Buffelsfontein mine
| Location | |
|---|---|
Buffelsfontein mine Buffelsfontein mine | |
| Location | Stilfontein |
| Province | North West |
| Country | South Africa |
| Coordinates | 26°54′22″S 26°48′22″E / 26.906°S 26.806°E |
| Production | |
| Products | Gold |
| History | |
| Closed | 2013 |
| Owner | |
| Company | Simmer & Jack Mines |
The Buffelsfontein mine was one of the largest gold mines in South Africa and in the world.[1] The mine is located in the North West Province, south of Stilfontein and south-east of Klerksdorp.[2] The mine had estimated reserves of 11.02 million oz of gold.[1]
Trapped miners incident
The mine ceased operations in 2013. After its closure, it became a site for illicit mining activity, with zama zamas attempting to extract remaining gold deposits in the abandoned shafts.[3] In late 2024, hundreds of zama zamas became trapped in disused mine shafts at the mine[4][5] after law enforcement blocked key exit shafts, trapping miners underground. Several dozen miners died of starvation and dehydration before their rescue in January 2025.[6]
References
- ^ a b "Buffelsfontein Gold Mine, South Africa". mining-technology.com. 2013. Retrieved 2013-06-18.
- ^ "Buffelsfontein Gold Mine Near Klerksdorp, South Africa". The Diggings™. Retrieved 2025-01-31.
- ^ "South Africa police vow to arrest illegal miners at Stilfontein". BBC. 17 November 2024.
- ^ "South Africa's police minister promises to clamp down on illegal mining". Al Jazeera. 29 November 2024.
- ^ "Trapped below: South Africa's illegal mining crisis". The Africa Report. 2 December 2024.
- ^ https://www.lrb.co.uk/the-paper/v47/n04/helen-sullivan/diary