Deep-level gold mining Flashcards
What was required for deep-level gold mining
-New and expensive machinery that were used to sink shafts deep into the ground
What were the conditions like underground for miners
-They were more than 3km underground
-Temperatures were as hot as 60 degrees Celsius which meant miners would sweat even when they weren’t working
-The floor was wet
-Rocks would fall from the ceiling and high walls
-There was the risk of dynamite accidents
-Health problems could arise from inhaling fine dust from drilling rocks
What was a result of the discovery of gold in South Africa
-South Africa began it’s Industrial Revolution
-Things like railways were built which linked the gold mines with the harbors of Cape Town, Durban, and Port Elizabeth
What was needed to mine gold at a profit
-Investors who brought money in from other countries who hoped to profit from the mines. Diamond mine owners were also able to invest in gold mines with the money they made from diamond mines
-Important machines for sinking shafts were needed to reach the gold that was deep beneath the ground
-Ventilation equipment was needed to control the temperature and the gasses underground.
-Special pumps were needed to pump water out
