Jagersfontein Diamond Mine - Jagersfontein, Free State

The Jagersfontein Diamond Mine, located in the small town of Jagersfontein in the Free State province of South Africa, is one of the oldest diamond mines in the world. Established in 1870, it gained international fame for producing some of the largest and highest-quality diamonds ever discovered. Notably, the Excelsior Diamond, weighing an incredible 995.2 carats, was unearthed here in 1893. In present day terms the value of the Excelsior is estimated at R1,5 billion. It was the largest diamond in the world at the time until the discovery of the Cullinan Diamond in 1905. Workers at the Jagersfontein Diamond Mine discovered two of the ten largest natural diamonds ever found.

The mine is an open-pit operation and has played a significant role in the history of diamond mining in South Africa. It helped lay the foundation for South Africa's dominance in the global diamond industry. Apart from the Excelsior Diamond, the Jagersfontein mine produced another extraordinary gem, the Reitz Diamond, which weighed 650.80 carats. It was later cut into a flawless 234.65-carat cushion-shaped diamond, known as the Jubilee Diamond.

If you were asked what is the biggest man made hole in the world, your first guess would be Big Hole in Kimberly, but you would be wrong. Research by historian Steve Lunderstedt in 2005 confirmed that the Jagersfonteins Diamond Mine was the biggest hand-excavated hole in the world, slightly larger in surface area than the Big Hole in Kimberley. The mine was dug by pick, shovel and dynamite and up until its eventual closure on 28 May 1971.

During the 100 year life span of the mine several stoppages occurred, some of which included the two World Wars and the great depression. And during this time the mine produced 9,625 million carats of diamonds, mostly of jewel quality. It is estimated that due to inefficient mining methods of the past, a large proportion of diamonds from this pipe were never recovered.

Although mining in Jagersfontein doesnt take place actively in the area today you will not be disappointed upon a visit to this fascinating landmark. This wonderful and quaint mining village is a fascinating and magical place to come and see. Visitors can acquaint themselves with the old mining museum called Jagers Mining Village which is an interesting museum offering a glimpse into the history of this unique industry.