On this day in 1926: Gold "discovered" in Johannesburg, South Africa

Start:	Aug 22, '09
Location:	Johannesburg, South Africa

The first South African gold rush followed the first diamond strikes by only a few years. Mining started in earnest in 1887, and the new township of Johannesburg began to fill with settlers. The first results were astonishing, and by the end of the year it was clear that the Rand mines were fabulously rich. Many of the Kimberley diamond millionaires moved to new headquarters in Johannesburg, which quickly became the largest city in southern Africa, a position it still holds.

Gold has long been the basis for South Africa's relative prosperity. At least half a million South Africans, including dependents and suppliers, rely on the industry. From ancient times to 1989, the South African mines produced more than 40% of all the gold that had ever been mined. In 1970 South African gold production was 1000 tonnes, then more than 70% of the output of the non-Communist world. South Africa is still the world's largest producer, by far. It has the world's deepest mine, 3585 m below surface at the East Rand mine. The Freegold mine, owned by Anglo American, was until recently the world's most productive gold mine at 115 tonnes a year; and Driefontein Consolidated has produced more than any other gold mine, at 2292 tonnes.