MINERAL WEALTH OF AFRICA

Hawera Star, Volume LI, 11 June 1932, Page 14

MINERAL WEALTH OF AFRICA

AD times or good times, the hunt for minerals in Africa goes on, and what is more, it yields results. /Within two days -there have been two authentic strikes, in one case gold, in the other diamonds. The district wherein the finds were made are remote from any other mines, writes Erie Rosenthal in the "San Erancisco Chronicle.”

Diamonds were picked up along the mouth of the Sundays River, in the eastern districts of the Cape of Good Hope province, just outside Port Elizabeth, where big motor organisations have their works. There two men were surprised to find on the tidal flats of the waterway distinct indications of the characteristic gravel that means the presence of gems in Africa. One-of the men was once a policeman, while the other was a farmer. The nearest diamond field known is about 600 miles up country. At the mouth of the Kei River, in Kaffirland, not far from the Sundays River estuary, a fraudulent implanting of diamonds ("salting”) was discovered a few years ago; so not too much was said by the farmer and

Ceaseless Quest for Gold and Gems

Solomon Rabinowitz, a prospector and speculator, living in Namaqualand, who was closely identified with the discovery of the rjch gem deposits at Alexander Bay in 1026, claims to have found a'"lost goldfield.” Square miles of country have been pegged, and though the extent of the deposit remains uncertain, it is well known that A T amaqualand is highly mineralised.

the former policeman about their find pending further prospecting. But diamond after diamond, waterworn and obviously indigenous -to the place, was -picked up near Port Elizabeth. Options were -secured on -several surrounding farms and then, in the immemorial African fashion, -somebody talked and the news -got out. There has not.yet been a rush of diggers to the Sundays River vglley, for the geologists are still giving opinions and the Government has not yet made the land available for mining. But there is no doubt that there is a new field in a corner of the country where precious stones have not previously been known.