Picture this a steep climb through brush. You’re facing the Old manganese mine in Hout Bay. Its history whispers from the crumbling rock.
The Old manganese mine isn’t just a mine. It’s a testament to early mining in the Cape. Manganese was discovered here in 1873. However initial attempts failed due to low demand and poor ore quality. The mine lay dormant for decades.
Technological advancements changed everything. The creation of high-durability manganese steel boosted global demand. In 1909 Hout Bay Manganese Ltd. took over. They shipped ore to Belgium between 1910 and 1911. Imagine turbaned Indian miners working the steep slopes. Their efforts yielded around 5000 tons of ore in 1910. The following year production plummeted to a mere 130 tons.
The mine’s location posed unique challenges. Ore traveled down a 700-meter long shute. This impressive structure was made of wooden poles and corrugated iron. It delivered the ore to a jetty. From there lighters transported the ore to ships. The precarious shute along with the ore’s high phosphorus content likely contributed to the mine’s closure in 1912. A failed attempt to reopen it occurred in 1929. The Wall Street crash dashed those hopes.
Today you can still see remnants of this unique operation. Explore the adits. They are horizontal tunnels driven into the mountain. One large adit extends over 30 meters. Be careful though the rock is unstable. Spiders and small wildlife call this place home. You might even find manganese nodules Dufrenite and Pyrolusite. These minerals bear witness to the mine’s past. They showcase slickenlines polished fracture surfaces from past geological activity.
The Old manganese mine in Hout Bay stands as a poignant reminder of the challenges and triumphs of early South African mining. It’s a hidden gem a fascinating piece of Cape Town’s history.