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Questions and Answers
Where was gold first discovered in South Africa?
Why was gold valuable in the late 19th century?
What was the system where currencies were backed by gold called?
Why did countries have to buy gold to back their currency?
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What was the name of the province where the Witwatersrand is located today?
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Who controlled the Transvaal state in the late 19th century?
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Why did countries in Western Europe and the USA have to buy gold from other countries?
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What was fixed internationally regarding gold?
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In which Boer Republic was the gold mines situated?
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What was the main requirement for claim holders according to the gold law passed in 1886?
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What was the main purpose of digging deeper in gold mining?
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What was one of the results of the discovery of gold in South Africa?
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How did people travel to Witwatersrand?
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What was needed to start a mine?
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Who invested in gold mines with the money they made from diamonds?
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What was built to link the gold mines with the harbours?
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Study Notes
Value of Gold
- Gold is valuable because it is scarce
- Gold shines brilliantly when polished
- Gold is beautiful to look at
- Gold is used in everyday life for various things
- Gold does not rust
- Gold is indestructible
- Gold conducts electricity
- Gold reflects heat rays and thin layers can be used to block sun rays
Gold Standard
- At the time of gold discovery, gold was in great demand in Europe and the USA
- Countries had to keep gold in a bank vault to back their currency
- The price of gold was fixed internationally
- Countries without gold reserves had to buy gold from other countries to back their currency
Discovery and Mining of Deep-Level Gold
Discovery of Gold
- Gold was discovered deep under the ground in Witwatersrand, South Africa in 1886
- Witwatersrand is now in the province of Gauteng
- At the time, South Africa was divided into four states, each controlled by white people
- The gold mines were situated in the Boer Republic of the Transvaal
Gold Law
- The gold law was passed in the Transvaal by the Boer government in July 1886
- The law stated that claim holders had to be white
- Black people were only allowed onto the gold fields as employees of white people
Deep-Level Gold Mining
- Deep-level mining required new and expensive machines to dig deeper to reach the gold
- Machines were used to sink shafts hundreds of meters beneath the ground
- Thousands of people came to Witwatersrand to try to make money
- The discovery of gold led to South Africa's industrial revolution
- Many changes occurred in all aspects of life, including transport
Mining Requirements
- A large amount of money was needed to start a mine
- Investors brought in money from other countries
- Expensive mining machinery and equipment were needed to run the mines
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Description
Learn about the discovery of gold on the Witwatersrand in 1886 and the reasons why gold is valuable, including its properties and uses.
