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South Africa gold mine: About 950 workers trapped [stranded] underground
BBC ^

Posted on 02/01/2018 10:21:57 AM PST by BenLurkin

[A] storm caused a power cut and blocked their way out. Without electricity, the lifts could not bring night shift workers to the surface, but they "appear to be fine", a spokesman for their employer said.

He said about 65 miners have so far been rescued and all are accounted for.

South Africa is a leading gold producer, but the industry has often been accused of a poor safety record. The Beatrix mine is in Welkom town, about 290km (180 miles) south-west of Johannesburg. It is owned by Sibanye-Stillwater mining firm.

It has 23 levels, going down to 1,000 metres (3,280 ft) below ground.

(Excerpt) Read more at bbc.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy
KEYWORDS: batrix; beatrix; beatrixmine; commodities; gold; goldbugs; goldmine; goldmining; johannesburg; southafrica; welkomtown

1 posted on 02/01/2018 10:21:57 AM PST by BenLurkin
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To: BenLurkin

Praying for safety of All and Their Families.


2 posted on 02/01/2018 10:25:06 AM PST by mabarker1 (Progress- the opposite of congressl)
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To: BenLurkin
It has 23 levels, going down to 1,000 metres (3,280 ft) below ground.

Wow! I'm reminded of that "Star Trek" episode, "The Devil in the Dark".

SPOCK: Mister Vanderberg, may I ask at which level you discovered the nodules of silicon?
VANDERBERG: The twenty-third. Why?
Commander Giotto, take your detail. Go directly to the twenty-third level. Start your search there.
GIOTTO: Aye, aye, sir. May I ask if you have reason to suspect this creature may be on that level?
KIRK: It's one of the possibilities we've discussed. (to Vanderberg) I want your people to stay on the top level, together at a safe place.
VANDERBERG: I don't know any safe place, Captain, the way that thing comes and goes.
KIRK: Well, gentlemen, you have your instructions. Let's get at it.

3 posted on 02/01/2018 10:29:11 AM PST by Flick Lives
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To: BenLurkin

They don’t have backup generators?


4 posted on 02/01/2018 10:40:58 AM PST by jaydubya2
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To: BenLurkin

Guess the company never heard of generators.

Since the workers are ok, then they can get in an extra shift of work.


5 posted on 02/01/2018 10:41:56 AM PST by bgill (CDC site, "We don't know how people are infected with Ebola.")
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To: bgill

Plot for “Gold” sequel.


6 posted on 02/01/2018 10:43:30 AM PST by wally_bert (I didn't get where I am today by selling ice cream tasting of bookends, pumice stone & West Germany)
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To: BenLurkin

I don’t know which is worse... being a thousand feet above ground level, or a thousand feet below.


7 posted on 02/01/2018 10:47:01 AM PST by E. Pluribus Unum (<img src="http://i.imgur.com/WukZwJP.gif" width=800>)
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To: BenLurkin

I lived in SA for several years in the mid 80’s. Don’t recall which mining company it was but several miners thought they would sneak away unnoticed and catch a few ZZ’s in inoperative elevator car.
The one they picked was slated for what was called a free fall brake test.....the car could be remotely controlled and apparantly the car was dropped 1000ft and the brakes applied, raised up and dropped again.
By the time all the screaming was heard they said the African miners had turned white.


8 posted on 02/01/2018 10:48:59 AM PST by stationkeeper
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To: BenLurkin

No backup generator??


9 posted on 02/01/2018 11:03:33 AM PST by JimSEA
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