MINES OF SOUTH AFRICA (1898)

This is an extremely rare book about the mining industry in southern Africa, specifically about gold and diamond mines, with detailed descriptions of each mine in the Transvaal, Kimberley and Rhodesia. Including the chapter about the British South Africa Company (BSAC) with its founding history and administration. With 8 multiple folding maps and plans and with references to geology, legislation, exploration and production methods. A sound copy of this scarce title that rarely appears on auctions - and the only copy selling on internet.

Contents:

1) First Part - TRANSVAAL

I. Current state, reforms demanded by the mining industry

II. General geology of the Transvaal

III. Rand

IV. Klerksdorp and Heidelberg

V. De Kaap - Le Komati

VI. Lydenburg - Pilgrim's Rest

VII. Murchison Range

VIII. Transvaal gold production

IX. Mining and processing of minerals

X. Slime treatment

2) Second Part - DIAMOND MINES IN KIMBERLEY

3) Third Part - RHODESIA OR CHARTERLAND

I. The Chartered Company (the British South Africa Company)

II. The Gold Mines of Rhodesia

III. Chartered Company Mining Law

4) MAPS AND PLATES:

I. Map of the Witwatersrand Gold Mines according to maps by Charles Sydney Goldman FRGS (90 x 24 cm)

II. Gold mines of the Transvaal (districts of Klarksdorp and Heidelberg) according to maps by Jeppe Hatsch (46 x 24 cm)

III. Map of De Kaap and Komati Goldfields & Map of Charterland Gold Districts (34 x 24 cm)

IV. Map of the Lydenburg Goldfields (Transvaal) (34 x 24 cm)

V. Map of the Goldfields of the Murchison Range and Zoutpansberg (34 x 24 cm)

VI. The Simmer & Jack Gold Mining Co. Ltd. - Surface Plan (25 x 37 cm)

VII. The Simmer & Jack Gold Mining Co. Ltd. - Sketch of underground works (25 x 37 cm)

"Les Mines de l'Afrique du Sud. Transvaal, Rhodesie, etc."; Red quarter leather binding; Text in French; Collation complete - Title page, [VIII], 212 pages, with 8 folding maps and plans at the rear; Binding is tight and firm, with usual wears for the age, front board slightly warped. Boards have minor corner bumping and edgewear, mild scuffing to boards and spine extremities. A few light foxing traces to the title page and a few front pages, light tanning/yellowing to pages and text block edges (mostly affecting white margins, not affecting the text), otherwise the interior is in very good condition, no marks throughout. Ex-library copy (Ex-library label to the spine and a two library stamps to the half-title and title page and one chapter title). A sound copy.