Mining is… controversial. Our constant need for materials cannot ignore the environmental impact, political maneuvering, and natural risks associated with mines. Artist Dillon Marsh describes them as a combination of sacrifice and gain, demonstrating the best of our engineering and construction capabilities, yet leaving behind a scarred landscape. The images below use CGI to represent the performance of metal mines in South Africa, focusing on gold, copper, the platinum group, and, as an extra, diamonds.
Copper
The first commercial mine in South Africa began operations in 1852. Other mines followed as each new deposit was discovered, accompanied by small towns in remote regions. However, the vast majority of these mines ceased operations in 2007…
Diamonds
A child discovered a diamond on a farm near Hopetown in 1867, and from then on, activity exploded. South Africa is one of the leading producers of diamonds, but the contrast between the size of the operations and the material extracted is chilling…
Platinum Group
Mining of these metals is relatively young, but it already carries a terrible history. In August 2012, police opened fire on a group of striking workers at the Marikana mine, killing 34 and wounding 78 others. The images show the performance of metal mines since 1924.
Gold
The Witwatersrand Basin is a geological formation 300 kilometers long in South Africa, containing the largest known gold reserve to date. Discovered in 1886, seven fields were established along its arc.
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