A brief history of diamonds and the big hole in kimberley. Looking for diamonds in south africa with benguela diamonds. Southern africa was once regarded as a worthless jumble of. The 1867 discovery of diamonds in the cape colony, south africa, radically modified not only the worlds supply of diamonds but also the conception of them. Matthew hart, former mining editor of the rapaport diamond report, opens diamond. Nooitgedacht farm 381 jp located approx 70 km west of rustenburg. The discovery of diamonds and then gold in south africa brought a rush of prospectors to the country and had significant effects on the history of south africa, both politically and economically. Sep 24, 2015 this diamond mining area, located in the namib desert of southwestern namibia, stretches from the atlantic coast in the west to about 100 km inland, from the orange river, on the border with south africa in the south, to 72 km north of luderitz. By the 1880s, the mines around kimberley produced around 95% of the world diamonds.
Our diamonds do not come from a diamond mine in south africa, but from the ocean. First published in 1902, this work opens with a chapter on notable historical diamonds, and goes on to describe the initial discovery of diamonds in south africa, the development of mines, the mining methods adopted, the welfare of the miners and a history of the whole diamond producing region. Diamond and gold production are now well down from their peaks, though south africa is still number 5 in gold but remains a cornucopia of. Little did he know that this nondescript act would set off a chain of events so large, it would change the course of history forever.
Use this printable file folder project to learn all about the discovery of gold and diamonds in south africa. Diamonds of all shapes and sizes have been discovered in the remarkable diamond country. May 30, 2015 the government of great britain took an even greater interest in south africa, stepping in to try to bribe or force the relucant natives to work the diamond mines established by european mining firms. By mining our own diamonds we fill a major market gap in a time in which transparency has become of the utmost importance. Alrosa is the worlds largest diamond producer youve never heard of. Namdia the official history of diamonds in namibia.
In the 1860s two significant diamonds were unearthed, the 21carat eureka diamond and the 83carat star of south africa, inspiring a diamond rush in the region that was aided by the more established coal industry. The discovery of this diamond led to the kimberley rush that played an integral part in transforming south african into a leading industrial nation. Nowhere else in the world are such large numbers of gemstones mined than on the african continent. The story of diamonds in south africa begins between december 1866 and february 1867 when 15yearold erasmus jacobs found a transparent rock on his fathers farm, on the south bank of the orange river. Helam mine, swartruggens, bojanala platinum district, north west, south africa. For him the diamondmining industry provided a springboard for further capitalistic ventures. Diamond mining is the top industry most likely to abuse children with forced labor in africa. Meredith, a prolific writer about african mostly postcolonial history, covers southern africa from the discovery of diamonds through to 1910 and the union of south africa and so packs in a fasinating chunk of events and people diamond and gold. Cullinan is the birthplace of some of the most glamorous and famous diamonds in history. An estimated one million diamond diggers in africa earn less than a dollar a day.
By 1899 the gold industry attracted investment worth. Learn about the diamond industry, the history of diamonds and diamonds in south africa. Their origin is immediately recognizable and at the same time a guarantee of fair working conditions. Brief history of diamond mining in south africa mining. In 1879, englishborn george william stow was commissioned by. From 1886 until 1940 the story of south africa is the story of gold. Migration, land and minerals in the making of south. Diamonds in south africa have a history of almost 150 years, and their discovery in kimberley made them readily available to the western world. Cullinan diamond mine day tour south african adventures. Often, rebel groups are responsible for this violence. Previously the south africa foundation, it has a rich history of channelling the. In fact, the largest diamond in history was found here back in 1905.
Diamond mines and mining south africa the diamond fields of southern africa johannesburg. It was the discovery and exploitation of first diamonds in 1870 and then gold. Starting in 1870 around the time diamonds were first discovered near kimberly, the book initially focuses on cecil rhodes, who realized early on that the best way to make money out of the diamond industry was. An active diamond mine, currently owned by petra diamonds. Similar in approach, this book explores the history of south africa in a way that reminds one of jared diamond s guns, germs and steel. In some areas of africa, children make up more than a small part of the workforce.
This is an original article from the penny pictorial magazine, 1900. Timely corporate history as exciting and poignant as any good tale of derringdo against great odds by alltooflawed giants. As the predominantly agrarian societies of european. Unlike the now dimeadozen summaries of african history, this book. The book is your ticket to a grand tour through kimberleys history. Diamond mining in namibia past and present news from all.
Inside kimberley paul duncan and alain proust have done it again. This unlivable wage is below the extreme poverty line. South african diamond history, 18669 from primary sources marian robertson. History of southern africa south african history online. A diamond is the hardest material on earth, and has longsince been recognized for its beauty as a gemstone. One survey of diamond miners in the lunda norte province of angola found that 46% of miners were between the ages of 5 and 16. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. There is a large economic impact of diamond mining in south africa as diamonds provide a lot of money to the economy, which provides better living conditions. In stones of contention, cleveland augustana college skillfully mines. The deposit consists of a set of subparallel kimberlite dykes intruded. The diamond mines of south africa i gardner williams farlang. Diamond miners who work in smallscale mining panning or digging for diamonds produce about 15% of the worlds diamonds. That occurred in the 1870s when mining began in several diamond pipes near the town of kimberley.
Improved mining and recovery methods together with the discovery and development of new fields has enabled mining operations to fill the growing demands. The cullinan diamond is discovered at the premier mine. Infiltrating and shutting down a blood diamond mine in equatorial guinea. Smith, transactions of the mining institute of scotland, vol. But governments and mining companies also commit atrocities in africa s diamond fields, frequently in countries that are not at war. How the diamond trade is enslaving millions of africans. Because children are considered an easy source of cheap labor, they are regularly employed in the diamond mining industry. You can expect an intimate tour and learning experience when visiting the diamond museum. It is maintained at the mine museum in kimberley, south africa. A chapter in this book describes the principal diamond mines and information on their mining operations.
The most famous diamond mine in the world in kimberly, south africa, is now a tourist attraction. World demand and production of diamond both for gem and industrial purposes has increased nearly fivefold during the past 25 years. The diamond fields of southern africa johannesburg. At brilliant earth, we believe it is important to end all. Diamond mining in south africa the underground mining and recovery of diamonds continues to this day in the vicinity of kimberley, the site of the early main discoveries in the 19 th century. In 1886, on the farm of langlaagte, the rapidly growing diamond industry was eclipsed by the discovery of gold. A view of the kimberley diamond mine in south africa, taken from a booklet. Mining in south africa was once the main driving force behind the history and development of africas most advanced and richest economy. The diamond which erasmus found was ultimately cut and polished. The british, the boers, and the making of south africa. Mining in south africa began with chance discovery of a diamond on the banks of the orange river in 1867.
Duncan inness book, anglo, deals first with the origins of anglo american corporation. Prospectors established in 1886 the existence of a belt of goldbearing reefs 40 miles 60 km wide centred on presentday johannesburg. 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. The story of the modern diamond market really begins on the african continent, with the 1866 discovery of diamonds in kimberley, south africa. The decline of the african states 151 diamonds, gold, and imperialist intervention 18701902 151 diamonds and confederation 152 afrikaner and african politics in the cape 153 gold mining 154 the road to war 154 the south african war 18991902 155 reconstruction, union, and segregation 190229 156 milner and reconstruction 157.
It is, however, on limited scale with a major focus on reprocessing old tailings dumps to recover diamonds left behind by older recovery processes. Other articles where history of south africa is discussed. Diamond mining in south africa after more than 150 years of intensive mining following the discovery of the eureka diamond on the banks of the orange river in 1867, south africas diamond industry remains among the top 5 largest producers in the world. As the production of diamonds increased in south africa, the production in brazil depleted. Diamond mining in africa child labor conflict diamonds. In mid1870 diamonds are found in the river diggings at klip drift now barkly west, triggering the second diamond. The company is currently active in openpit, largescale alluvial, coastal and deep sea mining. The south african diamondfields, author unknown, the yearbook of facts in. Nicknamed the star of south africa, the diamond touched off a rush in south africa with the british leading the way. Helam mine, swartruggens, bojanala platinum district.
He went to southern africa when he was 18 years old. The alluvial diamond mining operations are perhaps of most interest currently. South africa experienced a transformation between 1870, when the diamond rush to kimberley began, and 1902, when the south african war ended. The discovery of diamonds in south africa occurred in early 1867 on the land of a poor boer farmer, daniel jacobs, near the small isolated settlement of hopetown on the orange river in the cape of good hope colony. It is of the dry diggings that the future student of the diamond fields of south africa will have to take chief account. The first diamond discoveries in south africa were alluvial. First in yellow earth and below in hard rock called blue ground, later called kimberlite, after the mining town of kimberley.
The worlds top 10 biggest diamond mines mining technology. A history of mining in south africa kindle edition by jade davenport. The two biggest are presented to king edward vii in 1908 and now form part of the british crown jewels 1910 union of south africa. By 1869, diamonds were found far from any stream or river. Diamond mining had such a massive impact on the entire southern african region that, as economic historian william worger described it, within a year of the opening of the mines, every black. Rhodes was a diamond and gold mining entrepreneur who later became prime.
Where to find diamonds, how to identify rough diamonds and how to recover raw diamond crystals duration. Kimberley, south africa, is home to the worlds largest diamond mine, also known as the big hole. 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 mining in south africa kindle edition by davenport, jade. His life is a history of amassing fortune, of british. 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. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading digging deep. Diamond mining is plagued by shocking violence, from killings to sexual violence to torture. Cambridge core african history the diamond mines of south africa by gardner f. 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. This happened as erasmus jacobs, a 15 year old, discovered a transparent stone in their farm which is located on the south bank of orange river. Before then, almost all diamonds were mined from unconsolidated sediments, mostly by artisanal methods.
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. It operates in 35 countries and mining takes place in botswana, namibia, south africa, canada and australia. A look at the background of mzansis most soughtafter stone. Mar 23, 2015 three years later, an 83 carat diamond was found by a shepherd boy near the orange river in south africa. From then on, diamonds would be produced at a prodigious rate.
South africa south africa diamonds, gold, and imperialist intervention 18701902. South africas diamond mining industry dates back to 1867, when diamonds were discovered near kimberley in what is today known as the northern cape. The impact of diamond mining on economic growth and development especially in africa. Visit a south african museum dedicated to the famous diamond industry and learn. South africa can be considered the birthplace of the modern diamond industry. The author describes the diamond fields in these two articles. Migration, land and minerals in the making of south africa.
The diamond mines of south africa i gardner williams. Mining in south africa was once the main driving force behind the history and development of africa s most advanced and richest economy. South africa is the fourth largest diamond producer in the world. A change so unexpected and a development never known before were due to the discovery in 1886 of the greatest gold mines of all history, ancient and modern. Expect to see mining gear, famous diamond replicas, historical artifacts, specimens of natural kimberlite and much more. The river diggings were only the prospecting work which led up to the real mining operations,as the washing of the gullies in australia led to the crushing of quartz and to the sinking of deep mines in search of alluvial gold. In 1871, however, world annual production, derived primarily from south africa, exceeded 1 million carats for the first time. The venetia diamond mine, located 80km from musina in limpopo province of south africa, had more than 92.
Midway between these dates, in 1886, the worlds largest goldfields were discovered on the witwatersrand. Over the next few years, south africa yielded more diamonds than india had in over 2,000 years. One of the largest gemquality diamonds, the cullinan was discovered in south africa. This is a diamond processing chart as it was done in the 1950s.
Venetia is the biggest diamond producing mine in south africa. The premier mine is later renamed the cullinan mine. Chris ralph, professional prospector 241,405 views 43. The south african history of diamonds started in the 1866 mid december and february 1867. The hawaii five0 2010 episode kalele revolves around the smuggling of conflict diamonds. Diamond mines are a great contributor to the south african economy. I started reading this book because i realized i knew little about the history of south africa. Some 147 million carats of diamonds were estimated to have been produced from mines. Soon after, four mines were drydug and the largest diamond deposit ever was found.
The author can be a little tedious at times particularly regarding the mining operations but for. The cullinan diamond mine, also known as the premier diamond mine, has uncovered some of the largest diamonds in the world today and the mine lies over one of the biggest kimberlite pipes in the world kimberlite is named after kimberley in south africa and refers to a type of potassic volcanic rock known to contain diamonds. South africa is known for having a variety of different mining deposits all around the country. World diamond mining expanded dramatically with the discovery of sources in australia in 1985 and important new deposits in northern canada in 2000. 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. Diamond mining in south africa intelligence and info africa. Oct 06, 2016 where to find diamonds, how to identify rough diamonds and how to recover raw diamond crystals duration.
Though the global history of diamonds dates back around 3. Diamonds today are mined in about 25 different countries but around 49% of diamonds come from south africa. Blood diamonds is a thriller fiction book title by jon land, 2002. The rapid growth of the gold mining industry intensified processes started by the diamond boom. Migration, land and minerals in the making of south africa commissioned by the department of education this chapter will examine the various causes of the mineral revolution and how it impacted on societies in southern africa. The official story of namibias diamond history starts in 1908, when a young railways worker, zacharias lewala picks up a large shiny diamond whilst on duty near the countrys southern coastal town of luderitz. All about the kimberley diamond mine in south africa.