THE GOLD MINES OF THE RAND - being a Description of the Mining Industry of Witwatersrand South African Republic (1895)

Publisher's red cloth binding with gilt titles on spine.

xvii + 306pp. Text illustrations in profusion. There are 14 plates and 5 fold-out plans and charts (all present). This copy unfortunately lacks the two maps that were located in the rear sleeve.

Contents clean and binding tight. Some pages are still uncut. There is some wear along the edges of the covers and the cloth has split in the middle of the spine although with no loss.

'An important work on the gold-mining industry of the Transvaal, brought up to the middle of the year 1895. In the Preface there is a contribution from Mr. J. H. Hammond, the well-known gold-mining expert, on "The Future of the Rand," which is optimistic in tone, and expresses the opinion that "from an engineering point of view, mining operations are certainly practicable to a vertical depth of at least 5000 feet."

The work contains an elaborate description of "the auriferous conglomerate of 'blanket' beds on the Rand," with particulars of deposits, taken from well-known mines. There is a chapter devoted to "Deep Levels - their developments and prospects," and other articles deal with "Mining practice on the Rand," "Surface equipment," "The metallurgical treatment of the ore," &c. &c. A large number of engravings and plates fully illustrate the text.' - Mendelssohn Vol.I, page 695