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Geology professor remembered after succumbing to Covid-19

An image of Morris Viljoen

Morris Viljoen

24th August 2021

By: Donna Slater

Features Deputy Editor and Chief Photographer

     

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South African geologist Professor Morris Viljoen, who was also the uncle of AfriTin CEO Anthony Viljoen, succumbed to Covid-19 complications on August 19, with Anthony remembering his uncle for his “truly iconic” contributions to the South African mining and geology industries.

Anthony says Morris’ contributions will leave a lasting legacy in the geoscience world, which will be spoken about, learnt and practiced for generations to come.

Morris’ twin brother Professor Richard Viljoen says Morris was one of South Africa’s leading earth scientists, known worldwide for his outstanding achievements and contributions to many facets of geology.

“In an illustrious career spanning 60 years, he made huge contributions both as an academic and economic geologist in the mining industry. He documented every project or assignment with which he was involved with much of the information being published in peer reviewed journals, with some 80 papers providing a record of his career and outstanding achievements,” says Richard.

He adds that Morris’ passion for geology was “boundless” and up to the time of his passing, he was involved in documenting and promoting geoheritage and mining heritage in South Africa for geotourism and educational purposes.

In the late 1960s, as part of Morris’ PhD studies at the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits), Richard says, Morris mapped large parts of the Barberton Greenstone Belt together with him. This mapping led to Morris being the co-discoverer of an entirely new class of igneous rock, which he and Richard termed “Komatiite”, after the Komati River.

“These rocks have subsequently been found in the greenstone belts of all continents [as has] their association with major nickel and gold deposits, together with many other features of interest, such as the nature of the early earth,” says Richard.

He adds that Komatiites also point to the existence of early life, which has led to a huge amount of research in the more than 50 years since Komatiites were first recognised.

CAREER
Morris joined JCI in 1970 and established the fundamental geological research unit together with Richard.

Here, Richard says, the mandate was to go out and find new mines for the company. This involved extensive travels to Southern African countries, as well as globally, aimed at identifying exploration targets.

“An important aspect of this job entailed the use of satellite and airborne photographic and thermal imagery. [Morris] became an expert in the interpretations of what became the cornerstone for many exploration programmes.”

Following this, Morris became involved in JCI’s ongoing exploration and brownfield projects and made significant contributions, particularly in geological orebody modelling and resource estimations.

Richard says Morris made similar contributions when he became consulting geologist for Rustenburg Platinum, the forerunner of Anglo American Platinum, and a subsidiary of JCI.

“He became an authority on the Merensky reef and its platinum group element distribution patterns, publishing a number of papers on this work, as well as on similar studies he had conducted on the gold bearing upper Elsburg reefs of the West Rand Goldfields.”

In 1990, Morris was appointed as Wits mining geology professor, where he introduced a course in mining and environment, as well as a centre for applied mining and exploration geology (Cameg).

“He was a superb lecturer, always stressing the importance of a thorough understanding of the geology of an orebody before any meaningful assessment of grade distribution patterns, resource estimates and appropriate mining and extraction methods could be made,” says Richard.

“With his pleasant manner, unselfishness and ability to connect with students and develop skills, [Morris] became an excellent mentor to the many geoscientists and mining engineers he trained during his tenure at Wits,” adds Richard.

Through Cameg, and after his retirement from Wits, Morris and Richard played an instrumental role in the generation of many exploration targets, several of which have developed into advanced prospects and operating mines.

In 2010, Morris was one of the co-founders of VM Investment Company (VMIC), joined by Richard and Richard’s son Anthony, as well as current Bushveld Minerals CEO Fortune Mojapelo.

VMIC laid the foundation for the establishment of Bushveld Minerals and AfriTin as fully operational Aim-listed mining companies.

The geological base on which Bushveld and AfriTin were built, was the work of Morris and Richard.

Further, Morris was highly respected by his peers and was a fellow of the Geological Society of South Africa (GSSA) where he served as president in 1988, the Southern African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy and the Royal Society of South Africa.

Besides his published papers, Morris authored and co-authored geoscientific books and made significant contributions to the legacy projects of the thirty-fifth International Geological Congress held in Cape Town in 2016, where two books were produced and published and where he also led a number of successful field trips.

Morris was also the recipient of a number of prestigious awards, including the Captain Scott Medal for the best MSc thesis, the Lindgren Award from the Society of Economic Geologists in the US for excellence in economic geology research, and the Draper Memorial Medal – the highest award of the GSSA. The latter two awards were made jointly with Richard.

“With the passing of Professor Morris Viljoen, a huge pillar of the geological fraternity has fallen. He will be sorely missed but we take comfort in the fact that our memories of him will live on in the amazing legacy that he has created,” concludes Richard.

Edited by Chanel de Bruyn
Creamer Media Senior Deputy Editor Online

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