Tag Archives: Specularite

A small pond and stepped cliffs indicate the Ngwenya Mine's location in the Kingdom of Swaziland, one of the earliest known iron
c. 40,000 BCE: The Origins of Mining – Discovering the Ngwenya Mine

The Ngwenya Mine in Swaziland is the world's oldest known mine, dating back over 40,000 years. Early miners delved deep into the earth for specular hematite, a mineral used for ceremonial glitter, marking the dawn [...]