Going to school ... underground: NORCAT research mine and simulators give students much-needed training for all aspects of the mining industry.

• Author: McKinley, Karen
• Position: Training & Education

With the Sudbury basin being a hub for mining technology, training people underground with real equipment would seem like a given.

That isn't always the case, but there is one place in the Sudbury region with the unique distinction of being a training and testing mine.

NORCAT's Underground Centre, located in the community of Onaping, gives entrepreneurs and tech companies a laboratory to test their equipment, while also giving students a place to do real-world training and test theories.

Mining simulators by Thoroughtec at NORCAT on Maley Drive are also part of the training program, giving students more experience in everything from driving vehicles to tackling extreme scenarios like machine fires.

Many students have gone into the mine as part of a special program made possible through a partnership with the Ontario Government and NORCAT, known as the Youth Bursary Program-NORCAT Training and Development.

One of those students in the program was Rebecca Hauta, who is pursuing her master's degree in mine engineering.

"It helped me articulate the development cycle because my master's was talking about the components of the development cycle, specifically putting in rock bolts," she said.

"You get a feel for all the little details and little things you have to look at and how to do it properly, as well as how physically difficult it is."

Working in the mine was exciting and eye-opening, she said.

By going underground, she developed a better appreciation for the details on how rock bolts should be placed and marked, as well as all the general safety rules.

Navita Ramdass, a mine engineering student at Laurentian University, was taking common core courses at NORCAT for her degree.

She said the combination of simulators and hands-on work at Onaping has given her a comprehensive set of skills and an understanding of how mining works.

"Actually being there and doing the work the miners do, it really makes you think about how to improve the conditions (with) the technology they are using. I think the foundation we got at that common core training is what was missing (in class) and I'm glad I got to do it."

Using both the mine and the simulators helped, Ramdass said.

Underground, she learned how physically demanding mining is, as well as learning about all potential safety hazards around her.

In the simulators, she could run through emergency situations without actually endangering herself or others.

Hauta concurred. She trained in the simulator to...