Introduction
The discovery of diamonds in the interior of southern Africa in the late 1860s inaugurated one of the great turning points in regional history. By the early 1870s the diggings around what became Kimberley had attracted thousands of prospectors and opened a new era of mineral capitalism.
From Hopetown to Kimberley
A key early discovery occurred in 1867 near Hopetown. Further finds drew increasing attention, and by 1871 major diamond workings had developed at dry diggings later known as Kimberley, De Beers, Dutoitspan, and Bultfontein. The concentration of diamonds transformed a remote inland area into a global mining frontier.
Political Consequences
The diamond fields lay in a contested area involving Griqua claims, the Orange Free State, and British imperial ambitions. Britain annexed the diamond fields as Griqualand West in 1871, illustrating how mineral wealth quickly altered sovereignty and imperial policy.
Conclusion
The discovery of diamonds at Kimberley in the years 1867–1871 launched the Mineral Revolution. It created the first great modern mining center in South Africa and laid the groundwork for the rise of corporate mining power, including De Beers, in the decades that followed.