Published on October 7, 2015
Model Mine was held last week for the 18th year in a row, we have taught nearly 4500 – 4th grade students during this time in the Spokane Valley area. I developed this “Model Mine” program when I was working for Northwest Mining Association and collaborated with Northwest Natural Resource Institute. Diahne Gill is the current program director with NNRI and has continued to organize this program every year.
The instructors are all from the mining industry, and the students learn about the “Life Cycle of a Mine” at the Central Pre-Mix sand and gravel quarry. They learn about how sand and gravel is used to make asphalt and cement and get to see first-hand how Big Red, the mine dredge works. They also learn about 4 other stations “Rock-to-Products”, “Gold Panning”, “Mine Safety” and “Reclamation”.
Instructors:
- Ken Assmus – Midas Gold, Rocks-to-Products
- Ted Teske – NIOSH, Gold Panning
- Tony Teske – Retired – US Borax, Miner’s Safety
- Doug Ward – Mining Engineer –Consultant, Reclamation
- Brian Ellingson – Central Pre-Mix, Mine Tour Bus Guide
