GOLDEN, Colo., March 4, 2013 – Students from around the world will travel to Golden to compete in the International Intercollegiate Mining Games to be held on the Colorado School of Mines campus March 13-17.

Forty-one teams are registered to compete including schools from Australia, England, Canada and the U.S. The games aim to keep the legacy of historic mining practices alive, and build a sense of community between mining schools from around the world. During last year’s event in Cornwall, England, Colorado School of Mines' co-ed team won first place.

The games include seven mining events based on old-time mining techniques and practices such as:

  • Track Stand: A-timed event requiring a team of five people to add a section of rail onto an existing rail as quickly and accurately as possible.
  • Ore Muck: Five members work to fill a 2-ton ore cart and run it down a track for the best overall time.
  • Gold Pan: Competitors search for flattened pieces of lead shot in a dirt-filled gold pan.
  • Swede Saw: 
A team of five will alternate cutting through a 6-inch by 6-inch timber with 36-inch bow saws.
  • Hand Steel: Five team members drill into a concrete block with chisel-like steels and a hammer, alternating individuals every two minutes for the deepest cumulative hole.
  • Jackleg: Two competitors use a pneumatic drill in order to advance the deepest hole in a concrete block in three minutes.
  • Survey: 
Teams of two must accurately compute the coordinates of an ending point using a Wild T2 Mod (erect image) theodolite.

About the International Intercollegiate Mining Games

The International Intercollegiate Mining Games began in 1978 as a way to honor 91 miners who died in a fire at the Sunshine Mine in northern Idaho. Mining schools throughout the world have alternated hosting the event each year. Teams represent universities throughout the U.S., Canada, Australia, England, Germany and Holland. The competition is comprised of seven events including track stand, ore muck, suede saw, gold pan, hand steel, jackleg and survey.

For more information, see the 35th International Intercollegiate Mining Games website.

 

Contact:
Karen Gilbert, Director of Public Relations, Colorado School of Mines / 303-273-3541 / KGilbert@mines.edu