Paper Number: 1479
History of the Geology of
Malawi
Kamanga, T. 1 and Chisenga, C.2
1Geological Survey Department, P.O. box 27, Zomba, Malawi, tamarakamanga@gmail.com
2Malawi university of Science and Technology, P.O.Box 5196 limbe, Malawi, cchisenga@must.ac.mw
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The first reconnaissance survey of minerals in Malawi was carried out between 1906 and 1909. This reconnaissance work laid the foundations of present day knowledge of the geology of Malawi.
The Geological Survey Department of Malawi was established in 1922 after having recruited the first geologist in 1918. The systematic geological mapping of the country was instigated using topographic base maps between 1922 and 1939. In the late 1950's and early 1960's rigorous geological mapping of the country was conducted. By 1965, a regional geochemical drainage reconnaissance of the Central and Northern Regions were undertaken.
In 1970, a Mineral Exploration Unit was established within the Department and a year later an airborne geophysical survey of selected areas and ground follow-up surveys was conducted.
Upon attaining independence in 1964, Malawi’s policies hinged much on Agriculture; as a result there was a lack of mining culture, little local technical capacity and inadequate foreign and local investment which contributed to the slow development of the mineral sector.
In the mid 2000’s, the Government adopted a broad strategy for mining to contribute to economic diversification and this development formed part of the Malawi Growth and Development Strategy (2006-2010). In 2009, Malawi’s first prominent mine was commissioned.
It is against this background and those laid-down in the past that today Malawi Government is implementing several projects in the mining sector. Some of the activities implemented include data acquisition through country wide air borne geophysical Survey, Geological remapping and geochemical surveys.
Little has been documented on the history of the Geology of Malawi, and there is therefore need for more research to reconstruct it, hence this paper.