Durnacol is a small suburban town in the central part of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. The name is an acronym for Durban Navigation Collieries, a mine that was opened at the turn of the 20th century. The mine mainly produced coking coal[2] for the shipping industries, but later the coal was used in the smelting of iron. At the height of its activity, some 5000 people worked at the mine. The mine ceased production activities in 2000. At present, the area of the mine property is being rehabilitated and is being managed by the local municipality. Many of the mining company's houses have been sold to individual owners.
A methane explosion at Durban Navigation Colliery on 8 October 1926 killed 124 miners.[3][4] It is the worst mine explosion in South Africa's history.[5]
References
- ^ a b c d "Sub Place Durnacol". Census 2011.
- ^ Campbel, Gwyn (2003). The Indian Ocean Rim. Routledge. p. 168. ISBN 0-7007-1344-1.
- ^ "Commercial Coal-mining in Natal: A Centennial Appraisal" (PDF). Natalia. 18. 1988. Retrieved 31 December 2024.
- ^ "Colliery Explosion. Caused by Spark. Many Bodies Recovered". The Register, Adelaide. 12 October 1926. Retrieved 31 December 2024.
- ^ Landman, Gysbert Van Rooyen (1992). Ignition and Initiation of Coal Mine Explosions (PDF) (Thesis). Faculty of Engineering, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg. Retrieved 31 December 2024.
Municipalities and communities of Amajuba District Municipality, KwaZulu-Natal | ||
|---|---|---|
District seat: Newcastle | ||
| Newcastle |
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| eMadlangeni | ||
| Dannhauser | ||