Koffiefontein mine

The mine was opened in 1870 and consisted of 1200 claims and worked at a large scale in the beginning of the century.

However several sources quote it to have a poor yield: 4 to 5 carat (800 to 1000 mg) in 100 loads[1] and according to Streeter the mines were not profitable at all by the end of the 19th century.

The mine was most recently reopened in 1987 however De Beers announced its final closure in January 2006.

One thousand two hundred and forty three claims were laid out at Koffiefontein in 1878 and by the early 1980s, several companies were operating at the kimberlite pipe.

Whitworth released a weekly letter about the Koffyfontein mine to London for approximately forty years.

In 2007, Petra Diamonds bought the Koffiefontein Mine from De Beers and are currently still the owners and in operation.

[7] The majority of the black miners came from the north (the then Zuid Afrikaans Republiek) or from the Eastern Cape.

[citation needed] Deaths were initially diagnosed as pneumonia and an enteric fever which originated from a contaminated drinking water reservoir at the town.

At the beginning of July 1896, 200 new workers started working at the Koffiefontein mine of which 96 fell ill and two died.

After thirty-six skeletons were removed, the mine decided to cease operations and leave the rest of the graveyard intact.

[citation needed] The graves of miners were uncovered in the oldest mine dump in Koffiefontein.

In most traditional African practices of burial, the body is wrapped in either a mat, cloak, or skin of an ox in sitting a position in the grave with knees tucked up against chest.

Rock paintings and engravings are depictions of the San people’s experiences during religious trance states.