Marikana miners toil long and hard, 1,000 metres underground - in pictures

South African miners working for the London-based giant Lonmin at Marikana in the North West Province gather for a team pep talk before the day's drilling begins Photograph: Greg Marinovich

As miners approach the rock face, the passages get smaller and the ground is dangerously uneven and littered with cables Photograph: Greg Marinovich

Miners work in low tunnels to dig out the platinum that will be used for profit worldwide in catalytic converters and jewellery Photograph: Greg Marinovich

Workers are forced to crouch four hours on end. "Everyday, to drill like this and pull the machines and back again, [afterwards] I can’t stand up," says Lonmin driller Shadrack Mtshamba Photograph: Greg Marinovich

A miner rides the conveyor belt of chairlifts that endlessly circles from the 26th level down to the lowest, number 31 Photograph: Greg Marinovich

Humidity and a fine dusty mist envelop a stope as a driller works Photograph: Greg Marinovich

The team takes a break from the chaos of drilling amid stifling heat and humidity
Photograph: Greg Marinovich

Heavy going in a low tunnel, 1,000 metres below the ground Photograph: Greg Marinovich