What is the
Mineral Revolution?
The mineral revolution is the term that historians use for a
period of time in South African history when a lot of precious
material deposits were discovered. The discovery of these
materials sparked a huge push on mining in the country,
which in turn caused rapid industrialisation and economic
changes in South Africa.
What Started the South African
Mineral Revolution?
Diamonds in Kimberley
The mineral revolution started in 1867, when diamonds were
discovered in the town of Kimberley, in the Northern Cape
province. Once news of the discovery spread, prospectors
quickly started arriving in the hopes of making their fortune.
The population of the town increased massively as a result.
These mines were open-pit mines that were initially dug by
hand, using pickaxes and shovels.
What Started the South African
Mineral Revolution?
Diamonds in Kimberley
Once the initial surface deposits were all gone, there was a
need to dig deeper to find more diamonds. To do this,
machinery was needed. At this point, mining corporations
began to take charge. They had access to steam engines, lots
of money and labour; this enabled them to continue digging
for diamonds.
What Started the South African
Mineral Revolution?
Gold in Witwatersrand
The diamond rush was just the beginning of the mineral
revolution. In 1886, gold was discovered in the Witwatersrand
ore fields. Witwatersrand, near Johannesburg, is the site of a
steep scarp or cliff face, where two tectonic plates meet.
What Started the South African
Mineral Revolution?
Gold in Witwatersrand
At the time of the discovery of gold, these ore fields spanned
both British and Afrikaner territories. The surface deposits of
gold were very quickly mined away. Then the larger
corporations with the machinery to dig deeper took over, with
a few companies claiming a monopoly on the land.
Did You Know…?
The Witwatersrand was known locally as the Rand - this
name would later be given to South Africa's currency in a
nod to the gold wealth of the area.
How Did the Discovery of
Valuable Minerals Change
South Africa?
The emergence of large-scale mining in South Africa had a huge
impact on the country as a whole. From demographic shifts in
population to urbanisation and agriculture, many lives were
affected by these changes.
The mines required an army of workers to extract the valuable
diamonds and gold that they were unearthing. This meant that
the owners of the mines hired more workers and paid them less,
leading to a drop in living standards. Many of the mineworkers
would live on-site, with food and basic accommodation
provided.
People began immigrating to South Africa to be a part of the
mineral revolution, and this led to the expansion of port cities
such as Durban and Cape Town.
How Did the Discovery of
Valuable Minerals Change
South Africa?
As more and more people were drawn to the mines to make
their fortune, this had an impact on agriculture and farming.
Farms would lose workers to the mines, and commercial
organisations were then able to buy the farms at bargain
prices. This meant that many farmers migrated to cities in
search of work. The commercialisation of the farms increased
South Africa's agricultural output.
How Did the Discovery of
Valuable Minerals Change
South Africa?
Sheep and cattle farming increased, and the commercial farms
began producing in-demand crops such as tobacco, sugar and
grapes. These products didn't need as much labour and sold
well to the growing urban population.
How Did the Discovery of
Valuable Minerals Change
South Africa?
As people started moving to towns and urban areas in search
of a better life, this prompted the need for better
communication and transport infrastructure. The use of
railways was expanded to connect towns and countryside
areas.
Overall, the mines stimulated the South African
economy greatly.
