The Council for Geoscience (CGS), South Africa’s national custodian of geoscientific data, is showcasing how world-class geoscience is helping reduce exploration risk, attract investment and support the growth of South Africa’s junior mining sector at The Junior Indaba 2026.
As a leading platform for the junior mining industry, The Junior Indaba brings together explorers, investors, policymakers and industry leaders to discuss the future of exploration, investment and mineral development in Africa.
Speaking at the conference, CGS CEO, Mosa Mabuza highlighted the critical role geoscience plays in unlocking new mineral discoveries and creating investment opportunities: “Geological information is the starting point for creating a new generation of mineral discoveries, particularly for junior miners and emerging explorers. As the custodian of South Africa’s geoscience data, the Council for Geoscience provides high-quality, publicly accessible information that helps reduce exploration risk and unlock investment opportunities,” said Mabuza.
At the center of CGS’s contribution is its growing suite of geological mapping programmes, geophysical surveys, geochemical datasets and the Virtual Core Library (VCL), which is transforming how exploration data is accessed and used. The VCL enables explorers to remotely access high-resolution drill core imagery, hyperspectral data and geological information, allowing companies to evaluate opportunities and refine exploration targets before committing capital to costly drilling programmes.
“The rocks themselves do not change; what changes is our interpretation of them. Advances in geoscience and data analysis continue to reveal new opportunities in areas that were previously overlooked,” Mabuza added.
CGS also highlighted the impact of the Junior Mining Exploration Fund (JMEF), a strategic initiative designed to support early-stage exploration projects. Through a partnership in which CGS leads technical implementation and the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) manages the fund, junior mining companies are receiving technical support and funding to advance exploration activities and unlock future investment opportunities.
Beyond exploration, the Council is investing in the future of the sector by supporting students and young professionals pursuing geoscience careers. As part of its participation at The Junior Indaba, CGS sponsored attendance opportunities for students, providing direct exposure to industry leaders, investors and technical experts.
“By the end of the last financial year, the Council for Geoscience had mapped approximately 20% of South Africa’s onshore territory, covering around 260,000 square kilometers. This growing body of geoscientific knowledge is a strategic national asset that supports exploration, research and economic development,” concluded Mabuza.
