Minerals
hidden histories
Plaster model of gold ingot from Queensland, Australia
Gold
Gold is a relatively rare element used in coins, jewellery and art. It is valued for its bright shiny colour, it doesn’t tarnish and it is soft and easily shaped.
Until 2007, South Africa was the world’s largest gold producer. Since then, China, Australia and Russia have become world leaders.
Gold Mining in South Africa
The South African Witwatersrand gold rush began in 1886. It has been central to the early wealth in South Africa and at the heart of colonial power.
In the early 1900s harsh conditions down the mines and abuse from the white supervisors led to 100s of death per year, mainly black African migrants. Manchester Museum’s gold ore specimens were collected at this time.
Gold mining at Crown Mine, Johannesburg, South Africa about 1910.
Copyright: The Keystone View Company, B. L. Singley
Gold Processing
Gold is usually spread thinly through the rock. This means it needs to go through a series of processes to concentrate it.
The rock is first crushed, eventually to powder, then a chemical solvent is used to extract the gold, usually cyanide. It is then extracted from the Cyanide using carbon and separated using an electric current. It is then smelted in a furnace at more than 1000°C.
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The ‘Quartz Sorting Table’ part of the gold processing at Robinson Deep Mine, South Africa, 1901.
Copyright: The Keystone View Company, B. L. Singley
Gold Ore, South Africa collected early 1900s