Paarl Mountain- a geological wonder

An interesting day in intense- 37C - heat in the Paarl region. After calling in at the beautiful Rhebokskloof wine estate for coffee, we took the dirt road which climbs into the Paarl Mountain Reserve.

Rhebokskloof

The three rounded outcrops that make up Paarl Mountain is the second largest granite outcrop in the world and forms part of the Nature Reserve for which Paarl is well known. Paarl Granite belongs to a group of granites known as the Cape Granite, known to have intruded into the crust of the earth between about 548 million years ago, up to the last events at about 488 million years ago; most of the intrusive action seems to have been in the time period 525-501 million years ago, and the cooling period must have taken many millions of years.

On top of Paarl Rock

The outcrops are certainly impressive, and after a few sort walks we returned to Paarl for a late lunch at La Grande Roche Hotel with its stunning view across the Paarl Valley.

The view from La Grande Roche

Normal Minerals Engineering services will resume next week

Both my associate editor, Pablo, and I were involved with Flotation '15 last week, and I am now in a very hot Cape Winelands, armed only with my iPad, which is unfortunately incompatible with the Elsevier online system.

So I ask authors to be patient for another week, after which I will hopefully rapidly erode the backlog.

Thirty two centigrade today, compared with eleven back home in Falmouth, so we sought the shade of the oak trees in the two wine estates that we visited, Fairview and Delheim.

Fairview, Paarl

Approaching Delheim, Stellenbosch wine route

Delheim

Post-conference tours

Only two days ago we were freezing at the top of Table mountain, but today Barbara and I met up with Elsevier's Dean Eastbury for lunch in a hot and sunny Franschhoek. Dean is in the wine lands for a few days before flying off to Kosi Bay, the most northerly resort on the KwaZulu-Natal coast. It will be interesting to hear how his trip goes - in fact it would be interesting to hear from all Flotation '15 delegates who stayed on after the conference to experience the delights of this beautiful country.

We are in the wine lands for 6 nights, based in Wellington. Jon, Kathryn and Josephine are at the Cape Town Waterfront, while poor old Amanda is already back in the UK.  Not all leisure though- I will be working on my report on Flotation '15 this week, which I hope to publish a week tomorrow.

Flotation '15's cold hike up Table Mountain

After yesterday's heat, cool and showery conditions made the regular MEI Conferences'  hike up Table Mountain relatively easy,  and for the first time a cup of hot chocolate, rather than 2 large glasses of ice cold beer, was a  welcoming experience at the summit.

Only 10 conference delegates braved this afternoon's walk in the rain, but I am sure it was an experience that they will always remember.

Happy hours at Flotation '15

We are now into the final session of Flotation '15 and the feedback is that this has been a fine conference with some outstanding presentations.

It has also been a great networking event, due in no small way to the end of sessions 'happy hours', where, over a few glasses of wine, we have shared anecdotes in the magnificent Vineyard gardens at the foot of Table Mountain.

Judging of best Flotation '15 posters now complete

It's been a slow process but our two judges for the best student posters have now completed their deliberations, and the winners will be announced tomorrow afternoon.