Project Description

The purpose of this one-of-a-kind Department of Energy facility is to detect neutrinos in a cavern constructed at the Soudan Iron Mine, in Soudan, northern Minnesota. The neutrinos are to be generated approximately 450 miles away at the Fermi Lab located 40 miles west of Chicago, IL, and aimed through the earth toward the cavern. Once detected in the cavern, the neutrinos are then analyzed using sophisticated equipment. An existing cavern contains the Particle Decay Research Facility used in the "Soudan Experiment." The new MINOS neutrino detection cavern will be connected to this existing void via two tunnels. The initial phase of the project includes excavation of the cavern and tunnels, along with rock support and concrete floor. Official groundbreaking ceremonies were conducted on July 20, 1999. The MINOS experiment is scheduled to begin taking data in late 2002.

Scope of Services

Lachel & Associates, Inc. provided constructibility analyses and cost estimates of the construction of the 632,000 cubic foot detection cavern that will be mined in chlorite schist (commonly referred to as greenstones) half a mile below ground, at the 2700-foot level in the Soudan Mine.