Diamonds and Gold in South Africa ... With maps, etc

Preface

. Some of the following pages have already appeared in print. The section on the diamond fields, originally written for the ' Official Handbook of the Cape of Good Hope,' was issued in pamphlet form at the time of the Kimberley Exhibition of 1892, on which occasion also the paper on the gold fields was delivered as a lecture. It is now published for the first time, and the whole work has been carefully revised and brought up to date, besides being considerably enlarged by the addition of the latest statistics bearing on the two industries, and by a number of articles on points of special interest, which will be found in the Appendix. I take this opportunity of acknow ledging my indebtedness, not only to the gentlemen whose names are affixed to these articles, but also to the managers and secretaries of Companies wbo have freely placed much valuable information at my disposal ; to many old colonists for useful comments and criticism ; and, especially, to Mr. John Noble, of Capetown, for a large amount of generous assistance and encouragement.

For the rest, I have drawn up a list of the principal authors consulted, to which must be added a whole library of blue-books, and companies' reports, and files of colonial newspapers, too numerous to specify. Though the materials are at hand for doing justice to the subject, yet, in spite of the number of works that have been written on South Africa, it cannot be said that the diamond and gold fields, which form the backbone of the country, have received that attention at the hands of either scientific or imaginative writers which they deserve. To the geologist, IMiEFACE. VIII the metallurgist, and the mining engineer, they offer a mass of interesting facts and problems, of which the outside world is still profoundly ignorant; while the romantic incidents connected with their discovery and early development afford ample materials for the historian, the poet, and the novelist.

This book aims merely at giving an outline of the rise and progress of the leading industries of South Africa, in a popular form suited to the general reader. A residence of fourteen years in Kimberley and Johannesburg has placed the writer in a position to describe, it is hoped with some degree of accuracy, the conditions under which these im portant industries sprung into life, and the systematic manner in which they are now being conducted. Africa is proverbially the land of surprises, but it is difficult to imagine that any more startling surprises can be in store for us than have been witnessed within the generation in which our lot has been cast. Some day the history of this generation of discoveries will be written by a historian worthy of the task, and he will make of it a story more wonderful than any fairy tale.

He will tell of a land apparently destitute of resources, barely able to support its scanty population living the most frugal lives, suddenly transformed, " as from the stroke of the enchanter's wand," into a perfect Sindbad's cave of precious stones and gold. Scarcely a quarter of a century has passed since the discovery of diamonds in Griqua land West converted a corner of the desert into a teeming hive of industry, shut out by barren wastes from communication with the sea and the fertile districts of the country ; and now the huge continent is vibrating with the tread of the iron horse, that is breaking down old boundaries and preparing the way for a confederation, which, when the day of its fulfilment arrives, will at once take rank among the leading states of the world. What a future there is before us in South Africa ! — a vast country waking up, as it were, from the sleep of ages, and realising all at once that it is destined to play a great part in

PREFACE.

. IX the world. A superb climate, a fertile soil, boundless mineral wealth, and, all around, millions of idle hands waiting to be employed in its extraction. When we think of the melan choly state of society in the Old World, and in the New ; of the bitter struggle for existence ; of the overcrowded cities, with their awful poverty, and vice, and wretchedness ; of the hard unlovely lives of the many, in contrast with the ease and luxury of the favoured few ; of the impending death struggle of capital and of labour, and that other menace, which hangs like a nightmare over Europe, of immense armaments ready at any moment to spread desolation and mourning over the land ; — we have reason to thank God that we live in a land as yet free from the worst heritages of civilisation, a land of such infinite promise that the boldest may turn pale and tremble with excitement when they con template the scope it offers to every noble ambition — a land that answers better than any other in the world to that magnificent description in the Book of Job : — " The stones thereof are the place of sapphires, And it hath dust of gold."

T. K. Johannesburg, May, 1893. LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. 1. Geological Map (Simpson) at end of volume. 2. A Diamond of 428i carats .. .. .. .. page 1 3. Plan of the Diamond Fields, Griqualand West (reproduced, with permission, from the map of the London and South African Exploration Company) to face page 3 4. Barkly West, Vaal River Diggings, 1880 ( Trim) .. „ 7 5. Kimberley Mine under Reef in 1886, showing crater-like formation (Trim) .. .. .. .. „ „ 19 6. The Roadways, Kimberley Mine, 1872 (Trim) .. „ 25 7. The Kimberley Mine, with cobweb of wire ropes, in 1873(_Vi'm) „ 27 8. Section of Kimberley Mine, 1891 (De Beers Report) „ „ 54 9. Improved Diamond Washing Plant, Kimberley Mine, 1890 (Harvey) „ „ 57 10. Large Diamond found in De Beers Mine .. .. page 59 11. Native Compound, De Beers Mine, with portion of Kimberley, 1890 (Harvey) .. .. .. io face page 60 12.

Kenilworth Village, near Kimberley, 1892 (Harvey) „ „ 62 J 3. The Premier (Wesselton) Mine, 1893 (Edwards) .. „ „ 66 14. The Largest Diamond iu the World .. .. .. page 68 15. Sorting Gravel at Waldek's Plant, Vaal River (Trim) to face page 71 16. Section of Witwatersrand (Simpson) . . .. .. page 79 17. The Waterfall, near Krugersdorp, Witwatersrand (Edwards) .. .. .. .. .. .. to face page 85 18. Part of Johannesburg, from Doomfontein Hills, 1893 (Edwards) .. .. .. .. .. .. „ „ 87 19. Simmonds Street, Johannesburg, 1893 (Edwards) .. „ „ 88 20. Grootvlei Coal Shaft, near Johannesburg (Simpson) „ „ 90 21. Geological Sections North of Johannesburg (Simpson) „ „ 92 22. Section through Johannesburg to the Black Reef (Simpson) .. .. .. .. .. .. „ ,, 94 23. Section from the Black Reef to the Free State (Simpson) .. .. .. .. .. .. „ „ 95 24.

Geological Chart of the Witwatersrand Basin (Spencer) „ „ LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. 25. Various Faults as met with in the Formations of tbe Banket Reefs on the Witwatersrand Gold Fields (Simpson) .. .. .. .. .. .. to face page 101 26. Henry Nourse Deep-Level Bore Hole (Simpson) .. ,, „ 102 27. Ferreira Main Shaft Head-gear, &c. (Edwards) .. „ „ 104 28. llobinson Company's Battery .. .. .. .. „ „ 106 29. Langlaagte Estate Cyanide Works (Edwards) .. „ ,, 110 30. Plan of Cyanide Works (MacArthvr) .. .. „ 212 31. Elevation of Cyanide Works (MacArthur) .. .. ,, „ 213 32. Zinc Box for Cyanide Works (MacArthur) .. .. „ „ TABLE OF CONTENTS.

Part I

The South African Diamond Fields. PAGE Results of the discovery of diamonds .. .. .. .. .. 3 History of the discovery .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 5 Geography of the Diamond Fields .. .. .. .. .. 9 Proprietorship of the mines .. .. .. .. .. .. 10 Climate and town of Kimberley .. .. .. .. .. .. 11 Railways to the Diamond Fields .. .. .. .. .. .. 12 Distance and fares to Kimberley .. .. .. .. .. .. 13 Fuel-supply of Kimberley .. .. .. .. .. .. 14 Geology of the Diamond Fields .. .. .. .. .. .. 16 Encasing rocks of the mines .. .. .. .. .. .. 18 Formation of the diamond mines .. .. .. .. .. 19 Origin of the diamonds .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 20 Mineralogy of the diamond rock .. .. .. .. .. .. 21 Nature of the blue ground .. .. .. .. .. .. 22 Primitive mining operations .. .. .. .. .. .. 23 Opening of Kimberley Mine .. .. .. .. .. .. 24 The roadways .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 25 The stagings .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 27 The first Mining Board 28 The "Reef" difficulty 29 Expenditure on reef-work .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 30 First underground mining .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 3] Limits of openworking .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 32 De Beers Mine 33 Reef-work at De Beers .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 34 Underground works in De Beers Mine .. .. .. .. .. 35 Dutoitspan Mine .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 36 Bultfontein Mine 37 First share mania on the Diamond Fields .. .. .. .. 38 Defects of early management of the mines .. .. .. .. 40 Growing need for amalgamation of holdings .. .. .. .. 41 Progress of amalgamation scheme .. .. .. .. ..

CONTENTS. PAGK The De Beers Mining Company .. .. -• •• •• •• *" Danger of over-production of Diamonds .. .. .. .. -• 44 Formation of the De Beers Consolidated Mines .. .. .. .- 45 Mr. Rhodes' policy of consolidation The purchase price of the four Mines . . . . . . • • ■ • 47 Financial position of De Beers Consolidated Mines .. .. .. 48 Successful result of amalgamation .. .. .. ■• •■ 52 Modern method of diamond-mining .. .. .. .. .. 53 Description of machinery now employed .. .. .. .. .. 54 Mode of treating the blue-ground .. .. .. .. .. .. 55 Method of winning the diamonds .. .. .. .. .. .. 57 Various colours and qualities of diamonds .. .. .. .. 58 The illicit diamond traffic .. .* .. .. .. .. 59 Accommodation for white and native miners .. .. .. .. 60 The De Beers model village of Kenilworth .. .. .. .. 61 Diamond mines outside the control of De Beers .. .. .. .. 62 Present position of Dutoitspan Mine .. .. .. .. .. 62 Present position of Bultfontein Mine .. .. .. .. .. 63 Other outside mines of less importance . .. .. .. .. 64 The Premier Mine (Wessel ton) .. .. .. .. .. .. 65 Diamond mines in the Orange Free State .. .. .. .. 67 Jagersfontein the only mine of present importance there .. .. 67 The largest diamond in the world .. .. .. .. .. 68 Koffyfontein Diamond Mine and Waterworks .. .. .. .. 69 The Vaal River diggings .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 70 Gross value of diamonds won to date in South Africa .. .. .. 72 Analysis of annual expenditure of tbe De Beers Consolidated Mines .. 73 Effects of consolidation on the diamond industry and on the local trade of Kimberley .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 73 52 Present size of the mines, and other recent statistics .. .. .. 74

Part II

The South African Gold Fields. History of the pioneers of the Gold Fields .... gl Discovery of the Tati and Mashonaland Gold Fields . . . . 81 Baines' travels and book ........ -,„ Discovery of the Lydenburg Gold Fields .... ao Discovery of De Kaap Gold Fields .. .. .. oo First gold boom in South Africa' .. .. .. .. q. Discovery of Witwatersrand Gold Fields .. o- Brilliant results of the discovery ...... ftsi Climate and town of Johannesburg .... o7 Population of Johannesburg ...... cq CONTENTS.

XV PAGE The Netherlands South African Railway Company .. .. .. 90 Distance of Johannesburg from the coast . . . . . . . . 91 Exceptional conditions of the occurrence of gold in South Africa .. 91 Geology of the Transvaal .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 92 Alford, on the geological features of the Transvaal . . . . . . 93 Peculiar formation of Witwatersrand .. .. .. .. .. 94 Extraordinary extent and uniformity of the Witwatersrand gold reefs .. 95 Other mineral deposits north of Witwatersrand .. .. .. .. 96 Locality of the Transvaal Silver Mines .. .. .. .. .. 97 Length and area of the Witwatersrand Gold Fields .. .. .. 97 Portion at present being actively worked .. .. .. .. 97 Evidence of continuance of the reefs in depth .. .. .. .. 98 The Main Reef series of conglomerate beds .. .. .. .. 98 Varying dip, thickness, grade, and distance apart of the reefs . . . . 99 Nature of the " Banket" (conglomerate) reefs .. .. .. .. 100 They become pyritic below the water line .. .. .. .. 101 " Faults" caused by diorite intrusions .. .. .. .. .. 101 Size of a "claim "and rules for calculating tbe quantity of ore in a mine .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 102 Deep-level Companies .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 102 Ultimate depth to which metalliferous mining is practicable .. .. 103 Estimated quantity of gold in the Rand Mines .. .. .. .. 103 Mode of mining similar to that in other countries .. .. .. 104 Description of surface-works .. .. .. .. .. .. 105 The Californian stamp-mill still holds its own .. .. .. .. 105 Methods of gold-extraction .. .. .. .. .. .. 106 Treatment of free-milling ore .. .. .. .. .. .. 107 Treatment of pyritic ore .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 108 The chlorination process .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 109 The cyanide process .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 110 Comparison of the two processes .. .. .. .. .. ..

Ill Success of cyanide Works . . .. .. .. .. .. .. 113 Value of gold exported to date .. .. .. .. .. .. 114 Present position and future prospects of the Rand .. .. .. 115 Its output compared with that of the older gold-producing States .. 116 The world's gold-production .. .. .. .. .. .. 117 The permanence of the Rand assured .. .. .. .. .. 117 The country as yet but imperfectly prospected .. .. .. .. 118 Comparative population of South Africa .. .. .. .. .. 118 Its physical and political advantages .. .. .. .. ..119 A word of warning to emigrants .. .. .. •• .. .. CONTENTS. XVI

Part III

Appendices. pauk 1. Relative value of South African exports in 1892 125 2. Gross value of diamonds exported to end of 1892 .. .. .. 126 3. Early history of the Diamond Fields 127 4. The Kimberley Waterworks .. .* .. ■• •• •• 129 5. The De Beers Report for 1892 131 6. Machinery at Kimberley Mine .. .. .. •• •• 143 7. Mineralogy of the diamond .. .. .. -. .. •• 146 8. The Diamond Trade Acts 148 9. The Transvaal gold laws .. .. .. .. .. .. 150 10. The Tati gold fields 157 11. Mr. Struben on the mineral wealth of the Transvaal .. .. 159 12. De Kaap sold fields .. .. .. 162 13. The Low Country (Transvaal) gold fields .. .. .. ..171 34. The Witwatersberg gold fields .. .. .. .. .. 173 15. Gold in Mashonaland 181 16. Gold in the Cape Colony . .. 184 17. Gold in the Orange Free State ' .. .. .. .. .. 185 18.

Gold in Zululand 187 19. Mr. Hamilton Smith on the Rand 196 20. The great bore hole on the Rand .. .. 203 21. The cvanide process of gold-extraction .. .. .. .. 209 22. The Transvaal Silver Mines .. .. .. .. .. .. 216 23. The Witwatersrand Chamber of Mines .. .. .. .. 217 24. Gross value of gold exported from South Africa to end of 1892 .. 220 25. Comparative output of Transvaal gold fields, 1890-1892 .. .. 221 26. Progressive output of Witwatersrand, 1887-1892 .. .. .. 222 27. Analysis of Rand output, 1887-1892 223 28. Chamber of Mines Returns of 1892 output 224 29. List of Rand mines producing gold in 1892 .. .. .. 225 30. Dividends paid on the Rand in 1892 .. .. .. .. 227 31. Johannesburg Mining Commissioner's accounts for 1892 .. .. 228 32. De Kaap Gold output in 1892 229 33. Comparative population of South Africa .. .. .. .. 230 34. List of Authors consulted .. .. .. .. .. .. 231 General Index .. .. .. .. .. .. ..