The litigation alleges that the 30 named miners, including big names such as AngloGold Ashanti (NYSE:AU), Goldfields (NYSE:GFI) and Harmony Gold (NYSE:HMY), knew of the dangers posed to workers by silica dust for more than a century.
Companies with presence in the country include Randgold Resources, RandSahara Mining, Taurian Minerals Mali, Holdor Ag, Robex Resources Inc. and PG Natyral Resources, among others.