Flying the flag for South African geotourism

The highly niche sector of geotourism, defined as travel to and appreciation of natural landscapes and geological phenomena, could be perceived by anyone other than a geologist or even a miner  to... 

The mining town that is better than the south

As far as the longevity of South African towns is concerned, Phalaborwa, the self-proclaimed tourist capital of Limpopo province, is the new kid on the block, having only been founded in 1958. As... 

Mpumalanga natural wonders’ Scottish connection

If you have ever driven along the majestic Panorama Route, on the edge of the Drakensberg Escarpment, in Mpumulanga, you will have noticed that the natural wonders that line the route bear the most... 

Historic mine manager’s house celebrates centenary

  South Africa’s historical mining narrative has placed much emphasis on detailing the harsh living conditions of black migrant mineworkers, who were housed in single-sex, often closed, compounds... 

Tati – the site of Southern Africa’s first gold rush

South Africa’s modern economy was built largely on the back of the exploitation of the extensive but low-grade goldfield that is the Witwatersrand basin. Such has been that sector’s sheer dominance... 

The anti-German riots that drove Oppenheimer out of Kimberley

At first glance, the centenary of the Lusitania disaster, in which 1 195 of 1 959 passengers drowned when the cruiseliner was torpedoed by a German U-boat 11 miles off the Irish coast on May 7,... 

And then there was light

There is no doubt that South Africa is in the midst of a social, political and economic crisis of unparalleled proportions, at least as far as the last 21 years of nonracial democracy is concerned.... 

Tourist for a day in the City of Gold

If you are a resident of Johannesburg and have ever had visitors come to stay, be they local or foreign, you have probably been confronted with the conundrum of what to do and where to take them to... 

As beneficiation debate rages, experts insist focus must be on niche sectors, upstream manufacturing

The contentious debate surrounding South Africa’s beneficiation strategy and how best it should be undertaken has been placed under the glare of the spotlight again and has served to intensify... 

As beneficiation debate rages, experts insist focus must be on niche sectors, upstream manufacturing

The contentious debate surrounding South Africa’s beneficiation strategy and how best it should be undertaken has been placed under the glare of the spotlight again and has served to intensify... 

#RhodesMustFall debate

The contentious debate surrounding the removal of the statue of pioneering mining magnate and British imperialist Cecil John Rhodes has, yet again, flared up. However, this time, given the actions... 

The beginnings of the Thabazimbi mine

The future of one of South Africa’s oldest operating mines, the Thabazimbi iron-ore mine, in the North West, is underscrutiny owing to the drastic slump in iron-ore prices over the past 12 months... 

The historic goldfields of Nkandla district

Of all the issues marring South African politics, and the state of the nation, for that matter, at this juncture Nkandla, or rather the excessively expensive upgrades made to President Jacob Zuma’s... 

Trendy market gives new lease of life to historic Joburg mining warehouses

Johannesburg is, and has been, many things but 'historically sentimental' is not one of them. From its very establishment, the quintessential city of gold was a dynamic, constantly evolving urban... 

Australian company starts trial reef residue mining in Pilgrim’s Rest

Junior gold miner Stonewall Mining, a wholly owned subsidiary of ASX-listed Stonewall Resources, has started bulk trial mining at its historic Beta mine, in Pilgrim’s Rest, Mpumulanaga. This forms... 

The dynamite explosion that devastated a fledgling Joburg

From its establishment Johannesburg has always been a fast-paced and dangerous place to live and work in. Indeed, being a city built on the exploitation of man’s ultimate symbol of wealth and with... 

Mining sector poised for a bumpy 2015 as legislative uncertainty, other challenges linger

South Africa’s long-embattled mining sector has slumped into the new year a little worse for wear, having been ravaged by an array of challenges during 2014, not least of which were the longest... 

Mining sector poised for a bumpy 2015 as legislative uncertainty, other challenges linger

The Chamber of Mines (CoM) is hopeful that labour stability will be achieved this year, as progress is being made in terms of stakeholder engagement, CoM president Mike Teke tells Mining Weekly. He... 

Waning investor confidence, weak commodity prices among factors limiting growth of African mining sector

Along with the Arctic, sub-Saharan Africa remains the most underexplored and highly prospective mineralised region on earth. However, despite its ‘open for business’ approach and myriad investment... 

Waning investor confidence, weak commodity prices among factors limiting growth of African mining sector

Along with the Arctic, sub-Saharan Africa remains the most underexplored and highly prospective mineralised region on earth. However, despite its ‘open-for-business’ approach and myriad investment... 

South Africa’s historical gold nuggets

It is a well-recited fact that South Africa has produced roughly a third of the entire stock of gold on earth. While the country is undoubtedly the most historically prolific producer, there has... 

Natural treasures of the Gold Rush countries

A buzz of excitement swept through the historic gold mining state of California, US, at the end of October, when a recently discovered 75 oz gold nugget was put on show and sold for about $400 000.... 

Low kimberlite discovery rate seen sparking diamond production crisis by turn of decade

The stability of the diamond sector has always been a slave to the fine balance between supply and demand. Over the last century, the industry has had to contend with various crises of oversupply,... 

Low kimberlite discovery rate seen sparking diamond production crisis by turn of decade

The stability of the diamond sector has always been a slave to the fine balance between supply and demand. Over the last century, however, the industry has dealt with various crises of oversupply,... 

Kudos to De Beers

Last month I had the pleasure of being hosted by De Beers while on a visit to South Africa’s historic city of diamonds. For a historian interested in South Africa’s mining sector, a company such as... 

Museum paying tribute to Natal’s coal mining heritage

I was recently  invited to attend a friend’s wedding at the Thendele Camp of the Royal Natal National Park, overlooking the magnificent amphitheatre of the Drakensberg mountain range. I had been... 

Merensky’s discovery of platinum

In the grand scheme of things, a ninetieth anniversary of a mineral discovery should not be worth much fanfare. However, given the fact that South Africa’s commercial mining sector is relatively... 

Merensky – the prisoner of war

Ninety years ago, almost to the day, South Africa’s pre-eminent geologist, Dr Hans Merensky, made one of the most important and phenomenal mineral discoveries anywhere in the world when he... 

South Africa’s WWI golden bullets

The centennial commemoration of the outbreak of the First World War on August, 4, the date that Great Britain officially declared war on a belligerent Germany, was a significant occasion that was... 

AngloGold and Africa’s goldsmithing heritage

Many kudos must be given to Johannesburg-based gold miner AngloGold Ashanti for its concerted efforts to preserve and promote the cultural and artistic heritage of African goldsmithing design and... 

Rhodes memorial debate

From time to time, a debate flares up among the University of Cape Town’s student body about whether or not the statue of pioneering mining magnate and British imperialist Cecil John Rhodes should... 

A modern wine tradition built on diamond wealth

The theme of the last instalment of this column explored the historical association between mining capital and three of South Africa’s most prestigious wine estates. Continuing on that theme, it is... 

Constrained SA mining sector forcing contractors to seek African opps

South Africa’s phenomenal minerals revolution, which has its roots in the last quarter of the nineteenth century, facilitated not only the establishment and growth of the largest and most... 

Constrained SA mining sector forcing contractors to seek opportunities in other parts of Africa

South Africa’s phenomenal mineral revolution, which has its roots in the last quarter of the nineteenth century, facilitated not only the establishment and growth of the largest and most... 

Mining capital that infiltrated the Cape wine industry

It is inevitable that in an economy that has been so completely dominated by the extraction of mineral resources that mining capital would have, at some stage or another, infiltrated other sectors.... 

Wine estate celebrates Cape’s tin mining heritage

The vineyard-dominated landscape between Cape Town’s northern suburbs and the wine-producing town of Stellenbosch, particularly along the R102 and M12 routes, is both beautiful and tranquil and it... 

Wining and mining in the early Cape Colony

One thing you would not associate with mining is the craft of winemaking. However, in a country that has been so completely dominated by that extractive industry, it is not entirely surprising that... 

Industry leaders reflect on evolution of SA's mining industry over last two decades

The mining industry has, from a historical perspective, played an inherently complex and contradictory role within South Africa’s sociopolitical economy. While the industry has, for more than a... 

Industry leaders reflect on evolution of SA’s mining industry over last two decades

The mining industry has, from a historical perspective, played an inherently complex and contradictory role within South Africa’s sociopolitical economy. While the industry has, for more than a... 

Ancient site under threat from gold-hungry miner

A few weeks ago, the highly controversial story that the government of Georgia hds given Russian-backed Rich Metals Group (RMG) approval to continue its mining project at a site believed to host...