Colorado Underground Research Institute
Colorado School of Mines
The Colorado Underground Research Institute (CURIE) is an innovative shallow underground research facility in the Edgar Experimental Mine (EEM) in Idaho Springs, Colorado. The CURIE facility is specifically designed for conducting low-background research.
Introduction to CURIE
CURIE supports a range of advanced research across disciplines, such as quantum information science, subatomic physics and quantum sensing. This research demands environments with low magnetic, vibrational and radiological interference, which CURIE provides through its underground setting and specialized equipment, including muon shielding and background monitoring. The facility’s resources and customizable experimental sites allow researchers to explore rare-event searches, develop quantum technologies and investigate fundamental physics questions without delays and costs typically associated with highly subscribed, deep underground labs.
The facility meets the increasing demand for fundamental research environments requiring moderate cosmic muon attenuation. CURIE’s shallow depth offers an accessible alternative to deep underground labs, ideal for projects that do not require extensive shielding from cosmic rays.
Mines’ commitment to developing this site aligns with its broader goals of fostering interdisciplinary research and supporting the advancement of technology and science on a global scale.
About CURIE
Proposed Projects
CURIE Site Information
Innovative Solutions. World-class Facilities.
The Mines campus is home to world-class facilities designed to accelerate progress across the quantum industry, supporting groundbreaking research and innovation that spans artificial intelligence, climate technology, healthcare, sensing and beyond.
Contact Us
CURIE Facility – Edgar Experimental Mine
365 8th Avenue, PO Box 1184
Idaho Springs, CO 80452
303-567-2911