The Kimberley diamond mine is a combination of an open pit and an underground diamond mine in Kimberely… From mid-July 1871 to 1914, 50,000 miners dug the hole with picks and shovels, yielding 2,722 kg of diamonds. The De Beers then sold their property. Washing plant at De Beers Consolidated Mines, Ltd., Kimberley, S.Af.. Get exclusive access to content from our 1768 First Edition with your subscription. However, to young Erasmus Stephanus Jacobs, 15, there was much with which to amuse himself as he played with the 'klippies' which abounded on their farm De Kalk near Hopetown (120km south of present day Kimberley). Within a year of the first diamond claims more than 50,000 people were living in tents and make do shelters. Founded after the discovery of diamonds on farms in the area in 1869–71, the mining camp of Kimberley grew as a result of the intensive digging of the diamond-bearing pipe at the hill called Colesberg Koppie. After 1888 the Kimberley Mine at Colesberg Koppie and most other mines in the area were controlled by a trust organized by Cecil Rhodes, with production placed in the hands of De Beers Consolidated Mines Ltd. Kimberley Mine (now called the Big Hole; 0.9 mile [1.5 km] in circumference), long the richest diamond-producing mine in the world, was closed in 1914, but several other mines remain productive, and diamond mining and cutting remain prominent industries.
Three years later, having learned something of precious stones, Schalk traded a shepherd boy for a stone, giving him five hundred sheep, ten oxen and a horse. Which capital city was founded by a group of 87 Chinese tin miners? Erasmus Jacobs, a 15-year-old farmer's son, finds Africa's first authenticated diamond near the Orange River, Hopetown.
Iron, salt, and gypsum are also worked in the vicinity. Before the diamonds were discovered here at the site, two Dutch pioneers Johannes Nicholas and Didrik Arnoldus De Beers established a farm right here. 1866: Eureka!
In the beginning, people of all ethnicities were able to mine and profit. Kimberley in South Africa is one of the world’s largest diamond mines in the world. The Kimberley diamond mine is a combination of an open pit and an underground diamond mine in Kimberely. But it was soon declared that the Jagersfontein Mine was larger than the Big Hole. Later, the stone was purchased by Louis Hond, a diamond cutter, and fashioned to what was described as an "oval, three-sided brilliant" and was sold to William Ward, the Earl of Dudley, for £25,000. It was then soon turned into a museum after the mining had stopped. Be on the lookout for your Britannica newsletter to get trusted stories delivered right to your inbox. The pit is famous to yield some of the world’s largest diamonds and made the De Beers a famous name worldwide. Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students.
Diamond mines at Kimberly yielded more diamonds than any other operation before. Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article.
It is also known as the ‘Big Hole’ which was dug by humans because it was visible from space. By signing up for this email, you are agreeing to news, offers, and information from Encyclopaedia Britannica. These two finds led to the first diamond rush in 1869 to the banks of the Orange River. The name of the diamond found here reflects the place of origin. Also Read: All About Red Velvet - The Popular 5-member Music Group In K-pop World. The Heyday of Diamond Mining. Omissions? Also Read: Stormzy, Billie Ellish, Lewis Capaldi Set To Perform At BRIT Awards 2020, Police custody denied for Arnab Goswami by Alibag court, will be in judicial custody, HM Amit Shah condemns Arnab Goswami's arrest, says 'attack on free press will be opposed', Big observation by judge: Cops reopened case against Arnab without consent of court, Kimberly Diamond mines' history and some facts about the 'Big Hole', Louis Vuitton Buys World's Second Largest Diamond Unearthed In Botswana, Before 1981 Behmai Massacre Verdict, All About Main-accused 'Bandit Queen' Phoolan Devi, All About Red Velvet - The Popular 5-member Music Group In K-pop World, Stormzy, Billie Ellish, Lewis Capaldi Set To Perform At BRIT Awards 2020. From mid-July 1871 to 1914 up to 50,000 miners dug the hole with picks and shovels, yielding 2,720 kilograms (6,000 lb; 13,600,000 carats) of diamonds. Kimberley, South Africa, is home to the world’s largest diamond mine, also known as the “Big Hole.”.
About Kimberley › Heyday of Diamond Mining. Important collections of Khoisan artifacts are in the Alexander McGregor Memorial Museum, and the Duggan-Cronin Bantu Gallery contains early 20th-century photographs of African miners. 1871 wurden die Diamantenfelder von verschiedenen Seiten beansprucht und nach einem Mediationsprozess dem Griqua The Kimberely octahedral is the largest naturally formed octahedral diamond crystal that was discovered here. Also Read: Louis Vuitton Buys World's Second Largest Diamond Unearthed In Botswana. The camp was named after John Wodehouse, 1st Earl of Kimberley, who was then British colonial secretary. Africans were banned from purchasing guns, shutting down any possibility of violent resistance. It lies near the Free State province border. Today, the Dee Beers Consolidated Mines Ltd remains the dominant company in the diamond market. It is the market and service centre for a prosperous irrigated-farming and cattle-raising area.
Drei Jahre später, im Jahre 1869, fand man den ersten Diamanten im Muttergestein (des später sogenannten) Kimberlit.
The town of Kimberley was created in 1878 and incorporated into the Cape Colony in 1880. Founded after the discovery of diamonds on farms in the area in 1869–71, the mining camp of Kimberley grew as a result of the intensive digging of the diamond-bearing pipe at the hill called Colesberg Koppie. However, a second far greater find was made in 1870 on the gravel banks of the Vaal River near Barkly West (35km north-west of present day Kimberley). The name of the diamond found here reflects the place of origin. Daraufhin setzte ein „Diamantenrausch“ ein und die Stadt Vooruitzigt bzw. The pit hole is almost half a kilometre wide diameter and is 215 meters deep.
Dug by humans and so large it is visible from space, the pit has yielded some of the world’s largest diamonds and made the De Beers name famous worldwide. The city has Anglican and Roman Catholic cathedrals.
In 1866, when the diamonds were found the discovery created a chaotic situation and diamond prospectors from across the world flew in to flock the area. It was practically all of van Niekerk's possessions, but a few days later in Hopetown he sold the rough crystal to the Lilienfield Brothers in Hopetown for £11,200. Kimberley is the main city of Griqualand West. Kimberley, city, diamond-mining centre, and capital of Northern Cape province, South Africa. Although Erasmus Jacobs never found another diamond, Schalk van Niekerk was luckier.
It was found in the Dutoitspan Mine in the Kimberley region of South Africa. It was reported that between the year 1871 and 1914, around 50,000 miners had excavated 22.5 tons of rock, and also producing 2, 722 kgs of rough diamonds. As miners arrived in their thousands the hill disappeared and subsequently became known as the Big Hole (or Kimberley se Gat in Afrikaans) or, more formally, Kimberley Mine.
Erasmus was somewhat amused when a neighbour, oom Schalk van Niekerk, asked if he could borrow one of the play stones which he had found a year earlier - a particularly shiny one. City status was granted in 1912 with absorption of the mining town of Beaconsfield. The first diamonds here were found by Alyrick Braswell on Colesberg Kopje by members of the "Red Cap Party" from Colesberg on the farm Vooruitzigt belonging to the De Beers brothers, in 1871. Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree.... Big Hole (formerly Kimberley Mine, closed 1915) in the foreground, with the city of Kimberley in the background, Northern Cape province, S.Af. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). All about the Kimberley diamond mines. The northern Cape in March 1867 was a hot and desolate place. It lies near the Free State province border. Pop. Africans numbered about 30,000 and about 10% actually owned diamond claims, others were migrant laborers. This article was most recently revised and updated by, https://www.britannica.com/place/Kimberley-South-Africa, Kimberley - Children's Encyclopedia (Ages 8-11), Kimberley - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up). Announcing our NEW encyclopedia for Kids! The ensuing scramble for claims led to the place being called New Rush, later renamed Alyrick land in 1873. In 1885 the Cape Town Railway reached Kimberley, and during the South African War the town was besieged by the Boers for 126 days until relieved by Gen. John French on February 15, 1900. Updates? 1866 wurden Diamanten nahe dem Oranje und später auch auf einem Hügel im heutigen Zentrum entdeckt. Kimberley, city, diamond-mining centre, and capital of Northern Cape province, South Africa.
The house was dismantled and the site is now the colossal hole in the ground of Bultfontein Mine. Kimberley’s gardens and squares are dotted with memorials, including an equestrian statue of Rhodes. The Kimberely octahedral is the largest naturally formed octahedral diamond crystal that was discovered here.
Also Read: Before 1981 Behmai Massacre Verdict, All About Main-accused 'Bandit Queen' Phoolan Devi. 1869: The Star of South Africa, an 83.5 carat rough diamond, is discovered by a Griqua herdsman in Hopetown.
Years later, the pit became dangerous and unprofitable and the mine stopped operating in 2005. In wenigen Monaten wuchs die Stadt auf über 30.000 Einwohner.
(2001) 62,526. Corrections? It was found in the Dutoitspan Mine in the Kimberley region of South Africa. As more organized searches began to turn up results, people rushed in to search for the precious stones. Cecil Rhodes, aged 17, arrives in South Africa, Barney Barnato, 18, joins his brother at the Kimberley digs, Cecil Rhodes dies at his cottage at Muizenberg. A few years later, the Kimberely or the 'Big Hole' was reported to be the largest hole ever dug by human hands. The Big Hole has a surface of 17 hectares (42 acres) and is … New Rush entstand.
At the height of the rush to these river diggings, diamonds were found in the mud brick walls of the farmhouse of Bultfontein (Hilly fountain) owned by Cornelius du Plooy.
The discovery of diamonds in South Africa began with a few accidental finds of valuable diamonds.