July 30, 2015

Thursday August 6 Presentation: Ten Years of Exploring Angola’s Paleontological Heritage

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Paleontologists at work north of Caxito.

Paleontologists at work north of Caxito. Photo courtesy Projecto PaleoAngola.

Dinosaur footprints in diamond mines… the oldest marine turtle in Africa … a 90 million year old new species of sauropod… These are just some of the discoveries unearthed in Angola in the last decade. The Angola Field Group invites you to Ten Years of Exploring Angola’s Paleontological Heritage at the Viking Club, Thursday, August 6, at 7:45 PM, with palaeontologists Dr. Louis Jacobs of Southern Methodist University, Dallas, Texas and Dr. Octavio Mateus, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Portugal. Their paleontological fieldwork, which started in May 2005, is carried out annually as part of Projecto PaleoAngola: www.paleoangola.org

Angolatitan, first dinosaur discovered in Angola, 2005. Photo courtesy Projecto PaleoAngola.

Angolatitan, first dinosaur discovered in Angola, 2005. Photo courtesy Projecto PaleoAngola.

The results of the fieldwork in Cretaceous sites in Angola has been extraordinarily spectacular with the discovery of the first dinosaurs of Angola dating from the Early Cretaceous and also the discovery of various reptiles including monosaurs, pleiosaurs, ammonites, and fossilized turtles and whales. Dr. Louis Jacobs is internationally recognized as a dinosaur expert and six fossil species have been named after him. He calls Angola a fossil museum in the ground. Dr. Octavio Mateus, also well known in his field, heads up the  Museu da Lourinha in West Portugal which houses an extensive collection of paleontological specimen.

Angola field group guest presenter Dr. Louis Jacobs.

Angola field group guest presenter Dr. Louis Jacobs. Photo courtesy Projecto PaleoAngola.

Everybody is welcome to attend. In close cooperation with the Viking Club, this event is offered free of charge. The talk will be in English. Beverages and snacks are sold at the Viking Bar which opens at 7:15 PM. Coupons must be purchased. You can download a map showing the location of the Viking Club on our Join Us page. The Viking Club is on the main floor of Edificio Maianga, Rua Marien Nguabi, No 118 in Maianga, across the street from the Panela de Barra restaurant.

For Sale: Photo books, Natural Medicine books and other books about Angola and Huambo Dolls.

 

February 11, 2015

Download PDFs from “Fracking for Oil in the USA and its Impact on Angola’s Economy” Presentation

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Taken from Upstream/Rytus Daukantas.

Taken from Upstream/Rytus Daukantas.

​Some of estimated 200 attendees, Angola Field Group presentation at the Viking Club.

​Some of estimated 200 attendees, Angola Field Group presentation at the Viking Club.

Thursday’s Angola Field Group presentation had a record setting attendance as participants, some fearing loss of jobs, heard Geologist Tako Koning say that the new technology of fracking for oil is a huge game changer in the oil industry and predicted that low oil prices could continue for the next half a decade or so. IMF Country Representative Nicholas Staines talked about the impact of the new technology on Angola’s economy and stated that Angola needs to raise taxes and eliminate fuel subsidies in the wake of the oil shock. He reiterated that Angola has to get away from the boom-bust cycle, spending when oil prices are high and cutting back when prices are low.

Click here to download Nicholas Staines’ presentation PDF or visit his website www.imf.org/luanda.

Click here to download Tako Koning’s presentation PDF.

​Taken from Upstream/Rytus Daukantas.

​Taken from Upstream/Rytus Daukantas.

 

January 29, 2015

Thursday February 5 Presentation: Fracking for Oil in the USA and its Impact on Angola’s Economy

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Fracking operations are typified by tight arrangement of pressure pumping trucks. Shown is fracking of the Eagle Ford shale of South Texas, USA. Photo courtesy of Halliburton

Fracking operations are typified by tight arrangement of pressure pumping trucks. Shown is fracking of the Eagle Ford shale of South Texas, USA. Photo courtesy of Halliburton

Fracking, the new oil field technology of fracturing shale rock to produce oil, has suddenly propelled the USA into becoming one of the world’s largest producers of oil (and natural gas) and has led to a 60% drop in world oil prices in the last 6 months. The Angola Field Group invites you to a presentation that takes a look at Fracking in the USA and its Impact on Angola’s Economy, at the Viking Club, Thursday February 5th at 7:45 PM. The IMF (International Monetary Fund) Country Director Nicholas Staines will talk about the impact of the low oil prices on Angola’s economy. Senior petroleum geologist Tako Koning will explain the technology behind the new oil boom.

Canadian Nicholas Staines, became the IMF’s Representative in Angola in early 2011. He has been with the IMF for over 15 years, much of it working in Sub-Saharan Africa. He joined the Fund from the private sector as a macroeconomic forecaster following several years in academia. Canadian Tako Koning has over 40 years experience in the oil industry, including 19 years in Angola. He worked with Texaco for 30 years in Canada, Indonesia, Nigeria and Angola. He now works in Angola as an oil consultant.

Fracking spread in the desert of Oman, capable of delivering 50 to 80 barrels of fluid per minute into the well. Photo courtesy BP.

Fracking spread in the desert of Oman, capable of delivering 50 to 80 barrels of fluid per minute into the well. Photo courtesy BP.

More fracking takes place in the USA than any other country in the world.

More fracking takes place in the USA than any other country in the world. Click map to enlarge.

Everybody is welcome to attend. In close cooperation with the Viking Club, this event is offered free of charge. Beverages and snacks are sold at the Viking Bar which opens at 7:15 PM. Coupons must be purchased. You can download a map showing the location of the Viking Club on our Join Us page. The Viking Club is on the main floor of Edificio Maianga, Rua Marien Nguabi, No 118 in Maianga, across the street from the Panela de Barra restaurant.

For Sale: Pure raw honey from the Zambezi Valley in Moxico. Launching a new photo book, “Sonhos Angolanos” as well as other books.

 

 

February 14, 2014

Thursday February 20 Presentation: Everyman’s Guide to Angola’s Petroleum Geology and Oil Industry

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A shipment of Liquified Natural Gas (LNG) leaving the plant at Soyo in Zaire province. Angola's first LNG shipment was in July 2013, delivered to Brazil. Photo courtesy of Angola LNG

A shipment of Liquified Natural Gas (LNG) leaving the plant at Soyo in Zaire province. Angola’s first LNG shipment was in July 2013, delivered to Brazil. Photo courtesy of Angola LNG

Few places in the world measure up to the ongoing oil exploration significance of Angola, according to oil experts. This country is the second biggest oil producer in Africa after Nigeria and eventually it may surpass Nigeria. What is it about Angola’s geology that favors so much oil production and what is the long term future of the oil industry here? The Angola Field Group invites you to a presentation: Everyman’s Guide to Angola’s Petroleum Geology and Oil Industry at the Viking Club, Thursday February 20, at 8:00 PM with Geologist Tako Koning who will explain in layperson’s terms the subsurface geology that has led to the success of the country’s oil industry and what it means for the future. Tako, a Holland-born and Canada-raised geologist has over 40 years experience in the oil industry, including 18 years in Angola. He worked with Texaco for 30 years in Canada, Indonesia, Nigeria and Angola; he retired in 2002 and continues to work in Angola as an oil consultant.

Everybody is welcome to attend. In close cooperation with the Viking Club, this event is offered free of charge. Beverages and snacks are sold at the Viking Bar which opens at 7:30 PM. Coupons must be purchased. You can download a map showing the location of the Viking Club on our website’s  Join Us page here. The Viking Club is on the main floor of Edificio Maianga,  Rua Marien Nguabi, No 118 in Maianga, across the street from the Panela de Barro restaurant.

 

 

July 31, 2013

Thursday August 1 Presentation: PaleoAngola Field Expedition 2013

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Evidence of Arsinoitheres, hippo-like mammals, have been discovered in Cabinda

Evidence of Arsinoitheres, hippo-like mammals, have been discovered in Cabinda. Photo courtesy lusodinos.blogspot.ca

Short notice but the team of dinosaur paleontologists just arrived back in Luanda after three weeks searching for fossils from Cabinda to Namibe and from Bengo to Lunda Norte. The Angola Field Group invites you to a presentation to hear all about the PaleoAngola Field Expedition 2013, at the Viking Club, Thursday August 01, at 8:00 PM. Their first expedition was in 2005.  Our presenters are internationally recognized experts in their field and refer to Angola´s abundance of fossils as a ´museum in the ground´. Dr. Jacobs teaches geology and paleontology at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, USA. Six fossil species have been named after him. Dr. Octavio Mateus is a paleontology  Professor at Universidade Nova de Lisboa. PaleoAngola partners with  Agostinho Neto University and ISPRA University in Lubango. Visit www.paleoangola.org for more info.

Arsinoitheres tooth unearthed by PaleoAngola team July 2013. Photo courtesy http://lusodinos.blogspot.ca

Arsinoitheres tooth unearthed by PaleoAngola team July 2013. Photo courtesy lusodinos.blogspot.ca

Everybody is welcome to attend our presentations which are offered in close cooperation with the Viking Club. There is no charge. The talk will be in English. Beverages and snacks are sold at the bar. The Viking Bar opens at 7:30 PM! 
If you would like to have a map showing the location of the Viking Club, please click hereto download it from our Join Us page. The Viking Club is on the main floor of the former Swedish Building at Rua Marien N”Guabi, No 118 in Maianga, across the street from the new Panela de Barra restaurant. See you there!

PaleoAngola Team in Angola. Photo courtesy http://lusodinos.blogspot.ca

PaleoAngola Team in Angola. Photo courtesy lusodinos.blogspot.ca

 

January 18, 2013

Sunday, January 27: Geological field trip to Bengo province

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Outcrops along Barra da Dande.

Outcrops along Barra da Dande.

UPDATE: Please note this trip is now full. On Sunday, January 27, join the Angola Field Group for a geological field trip to Bengo province led by geologist Tako Koning, departing Luanda at 7:00 AM and returning around 5:00 PM. Scroll down for a map with locations.

We will drive north from Luanda to Barra do Dande  to see outcrops consisting of Cretaceous-age fossiliferous, marine sedimentary rocks. These strata are interesting from a paleo-environmental standpoint of view and they are also of economic significance since they are  the cap rocks to the  reservoirs which produce oil in the shallow water areas offshore Soyo and Cabinda.

We will continue for 10 km northeast on the road to the Lifune River where we will examine some historically well known naturally-occurring oil seeps in Libongos, today an asphalt quarry. Records indicate that as early as 1820, the Portuguese shipped out barrels of asphalt probably from the Libongos seeps to Lisbon and Rio de Janeiro to use as calking to prevent leakage of ships. If time allows, we will visit a second asphalt quarry as we loop south to Caxito. The entire area we will be traversing is known as the Kwanza Sedimentary Basin.

Close up photo taken at the Libongos oil seeps.

Close up photo taken at the Libongos oil seeps.


We will then travel south to Caxito to the nearby water falls at Sassa to view ancient (2 billion-year-old) Precambrian granite outcrops and where we will have a late lunch (you pack your own lunch). If time permits, we will visit the nearby Mabubas Hydroelectric Dam, recently rehabilitated.

Angola Field Group members walking along the Mabubas Dam in Caxito before it was rehabilitated. Angola Field Group members walking along the Mabubas Dam in Caxito before it was rehabilitated.

Angola Field Group members walking along the Mabubas Dam in Caxito before it was rehabilitated.

This field trip will also stop at Pangila Bridge to review some of the historical events which occurred here including the famous Quifangondo battle of November 10, 1975 which secured MPLA as the reigning party in Luanda, just prior to Angola achieving independence on November 11, 1975.

Our meeting point and further details will be provided once you have signed up and are confirmed for the trip. Sign up by emailing:angolafieldgroup@gmail.com and state: 1)your cell phone number  2)names of participants  3)do you require transport? or do you have room for passenger/s and if so how many?  4) are you travelling from Luanda Sul or downtown Luanda. Foreigners must have passport with valid visa.

All field trips with the Angola Field Group are at your own risk. Sign up as soon as possible since there is a limit to the number of participants we can take.

Click on map to enlarge.

Click on map to enlarge. Map by Tako Koning.

 

 

January 30, 2012

Saturday March 3 Field Trip: Catoca Diamond Mine

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The Angola Field Group has been invited to visit the Catoca diamond mine in the province of Lunda Sul, 30 kilometers from the capital city of Saurimo.  Catoca is considered the world’s 4th biggest diamond mine in terms of size. Diamonds are mined from a large kimberlite pipe, a vertical tube of igneous rock which may contain diamonds.

The Catoca kimberlite pipe in Lunda Sul is the fourth largest diamond-rich rock formation on Earth in terms of surface area. Click on photo for enlarged view.


This will be a one-day excursion, check-in at the airport at 6:00 AM on Saturday March 03 and be back in Luanda by approximately 5:00 PM. We will be flying on Catoca’s private plane, $350.00 usd per person return trip. (this price is based on the plane being full to capacity). Catoca will host us for lunch.

This giant 300 meter deep pit unearthed diamonds representing a profit of 116 million $US in 2011.

This field trip is a unique opportunity to see a big working diamond mine up close, beginning at the 300 meter deep pit where the rock is extracted through all the stages ending up at the high security room where the diamonds are displayed and sold. The trip is limited to 45, the maximum capacity of the plane. If you are interested and serious about going, please send an email to: angolafieldgroup@gmail.com with your name, your company’s name, your position in the company and your cell phone number. In approximately 2 week’s time we will send a confirmation email with exact details including what airport we will leave from, exact times and where and when to make final payment.

Please note that foreigners MUST have their passport and visa in order because of emigration controls both in Luanda and Saurimo. Receipts or letters are definitely not acceptable. You cannot go on this trip without proper passport and visa. All Angola Field Group trips are at your own risk.

Angola Field Group members enroute to 'the pit'. First tourists to Catoca Mine, 2010.

Angola's diamonds are known as high quality stones.

Catoca hospitality rated as high quality by Field group members. Photos © Henriette Koning


 

January 30, 2012

Sunday February 5 Field Trip: Geological Field Trip

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Looking for fossils at Barra do Dande.

THIS TRIP IS NOW BOOKED FULL.The Angola Field Group will have a geological field trip north of Luanda on Sunday,February 05, led by Geologist Tako Koning. We will leave Luanda at 7:00 AM (sharp) and return back at approximately 5:00 PM.

Oil seeps at Libongos.


We will go to Barra do Dande and visit outcrops consisting of Cretaceous-age fossiliferous, marine sedimentary rocks. These strata are interesting from a paleo-environmental standpoint of view and they are also of economic significance since they are  the cap rocks to the Pinda reservoirs which produce oil in the shallow water areas offshore Soyo and Cabinda.  From there we will travel northeastwards to the Lifune River to see the  Libongos oil seeps and asphalt quarry.  We will then travel southwards to Caxito to the water falls at Sassa to view ancient (2 billion-years-old) Precambrian granite outcrops and where we will have a late lunch (you pack your own).  The field trip will conclude with a visit to the hydroelectric dam on the Dande River at Mabubas.

Fossil from the Cretaceous age discovered at Barra do Dande.

This field trip will also stop at Pangila Bridge to review some of the historical events which occurred in this area including the famous Quifangondo battle of November 10, 1975 between FNLA and MPLA just prior to Angola achieving independence on November 11, 1975.

There is a provincial border crossing on this trip so you must bring your original documents and proof of a valid visa.  All field trips with the Angola Field Group are at your own risk. Sign up as soon as possible since we need to limit the number of cars.

Records indicate that as early as 1820, the Portuguese shipped out barrels of asphalt probably from the Libongos seeps. This and above photo courtesy John Helm.

Our meeting point and further details will be provided once you have signed up and are confirmed for the trip. Sign up by emailing: angolafieldgroup@gmail.com and state: 1)your cell phone number   2)names of participants  3)whether you have room for passenger/s and if so how many  4)whether you are travelling from Luanda Sul or downtown Luanda.

Quifangondo battle, a turning point for the MPLA. Photo © Henriette Koning.



 

November 28, 2011

Saturday, December 3 Field Trip: Guided tour of the University of Agostinho Neto’s Geology Museum

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The Geology Museum now houses this life-size model of the Angolatitan adamastor.

Due to popular demand, this trip is being repeated again on Saturday, December 10th. Sign up before December 6th by emailing: angolafieldgroup@gmail.com
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The Angola Field Group invites you to a guided tour of the University of Agostinho Neto’s Geology Museum, Saturday December 3rd at 10:00 AM, with Geologist Tako Koning.  Come and take a firsthand look at the varied collection of mineral specimens and fossils  including parts of the Angolatitan adamastor, which is Angola’s first dinosaur discovered in 2005 about 70 km north of Luanda.  Today, the Geology Museum houses a life-size model of the Angolatitan based on bones excavated by a team of paleontologists from Southern Methodist University (USA), University of Maastricht (Netherlands), Universidade Nova de Lisboa (Portugal) and Agostinho Neto University. Other fossils in the museum include Cretaceous-age petrified tree trunks and 1.1 billion year old fossilized algae.

The Department of Geology of Agostinho Neto University has kindly agreed to open the museum for the Field Group’s first ever visit. The museum is at street level, on the Marginal, between the TAP office and the small old Catholic Church, Igreja Nazare. We will meet on the sidewalk in front at 10:00 AM sharp. We will spend about an hour and a half and for those interested, we will then visit the National Museum of Natural History in Kinaxixi, home to the only fully mounted Palanca Negra in Angola.

Children are welcome. No charge for the Geology Museum. We are keeping the group down to 30 attendees so sign up as soon as possible by emailing Henriette: angolafieldgroup@gmail.com

This 13 meter long herbivore lived about 90 million years ago.

 

September 24, 2011

Photos from the Angola Field Group’s July 1st trip to the Angola Polishing Diamonds Factory

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For more photos of this field trip to the Angola Polishing Diamonds Factory in Telatona, Luanda Sul, check out our Geology page.

 

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