Diamond Mining In 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.

Diamond mining in africa. A million diamond diggers in africa earn less than a dollar a day. By 1869 diamonds were found far from any stream or river. The venetia diamond mine located 80km from musina in limpopo province of south africa had more than 92 4mct of diamond reserves as of december 2018. 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.

Gemfair de beers program for the artisanal sector has partnered with two organizations on a training project to enhance mining practices in west africa it has signed a memorandum of understanding with germany s deutsche gesellschaft für internationale zusammenarbeit giz and the mano river. Venetia is the biggest diamond producing mine in south africa. Mining in south africa was once the main driving force behind the history and development of africa s most advanced and richest economy. Many of the world s diamonds are mined using practices that exploit workers children and communities.

First in yellow earth and below in hard rock called blue ground later called kimberlite after the mining town of kimberley. Miners are dying in accidents child labor is widespread and corrupt leaders are depriving diamond mining communities of funds badly needed for economic development. Grim reality tarnishes glitter from the mines in africa to polishers in india to retailers in the west follow a diamond s global path to market. Since colonialists such as barney barneto and cecil john rhodes took land from indigenous griqua nama batlhaping and other peoples in the kgalagadi desert in 1869 to establish the diamond mining conglomerate de beers kimberley has been the heart of south africa s diamond mining industry.

In this south central region diamonds are mined from kimberlite mines in south africa angola and the drc and from alluvial dredging mining operations in angola namibia and again south africa. Gold rushes to pilgrim s rest and barberton were precursors to the biggest discovery of all the main reef main reef leader on gerhardus oosth. The deposit comprises 12 kimberlite pipes.