Enter the miner’s ‘dry’ and prepare for an unforgettable journey to the depths of the earth, as you descend 7-storeys into a dramatic rock chasm while viewing a state-of-the art multimedia show. Then, don a miner’s hat, enter an underground tunnel, and witness the mining of our planet’s precious cargo and the dramatic transformation mining techniques have taken over the last century.
Underground Tour
From the glass-enclosed elevator, enter a network of tunnels and journey through the history of mining from the late 1800s through the 1950s to the latest in tele-mining technologies. Tour guides take you through the mine describing the equipment used in the different eras of mining.
NEW! A reproduction of the Fénix 2 capsule used to rescue miners from the San Jose mine in Chile and the upreamer used in the Plan A drilling program (one of 3 drilling plans designed to carry out the rescue) designed by Atlas Copco and manufactured by Sudbury's Mining Technologies International (MTI) is part of a new display located underground at Dynamic Earth.
Don't miss your chance to step inside the capsule, learn about the incredible story of survival, and the technology that made the amazing rescue possible.
MacLeod Rock Gallery
Kids can play in the three-level Explora Mine, with tools and equipment that are just their size! Slide through a rock tunnel, operate a conveyor belt and signal instructions to fellow ‘miners’ using an improved audio and video communication system, and much more! At the Mining Command Centre, manipulate a remote controlled rockbreaker located in Dynamic Earth’s underground mine or try out the new Caterpillar excavator simulator! Track the movements of visitors underground using the newly installed HLS Hard-Line Solutions Inc. digital communication system.
Gold Panning
Pan for gold, like a Yukon prospector, in a simulated multi-level stream that allows for adults and kids to pan for gold simultaneously. There are real gold flakes for you to find - and keep as a souvenir of your experience at Dynamic Earth!
Xstrata Nickel Gallery
This innovative object theatre highlights what happens to ore once it comes out of the ground. Rocks to Riches is a multimedia experience in the Xstrata Nickel Gallery and with one visit you’ll never see your kitchen sink or plumbing pipes the same way again! This walk-through theatre features state-of-the-art presentation technology that takes you step-by-step through the processing of nickel and copper, from the “mill” to the “smelter” and then the “refinery.” Witness how powerful mechanical forces crush and grind chunks of ore into fine powder. See how intense heat separates the waste from the valuable metals that are then further purified. Learn how new mineral processing technologies are reducing the impact on the environment, and the “good news” stories of environmental rehabilitation in the Sudbury area.
Nickel City Stories
Step into the Generations Barbershop, an engaging multimedia setting, and listen in as "Louie", curator of Sudbury’s oral history, recounts the fascinating historical events that shaped the last 125 years of Sudbury’s history. Nickel City Stories is based on the object theatres developed at Science North and uses a number of different effects to bring the city’s history to life.
