being a real geologist.
Hard at work in the 50m long office
