(a) Method of Gold Mining in South Africa.
(i) It is underground or shaft method.
(ii) Vertical shafts or holes are dug to the level of ore-bearing rock.
(iii) Broken rocks are hauled to the surface using conveyor belts and lifts.
(iv) Horizontal tunnels are driven towards ore-bearing rocks.
(v) Holes are drilled into the ore-bearing rocks.
(vi) Holes are filled with explosives.
(vii) Rocks shattered by blasting.
(viii) Broken rocks are taken to concentrator for processing.
(b) Economic Benefits of Gold Mining to South Africa.
(i) Employs a lot of workforce
(ii) Revenue to government
(iii) Income for workers
(iv) Encourages settlement e.g. Johannesburg.
(v) Development of infrastructures.
(vi) Gold as a foreign exchange earner.
(vii) Enhances manpower development.
(viii) Stimulates development of all other sectors of the economy.
(c) Problems arising from mining.
(i) Land deterioration/degradation.
(ii) Industrial unrest
(iii) Illegal mining
(iv) Mining hazards/collapse of miners.
(v) Environmental pollution.
(vi) Illegal migrant labour
(vii) Relative neglect of other vital economic sectors.
(viii) Increasing depth of mines and comparatively higher cost of mining.