Witwatersrand Goldfields and the South African Gold Industry (1886–1930)

1. Main reef gold discovered on Langlaagte

   Jul 1, 1886Labels: Langlaagte, George Harrison

   • SAHO Discovery
   • SAHO Harrison Park

2. Central Rand proclaimed public diggings

   Sep 8, 1886Labels: Central Rand, Public diggings

   • SAHO Joburg Timeline
   • SAHO Discovery

3. Johannesburg surveyed and named as a townsite

   Nov 1, 1886Labels: Johannesburg, Randjeslaagte

   • SAHO Joburg Timeline
   • History of Joburg

4. Cyanide process invented, enabling lower-grade ore recovery

   Jan 1, 1887Labels: MacArthur Forrest, Cyanide process

   • Britannica Cyanide

5. Mining industry organizing begins with Chamber of Mines

   Dec 7, 1887Labels: Chamber of, Mining capital

   • Minerals Council

6. Chamber of Mines formally constituted

   Oct 5, 1889Labels: Witwatersrand Chamber, Mining financiers

   • Minerals Council

7. Jameson Raid fails and heightens Transvaal tensions

   Dec 29, 1895Labels: Jameson Raid, Rhodesian actors

   • Britannica Jameson

8. South African War begins, disrupting Witwatersrand mining

   Oct 11, 1899Labels: South African, Witwatersrand mines

   • Britannica Vereeniging
   • Anzac Memorial

9. Treaty of Vereeniging ends war and ends Boer independence

   May 31, 1902Labels: Treaty of, Transvaal

   • Britannica Vereeniging
   • SAHO Union 1910

10. Chinese indentured labor introduced to Transvaal mines

    Jan 1, 1904Labels: Chinese indenture, Transvaal mines

    • UK Hansard

11. Union of South Africa formed, unifying mining governance

    May 31, 1910Labels: Union of, National government

    • SAHO Union 1910

12. Natives Land Act restricts African landholding, reinforcing migrant labor

    Jun 19, 1913Labels: Natives Land, African land

    • SAHO Land Act
    • Land Act 1913

13. South African Reserve Bank opens amid gold-linked monetary pressures

    Jun 30, 1921Labels: South African, Monetary policy

    • SARB History

14. Rand Rebellion ends after armed strike on the goldfields

    Mar 18, 1922Labels: Rand Rebellion, White mineworkers

    • SAHO Rand Revolt
    • SAHO Rand Rebellion

15. Industry consolidates into mature deep-level gold system by 1930

    Jan 1, 1930Labels: Deep-level mining, Industry consolidation

    • Minerals Council
    • History of Joburg