Lesson plan
Durnacol
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 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. It is the worst mine explosion in South Africa's history.
Article summary
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 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. It is the worst mine explosion in South Africa's history.
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Discussion questions
- Summarise the article in your own words. Which single claim would you verify first, and why?
- Which claim in this article is most likely to be revised as the sources update? How would you check its current status?
- If two sources disagreed about one of these facts, what would you need in order to trust one over the other?
Bibliography
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Key claims and bibliography are generated from the same tracked claims and sources as the article page.