1. Why South African Gold Mines? The Ultra-Deep Context

No other mining region in the world routinely suspends shaft cables at the depths required by South African gold operations. Canadian mines in Sudbury and Timmins rarely exceed 2,500 m. Australian mines in the Kalgoorlie and Olympic Dam districts operate predominantly below 2,000 m. Chilean copper mines, while deep by regional standards, access ore bodies primarily through decline tunnels rather than vertical shafts. The Witwatersrand Basin is geologically unique — the gold-bearing reef dips at a shallow angle from surface outcrop, requiring successively deeper vertical shafts to access ore reserves that extend kilometers below the point of economic intersection.

The consequences of cable failure in an ultra-deep shaft are severe. A cable that parts under its own weight falls thousands of meters at terminal velocity, destroying shaft steelwork, damaging guide rails, and creating a safety hazard that can shut down a shaft for weeks. The economic cost of shaft downtime at a Witwatersrand gold mine — where the shaft is the sole access point for thousands of underground workers and millions of tonnes of ore per year — can exceed ZAR 10–20 million per day. The engineering calculation presented in this guide is not an academic exercise; it is a critical safety verification that every shaft cable installation must undergo before energization.

南非维特沃特斯兰德盆地拥有地球上最深的运营矿山——Mponeng 矿深 3,800 m、South Deep 矿深 3,000 m、Driefontein 矿深 3,400 m。在这些深度下，11kV 3×120mm² 中压竖井电缆的自重约 13–17 kg/m，在悬挂点处对铠装钢丝施加超过 400 kN 的拉力。只有 SANS 1507 Type 9 双铠装（DWA）结构才能提供足够的承载能力。竖井电缆断裂的后果极其严重——经济损失可达每天 1,000–2,000 万兰特——本指南提供的工程计算框架是每次竖井电缆安装送电前必须完成的关键安全验证。

2. What Is SANS 1507 and What Does “Type 9” Mean?

SANS 1507 (South African National Standard 1507, formerly SABS 1507) is the South African national standard for electric cables with extruded solid dielectric insulation for fixed installations. Part 3 of SANS 1507 specifically covers medium-voltage cables rated 3.8/6.6 kV to 19/33 kV — the part that governs mine shaft cables at 11 kV (designated 6.35/11 kV in the U₀/U notation). The standard is administered by the South African Bureau of Standards (SABS) and is mandatory for all cables installed in South African mines under the Mine Health and Safety Act (MHSA), Act 29 of 1996.

SANS 1507 uses a Type numbering system (Type 1 through Type 9) to classify cables by their armour construction, with higher Type numbers indicating heavier mechanical protection and greater tensile load-bearing capacity. The system is designed so that mine engineers can specify the appropriate armour class for the installation environment — from Type 3 (steel tape armour for surface installations with minimal mechanical risk) through Type 9 (double wire armour for the deepest shaft suspensions).

Why is there no Type 8? In the SANS 1507 system, the Type numbering is not strictly sequential — Type 8 was historically reserved for a specific flat-wire armour construction that was eventually superseded and withdrawn from the standard. Type 9 DWA has been the maximum armour designation since the standard’s consolidation, and it represents the heaviest armour construction specified by any cable standard in the world for vertical shaft suspension.

The “double wire armoured” designation means the cable has two separate layers of round galvanized steel wires wound in opposite helical directions (contrahelical winding). The inner layer is wound right-hand (Z-lay), the outer layer left-hand (S-lay), or vice versa. This contrahelical arrangement serves two critical purposes: it doubles the total armour cross-sectional area available to carry tensile load, and it balances the torsional forces that a single-direction winding would impose on the cable — preventing the cable from untwisting under its own weight during shaft suspension.

SANS 1507（南非国家标准 1507）第3部分规定了 3.8/6.6 kV 至 19/33 kV 中压电缆——包括 11 kV（6.35/11 kV）矿用竖井电缆。Type 9 是该标准中最重的铠装等级：双层镀锌钢丝铠装（DWA），两层钢丝以相反的螺旋方向缠绕（反向绞合），既将铠装截面积加倍以承载拉力，又平衡了单向缠绕会产生的扭转力——防止电缆在竖井悬挂时因自重而解捻。

3. Type 9 11kV 3×120mm² DWA Shaft Cable — Construction Breakdown

The construction of a Type 9 11kV 3×120mm² DWA shaft cable is a multi-layer engineering system where every component serves a specific electrical or mechanical function. Understanding each layer is prerequisite to the suspension depth calculation, because the mass contribution of every layer determines the cable’s self-weight — the dominant force in the suspension analysis.

Overall cable diameter: A typical Type 9 11kV 3×120mm² DWA shaft cable has an overall diameter of approximately 65–75 mm, depending on the specific manufacturer’s construction tolerances and armour wire count. The cable mass is approximately 14–17 kg/m — of which the two armour layers contribute approximately 6–8 kg/m (roughly 40–50% of total cable mass). This means that close to half of the weight that the armour must support is the weight of the armour itself — a self-referential engineering constraint that fundamentally limits the maximum suspension depth regardless of armour steel grade.

Type 9 11kV 3×120mm² DWA 竖井电缆外径约 65–75 mm，线重约 14–17 kg/m——其中双层铠装贡献约 6–8 kg/m（占总重量的 40–50%）。在超深竖井中，铠装主要在承载自身重量：3,000 m 深度、15 kg/m 线重时，悬挂总重 = 45,000 kg = 441 kN，其中铠装自重约 21,000 kg = 206 kN（占总载荷的 47%）。这一自参照约束从根本上限制了最大悬挂深度。

4. Cable Self-Weight: The Fundamental Limiting Factor

The maximum suspension depth of any shaft cable is governed by a simple physical reality: the cable must support its own weight. Unlike a bridge cable or a hoisting rope — which supports an external load — a shaft cable is a gravity-loaded structure where the load is the structure. The tensile force at the top suspension point equals the total mass of cable hanging below it, multiplied by gravitational acceleration.

For a Type 9 11kV 3×120mm² cable with a typical mass of 15.5 kg/m, the tensile force at the suspension point increases linearly with depth:

The linearity of this relationship is deceptive in its simplicity. At 1,000 m, the force is 152 kN — well within the armour capacity. At 3,000 m, the force has tripled to 456 kN — approaching or exceeding the factored capacity of many Type 9 constructions. The cable does not “feel heavier per meter” at depth — each meter contributes the same 15.5 kg — but the cumulative effect at the top is relentless and unforgiving.

5. Armour Wire Tensile Capacity: The Load-Bearing Calculation

The tensile load at the cable suspension point must be carried entirely by the two layers of galvanized steel armour wires. Neither the copper conductors, nor the EPR insulation, nor the PCP bedding and serving contribute meaningfully to tensile strength — these components are either too ductile (copper), too weak (EPR, PCP), or not mechanically connected to the suspension clamp. The armour wires are the sole structural members in the suspension system.

Armour Wire Properties

SANS 1507 Part 3 specifies galvanized steel wire armour conforming to SANS 1507-1 Annex F (or the equivalent IEC 60502-2 requirements referencing IEC 60888 for galvanized steel wires). The standard permits two grades of galvanized steel wire:

Total Armour Tensile Capacity

The total armour tensile capacity is the sum of the individual wire UTS values across both armour layers. For a Type 9 11kV 3×120mm² cable with a typical overall diameter under the inner armour of ~55 mm:

These are the ultimate tensile strengths — the theoretical maximum forces at which the armour wires would break in a standard tensile test. They are not the permissible working loads. The safety factor and environmental corrections discussed in Sections 6, 8, and 9 reduce the permissible working load to a fraction of the UTS.

6. The Maximum Suspension Depth Formula

F_armour is the combined ultimate tensile strength of all armour wires in both layers, as calculated in Section 5. This is the cable’s theoretical breaking force under pure axial tension.

cos α corrects for the fact that armour wires are not parallel to the cable axis — they are helically wound at an angle α (the lay angle). Only the component of wire tension parallel to the cable axis contributes to supporting the suspended weight. A lay angle of 15° gives cos 15° = 0.966; a lay angle of 20° gives cos 20° = 0.940. This correction is often overlooked in preliminary calculations but represents a 3–6% reduction in effective tensile capacity — significant at the margins of ultra-deep suspension.

SF is the safety factor. South African mining practice, guided by MHSA regulations and the recommendations of the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy (DMRE), universally applies a safety factor of 5 for shaft cable suspension. This factor accounts for material variability, manufacturing tolerances, in-service degradation (corrosion, fatigue), dynamic loading not captured in the static calculation, and the catastrophic consequences of failure. Some operators specify SF = 6 or higher for particularly critical installations.

K_env accounts for the environmental loads discussed in Section 10: shaft water running along the cable surface (adding parasitic weight), ventilation wind pressure (imposing lateral and drag forces on the cable), dynamic shock from skip and cage operations (imposing transient tensile spikes), and long-term corrosion allowance. Typical values range from 1.05 (dry, low-traffic shaft) to 1.15 (wet, high-traffic main production shaft).

最大悬挂深度公式：D_max = (F_armour × cos α) / (W × g × SF × K_env)。F_armour 是双层所有铠装钢丝的总极限抗拉强度；cos α 修正铠装捻角（15°–20°）导致的有效分力损失（3–6%）；SF = 5 是南非 MHSA 监管下的行业通用安全系数；K_env（1.05–1.15）涵盖竖井涌水、通风风压、提升动态冲击和长期腐蚀裕度。

7. Worked Example: Type 9 11kV 3×120mm² at Mponeng-Class Depth

The following worked example calculates the maximum permissible free-hanging suspension depth for a representative Type 9 11kV 3×120mm² DWA shaft cable using both standard-grade and high-tensile-grade armour wire.

Calculation — Standard Grade Armour (1,230 N/mm²)

Calculation — High-Tensile Grade Armour (1,570 N/mm²)

计算结果表明：即使使用高强度铠装钢丝（1,570 N/mm²），Type 9 11kV 3×120mm² 电缆的最大自由悬挂深度约为 1,307 m（SF=5，K_env=1.10）——远未达到维特沃特斯兰德超深金矿所需的 2,500–3,800 m。标准钢丝（1,230 N/mm²）下更是仅约 1,024 m。结论明确：任何 Type 9 11kV 3×120mm² 电缆都无法以单段自由悬挂方式到达 Mponeng 级别的深度——中间悬挂支架是强制性的。

8. Armour Lay Angle Correction — Why cos α Matters

Armour wires are not wound parallel to the cable axis. They follow a helical path around the cable circumference at a lay angle α measured from the cable axis. When the cable is loaded in pure axial tension — as in shaft suspension — only the component of wire tension parallel to the cable axis contributes to supporting the load. The effective axial strength of each wire is reduced by the factor cos α.

The practical range of armour lay angles for Type 9 shaft cables is 15°–20°. A shorter lay (lower angle) provides better axial load efficiency but makes the cable stiffer in bending — which can be problematic during installation through shaft headgear sheaves and intermediate deflection points. A longer lay (higher angle) improves flexibility but sacrifices axial capacity. The choice of lay angle is an engineering compromise made by the cable manufacturer, and the specific value should be obtained from the manufacturer’s datasheet for accurate suspension calculations.

An additional effect of lay angle is torque generation under load. A single layer of helically wound armour generates a torque proportional to the axial load and the sine of the lay angle. In DWA construction, the contrahelical winding of inner and outer layers largely cancels this torque — but only if the two layers carry equal shares of the tensile load. Manufacturing variations in wire count, wire diameter, and lay length between inner and outer layers can produce a residual torque imbalance that causes the cable to slowly rotate under load. In ultra-deep shafts, even small rotations accumulate over thousands of meters and can cause tangling with adjacent cables or guide ropes. Careful matching of inner and outer armour parameters during manufacture is essential.

9. MHSA Safety Factors and Regulatory Requirements

The Mine Health and Safety Act (MHSA), Act 29 of 1996, is the primary legislation governing mine safety in South Africa. Chapter 8 of the MHSA and its associated regulations (particularly the regulations relating to electrical machinery in mines) require that all electrical installations in mines — including shaft cables — be designed, installed, and maintained to ensure the safety of persons. The DMRE (Department of Mineral Resources and Energy) publishes guidelines and enforces compliance through the mine inspectorate.

While the MHSA does not prescribe a specific numerical safety factor for shaft cable suspension in statutory text, the universally adopted industry practice — endorsed by DMRE inspectors, mining houses’ chief engineers, and cable manufacturers — is a safety factor of 5 applied to the ultimate tensile strength of the armour wires. This factor of 5 is consistent with the safety factors used for other gravity-loaded structures in South African mines (hoisting ropes, headgear steelwork, shaft steelwork) and has been validated by decades of operational experience.

10. Shaft Environmental Loads: Water, Wind, and Dynamic Shock

The K_env factor in the suspension depth formula accounts for environmental loads that increase the effective tensile stress on the armour beyond the simple static self-weight calculation. In South African gold mine shafts — which are among the wettest, hottest, and most heavily trafficked mine shafts in the world — these environmental loads are not negligible.

Water Loading

Witwatersrand gold mines intersect multiple water-bearing formations (aquifers) as shafts pass through the dolomite, quartzite, and shale strata overlying the gold-bearing reef. Shaft water inflows of 5–50 litres per second are common, with some shafts experiencing inflows exceeding 100 l/s during wet seasons. This water runs down the shaft walls and along any surface it encounters — including shaft cables. The water film adds parasitic weight to the cable and, more importantly, imposes a hydrodynamic drag force on the cable that manifests as an additional axial load component.

The additional mass from water adhering to and flowing along a 70 mm diameter cable is relatively small — approximately 0.1–0.3 kg/m — but over 2,000–3,000 m of shaft depth, this adds 200–900 kg of additional suspended mass. More significant is the corrosion effect: shaft water in Witwatersrand mines is typically acidic (pH 3.5–5.5) due to oxidation of pyrite in the reef strata, and contains dissolved salts (predominantly sulfates and chlorides) that aggressively attack the zinc coating on galvanized armour wires. Over a 20–25 year cable service life, corrosion can reduce the effective armour cross-section by 5–15%, directly reducing the cable’s suspension capacity.

Ventilation Wind Loading

Deep South African mines require massive ventilation systems to manage the heat load from virgin rock temperatures that reach 60–70°C at 3,500–4,000 m depth. Main ventilation shafts carry air velocities of 8–15 m/s (30–55 km/h), with some downcast shafts designed for velocities exceeding 20 m/s. This air flow imposes a lateral drag force on shaft cables that translates into an additional tensile component at the cable’s suspension point — particularly for cables installed in the main ventilation compartment of the shaft.

The drag force per unit length on a cylindrical cable in cross-flow is given by:

At 7.26 N/m over 3,000 m, the total lateral wind force is 21.8 kN. While this lateral force does not directly add to the axial tension, it causes the cable to deflect laterally, increasing the effective cable length and creating a catenary-type loading pattern that does increase the axial tension at the top suspension point. The effect is typically 1–3% additional axial load, captured within the K_env factor.

Dynamic Shock from Skip and Cage Operations

Mine shafts are not static environments. Skips (ore hoisting containers) and cages (man-riding conveyances) traverse the shaft at speeds of 12–18 m/s, creating air pressure waves and turbulence as they pass. When a skip passes a shaft cable at close range, the resulting pressure pulse imposes a transient lateral force on the cable that can cause the cable to oscillate — a phenomenon called skip-induced cable whip. In extreme cases, repeated cable whip can cause fatigue failure of individual armour wires at the suspension clamp, progressively reducing the cable’s tensile capacity.

The magnitude of skip-induced loading depends on the clearance between the skip and the cable, the skip speed, and the skip cross-sectional area relative to the shaft cross-sectional area (the “blockage ratio”). In well-designed shaft installations, cables are routed in dedicated cable compartments separated from the hoisting compartments by shaft steelwork, and skip-induced loading is minimal (K_env contribution < 1.02). In older shafts where cables share compartments with hoisting equipment, the K_env contribution can reach 1.05–1.10.

11. Thermal Derating at Depth: Virgin Rock Temperature Effects

The Witwatersrand Basin has a geothermal gradient of approximately 10–12°C per kilometer of depth, with surface temperatures averaging 15–20°C. This produces the following virgin rock temperatures at typical mining depths:

EPR insulation is rated for 90°C continuous conductor temperature. With an ambient temperature of 40°C at 3,500 m depth, the permissible temperature rise is reduced from 65°C (at a standard 25°C ambient) to 50°C — a reduction of 23%. Per IEC 60502-2, the current-carrying capacity derating factor at 40°C ambient is approximately 0.87, meaning the cable can carry only 87% of its rated current at this depth. For the 3×120mm² cable rated at approximately 270 A in free air at 25°C, this reduces the permissible current to approximately 235 A at 3,500 m depth.

The thermal effect does not directly change the maximum suspension depth — the armour wire tensile strength is not significantly affected by temperatures below 100°C — but it does affect the cable selection process. If the derated current at depth is insufficient for the connected load, a larger conductor cross-section must be selected, which increases the cable mass and further reduces the maximum suspension depth. This creates a compounding constraint: deeper shafts need larger cables (for thermal derating) that are heavier (reducing suspension depth) that need more armour (adding more weight). This spiral is why ultra-deep mining is so technically challenging for electrical infrastructure.

12. Intermediate Suspension and Bracket Engineering

Since no Type 9 11kV 3×120mm² cable can achieve a free-hanging suspension depth beyond approximately 1,300 m (with SF = 5), all deep South African gold mine shafts use intermediate suspension — a system of brackets, clamps, and support structures installed at station levels (typically every 50–200 vertical meters) that transfer the cable’s weight to the shaft steelwork at multiple points along the shaft depth.

How intermediate suspension works: The cable is clamped to a steel bracket at each station level using a purpose-designed suspension clamp that grips the cable’s outer armour layer. The clamp is bolted to the shaft steelwork (buntons, sets, or dedicated cable brackets). Each clamp supports only the weight of cable between itself and the next clamp below it — not the entire cable weight below. This distributes the total cable weight across dozens of support points, with each individual clamp carrying only 50–200 m worth of cable weight.

Suspension clamp design is critical. The clamp must grip the cable firmly enough to support its share of the cable weight without crushing the outer armour layer, the PCP outer serving, or the underlying cable cores. Over-tightening causes localized armour wire deformation that initiates fatigue cracking; under-tightening causes the cable to slip through the clamp. Modern suspension clamps use profiled jaws with controlled torque bolting and a neoprene liner to distribute the clamping force uniformly around the cable circumference.

Station cable loops: At each station level where the cable provides a power offtake (a connection to station switchgear), a horizontal cable loop is formed in the shaft cable chamber. This loop serves two purposes: it provides mechanical strain relief (decoupling the vertical cable tension from the horizontal cable termination), and it provides sufficient slack for maintenance access to the cable termination. The loop radius must exceed the cable’s minimum bending radius — typically 12×D for Type 9 cables, or approximately 840–900 mm — to avoid insulation damage.

由于 Type 9 11kV 3×120mm² 电缆的最大自由悬挂深度约 1,300 m（SF=5），所有深部南非金矿竖井均采用中间悬挂系统——在每个中段水平（通常每 50–200 m）安装悬挂支架和夹具，将电缆重量通过多个支撑点传递到竖井钢结构。以 150 m 间距悬挂为例，每个夹具仅承载 22.8 kN——比 3,000 m 单段悬挂的 456.2 kN 减少 20 倍。悬挂夹具设计必须在防滑与防压损之间取得精确平衡。

13. Cable Pothead and Termination Design for Vertical Loads

The cable pothead (also called a cable termination box or cable end box) is the transition point between the shaft cable and the station switchgear. In a vertically suspended shaft cable, the pothead must perform two functions simultaneously: it must provide an electrically insulated, sealed termination for the three 11 kV power cores, and it must mechanically anchor the cable armour to transfer the cable’s self-weight to the shaft steelwork or switchgear structure.

Armour gland design: The mechanical anchor is provided by a compression gland that clamps onto the cable’s armour wires at the entry to the pothead. For Type 9 DWA cables, the gland must grip both armour layers simultaneously and resist the full suspended cable weight below the termination point. The gland body is typically fabricated from cast steel or ductile iron, with a tapered cone that compresses the armour wires radially as the gland nut is tightened. The compression creates a friction grip that prevents armour wire pullout under tensile load.

The gland pullout force — the maximum tensile force the gland can sustain before the armour wires pull through — must exceed the suspended cable weight multiplied by the safety factor. For a termination at the top of a 150 m intermediate span with SF = 5:

Standard industrial cable glands rated for 70 mm DWA cables typically provide pullout resistance of 150–250 kN — adequate for intermediate spans of up to 150–200 m. For longer spans or critical installations, high-strength mechanical terminations using epoxy-potted armour anchorages can provide pullout resistance exceeding 500 kN.

14. Ultra-Deep Solutions Beyond 3,000 m

When shaft depths exceed the practical limits of conventional intermediate suspension — either because station spacing is too great, because the shaft geometry does not permit bracket installation, or because the cable must traverse a long unsupported span (such as between the headgear and the first underground station) — alternative engineering solutions are required.

Solution 1 — High-Tensile Armour Wire Grades

Wire grades of 1,770 N/mm² and 1,960 N/mm² UTS are available from specialist wire manufacturers for critical shaft cable applications. These grades — commonly used in pre-stressed concrete strand and bridge cable production — provide 27–57% more tensile capacity per wire compared to the standard 1,230 N/mm² grade, proportionally extending the maximum suspension depth for a given cable mass and safety factor.

Solution 2 — Increased Armour Wire Diameter

Increasing the armour wire diameter from 3.15 mm to 4.0 mm increases the per-wire cross-section from 7.79 mm² to 12.57 mm² (a 61% increase). However, this also increases the cable mass by approximately 2.5–3.5 kg/m (bringing total mass to ~18–19 kg/m), partially offsetting the benefit. Net depth increase is typically 15–25%.

Solution 3 — Aramid-Assisted Suspension (Feichun Innovation)

Feichun Cable’s proprietary shaft cable program incorporates aramid fiber (Kevlar) tension members into the Type 9 cable construction — either as a central strength core (similar to the BUFLEX-M reeling cable architecture) or as an additional layer between the inner bedding and the inner armour. Aramid fiber has a tensile strength of approximately 2,900 N/mm² — nearly double the highest steel wire grade — and a density of only 1.44 g/cm³ versus 7.85 g/cm³ for steel (5.5× lighter). This extraordinary strength-to-weight ratio means that aramid tension members add significant tensile capacity with minimal mass increase, directly improving the suspension depth ratio.

Solution 4 — Multi-Run Shaft Cabling

For the deepest shafts (Mponeng at 3,800 m), the most practical solution is often to install multiple cable runs in series — with each run spanning from one station level to the next, and switchgear at each intermediate station providing the transition point. This approach eliminates the need for any single cable span to exceed 500–800 m, keeping armour stress well within capacity even with standard-grade armour wire. The tradeoff is the cost and complexity of multiple switchgear installations and the associated relay protection coordination.

15. Feichun Cable’s Shaft Cable Program: The Polymer and Armour Advantage

Feichun Cable manufactures SANS 1507-compliant Type 9 11kV shaft cables with two key differentiators that directly address the engineering challenges of South African ultra-deep gold mining: proprietary polymer compounds optimized for the acidic, humid, high-temperature shaft environment, and advanced armour engineering options that extend the maximum suspension depth.

Proprietary EPR insulation: Standard EPR insulation compounds absorb moisture over time when exposed to the warm, acidic shaft water prevalent in Witwatersrand mines. Moisture ingress increases the dielectric loss factor (tan δ) and ultimately leads to partial discharge initiation and insulation failure — a process called water treeing. Feichun’s EPR formulation incorporates silane-modified cross-linking chemistry that creates a hydrophobic molecular structure, reducing moisture absorption by approximately 40% compared to standard EPR compounds. This directly extends insulation life in wet shaft environments.

CPE outer serving: Standard PCP (polychloroprene / neoprene) outer servings degrade under prolonged exposure to the acidic mine water typical of Witwatersrand shafts (pH 3.5–5.5, high sulfate content). Feichun’s CPE (chlorinated polyethylene) outer serving compound is specifically formulated for acid resistance down to pH 2.5, with anti-fungal additives to prevent biological colonization in the warm, humid shaft environment. This addresses a documented failure mode in South African mining: progressive degradation of the outer serving exposing the galvanized armour wires to direct acid attack, accelerating corrosion and reducing suspension capacity.

16. Selection Guide: Choosing the Right Shaft Cable for Your Depth

17. References and Further Reading

Sources referenced in this guide.

Standards

1. [1] SANS 1507 Part 3. “Electric Cables with Extruded Solid Dielectric Insulation for Fixed Installations — Part 3: Cross-Linked Polyethylene (XLPE) and Ethylene Propylene Rubber (EPR) Insulated Cables, 3.8/6.6 kV to 19/33 kV.” South African Bureau of Standards (SABS).
2. [2] SANS 1507 Part 1. “Electric Cables — General Requirements.” SABS.
3. [3] IEC 60502-2. “Power Cables with Extruded Insulation and Their Accessories for Rated Voltages from 1 kV up to 30 kV.” International Electrotechnical Commission.
4. [4] IEC 60228. “Conductors of Insulated Cables.” IEC. Class 2 stranded conductor specification.
5. [5] IEC 60888. “Zinc-Coated Steel Wires for Stranded Conductors.” IEC. Armour wire tensile grades.
6. [6] SANS 10142-2. “The Wiring of Premises — Part 2: Mines and Quarries.” SABS.
7. [7] Mine Health and Safety Act (MHSA), Act 29 of 1996. Republic of South Africa. Chapter 8: Electrical Machinery.

Industry and Technical References

1. [8] Harmony Gold Mining Co. “Mponeng Mine Technical Overview.” Operating depth 3,800 m below surface — world’s deepest operating gold mine.
2. [9] Gold Fields Ltd. “South Deep Mine Technical Report.” Operating depth 3,000 m — world’s largest gold deposit by endowment.
3. [10] Sibanye-Stillwater. “Driefontein Mine and Kloof Mine Operations — Technical Data.” Operating depths 3,400 m and 3,100 m respectively.
4. [11] Barker, P.J. (1989). “The Design and Installation of Cables in Deep Mine Shafts.” Transactions of the South African Institute of Electrical Engineers, Vol. 80, No. 4.
5. [12] Gillmore, D.W. & Gillmore, M.D. (2005). “The Status of Electrical Cable Technology for Deep-Level Mines in South Africa.” Journal of the South African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, Vol. 105.
6. [13] Pretorius, P.H. (2014). “Virgin Rock Temperature Profiles and Heat Flow in the Witwatersrand Basin.” Journal of the Southern African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, Vol. 114.
7. [14] Department of Mineral Resources and Energy (DMRE), Republic of South Africa. “Guidelines for Electrical Installations in Mines.” Mine Health and Safety Inspectorate.
8. [15] Aberdare Cables (a Hengtong Group Company). “Medium Voltage Mining Cable Catalogue — SANS 1507 Type 6, 7, and 9 Constructions.”
9. [16] ARB Electrical Wholesalers. “SANS 1507 Cable Selection Guide for South African Mining Applications.”
10. [17] Eskom Holdings SOC. “Standard for the Selection and Application of Medium Voltage Cables.” SCSASAAJ3, Rev. 4.
11. [18] PMC. (2022). “Insulation Monitoring Technology of HV Cables in Underground Coal Mines.” PMC9152389

Feichun Cable Technical Publications

1. [19] Feichun Cable. “SANS 1507 Type 9 DWA Shaft Cable Specifications.” feichuncables.com/products
2. [20] Feichun Cable. “VDE 0250 South Africa — Platinum Mine Case Study.” miningcable.co.za
3. [21] Feichun Cable. “NSSHÖU Cable Ampacity Table at 50°C Ambient — Mining Applications.” feichuncables.com/blog
4. [22] Feichun Cable. “TENAX-PUR (N)TSCGEH3S I 6–10 kV — Extreme Cold Mining Cable Specification.” feichuncables.com/blog
5. [23] Feichun Cable. “Aramid-Assisted Shaft Cable Suspension — Technical White Paper.” Available on request from [email protected]
6. [24] Reelingcable.com. “South African Mining Cable Product Range.” reelingcable.com
7. [25] Miningcable.co.za. “Deep Shaft Cable Engineering — South African Market Solutions.” miningcable.co.za