Edgar Mine

Description

 

The mountains above Idaho Springs and the nearby communities of Black Hawk, Central City and Georgetown show the abandoned mine openings and remnants of a romantic past: the "Rush to the Rockies" and feverish mining for silver and gold.

 

The Edgar mine, the Colorado School of Mines Experimental Mine, is a footnote to that era. In the 1870s, it produced high-grade silver, gold, lead and copper. Today, as an underground laboratory for future engineers, it produces valuable experience for those who are being trained to find, develop, and process the world’s natural resources.

 

The CSM Mining Engineering Department is proud of the Edgar Experimental Mine and the purposes it serves: educational tours for the public and school groups; cooperation with industry, state, and federal organizations in research; and training of the manpower needed to maintain the nation's leadership in the field of mineral engineering. Industry is highly supportive of the research and educational programs at the mine. In fact, most of the equipment used at the mine is donated by individual businesses and corporations.

The Edgar Mine was named after the Edgar mineral vein that runs along the hillside above the mine. CSM acquired the mine in 1921, when officers of the then bankrupt Big Five Mining Company agreed to lease the mine to the school. CSM has since acquired additional workings and land to form the present experimental mine holdings, which are now the property of the school. The mine is considered to have the safest rock formations and best underground workings of any comparable facility in the area.
An Underground Classroom
The Edgar Experimental Mine provides CSM students in Mining Engineering and other disciplines with a unique environment for research and practical training in mining techniques and systems.  In this underground laboratory, CSM students gain hands-on experience in underground mine surveying, geological mapping, rock fragmentation and blasting practice, mine ventilation field studies, rock mechanics instrumentation practice, underground mine unit operations, and mine safety. Through a course in the practical use of mining equipment, students can apply classroom exercises to real situations in a realistic mining environment .  The course runs the full cycle of underground mining operations, and includes hands-on experience with drilling, blasting, and mucking (loading blasted rock) using both rail mounted and rubber-tired mining equipment.  By the completion of the course students have earned safety credentials in underground mining from an MSHA certified mine safety training instructor.

Although the Edgar Experimental Mine is managed and operated by the Mining Engineering Department, students from other disciplines have the opportunity to interact with the mine through projects in both EPICS and Senior Design.  Examples in recent years include:  Documentation and Design of a Mine Water Distribution Network for the Edgar Experimental Mine, Design of a Power Distribution Network of the Edgar Experimental Mine Army Adit, Modifications to the Surface Drainage Network for the Edgar Experimental Mine, Design of a Compressor Installation for the Edgar Experimental Mine Army Adit.
Research
Research is carried out on a continuing basis at the Edgar Experimental Mine. Numerous academic, government, and industry groups, including the CSM Mining Engineering Department, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), the U.S. Army, Rocktek Inc., and others participate in cooperative research ventures at the facility. Studies include tunnel detection, blasting, rock mechanics, and development of new mining equipment and methods.

Industrial Outreach Programs

The CSM Mining Engineering Department conducts a comprehensive industrial outreach program, including mine rescue training, for the mining industry. Collaborators include the Colorado Division of Minerals and Geology (CDMG) and the Western Mining Resource Center (WMRC).
Edgar Mine Rescue Training Program

 

The Colorado Division of Minerals and Geology, with cooperation from the Mining Engineering Department, operates a full function mine rescue training facility for use by the mining industry.  Mine rescue training exercises can be developed and tailored to the specific needs of any mining operation.  Special exercises including rope rescue training, confined space rescue training, and mine fire extinguishment training can be included by a mine operator to address the specialized needs of virtually any mine.  Facilities available at the mine include: a 30-person classroom with audio/visual equipment, rope rescue equipment, a confined space training maze, artificial smoke (non-toxic) generating equipment, burn barrels, gas testing equipment, rescue apparatus bench facilities for Draeger BG-4 and BG-174 breathing apparatus, and other specialized mine rescue equipment.  The facility has been utilized by Cyprus Amax, Cotter Corporation, Anglo Gold, Westinghouse WIPP, and others.  There is a nominal user fee associated with use of the facilities to defray the cost of facilities improvements.

In addition to the specialized mine rescue training, CDMG offers a full, MSHA certified, mine safety training program which can be conducted either on-site at the Edgar Mine or at your mine site anywhere in Colorado.

 
CDMG Mine Safety Training Program

 

Visit the CDMG Mine Safety Training Program site:

CDMG Mine Safety Training Program

 

Mine Tours
 

Students and staff at the mine conduct guided tours for the general public throughout the year. Tours generally last one hour, but can be tailored to accommodate some special requests. More than one-half mile of underground workings representing over 100 years of mine development are covered on the tour. Lighted displays showing drilling, blasting, and mucking equipment are displayed on the mine tour and items of discussion include mining practice, mining economics, and the role of the mining industry in modern society.  The mine is usually relatively dry and a constant 54 degrees Fahrenheit, year-round.  CSM provides hard hats for tour members, but guests are asked to wear warm clothing and sturdy walking shoes.  Sorry, but the mine is not wheelchair accessible.

 

The mine is open for tours on Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM.  An appointment is required.  Please call the mine office at (303) 567-2911 or contact the mine by e-mail at rkcooper@mines.edu to schedule a tour.  Drop-ins will be accommodated if possible, but an appointment is highly recommended.   Group tours for groups of 10 or more can be arranged by calling the mine.   Due to visibility restrictions we can only accommodate groups of 30 people on a single tour. However, groups larger than 30 can be segmented into smaller groups if enough tour guides are available. Please allow at least 2 weeks so we can arrange for tour guides for large tours. 

 

Tour Prices*

 

Adults

$10.00

Seniors

$6.00

Children (6-16)

$6.00

*subject to change

 

Groups (by appointment)  $8.00 Adults and $4.00 Children
How to Find the Edgar Mine

The Edgar mine is located in Idaho Springs, approximately 40 miles west of Denver. It can be reached by Interstate 70 or U.S. 6.

 

From Denver:

 

Take I-70 W towards Idaho Springs

Take exit number 240, turn right (north) at the top of the exit ramp, proceed 2 blocks to Colorado Boulevard

Turn Left (west) onto Colorado Boulevard, proceed to 8th Avenue

Turn Right (north) onto 8th Avenue

The mine is at the top of the hill.

Edgar Experimental Mine

 

365 8th Avenue, PO Box 1184
Idaho Springs, CO 80452
(303) 567-2911
(303) 567-9133 fax

 
Mine Manager

 

Bob Cooper
E-mail: rkcooper@mines.edu

 
Project and Class Schedule

 

January        February        March

April             May              June

July              August          September

October        November      December

 

 

Faculty and Staff: If you have corrections or updates, please email to: mcigla@mines.edu

 

Copyright @2006 Mining Engineering