The SX Mine is the only laboratory of it's kind with a working vertical shaft in the United States. Students are given the opportunity to develop hands-on experience and problem-solving skills scarcely found in most mining engineering curriculum as well as exposure to some of the latest technical advances in mining and excavation.
The laboratory is structured much like an operating mine, where all supervisory positions are held by undergraduate students, including the mine manager, safety manager, and shifters/foremen. Working in conjunction with a faculty advisor, student mine management is responsible for nearly every facet of the laboratory, including safety programs, mine planning, regulatory compliance, and most administrative functions.
Students normally work one 8-hour shift per week, where they participate in activities associated with development, unit operations, and maintenance. In addition, upper-division students have the option of proposing engineering and/or construction projects at the mine for academic credit. The student is responsible for the design, implementation, and completion of the proposed project.
Students participate in weekly staff meetings and are heavily involved in community service activities at the mine. The scope and magnitude of these responsibilities provide invaluable managerial experience and prepares students for the challenges they are likely to face in industry.
The facility is also widely used to compliment numerous other courses in both mining and geological engineering through semester projects and laboratory exercises. Surveys of recent mining graduates have shown that the San Xavier Mining Laboratory was the most memorable aspect of their educational experience at the University of Arizona.
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