WITWATERSRAND GOLD - 100 YEARS (1986)

This comprehensive work consisted of seven chapters contains a detailed description of Witwatersrand goldfields, including numerous maps and planes (many folding), geological sections and profiles, photographic illustrations, tables, statistics, etc. This book is one of a limited edition of a limited printing of 1250 copies.

"The Council of the Geological Society of South Africa saw fit, in the early 1980s, to request Dr Antrobus to compile and edit a special publication on the Witwatersrand story, its appearance to coincide with the centenary year of the discovery of the Main Reef in 1886 on the farm Langlaagte by Harrison. Various specialists on the Witwatersrand Basin were invited to contribute chapters on each of the major goldfields and the Society is deeply appreciative of these efforts which, with the unifying thread provided by Dr Antrobus, constitute the substance of this volume.

Although the individuals involved are all geologists, they have produced a book which embraces all aspects of the Witwatersrand story. While the important role of geology in the unravelling of the story is emphasized, the reader will find a host of interesting historical anecdotes, the flashes of brilliance, of how ground was acquired and relinquished and of how fortunes were made and lost. The initial chapters relate the story of the early Randlords, the establishment of the great mining houses and the unity and services provided by the unique Chamber of Mines organization. Above all the vision and perseverance of geologists, geophysicists, mining engineers, metallurgists and men from many other disciplines who have contributed to making the Witwatersrand the greatest success story of the African continent is vividly illustrated.

Throughout the history of the Witwatersrand, the race has been on to find new goldfields and this search has called for continual development of new skills and technology as well as the refinement of our understanding of the source and modes of concentration of gold in the conglomerates. The absorbing circumstances behind the discovery of the major goldfields are related in detail and are as fascinating as many a detective story. The importance of ground acquisition, the use of the magnetic and gravimetric methods of geophysical exploration and the development of conceptual geological models to aid exploration programmes are all told with enthusiasm and flair.

Geologists and mining men today have the advantage of a vast store of knowledge accumulated by generations of their colleagues before them and "Witwatersrand Gold-100 years" is a warm tribute to the magnificent efforts of our predecessors."

(from the Foreword by Dr. R. P. Viljoen, President of the Geological Society of South Africa)

CHAPTERS:

I. PREAMBLE (by E. S. A.ANTROBUS) - (with sections: Introduction; A Brief Summary; The Transvaal, 1856-1886; Early Prospecting for Gold; Eersteling-The First Mine; Mac Mac and Pilgrim's Rest; Barberton; Imperial and Metric Units; Acknowledgments);

II. THE CENTRAL RAND (by V. W. WERDMÜLLER) - (with section: The Discovery; Earlier Prospecting Activities; Gold Strikes Close to the Witwatersrand; Evolution of the Gold Laws; Events Following the Discovery; The Start of Actual Mining; Some Aspects of 100 Years of Mining; Gross Production Figures; Evolution of Geological Concepts; After one Century of Gold Mining; Acknowledgements; Appendix I. Dörffel's Report on the Turf Club Borehole; Appendix II. The Rand Victoria Borehole);

III. THE WEST RAND GOLDFIELD (by M. LEDNOR) - (with sections: Introduction; The Beginning; The Industry Takes Off; Robinson, Rhodes, Barnato; Some Early Mines and Incidents on the West Rand; The Evolution of Geological Thought on the West Rand; Geology of the West Rand Goldfield; The Discovery of Western Areas, Cooke and Doornkop; The Mines - Historical Details; Summary of Production Trends for the West Rand Goldfield; Acknowledgements);

IV. A. THE EAST RAND GOLDFIELD (by F. S. J. DE JAGER) - (with sections: Introduction; Summary History; Stratigraphy and General Geology; Contribution by Geology and Geologists; The Mines - Historical Details);
     B. THE SOUTH RAND GOLDFIELD (by F. S. J. DE JAGER) - (with sections: Introduction; Geographical and Geological Extent of the Field; Structural Outline; Members of the Kimberley Conglomerate Formation; Mining; Exploratory Drilling; Gold Production);

V. THE KLERKSDORP GOLDFIELD (by K. M. CHAPMAN, R. F. TUCKER and R. J. KIDGER) - (with sections: Introduction; The First Fifty Years; Gold Discovery; The First Ten Years of Gold; The Geological Setting and the Reefs; The Anglo-Boer War; The Thirty Years after the War; The Gold Standard and Western Reefs; Strathmore and the Vaal Reef; Conclusion; Acknowledgements);

VI. THE WEST WITS LINE (by C. J. ENGELBRECHT) - (with sections: Introduction; 1887-1932 - The Early Days; 1932-1945 - West Witwatersrand Areas; 1945-Present - Post World War II; Summary of Geology and Structure; The Water Problem; Gold Production; Acknowledgements);

VII. THE ORANGE FREE STATE (WELKOM) GOLDFIELD (by C. GREATHEAD and J. F. GRAADT VAN ROGGEN) - (with sections: Pioneer Years (1867-1932); The New Era (1932-1939); The War Years (1939-1945); Post-War Developments; Recent Years: Current Developments: Future Prospects; Development of Geological Understanding in the Welkom Goldfield; A Review of Operations at Western Holdings: 1947-1981; Potted Histories - Other Mines);

VIII. THE EVANDER GOLDFIELD (by A. LEEB-DU TOIT) - (with sections: Discovery; The Early Days; Gold Production; Generalised Stratigraphy; Structural Geology; Looking Ahead).

Bound in skivertex green hardcover with dustjacket; Collation complete - Title page, 298 pages, with numerous illustrations, maps, geological sections, tables, figures, photographic plates, etc.; Text in English; Binding is tight and firm, with minimal wear, only little bumped to the spine extremities, boards slightly warped. Dust jacket little dusty, with wears mostly over the extremities and unprofessionally repaired tear by tape to the front cover. Text block/pages bright and clear, overall in near fine condition, no foxing, marks or annotations, only with a minimal traces of page turning. Well preserved copy.

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