Deepest Mines Depth Comparison (Meters)
Compare the 12 deepest mines, from Mponeng at 4,000 m depth to Moab Khotsong at 3,052. Shaft depths in meters and feet with exact mine sources listed.
Visual comparison
All values
Click any row to load it as Entry A.
| Name | Value | Context | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mponeng Gold Mine Guinness deepest mine. Rock hits 60 C. | 4,000 m (13,123.4 ft) | Gauteng, South Africa, gold, active | Wikipedia deepest mines: Mponeng 4.0 km active |
| TauTona Mine Closed 2018, grouped under Mponeng. | 3,900 m (12,795.3 ft) | Carletonville, South Africa, gold | Wikipedia deepest mines: TauTona 3.9 km |
| Savuka Gold Mine Closed 2017. Pumps water for region. | 3,700 m (12,139.1 ft) | West Wits, South Africa, gold | Wikipedia deepest mines: Savuka 3.7 km |
| East Rand Mine Held depth lead before TauTona. | 3,585 m (11,761.8 ft) | South Africa, gold, closed 2008 | Wikipedia deepest mines: East Rand 3.585 km |
| Driefontein Mine GoldFields West Wits operation. | 3,420 m (11,220.5 ft) | South Africa, gold, active | Wikipedia deepest mines: Driefontein 3.420 km |
| Kusasalethu Mine Near Carletonville. | 3,388 m (11,115.5 ft) | South Africa, gold, active | Wikipedia deepest mines: Kusasalethu 3.388 km |
| Empire Mine Deepest US mine on list. | 3,355 m (11,007.2 ft) | California, USA, gold, closed 1956 | Wikipedia deepest mines: Empire 3.355 km |
| Kloof Mine West Wits gold and uranium. | 3,347 m (10,981 ft) | South Africa, gold and uranium, active | Wikipedia deepest mines: Kloof 3.347 km |
| LaRonde Mine Deepest in the Americas still active. | 3,260 m (10,695.5 ft) | Quebec, Canada, gold copper zinc silver | Wikipedia deepest mines: LaRonde 3.260 km |
| Kolar Gold Fields Mined for over a century. | 3,217 m (10,554.5 ft) | Karnataka, India, gold, closed 2001 | Wikipedia deepest mines: Kolar 3.217 km |
| Blyvooruitzicht Mine West Wits region. | 3,213 m (10,541.3 ft) | South Africa, gold uranium, active | Wikipedia deepest mines: Blyvooruitzicht 3.213 km |
| Moab Khotsong Mine Vaal River operation. | 3,052 m (10,013.1 ft) | South Africa, gold uranium, active | Wikipedia deepest mines: Moab Khotsong 3.052 km |
About this converter
Mponeng reaches 4,000 m, the only mine at four km. TauTona at 3,900 and Savuka at 3,700 follow in the same West Wits field. East Rand at 3,585 held the old lead before 2008. Driefontein at 3,420, Kusasalethu at 3,388, Empire at 3,355 and Kloof at 3,347 cluster near 3.4 km. LaRonde at 3,260 leads the Americas. Kolar at 3,217, Blyvooruitzicht at 3,213 and Moab Khotsong at 3,052 close the table. Depths measure shaft entrance to deepest dug point. Rock heat passes 60 C at the bottom, so ice slurry cools the air.
How to use it
Pick two mines and a unit in the top row. The three boxes below stay linked. Change any box and the other two update. Try Mponeng against LaRonde to see the 740 m gap. The bars below scale to Mponeng so Moab Khotsong looks shortest. Switch the unit to feet for US figures. Ratios are exact divisions of the listed depths.
Nine of 12 sit in South Africa gold fields. Empire in California closed 1956 and LaRonde in Canada and Kolar in India give non African points. TauTona closed 2018 then grouped under Mponeng Carbon Leader operations. Savuka closed 2017 but pumps water. Depths come from Wikipedia List of deepest mines with Guinness check for Mponeng at 4 km. New declines can add meters, so totals move with development.
FAQ
What is the deepest mine?
Mponeng at 4,000 m in South Africa. Guinness lists it as deepest. Rock heat hits 60 C.
How deep is TauTona?
3,900 m. It was deepest before Mponeng passed it. It now groups under Mponeng.
What is the deepest mine in the Americas?
LaRonde at 3,260 m in Canada. Empire at 3,355 in the US is deeper but closed since 1956.
Why are South African mines so deep?
Witwatersrand reefs dip steeply and run rich at over 8 grams per ton, so shafts chase them past 3 km.
Sources
- Wikipedia: List of deepest mines (Mponeng 4.0; TauTona 3.9; Savuka 3.7; East Rand 3.585; Driefontein 3.420; Kusasalethu 3.388; Empire 3.355; Kloof 3.347; LaRonde 3.260; Kolar 3.217; Blyvooruitzicht 3.213; Moab Khotsong 3.052 km)
- Guinness World Records: Deepest mine Mponeng 4 km South Africa 2012
- Mining Technology: Mponeng Gold Mine Gauteng 2,800 to 3,400 m working depth, VCR reef
- Harmony Mponeng TRS 2024: development at 3,841 m below datum, deepest mine in world
Last verified: 2026-10-09 · 12 entries
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