Red Letter Year for authorities to prevent mine-water catastrophe

Abstract

Acid mine drainage One of the richest goldbearing areas in the world, the Witwatersrand has, through more than a century of mining, brought unspeakable wealth to South Africa. It has also brought economic growth, infrastructure and development, all exemplified in Africa’s ‘City of Gold’ . Now this city is under threat by what has been described as one of the worst potential environmental catastrophes in the country’s history. One of the largest gold-bearing areas in the world, the Witwatersrand is around 350 km long and 200 km wide. Since gold was discovered here in 1886, it has been mined to depths of more than 3 000 mand has yielded by far the most gold ever mined in South Africa. Geologically, the Witwatersrand is sub-divided into four main geological areas, the Far Western Basin, the Western Basin, the Central Basin and the Eastern Basin. Much has been said and written about the acid mine drainage menace lurking underground, steadily rising in the catacombs of old mined-out shafts that underlie Gauteng.

Authors

Categories