GAIA INDEX
WILLEM BOSHOFF
A reflection on the fullness and expanse of 10,000 kilometres of the South African earth. This itinerant collection was made some time before the National elections of 1994 hence the old names of the provinces of that time.
1. AGGENEYS, Bushmanland, North Western Cape. Sand from a dry river bed at the foot of Kranskop.
2. ALBERTINIA DISTRICT, Southern Cape. Yellow ochre pigment used as a dye in cement products.
3. ALIWAL NORTH, Eastern Province. Urban soil from a site near the hot water springs.
4. AMANZIMTOTI, Natal Southern Coast. Sea sand from the public beach.
5. AUGRABIES FALLS, North Western Cape. Sand from deposits left by the 1988 Orange River floods.
6. BARKLY WEST DISTRICT, Griqualand-West, Cape Province. Limestone road gravel from Delportshoop.
7. BEESHOEK, Griqualand-West, Cape Province. Crushed manganese ore for industrial use.
8. BEESHOEK, Griqualand-West, Cape Province. Manganese ore, unprocessed from the veld.
9. BEESHOEK, Griqualand-West, Cape Province. Pulverised manganese for ‘Umber CB’, used as dye in cement products.
10. BEITBRIDGE, borderpost South Africa and Zimbabwe, Tvl. Gravel from between rocky outcrops.
11. BELFAST, Eastern Transvaal Highveld. Soil from a mealie land.
12. BERGVILLE, Natal. Zulu pot clay from the Tugela River.
13. BETHLEHEM, Orange Free State. Weathered sandstone from the Maluti foothills.
14. BLOEMFONTEIN DISTRICT, Orange Free State. Crushed soil from a termite hill.
15. BLOEMFONTEIN, Orange Free State. Subterranean pot clay that causes cracks in urban dwellings.
16. BLOEMFONTEIN, Orange Free State. Topsoil from the gardens of the Court of Appeal.
17. BLOEMHOF, South Western Transvaal. Soil from the Bloemhof Dam.
18. BOSSTRAAT, North Western Cape. Kalahari sand from the Mier settlement area.
19. BRITSTOWN DISTRICT, Bo-Karoo, Cape Province. Sand from a newly dug aardvark hole at Lovedale.
20. BRONKHORSTSPRUIT DISTRICT, Transvaal.. Silica from the Bronx open mine.
21. CALEDON, South Western Cape. Soil from the Swartberg foothills.
22. CALVINIA, Hantam, Cape Province. Mountain shale from the Hantamsberg.
23. CAPE TOWN, Cape Province. 300 Year tended soil from the Castle garden.
24. CAPE VIDAL AREA, Far Northern Coast, Natal. Sand from a secluded beach.
25. CARNARVON, Bo-Karoo, Cape Province. Sand from the Kareebos sheep farm.
26. CATHEDRAL PEAK, Natal Drakensberg. Pink Bushman painting material from Baboon Rock.
27. CATHEDRAL PEAK, Natal Drakensberg. Yellow Bushman painting material from Baboon Rock.
28. CATHEDRAL PEAK, Natal Drakensberg. Bushman painting material from the Doreen Falls site.
29. CHRISTIANA, South Western Transvaal.. Soil from Rob Ferreira Nature Reserve.
30. CLANWILLIAM, Olifant’s River Valley, South West Cape. Sandy soil from wheatfield at foothills of Cederberg.
31. CLOCOLAN DISTRICT, Southern Orange Free State. Soil from mealie land near Prynnsberg.
32. CITRUSDAL, Olifant’s River Valley, South Western Cape. Sand from Olifant’s River.
33. COALBROOK, Northern Orange Free State. Waste sand from Kragbron Power Station.
34. CROSSROADS SQUATTER CAMP, South Western Cape Flats. Loose urban sand.
35. DARLING, Western Cape. Sandy topsoil from Port Jackson plantation.
36. DE AAR, Karoo, Cape Province. Sandy gravel from stone pan near Paardevlei.
37. DRAYCOTT, Estcourt district, Natal. Hillside shale from the Ntabinokehla area.
38. DUIWELSKLOOF, Eastern Transvaal.. Forestry soil from the Strydpoort Berge.
39. DULLSTROOM DISTRICT, Eastern Transvaal. Mountain sand from De Berg at highest altitude in S.A.
40. ESTCOURT DISTRICT, Natal. Forestry soil from the Thabanlope area.
41. ESTCOURT DISTRICT, Natal. Forestry soil from the Thabanlope area.
42. ESTCOURT, Natal. Zulu adobe brick clay from the Loskop Railway Station Area.
43. ESTCOURT, Natal. Zulu plaster clay from the Loskop Railway Station Area.
44. FICKSBURG, South Eastern Orange Free State. Soil from a cherry orchard on the Lesotho border.
45. FORT BEAUFORT, Eastern Province. Sand from the banks of the Kartriver.
46. FRANSCHHOEK, South Western Cape. Topsoil from Pine plantation at mountain pass on Mt. Rochelle.
47. FRANSCHHOEK, South Western Cape. Pink soil from a donga at mountain pass on Mt. Rochelle.
48. GAM SE BERG, North Western Cape. Pulverised, base mineral, used as a filler in paints and plastics.
49. GEORGE DISTRICT, Southern Cape Coast. Sand from the beach at Wilderness.
50. GERMISTON, Transvaal. Brown ochre waste sand from gold mine dump.
51. GERMISTON, Transvaal. Creamy yellow waste sand from gold mine dump.
52. GERMISTON, Transvaal. Off-white waste sand from gold mine dump.
53. GERMISTON, Transvaal. Yellow ochre waste sand from gold mine dump.
54. GERMISTON, Transvaal. Dark yellow waste sand from gold mine dump.
55. GIANT’S CASTLE, Natal Drakensberg. Mauve Bushman painting material from Boesmansriver.
56. GIANT’S CASTLE, Natal Drakensberg. Pink Bushman painting material from Boesmansriver.
57. GIANT’S CASTLE, Natal Drakensberg. Bushman painting material from a Bushman cave shelter.
58. GORDONIA DISTRIK, North Western Cape. Kalahari sand from Ly-of-gly, 200 kilometers from town.
59. GRAHAMSTOWN DISTRICT, Eastern Province. Ceramic clay for industrial use.
60. GRAHAMSTOWN DISTRICT, Eastern Province. Ceramic (C-Moss) clay for industrial use.
61. GRAHAMSTOWN DISTRICT, Eastern Province. Kaolin G1. Traditional Xhosa initiation pigment.
62. GRAHAMSTOWN, Eastern Province. Soil from Featherstone Kloof.
63. GROBLERSHOOP DISTRICT, North Western Cape. Southern Kalahari sand from the sheep farm, Loskop.
64. GROBLERSHOOP, North Western Cape. Sand deposits from the 1988 Orange river floods.
65. HARRISMITH, Eastern Orange Free State. Garden soil from the Drakensberg Botanic Garden.
66. HEIDELBERG DISTRICT, Transvaal. Loose soil from Ball Biter ant (Camponotus) hills.
67. HENNEMAN DISTRICT, Orange Free State. Mealie land soil from the Wites area.
68. HOBHOUSE, South Eastern Orange Free State. River sand from the bridge at Leeurivier.
69. HUMANSDORP DISTRICT, South Eastern Cape. Soil from the ploughed land in Gamtoos Valley.
70. JAMESTOWN DISTRICT, Eastern Province. Pink shale from Penhoek Pass, Stormsberge.
71. JAMESTOWN DISTRICT, Eastern Province. Mauve shale from Penhoek Pass, Stormsberge.
72. JEFFREY’S BAY, Southern Cape Coast. Sand from the public beach.
73. JOHANNESBURG, Transvaal.. Urban soil from a garden in the Suburb of Kensington.
74. JOHANNESBURG, Transvaal.. Yellow waste sand from gold mine dump.
75. KAKAMAS, North Western Cape. Sand from the banks of the Orange River.
76. KATHU DISTRICT, Northern Cape. Sandy soil from the veld at Bestwood.
77. KEIMOUTH, North Western Cape. Sand from a vineyard next to the Orange River.
78. KENHARDT, North Western Cape. Sand from the Rugseerrivier.
79. KIMBERLEY, Griqualand-West, Cape Province. Diamond gravel from the ‘Big Hole.’
80. KIMBERLEY, Griqualand-West, Cape Province. Garden soil from the urban area.
81. KNYSNA, Southern Cape Coast. Marshland mud from Brenton-on-Sea.
82. KOFFIEFONTEIN, Karoo, Cape Province. Sandy gravel from the Panfontein area.
83. KOPPIES DISTRICT, Orange Free State. Black soil from a sunflower field at Deelspruit.
84. KOPPIES DISTRICT, Orange Free State. Pulverised earth for ‘Bentonite MD’, an industrial expanding clay.
85. KROONSTAD DISTRICT, Orange Free State. Clay from a quarry for brick manufacture.
86. KRUGERSDORP, Transvaal. Dusty pink waste sand from gold mine dump.
87. KURUMAN, Northern Cape. Garden soil from the Moffat mission station.
88. KWA-NDEBELE, Siabuswa, Transvaal. Sand from a dry river at Moutse.
89. KWA-ZULU, North Western Natal.. Sand from the Mangangozi River.
90. LADYBRAND DISTRICT, Eastern Orange Free State. Weathered mountain sand from Dorskoppie.
91. LANGEBERGE, North Western Cape. Crushed brown stone.
92. LANGEBERGE, North Western Cape. Brulsand. Sand that becomes audible under dry conditions.
93. LANGEBERGE, North Western Cape. Light grey sand from Witsand.
94. LANGEBERGE, North Western Cape. Light yellow sand from Witsand.
95. LANGEBERGE, North Western Cape. Off-white sand from Witsand.
96. LICHTENBURG, Western Transvaal.. Pulverised manganese for ‘Umber CB’, a cement dye.
97. LICHTENBURG DISTRICT, Western Transvaal. Limestone known as ‘Whiting’ from Slurry mine.
98. LOUIS TRICHARDT/PIETERSBURG, Northern Transvaal. Gravel from the Tropic of Capricorn.
99. LUCKHOFF DISTRICT, Western Orange Free State. Soil from the veld at Goemansberg.
100. LYDENBURG DISTRICT, Eastern Transvaal. Hillside gravel from the Eggo Caves area.
101. MACHADADORP, Eastern Transvaal. Ground slate from hillside on a trout farm.
102. MARBLE HALL, Springbokvlakte. Marble dust from the town pavements.
103. MELKBOSSTRAND, South Western Cape coast. Sea sand dug out from underwater.
104. MESSINA, Far Northern Transvaal.. Grey waste sand from copper mine dump.
105. MIDDELBURG, Eastern Transvaal Highveld.. Soil from the veld near Uitkyk Railway Station.
106. MOSSELBAAI, Southern Cape coast. Clay from a two meter deep excavation.
107. MUDJADJI, Eastern Transvaal. River sand from a rain forest.
108. NABABEEP, Namaqualand, North Western Cape. Waste from the copper mine furnace mixed with natural sand.
109. NABOOMSPRUIT, Northern Transvaal. Soil from a mole hill in the Waterberg.
110. NYLSTROOM, Northern Transvaal. River sand from an urban spring.
111. OGIES, Eastern Transvaal Highveld.. Crushed sandstone from the Klipfontein area.
112. OLIFANTSHOEK DISTRICT, North Western Cape. Sandy soil from prickly pear orchard at Commissie.
113. OLIVIERSHOEK PASS, North Western Natal. Shale from the hillside at the Sterkfontein Dam.
114. OKIEP, Namaqualand, North Western Cape. Sand from the veld at Kliphoogte.
115. ORIGHSTAD DISTRICT, Eastern Transvaal.. Earth from a site at historical Voortrekker entrenchment.
116. PETRUSVILLE DISTRICT, Cape Province. Excavated hilllside gravel from Renosterberg side, P K Le Roux Dam.
117. PHILLIPSTOWN DISTRICT, Karoo, Cape Province. Soil from eroded donga at de Rust.
118. PIENAARSRIVIER, Transvaal. Black river clay from breeding research centre, Roodeplaat Dam.
119. PIETERSBURG DISTRICT, Northern Transvaal.. Grey clay from anthill at Eerstegoud Railway Station.
120. PIET RETIEF DISTRICT, Transvaal.. Talcum powder from a mine near the Swazi border.
121. PIKETBERG, South Western Cape. Soil from the wheat fields at De Hoek.
122. PLETTENBERGBAAI, Southern Cape Coast. Beach sand from Beacon Island.
123. POFADDER, Boesmanland, North Western Cape. Sand from a dry river bed at Noubestaan.
124. PORT ELIZABETH DISTRICT, Eastern Province. White lime powder from a roadside excavation.
125. PORT ELIZABETH, Eastern Province. Road gravel from an urban section of the M2 motorway.
126. PORT NOLLOTH, North Western Cape coast. Beach sand from Mc Dougall’s Bay.
127. PORT NOLLOTH, North Western Cape coast. Coarse sand from the diamond area.
128. PORT NOLLOTH, North Western Cape coast. Sand, green with Copper oxidation from the diamond area.
129. PORT NOLLOTH, North Western Cape coast. Sand, light green with Copper oxidation from the diamond area.
130. PORT SHEPSTONE DISTRICT, Southern Natal coast. Ground marble (Kulu Agran) from Marble Delta.
131. POSTMASBURG DISTRICT, Griqualand-West, Cape Province. Coarsely ground jasper used as roof tile coating
132. POSTMASBURG DISTRICT, Griqualand-West, Cape Province. Diamond gravel from prospector’s heaps, Kalkfontein.
133. POSTMASBURG DISTRICT, Griqualand-West, Cape Province. Finely ground jasper used as tile coating.
134. POSTMASBURG DISTRICT, Griqualand-West, Cape Province. Specularite, traditional cosmetic, Gatkoppiesgrot.
135. POSTMASBURG, Griqualand-West, Cape Province. Gravel from the diamond mine on outskirts of town.
136. POTCHEFSTROOM, Western Transvaal. Gravel, Old Fort where first shot was fired, Anglo/Boer war.
137. POTGIETERSRUS DISTRICT, Northern Transvaal.. Pitsand used by bricklayers.
138. PRETORIA DISTRICT, Transvaal. Terra cotta clay from Garsfontein.
139. PRETORIA, Transvaal. Soil from Meintjieskop at the Union Buildings.
140. PUTSONDERWATER DISTRICT, North Western Cape. Soil from the veld at Glen Connan.
141. QUEENSTOWN DISTRICT, Eastern Province. Crushed stone from the Glenside Quarries.
142. QUEENSTOWN DISTRICT, Eastern Province. Soil from smallholding at foothills of Mt Madeira.
143. RANDFONTEIN, Transvaal. White waste sand from gold mine dump..
144. RICHARDS BAY, Natal Northern coast. Dune sand from the Dawson’s Rock area.
145. RICHTERSVELD AREA, Far Northern Cape. Crushed desert rock.
146. RIVERSDALE DISTRICT, Southern Cape. Sand from a three meter excavation, Soetmelkrivier.
147. RIVIERSONDEREND, South Western Cape. Dug-out shale from Riviersonderendberge.
148. ROOSSENEKAL DISTRICT, Eastern Transvaal. Aluvial volcanic soil from farm near Koppiesvlei.
149. ROUXVILLE DISTRICT, Karoo, Cape Province. Soil from eroded donga in Stolzkraal area.
150. RUSTENBURG DISTRICT, Transvaal.. Ground chromium ore.
151. SASOLBURG, Northern Orange Free State. Soil from mealie land near Mooidraai.
152. SCHWIZER RENECKE, Western Transvaal.. Soil from mealie land near Rietput.
153. SISHEN, North Western Cape. Crushed iron ore from open mine.
154. SISHEN, North Western Cape. Pulverised iron ore into red oxide for use in cement products.
155. SOEKMEKAAR RAILWAY STATION, North Eastern Transvaal. Sand from dry river bed.
156. SOMERSET WEST, South Western Cape. Soil from the Helderberg Nature Reserve.
157. SOUTPANSBERG, Northern Transvaal.. Gravel from the Hendrik Verwoerd Tunnel.
158. SOUTPANSBERG, Northern Transvaal.. Mountain soil from the Hanglip forestry reserve.
159. SOWETO, Transvaal. Sandy soil from a north western suburb.
160. SPRINGBOK, Namaqualand, North Western Cape. Grey waste sand from copper mine dump in the Carolusberg.
161. SPRINGBOK, Namaqualand, North Western Cape. Soil from dry river bed in Hester Malan Nature Reserve.
162. STELLENBOSCH, South Western Cape. Sand from Helshoogte in the Jonkershoek Mountains.
163. STILFONTEIN, Western Transvaal.. White waste sand from a gold mine dump.
164. STRYDOM TUNNEL, Eastern Transvaal Drakensberg. Soil from Abel Erasmus Pass.
165. ST LUCIA DISTRICT, Northern Natal coast. Titanium deposits at Maphelana.
166. SWELLENDAM, Southern Cape. Soil taken from trees near the Historical Drostdy.
167. THABAZIMBI Northern Transvaal.. Crushed iron ore from the ‘Berg van Winde’.
168. TSITSIKAMMA FOREST, Southern Cape coast. Soil from excavation at Nature’s Valley.
169. TWEELING DISTRICT, Orange Free State. Soil from the veld at Tweelingskop.
170. TZANEEN, North Eastern Transvaal. Soil from a garden on a plot next to the Fanie Botha Dam.
171. UPINGTON DISTRICT, North Western Cape. Kalahari sand from Gordonia, north-east of Upington.
172. VANDERBIJLPARK DISTRIK, Transvaal.. Soil from Loch Vaal at Barrage, Vaal River.
173. VAN RHYNSDORP DISTRICT, Namaqualand, North West Cape. Sand from foothills, Bokkeveldberge.
174. VELDDRIF, South Western Cape Sandveld. Beach sand from Laaiplek.
175. VENDA, North Eastern Transvaal. Sand from Korongwe River on the Speeltyd Game Farm.
176. VILLIERS DISTRICT, Orange Free State. Pulverised black peat from a mealie land near Welverdiend.
177. VILLIERSDORP DISTRICT, South Western Cape. Soil from apple orchard near Maranda.
178. VILLIERSDORP, South Western Cape. Shale from an excavation at Theewaterskloofdam.
179. VIRGINIA, Orange Free State. Off-white waste sand from Harmonie gold mine dump.
180. VRYBURG DISTRICT, Cape Province. Limestone gravel, Armoedsvlakte Agriculture Res. Station.
181. VRYHEID DISTRICT, Natal.. Forestry soil from Nongoma.
182. WARMBAD, Northern Transvaal. River sand from Platrivier.
183. WARRENTON, Griqualand-West. Soil from the veld near Veertien Strome.
184. WEPENER, Orange Free State. Sand from Caledon River at site of Anglo/Boer battle at Jammerdrif.
185. WILLISTON DISTRICT, Karoo, Cape Province. Shale from the Beaufort series of fossilised strata.
186. WINTERTON, Natal. Soil from a mealie farm on the Little Tugela River.
187. WITBANK, Eastern Transvaal Highveld. Ground coal from an open mine colliery.
188. WOLMARANSTAD DISTRICT, Western Transvaal.. Limestone gravel, excavations at Bamboesspruit.
189. WOLMARANSTAD DISTRICT, Western Transvaal.. Soil from Makwasssie, first white birth in Transvaal.
190. ZASTRON DISTRICT, South Eastern Orange Free State. Grey clay from the foothills of Aasvoëlberg.