Diamond Mining In Kimberley 1867 Onwards Flashcards
Discuss why diamonds are valuable
Diamonds mined in India for thousands of yrs. valuable coz rare. When properly cut they make beautiful gems. Used in jewelry and also valuable coz some view them as lucky. Knowledge on diamonds spread to Europe and became highly valued. Only 20% of diamonds are pure enough to become gems. The rest are industrial diamonds. Diamonds are hardest known substance. They can be used to cut and polish other materials (metal, glass, other diamonds.). Industrial diamonds= used in drilling bits, and to smooth runways at airports.
Discuss the British take over of diamond rich land in griqualand west.
Diamonds first found along Vaal river (northern cape 1867). Diggers collected small stones from bottom of river, washed and sorted them, hoping to find diamonds. Later diamonds in ground (dry diggings). After discovery of diamonds, arguments began about who was to own the land where it was found. 4 areas that claimed the land was: the Griqua, the batlhaping, and the govs of Orange free state and the Transvaal. A committee was set up to see, and the governor of natal heard evidence from all four but decided on the Griqua. The Griqua chief asked for B support with diamond diggings. As a result, B took over the diamond fields as the colony of griqualand west.
Discuss diamond mining and the development of a monopoly
People rushed to diamond fields from SA And other parts of world. Most were men. They hoped to get a claim (measured section of earth). There was a lot of competition between miners to find diamonds. Life on diamond diggings was hard and dangerous. After a while, white claim holders accused black claim holders of finding and selling diamonds illegally. As a result, B authorities passed a law that said there may not be black claim holders. Diamond were deep in ground, expensive machinery was needed to get it. Many could not afford this so other claim holders bought their claims. Soon Large companies owned all diamond fields in Kimberley. Many diggers now worked for these companies.
Discuss Cecil John Rhodes, Barney barnato and the formation of De Beers consolidated mines
2 successful claim holders (Cecil John Rhodes who owned De Beers mine and Barney barnato who owned Kimberley’s mine). Both came from England looking for wealth from the diamond mines. They were both successful and there was competition between them to see who would buy out all the other claims. 1888 Rhodes formed De Beers consolidated mines, which then owned all claims( monopoly of diamond mining industry). Rhodes became one of most richest and powerful men in SA, and De Beers richest company in world. Until 2000 De Beers controlled world diamond trade. It ran a successful marketing campaign using slogan :diamonds are forever. In 2000 it lost its monopoly when other diamond selling countries decided to sell their diamonds separately. So De Beers could no longer control supply and price of diamonds. Today DB is owned by Anglo American (one of biggest mining companies in SA). Discovery of diamonds lead to mineral revolution in SA and lead to growth of industries, towns and railways.
Discuss diamond mining in Kimberley 1867 onwards
1860s diamonds were discovered near Kimberley. They were richest diamond fields in the world. This discovery changed things in SA, as it was start of our own IR.
