Anglo's social history compliments its power: from apartheid foe to economic supporter of communities.

• Author: Lavrakas, Dimitra
• Position: MINING

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In 2007, Northern Dynasty Minerals of Canada announced a partnership with London-based Anglo American PLC in the proposed Pebble Mine project, called The Pebble Limited Partnership. This past season, Anglo American conducted test drills for copper, silver, gold and molybednum for what could become one of the largest copper mines in the world.

But many Alaskans don't know the company's history, and it is a rich one --in both wealth and social response. Essentially, it the story of a family with a phenomenal drive complemented by a deep social conscious.

It is a huge company, larger than any Alaska placer gold miner could ever imagine, and it is mightily diversified (see sidebar).

A LEGACY OF SOCIAL CONSCIOUSNESS

The company's sense of responsibility is likely traced back to its founder, Ernest Oppenheimer, who was Jewish and who, in 1896, left Germany for England to escape growing anti-Semitism. He joined his brother at the diamond merchant firm of Anton Dunkelsbuhler, which did business in South Africa. A quick study, Dunkelsbuhler noticed and in 1901, Oppenheimer was sent to Kimberley, South Africa, to head up the company's office. By 1912, he was elected mayor. Five years later, he founded Anglo American Corp. of South Africa with the help of the American bank, Morgan. Leveraging his vision and power, he eventually took control of De Beers Co., a chief diamond-mining operation in South Africa. During America's Great Depression, Oppenheimer held a tight reign on the supply of diamonds, creating a demand for those less-than-gem quality in industrial manufacturing.

And he created the mystique around diamonds with an advertising campaign that spotlighted the four "Cs"--cut, clarity, color and carat. In the late 1930s, the "A Diamond is Forever" slogan whipped up a desire for diamonds that has never waned.

In 1957, Oppenheimer died and his son, Harry, took over the company. In the 1970s, Harry came out as an advocate of political reform, advancing the notion that miners held the right to unionize and that black African miners be paid the same as whites.

"Disagreeable though it may be, we must admit that the racial policy which has been pursued here over the last 40 years, has made South Africa stink in the nostrils of decent, humane people around the world," Harry said in a 1989 speech.

In 2000, when Harry died, South African President Thabo Mbeki said in a press release:

" ... President Mbeki also said that it was a...