How deep is the deepest shaft?

The deepest mine shaft in the world is the Kola Superdeep Borehole in Russia, which reaches a depth of about 12,262 meters (40,230 feet). However, in terms of operational mines, the deepest is the Mponeng gold mine in South Africa, which extends to around 4,000 meters (13,123 feet) below the Earth's surface. These depths present significant engineering and geological challenges, including extreme temperatures and pressures.