Look Beyond the Wind The Life of Hans Merensky
Author: Olga Lehmann
Publisher: Howard Timmins, Cape Town, South Africa
Edition: First 1955
Language: English
Condition: Good. Clean copy with tight binding.
Binding: Hardcover with dustjacket
Pages: 183. Print with images
Additional Information
South Africas mineral wealth is one of her greatest blessings. From the gold mines of the Witwatersrand and the Free State to the diamond fields of Alexander Bay, the copper workings of Messina and the coal fields of Middelburg, the countrys prosperity radiates from the nucleus of her mineral exploitations. It is therefore not surprising that the men, who, through their knowledge and skill, discovered this hidden wealth and set the huge wheels of industry in motion, should occupy an important place in the annals of our history.
Dr. Hans Merensky is one of these men. It was not without reason that he was called The Wizard Geologist, for his geological discoveries rank amongst the most important not only in South Africa, but in the world. In the comparatively short space of twenty-six years, he was responsible for opening up important deposits of platinum, diamonds, chrome, vermiculite and phosphate, and the combined value of these deposits is astronomical. As Minister of Finance during these years, I was particularly aware of the financial benefits that these discoveries brought to South Africa, and the diamonds of Alexander Bay alone contributed immense wealth to our Treasury and enabled the Government to build up the assets of our country over a long period of time.
Throughout Merensky s years of achievement I was in contact with him, and our acquaintance, which started with his first platinum discoveries at Lydenburg, had become a cemented friendship by the time he made his last find of phosphate at Phalaborwa. And every time I saw him, I was impressed anew by this man. He was a genius. He was not only a geologist, but also a farmer, and his achievements on Westfalia, particularly his experiments with water conservation, have proved to the farmers of South Africa what could be done, not with money, but with initiative.
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Merensky | Lawrence Green | Tzaneen
