the Ngwenya Mine in Swaziland is one of the oldest mines in the world?
the Soviet 383rd Rifle Division was originally comprised completely of miners from the Ukrainian Donets Basin?
the Stairs Expedition to Katanga (William Stairs pictured) was the winner in a race between two Victorian-era imperial powers to seize a vast mineral-rich territory in central Africa, which it achieved by assassinating the African king Msiri?
the community of Weed Heights, Nevada, was built to support the open pit mining operation at the Anaconda Copper Mine?
the largest sheet of mica (example pictured) ever mined in the world came from Denholm, Quebec, Canada?
the historic Samson Pit silver mine in the Harz Mountains of Germany was, for a long time, the deepest mine in the world?
the amorphous phosphate mineral santabarbaraite was named after the Italian mining district Santa Barbara where it was discovered in 2003, but its name also honors Saint Barbara, the patron saint of miners?
an important tool in surface mining is the drag line excavator?
South African mining magnate Sir Lionel Phillips survived being shot five times in an assassination attempt?
Scottish-born engineer Alexander Arthur spent millions of dollars in unsuccessful logging, mining, and resort enterprises in southern Appalachia in the late 19th century?
Hemerdon Mine in Devon, England is one of the world's largest sources of tungsten and tin, but has not been mined since World War II?
Hugh de Largie (pictured), who was banned from working as a miner in Newcastle for his union activities, later became an inaugural member of the Australian Senate?
Tantiusques, a graphite mine which John Winthrop the Younger purchased from the Nipmuck tribes in 1644, became the basis for today's Dixon Ticonderoga pencil company?
California's Gold Country quartz-mining industry was precipitated by a quartz gold discovery on Gold Hill?