Mining in the United States
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Economy of the United States |
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Mining in the United States has been active since the beginning of colonial times, but became a major industry in the 19th century with a number of new mineral discoveries causing a series of mining rushes. In 2015, the value of coal, metals, and industrial minerals mined in the United States was US$109.6 billion. 158,000 workers were directly employed by the mining industry.[1]
The mining industry has a number of impacts on communities, individuals and the environment. Mine safety incidents have been important parts of American
In 2019, the country was the 4th world producer of
History
The extraction of minerals from the Earth dates back to the Ancient
See also:
- North Carolina, US (1799)
- Georgia Gold Rush, Georgia, US (1828)
- California Gold Rush, California(1848–1855)
- Pikes Peak Gold Rush, Pikes Peak, Colorado (1859)
- Holcomb Valley Gold Rush, California (1860)
- (1874–1878)
- Mount Baker Gold Rush, Whatcom County, Washington, United States(1897–1920s)
- Nome Gold Rush, Nome, Alaska (1899–1909)
- Fairbanks Gold Rush, Fairbanks, Alaska (1902–1905)
Mining by commodity
Top Commodities mined in the US, 2019
Rank | Commodity | Value, US$ billion |
---|---|---|
1 | Coal | 25.1 |
2 | Crushed rock | 18.7 |
3 | Cement | 12.5 |
4 | Gold | 9.0 |
5 | Construction sand and gravel | 9.0 |
6 | Copper | 7.9 |
7 | Industrial sand and gravel | 5.7 |
8 | Iron ore | 5.4 |
Source: US Geological Survey, Mineral Commodities Summaries, 2020.[26] |
Mining by mineral
- Bauxite mining in the United States
- Coal mining in the United States
- Copper mining in the United States
- Gold mining in the United States
- Iron mining in the United States
- Molybdenum mining in the United States
- Phosphate mining in the United States
- Silver mining in the United States
- Uranium mining in the United States
- Zinc mining in the United States
Mining by state
- Category:Mining in Alaska
- Category:Mining in Arizona
- Category:Mining in California
- Category:Mining in Colorado
- Category:Mining in Michigan
- Category:Mining in Minnesota
- Category:Mining in Nevada
- Category:Mining in Pennsylvania
- Category:Mining in Utah
- Category:Mining in West Virginia
Mining accidents
From 1880 to 1910, mine accidents claimed thousands of fatalities, with more than 3,000 in 1907 alone.[27] Where annual mining deaths had numbered more than 1,000 a year during the early part of the 20th century, they decreased to an average of about 500 during the late 1950s, and to 93 during the 1990s.[28] In addition to deaths, many thousands more are injured (an average of 21,351 injuries per year between 1991 and 1999), but overall there has been a downward trend of deaths and injuries.
The
In 1959, the
an underground explosion caused the deaths of 29 miners.Environmental impact
Mining has environmental impacts at many stages in the process and production of mining. In the United States, many different regions in the United States have environmental challenges caused by either historical or current mining.
Mountain top removal
Abandoned mines
There are tens of thousands of abandoned mines in the United States. Many abandoned mines pose environmental challenges, such as acid mine drainage. In Colorado alone, there are 18,382 abandoned mines.[34] The United States has had many different environmental disasters caused by these mines, such as the 2015 Gold King Mine waste water spill. Many Superfund sites are mines. As of January 2020[update]. the EPA lists 142 mines in the Superfund program[2]
Water pollution
Fresh water is used in the mining process for the extraction of minerals like coal and the processing of ore.[35] After the water has cycled through the mining process, it is discharged as effluent. The effluent or drainage is acidic due to the presence of sulfuric acid. Acid-rich water drainage can lead to environmental implications including contaminated drinking water and disruption of aquatic environments near the mining site.[36] In addition to the detrimental effects caused by mining drainage, the mining process is responsible for depleting groundwater supplies. The Santa Cruz River basin is being dried to support a copper mine in Arizona.[37]
Land degradation
44% of mining facilities in the United States are located in forests. Large-scale mining in areas of Latin America, like Brazil, release pollutants detrimental to neighboring rainforests.[38] Copper mining efforts in the Carajas Mineral Province in Brazil result in 6,100 km of deforestation every year.[38] Mining also results in a loss of biodiversity. Deforestation as well as the release of toxic chemicals to both the air and water can affect neighboring plant and animal life.[39] 40% of all global mines are located in areas of increased biodiversity that have experienced decline in species population due to surrounding industry.[40] Chemicals used in the mining process also result in soil erosion that strips the land of essential nutrients affecting surrounding plant and animal life.[40]
Controversies
Mines are often controversial in their local areas, with local residents split by those in favor particularly due to the economic impact of new jobs and those concerned by the environmental impact and occupational hazards. In the case of the proposed
See also
- List of mines in the United States
- Mine Safety and Health Administration
- United States Bureau of Mines
- Coal Wars
- Mine Owners' Association
- National Mining Hall of Fame
- Environmental issues with mining
- North Bloomfield Mining and Gravel Company, a prosecution in 1884 led to the Sawyer Decision, among the first environmental decisions in the United States
- Mountaintop removal#Legislation in the United States
References
- ^ US Geological Survey, Mineral Commodity Summaries, 2016.
- ^ a b US EPA, OLEM (2015-05-27). "Abandoned Mine Lands: Site Information". US EPA. Retrieved 2020-05-06.
- ^ USGS Gold Production Statistics
- ^ USGS Copper Production Statistics
- ^ USGS Platinum Production Statistics
- ^ USGS Silver Production Statistics
- ^ USGS Rhenium Production Statistics
- ^ USGS Sulfur Production Statistics
- ^ USGS Phosphate Production Statistics
- ^ USGS Molybdenum Production Statistics
- ^ USGS Lead Production Statistics
- ^ USGS Zinc Production Statistics
- ^ USGS Vanadinum Production Statistics
- ^ USGS Iron Ore Production Statistics
- ^ USGS Potash Production Statistics
- ^ USGS Cobalt Production Statistics
- ^ USGS Titanium Production Statistics
- ^ USGS Gypsum Production Statistics
- ^ USGS Kyanite Production Statistics
- ^ USGS Lime Production Statistics
- ^ USGS Salt Production Statistics
- ^ World Uranium Mining
- ^ a b c d e Kinematics, General (2019-05-23). "Brief History of Mining & Advancement of Mining Technology". General Kinematics. Retrieved 2023-04-21.
- ^ "Mining History in the United States – Legends of America". www.legendsofamerica.com. Retrieved 2023-04-21.
- ^ a b "California Gold Rush | Definition, History, & Facts | Britannica". www.britannica.com. Retrieved 2023-04-21.
- ^ Mineral Commodity Summaries 2020 (PDF). Reston, Virginia: US Geological Survey. 31 January 2020. Retrieved 14 June 2020.
- ISBN 978-1345966411. Retrieved 14 June 2020.
- ^ Historical Data on Mine Disasters in the United States Archived 2016-02-10 at the Wayback Machine U.S. Department of Labor
- ^ All Mining Fatalities By State Archived 2007-04-18 at the Wayback Machine U.S. Department of Labor, Mine Safety and Health Administration, 15 January 2007
- ^ Coal Fatalities By State Archived 2007-02-21 at the Wayback Machine U.S. Department of Labor, Mine Safety and Health Administration, 15 January 2007
- ^ "Appeals Court Upholds Mountaintop Removal Mining". www.ens-newswire.com. Retrieved 19 June 2017.
- ^ U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, "Mountaintop Mining/Valley Fills in Appalachia: Final Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement," issued 2005 June 25, available at http://www.epa.gov/region03/mtntop/index.htm (accessed 2006 August 20).
- ^ "Mountaintop Mining and Valley Fills in Appalachia (MTM/VF) - Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement". Retrieved 19 June 2017.
- ^ Sares, Matthew A.; Gusey, Daryl L.; Neubert, John T. (1999). "Abandoned Mines and Naturally Occurring Acid Rock Drainage on National Forest System Lands in Colorado" (PDF). www.coloradogeologicalsurvey.org. Colorado Geological Survey. Retrieved October 25, 2016.
- ^ "Mining Water Use | U.S. Geological Survey". www.usgs.gov. Retrieved 2023-04-21.
- ^ "Mining and Water Quality | U.S. Geological Survey". www.usgs.gov. Retrieved 2023-04-21.
- ^ "Mining and Water Pollution". Safe Drinking Water Foundation. Retrieved 2023-04-21.
- ^ a b Farmer, Matt (2021-03-22). "Mining and deforestation: the unheeded industry challenge?". Mining Technology. Retrieved 2023-04-21.
- ^ "Addressing biodiversity impacts from mining: Progress made and opportunities to act at COP15 - Forest Declaration". 2022-12-07. Retrieved 2023-04-21.
- ^ a b "Spotlight on biodiversity risk and opportunity in the mining sector – United Nations Environment – Finance Initiative". Retrieved 2023-04-21.
- ^ Bergquist, Lee. 2002. "Decision puts water quality in tribe's hands; Sokaogon can set standard near mine." Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 6/4/2002, 1A.
This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the United States Geological Survey. This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the United States Department of Labor.