Mining in South Africa – The South African Mining Industry is one of the most productive in the world and raw materials make up about 60% of the country’s exports. Major minerals mined in South Africa are gold, diamonds, platinum, manganese, coal, chromium, ore, iron, vanadium and uranium.
South Africa is the most highly developed and prosperous economy in Africa mainly due to the South African mining industry which started in 1867 with the discovery of the diamonds by Erasmus Jacobs on the banks of the Orange River and later on the development of the Kimberley pipes. Then there was the discovery of Gold in Pilgrims Rest and Barberton followed by discovery of the Main Reef at Langlaagte causing the subsequent Witwatersrand Gold rush.
Although the mining of Diamonds in South Africa began in 1866 with the discovery of the 21.25 carat “Eureka” diamond, it was only in about 1870 with the discovery of an 83.50 carat diamond that the main Diamond rush began.
South Africa’s mineral resources and actual mining and export volumes make the country number one worldwide, with Gold still holding a unique position due to the fact that 40% of the worlds gold reserves is situated in the Witwatersrand, South Africa. However it has become very costly to mine this gold due to the fact that it is usually found at very great depths under the ground.
Besides being the largest producer of platinum and related metals in the world – both Palladium and Chromium are principal products of the country’s mining industry – South Africa is also the single country in the world to produce fuel from coal.