Book 24, Question 93 · Video
How deep is the deepest mine in the world?
The Mponeng gold mine in South Africa goes about 2.5 miles deep, which is about seven times taller than the CN Tower. The rock down there can be as hot as 140 degrees Fahrenheit, so the mine uses huge cooling plants and pumps ice slurry to keep workers comfortable. Elevators take the miners down in several steps.
Read the full answer →Watch on YouTubeSee the series on Amazon
What Crafty Clover says in this video
Intro
Hi there, curious minds! I'm Crafty Clover! Let's discover something amazing. How deep is the deepest mine in the world?
The Big Idea
The deepest mine in the world goes down about 2.5 miles! It is a gold mine in South Africa. Let's ride down!
Mponeng Mine
Step one: Mponeng Mine. The Mponeng gold mine in South Africa goes about 2.5 miles deep. That is about seven times taller than the CN Tower.
Hot Rock
Step two: Hot Rock. The rock down there can be as hot as 140 degrees Fahrenheit. So the mine uses huge cooling plants and pumps icy slurry to keep workers comfortable.
Going Down
Step three: Going Down. Elevators take the miners down in several steps. It takes about an hour to reach the bottom.
A Closer Look
Let's take a closer look! Elevators go down in steps. The rock is hot. Ice slurry cools the air. Miners dig for gold.
Quick Facts
Quick facts! It takes about an hour to reach the bottom. The mine is about seven CN Towers deep. Icy slurry is pumped down to cool the tunnels. Workers need cool air to stay safe so deep down.
Think Like a Scientist
Now, think like a scientist! The CN Tower is 1,815 feet tall. The mine is about 13,200 feet deep. Divide 13,200 by 1,815. How many CN Towers stack up to equal the mine? Check your answer with a grown-up.
Outro
The deepest mine in the world is the Mponeng gold mine in South Africa, about 2.5 miles deep, where the hot rock needs huge cooling systems and the trip down takes about an hour. Science is amazing! Remember, every big discovery starts with a small question. Keep looking, keep learning, and keep asking why! Crafty Clover can be found on Amazon Books, Google Bookstore, and Apple Books. Available for purchase or download! Bye for now!