Big and Deep - The Big Hole


The Big Hole or Kimberley Mine, originally referred to as Colesberg Kopje is an open-pit mine in Kimberley, South Africa and claimed to be the largest hole excavated by hand. The first diamonds here were found by members of the "Red Cap Party" from Colesberg, and the ensuing scramble for claims led to the place being called New Rush, later renamed Kimberley.

From mid-July 1871 to 1914 up to 50,000 miners dug the hole with picks and shovels, yielding 2,720 kilograms (6,000 lb) of diamonds. The Big Hole has a surface of 17 hectares (42 acres) and is 463 metres (1,520 ft) wide. It was excavated to a depth of 240 metres (790 ft) but then partially infilled with debris reducing its depth to about 215 metres (710 ft) since then it has accumulated water to a level 40 metres (130 ft) below the surrounding land surface, leaving 175 metres (570 ft) of the hole beneath water. The underground Kimberley Mine was mined to a depth of 1097 metres.

There is currently an effort in progress to register the Big Hole as a World Heritage Site.

Source: Wikipedia
Image credit: Google Earth
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