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Transvaal Gold Mining
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Transvaal Gold Mining
A gold mining scene on the Rand
Mary Evans Picture Library makes available wonderful images created for people to enjoy over the centuries
Media ID 591607
© Mary Evans Picture Library 2015 - https://copyrighthub.org/s0/hub1/creation/maryevans/MaryEvansPictureID/10150855
EDITORS COMMENTS
This evocative photograph captures the essence of the Transvaal Gold Rush, a pivotal moment in South African history that began in 1886 and lasted until the turn of the century. The scene portrayed here is typical of the gold mining operations that transformed the landscape of the Witwatersrand, an area northwest of Johannesburg. Gold mining in the Transvaal Republic of South Africa was not for the faint-hearted. The quest for the precious metal brought thousands of prospectors from all corners of the world, lured by the promise of wealth and adventure. The harsh realities of mining life are evident in this image, with miners toiling under the unforgiving sun, their faces etched with the grime and dust of the mineshafts. The gold mines of the Witwatersrand were unlike any other in the world. The gold was found in reefs, rather than veins, making mining a complex and labor-intensive process. The scene shows miners using the "long tom" or "tommy" drill, a large, heavy drill used to break up the rock and expose the gold-bearing reef. The drill was operated by a team of men, each with a specific role. One man would turn the handle, another would feed the drill with gunpowder, and another would remove the rock once it had been blasted. The gold rush brought significant social and economic changes to South Africa. It led to the growth of Johannesburg, which became the largest city in South Africa and a hub of commerce and industry. However, it also brought conflict and hardship, with tensions between the Boer farmers and the mining community leading to the Second Boer War in 1899. This photograph is a poignant reminder of the human cost of the gold rush, as well as the incredible determination and resilience of those who sought their fortune in the Transvaal gold mines.
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