This famous mining house was
founded in 1887 by Cecil Rhodes and Charles Rudd (initially as Gold Fields of
South Africa), to develop their mining interests in South Africa. As an international
mining group, based in London, unlike the other main houses involved in South
Africa, it evolved a world-wide network of mining links.
It became the second largest gold producing group after Anglo
American, though usually holding less than 50 per cent of its associates.
The principal subsidiary holding was Gold Fields of
South Africa. Consolidated Gold Fields plc was taken over by Hanson plc in
1989 and ceased to exist as a separate company. Hanson has since disposed of most
of the former gold mining empire. The annual gold market survey it conducted,
however, is continued by Gold Fields Mineral Services.