Explorer Karl Gottlieb Mauch dies

Updated: 30 Sep 2019

German explorer Karl Gottlieb Mauch, allegedly the first person to discover gold in South Africa, died in poverty in Stuttgart, Germany. He made geologic and archaeological discoveries in southern Africa, notably the gold fields in Hartley Hills in 1867 and the ruins of the ancient city of Zimbabwe. On his return to Potchefstroom, South African Republic, he announced that he had discovered a vast ancient gold field scarred with abandoned mine workings. He claimed that it was the legendary Ophir, mentioned by King Solomon and the Queen of Sheba. He won prizes for his gold and mineral specimens at the agricultural show, but he never discovered any payable deposits from his prospects.

How we know this

01Encyclopedia Britannica,"Karl Mauch"From: Encyclopedia Britannica,available at: www.britannica.com,[Accessed at: 03 April 2014]
02Wallis, F. (2000). Nuusdagboek: feite en fratse oor 1000 jaar, Kaapstad: Human & Rousseau.

Last updated · 30 Sep 2019

Cite this entry

South African History Online. (2011, March 16). Explorer Karl Gottlieb Mauch dies. South African History Online. https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0011050

South African History Online (2011) 'Explorer Karl Gottlieb Mauch dies', South African History Online, 16 March. Available at: https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0011050 (Accessed: 9 October 2026).

South African History Online, Explorer Karl Gottlieb Mauch dies [website], https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0011050, (accessed 9 October 2026).

"Explorer Karl Gottlieb Mauch dies." South African History Online, 16 Mar. 2011, https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0011050. Accessed 9 Oct. 2026.

South African History Online. "Explorer Karl Gottlieb Mauch dies." South African History Online. March 16, 2011. https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0011050.