Shafts are vertical to steeply inclined access to a mine or other underground installation.  Winzes are similar to shafts in every way except a winze is collared underground  and excavated downwards from one level in a mine to another.  Shafts may be circular, elliptical, square or rectangular in cross-section.

Shafts may be excavated for a number of reasons including:

• providing access for men and equipment to the orebody;

• hoisting ore to surface;

• mine ventilation;

• mine dewatering; and,

• as an emergency escapeway.

In practice, most shafts serve some or all of these purposes simultaneously.  It can be seen therefore that a mine's shaft is its most critical installation.  Disruptions in the shaft will cause disruptions throughout the mining operation.

The main components of a shaft are shown in Figure 1.

Figure 1  Typical Mine Shaft Components

The size of a shaft depends on 

• production rate (hoisting capacity);

• number of workers to be transported during a shift;

• machinery size/weights; and,

• U/G material requirements (pipe,explosives,etc).

Typical services that are installed in a shaft include:

• compressed air

• water (drilling, drinking)

• discharge water pipes

• cooling water in deep mines

• electrical power

• control/signaling cables

• ladders (escapeway)

• fuel delivery pipes

• ventilation