Just Up The Road
Located 40 miles away, in nearby Lead, SD, the Sanford Underground Research Facility (SURF) provides opportunities for future mining research. Right now, South Dakota Mines physicists are part of an international team there conducting neutrino research a mile underground.
We are seeking an opportunity, given funding and approvals, to create a Mine Health and Safety Laboratory at SURF. This would allow a variety of research endeavors including ground control, ventilation, explosives, and worker health. There is currently have a proposal to NIOSH to look at biometrics for mine workers. The project would involve real-time sensors attached to the miner that would provide data on air quality, muscle stress, noise, worker fatigue, and location.

The Sanford Underground Research Facility is located at the former Homestake gold mine, donated by the Barrick Gold Corporation to South Dakota in 2006 for use as an underground laboratory. Inset Photo Credit: Matt Kapust, SURF