Clive Mitchell

Publication Day! The Pebble Spotter’s Guide is published today (10 June 2021). What a journey! 2 years, 40 pebbles & 2000 pre-orders (briefly a best-seller!) Also launched is my Pebble Spotters FaceBook Group facebook.com/groups/pebbles… to share your pebble finds - join in the fun!

Video snapshot of graphite exploration in #Zambia in 2025 as part of @BritGeoSurvey #CriticalMinerals collaboration with Geological Survey Department @ZambiaMines & Copperbelt University @CBU_ZM Download the guide here: bgs.ac.uk/news/zambias-f… Watch video: youtu.be/nCNdHl40LKY

Day 1: Kasama-Shiwa Ngandu ‘Born an English gentleman & died a Zambian gentleman’ Kenneth Kaunda of Stewart Gore-Browne Wonderful evening learning from Charlie & Jo Harvey about Charlie’s grandfather Sir Stewart & the Shiwa estate. Unique part of 🇿🇲history which lives on today

The Meteorites - another excellent book by @helenlpgordon - bringing stories of the science and excitement of these visitors from outer space. Thoroughly recommended 5/5.

Farewell #Lusaka, until next time…

Day 5 Chipata- Mfuwe- Lusaka The return to Lusaka, with a short break in South Luangwa. Zambia, you never cease to amaze. I return home even more in awe of your landscapes & culture, having made new partners & friends, & spent valuable time with my amazing team

When it rains in #Zambia, it does not mess about, none of your drizzle or fine rain, it’s solid water from above!

I’m staying in Lusaka for another 3 nights due to the cancellation of flights into & out of Dubai. The torrential rain in Lusaka this afternoon seems fitting!

#Ncwala, you’ve done it again. Incredible. A powerful celebration of Ngoni heritage and unity. Zikomo, Inkosi ya Makhosi Mpezeni IV, na bonse baNgoni.

High Commissioner @RTerzeon visited Mwami Border to see cross‑border trade in action and thank agencies keeping people and goods moving between Zambia and Malawi. With TradeMark Africa, UK support is boosting efficiency via a Simplified Trade Regime and border management.

In my element, embracing local customs in preparation for Nc’wala. Nc’wala ndine okonzeka ku sangalala namwe!

What an amazing end to the week! I bring you Moses Sakala and Angela Nyirenda. And the Ngoni crowd, surrounded by their people and their culture. Very special.

And then there were three! My last day working at the @ZambiaMines Geological Survey Department (GSD) for the current project, my @BritGeoSurvey (BGS) colleagues will continue the work with GSD for another week.

And then there were four, @BritGeoSurvey International Director headed home, leaving the team in Lusaka to continue work with @ZambiaMines Geological Survey Department.

Official launch of the ‘Critical Mineral Potential of Zambia’ guide today in Lusaka - @ZambiaMines Geological Survey Department staff presented alongside @BritGeoSurvey colleagues - the #criticalminerals work continues with a Critical Minerals of Zambia map (currently in draft)

Download a copy of the guide here: nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/5395…

Great to be back in #Zambia at the @ZambiaMines Geological Survey Department (GSD) with @BritGeoSurvey (BGS) colleagues preparing for the official launch of the 'Critical Minerals Potential of Zambia' guide - we caught up with Director Gerald Mwila for updates from GSD & BGS.

Good morning #Zambia!

Farewell #CapeTown! Last walk on Sea Point beach & now I’m heading home. Thanks to @UCT_news for hosting the International Conference on Calcined Clay for Sustainable Concrete (ICCCSC) 2026. I felt like the only geologist but was warmly welcomed - I’m more clued up on LC3 now!

Pebbles from Sea Point Contact in Cape Town - Cape Granite & Tygerberg Formation (Malmesbury Group) shale on either side - spotted rock is from contact zone with rounded crystals of cordierite that have grown in shale due to low pressure, high temperature thermal metamorphism.

The oldest rocks in Cape Town, the Malmesbury Group shales and greywackes (560 million years old) occur as steeply dipping beds along Sea Point beach with Lion’s Head hill towering over this side of the city.