The Impact of Mining
Group Physical Science Project
Topic 1: What is the Impact of Mining on South Africa and its people?
GOLD
Authors: Michelle Dandara, Kirsten Collins, Robyn Blench, Yumna Badrooien and Sonia Mataramvura
Date of Completion: 17 February 2012
Teacher: Mr Altern
Abstract
Mining plays a very important role in South Africa: it is one of the driving forces behind South Africa’s booming economy and provides employment for millions of South Africans. South Africa boasts world-scale primary mining processing facilities and is a world leader of new technologies.
In this research project we investigated the impact that gold mining has on South Africa and its people.
We found that:
• South Africa is a country that is rich in mining history with the discovery of gold and diamonds dating back to as early as 1867.
• South Africa is one of the leading producers of gold in the world
• Our land has a seemingly abundant source of minerals such as platinum group metals, chrome ore, diamonds and many others.
• Mining in South Africa helps to support more than three million people.
• The effects that mining has on the environment are numerous
• Gold is a very valuable element in South Africa: it accounted for fifty three billion rands of South Africa’s sale of minerals in 2009.
In conclusion to our project we stated that mining definitely has an impact on South Africa and its people and that these impacts are both negative and positive.
[Word count: 200]
Mining – a brief history
The history of Gold mining goes back to as far as the fourth millennium BC. The use of Gold increased rapidly during the Bronze Age as it was found to have manipulative properties as well as it was found to be very malleable. Only in 2600 BC did gold start to become associated with wealth.
An event in 1834 influenced the history of gold mining in South Africa. Carel Kruger discovered gold in Witwatersrand whilst on a hunting expedition, north of the Vaal River. In 1886, an Australian gold digger, George
Topic 1: What is the Impact of Mining on South Africa and its people?
GOLD
Authors: Michelle Dandara, Kirsten Collins, Robyn Blench, Yumna Badrooien and Sonia Mataramvura
Date of Completion: 17 February 2012
Teacher: Mr Altern
Abstract
Mining plays a very important role in South Africa: it is one of the driving forces behind South Africa’s booming economy and provides employment for millions of South Africans. South Africa boasts world-scale primary mining processing facilities and is a world leader of new technologies.
In this research project we investigated the impact that gold mining has on South Africa and its people.
We found that:
• South Africa is a country that is rich in mining history with the discovery of gold and diamonds dating back to as early as 1867.
• South Africa is one of the leading producers of gold in the world
• Our land has a seemingly abundant source of minerals such as platinum group metals, chrome ore, diamonds and many others.
• Mining in South Africa helps to support more than three million people.
• The effects that mining has on the environment are numerous
• Gold is a very valuable element in South Africa: it accounted for fifty three billion rands of South Africa’s sale of minerals in 2009.
In conclusion to our project we stated that mining definitely has an impact on South Africa and its people and that these impacts are both negative and positive.
[Word count: 200]
Mining – a brief history
The history of Gold mining goes back to as far as the fourth millennium BC. The use of Gold increased rapidly during the Bronze Age as it was found to have manipulative properties as well as it was found to be very malleable. Only in 2600 BC did gold start to become associated with wealth.
An event in 1834 influenced the history of gold mining in South Africa. Carel Kruger discovered gold in Witwatersrand whilst on a hunting expedition, north of the Vaal River. In 1886, an Australian gold digger, George