Editing Mining (section)

==Records==
{{update|part=article|date=July 2022|updated=9th July 2022|inaccurate=yes|reason=Deepest mine record was just changed and might need more detail}}
{{See also|Extremes on Earth#Subterranean}}
[[File:Chuquicamata-002.jpg|thumb|right|[[Chuquicamata]], [[Chile]], site of the largest circumference and second deepest [[open-pit mining|open pit]] [[copper]] mine in the world]]
As of 2019, '''[[Mponeng Gold Mine|Mponeng]]''' is the world's deepest mine from ground level, reaching a depth of 4&nbsp;km (2.5&nbsp;mi) below ground level. The trip from the surface to the bottom of the mine takes over an hour. It is a [[gold mine]] in [[South Africa]]'s [[Gauteng]] province. Previously known as [[Western Deep Levels]] #1 Shaft, the underground and surface works were commissioned in 1987. The mine is considered to be one of the most substantial gold mines in the world.

The Moab Khutsong gold mine in [[North West Province (South Africa)]] has the world's longest winding steel wire rope, which is able to lower workers to {{convert|3054|m|ft}} in one uninterrupted four-minute journey.<ref name="Mining and minerals in South Africa">{{cite web
| title = Mining and minerals in South Africa
| url = http://www.southafrica.info/business/economy/sectors/mining.htm
| date = 8 August 2012
| publisher = SouthAfrica.info
| access-date = 13 August 2012
| archive-date = 1 December 2016
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20161201180059/http://www.southafrica.info/business/economy/sectors/mining.htm
| url-status = live
}}</ref>

The deepest mine in Europe is the 16th shaft of the uranium mines in [[Příbram]], [[Czech Republic]], at {{convert|1838|m|ft}}.<ref name="DeepestEurope">{{cite news |title=Mineral deposits: from their origin to their environmental impacts |date = January 1995|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=o-WkCSk4jbkC&q=uranium+mines+in+P%C5%99%C3%ADbram+1838&pg=PA400 |publisher= Taylor & Francis|isbn = 9789054105503}}</ref> Second is [[Bergwerk Saar]] in [[Saarland]], [[Germany]], at {{convert|1750|m|ft}}. <!-- The third deepest mine in Europe is [[Pyhäsalmi Mine]] in [[Pyhäjärvi]], [[Finland]] at 1,444 meters. Příbram has another 2 mines under 1,600|meters... The fourth deepest mine in Europe is [[Boulby Mine]] [[England]] at 1,400|meters (shaft depth 1,100|meters). --><ref>{{Cite web |last= |date=1997-07-01 |title=Ensdorf |url=https://www.yumpu.com/de/document/view/6946024/maschinen-deilmann-haniel-shaft-sinking/7 |access-date=2025-03-22 |website=yumpu.com |language=de}}</ref>

The deepest open-pit mine in the world is [[Bingham Canyon Mine]] in [[Bingham Canyon]], [[Utah]], [[United States]], at over {{convert|1200|m|ft}}. The largest and second deepest open-pit copper mine in the world is [[Chuquicamata]] in northern [[Chile]] at {{convert|900|m|ft}}, which annually produces 443,000 tons of copper and 20,000 tons of molybdenum.<ref>{{cite web|title = Chuquicamata {{!}} MINING.com|url = http://www.mining.com/chuquicamata/|access-date = 2015-06-11|date = 2012-07-17|archive-date = 2019-03-28|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20190328043745/http://www.mining.com/chuquicamata/|url-status = live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Chuquicamata's Life Underground Will Cost a Fortune, but is Likely to Pay Off for Codelco {{!}} Copper Investing News |url=http://copperinvestingnews.com/12788-chuquicamata-underground-mining-codelco-chile-open-pit.html |date=2015-04-06 |access-date=2015-06-11 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150406022110/http://copperinvestingnews.com/12788-chuquicamata-underground-mining-codelco-chile-open-pit.html |archive-date=April 6, 2015 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title = The TEX Report Ltd.|url = http://www.texreport.co.jp/xenglish/eng-genryou/201211/201211121319Mon-4.html|website = www.texreport.co.jp|access-date = 2015-06-11|archive-date = 2016-03-03|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160303214112/http://www.texreport.co.jp/xenglish/eng-genryou/201211/201211121319Mon-4.html|url-status = dead}}</ref> <!-- [[Escondida]] mine now has larger annual production -->

The deepest open-pit mine with respect to [[sea level]] is [[Tagebau Hambach]] in Germany, where the base of the pit is {{convert|299|m|ft}} below sea level.<ref>{{cite web|title=Nordrhein-Westfalen in Zahlen und Geodaten|url=https://www.bezreg-koeln.nrw.de/brk_internet/publikationen/abteilung07/pub_geobasis_nrw.pdf|access-date=2021-05-04|archive-date=2021-04-28|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210428084204/https://www.bezreg-koeln.nrw.de/brk_internet/publikationen/abteilung07/pub_geobasis_nrw.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref>

The largest underground mine is [[Kiruna Mine|Kiirunavaara Mine]] in [[Kiruna]], [[Sweden]]. With {{convert|450|km|miles}} of roads, 40 million tonnes of annually produced ore, and a depth of {{convert|1270|m|ft}}, it is also one of the most modern underground mines. The deepest borehole in the world is [[Kola Superdeep Borehole]] at {{convert|12262|m|ft}}, but this is connected to [[scientific drilling]], not mining.<ref>{{cite web|last=Piesing|first=Mark|title=The deepest hole we have ever dug|url=https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20190503-the-deepest-hole-we-have-ever-dug|access-date=2021-05-04|website=www.bbc.com|language=en}}</ref>