Mining Equipment South Africa

South Africa’s mining industry is the main driving force that is behind the development and history of Africa's most rich, advanced economy. Large scale, profitable mining started when, in 1867, a diamond was discovered on the banks of the Orange River by Erasmus Jacobs. Subsequently, the Kimberley pipers were discovered and exploited a few years later. The biggest gold rushes to take place in South Africa were the Barberton Gold Rush and the Pilgrim’s Rest Gold Rush. They were precedents to the biggest discovery yet, which was the Main Reef Leader on the Langlaagte farm in 1886. After this the Witwatersrand gold field was built and developed, and is the largest gold mine to date. 
Mines in South Africa require mining equipment in order to operate. Conditions on a majority of mines in South Africa are the same as elsewhere. The only difference is in the gold mine, where the rate at which the temperature goes up with depth is as low as nine degrees Celsius per kilometre. The world average is about twenty five degrees Celsius. This makes it feasible, in South Africa, to mine to depths that are usually unattainable anywhere else in the world.
Even with all the mining equipment available, most mining is very labour intensive. Silica dust presents a continuous hazard as it can lead to silicosis, a disease where dust particles settle in the lungs. To prevent this all the dust and rock that accumulates as a result of drilling and coming loose as to be wetted at all times.
Naturally, a large majority of the mining equipment is for the ventilation requirements in underground mines. These mining equipments keep the working conditions bearable. It is however, an expensive process as the equipment circulates ventilating air at a rate of six cubic meters per second.
More mining equipment comes in the form of refrigeration, which is needed due to the large amounts of intense heat generated within mines. Refrigeration of the air is often needed in mines to keep the conditions within the mines bearable. It is also needed in platinum mines in South Africa, where the geothermal gradient is even lower. This is, once again, a piece of equipment that takes up a large amount of energy. It is yet unknown whether South African power companies can generate and supply the power needed. This is made an even bigger problem after the recent problems concerning power in South Africa, where power supplies were cut to ninety percent of previous levels, and this will last at least until the year 2012, when new power stations will be ready.
Lots of other mining equipment is needed, based on whether the mining takes place on surface or subsurface and underground levels. The metal being mined also influences the type of equipment needed. It is not only the process of mining that requires equipment, as mining equipment also involves the equipment required to clean and purify the metals that are extracted. Some examples of such equipment are washers, blasters and rock dusters. 
 
 

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