The mine was operated without mechanical equipment and was hand-dug through quartzite
and shale in pursuit of the vein of gold ore visible in the waiting area outside
the mine entrance. The walk is fairly level and the first part is lit by electric
lights. These are turned off when the group has reached a certain point and they
activate their helmet lights. After that, the only natural light is the odd seepage
through air vents, which is reassuring for the claustrophobic and those scared of
bats.
I knew from my own tour that the mine interior was cool, damp and dark. I had no
doubt that the youngsters would be intrigued by the guide’s account of the history
of the mine and the early mining techniques. I lingered over my picnic until the
group re-emerged to see the machinery plant where ore has been crushed since 1874.
There is also a new mine shaft that can be included in a longer tour, but it has
a steep entrance and is only toured by prior arrangement, so I haven’t seen it yet.
This group was happy enough with the 45 minute tour, which ends with gold panning
in the traditional way. Sandal Girl was convinced that she had found a speck of gold
and was very excited when she was told she could keep it.
She went off clutching her commemorative certificate and bragging that she was the
only one who would make a good miner. Presumably she had been paying attention on
the tour and learned first-hand what it was like to be a miner with no mechanical
aids or coco-pans to transport the ore. Those sandals would have had to be replaced
by sturdy boots!
I was relieved for Sandal Girl’s part that this group of tourists wasn’t going to
attempt the hikes down to the prospectors’ cemetery or the ruins of the original
Magaliesburg Hotel. She would have had to contend with all manner of African reptiles
and insects in the long grass and those sandals wouldn’t have lasted long! It was
better by far for her to head back to civilization with good memories of her historic
South African gold mine adventure.
Part 1
