Erfdeel (On Mine Salting in the Free State)

Privately Published, 1987

4to, 150pp. Original light blue softcover binding. Text in English.

With an inscription, presumably by a relative of Eric Louw, forbidding publication of any part of this book without his/her prior consent.

A unique and scarce account by Eric Low of the Erfdeel 188 salting saga in the Free State.

One of the biggest and most sensational "salting cases" ever to be placed on record originated from a gold strike in a borehole known as Borehole ED.5 on the farm Erfdeel188, situated about 8 miles from Welkom in the Orange Free State.

However, as a result of certain rumours the phenomenal gold values reported for the Erfdeel cores came under suspicion. Suspicions were intensified when a rumour began to circulate of even a bigger gold strike. This was known as the "Dankbaarheid Rumour" according to which a phenomenal gold value was obtained in borehole DNK.l on the farm Dankbaarheid 187 adjoining Erfdeel 188. At this stage the Government decided to have the matter investigated.

The case dragged on and on, but eventually reached finality. One of the accused was discharged as the evidence against him was regarded to be insufficient. The other accused was found guilty of "salting the Leader and the Basal Reef cores of the 3rd Deflection"; he was sentenced to three years' hard labour and was ordered to pay a fine of £3,000 (R6,000) with the alternative of a further two years' imprisonment. (Valedictory Address By The President, W. R. Liebenberg, https://journals.co.za/doi/pdf/10.10520/AJA10120750_1503)

In mineral exploration, salting is the process of adding a valuable metal, especially gold or silver, to a sample from a mine to change the value of the sample with intent to deceive potential buyers of the mine. (wikipedia.com)

Eric Hendrik Louw (1890–1968) was a South African diplomat and politician. He served as the Minister of Finance from 1954 to 1956, and as the Minister of Foreign Affairs from 1955 to 1963. (wikipedia.com)

Condition: Very good. Light rubbing, slight creasing and minor stains to covers. Small closed tear to the front cover. Light creases to the first few pages. Light yellowing to edges of textblock. Text is clean. Well bound.