WorldWide Drilling Resource

Mineral and Mining Education by Bonnie Love, Editor WorldWide Drilling Resource ® I was fortunate enough to be invited to speak to a couple of environmental science classes at Chipola College here in the Florida panhandle. The class typically covers mining in three quick lessons, and students are given minimal information about the industry. Although I was nervous, I was glad to present another perspective. Benjamin Franklin once said, “Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I remember. Involve me and I learn.” Rather than give a lecture, or present a PowerPoint slide show, I brought the mining world to their classroom. We started with a quick game of mineral match, with a twist. I had 4 containers, each with 11 different raw rock and mineral samples directly from U.S. mines. I asked each group to guess which rock I was talking about, if they got it right, they got a point and the team with the most points won a prize. I went on to describe the sample and what everyday uses each of them had. For example, the mineral gypsum is used: as a filler in flour, in beer brewing, to control the tartness of wine, in pet food, plaster, toothpaste, and as a soil additive. The students were able to touch, see, and even smell (in the case of the sulphur sample) the rocks and minerals used to create the items they enjoy on a daily basis. They seemed genuinely interested and some were in awe of the answers, especially when I challenged them to locate magnetite. They all selected the shiny galena sample. I went to their sample box with a magnet and the magnetite literally jumped out of the box and clung to the magnet. I explained the many job opportunities within the industry and even divulged the location of a limestone mine less than three miles from the school. We then discussed the mining industry of Florida and the uniqueness of the state’s minerals. I had a great time, and I’m sure the students appreciated learning something positive about the mining industry. The professor, Dr. Cuccio, graciously invited me back next spring to enlighten her next group of young people, and I gladly accepted. Oil/Water Exploration by Harold White Well, winter is here. There is snow on the mountain passes. I want to drive east, but tire chains or traction tires are required to go over the Willamette and McKenzie passes. To the east and north of there is all snowed in. The roads are covered with ice and snow for thousands of square miles. Driving on it is very slow at times. The snow does not affect the ener- gy of the underground fluid movement, so all of my detection equipment works the same, but it does affect me. Of course it is much harder to get around, and it is cold and slippery. Although winter has just begun, I am wanting spring to be back tomorrow! Well, it is always summer someplace, so maybe someone there would like to find lithium in saltwater wells, or any other of the fluid wells. Right now, I am getting ready to go northeast, out into snow and ice where a little global warming might be welcome. The shortest way to get warm is to go south. I tried standing by a freeway, next to a lot of cars going by to see if I could feel any warmth. I could not detect any warmth, and the snowbank caused by snowplows showed no signs of melting, so I gave up trying to get warm. So, how smart do you have to be to drill a well? I was drilling wells long before the rules and regulations, with my father and brothers. We drilled stock wells, then irrigation, then oil and gas wells. The only well I was called back to fix was here in Oregon. Harold Harold White may be contacted via e-mail to michele@worldwidedrillingresource.com 54 JANUARY 2018 WorldWide Drilling Resource ®