I’ve packed those wooden jenga blocks during a visit to Kusasalethu mine, which is similar to Mponeng. You can see the older blocks slowly collapsing under the persistent pressure of the hanging rock. Took about 20 minutes working with two miners, squatting in the 120cm high cut of rock leading up to the seam face. By the end of it I was soaked and exhausted.
Even more crazy when you learn that the average age on a South African hard rock mine is approaching 50. I don’t know how the drillers keep at it for a full 4 hour shift (2 hour shaft-underground train-3km hike commute to and from the main shaft entrance).
Even more crazy when you learn that the average age on a South African hard rock mine is approaching 50. I don’t know how the drillers keep at it for a full 4 hour shift (2 hour shaft-underground train-3km hike commute to and from the main shaft entrance).