About the facilities

Located two kilometres underground, SNOLAB is among the world’s deepest and cleanest facilities for underground science

SNOLAB has established Canada as a global leader in underground science, infrastructure, and expertise. Our unique low-radiation environment enables world-class research in astroparticle physics, where we explore fundamental questions about the universe, including the nature of neutrinos and dark matter. Building on this foundation, SNOLAB has also attracted innovative programs in quantum technology, life sciences, and nuclear security.

SNOLAB’s 2 km of rock shielding protects the detectors from cosmic radiation that bombards Earth’s surface. Background radiation is reduced by a factor of 50 million – down to one cosmic ray per 4 m² per day. In this environment, unwanted particle interactions do not obscure the rare interactions the experiments are looking for, resulting in usable data.

SNOLAB’s facilities include the underground laboratory with 5000 m² of clean room space and support facilities, and the surface building with offices, operational support facilities, and further clean lab space.

SNOLAB offers expert scientific, technical, and administrative support for our users and collaborators. SNOLAB is the only underground facility where all full-time staff are dedicated to performing and supporting research, from design to decommissioning. Our partner, Vale, maintains and provides access to the mine.

This focus on expertise makes SNOLAB an important training ground in Canada for highly qualified personnel (HQP) in underground science and technologies.