More detailed cooperation between the geological surveys of both countries was the main objective of the visit to the Dominican Republic by Prof. Dr. Stanisław Mikulski, PGI-NRI (Polish Geological Institute – National Research Institute) Deputy Director for Science and Scientific Support of the Polish Geological Service.

On 26 June 2024, at the headquarters of the Servicio Geológico Nacional (SGN) in Santo Domingo, Prof Mikulski met with representatives of the Dominican Geological Survey. The discussions, which focused on potential future projects between the geological services of both countries, were attended by the Dominican President's Advisor on Mining and Energy – Eng. M. Peña, the Director of the SGN – Eng. Edwin R. Garcia Cocco, and staff from various SGN research teams.

During the speech, Prof Mikulski described in detail the functioning of the Polish Geological Institute-PGI, highlighting areas of possible cooperation. In addition, he referred to the challenges facing mineral deposits research, emphasising its importance in the development of new technologies.

The SGN has been established in 2010 and currently employs about 50 people. It will be important for this young geological service to gain knowledge on the organisation and operation of geological archives, the chemical laboratory, monitoring and early warning on geohazards, and rehabilitation of post-mining areas. SGN representatives also expressed interest in the functioning of the Geological Museum and issues related to geotourism and geodiversity. The possibility of joint research on the occurrence of critical raw materials (CRM) in the Dominican Republic was also indicated.

Two days earlier, on 24 June 2024, a meeting was held at the Ministry of Energy and Mining of the Dominican Republic in Santo Domingo, which, in addition to the PGI-NRI representative, was attended by Deputy Minister Miguel A. Diaz, Department Director Jose M. Hernandez, SGN Director Eng. Edwin R. Garcia Cocco and Prof. Rafał Wiśniowski from the AGH University of Science and Technology in Kraków. Topics of discussion included the possibility of cooperation in modernising the metallurgical process of Falcondo's exploited nickel laterite deposits in the Dominican Republic. Possible cooperation between SGN and PGI-NRI was also discussed.

Prof. Mikulski also had the opportunity to visit the Loma Ortega and Loma La Peguera nickel mines, located near the town of Bonao in the central Dominican Republic. The area of lateritic nickel deposits extends for about 60 km along a NW-SE direction on the Mesozoic weathered peridotite massif (harzburgite) of Loma Caribe. This massif is exposed along the obducted edge of the oceanic plate onto the continental plate. Resources in this area are estimated to be over 60 million tonnes of ore with 1.5% nickel content. Nickel exports from these deposits accounted for a significant share of Dominican exports. From 2016 to 2022, production was approximately 152,100 tonnes of Ni (9,6-29,54 thousand tonnes of Ni/year). The stoppage of mine operations, due to the very energy-intensive process of ore processing (pyrometallurgy), has a negative impact on the Bonao region's economy.

It should be noted that abandoned pits are subject to careful rehabilitation, mainly through intensive reforestation and restoration of the water system. The Dominican Republic is open to joint projects. In addition to its many tourist and geoenvironmental assets, this beautiful country has mineral resources such as gold, iron, nickel, copper, silver, zinc and bauxite. There are also prospects for rare earth metals and potassium salts.

Earlier, an agreement had already been signed between the geological surveys of Poland and the Dominican Republic in November 2022 to establish scientific and practical cooperation.

Meeting with staff from the Dominican Geological Survey (Servicio Geológico Nacional– SGN) in Santo Domingo. Fifth from right – the Dominican President's Advisor on Mining and Energy – Eng. Miguel Peña. To his left, fourth from right – Prof. Stanislaw Mikulski, and next to him (third from right) – SGM Director – Eng. Edwin R. Garcia Cocco. Photo by SGN

A visit to the Loma La Peguera nickel laterite ore mine near the town of Bonao in the Central Dominican Republic. Photo by Loma La Peguera

Excavation of the La Peguera nickel ore weathering mine with visible nested occurrences of weathered serpentinite (grey-green) in the laterite profile (brown). Photo by Stanisław Mikulski

Text: Stanisław Mikulski