The History of Mining

Michael Coulson

THE INDUSTRY THAT FORGED THE MODERN WORLDThroughout history metals and raw materials have underpinned human activity. So it is that the industry responsible for extracting these materials from the ground - mining - has been ever present throughout the history of civilisation, from the ancient world of the Egyptians and Romans, to the industrial revolution and the British Empire, and through to the present day, with mining firms well represented on the world's most important stock indexes including the FTSE100.This book traces the history of mining from those early moments when man first started using tools to the present day where metals continue to underpin economic activity in the post industrial age. In doing so, the history of mining methods, important events, technological developments, the important firms and the sparkling personalities that built the industry are examined in detail. At every stage, as the history of mining is traced from 40,000BC to the present day, the level of detail increases in accordance with the greater social and industrial developments that have played out as time has progressed. This means that a particular focus is given to the period since the industrial revolution and especially the 20th century. A look is also taken into the future in an effort to chart the direction this great industry might take in years to come. Many books have been written about mining; the majority have focused on a particular metal, geographical area, mining event or mining personality, but 'The History of Mining' has a broader scope and covers all of these essential and fascinating areas in one definitive volume.

Life portraits, illustrations and tablesAbout the authorAcknowledgementsForeword by Mark Bristow, Chief Executive, Randgold ResourcesPrefaceIntroductionThe Ancient World (from the beginning to 1066)1. The Stone Age- In the beginning- Tools and weapons- Mining2. The Bronze Age3. The Iron Age4. China5. Early mining in India6. Mining in ancient Egypt- The stone quarries- Metals in the desert7. The eastern Mediterranean and the Near/Middle East- Jordan- Greece- Asia Minor- Persia, the Empire and Iran8. The Roman Republic and Empire9. Great Britain10. Central/Eastern Europe- The eastern Alps- Germany- The Balkans- Other mining regions11. North America12. South America- Chile- Peru13. Africa14. The Structure of Ownership and Operation15. ConclusionsThe Middle Ages to the Industrial Revolution (1066-1800)1. Introduction2. Mining in Central Europe3. Scandinavia4. France- The Paris Basin5. Great Britain6. Spain7. The Lure of Africa8. The Opening up of North America9. Gold and Silver and the Spanish Conquistadors10. Chile11. The East- China12. Diamond mines in India and BrazilThe Industrial Revolution (1800-1900)1. Introduction2. Diamonds in South Africa3. The Gold Rushes of the 19th century- California- Other American Gold Rushes- and silver too- The Witwatersrand- Western Australia- The Klondike4. Russia's Gold5. Mining in Europe- Spain6. The Emergence of Canada7. Latin America- Mexico- Brazil- The Cornish Influence- Peru- Chile8. Copper and much else besides in the USA9. Mining in the East- Japan as a mining nation- Malayan tin- Tin in Thailand and Indonesia- Borneo diamonds10. King Coal- Coal in the UK- French coal mining- Belgium- Germany- The rest of Europe- The United States- South Africa- Asia and the Far East- Australia and New ZealandThe Modern Age (from 1900)1. Broken Hill and other Australian giants- Mount Isa- Olympic Dam- Lesser lights2. Canadian century- The early decades of gold- More than gold- After the Second War- The Crazy 90s - Lac de Gras to BreX3. The development of mining technology4. Diamonds - South West Africa- Namaqualand opens up- Offshore diamonds- Diamonds in the Second War and after- The Age of De Beers- Botswana- The Coming of the Canadians- The Diamond Revolution5. Copper in Central Africa- The development of Northern Rhodesia's copperbelt- Zambia nationalises the copper mines6. Other nationalisations in the 1960s and before- Bolivia- Chile- Peru- Cuba7. The Australian nickel boom8. The Mining Promoters9. Gold comes to the fore again- Gold and inflation- South Africa and China- Rise of the open pit- The Australian Revival- New Zealand- Gold rushes today10. Platinum11. Iron Ore- Australia- Brazil- Iron ore in the East- The growing African industry- Europe's coal and steel community12. Chile: King of Copper13. The rise of Uranium- The beginning- Canada and Australia- The rise of Kazakhstan- World Production Figures- The future of uranium- Environmental heat14. Coal in the Western Economies- The US- Great Britain- South Africa- India15. China- The foreign influence- Coal- Mining today16. The Soviet Union- The rise of the Gulags- Norilsk- The search for indigenous diamonds17. The Mighty USA- Aluminium- Gold- Iron Ore- Copper18. European mining19. London rises from the ashes20. The Environment21. Mining and Labour22. Mining and the Media- The Mining Press- The Internet- Mining Literature and FilmThe Future for Mining1. What lies ahead?2. Nationalism and nationalisation3. Environmental issues4. New technology, new opportunitiesAppendicesHistorical Mining and Minerals TimelineBibliographyIndex