Cullinan Mine, SA

The Cullinan Diamond Mine, also known as the Premier Diamond Mine, has uncovered some of the largest diamonds in the world today and the mine lies over one of the biggest kimberlite pipes in the world. The Cullinan Diamond Mine is the third richest diamond producing mine in the country, but its major claim to fame is the discovery of the Cullinan Diamond, exposed here in 1905. The Cullinan Diamond, which now forms part of the British crown jewels.

All the expats from Jo'burg and Botswana plus Ewetse and Richard went on the mine tour. We left early Sat morning to get to the mine by 7:30am. There was a terrible accident on the road ont he way and of course my car had no pick up so the 2 other cars went through the police and by the time I got thru he was waving others thru. I tried to follow the others but the police started yelling at me and I finally got through and caught up to the others. The mne is in the town of Cullinan which was farm land before it was a mine. Before you reach the mine tour building you see the building with the air vents for the mine. We arrived at the the place for the tour and we had to get dressed into coveralls and boots. Then it was a short ride to the mine where we had to get hard hats, helmeet lights and a safetly briefing before we went down into the mine. Walking through the complex before we went down in the elevator you could see the lifts and conveyor belt that the kimberlite moves around on after it is brought up from the mine.

The elevator took us deep down into the earth. The guide took us along the tunnels of the mine. It was a long walk in uncomfortable boots. We saw the loads of rock and kimberlite being loaded into the bins and rolling off. You wouldn't believe how much was being loaded over and over again. It was amazing to see the way diamonds were mined. After we came back up out of the mine we were taken over to the original open pit mine. The hole was massive and now closed off because it was dangerous. We then went to the gift shop and then to lunch before heading back to the Razzel to get ready for the soccer game.