Hatch, Frederick H. & Chalmers, John A.; The Gold Mines of the Rand - Being a Description of the Mining Industry of Witwatersrand South African Republic. With Maps, Plans and Illustrations. Published by London and New York, Macmillan and Co., 1895. Quarto, pp. XVII, 306 pages. 79 text illustrations and 14 monochrome photographs. 2 fold-out maps in pocket of rear board showing the South Transvaal and Witwatersrand.
The work is complete and in the original publisher’s red cloth with gilt titles and gilt ruling on boards and stamped ruled borders. The binding is tight and clean, corners bumped, front inner hinge tightened. The text, plates and folded maps are bright and very clean. In very good condition.
Frederick Hatch (1864-1932) was an English geologist, petrologist and mining engineer. John Chalmers (1864-1912) was an English mining engineer. Hatch is mainly remembered for his pioneering text on igneous petrology. Both men were pioneers in the study of the geology, mineralogy and petrology of the Transvaal and the Witwatersrand Goldfield and both were to spend a large part of their lives in South Africa. Their research and the publication of “The Gold Mines of the Rand - Being a Description of the Mining Industry of Witwatersrand South African Republic” in 1895 was a major work and demand led to two editions being published in October and November of 1895.
The authors provide detailed studies and descriptions of the geology, petrology, mineralogy of the auriferous deposits or “Banket” beds of the Rand. The Rand deposits in general and the methods of mining, the equipment used and the treatment of the ores. They discuss the mines in detail and their economics as well as the future vast potential of the South African goldfields.
