WorldWide Drilling Resource

49 WorldWide Drilling Resource ® FEBRUARY 2014 Mining in the USA Part 19 Compiled by Bonnie Love, Editor WorldWide Drilling Resource ® Ohio has a long history of coal min- ing, predating the state’s official entry as the 17th state of the Union. The existence of coal in the Buckeye state was noted as early as 1748, by travelers who spoke of a burning coal mine in Tuscarawas C o u n t y . Although the exact date coal was first mined may never be known, the first reported pro- duction of coal was in 1800 in Jefferson County. Producing more than 3 billion tons of coal since 1800, coal mining has been an important resource for Ohio. Coal mining was not regulated in the 1800s, so miners would gather in secret to discuss the poor working conditions, long hours, and meager pay until 1890, when the UnitedMine Workers ofAmerica was founded in Columbus, Ohio. At the height of the industrial revo- lution, Ohio was among the nation’s top coal-producing and -consuming states, which provided a significant boost to the economy. The state is located in the north- ern portion of theAppalachian Coal Basin, which is one of the largest coal fields in the United States. Some experts estimate Ohio still has 250 years worth of coal re- serves, which is good news since nearly 90% of the state’s electricity is generated in coal-fired power pants. With coal being such a strong re- source in the state, it is no surprise Ohio is also a pioneer in clean coal technology. In 1984, the people of Ohio passed a bond issue to support clean coal research and development. Partnering with uni- versities, utility companies, research or- ganizations, and various government agencies, the state has made great strides in developing a cleaner way to use coal. Just last year, a group led by Liang-Shih Fan, professor of chemical and biomol- ecular engineering and director of Ohio State University’s Clean Coal Research Laboratory demonstrated a new type of clean coal technology. Coal-Direct Chemical Looping chemically harnesses coal’s energy while capturing 99% of the carbon dioxide before it’s released into the atmosphere. Coal isn’t the only resource in Ohio; ohio the state also has a long history of salt, clay, shale, and limestonemining. Salt was one of the first minerals mined with data showing early frontiersmen discovered salt in the 1700s. When the Gold Rush of the mid 1800s hit, salt was a necessity for those heading out to tame the wild west. Limestone mining also began in the 1700s, and by the mid 1800s it was among the state’s most valuable re- sources. It remains valuable today with over 100 quarries producing limestone/ dolomite in the state. Ohio continues to be one of the top clay, coal, salt, and limestone producers in the U.S. Our series continues with Oklahoma! Morton International’s salt mine in Fairport, Ohio, was drilled in 1959. It was the country’s deepest and most modern salt mine at the time. Photo courtesy of mortonsalt.com