Sunday, November 18, 2012

Sunday Stamps - geology



I couldn't believe how few geological themed stamps I have in my collection for this week's Sunday Stamps
I was about to admit defeat and just post a picture of a volcano, which I was sure would be featured on a Japanese stamp somewhere, when I stumbled upon this stamp from South Africa. 
It was one of a series of three issued in 1966 to commemorate the 5th anniversary of RSA. 
(I also have another one that is written in English, but this Africaans one has the least smudged cancellation mark)


Diamonds are close enough, I thought....







The discovery of diamonds in 1866 and their large-scale exploitation beginning in 1870, in the Kimberley area, initiated the transformation of South Africa from an agriculture-based economy to a mining- and industry-based one. The diamond rush, which made South Africa the world’s dominant producer of diamonds for 70 years, established a local need for technology and specialized equipment, thereby triggering the development of supporting industries, while the money it generated created the first pool of capital in the country. 

South Africa continues to produce significant quantities of mainly high-quality gem diamonds annually, and it ranks fifth overall in terms of world production. SA is the only country in the world where diamonds are extracted from both kimberlite pipes and dykes or fissures, as well as from both onshore and offshore (marine) alluvial deposits.


from the GeoTimes - you can read much more about South Africa's Geological Gifts here 

11 comments:

  1. South Africa has a sketchy diamond mining history. Not that I don't like diamonds, of course.

    ReplyDelete
  2. so Im not the only one who almost opted out of posting this week since i simply couldnt find something suitable geology-wise in my stamps' collection. A diamond is a great choice!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Good challenge, this week. Fascinating history of diamond mining. Must admit, I know little of it beyond its brutality. Thanks for the added info.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Diamonds are a girl's best friends, even though they are often associated with brutality and exploitation.

    ReplyDelete
  5. I was hoping that diamonds would figure in someone's post today, Thanks.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Wonderful stamp with a great design. Yes Diamonds are geological!

    Thank you for participating.

    ReplyDelete
  7. I bet there are all sorts of stories to be told about the excavating of diamonds and tha cost it took on the land and the people. And who did the riches go to? A social and economic question. xox

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It would not be the exciting and happy story that deBeers, et al would like.

      Delete
  8. Nicely designed stamp. Marvellous piece of nature, amazing to think of the intense pressure and heat to create, that and the that they are pretty of course.

    ReplyDelete

Glad you stopped by. For anyone who stumbled here, don't be shy to say 'hi' and let me know you've visited!