Hans Merensky - Geologe und Mäzen

Hans Merensky is probably only known to a few people. Unless you studied mining or geology. Then you would have heard the name in your first lecture on mineral deposits. Or you would have travelled a lot in South Africa and Namibia, where the name is recorded in many public places. Dams, roads, a game reserve connected to a first-class lodge, an agricultural college in Tzaneen, university institutes in Stellenbosch and the university library in Pretoria are all named after Merensky. The reason is simple: Hans Merensky enjoys cult status in South Africa because he was the most successful explorer of ore deposits and diamond deposits that has ever existed, worldwide and at all times. His life story is worth telling for several reasons: it is exciting and often even dramatic. There are hardly any writers imaginative enough to come up with such a multi-faceted life. His life story also deserves to be written down because many of his discoveries were of global significance. Merensky repeatedly set the international commodities markets in motion and set new trends. His work is part of world economic history. And finally, this curriculum vitae should also be recorded because Hans Merensky was one of South Africa's most influential personalities in the first half of the 20th century. Without his work, today's South Africa and Namibia would look very different from what we know. Without his discoveries, both countries would be much poorer than they are today. The author's intimate knowledge of the international networks of the raw materials markets, of prospecting methods and of the life of a prospector in the African bush flows into the narrative of Hans Merensky's life story. The book, which is well worth reading, is exciting reading for geologists, naturalists and Africa enthusiasts as well as for any reader interested in action and economic history. This title is also available in English.