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ESU Earth Science Department Presents

Missouri is a State of Mines

highlights from the

First Annual Minerals Education Workshop
Sponsored by the
Missouri Mining Industry Council
Missouri Limestone Producers

by

by Susan Ward Aber

Introduction    Field Tours    Mining Resource Links

The Mining Industry Council of Missouri believes their slogan, "if it can't be grown it has to be mined." Missouri is a state rich in mineral and rock resources and representatives of the Mining Industry Council and the Limestone Producers Association of Missouri co-sponsored an informative workshop to educate and inform us on the role mining plays in our lives. The workshop was aimed primarily at K-6 teachers and held on the University of Missouri campus at Rolla. A few highlights are given below.

Richard Lawson, president and chief executive officer of the National Mining Association, opened the workshop with an overview of the importance of mining to our nation and economic security. Americans are 5% of the world population with access to 12% of all commodities, 16% of the energy, and produces 28% of the world's gross products. He believed it is our responsibility to teach the world and a plan similar to the Marshall Plan could be used as a model in which to do this. The world is opening up with the Internet and cable television, which will only increase the use of mined materials. A few notes are listed below.

  • All of the necessities of life, that is food, shelter, and clothing, are dependent upon and derived from mined products.
  • Americans require 47,000 pounds per person per year of mined resources to maintain the standard of living we are accustomed to, whereas most of the world requires some 500 pounds a year.
  • The U.S. ranks first or second in the world for the production of some twenty essential metals, minerals, and coal. Only 2% of the land in the U.S. is affected by mining and less than one-third of 1% in Missouri.
  • The mining industry in the U.S. is so productive that we are close to selling it for less than it costs to produce. The mining industry has the highest paid "blue collar" workers in the world.
  • The rate of development in a country is related to the amount of energy available.
  • Computers, used for work and communication, are increasing our demand for generating electricity and the U.S. produces the cheapest electricity in the world. One interesting comparison was between the coal industry of China and the U.S., where both countries produce approximately one billion metric tons per year. China employs 4 million to mine that amount of coal, whereas in the U.S., 83,000 miners accomplish the same feat at $20 per ton.

    Hands-on activities suitable for the classroom, posters, videos, CDs, rock and mineral samples, books, and more were delivered by teachers, staff, faculty, presidents and CEOs from the National Energy Foundation, UMR, Missouri Department of Natural Resources, Missouri Limestone Producers Association, Missouri Mining Industry Council, Women in Mining Educational Foundation, Springfield Underground, Capital Quarries, Doe Run Company, among others!


    Tour of a Limestone
    Aggegrate Operation                    
    Tour a Lead Mine                      
    Tour the Lead Milling
    and Processing Plant

    Mining Resource Links

    International Mining Sites

    http://www.mining-technology.com/industry/,
    Mining Technology Associations Directory     		http://www.bmp.gl/E/index.html,
    Government of Greenland, Bureau of Minerals and Petroleum
    http://www.miningindia.com/,
    Journal of Mines, Metals & Fuels     		http://www.camiro.org/,
    Canadian Mining Industry Research Organization

    National Mining Sites

    http://www.nma.org/,
    National Mining Association     		From NMA,
    Museums and Mines open to the public
    http://www.infomine.com/ InfoMine and their
    EduMine Campus for online learning and reference     		http://www.womeninmining.org/
    Women in Mining
    http://www.msha.gov/welcome.htm
    MSHA Mine Safety & Health Administration     		http://www.osmre.gov/osm.htm,
    Office of Surface Mining, Department of the Interior
    From OSM, Keep Out: Old mines can be dangerous
    and State Program Links     		http://www.miningusa.com/,
    Mining USA
    http://www.goldsheetlinks.com/,
    Mining Directory     		http://www.mininghalloffame.org/,
    National Mining Hall of Fame and Museum
    http://www.eere.energy.gov/industry/mining/,
    Mining Industry of the Future     		http://stats.bls.gov/oco/ocos035.htm,
    Occupational Outlook Handbook on Mining
    http://www.blm.gov/nhp/index.htm,
    Bureau of Land Management     		http://www.ca.uky.edu/assmr/, American Society for
    Surface Mining and Reclamation
    http://www.smenet.org, Society of Mining, Metallurgy and Exploration Education Foundation

    State Mining Sites

    http://www.nbmg.unr.edu/
    Nevada Bureau of Mines and Geology     		http://www.nevadamining.org/,
    Nevada Mining Association
    http://www.mg.mtu.edu/,
    Mining Engineering at Michigan Tech     		http://www.wmmi.org/,
    Western Museum of Mining and Industry
    http://keck.library.unr.edu/,
    Keck Earth Science and Mining Research Center     		http://www.utahmining.org/,
    Utah Mining Association
    http://www.miningimpacts.net/,
    Mining Impact Coalition of Wisconsin     		http://www.idahomining.org/home.html
    Idaho Mining Association
    http://www.kdhe.state.ks.us/mining/,
    Kansas Dept. of Health and
    Environment surface mining section     		http://www.kgs.ku.edu/kgs.html,
    Kansas Geological Survey
    http://www.momic.com/,
    Mining Industry Council of Missouri     		http://www.dnr.state.mo.us/,
    Missouri Department of Natural Resources
    http://www.vcnevada.com/history.htm,
    Virginia city, Nevada     		http://www.nevadaweb.com/cnt/r-t/vc/,
    Virginia City Once Richest Place on Earth
    http://www.wma-minelife.com/,
    Wyoming Mining Association     		http://doe.state.wy.us/lmi/0498/0498a2.htm,
    Wyoming Mining Industry
    http://www.coloradomining.org/,
    Colorado Mining Association     		http://mining.state.co.us,
    Colorado Division of Minerals and Geology
    http://www.azgs.state.az.us/, Arizona Geological Survey

    Mining Claims

    http://wiwi.essortment.com/mininglaw_rlge.htm, The Mining Law of 1872 Grants for
    Rights to Federal Lands, How to File a Mining Claim

    Lead Mining

    http://www.ex.ac.uk/~RBurt/MinHistNet/EMRG.html,
    Museum of Yorkshire Dales Lead Mining     		http://www.thenortheast.fsnet.co.uk/Weardale.htm,
    A Short History of Weardale
    http://www.silverminetours.co.uk,
    Llywernog Silver-Lead Mine     		http://www.leadminingmuseum.co.uk ,
    The Museum of Lead Mining
    http://www.dph.sf.ca.us/cehp/Lead/lead.htm ,
    Lead Prevention     		http://www.epa.gov/lead,
    U.S. EPA Lead Programs
    http://ohioline.osu.edu/hyg-fact/5000/5008.html, Lead Contamination in the Home http://www.ag.ohio-state.edu/~ohioline/hyg-fact/1000/1149.html, Lead Contamination In The Garden
    http://www.gis.net/~mtf/tld.htm,
    The Lead Detective     		http://www.leadtestkits.com,
    Lead Test Kits
    http://www.cdc.gov/nceh/lead/lead.htm, CDC Lead Poisoning Prevention Program

    Copper Mining

    http://www.azcu.org,
    Arizona's Copper Mining     		http://www.asarco.com,
    Arizona's Copper Mining Company
    http://www.bisbeemuseum.org/
    Bisbee Mining and Historical Museum     		http://www.desertusa.com/mag98/oct/stories/jerome.html,
    Jerome, Arizona, A Mining Town

    Gold Mining

    http://www.goldinstitute.org/,
    Gold Institute     		http://www.goldmaps.com/,
    Gold Mining
    http://www.homestaketour.com/,
    Homestake Mining     		http://www.sfmuseum.org/hist9/turrillgold.html,
    San Francisco Gold Mining
    http://www.jpc-training.com/vulture.htm,
    A History of the Vulture Gold Mine in Arizona     		http://www.bmgold.com/,
    Newmont Mining Company
    http://www.goldprospectors.org/,
    Gold Prospecting     		http://www.goldprospecting.net/,
    Gold Prospecting
    http://www.golddredger.com/menu.htm,
    Colorado Gold Prospecting     		http://www.uq.net.au/~zzdvande/,
    Aussie Gold Prospecting page
    http://www.mbendi.co.za/indy/ming/gold/af/p0005.htm,
    African Gold Mining     		http://www.bertaut.com/treasurelinks.html,
    Gold Treasure
    http://www.mining-museum.blackhills.com ,
    The Blackhills Mining Museum     		http://www.akmining.com/mining.htm,
    Alaska Mining and Diving Supply
    http://library.ci.fort-collins.co.us/local_history/Topics/contexts/
    colorado.htm    , Colorado Gold Rush, Fort Collins 1844-1866     		http://www.ah.dcr.state.nc.us/sections/hs/reed/reed.htm,
    Reed Gold Mine

    Bauxite and Aluminum

    http://www.ormet.com,
    Ormet An Aluminum Producer

    Diamond Mining

    http://www.diamondregistry.com/world.htm,
    Diamond Registry, World Diamond Mining Update     		http://www.ashton.ca/,
    Ashton Mining of Canada
    http://www.gorp.com/gorp/location/ar/parks/crater.htm, Crater of Diamonds State park in Arkansas

    Salt Mining

    http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/mod/1850Wieliczka.html,
    Salt Mines of Wieliczka, Oldest Operation in Europe, 1850     		http://www.showcaves.com/english/misc/mines/Wieliczka.html,
    Wieleczka Salt mines,
    http://www.muzeum.wieliczka.pl/pl/english.html,
    Cracow Salt Works     		http://www.cyf-kr.edu.pl/wieliczka/,
    Wieliczka
    http://www.salzbergwerke.com/,
    Austrian salt mines     		http://www.solutionmining.org/,
    Solution Mining Research Institute
    http://www.intnet.mu/iels/Mining_mau.htm,
    Salt Production, Sand Mining, and Quarrying     		http://www.saltinstitute.org/10.html,
    Salt Institute
    http://info.detnews.com/history/story/index.cfm?id=17&category=business,
    Salt City Beneath Detroit     		http://www.netl.doe.gov/scngo/Petroleum/
    Environmental/Salt%20Caverns/SaltCaverns.html    ,
    Salt Caverns
    http://www.saltinfo.com/salt%20production3.htm,
    Rock Salt Mining     		http://www.tsha.utexas.edu/handbook/online/
    articles/view/GG/hgg4.html    , Texas Salt

    Coal Mining

    http://www.coalinfo.net.cn/english.htm,
    China Coal Information Network     		http://www.coaleducation.org/kcmec/default1.htm,
    Kentucky Coal Council
    http://www.kingdomcome.org/museum/,
    Kentucky Coal Mining Museum     		http://www.gov.ns.ca/natr/meb/ic/ic25.htm,
    The Geology and History of Coal in Nova Scotia
    http://www.ncm.org.uk/,
    National Coal Mining Museum for England     		http://www.nps.gov/biso/bsfsrr.htm,
    Blue Herring Mining Community
    Big South Fork National Park
    http://www.wyodak.com/,
    Wyodak Resources Development Corporation     		http://www.teachcoal.org/,
    American Coal Foundation

    Seafloor Mining

    Deep Seabed Mining: U.S. Interests and the U.N. Convention on the Law of the Sea

    Miscellaneous

    http://www.energyquest.ca.gov/index.html,
    Energy Quest     		http://www.sterlinghill.org/,
    Sterling Hill Mining Museum
    http://www.jc.com.jo/,
    Jordon Carbonate Company     		http://www.geoafrica.co.za/reddog/,
    Red Dog Scientific Services
    http://www.gov.ns.ca/natr/meb/ic/ic16.htm,
    Gypsum and Anhydrite in Nova Scotia     		http://www.antenna.nl/wise/uranium/,
    World Information Service on Energy Uranium Project
    http://www.academyofenergy.org/,
    Academy of Energy     		http://www.mii.org,
    Mineral Information Institute
    http://www.nef1.org,
    National Energy Foundation     		http://www.nagt.org/,
    National Association of Geology Teachers
    http://www.cpluhna.nau.edu/Change/uranium.htm,
    Leetso, the Yellow Monster: Uranium Mining on the Colorado Plateau

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    Creates in July 10, 2000; last update, 9 June, 2005. © 2000-2005 Susan Ward Aber. All rights reserved.