1963 - 1965
The R.V. "Xhosa Coast"
converted from a coaster
in Capetown in late 1963
"ROCKEATER", the World's
first dedicated marine mineral
sampling vessel
DIAMONDS FROM THE SEA
a "Sparker" record showing seafloor sediment thicknesses
In early 1963, Ocean Science and Engineering
of Washington, D.C.
contracted with the De Beers Diamond Corporation
to evaluate the diamond potential of two areas :
(1) the present-day beaches along the Namib coast
in the concession area of the
Consolidated Diamond Mines
a n d
(2) the offshore concession area mined by the
Marine Diamond Corporation
(above): deployment of the suction pipe carriage at Oranjemund, Namibia
(left):
Ocean Science and Engineering, Inc.
helping SCUBA diver/marine geologist Ben Oostdam
