JSE- and NYSE-listed gold miner AngloGold Ashanti reports that the body of a mining contractor at its Obuasi mine, in Ghana, was found on May 29, following a fall-of-ground incident in one of the stopes of the operation on May 18.
The body was found by mine rescue teams and a thorough investigation into the incident has been initiated, with underground mining activities remaining suspended.
While operations are on hold, AngloGold is conducting an in-depth area by area assessment of the mine design, mine schedule and ground management plans, before it will progressively release mining areas for a phased resumption in production.
The miner reports that early indications are that a geotechnical incident that was likely caused by the failure of a horizontal, or sill pillar, in one of the mine’s smaller mining stopes, had resulted in the fall of ground.