Mbalenhle Mpanza

Geostatistics, Machine Learning, Mineral Resource Evaluation, Mine Closure

Ms Mbalenhle Mpanza has 12 years experience as a geologist and a researcher, she graduated from the University of the Witwatersrand with a BSc Honours in Geology in 2008, soon after that she started working for Samancor Chrome Western Chrome Mines in the North West Province as a Geologist in Training. She trained as a Geologist and was promoted to Sectional Geologist in the year 2010. In 2012 she was appointed as Associate lecturer at the University of the Witwatersrand in the School of Mining Engineering, where she practiced for a period of 4 years while also doing her Master’s Degree in Geostatistics. In 2016, she started doing freelance resource geology consulting work for various junior mining companies and was also working for the University of Johannesburg as a part time researcher. In 2017 she enrolled for a Master in Business Administration (MBA) and obtained this qualification in 2020. In the same year she was appointed as a permanent lecturer at the University of Johannesburg. In 2018 she enrolled for her PhD developing models of dust dispersion from partially rehabilitated tailings storage facilities on surrounding communities. Ms Mpanza also does extensive work in Mineral Resource Evaluation, including developing course material in this field of specialization. Ms Mpanza is a registered Professional Natural Scientist with SACNASP and is a member of the National Association for Clean Air, as well as Geostatistical Association of South Africa.