Cullinan Big Hole

South Africa / Gauteng / Cullinan /
 diamond mine, kimberlite pipe
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In the early 1900s, the small town of Cullinan, east of Pretoria, gained instant world-wide fame and recognition upon the advent of the discovery of diamonds. On January 5 1905, Frederick Wells unearthed what is now known as the Cullinan Diamond - a 3108 carat rock, which is purported to be the largest uncut diamond ever found. Besides this, the Cullinan Diamond Mine has produced many other prominent gem stones, and in total a staggering 120 million carats has been mined. Today the mine is four times larger than that of the Big Hole in Kimberley and is fully operational, contributing towards 25% of the world's gem-quality diamond output.

The daily tours available are fun-filled and educational with visitors able to embark on both surface and underground tours. Tour operators eagerly explain how geology plays a vital part in the creation of these precious gems before speaking about the extraction and cutting processes of these stones. A visit to the Cullinan Diamond Mine is a wonderful excursion for the whole family and guarantees to be one of the highlights of your trip.

Reference for tour bookings:
www.southafricaexplorer.co.za/attractions/cullinan-diam...

www.johannesburg-direct.com/activity/cullinan-diamond-m...
Nearby cities:
Coordinates:   25°40'31"S   28°30'50"E

Comments

  • Fodor's Review: About 48 km (30 mi) north of the city on the N1, this fully operational mine is three times the size of the famous hole at Kimberley. The world's largest diamond, the 3,106-carat Cullinan, was unearthed here in 1905. Machinery extracts 12 tons of kimberlite and 6,000 carats of diamonds each day. About 80% of these are for industrial use, but the rest are high-grade gems. On the standard mine tour you'll see the big hole, watch a 12-minute video, pass through a typical mine security check, view replicas of the most famous diamonds, and travel through a mock-up of an underground tunnel. There's also a three-hour underground tour. You can buy diamonds and custom-made pieces from the resident jeweler. You must reserve in advance for tours, and no children under 10 are permitted. Cullinan's delightful old Victorian mine director's house has been turned into a guesthouse and tea garden, Oak House (103 Oak Ave. 012/305-2364). It serves breakfast, home-cooked lunches, and afternoon teas from 8 daily.
  • The tour guides are excellent, and you should visit the school attached to the mine where students are learning trade skills in the preparation of jewelry.
  • When we worked in the RSA in the 1970s The wife worked on converting flawless stones too small to sell as gems, into computer substrates.
This article was last modified 12 years ago