SPRINGBOK

Situated right in the center of town

The vegetation on the koppie is typical of the area, and can be regarded as a miniature nature reserve. Many a photographer has captured the koppie in varying angles and degrees of sunlight.

The Blue Mine is recorded as the first commercial mining endeavour in South Africa, and started operations in the mid-nineteenth century (1852-1862). The mineral involved was copper, which was primarily the driving force behind the establishing of Springbok, Okiep and Nababeep as formal towns. The blue tinge of the rocks in the mine is a result of copper coming into contact with oxygen in the air. Nearly two centuries has lapsed since the first discovery of copper in the area by Simon van der Stel, Governer of the Cape, at Carolusberg in 1685.

"BLUE MINE, SPRINGBOKFONTEIN - THIS OPEN MINE, LATER KNOWN AS THE BLUE MINE, MARKS THE SPOT WHERE COPPER ORE WAS FIRST MINED IN 1852 IN ECONOMIC QUANTITIES IN SOUTH AFRICA. THE MINE, WHICH INITIALLY BELONGED TO THE PHILLIPS AND KING COMPANY, CHANGED HANDS SEVERAL TIMES UNTIL IT WAS ACQUIRED IN 1937 BY THE O'OKIEP COPPER MINING COMPANY"

NABABEEP

It is situated on the right hand side against the koppies as you enter Nababeep from the N7 (Springbok), just past the nice big supermarket on your right hand side and as the road make a natural turn to the left.

To us the picture below with the mine dump in the bckground against the koppie, and the little building in front with its "sinkdak", captures the atmosphere of the town in the peak period of the mining activity.

OKIEP

Remnants of the Copper Mining Era

After Springbok, Okiep followed with the copper mining industy. Driving through town one soon realizes that the mining remnants in the center of town tells of an era gone by. The impact of missionary activities in the past is still visible in the number of and architecture of the churches in town.

CONCORDIA