Shaping Our Understanding of the World: Africa, Exploration, and Member Connections

Lucía Torrado (editor@hgs.org)

Some stories demand attention, not only for their scientific merit, but for the subtle ways they shape our understanding of the world. This month’s Bulletin is one such collection, with a special focus on African geology in anticipation of the upcoming Africa Conference on October 24-25th (don’t forget to register!).

Having recently attended IMAGE 2025, it became clear that African contributions - from keynote talks to exhibit booths - are increasingly growing in geoscience research and exploration across the continent. A standout session, the Discovery Thinking Forum: Integrating Geology and Geophysics, highlighted major deep-water discoveries in Africa (among other places in the world) and underscored the importance of interdisciplinary approaches to understanding complex geological settings. It seemed only fitting, then, that this issue highlights both the rich geology of Africa and the innovative work emerging from its geoscientists.

Deep-water exploration in Africa is expanding rapidly, driven by high-profile discoveries in frontier areas such as Namibia, Senegal/Mauritania, and Côte d'Ivoire, alongside established hubs in West Africa. As explorers move into acreage where complex sedimentary systems hold untapped potential, the traditional focus on classic turbidite plays is widening to include the role of contourites: reservoirs, seals, and migration pathways every bit as critical as downslope systems. This shift is illustrated in this issue's Technical Article on mixed turbidite–contourite systems offshore South Africa and the Feature Article on Namibia's Orange Basin. Yet, sedimentary processes are only part of the story: crustal architecture and thermal history govern source-rock maturation and migration just as powerfully, a theme also underscored in this issue's extended abstract from Nigeria.

This holistic perspective- looking at both what is deposited and what lies beneath -echoes beyond hydrocarbons. In Senegal, for example, a Geoscientists Without Borders project featured in this Bulletin issue, used geophysics to locate scarce groundwater in crystalline terrain while training the next generation of geoscientists. It is a reminder that in the end, whether we are mapping contourite drifts offshore or aquifers onshore, the goal is the same: to deepen our understanding of the Earth and to use that knowledge to build a more resilient world.

Inspired by conference insights and designed to benefit HGS Members:

I am excited to introduce a new feature in the Bulletin, inspired by networking experience during IMAGE. At the conference, participants were sharing traditional business cards, but increasingly QR codes are being used to connect directly to professional profiles. This sparked the idea to include a similar concept in the Bulletin.

Members now have the opportunity to feature their own business cards with live links to their LinkedIn profiles, allowing colleagues to connect directly. This feature is designed to help HGS members showcase their expertise and network more effectively. As always, the Bulletin is created for our members, and contributions to this section are welcome.

Introducing Geo-Picks:

Geo-Picks is a new section showcasing recommendations from HGS members. Whether it's a fascinating museum exhibit, an insightful book, a thought-provoking documentary, or any resource that inspires or informs, Geo-Picks highlights tips and reviews from our geoscience community.

This section is all about sharing discoveries and providing practical or creative ideas that members can explore. Contributions are always welcome! If you have a favorite geoscience-related find or experience, let me know.

In This Issue of the Bulletin:

• Mapping Mixed Turbidite–Contourite Systems for Hydrocarbon Prospectivity in South Africa: The first Technical Article from the Petroleum Agency of South Africa uses high-resolution seismic data to map Mesozoic–Cenozoic mixed turbidite–contourite systems off the country's east coast, showing how structural highs and currents shaped sediment pathways and created features important for hydrocarbon prospectivity.
  
  
• Continent-Ocean Transition and Hydrocarbon Prospectivity of the Deep-water Niger Delta Margin, West Africa: From the IMAGE conference, an extended abstract on the Niger Delta Basin reveals three distinct crustal types beneath the basin. By integrating deep-penetrating seismic, gravity, magnetic, and well data, the study shows how these domains control heat flow and source-rock maturation. It highlights newly mapped rifts and extensive proto-oceanic crust offshore, pointing to untapped Cretaceous deep-water fairways with significant oil and gas potential.
  
  
• The Seven Sisters of the Orange Basin, Namibia: Guiding Hydrocarbon Exploration: A study from Namibia examines seven distinct depositional systems of Cretaceous sands in the Orange Basin and their significance for hydrocarbon exploration. This Feature Article narrates how turbidity currents, slope processes, and structural highs controlled sand accumulation from the shelf to the basin floor, creating complex sequences of potential reservoir sands. Recognizing these systems, the authors argue, is key to identifying drilling targets in this geologically dynamic region.
  
  
• Geoscientists Without Borders: Advancing Groundwater Research and Student Training in Senegal: In this Feature Article from Senegal, a Geoscientists Without Borders project mapped groundwater potential in the south-eastern crystalline terrain using electrical resistivity tomography, transient electromagnetic methods, and long-range wireless sensors. The project paired technical surveys with hands-on training for master's students at Cheikh Anta Diop University, supporting sustainable water management, quality education, and international partnerships.
  
  
• Pivot Profile: From Environmental Geology to Real Estate: Meet Atif Hariz, a geoscientist-turned-realtor who brings a unique perspective to real estate by applying his background in geology, environmental consulting, and procurement. This profile highlights Atif's career pivot, global experience, and data-driven approach to helping clients make informed, confident property decisions.
  
  
• Geo-Picks: Inaugural Recommendation: Our first Geo-Picks comes from Bill DeMis, who takes us to the Wyoming Dinosaur Center in Thermopolis, Wyoming. Thank you, Bill, for inspiring this new section of the Bulletin and for sharing a recommendation that members can enjoy and explore!