Advice and design for a 'Geolab', Geological Department, The Gambia

A visit to The Gambia was carried out by the British Geological Survey in December 2011 as part of the assistance offered to the Gambian Geological Department to establish a geological laboratory (referred to as the ‘GeoLab’). In order to establish the test work requirements for the GeoLab, a number of mineral deposits and operations were visited in the Greater Banjul Area. These included a building sand deposit in Batu Kunku, a heavy mineral sand deposit in Tujereng, heavy mineral processing operation in Sanyang North, brick clay operation in Bafuloto, the Marisa Brickworks and its clay deposit in Faraba Bant and the lateritic gravel quarrying area in Faraba Bant. In addition, companies and organisations with a stake in the establishment of a GeoLab at the Geological Department were consulted including Moukhtara Holdings Company Ltd, the Gambian Roads Authority, the Gambian Technical Training Institute and the National Environment Agency. It is recommended that a fully costed laboratory development plan is drawn up to encompass the equipment procurement, installation and commissioning; staff training; development of a test work programme; and maintenance of the test work capability. The mineral resources of The Gambia are limited and restricted to Upper Tertiary and Quaternary sedimentary sequences. The most significant are silica sand, heavy mineral sand, kaolin, brick clay, laterite and cockle shells. The top priority of the Geological Department is the identification and provision of information on construction materials especially for the Greater Banjul Area. It is recommended that the Geological Department establish a capability for the testing of brick and ceramic clay, building sand, cockle shells, construction aggregate, heavy mineral sand and imported mineral products. The proposed GeoLab will consist of four rooms including sample reception, sample preparation, mineral evaluation and storage. The recommended laboratory equipment includes balances (weighing equipment), a binocular microscope, clay testing equipment, a drying oven and furnace, general laboratory equipment and particle-size analysis equipment.