Jagersfontein

Jagersfontein, town, southwestern Free State province, South Africa, southwest of Bloemfontein. The town is historically known as a diamond-mining centre. A 50-carat diamond found on a farm in the area in 1870 led to the establishment of the town in 1882 and the opening of a diamond pipe mine six years later. The second and eighth largest rough diamonds ever discovered in the world were taken from this mine—the Excelsior of 995 carats (in 1893) and the Reitz of 650 carats (in 1895; later cut into the Jubilee). The Jagersfontein mine closed during the Great Depression, reopened after World War II, but closed once again in 1970. Sheep are raised in the semi-arid area surrounding the town. Pop. (2001) 1,200.