The discovery of world-class diamond and gold deposits in the latter half of the 19th century laid the foundations for transformation of South Africa from an essentially agricultural to a modern industrial economy. Mining − embracing numerous other minerals too, in which South Africa has an exceptional geological endowment − remained at the ...

Diamonds, gold, and imperialist intervention (1870–1902). South Africa experienced a transformation between 1870, when the diamond rush to Kimberley began, and 1902, when the South African War ended. Midway between these dates, in 1886, the world's largest goldfields were discovered on the Witwatersrand.As the predominantly agrarian societies of European South Africa began to urbanize …

Diamonds and Migrant Labour in South Africa, 1869-1910. The 'pass laws' and migrant labour of apartheid in South Africa today have their origins in the policies designed to control the black workers in the diamond mines a century ago. Racial discrimination in South Africa is …

Kimberley, South Africa, is home to the world's largest diamond mine, also known as the "Big Hole.". Dug by humans and so large it is visible from space, the pit has yielded some of the world's largest diamonds and made the De Beers name famous worldwide. At Kimberley visitors can view a 17-minute movie about the location and the ...

4. Koffiefontein Mine. Here is another diamond mine in South Africa that is located in the Free State province. Koffiefontein Mine is also one of the numerous Kimberley mines. Address: Koffiefontein, South Africa. 5. Venetia diamond mine. The Venetia Diamond Mine is a huge diamond Mine in South Africa.

A century of migrant labour in the gold mines of South Africa took place all over southern Africa4, with stringent health checks before miners were accepted. In addition to the inherent dangers of work underground—in 1907 mortality ran at 470 per 100 000 employees per annum 2—were the recognized dangers of high pre-existing pneumonia rates.

During the gold-mining revolution, patterns of land and labour were established and continued into the 20th century. Focus: Changing balance of power in South Africa brought about by gold mining, and the foundations of racial segregation. Content and topics: "¢ Britain, diamond mining and increasing labour control and land expansionism

M M ining in South Africa has been a contentious issue since 15-year-old Erasmus Stephanus Jacobs discovered South Africa's first diamond, the Eureka, in Hopetown in 1867. It kickstarted what historians call the Mineral Revolution, which made few European opportunists wealthy beyond measure, and saw hundreds of thousands of men leaving their homes to become fulltime mineworkers.

South Africa. Diamonds and Migrant Labour in South Africa, 1869-1910. The 'pass laws' and migrant labour of apartheid in South Africa today have their origins in the policies designed to control the black workers in the diamond mines a century ago. Racial discrimination in South Africa is based on the migrant labour system.

Later, more gold mines were discovered further south and east of South Africa, extending for miles underground resulting in 'an endless treasure of gold'. Gold mining very quickly became the largest and most important part of the South African economy. Throughout much of the early 20th century, the gold mining industry continued to grow ...

Diamonds, gold, and imperialist intervention (1870–1902). South Africa experienced a transformation between 1870, when the diamond rush to Kimberley began, and 1902, when the South African War ended. Midway between these dates, in 1886, the world's largest goldfields were discovered on the Witwatersrand.As the predominantly agrarian societies of European South Africa began to …

Brief history of diamond mining in South Africa. INCLUDING MAJOR EVENTS. 1867. Diamonds are discovered in the Cape Colony – now the Northern Cape – when 15-year-old Erasmus Jacobs finds a transparent rock on his father's farm. The rock is later known as the 21.19ct Eureka diamond.

Kimberley mine in 1873, only a few years after the digging for diamonds started. Discovery of Gold and Diamonds in South Africa. When gold was discovered in the eastern Transvaal (Pilgrim's Rest, Mac-Mac Waterfalls and Barberton) a similar process took place. New towns were established to accommodate the huge influx of people.

Mining in South Africa was once the main driving force behind the history and development of Africa's most advanced and richest economy. 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.

The South African history of diamonds started in the 1866 mid December and February 1867. 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. In the next fifteen years, the South Africa had produced diamonds more than India produced in 2,000 years.