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South African mining
Mines in South Africa
561 mines, the world's number one platinum producer and a top global source of coal, gold and diamonds. AMIQ maps every one of these mines in South Africa, the commodity it works and the verified owner behind it.
Subscribe to unlock each mine's phase, owner and the procurement contacts who sign the cheques.
The picture in numbers
A mineral-rich country, mapped mine by mine
As of January 2025 there are 561 mines in South Africa, every one of them listed on the AMIQ platform. The country is exceptionally mineral-rich: it is the world's largest producer of platinum, and ranks third for coal, sixth for gold and seventh for diamonds. That breadth gives local and international investors a wide field to work, and these mines are held by 174 mine owners whose verified contacts open to subscribers.
What gets mined
Minerals mined in South Africa
Twenty-six different minerals are worked across the country's mines. Coal leads by a wide margin, followed by the platinum group metals and gold. The major commodities link through to their own pages.
South African mines by mineral
Number of mines worked for each mineral, sorted highest to lowest. Source: AMIQ platform, January 2025.
Where the work is going
Operational versus in development, by commodity
Across the main commodities, a large share of mines sit in development rather than full production, a forward pipeline that matters to anyone planning to supply or invest. Each bar splits running mines from those still being brought on.
Operational and in-development mines by commodity
Mine counts split between operational and in development. Source: AMIQ platform.
From first drill to closure
Mines by lifecycle phase
Every mine sits somewhere on a path from a grassroots prospect to a fully operational, then eventually closed, operation. The bulk are operational, but a long tail of dormant and earlier-phase projects holds the next wave of work.
South African mines by phase
Mine count at each lifecycle phase. L/R = liquidation or restructuring. Source: AMIQ platform.
See every mine's phase, owner and contacts
Unlock the verified owner and procurement contacts behind each South African mine, plus where it sits in its lifecycle.
How they are worked
Mining types across South Africa's mines
South African mines split fairly evenly between surface and underground operations, with a sizeable industrial-minerals group and a smaller set working both surface and underground at once.
Mines by working method
Count of classified mines by mining type. Source: AMIQ platform.
Among the deepest on Earth
The 6 deepest mines in South Africa
Six of the ten deepest mines in the world are in South Africa, all of them gold operations on the Witwatersrand. Mponeng reaches almost four kilometres below surface, an engineering feat matched in few places anywhere.
Depth of South Africa's six deepest mines
Working depth below surface, with the mine owner. Source: AMIQ platform.
Worked from surface
6 biggest open-cast mines in South Africa
Not every South African mine goes deep. Some of the country's best-known operations are vast open pits, several of them record holders on a global scale.
Kimberley Mine (Big Hole)
One of the largest hand-excavated holes in the world, and the diamond rush that put South African mining on the map.
Palabora Mine
Supplies most of South Africa's copper, a single complex carrying the bulk of national copper output.
Venetia Diamond Mine
The largest diamond producer in South Africa, transitioning from open pit to an extensive underground operation.
Jagersfontein Mine
The deepest hand-excavated hole in the world, a historic diamond pit dug entirely by hand.
Mogalakwena
Built around five open pits, one of the country's marquee platinum group metals complexes.
Sishen Mine
Holds one of the largest iron-ore reserves in the world, anchoring South Africa's iron-ore exports.
Quick links
Explore mining in South Africa
Jump straight to the commodities, companies and regions behind the country's mines.
What AMIQ gives you
From a mine on this page to the buyer who signs off
AMIQ tracks more than 2,200 mining projects with real-time intelligence, used by subscribers across the industry. Here is what a subscription opens against the mines on this page.
Every mine, with its phase
Each operation tracked from grassroots through execution to a running mine, so your outreach lands while a specification is still open.
Verified owners and contacts
More than 740 verified mine-owner contacts across 600-plus owners, checked and refreshed, unlocked the moment you subscribe.
Daily capital-value estimates
Daily estimates of project capital value plus alerts when a mine moves phase, so you can size and time the opportunity.
Built for your whole team
Multi-user access, a built-in currency converter and search filters that turn 561 mines into a shortlist you can act on.
Project IQ is enabling Cementation Africa to track and follow mining projects progress from Grassroots to Bankable stages throughout Africa.
Reach the owners behind South Africa's mines
Phases, owners and verified buyer contacts for the 561 mines in South Africa, brought together in one subscription.
Go deeper
Common questions
Mines in South Africa: questions answered
How many mines are there in South Africa?
As of January 2025 there are 561 mines in South Africa, all listed on the AMIQ platform. They span 26 minerals and are held by 174 mine owners, ranging from major producers to single-asset operators.
What minerals are mined in South Africa?
Coal leads with 135 mines, followed by the platinum group metals with 97 and gold with 90. After those come industrial minerals, diamonds, iron ore, manganese and chrome, with smaller numbers working copper, nickel, uranium, vanadium, lithium and more, 26 minerals in all.
Where does South Africa rank in world mineral production?
South Africa is the world's largest producer of platinum, and ranks third for coal, sixth for gold and seventh for diamonds. That diverse mineral profile is a large part of why suppliers and investors track the country's mines so closely.
What is the deepest mine in South Africa?
Mponeng Gold Mine, owned by AngloGold Ashanti, is the deepest at about 3,840 metres below surface. Six of the world's ten deepest mines are South African gold operations, including Driefontein, Kusasalethu, Moab Khotsong, South Deep and Kopanang.
How can suppliers find and reach South African mines?
Use the AMIQ platform. It holds each mine's commodity, phase and owner, plus verified contacts for the buyers who approve spend. Suppliers and investors can filter the 561 mines to a shortlist and approach the right people while projects are still being shaped.
