CULLINAN . . is the name of both the little Town and the Mine itself . .
The 4 - Hour Tour costs about $50 per person . .
Here we also suit up and prepare ourselves to descend deep underground.
We are northeast of Pretoria . . only about 25 miles !
This open air TRUCK takes us to the place where we'll be introduced to the
History of the Mine . Safety Procedures will need to be signed on to . .
WE WAIT . . for the morning shift MINERS to exit . .
Then we get into the Elevator . . with the 2 - 10 p.m. shift
103 of us . . Enter one side and Exit the other.
We feel like we are bona fide workers decked out in the same garb the employees are wearing
. . though they have Identifying Vests etc. related to the specific nature of their task . .
Everyone is required to wear the Light on the Head
. . plus the Oxygen Tank on the Side Hip
. . All have been instructed on Procedure to follow in case of emergency.
We learn how to attach this to our outfit and make use of it (Oxygen) . . if necessary
" Henny " ( our guide, Heinrich, a Dutchman )
signs us all in beside the entrance to the Miners Lunch Room.
Each worker provides their own food. Beverages are available here.
( Dick in blue . Jeff in white )
Inside the Refuge Bay . . . ( one of several . . where Miners go in 'Emergency'
to be protected from Fumes and Gases ) . . Henny explains that diamond mining here
( right now ) is happening only on the left side of this diagram . . a 60 - year project !!
Then they will move to the right side . . where mining will fill . . another 60 years !!
Cullinan Diamond Mine began operations about year 1900
and operates 24 / 7 . . 3 shifts a day . . year 'round.
We are standing at 600 meters ( almost 2,000 feet ) below ground.
The present dig follows this conveyer belt down to 900 meters ( close to 3,000 feet ! ).
The deeper they dig . . the ' higher quality ' the diamond.
Going 1000 meters deeper IS possible . . will provide an additional 100 years of work !!
It's WET down here and squishy MUDDY in places . .
Our required Boot - Wear is heavy, but getting us through these places.
Several Conveyer Belts bring empty train cars down . . and full ones back up again.
And many kinds and shapes of Big Rigs . . coming and going. We must step aside . .
to stay out of the way . . Henny says ONE machine can eliminate . . 500 workers !
Tunnels . . . go off in forks and right angles
While we wait Henny tells stories. We learn that he and I were both born in 1940.
He began working this mine at age 18. When he turned 65 . . he received a Letter . .
Informing him that he was now 'Retired' from the Mine ( standard procedure ).
These overalls are on top of our clothes . . we feel like teddy bears !
At this location . . note the 3 vertical strips of golden light to the Left
. . covered with sections of large Rubber Flaps
. . and the Iron Structure standing upright ( center of photo )
. . A train loaded with diamond rock is coming . .
Without stopping . . the train dumps its load . . one car at a time
. . into the lit up space to the left ( shown in the photo above )
. . with the support of the upright iron structure
. . both in dumping . . and in resuming its original position.
Henny is in no hurry, it seems . . even though we got a late start on this tour.
We stand off to the side and get to watch
at least a half dozen trainloads of diamonds dump ( 5 or 6 cars each ).
It's a good thing this man can now lead tours . .
he's left a big chunk of his heart . . down deep here in Cullinan's underground
And then the cleanup . . following each train
Note the pile in the center. How's that for a stack of
' Diamonds . . . in the rough ' !
At age 18 . . 1958 . . Henny's 1st job was HERE working the Elevators
He walks us over to where this story of the Cullinan Mine began
at the . . Crater of an ancient Volcano.
★ Where diamonds are found . . NO other Minerals are found . . in the same location.
Hennie's son works at a NON - Diamond Mine that contains 11 Minerals . . .
( EACH must be separated from the Others ).
The dark portion of this volcano's sidewall
. . is where a rocky avalanche fell after a recent downpour.
Here he is . . Henny himself . . who concludes this day with . . a memorable statistic . .
Cullinan Mine
harvests
★ ' 18,000 CARATS ' of Diamonds
E v e r y Month !
★ And . . this is only ONE of many 'DIAMONDS' Mines
in South Africa alone !
Our day began in this office . . We did the Underground Tour
. . Many other kinds of Tours are available.
This little town is folding up. Good thing we picked up a takeout sandwich ahead of time
here at Leapfrog Cafe. Thumbs Up, Cullinan . . Great Day!
Rusty and Wrinkles hope you learned something new . . We did !
And . . we enjoyed having you along.
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Ok so I am jealous. The diamond mine looks fascinating. I doubt you would ever get Debi in the mine. Debi says she is too claustrophobic. By the way, I really liked the outfits.
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