Geologist reminisces Botswana�s diamond discovery story
Chakalisa Dube | Friday May 5, 2017 14:45
Half a century after the Orapa kimberlitic discovery, Marx was one of the speakers at an exploration conference organised by Debswana this week.
The seminar was also held to mark 50-years celebrations marking the discovery of diamonds in Orapa.
“When people ask me the lasting memory of the Orapa story, my reply maybe surprising for some. It happened in June 2014 when I attended the 45th Debswana celebrations in Orapa. When the beautifully dressed children in the school choir sang like angels it moved me. I realised that one single step I took 50 years ago has secured a bright future for those children and many generations to come,” a visibly excited Marx said.
His discovery led to the relationship between the mining giant, De Beers Mining Company and the Botswana Government. The relationship marked the start of diamond mining in the country in 1971 four years after Marx’s discovery.
The mine traded under the De Beers Mining Company Botswana but later became known as Debswana.
Since then, diamond mining has continued to sustain the development of the country. Before diamonds, Botswana heavily depended on agriculture, which was unreliable.
“The impact the Orapa Diamond Mine among others has been felt throughout the society in the form of hospitals, schools, universities and extensive road network. I am pleased because the wealth of diamonds has been prudently used,” he said.
Interestingly Marx says that apart from his then R170 salary he never received any bonus for his discovery. Marx is however; quick to point out that he cared less about financial rewards after his Orapa discovery.
In fact, he feels very lucky to have made the Orapa discovery just after making his debut in the geology profession.
“It was my job so I did not expect a bonus. As a young geologist making such a significant discovery motivated me to take my profession seriously.
“It made me hungry and I have made significant discoveries in my career after my Orapa stint. Had I not made such a discovery, maybe I could have been demoralised and in the process failed in the profession. A good start is necessary for one to excel in the geology profession. ”
His home might be in Australia but he maintains that his heart will always be in Orapa because of the historic discovery. In fact, the 73-year old had his last job in Botswana in 2014 before he retired. He was doing exploration works for Pangolin Diamonds in the Rakops area.
After his discovery in Orapa, Marx relocated to the Kweneng area where he did some exploration works before he relocated to Angola in the early 1970’s.
“I left Angola at around 1975 because of the civil war. We had discovered diamonds at the time but could not start mining because of the war,” he said. De Beers gave him another exploration assignment in Australia where he settled and got married (to an Australian citizen). Although he does not discuss much about his family life he says that he divorced and remarried.
Max left De Beers in 1986 and spent time doing exploration works in countries such as Canada, Brazil and Zimbabwe among others. He did work as an employee for international companies and as an independent consultant.
Today, the retired Marx spends time doing university and public lectures about geology around Australia in a bid to inspire upcoming geologists. “I tell the Orapa story in every lecture I give,” he said.
But Marx refuses to go away without retelling the most significant moment of his decorated geology career, the discovery of Orapa mine.
“The day of the discovery was the morning of April 21, 1967. I noticed (during their exploration expedition in Orapa) that we were walking into a hill, which had many rabbit holes. This was unusual that I dropped into my knees to examine the ground. There I saw many red garnet and black ilmenite grains but no diamonds yet. I knew that this was a kimberlite which is the volcanic source rock of diamonds.”
Among the 12 Batswana men in the exploration team were Tebone Saranyane, Setekia Wassanena, Brod Malema and Ramakatse Letsholo.
On April 25, 1967 Lobatse-based Dr. Gavin Lamont who was the exploration manager and Jim Gibson who was the senior geologist arrived in camp where they examined the material excavated by Marx and confirmed it to be crater facies kimberlite like the ones at Mwadui Mine in Tanzania.
“I seem to get all the credit and the attention for the Orapa discovery. I was working with other 12 Batswana men. We were a close team. They deserve praise as well,” he said.
But does he keep in touch with the other 12 men who were with him on the day of the discovery? He says no. The distance and age has made it difficult for them to keep in touch.
“I met them during the Debswana 45th anniversary celebrations. I keep in touch with Dr Lamont who was the exploration manager during the discovery of Orapa,” he said.
When he made the discovery, the then 23-year-old Transkei born Marx was a junior geologist who has just secured his first employment with mining giants DeBeers after completing his geology Degree from the University of Cape Town.
“After we walked another one kilometre we were on the other side of the hill. I knew that this was a very exciting moment. I called my boss Lamont about the new discovery.”
“After my discovery years were spent doing evaluations to assess the viability of operating the mine (before commissioning).”
“We communicated with our superiors in Lobatse using a radio from a ship. It resembled a big box and operated like a phone.”
He also said that he spend time playing golf. While in Botswana Marx occasionally played rugby.
Geologists practicing in this era have it better because of technology and adequate resources, which eases their work.
Doing exploration work in Orapa was very physically demanding according to him.
“Access tracks had to be cut, hundreds of miles of traverses were walked at 11 miles per traverse per day, heavy soil sample bags were carried often through thick thorn bushes in a scorching hit,”
There was also presence of dangerous snakes in the exploration area according to the retired geologist. During their exploration expedition they slept on basic tents, had no fridge and computers among others.
One of the lasting memories of Marx after his Orapa discovery was an encounter with the late former president Sir Seretse Khama in September 1969. President Khama, who was accompanied by other government officials, was on his first visit to the Orapa area following the discovery of diamonds.
“The president said to me that he was overjoyed that this diamond discovery had been made soon after independence and wished me luck and hoped I could find more diamonds,” he says with a smile.
According to him, the discovery of diamonds was very pleasing to the first president of independent Botswana and Batswana in general because it came after the end of a six-year severe drought.