The Directorate of Geological Survey (DGS) is primarily responsible for facilitating and monitoring exploration activities in the country. It is also charged with the responsibility of managing the national geological information. DGS has the core responsibility to:
- provide operational management and leadership in establishing effective and cost efficient service delivery for a national geological survey.
- assess the technical content of work programmes ensuring that technical reports submitted by licence holders meet the required standards; and to provide feedback/recommendations to the Director of Licencing, Monitoring & Compliance
- promote the country’s mineral potential to the global mining community through the publication of information flyers, journal publications, and attendance at international mining events (e.g. Indaba, PDAC)
- prepare and publish educational materials, and undertake activities, to encourage general awareness of the sector and the public understanding of science
What We Do?
The Directorate of Geological Survey (DGS) of the National Minerals Agency (NMA) provides a framework of Geo-Science information on which exploration strategies can be developed so that potential investors will be attracted to invest in new exploration grounds in Sierra Leone. The DGS gives advice to the Minister of Mines and Mineral Resources on all geological matters and undertakes the geological mapping of Sierra Leone, it also provides operational management and leadership in establishing effective and cost efficient service delivery for the national geological survey, assess the technical content of work programme ensuring that technical reports submitted by mineral right holders meet the required standards and to provide feedback and recommendations to the Director of Mines.
The DGS promotes the country’s mineral potential to the global mining community through the publication of information flyers, journal publications and attendance at international mining events [e.g. Mining Indaba, West African Exploration Initiative (WAXI), Prospectors & Developers Association of Canada, (PDAC), etc.]. It is also charged with the responsibility of preparing and publishing educational materials and undertake activities to encourage general awareness of the mineral sector and the public understanding of earth science. DGS undertakes reconnaissance and exploration operations with a view to locating mineral deposits, compilation, publication, dissemination of data and information concerning the geological knowledge and mineral resources of Sierra Leone.
DGS is sub divided into the following units;
• Field Geology – Responsible for the generation of field data, evaluation, mapping, geochemical sampling, geo-physical activities – (Gather, evaluate, compile and interpret all sources of existing geological information including exploration company reports, previous work by the Geological Survey, and academic research).
• Geodata and Information Management Systems – Responsible for receiving, processing, storing, achieving, securing, presenting geo-science data, library and research management . Determine geological knowledge gaps and seek to obtain any missing data (published reports) from overseas geological libraries.
• Technical and Laboratory Services – Responsible for the identification, analysis and verification of minerals, rock, soil and stream geochemical samples.
• Geological Mapping and Analysis Management – Responsible for Geological Mapping and Analysis throughout Sierra Leone.
Purpose of the National Geological Survey
Developing the minerals sector in Sierra Leone requires a firm foundation of geological knowledge. It is only by providing a framework of high-quality geo-science information on which exploration strategies can be developed that mining companies will be attracted to invest in new exploration in Sierra Leone.
Our Strategic Objectives
We are providing excellent national geo-science information and promoting Sierra Leone’s very significant mineral potential through;
• Data compilation and evaluation
We gather, evaluate, compile and interpret all sources of existing geological information including exploration company reports, previous work by the Geological Survey, and academic research.
Determine geological knowledge gaps and seek to obtain any missing data (published reports) from overseas geological libraries.
• Compliance
Ensure license holders provide fully detailed exploration reports and relinquish licenses on which no exploration activities are ongoing.
