Gravellotte: Emerald History and Big Baobab Tree

Gravellotte is connected with the history of emerald mining in the region. For travelers planning a stay around historical interests, the history of emeralds provides a clear thread: it spans the discovery of the Gravelotte Emerald Mine, regional production volumes, and the people employed in mining. These figures relate to different scales. A long overall period, a single open pit, and an employee count each answer different questions.

From discovery to total regional production

The discovery of the Gravelotte Emerald Mine in 1927 ushered in extensive emerald mining activity in the region. The period from 1929 to 2002 is given for emerald production from Gravelotte and the surrounding area: during these years, the total amounted to nearly 113 million carats. Gravelotte contributed by far the most. The year 1927 therefore marks the discovery, while 1929 to 2002 defines the period covered by the production total.

Both boundaries matter when interpreting the nearly 113 million carats: the figure covers production over several decades and across the area around Gravelotte; it is neither an annual amount nor the output of a single open pit. This regional overview therefore differs from a figure attributed to a specific mining site. When comparing historical figures, keep both the time period and the geographic scope in mind.

The Cobra open pit in mining history

The Cobra open pit on the grounds of the Gravelotte Mine was historically the region’s largest single emerald-producing open pit. Its production in the mid-1960s is reported to have amounted to 21 million carats of emeralds. This figure refers to a single open pit and an approximate period; by contrast, the nearly 113 million carats refers to Gravelotte and the surrounding area from 1929 to 2002. The figures therefore represent different geographic and time scales and should not be read as two totals with the same scope.

Work and another attraction

A look at the Gravelotte Project adds employment figures to the production history. In the 1960s, the Project employed more than 400 sorters in the immediate vicinity of Gravellotte. This figure describes employees, not carats mined, and therefore tells another side of the mining story than the production totals do.

Another attraction is the Big Baobab Tree in Gravelotte, which is one of Ba-Phalaborwa’s attractions. It complements the mining history with a named tree in Gravelotte. Keep the locations distinct: the tree is located in Gravelotte, while the Gravelotte Project and Cobra open pit are in the immediate vicinity of the destination. This distinction helps keep the specific topics and places separate when planning your trip.

If you plan to visit the Cobra open pit specifically, check access in advance.

Discover more destinations: Letsitele, Hoedspruit, Modjadjiskloof, Phalaborwa, Greater Giyani, Mbaula, The Oaks, Lorraine

For the broader travel overview: Mopani.