The Big Hole: Part of a greater whole

The big hole was just the start.

Its only when we get into the air that we start to see the real extent of the Diamond workings in Kimberly.

This an aerial view of the hole from an air craft.

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The pictures that follow are overhead views from Google Earth.

When we zoom out to satellite photographs we see that the it is just part of a larger complex of working that have taken place over the last century.

The big hole (top left)looks kinda small compared to the mechanized operations (3, south east of it) that followed in its wake, once mining companies had been formed.

This one is just a few miles north west of the big hole and you can get an idea of the extent of this one from the tiny white dot in the top right corner of the photo, it's a car...

The grey material is mine dump material removed from the surface hole and underground.

This one is of Koffiefontein mine, that is still active, about 50 miles south of Kimberley

These diamond pipes are found in various places on the earth in clusters like this. Once you find one you often find others close by, but not all kimberlite pipes contain diamonds.

Next time I will focus on explaining what kimberlites are and how they form.