<P> South Africa is the world's third largest coal exporter, and much of the country's coal is used for power production . (about 40%) 77% of South Africa's energy needs are provided by coal . </P> <P> South Africa accounted for 15% of the world's gold production in 2002 and 12% in 2005, though the nation had produced as much as 30% of world output as recently as 1993 . Despite declining production, South Africa's gold exports were valued at $3.8 billion USD in 2005 . The US Geological Survey estimated in that as of 2002, South Africa held about 50% of the world's gold resources, and 38% of reserves . </P> <P> Among the nation's gold mines are two of the deepest mines in the world . The East Rand Mine, in Boksburg, extends to a depth of 3,585 metres (11,762 ft). A 4 - metre (13 ft) shallower mine is located at TauTona in Carletonville, though plans are in place to begin work on an extension to the TauTona mine, bringing the total depth to over 3,900 metres (12,800 ft) and breaking the current record by 127 feet (39 m). At these depths the temperature of the rocks is 140 ° F (60 ° C). </P> <P> The gold in the Witwatersrand Basin area was deposited in ancient river deltas, having been washed down from surrounding gold - rich greenstone belts to the north and west . Rhenium - osmium isotope studies indicates that the gold in those mineral deposits came from unusual three billion year old mantle sourced intrusions known as komatiites present in the greenstone belts . The Vredefort Dome impact which lies within the basin and the nearby Bushveld Igneous Complex are both about a billion years younger than the interpreted age of the gold . </P>

Where are the major gold mines found in south africa
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