Journey to the centre of the earth

At one time the deepest in the world, but still not far from it. The lowest point in the mine is around 3500m below the surface. Access to the production levels at around 3200-3300m is via a shaft, sub shaft and decline. Rock temperateure is close to 50 degrees celcius and the mine has one of the largest refridgeration plants in Africa to cool the air. This group of shafts has been operating for over 100 years and mines gold using a conventional longwall. At this depth the goaf doesn't stand for long. Development is still carried out using airleg drills, shot firing and clearance scrapers. The ore is loaded at the face by rail boggers and hauled out by rail skip, equipment that we would generally consider obsolete, but it is still used productively here in many mines.