A history of mining in south africa kindle edition by jade davenport. The harsh reality of life under apartheid in south africa. The book contains an alphabetical list of gold mining company directors. Mining in south africa was once the main driving force behind the history and development of africas most advanced and richest economy. Later, more gold mines were discovered further south and east of south africa, extending for miles underground resulting in an endless treasure of gold. Crushing and stamping mills, machinery, gold quartz mining, crushed ore, black workers in the mines. Historical overview of traditional and modern gold. Universal history archiveuniversal images grouprex. 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. A history of mining in south africa kindle edition by davenport, jade. A history of gold mining in south africa, ghana and.
It was the discovery and exploitation of first diamonds in 1870 and then gold. A history of gold mining in south africa, ghana and tanzania. All that glitters the glitter of gold by emilia potenza south african. South african mining, coal, gold and base minerals. Today, the mining industry remains one of the biggest contributors to the countrys economy with an estimated worth of r20. Migration, land and minerals in the making of south. Gold served as a key resource for a political system of kingship. As far back as the neolithic period, humans have collected gold from stream beds, and the actual mining of gold can be traced as far back as 3500 b. Rhodes was a diamond and gold mining entrepreneur who later became. The book contains an alphabetical list of gold mining company directors an example of the prospectuses included in the book. The standard bank of south africa was the first bank in johannesburg, arriving a month after the citys founding. After more than a century of gold mining in south africa, the us geological surveys latest estimate still ranks south africa as the custodian of the worlds second largest gold. How gold is made history, used, parts, procedure, industry. The importance of diamond mining to the economic development of the country is discussed by the author.
This is an outstanding book which tells the story of south africa from the 19th century. Gold fields has proudly operated in south africa since 1887, when cecil john rhodes and charles rudd formed gold fields of south africa. Not only has the country given birth to some great mines. The successful gold mining industry in south africa has had a significant impact on the development of africa as an advanced an economically successful country. From 1948 through the 1990s, a single word dominated life in south africa. 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. As found in kwame arhin, gold mining and trading among the ashanti in ghana, journal des africanites 48. Relive the gold mining history of johannesburg as you step into the oosthuizen house museum, the meticulously restored abode of emily oosthuizen, her husband and children. Gold mining has become one the main factors to the growth of south africa. 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. It presents the early history of south africa in an engaging, novellike way. The first was formed by hermann eckstein in 1887, eventually becoming rand mines.
Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading digging deep. The concept of an industry that was colossally wealthy only on condition that it jealously watched each penny of its. South africas gold mines and the politics of silicosis on jstor. The book a history of south africa by leonard thompson is a very good and fascinating book, it explains in vivid detail the whole entire history of south africa whether it is the neolithic period or the present daytime. Goldinsouthafrica the southern african institute of mining. Apartheidafrikaans for apartnesskept the countrys majority black population under the thumb of a small. 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. The cycle of economic growth was stimulated by the continual expansion of the mining industry, and with newfound wealth, consumer demand fueled higher levels of trade.
Anyone interested in johannesburgs mining history will find this section valuable. The researcher interested in the history of business in johannesburg will find much of value. South africas mining industries has propelled the development of the country. Total world production of gold is estimated to be about 3. 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 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. South africas gold mines are the largest and historically among the most profitable in the world. However, according to south african history online, these were minor reefs and credit for the discovery of the main reef on langlaagte farm went to australian george harrison in july 1886. For example, according to the university of ghana historian ababio ofosumensah 24, gold mining was practiced in the adanse and akan kingdoms in south central area of present day ghana, for over years. It is the worlds fifth largest mining sector in terms of gross domestic product gdp, contributing eight percent to south africas gdp. The author can be a little tedious at times particularly regarding the mining. The discovery of the witwatersrand goldfields in 1886 was a turning point in south africas history.
South africas remotenessit lies thousands of miles distant from major african cities such as lagos and cairo and more than 6,000 miles 10,000 km away from most of europe, north america, and eastern asia, where its major trading partners are locatedhelped reinforce the official system of apartheid for a large part of the 20th century. Along with platinum, coal and iron ore, its an important part of the economy. In 1975, south africa was responsible for producing 40% of the gold ever mined. The book a history of south africa by leonard thompson is a very good and fascinating book, it explains in vivid detail the whole entire history of south africa whether it. Gold mining in johannesburg, south africa summary robinson mine, crown mine, village deep gold mine, and new gold mine. After more than a century of gold mining in south africa, the us geological surveys latest estimate still ranks south africa as the custodian of the worlds second largest gold resources at 6,000 tonnes second only to australia. The golden age of mining university of johannesburg. The first recorded discovery of gold on the witwatersrand was made by jan gerrit bantjes in june 1884, on the farm vogelstruisfontein, and was followed soon thereafter, in september, by the struben brothers who uncovered the confidence reef on the farm wilgespruit, near presentday roodepoort.
The first major gold strike in north america occurred near dahlonega, georgia, in the late 1820s. In addition to global challenges, the south african. Sep 19, 2015 the country of south africa is the producer of gold in the world. Gold, recognizable by its yellowish cast, is one of the oldest metals used by humans. Within two years of gold being discovered on the witwatersrand, four mining finance houses had been established. We aim to provide balanced information that can be used to understand the history of gold mining in south africa, the work being done by the industry now and the plans in place for the industrys. Cecil rhodes and charles rudd followed, with their gold fields of south africa company. The authors background as a metallurgist slanted the book a bit toward the development of metallurgy processes but this was fair. About 45 percent of the worlds total gold production has been from the witwatersrand district in south africa. Gold mining in south africa over 50% of all gold reserves are found in south africa, with the witwatersrand basin remaining the largest gold resource in the world.
Mining grew with discovery of diamonds and increased with the discovery of gold. Gold mining in south africa largest gold mines in the world. The demand for franchise rights for englishspeaking immigrants working on the new goldfields was the pretext britain used to go to war with the transvaal and orange free state in 1899. The geologist hans merenskys followup work resulted in the discovery of two deposits, each around 100km in length, which became known as the bushveld igneous complex. Mining in south africa has been the main driving force behind the history and development of africas. Apartheidafrikaans for apartnesskept the countrys majority black. The largest gold mine in the united states is the homestake mine at lead, south dakota.
In this chapter elbra provides an overview of the gold mining industry in ghana, south africa and tanzania. In 1932, the company began mining the mineralrich west rand, where it discovered highyielding gold deposits. The locomotive in south africa a brief history of railway development. South african gold mining industry due to their level of market capitalization. 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. This facilitated purchases of munitions and food in the united states and neutral countries.
Nevertheless south africa has a mining history of an epic nature. The discovery of the witwatersrand goldfields in 1886 was a turning point in south africa s history. Andrew, papers and proceedings of the royal society of tasmania for 1887, pp. Discovery of the gold in 1884 the first recorded discovery of gold on the witwatersrand was made by jan gerrit bantjes in june 1884, on the farm vogelstruisfontein, and was followed soon thereafter, in september, by the struben brothers who uncovered the confidence reef on the farm wilgespruit, near presentday roodepoort. Discovery of the gold in 1884 south african history online. This is gold is an initiative begun by south african gold producers to provide insight into the gold industry, and its contribution to south africa.
Major gold rushes occurred in the united states, australia, canada, and south africa in the 19th century. From 1886 until 1940 the story of south africa is the story of gold. When the war began, bank of england officials worked with the government of south africa to block any gold shipments to germany, and force the mine owners to sell only to the british treasury, at prices set by the treasury. Gold mining in johannesburg, south africa library of congress. 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. South africa history, capital, flag, map, population. A very well researched books which lays bare the history of mining in south africa which now spans over 160 years. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets.
In south africa, the discovery of the first platinum nuggets dates back to 1924. Tholana 6171 mining companies globally are currently facing severe economic and financial challenges. The book covers the history of seven of south africas most historically important commodities copper, diamonds, gold, coal, ironore, platinum and uranium, says davenport. In 2009 south africa was the fourth largest diamond industry in the world. The rapid growth of the goldmining industry intensified processes started by the. The focus on slavery has overshadowed and driven from both public and scholarly perception the realisation that west africas history is far more than slavery alone. The family relocated from europe, travelling by ocean liner, to south africa at the height of the gold rush era. South africa was drawn into the international economy through its exports, primarily diamonds and gold, and through its own increasing demand for a variety of agricultural imports. All that glitters the glitter of gold by emilia potenza.
South africa and the international gold standard, i890i914, journal of african history, 23. The development of the south african goldmining industry. However, trends in productivity in the south african gold mining industry by p. Mining in world history is a good account of how minerals and their development and use advanced the history of the western world. Pdf historical overview of traditional and modern gold. 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. Gold mining in south africa taung gold international limited. Mining in south africa has been the main driving force behind the history and development of africa s most advanced and richest economy. May 09, 2019 from 1948 through the 1990s, a single word dominated life in south africa. A few minor glitches, but not serious or important. The history of silicosis in south africa is filled with paradoxes.
Gold rush, rapid influx of fortune seekers to the site of newly discovered gold deposits. For many years south africa was the largest gold producer in the world, and it remains the biggest producer of pgms, though that sector is sadly riven by unrest, sadly. Mining in south africa was once the main driving force behind the history and development of africa s most advanced and richest economy. Even before the discovery of gold, the south african interior was an arena of.
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