Upward Spiral 1471 is set to begin full-scale mining at a newly acquired Snake Road Project in Benoni on the East Rand, which is set to drive job opportunities and economic activity.
The proposed mining operation will target an established gold-bearing reef that laterally extends from the Snake Road area to Upward Spiral’s Van Ryn surface mining operation in Benoni.
Snake Road is a near-surface, conventional gold mining operation with a well-defined development plan and an inferred resource estimate at 128,603 ounces of gold. The operation is designed to scale production in response to economic and financial conditions, with peak output expected to increase from 579 troy ounces to up to 1,158 ounces of gold per month.
Upward Spiral says the defined resource base supports an initial 10-year mine life, with potential for increased scale and accelerated production if a second processing plant is added.
Construction is underway and plant commissioning is targeted for later this year.
The project is expected to create sustainable employment and will employ 68 permanent staff, with employment increasing as operations expand. Majority of the employees will be recruited from surrounding communities, including through graduate development and skills-training programs.
Managing Director Jackie Pahad says the Snake Road mine represents a controlled, compliant and sustainable mining development that balances production with safety, environmental responsibility and meaningful community participation.
“At the planned production rate, the mine is economically sound, and should conditions justify it, we can expand throughput by installing a second mill, doubling monthly processing capacity while maximising value during favourable gold price cycles,” Pahad says.
Exploration work at Snake Road began in late 2025, following the transfer of mining rights and associated licences from the previous operator. Once regulatory approvals were finalised, Upward Spiral initiated exploration, geological modelling, and detailed open-cast planning.
Historically, the site has been used primarily for aggregate mining, with limited gold extraction through surface-level reef picking.
Upward Spiral 1471 is a privately held, South African mining company focused on providing comprehensive industrial and environmental services.
Write to Aaliyah Rogan at Mining.com.au
Images: Upward Spiral 1471
