South Deep - The Challenges

摘要

Over years of exploration the massive and tabular orebodies in the area to the South West of Western Areas Gold Mine had been assessed as containing about 50 million ounces of gold - a world class orebody. Planning initially was for a surface and subvertical shaft system to exploit this area but because of cost, a single lift shaft to an area which could be accessed ex Western Areas was planned to intersect the reef at 2760 metres.