Isibusiso Esifihlakeleko
Isewula –Africa yinarha enetjhudu khulu. Sibusiswe ngokobana sibe nekhaya elinzinzileko ku-continent yephasi edala khulu, kude kunokuzamazama komhlaba nanyana ama-volcano. Amatjewethu sele awele ehlabathini evundileko esekela imihlobohlobo yentjalo. Begodu njengoba sele kutjhiwe ngaphezulu, sinamaphesendi amanengi wamaminerali wephasi aligugu abulungeke ngaphasi kwenyawo zethu. Isehlakalo se-Vredefort saba litjhwayo elinzima elingakavami erikhodini lethu. Nanyana akusinjalo?
Irhubhululo lamva nje sele litjengise kobana isehlakalo se-Vredefort saba sibusiso esifihlakeleko. Iye, sabanga umonakalo omkhulu. Begodu iye, yarholela ekutheni kube nenyanga zobumnyama begodu kubemakhaza lokha ithuli nalivala ilanga. Kodwana kwaphephisa irhawuda yethu ekutheni ingonakali.
Irhawuda Eligugu
Lokha i-bolide nayibethako, yaphula ihlabathi yabeka i-strata yelitje yatjeka ehlabathini, eqale esentha ye-crater. Ingubo yamatje awela phasi kanye nethuli kwavala indawo leya yoke, begodu amatje ayangaphasi. Irhawuda le-Witwatersrand Supergroup yavikeleka yasunduzelwa ngaphasi kwehlabathi ngokuphepha.
Nange isehlakalo se-Vredefort khange senzeke, irhawuda eliligugu gade lizokuhlala ngaphezu kwehlabathi lirhurhuleke, lize liphele. Kunokobana kube njalo, yahlala ngaphasi lapho imayinwa ngokuphumelela. Ngebanga lokobana irhawuda yatholakala ngeminyaka yabo-1886, sele kwenjiwe amatani ayi-50 000 yayo, sele kwenziwe amaphesendi adlula kwayi-30, begodu iSewula –Africa isabambe i-50% yerhawula lephasi elaziwako. Ngeskhathesi iSewula –Africa ibambe i-50% yerhawuda elaziwako ephasini. Sikhamba phambili siyiSewula –Africa ngokukhiqiza irhawuda ngonyaka sikhiqiza amatani adlula ayi-400, alingana ne-17% yomkhiqizo wephasi loke.
A Golden Lining
Ukuhlotjaniswa kwe-gold field kanye nesehlakalo se-Vredefort kutlhadlhula izinto ezimbalwa. Kokuthoma, kusirhelebha kobana sizwisise kobana kungebanga lani iimayini zerhawuda ze- Witwatersrand kusuka eJwanisbhege, kudlula e-West Rand kanye ne-Klerksdorp ukufika e-Welkom. Ibhorhweli likude nesentha ye-dome, begodu kuthiwa yingaphandle le-crater yamambala.
Kwesibili, isehlakalwesi sabanga kobana i-strata esimumethe irhawuda singene ngaphasi ehlabathini, siqale epumalanga. Lokhu gade kungasiwo umararo, ngebanga lokobana iimayini zerhawuda gade zihlezi lapha i-golf reef yavela khona. Nanyana kunjalo, ngebanga lokobana abasebenzi bemayini balandela ama-reef la nge-strata, bathola bona angena atjhingele afike ngaphasi kwehlabathi. Umphumela walokho kukobana iSewula Africa inamamayini atjhingelako ephasini. I- Mponeng Mine eduze kwe-Potchefstroom, kade egade yaziwa ngokobana yi- Western Deep Levels, kwanjesi ibambe irikhodi lokutjhingela khulu, nge-Shaft esebenzako etjhingela ifike ku-4 yamakhilomitha.
Umuntu angaqabanga kobana i-twentieth century gade izokuba njani ngaphandle kwerhawuda le-Witwatersrand, nanyana isehlakalo se-Vredefort senza kobana irhawula lingapheli.
Translated by Busisiwe Skhosana