The devastating impact of Gold Mining in South Africa

For 130 years South Africa has been exploiting its gold resources in Johannesburg. But at what cost? 278 abandoned mines and 200 mining dumps, that contain about 6 billion tons of waste, exist in Johannesburg.For every single gram of gold extracted, 200 kg of waste are produced.

Inside South Africa's 'ruthless' gang-controlled gold mines

There are tens of thousands of illegal miners in South Africa, with Mr Van Wyk saying they number about 36,000 alone in Gauteng province - the country's economic heartland, where gold was first ...

Acid mine drainage arising from gold mining activity in Johannesburg

The Witwatersrand region of South Africa is famous for its gold production and a major conurbation, centred on Johannesburg, has developed as a result of mining activity.

Randfontein Estates Gold Mine Near Johannesburg, South Africa

The Randfontein Estates Gold Mine is located near Johannesburg, South Africa. It was first discovered in 1887 and began production in 1889. This mining operation primarily takes place underground, utilizing a method known as breast stoping. The mine has a total of 27 shafts and encompasses five distinct underground workings.

South Africa: Videos show dead bodies at disused gold mine

As the operation to rescue potentially hundreds of people in an illegal gold mine in South Africa commenced on Monday, a lot of unexpected things were unearthed leaving rescuers and authorities shocked. Videos emerged show scores of illegal miners reportedly living underground for months, with one showing corpses wrapped in makeshift body bags ...

South Africa: Gold mine pollution is poisoning Soweto's …

For 140 years, gold mines in Johannesburg, South Africa have been leaking wastewater contaminated with heavy metals. The acid mine drainage from Johannesburg's estimated 278 abandoned mines and ...

Water Pollution and Contamination from Gold Mines: Acid Mine …

2 Gold Mining in Gauteng Province, South Africa. ... A further AMD exacerbating problem of gold mining in South Africa has been the fact that, while still having 35% of known world gold reserves, most of it is difficult to extract requiring deep-level mining. South Africa, in fact, has six of the ten deepest level gold mines in the world. ...

South Africa's illegal gold miners are locked in an …

An artisanal miner, locally known as a zama-zama, mines for gold at a mining operation in Stormhill, west of Johannesburg, on Aug. 11, 2023. Shiraaz Mohamed/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

Legacy Gold Mine Sites & Dumps in the Witwatersrand …

Since the 1880s, when modern gold mining started, Johannesburg has been the catalyst of economic growth for South Africa and, by extension, the African continent from its gold resource endowment [1] . ... Turning around the deterioration of the gold mining industry in South Africa will require innovative, transdisciplinary strategies and ...

Gold Mines: Top 5 Deepest in Operation in South Africa

At 3.42km in depth, South Africa's Driefontein Gold Mine, ... Located 75km west of one of South Africa's major cities, Johannesburg, the mine forms part of the West Wits Line. Current production measures 445,000 ounces with reserves estimated at 7.54 million ounces. Currently, Harmony Gold— as owner and operator— is working on deepening ...

Durban Roodepoort Deep Mine Near Johannesburg, South Africa

gold mining deposit report for "deposit #21556" (#21556) in gauteng, south africa. ... second oldest gold producing mine in south africa, now with limited life outlook (6-8 years ). labor intensive with high operating costs ($182. 71/troy ounce of gold recovered; 1977 ). the mine operates from four ore horizons: main, main reef leader, south ...

Gold Mining Exploits and the Legacies of Johannesburg's Mining …

As gold mining in Gauteng reaches the end of its lifespan, the new face of active mining in the province lies in the extraction of diamonds, coal and platinum. ... South Africa, Financial provisions for rehabilitation and closure in South Africa Mining: discussion document in challenges and recommended improvements (summary) (Cape Town: SA: WWF ...

Top 10: Gold mines in South Africa by proven mineral reserves

With a gold ore reserve base of 896 thousand ounces (koz) and an annual production rate of 80,763oz, the Doornkop gold mine in South Africa's Gauteng Province has an operational lifespan expected to last until 2036. The single-shaft operation is operated by Harmony Gold and mines to a depth of 2,000m. Located on the northwestern rim of the ...

Acid mine drainage arising from gold mining activity in Johannesburg

Gold mining commenced in the Johannesburg area in 1886 (Werdmuller, 1986), the gold being won from 1 to 2 m thick tabular conglomerate layers of the Witwatersrand Supergroup, which extend in an east–west direction over a strike length of some 45 km. Mining activity gave rise to a large conurbation centred on Johannesburg, which today accommodates more than 6 …

Basotho Mineworkers and zama zama in Disused Commercial Gold Mines …

Looking at the case of Basotho illegal migrant mineworkers working in abandoned, disused gold mines in Gauteng Province, South Africa, this chapter explores zama zama (illegal mining) and its relationship with conflict, mobility, turf wars and violence in the disused gold mines in Gauteng province. The chapter further demonstrates the conflicts ...

Gold Mines For Sale in South Africa

My client is looking for an Investor for his Gold Mining operation in South Africa. The company holds mining and prospecting rights with total resources in excess of 73 million ounces, positioning it as an owner of one of the largest gold resources globally.

16 List Of Gold Mines In South Africa (2023)

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 …

Mponeng Gold Mine, South Africa

The Mponeng gold mine located in the Gauteng province of South Africa, is the deepest operating mine in the world. It was the last underground operation by AngloGold Ashanti in South Africa. Harmony Gold, South Africa's …

Gold Mines: Top 5 Deepest in Operation in South …

Formerly known as Elandsrand, the 3.38km deep Kusasalethu Gold Mine is Harmony Gold's deepest mine. Located 75km west of one of South Africa's major cities, Johannesburg, the mine forms part of the West Wits Line. …

Mining

The major gold and diamond mining houses all have their headquarters in Johannesburg, the biggest being Anglo American and De Beers. There are 159 mines - 44 of them gold mines - in …

Mining

Within 10 years, there was a fully fledged town on the same spot; within 30 years it was South Africa's largest city. Today Johannesburg is Africa's biggest city, ringed by the deepest gold mines in the world. The major gold and diamond mining houses all have their headquarters in Johannesburg, the biggest being Anglo American and De Beers ...

Witwatersrand Gold Rush | The Famous South African Gold Mine

The continued mining of gold has firmly placed Johannesburg as the economical powerhouse of South Africa. While the ultimate source of the gold in the Witwatersrand reef is unknown, the general disposition of the deposits is recognizable and continuous.

The five largest gold mines in South Africa

The following are the five largest gold mines by production in South Africa in 2023, according to GlobalData's mining database, which tracks more than 33,000 mines and projects from early exploration to closure across more than 150 countries and over 100 commodities. ... Located in Gauteng, the Kloof Gold Mine is owned by Sibanye Stillwater ...

Acid mine drainage arising from gold mining activity in Johannesburg

The Witwatersrand region of South Africa is famous for its gold production and a major conurbation, centred on Johannesburg, has developed as a result of mining activity. A study was undertaken of surface and ground water in a drainage system in this area. Soils were also analysed from a site within …

South Africa

Prospectors established in 1886 the existence of a belt of gold-bearing reefs 40 miles (60 km) wide centered on present-day Johannesburg. The rapid growth of the gold-mining industry intensified processes started by the …

Exploring World's Top Ten Worlds Deepest Mines …

Top Ten Worlds Deepest Mines in South Africa Mponeng Gold Mine. AngloGold Ashanti's Mponeng gold mine, located south-west of Johannesburg in South Africa, is currently the deepest mine in the world.The …

Illegal Mining Claims Over 100 Lives in South Africa

A tragedy of devastating proportions has unfolded in South Africa, where over 100 illegal miners have lost their lives in an abandoned gold mine. The grim incident sheds light on the dangers and complexities of illegal mining, a growing crisis in the region. A Grim Scene Underground Sabelo Mnguni, a representative of the Mining Affected […]

Gold Fields South Deep Gold Mine

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 32,19 million ounces.

Robinson Deep, Ltd. Gold Mine Near Johannesburg, South Africa

Gold mining deposit report for "Deposit #Usgs10038855" (#USGS10038855) in Gauteng, South Africa. ... South Africa. Deposit #USGS10038855; Robinson Deep, Ltd. Gold Mine Johannesburg, South Africa. 26.2299°S 28.0681°E Overview Gold ; …

Doornkop Mine |South Africa | Underground

Doornkop is a deep-level, single-shaft operation in Gauteng, some 30km west of Johannesburg, on the northern rim of the Witwatersrand Basin. While a mature operation, Doornkop still has 15 years life-of-mine remaining …

Top 10: Gold Mines in South Africa by Proven …

With a gold ore reserve base of 896 thousand ounces (koz) and an annual production rate of 80,763oz, the Doornkop gold mine in South Africa's Gauteng Province has an operational lifespan expected to last until 2036. The …

Operation under way to rescue trapped miners from South African gold mine

South African Police Service officers walk near the rescue operation to retrieve illegal miners from an abandoned gold shaft in Stilfontein, South Africa, on January 13, 2025 [Christian Velcich/AFP]