WorldWide Drilling Resource

Northern Plains Chapter of the ISEE President: Ron Eastman Tel: 307-680-8805 www.npcisee.org 27 WorldWide Drilling Resource ® JUNE 2013 Mining in the USA Part 13 Compiled by Bonnie Love, Editor WorldWide Drilling Resource ® Although modern mining in Nevada began in 1849, historical records indicate mining was done by the state’s earliest inhabitants, Native American Indians. They fashioned arrowheads, spear points, and various cutting and scraping tools from Nevada’s obsidian, opalite, chal- cedony, agate, jasper, and quartz. Clovis points found near the Carson Sink and in Washoe Valley are believed to have been made 10,000 or more years ago. Much later, about 300 A.D. to 500 A.D., theAnasazi mined turquoise near Boulder City in what is now Clark County, and mined salt fromdeposits near St. Thomas. There is also evidence of early Indian turquoise mining and processing at Crescent Peak. Once gold was discovered in California, the race for the West was on. In the spring of 1850, a group of Mormon im- migrants on their way to California arrived too early to cross the Sier ra Mountains. The group decided to camp on the Carson River and wait for the snow to thaw. To pass the time, some of the men tried prospecting in a large canyon, and they found gold in the first pan of gravel they washed. They soon discovered sand bars and gravel banks had plenty of gold. As soon as the mountains were passable, the group forged on toward California. Little did they know just how close they were to what would later be called the Comstock Lode, the richest known U.S. silver deposit, which was located up- stream from where they were panning. The wealth of Nevada mines, popu- lation surge they created, and the American Civil War prompted Abraham Lincoln to declare Nevada the 36th state in the Union on October 31, 1864. Nevada is one of the country’s min- ing powerhouses. The state produces 87% of the total U.S. gold production and is the third largest gold producer in the world behind South Africa and Australia. In addition to leading the nation in gold production, Nevada is also among the leading barite, silver, and gypsum pro- ducing states. Nevada’s mining industry provides nearly 52,000 jobs statewide and approx- imately $100 million in state tax revenue annually. Other items mined in the state include diatomite, dolomite, lead, limestone, lithi- Nevada Photo of the Mighty Miners who help conduct tours at the McCaw School of Mines courtesy of mccawschoolofmines.org um, magnesite, molybdenum, salt, silica, sulfur, tungsten, and zinc. Nevada embraces the mining indus- try and leads the way for educating future generations. The McCaw School of Mines is built on the campus of the Gordon McCaw Elementary School in Henderson, Nevada. Its Jewel of the Desert simulat- ed mine gives children a unique hands-on experience and in addition to educating them about mining, it also covers the his- tory and importance of mining. Next month, we head back to the East Coast to take a look at mining in New Hampshire and New Jersey! 4< /*2'3* "& > > > > ,'< ? /2+ '6* /3+6 /3+6 ')1/3- " " !8=2+ /7843 4* 4* ')1/3- !+8 5)7 !8'3*'6* $'2:+ 9((+6 6':+2 $'2:+ 9((+6 !+'87 9((+6 $'2:+ 37+687 #6+8.'3+ $'2:+ 37+687 $'2:+ !56/3- ! ! $'2:+ 4:+6 '71+8 ? !;/:+2 ')1/3- ? !+6/+7 ? !+6/+7 ? !+6/+7 ? !+6/+7 ? !+6/+7 ? !+6/+7 < /3+6 < /3+6 < /3+6 < /3+6 < /3+6 6/)+7 !9(0+)8 "4 .'3-+ %/8.498 48/)+ !@ @ < < < < < $ " , + )$ ,5 0(6$ 1- 5-2/ 0.$"(%(" 1(-,0 1- 5-2/ 0 -/ /$ "-,$ 5-2/ '-*$ -.$,$/ 4(1' ,5 15.$ !(1 $4 0$# (10 -*$ .$,$/0 / & (10 (,&0 ++$/0 ++$/ (10 (3$/1$/0 $ 1(..(,& 1 !(*(6$/0 * 4 (10 (.$ (.$0 -*1 -, $$1' 2!0 -!(*$ !(1"-(,"/-# '-1+ (* "-+ 444 !(1"-(," "-+ Welcome Attendees A welcome treat to attendees at presentations is running a short video as they enter. It immediately captures their attent ion, so they don’ t start checking their e-mail! www.sliderocket.com