Diamond Mining In Africa
The largest diamond producers in africa are south africa angola botswana namibia and the democratic republic of congo drc.
Diamond mining in africa. In this south central region diamonds are mined from kimberlite mines in south africa angola and the drc and from alluvial dredging mining operations in angola namibia and again south africa. The first diamond discoveries in south africa were alluvial. First in yellow earth and below in hard rock called blue ground later called kimberlite after the mining town of kimberley. Gemfair de beers program for the artisanal sector has partnered with two organizations on a training project to enhance mining practices in west africa it has signed a memorandum of understanding with germany s deutsche gesellschaft für internationale zusammenarbeit giz and the mano river.
A million diamond diggers in africa earn less than a dollar a day. Since colonialists such as barney barneto and cecil john rhodes took land from indigenous griqua nama batlhaping and other peoples in the kgalagadi desert in 1869 to establish the diamond mining conglomerate de beers kimberley has been the heart of south africa s diamond mining industry. It produced 4 2mct of diamonds in 2018. Gold rushes to pilgrim s rest and barberton were precursors to the biggest discovery of all the main reef main reef leader on gerhardus oosth.
Grim reality tarnishes glitter from the mines in africa to polishers in india to retailers in the west follow a diamond s global path to market. Venetia is the biggest diamond producing mine in south africa. The deposit comprises 12 kimberlite pipes. Large scale and profitable mining started with the discovery of a diamond on the banks of the orange river in 1867 by erasmus jacobs and the subsequent discovery and exploitation of the kimberley pipes a few years later.
Mining in south africa was once the main driving force behind the history and development of africa s most advanced and richest economy. Miners are dying in accidents child labor is widespread and corrupt leaders are depriving diamond mining communities of funds badly needed for economic development. Many of the world s diamonds are mined using practices that exploit workers children and communities.