South African Political Geography

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Witwatersrand

The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed. | 2008 | Copyright

Witwatersrand [Afrik.,=white water ridge] or the Rand, region, Gauteng (formerly a part of Transvaal ), South Africa. The area, which forms the watershed between the Vaal and Olifants rivers, is c.25 mi (40 km) wide and extends more than 60 mi (100 km) from west to east in a series of parallel ranges 5,000 to 6,000 ft (1,520-1,830 m) above sea level. The Rand is one of the world's richest gold-mining regions. The gold occurs in reefs, or thin bands, that are mined at depths of up to 10,000 ft (3,050 m). Development of the Rand dates from the 1880s. Although many of the older mines are now nearly exhausted, the Rand still produces most of South Africa's gold and much of the total world output. Silver and iridium are recovered as gold-refining byproducts, and the region also has coal mines. The Rand also has such industries as engineering, steel milling, metallurgy, machine building, diamond cutting, food processing, and the manufacture of chemicals, cement, furniture, and clothing. Major cities of the Rand are Johannesburg , Benoni , Boksburg , Springs , and Germiston .

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Witwatersrand

World Encyclopedia | 2005 | Copyright

Witwatersrand (Rand) Series of parallel mountain ranges more than 1500m (5000ft) high, forming a watershed between the Vaal and Olifant rivers, in former Transvaal, ne South Africa. The region extends c.100km (62mi) e and w of Johannesburg. Gold was first discovered in 1884 and mining began two years later. Witwatersrand still produces c.30% of the world's total output of gold. Silver is recovered as a by-product of gold refining. Coal and manganese are also mined, and there are many ancillary industries in the region.

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Witwatersrand

Concise Dictionary of World Place-Names | 2005 | | Copyright

Witwatersrand, Gauteng/South Africa ‘Ridge of White Waters’ from the Afrikaans wit ‘white’, water ‘water’, and rand ‘ridge’. It was a part of the former province of Pretoria‐Witwatersrand‐Vereeniging (now Gauteng). Also known as the Rand, it is the watershed between the Vaal and Limpopo Rivers. Rich in gold deposits, this gave its name to the South African monetary unit, the ‘rand’.

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JOHN EVERETT-HEATH. "Witwatersrand." Concise Dictionary of World Place-Names. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. 11 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

JOHN EVERETT-HEATH. "Witwatersrand." Concise Dictionary of World Place-Names. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. (February 11, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O209-Witwatersrand.html

JOHN EVERETT-HEATH. "Witwatersrand." Concise Dictionary of World Place-Names. 2005. Retrieved February 11, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O209-Witwatersrand.html

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Rand

The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English | 2009 | Copyright

Rand ¹ / rand/ (the Rand) another name for Witwatersrand.

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"Rand." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. 11 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

"Rand." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. (February 11, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-rand.html

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Witwatersrand

A Dictionary of Earth Sciences | 1999 | | Copyright

Witwatersrand See RANDIAN.

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AILSA ALLABY and MICHAEL ALLABY. "Witwatersrand." A Dictionary of Earth Sciences. 1999. Encyclopedia.com. 11 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

AILSA ALLABY and MICHAEL ALLABY. "Witwatersrand." A Dictionary of Earth Sciences. 1999. Encyclopedia.com. (February 11, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O13-Witwatersrand.html

AILSA ALLABY and MICHAEL ALLABY. "Witwatersrand." A Dictionary of Earth Sciences. 1999. Retrieved February 11, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O13-Witwatersrand.html

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Rand

World Encyclopedia | 2005 | Copyright

Rand See Witwatersrand

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Witwatersrand

Witwatersrand •and, band, bland, brand, expand, firsthand, gland, grand, hand, land, manned, misunderstand, offhand, rand, righthand, Samarkand, sand, stand, strand, thirdhand, underhand, undermanned, understand, unplanned, untanned, withstand •graduand • hatband • armband •headband • neckband • sweatband •waistband • waveband • wristband •broadband • showband • noseband •saraband • backhand • chargehand •farmhand • deckhand • stagehand •freehand • millhand • behindhand •longhand •beforehand, forehand •shorthand • gangland • Lapland •flatland • no-man's-land • Saarland •farmland • grassland • marshland •fenland • wetland • Sudetenland •wasteland • dreamland • peatland •Matabeleland • Ngamiland •fairyland • Dixieland • Swaziland •Thailand • Rhineland • swampland •washland • homeland • Heligoland •Basutoland •clubland, scrubland •timberland • borderland •wonderland • Nagaland • Helgoland •Bechuanaland, Gondwanaland •Mashonaland • Damaraland •Nyasaland • platteland • hinterland •fatherland • motherland •Namaqualand • Öland • allemande •confirmand • ordinand • Ferdinand •Talleyrand • firebrand • Krugerrand •honorand • Witwatersrand •greensand • quicksand • analysand •Streisand • ampersand •bandstand, grandstand, handstand •hatstand • kickstand • inkstand •washstand • hallstand • news-stand

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"Witwatersrand." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. 11 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

"Witwatersrand." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. (February 11, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-Witwatersrand.html

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Free newspaper and magazine articles

	AfriOre Limited: Witwatersrand Type Quartzites Intersected At The FSC Gold... Business Wire; 4/5/2005
	AfriOre and Wits Basin Propose Further Drilling in the Newly Discovered... Business Wire; 8/18/2005
	AfriOre is Granted Prospecting Permission and Drilling Resumes on the FSC... Business Wire; 10/25/2004