Cullinan Mine, Cullinan, City of Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality, Gauteng, South Africa (original) (raw)
Cullinan Mine, Cullinan, City of Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality, Gauteng, South Africai
| Regional Level Types | |
|---|---|
| Cullinan Mine | Mine |
| Cullinan | Town |
| City of Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality | Municipality |
| Gauteng | Province |
| South Africa | Country |
Latitude & Longitude (WGS84):
25° 40' 2'' South , 28° 30' 34'' East
Latitude & Longitude (decimal):
Nearest Clubs:
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Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:2:16970:4
dc023f9d-3b47-4bfa-9f0e-1946c0855e48
Other/historical names associated with this locality:
Premier Mine
French:
mine Premier, Tshwane, Gauteng, Afrique du Sud
German:
Premier, City of Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality, Gauteng, Südafrika
Italian:
Premier Mine, municipalità di Tshwane, Gauteng, Sudafrica
Russian:
Премьер , Цване, Гаутенг, ЮАР
Simplified Chinese:
第一钻石矿, 茨瓦內市大都會自治市, 豪登省, 南非
Bulgarian:
Премиермйн, Тсване, Гаутенг, Република Южна Африка
Cebuano:
Premiermyn, City of Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality, Gauteng, Habagatang Aprika
Dutch:
Premier Mine, Tshwane, Gauteng, Zuid-Afrika
Japanese:
カリナン鉱山, ツワネ, ハウテン州, 南アフリカ
Swedish:
Premier Mine, Gauteng, Sydafrika
Telugu:
ప్రీమియర్ గని, గౌటెంగ్, దక్షిణ ఆఫ్రికా
Ukrainian:
Premier Mine, Цване, Ґаутенґ, Південно-Африканська Республіка
A diamond mine on farm Elandsfontein 480 JR, in a kimberlite pipe dated 1,200 million years old, previously owned by De Beers, with a cross-section of 32 ha at the surface, the pipe is the largest ever found in South Africa.
It was discovered in 1902 as a consequence of prospecting for heavy minerals in nearby rivers, where diamonds were found and traced back to their source in the hills at Cullinan, 20-25 miles east of Pretoria. The mine started producing in 1903 and was operated as an open-pit mine until 1932 when it had to close due to the economic depression.
Ore extraction has been by underground mining methods since 1946. Ore extraction has varied between 2 and 5 Mt per annum and ore treatment between 2 and 7 Mt per annum.
In 2005, it produced 1.3 million carats from 4.6 million tons of ore. The workings are 2,900 feet by 1,400 feet across and more than 700 feet deep.
The mine was renamed ‘Cullinan’ as part of its centenary celebrations and to link the mine to the illustrious heritage of the Cullinan diamond, which provided the two main polished diamonds within the British Crown Jewels (the 530-carat Great Star of Africa and the 317 carat Lesser Star of Africa).
Petra Diamonds initially acquired a 37% interest in the Cullinan mine from De Beers in 2008 but increased its direct interest in the mine to 74% in late 2009 when it acquired Al Rajhi’s holding in the mine. Petra Diamonds continues to mine the underground resources using block cave mining methods.
The mine is famous for its large, high-quality gem diamonds including Type II stones. The world's largest diamond, the 3106 ct Cullinan was discovered in 1905.
The mine has produced over 800 stones weighing more than 100 carats, 140 stones more than 200 carats and around 25% of all diamonds weighing more than 400 carats.
Cullinan is also renowned as the world’s most important source of blue diamonds, providing the collection of 11 rare blues displayed in 2000 at London’s Millennium Dome alongside the Millennium Star and which included the fancy vivid blue ‘Heart of Eternity’ (27 carats polished).
Recent notable stones were the 599 ct "Centenary" and the 1083 ct "Unknown Brown". The diamond grade increases with depth, possibly as a result of diminishing proportions of country-rock inclusions. Among researchers, the mine is best known for its mantle-derived rocks and minerals, of which the garnet harzburgites and lherzolites have received the most attention.
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Mineral List
13 valid minerals.
Rock Types Recorded
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| Wikipedia: | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Premier_Mine |
|---|---|
| Wikidata ID: | Q2576349 |
Other Regions, Features and Areas containing this locality
African Plate
- Kalahari Craton
- Kaapvaal CratonCraton
South Africa
- **⭔Transvaal**Province
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