The south australian mining history website was created in 20 to provide a forum for the exchange of information about the states mining past. Kingswood coal history and location of coal mining sites in bristol and south gloucestershire. Image afp image caption mining has been the driving force behind south africas economic development 1879 british defeat the zulus in natal. Browse the worlds largest ebookstore and start reading today on the web, tablet, phone, or ereader. The diamond mines of south africa i gardner williams farlang. Mining historian, columnist, journalist and author jade davenport will coincide the launch of her book digging deep a history of mining in south africa, with the 2014 investing in african. The anatomy of a coal mine daw mill colliery 1957 20 the complete history of the last coal mine in warwickshire. Back in the mid1970s when this writer first came to south africa to work, one of the things that seemed mandatory to do was to visit some of the countrys famous or infamous diamond and. South africa mining production 19812020 data 20212022. Grade 8 topic 2 the mineral revolution in south africa. Platinum and related metals are in a growth phase, with south africa boasting around half or more of world production and reserves.
Large scale and profitable mining started with the discovery of a diamond on the banks of the orange river in 1867 by erasmus jacobs and the subsequent discovery and exploitation of the kimberley pipes a few years later. A brief history of gold uses, prospecting, mining and production republished from a usgs general interest publication by harold kirkemo, william l. Feb 24, 2014 from this side of the atlantic, it seems that the most comprehensive history of coal mining in the u. Aug 16, 2012 with south africas economy built on gold and diamond mining, the sector is an important foreign exchange earner, with gold accounting for more than onethird of exports. South africas prehistory has been divided into two phases based on broad patterns of technology namely the stone age and iron age. The presence of dravidian gold miners is shown in great detail by dr cyril hromnik in his astonishing book indo africa 1981 showing in great detail the exploits of the makomati people hindu dravidians who were here in southern africa mining gold as far back as 2000 years ago and probably even further back in time. History of southern africa south african history online.
As in 2004 the coal and lignite industry of south africa provided over 50,000 jobs and generated nearly r40. South african historian charles van onselen has again enlightened. List of books and articles about south african history. South africa is one of the top five coal exporting countries in the world. The author describes the diamond fields in these two articles. May 06, 2019 mining was the original powerhouse of south africas economy, even as it fed its sharp inequality. In those 20 years the country has undergone enormous. The standard bank of south africa was the first bank in johannesburg, arriving a month after the citys founding.
Well organised charpters on year after year discoveries and development, and it brings us to understand the immense contribution of south africas mining industry to its general indistrialization. The diamond mines of south africa i gardner williams. South african mining, coal, gold and base minerals. South africas wild coast under threat of mining photo. The book approaches mining from the perspectives of law, politics, archaeology, anthropology, african studies, geography, human ecology, sociology, history, economics and development. The first mine to be constructed in what is now south africa began operations in 1852, a copper project that would go on to form the cornerstone of the town of springbokfontein, today springbok, in the northern cape province. In 1886, on the farm of langlaagte, the rapidly growing diamond industry was eclipsed by the discovery of gold. Veteran journalist lucas ledwaba and photojournalist leon sadiki were at constitution hill in johannesburg recently to launch their new book, broke and broken. From this side of the atlantic, it seems that the most comprehensive history of coal mining in the u. Download citation a history of gold mining in south africa, ghana and tanzania in this chapter elbra provides an. Fortunately for the future of south africa, he did not play ducks and drakes with this particular stone, which he found one day in the early spring of 1867, but carried it home in his pocket and dropped it with a handful of other.
This book compiles the indepth, background research that informed the publication boom and dislocation third world network africa, 2001. After the discovery of hominins at taung and australopithecine fossils in limestone caves at sterkfontein, swartkrans, and kromdraai these. A very well researched books which lays bare the history of mining in south africa which now spans over 160 years. South africa is a world leader in the production of platinum, gold, chromium, diamonds, aluminosilicates, manganese, and vanadium. Why did south african mines become renowned for mine safety, while the mounting rate of silicosis in black migrant workers lay hidden for over. There can be little doubt that for hundreds of thousands of years southern africa, like eastern africa, was in the forefront of human development and technological innovation. During the gold mining revolution, patterns of land and labour were. Sunday marked south africas 20year anniversary of its first democratic election.
Gdp from mining in south africa increased to 227400. International geology and mining history publications and maps. The contributors explore the role of mining in the development of mineral endowed economies, continentwide in africa. The concept of an industry that was colossally wealthy only on condition that it jealously watched each penny of its. But then prospectors chanced upon the worlds richest deposits of diamonds and gold, setting off a titanic struggle between the british and the boers for control of the land. Francis wilson, labour in the south african gold mines, 19111969, cambridge. This popular economic history and collective biography concentrates on the achievements of. Well organised charpters on year after year discoveries and development, and it brings us to understand the immense contribution of south africa s mining industry to its general indistrialization. Brief history of diamond mining in south africa mining. Apr 26, 2014 sunday marked south africa s 20year anniversary of its first democratic election. This book compiles the in depth, background research that informed the publication boom and dislocation third world network africa, 2001. A history of mining in south africa kindle edition by jade. More than a quarter of the coal mined in south africa is exported and it is the countrys third largest source of foreign income.
In 2009, the countrys diamond industry was the fourth largest in the world. Could a mine be a nuclear workplace if as in some south african mines its. Book by a master historian takes a nocturnal train ride. From 1886 until 1940 the story of south africa is the story of gold. What are some books to read about the history of coal mining.
In those 20 years the country has undergone enormous change and these 11 books will introduce you to that. Other leading minerals extracted are copper ore, coal, asbestos, iron ore, silver, titanium, and uranium. South africa, afrikaans suidafrika, officially republic of south africa, republic 2015 est. A history of gold mining in south africa, ghana and tanzania. The first mine to be constructed in what is now south africa began operations in 1852, a copper project that would go on to form the cornerstone of the town of springbokfontein, today springbok, in. Thom piercethe guardian south africas wild coast under threat of mining photo essay sun 19 aug 2018 16. The first modern humans are believed to have inhabited south africa more than 100,000 years ago. Farlang team aug 29, 2017 books, education, gemstones.
Other articles where history of south africa is discussed. Far more than diamonds, this changed south africa from an agricultural society to become the largest goldproducer in the world. If this be true of the most famous and prolific of all diamond fields before the opening of the south african placers and mines, any delay in the revelation of the field in the heart of south africa may be easily understood. Apr 04, 2018 image afp image caption mining has been the driving force behind south africa s economic development 1879 british defeat the zulus in natal. By the time that gold was discovered, african kingdoms had lost their independence.
Decoding the hidden ruins of southern africa discovering. Apr 14, 2014 back in the mid1970s when this writer first came to south africa to work, one of the things that seemed mandatory to do was to visit some of the countrys famous or infamous diamond and. In that year, south africa s platinum mining industry employed some 164,5 people. The mineral revolution in south africa started with the discovery of diamonds in kimberley in 1867, and intensified with the discovery of deeplevel gold on the witwatersrand in 1886.
The shameful legacy of gold mining in south africa. It borders on the atlantic ocean in the west, on namibia in the northwest, on botswana and zimbabwe in the north, on mozambique and swaziland in the northeast, and on the indian ocean in the east and south. Crushing and stamping mills, machinery, gold quartz mining, crushed ore, black workers in the mines. The mineral and petroleum resources development act provides for equitable access to and sustainable development of south africas mineral and petroleum resources 2003 kimberley process certification scheme is established to stem the flow of conflict diamonds. Mining, process of extracting useful minerals from the surface of the earth, including the seas. In this chapter elbra provides an overview of the gold mining industry in ghana, south africa and tanzania. Brief history of diamond mining in south africa mining for. Gold mining in johannesburg, south africa library of. List of books and articles about mining history online. The chapter begins with an overview of african gold mining, its relative importance to the global economy and developing african countries and concludes with an in depth discussion of each country. The excavation usually has stepped, or benched, side slopes and can reach depths as low as 1,500 ft 460 m.
Anyone interested in johannesburgs mining history will find this section valuable. Largescale and profitable mining started with the discovery of a diamond on the banks of the orange river in 1867 by erasmus jacobs and the subsequent discovery and exploitation of the kimberley pipes a few years later. A history of the gold king mine and the events leading to the gold king mine spill of 2015. Simons, death in south african mines, in africa south 1961. South africa election shines spotlight on minings decline. Mar 01, 20 a very well researched books which lays bare the history of mining in south africa which now spans over 160 years. It applies itself to issues such as economics, sociology, history, arts and culture and the logics of natural sciences. The prehistory and history of south africa span nearly the entire known existence of human beings and their ancestorssome three million years or moreand include the wandering of small bands of hominins through the savanna, the inception of herding and farming as ways of. The chapter begins with an overview of african gold mining, its relative importance to the global economy and developing african countries and concludes with an indepth discussion of each country. The hidden history of african uranium and what it meansfor a state, an object. Automobile assembly, metalworking, and commercial ship repair are also important. South africas mining industry employment by commodity 2019.
Gold mining in johannesburg, south africa library of congress. South africa is also a major producer of coal, manganese and chrome. Mining in south africa has been the main driving force behind the history and development of africas most advanced and richest economy. The mining industry is an important part of the south african economy. Readers digest illustrated history of south africa. The discovery of gold on the witwatersrand in 1886 was a turning point in south african history. Mining in south africa was once the main driving force behind the history and development of africas most advanced and richest economy. Ernest oppenheimer and the economic development of southern africa cape town. The aim is to develop, sustain and evolve the story of the contribution of mining to the states economic and social development, and to assist in the ongoing interpretation and presentation of.
H1291 the gold king minethe king of the spill by david l. Broke and broken, a blackbird books publication, looks at the history and present lives of miners incapacitated by years of hard labour, dangerous conditions and silica. By the 1880s, the mines around kimberley produced around 95% of the world diamonds. Surface mining methods strip mining see coal mining, openpit or opencut mining, and quarrying are the most common mining methods that start from the earths surface and maintain exposure to the surface throughout the extraction period. South africa has a rich and vibrant history of producing excellent literature. It was the biggest increase in mining output since november 2017, as production rebounded for coal 2. Artisans of ancient civilizations used gold lavishly in decorating tombs and temples, and gold objects made more than 5,000 years ago have been found in egypt. In this book, gabrielle hecht lucidly probes the question of what it means for. South african mining, coal, gold and base minerals snippet view 2001. South africas diamond mining industry dates back to 1867, when diamonds were discovered near kimberley in what is today known as the northern cape.
It replaced the flag that had been used since 1928, and was chosen to represent multiculturalism and ethnic diversity in the countrys new, postapartheid democratic society. During the goldmining revolution, patterns of land and labour were. This book is a pacesetter in the study of mining and the environment in africa from multidisciplinary and spatiotemporal perspectives. Smith, transactions of the mining institute of scotland, vol. A mineral, with a few exceptions, is an inorganic substance occurring in nature that has a definite chemical composition and distinctive physical properties or molecular structure. The flag of republic of south africa was adopted on 27 april 1994. Mining in south africa was once the main driving force behind the history and development of africa s most advanced and richest economy. Mining was the original powerhouse of south africas economy, even as it fed its sharp inequality. In that year, south africas platinum mining industry employed some 164,5 people. The book contains an alphabetical list of gold mining company directors an example of the prospectuses included in the book. The mining industry is an important part of the south african economy, contributing 8. South africa gdp from mining 19932019 data 20202022. A history of gold mining in south africa, ghana and. Robinson mine, crown mine, village deep gold mine, and new gold mine.
Cambridge core african history the diamond mines of south africa by gardner f. The kimberley diamond fields, and later discoveries in gauteng, the free state, and along the atlantic coast, emerged as major sources of gemquality diamonds, securing south africas position. A perspective on the south african mining industry in the. Photos from illinois and kentucky 19051995 by herbert k. Mining in south africa began with chance discovery of a diamond on the banks of the orange river in 1867. But today, the industrys decline speaks to a wider sense of stagnation that will guide many.
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