New Tunnel and Ramp Entrance for the San Xavier Mining Laboratory

Project Goal: Determine and calculate the resources, skills and techniques needed for constructing an additional tunnel and ramp entrance for the San Xavier Mining Laboratory.

The San Xavier Mining Laboratory, run by the University of Arizona as a hands-on educational resource for students, also is available for companies to test equipment and practices. Expansions of the underground mine are underway to accommodate all of its uses. With an eye toward an environmentally friendly operation, this team worked on finding the most efficient design for a new mine entrance.

This design for a new adit, or horizontal mine entrance, factors in scale and schematics. It integrates analysis of source, amount and cost of electricity as well as construction equipment and labor costs. Calculations of ground support needs and appropriate blasting and drilling techniques also informed the design. Additionally, the planned waste pile location lent itself to an environmentally sound design.