Miners trapped after power cut. · AditNow Community

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Morlock
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie Topic Starter

7 years ago

Sorry about the source.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-5340413/950-trapped-gold-South-Africa-power-cut.html

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rufenig
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

7 years ago

South Africa gold mine: All 955 trapped workers freed

They had been trapped underground since a power cut struck on Wednesday night.

"Everybody's out," said James Wellsted, a spokesman for the operating firm Sibanye-Stillwater. He said there were "cases of dehydration and high blood pressure but nothing serious"
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-42914132

Horsemaddad
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

7 years ago

Would a 3,000 foot shaft not be equipped with a ladder way? I know it would be a long climb, but surely it would be better than being stuck at the bottom for so long. I'm sure Cornish miners regularly climbed from depths of up to 2,000 feet as part of their daily routine.

Colin

Minegeo
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

7 years ago

Actually its 3000 metres not feets (whatever they are)

crickleymal
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

7 years ago

I must admit I'm a little surprised there wasn't a generator to keep the ventilation going at least.

Malc.
Rusted and ropey, Dog eared old copy
Vintage and classic or just plain Jurassic
All words to describe me.

Morlock
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie Topic Starter

7 years ago

"crickleymal" wrote:
I must admit I'm a little surprised there wasn't a generator to keep the ventilation going at least.

From BBC story.

"They had been trapped underground since a power cut struck on Wednesday night, and back-up generators failed to work."

gNick
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

7 years ago

"Minegeo" wrote:
Actually its 3000 metres not feets (whatever they are)

Or possibly not, according to the Sibanye-Stillwater press release (https://thevault.exchange/?get_group_doc=245/1517545811-Sibanye-StillwatersafelybringsBeatrixemployeestosurfaceafterpoweroutage2Feb2018.pdf) 64 were trapped at 1 shaft, 272 at 4 shaft and 955 at 3 shaft.
http://www.goldfields.com/reports/rr_2009/tech_beatrix.php ,
1 is 913m, 3 is 1447m and 4 has a total depth (surface shaft & sub-shaft) of 2200m

Mind these are 2009 figures...

Don't look so embarrassed, it's a family trait...

wheldale
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

7 years ago

Heres some up to date info about the mine.
https://www.sibanyestillwater.com/our-business/southern-africa/gold/beatrix/overview

gNick
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

7 years ago

I love the way that it is described as a shallow to intermediate depth operation...

Don't look so embarrassed, it's a family trait...

wheldale
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

7 years ago

#10

I worked on a gold mine in SA about 20 years ago and worked about 2800m underground. 2200m isn’t really deep with regards to gold mines (but is actually quite deep!)

RAMPAGE
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

7 years ago

#11

"wheldale" wrote:
I worked on a gold mine in SA about 20 years ago and worked about 2800m underground. 2200m isn’t really deep with regards to gold mines (but is actually quite deep!)

I bet that was hot!

What were the walls like? Did you get a lot of bursts?

Beneath my steely exterior beats the heart of a dashing hero

wheldale
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

7 years ago

#12

I worked at West Driefontein gold mine. Temperatures ranged from 25-40 degrees. Hanging walls was ok, had the odd burst now and again. The nearby Kloof mine had many more bursts than we did.

sinker
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

7 years ago

#13

"wheldale" wrote:

....had the odd burst now and again.

Wall bursts, on a much slower and less violent scale, in Welsh slate mines. Oakley / Cwm DE Floor springs to mind!

Sorry, :offtopic:

Yma O Hyd....