South Deep Gold Mine is a world-class bulk mechanised mining operation located in the Witwatersrand Basin, near Westonaria 50km south-west of Johannesburg – South Africa’s commercial capital.
The mine has been built to extract one of the largest known gold deposits in the world and boasts a mineral reserve of 38 million ounces. The current Life-of-Mine (LOM) is estimated to be 80 years (2101), so not only will South Deep be a valuable asset to the Gold Fields Group for decades to come, but it is likely to be the last gold mine in South Africa, with most other mines having run out of reserves by then.
South Deep Gold Mine is a world-class bulk mechanised mining operation located in the Witwatersrand Basin, near Westonaria 50km south-west of Johannesburg – South Africa’s commercial capital.
The mine has been built to extract one of the largest known gold deposits in the world and boasts a mineral reserve of 38 million ounces. The current Life-of-Mine (LOM) is estimated to be 80 years (2101), so not only will South Deep be a valuable asset to the Gold Fields Group for decades to come, but it is likely to be the last gold mine in South Africa, with most other mines having run out of reserves by then.
A three-dimensional cross-section through South Deep showing stratigraphy and primary infrastructure reveals:
The Twin Shaft Complex comprises a main and ventilation shaft. The main shaft extends in a single drop to 2 998m below surface, while the ventilation shaft extends to a depth of 2 947m below surface.
The South Shaft Complex is a sub-vertical system, with three operating shafts, which extend to a depth of 2 786m.
