An engineering student starts up the diesel engine, and a 40-foot jumbo drill roars to life.
The newest addition to the University of Arizona's San Xavier Underground Mining Laboratory is the largest and most modern piece of engineering equipment there.
Steve Holmes, general manager for the Ray copper and silver mine in Kearny, worked with his company, Asarco, to donate the piece on Aug. 11. Holmes is an alumnus of the UA Department of Mining and Geological Engineering.
"What it does for us is take our mining laboratory and put it into a more modern era," said Ros Hill, director of the San Xavier mine.
Before, students practiced drilling with hand-held equipment rather than full-size equipment.
"We want to start drilling so we can make a hole big enough so students can go into the mine with rubber-tire vehicles," Hill said. Now, students have to climb down ladders to get into the mine.
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The drill, which is worth about $400,000 according to Hill, was almost entirely refurbished by different companies so it runs and looks like new and is up to safety code.
Only two students are fully trained to handle the machine: Nick Carouso and Mark Iobst, both 20-year-old UA juniors in mining.
Though the drill only needs one person to run, students work in pairs with one who acts as a spotter for the other on the ground. There are no pedals for the gas or brake and students sit sideways, rather than forward like a car.
"Once you get the hang of it, it's pretty fun," Carouso said.
Training days are on Saturdays, and usually 15 to 20 people will drive down for the experience. The class lasts from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. so students can work a full shift.
"Not that many people can say they go outside on a Saturday and do manual labor for fun," Carouso said.
Carouso's parents both graduated from the UA Department of Mining and Engineering and visit the facility.
"We have a strong alumni connection, and Steve Holmes is a good example of that," Hill said.
Other students will have to wait until the middle of October or early November to be fully trained and to begin drilling.
"We're grateful for the drill and just excited to start it up and start drilling," Iobst said, after taking his first full drive on it.
Did you know?
The San Xavier Underground Laboratory Mine is 23 miles south of Tucson.
It was founded in 1880.
The UA has operated at the lab since 1958.
Rocks where students have practiced drilling at the mine are called "music rocks" because when hit, they release a tune.
Last year, students from the mining lab competed in the 32nd International Mining Games in Kalgoorlie, Western Australia.
"Once you get the hang of it, it's pretty fun."
Nick Carouso
Junior in UA Mining and Engineering
Michelle A. Monroe is a a University of Arizona journalism student and a NASA Space Grant intern. Contact her at mmonroe@azstarnet.com