This list of deepest mines includes operational and non-operational mines that are at least 2,212 m (7,257 ft), which is the depth of Veryovkina Cave, the deepest known natural cave in the world. The depth measurements in this list represent the difference in elevation from the entrance of the mine to the deepest excavated point.
The definition of mine for this list is an artificially made excavation for the purpose of extracting resources, that can potentially be accessed by humans.
| Rank | Name of mine | Depth | Location | Primary resource | Active / closed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mponeng Gold Mine | 4.0 km (2.5 mi) |  South Africa |
Gold[1] | Active |
| 2 | TauTona Mine | 3.9 km (2.4 mi) | South Africa |
Gold[1] | Closed 2018[2] |
| 3 | Savuka Gold Mine | 3.7 km (2.3 mi) | South Africa |
Gold[1] | Closed 2017[3] |
| 4 | East Rand Mine | 3.585 km (2.228 mi)[4] | South Africa |
Gold | Closed 2008[2] |
| 5 | Driefontein Mine | 3.420 km (2.125 mi)[5] | South Africa |
Gold[1] | Active |
| 6 | Kusasalethu mine | 3.388 km (2.105 mi)[6] | South Africa |
Gold[1] | Active |
| 7 | Empire Mine | 3.355 km (2.085 mi) |  United States |
Gold[7] | Closed 1956 |
| 8 | Kloof mine | 3.347 km (2.080 mi)[8] | South Africa |
Gold, uranium | Active |
| 9 | Kolar Gold Fields | 3.217 km (1.999 mi) |  India |
Gold[1] | Closed 2001 |
| 10 | Blyvooruitzicht mine | 3.213 km (1.996 mi)[9] | South Africa |
Gold, uranium | Active |
| 11 | Moab Khotsong mine | 3.052 km (1.896 mi)[10] | South Africa |
Gold, uranium[1] | Active |
| 12 | Kidd Mine | 3.014 km (1.873 mi)[11] |  Canada |
Copper, zinc[1] | Active |
| 13 | Laronde Mine | 3.008 km (1.869 mi)[12] | Canada |
Gold, copper, silver, zinc[1] | Active |
| 14 | Morro Velho | 3.0 km (1.9 mi) |  Brazil |
Gold | Active |
| 15 | South Deep mine | 2.99 km (1.86 mi) | South Africa |
Gold[1] | Active |
| 16 | Target 1 Mine | 2.945 km (1.830 mi)[13] | South Africa |
Gold | Active |
| 17 | Homestake Mine | 2.438 km (1.515 mi) | United States |
Gold | Closed 2002 |
| 18 | Phakisa Mine | 2.426 km (1.507 mi)[14] | South Africa |
Gold | Active |
| 19 | Great Noligwa Gold Mine | 2.4 km (1.5 mi)[15] | South Africa |
Gold[1] | Closed |
| 20 | Creighton Mine | 2.39 km (1.49 mi)[16] | Canada |
Nickel[1] | Active |
| 21 | Bambanani Mine | 2.365 km (1.470 mi)[17] | South Africa |
Gold | Active |
| 22 | Tshepong Mine | 2.349 km (1.460 mi)[18] | South Africa |
Gold, uranium | Active |
| 23 | Kopanang mine | 2.334 km (1.450 mi)[19] | South Africa |
Gold, uranium | Active |
See also[edit]
- List of deepest caves
- List of longest tunnels
- List of largest mining companies by revenue
- List of mines
- List of mines in South Africa
- List of mining companies
- Extreme points of Earth
References[edit]
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Duddu, Praveen (11 September 2013). "The top ten deepest mines in the world - Mining Technology". Mining Technology. Verdict Media Limited. Retrieved 10 September 2018.
- ^ a b "2018".
- ^ "Savuka Gold Mine". Wikimapia. Retrieved 26 February 2023.
- ^ "TauTona Gold Mine, Anglo Gold, South Africa".
- ^ "Gold Fields Ltd Gold Mine - Driefontein - South Africa".
- ^ Kusasalethu mine harmony.co.za [dead link]
- ^ "California's gold history lives in Empire Mine State Historic Park" (PDF). parks.ca.gov. State of California. Retrieved 27 November 2018.
- ^ "Kloof".
- ^ "Blyvoor Gold Mine".
- ^ Khotsong mine harmony.co.za [dead link]
- ^ "Home - Home | KDD Operations".
- ^ "Agnico Eagle Mines Limited - Operations - Operations - LaRonde Complex".
- ^ "Major Mines & Projects | Target 1 Mine".
- ^ "Major Mines & Projects | Phakisa Mine".
- ^ "Great Noligwa Gold Mine, South Africa".
- ^ "Viewpoint Mining Magazine - Vale Inco's Creighton mine: Digging deeper by the day".
- ^ "Major Mines & Projects | Bambanani Mine".
- ^ "Major Mines & Projects | Tshepong Mine".
- ^ "Major Mines & Projects | Kopanang Mine".