The world’s deepest marathon, held at Boliden’s Garpenberg Zinc Mine in Sweden, recently took place and has made people rethink their own preconceived notions of mining, International Council on Mining and Metals CEO Rohitesh Dhawan tells this news service.
Speaking to Mining.com.au, Dhawan – who participated in the 1,120m below sea level marathon – explains that this event made others think if people can run a full marathon that deep underground, maybe the environments are not as bad as we think.
“It has brought people into mining through the lens of running and made them more curious about the industry,” he says.
On 25 October, 60 runners from 18 countries ran 42km in the mine, which is 1,302m beneath the surface.
International Council on Mining and Metals (ICMM) manager of standards Josephine Robertson explains for her the marathon demonstrated the “sophistication and precision of modern mining”.
“While we were running, the Boliden team continued their operations both above and below us – this is the world’s most productive zinc mine after all – which is a testament to their understanding of the environment and the strength of their safety systems,” Robertson tells Mining.com.au.
The benchmark in safety
Dhawan says that Garpenberg is considered one of the safest mines in the world, and Boliden is the “benchmark in mining safety”.
“They have gone 17 years without having a fatal accident which is head and shoulders above any other company in the industry,” he says.
For example, the runners descended in a lift down to 1,000m and then Boliden drove the runners down another 100m to get to the start line. During that short drive, each runner was given a self-rescuer device in the possibility that someone needed it to breathe properly.
However, Dhawan points out that there is actually greater concentration of oxygen in the mine – approximately 30% more than the atmosphere – due to Boliden ventilating the mine and pumping oxygenated air down into the mine.
“It actually meant that our running was easier because we had more oxygen in the air and the air quality down in the mine is better than in many major cities – which totally blows people’s mind,” he explains.
“If you ran the London marathon or the New York marathon, you’re probably going to be exposed to more pollution than we were exposed to down in the mine.”
Boliden had been preparing for the marathon months ahead and outlined a very detailed risk assessment from the mind and from ourselves, identifying every potential risk that could occur and how it would be mitigated.
Dhawan explains that every runner was given all the necessary information to determine whether they could participate or not.
There was a medic available to everybody to consult with and to make sure they had all the answers they needed and a full medical team onsite on the day of the event, including a specialist doctor who specialists in extreme environment medicine.
Boliden had prepared extra rescue chambers to ensure no one wasn’t far away from a safe space should an emergency occur in the mine.
Dhawan says this allows for runners to go into air conditioned, sealed cabins which provides enough food, water, and oxygen for up to 72 hours until rescues could be made.
Inside Garpenberg, there is gravel, loose rock, and the temperatures ranged in the mid-20 degrees celsius with 70% humidity.
“You’re sweating from your very first step,” Dhawan says.
As a result of the heat inside the mine, runners lose a lot of heat through their head, but due to wearing a particular safety helmet that heat didn’t escape as well.
Robertson adds that there were many litres of cold water, bathrooms, and fridges full of food and drinks.
“This links to Boliden’s constant prioritisation of safety, which was evident in everything they did. It really showcased to me what a modern, technologically advanced mine that puts safety first could look,” she says.
“It gave me optimism for the future of our industry.”
Endless possibilities
The marathon aims to raise £1 million ($2.03 million) for the BecomingX Foundation and Wild at Heart Foundation.
To date, £650,000 has been raised so far. The funds will be allocated to skills development programs for people in Africa, particularly in mining-dependent countries.
“The idea is to deliver skills development programs to youth in those places that will equip them with the skills that their education system may not provide them,” Dhawan notes.
Dhawan adds that for the Wild Heart Foundation, the funds will be used to deliver sterilisation campaigns around the world to prevent millions of dogs being born on the streets to a life of “misery, pain, and suffering”. The funds will also provide emergency veterinary care and urgent care to stray and injured animals.
As Mining.com.au reported, the event is designed to break two Guinness world records while also putting a spotlight on safety, innovation, and the transformation of the modern mining industry.
Australia’s ABC Refinery provided the event with 65 silver commemorative coins from Evolution Mining’s (ASX:EVN) Cowal Operations in New South Wales.
Dhawan says since the event, the organisation has been inundated with companies and people wanting to be a part of it.
“If enough people express an interest to support an event like this and to participate, we will answer that call,” he says.
“Is that going to be another deeper marathon, is that going to be the world’s deepest mountain bike race? I don’t know, the possibilities are endless.”
Garpenberg is one of the world’s most modern mines and is also Sweden’s oldest mining area still in operation. In 2024, around 3.455 million tonnes of ore was processed to form metal concentrates, containing zinc, lead, silver, copper, and gold.
ICMM is an industry body that is focused on enhancing the contribution of mining and metals to sustainable development.
Write to Aaliyah Rogan at Mining.com.au
Images: ICMM & World's Deepest Marathon
