<P> Ever since the Kimberley diamond strike of 1868, South Africa has been a world leader in diamond production . The primary South African sources of diamonds, including seven large diamond mines around the country, are controlled by the De Beers Consolidated Mines Company . In 2003, De Beers operations accounted for 94% of the nation's total diamond output of 11,900,000 carats (2.38 t). This figure includes both gem stones and industrial diamonds . Diamond production rose in 2005 to over 15,800,000 carats (3.16 t). </P> <P> South Africa produces more platinum and similar metals than any other nation . In 2005, 78% of the world's platinum was produced in South Africa, along with 39% of the world's palladium . Over 163,000 kilograms (5,200,000 ozt) of platinum was produced in 2010, generating export revenues of $3.82 billion USD . Palladium is produced in two ways: recovery and mining production . Currently Russia and South Africa are the biggest palladium producers in the world . </P> <P> Chromium is another leading product of South Africa's mining industry . The metal, used in stainless steel and for a variety of industrial applications, is mined at 10 sites around the country . South Africa's production of chromium accounted for 100% of the world's total production in 2005, and consisted of 7,490,000 metric tons (7,370,000 long tons; 8,260,000 short tons) of material . </P> <P> South Africa has the second - largest reserves of uranium in the world . The Nuclear Fuels Corporation of South Africa (NUFCOR) started processing uranium as a by - product of gold mining in 1967 . Most of the uranium produced as a by - product of gold mining is concentrated in the golf fields of the Witwatersrand area . Uranium is more easily and readily available than gold in South Africa . </P>

Who were the miners and what were their lives like in south africa in 19th century