OR/14/005 Fieldwork logistics

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Vye-Brown, C, Crummy, J, Smith, K, Mruma,A and Kabelwa H. 2014. Volcanic hazards in Tanzania. Nottingham, UK, British geological Survey. (OR/14/005).

Field access

Fieldwork was arranged by staff at the GST in discussion with BGS. Letters of introduction were provided to the Regional Administration of Arusha to request permission to access Mt Meru and the surrounding land. Within Tanzania there is a permit for non-Tanzanian researchers that is administered by COSTECH (The Tanzania Commission for Science and Technology). This requires arrangement in advance with payment made to the administering authority per visiting researcher. Prof Mruma, Director of GST informed us that we did not require a COSTECH as BGS were assisting GST with their work for the public-good in Tanzania. Whilst this was not problematic in the Regional Administration, the National Park would not grant us access without this permit. Although this could have been resolved as part of a longer fieldtrip, there was insufficient time to arrange communications between the National Park and the director of GST.

Sample shipment

Collection and export of samples from Tanzania requires particular permission. There is a high sensitivity about sample export due to the highly lucrative mineral and crystal industry, in particular the Tanzanite, Emerald and Sapphire extraction in the Arusha Region. Following sample collection, permission to export was sought from Zonal Mines in Arusha. An accompanying letter from GST was required, as well as an interview with the Director of the regional Zonal Mines office to explain the sample collection and export reason. Following this, samples were individually checked, scanned for mineral content, and sealed in sample boxes. The cost of the permit was $100 US for samples for scientific (not for profit) research purposes only. The seals were wax and we needed to demonstrate that the seals were intact as the hold luggage were processed through Arusha International Airport for transfer to Dar es Salaam before we left Tanzania to return to the UK. The permit, evidence of payment, and letter of permission from GST also needed to be shown to demonstrate that the seal was official.