Mines and Geology Division to Showcase Precious Stones and Minerals

Students and members of the public will have a chance to view the Mines and Geology Division’s (MGD) inventory of precious stones, rocks and minerals from around the world during Science and Technology Month in November.

The period of celebration is being observed under the theme: ‘Science, Technology and Innovation: The Game Changer for Growth and Development’.

On November 12, the Division will host an open day at its Hope Gardens location, St. Andrew, where persons will participate in guided tours of the Laboratory and Geological Gallery.

The tour, from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., will feature local and international geological minerals.

Students are being targeted to inspire them to take an interest in the earth sciences.

Information/Public Education Supervisor at the Division, Shawna-Kay McLarty-Thomas, said the Division will also showcase its precious rocks and minerals at various expositions throughout the month.

These include a Geography Information Systems (GIS) Day event at the University of the West Indies (UWI), Mona campus, on November 18.

The Division will also highlight the use of GIS in the generation of maps as well as its use in other projects and areas of the Division.

Ms. McLarty-Thomas is encouraging engineers, architects, developers, persons in mining and quarrying as well as construction to visit the expos in order to get a better understanding of the work of the MGD.

The MGD is an agency of the Ministry of Science, Technology, Energy and Mining.

It has statutory responsibility, under the Mining Act and the Quarries Control Act, to exercise general supervision over all prospecting, mining and quarrying operations throughout the island.

The Division also manages the investigation, characterisation, documentation and release of information on all aspects of the geology of Jamaica.