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Fascinating map of the Witwatersrandt Gold Fields in the Districts of Pretoria, Heidelberg, Portchefstroom (Transvaal) showing the the Gold Lodes and concessions in production, noting the latest gold discoveries in the South-West of the Randt. The map was prepared under the direction of Parisienne banker A. Oltramare.
Gold mining in South Africa traces its roots to the discovery of the Witwatersrand gold fields in 1886, which led to the Witwatersrand Gold Rush. This gold strike was unparalleled in its richness and transformed the trajectory of South Africa's economic and political landscape. The area quickly became the focus of both domestic and international investment. Located mainly in the current Gauteng province, the Witwatersrand Basin is credited with yielding approximately 50% of all gold ever mined on Earth.
This particular map serves as an intricate guide to the gold fields in the districts of Pretoria, Heidelberg, and Portchefstroom in Transvaal. It marks the orientation and position of auriferous veins as well as the concessions that were under exploitation at the time. Given the provenance of the map's production, it also reflects the international interest in South African gold, particularly from European financial circles. The detailed cartographic elements serve as empirical evidence of the extent of geological understanding and mining operations in the late 19th century.
