East Rand Proprietary Mines (ERPM) is a 125-year-old underground gold mining operation on the Witwatersrand Basin at Boksburg, to the east of Johannesburg. The mine employed 3,850 people. It was the deepest mine in the world until 2008 at 3,585 metres, slightly more than the TauTona mine, also in South Africa, which was 3,581 metres at the time (in 2008 the TauTona mine completed a digging project that extended the depth of the mine by several hundred metres.)
The mine closed in 2008. Historical gold production between 1896 and 2008 was recovered gold grade of 8.1g/t (95% plant recovery).
High grade gold deposits remain with existing in situ resources (SAMREC compliant) of , including; - Measured & Indicated resource of at 6.7g/t. - Inferred resources of at 4.92 g/t.
The Cason mine dump was once the world's highest man made hills. This dump is currently being recycled. It is now a shadow of its former self and will probably disappear in the future.
Production Recent production figures:ERPM DRD Gold website, accessed: 29 September 2009 Year Production Cost per ounce 2007 80,216 ounces US $641 2008 79,479 ounces US $748
History
The ERPM engineered many mining techniques which are still in place today, including "Long Wall Mining". The mine also built the world's largest ice factory which produced up to 8,000 t of ice daily to cool wall rock temperatures of 50-60 degrees Celsius.
The mine was acquired by private Malaysian mining company OroTree OroTree Limited on 26 February 2019.
References
Tucker, Rodney & Viljoen, Richard & J. Viljoen, Morris. (2016). A Review of the Witwatersrand Basin - The World's Greatest Goldfield. Episodes. 39. 105. 10.18814/epiiugs/2016/v39i2/95771.
External links
Details from NGD Iran InfoMine listing
OroTree acquires ERPM GOLD MINE Malaysian Explorer acquires ERPM Gold Mine