In this article, Dr John Bristow of the Overberg Geoscientists Group writes about a centenary of diamond prospecting and mining along the West Coast of South Africa and the legends that shaped the business.

The 1925 discovery of diamonds on the Atlantic Coastal margin of Namaqualand (South Africa) between the Olifants and Orange rivers and Namibia between the Orange river and north beyond Luderitz, followed by their delineation and exploitation, records 100 years of human endeavour, entrepreneurship, skilful geology, technological innovation and perseverance.  The kaleidoscope of characters that explored, prospected, failed, succeeded, became experts and legends over this 100-year period is remarkable.

In late 1907, Richtersveld prospecting legend Fred Cornell was shown a quality diamond weighing about 20 ct by a transport rider about 50 miles downstream of Prieska on the Orange river.  This and his decade long adventures in Namaqualand led Cornell to believe there were treasures somewhere near the mouth of the Orange river.  These treasures eluded Cornell, but he stuck to his guns, slept rough under the stars and kept company with rowdy companions.  In 1921 he sailed to England seeking finance for his prospecting endeavours, sadly dying in a collision between his motorcycle side-car and a London Taxi.

Alluvial diamonds were initially found along the coastal strip of Namibia (South West Africa) near Luderitz in 1908, then in 1925 (17 years later) rich deposits were discovered and registered by Jack Carstens south of the Orange river in South Africa.  The first Namaqualand diamond discovery was just south of Port Nolloth.  Once this discovery became public, the rush was on.  Diamonds were soon being found by the handful around Alexander Bay, Port Nolloth and Kleinzee in Namaqualand, the word spread and the hordes were beginning to gather. 

Dr Hans Merensky, famous for his Bushveld platinum discoveries, joined the fray.  His prospecting delineated diamond deposits amongst fossilised oyster beds on older raised-terraces (see Figure 2 below).  Merensky registered a number of rich claims, for which he was eventually paid out £1.25-million.  He furthermore recognised that by opening the floodgates of rough diamond supply from Alexander Bay and surrounds, the smooth sea & river-washed and polished gems may not maintain their ’value’.  Earlier ‘explorers’ tales mention Indigenous People’s children playing with glittering-baubles along the shorelines of the north-west Namaqualand coastline.  Early Europeans venturing into Namaqualand were looking for copper and did not give diamonds much thought.

Merensky undertook the 700km journey from Alexander Bay to Cape Town for urgent talks with the Government and Opposition of the day.  A prospecting and mining moratorium was declared.  De Beers, fearing an overtraded world market, bought up all the Namaqualand diamonds they could.  Ernest Oppenheimer took the long view and remained calm throughout. However, the crowds in Port Nolloth and Springbok, expectant of overnight wealth, objected to government intervention. There were mass meetings and threats of armed insurrection. The State shipped in more than 100 extra policemen to bolster the local constabulary.

In 1928 the Alexander Bay diamond-fields were consolidated into State Alluvial Diggings (SAD), fenced-off and tightly controlled. However, illegal diamonds were smuggled in many creative ways into Port Nolloth, thereby becoming infamous as the illicit diamond buying (IDB) hub of Africa.

Pieter Coetzer, author of Baai van Diamante (Bay of Diamonds), notes that the then Port Nolloth population could be divided into IDB, CID and the CGB (crystal & glass buyers) groups.  “Amongst this lot, fighting was the rule rather than the exception, normally caused by drink, women and diamonds,” he writes. “The persons beat up the most were those who tried to sell crystal and glass as diamonds.”  IDB was seen as a God-given right of many Namaqualander’s.  The locals were generally poor, there was suddenly immense mobile wealth available, so why should the rich pickings go to the city slickers?

The discoveries of alluvial diamonds at Alexander Bay, then Kleinzee (and subsequently south to the Olifants River mouth), inevitably led to a search for their origin.  Respected geologist Dr Hans Merensky believed that the primary origin of the west coast diamonds were submarine kimberlites in the Atlantic Ocean.  Many others, including geologist Dr Ernst Reuning postulated an origin in the continental interior.  Subsequent studies confirmed Reuning’s hypothesis, then progressively untangled the origin and formation of the world’s largest diamond placer deposits on the west-coast of South Africa and Namibia. 

Erosion of the numerous kimberlites in the cratonic interior of the southern continent, river transport (Orange, Buffels & tributaries to the Olifants) and glacial transport of material (including diamonds) to the West Coast started the process.  Millions of years of subsequent reworking and attritioning on ancient beaches (raised and drowned) of the Atlantic seaboard, consolidated the immense placer deposits containing extensive high-quality gemstones averaging $500 to $600 per carat (see Kimberley Process Data, 2023, for adjacent Namibian deposits).

The scheduled 6 February 2025 presentation summarising the history of the West Coast diamond deposits reflects first-hand experiences of the author in the diamond areas of northern Namaqualand and collective information from numerous sources.  A 1972 student geological excursion to Sate Alluvial Diggings (SAD) and picking rough diamonds out of gulleys, provided the author with initial insight into the richness of the areas exploited immediately south of Alexander Bay. 

Geological work and experience in the marine and land-mining, extensive research, literature reviews and engagements with many west coast and Orange River geologists and legends (including those now departed), large mining operators (land and marine) has added to the experience.  Information from prospectors, small and midsized boat operators & divers, the Moonstar deep-mining venture, a failed $10-million JV between Moonstone Diamonds [Australian] & Benguela Concessions [RSA] in 1996/97, has supplemented these experiences from Die Punt/Olifants river (south) to the Orange river (north).

Data and observations drawn from the long-term exploitation of these deposits, including marine, land and river deposits, attempts to consolidate old-mining assets and privatise Alexkor, and the demise of Villages/Towns such as Kleinzee, Alexander Bay and Port Nolloth, add to the picture.  Today unemployment, illegal mining (Zama Zama) activity across the old mining areas, and the Resource Curse faced by mineral-rich countries/jurisdictions, are significant challenges for the West Coast diamond areas.  A lengthy Court sanctioned Restitution process (2003 – 2007) and signing of a Deed of Settlement and MOU with Alexkor (2007), have provided little benefit to Richtersveld communities.  Lack of capable local structures eg. a functional Communal Property Association (CPA), skills, and mistrust have exacerbated the challenges faced by the impoverished communities and groups.

Looking beyond present challenges, there is still value in the West Coast diamond deposits.  New initiatives in the marine sector including development of more efficient mid-sized mining vessels and improved sea-bed mapping and gravel-deposit delineation have shown encouraging results.  New ownership of some on-land and lower Orange River deposits may show benefits, likewise signs of improvement in the depressed state of the natural diamond market will help. 

Modernisation of South Africa’s mineral policy regime, regulatory framework and a modern cadastre system to attract new investment and development of unexplored and undeveloped mineral resources of all types, including alluvial diamonds, would provide considerable overall benefit.