There is no doubt that mining is a major economic activity in many countries. Mining has a number of common stages or activities, each of which has potentially adverse impacts on the natural environment, society and culture heritage, the health and safety of mine workers and communities. The results indicate that mining activities have created a multitude of income opportunities for the inhabitants of the state, but they have caused the problems in mining communities such as air and water pollution, housing collapse, or land destruction. In Wisconsin, the business of mining has become a hot topic for many living in the state because of the impact on area jobs and the environment.
Mines that are located in northern Wisconsin have had a significant impact on the state for many years. Wisconsin mining was discovered in 1,200 B.C. by Native Americans who mined copper for tools, jewelry and hunting utensils. Mines of northern Wisconsin remained largely untouched by white settlers until 1885. Mining companies became major companies which developed all aspects of the state’s economy including furniture, paint, mining equipment manufacturing, and banks through the late 1960s into the late 1990s. For example, within six months of mining development in the Gogebic Range, mining alone supported and fostered farming, retail, manufacturing, the lumber and logging industry and tourism throughout northern
Wisconsin. Today, national and world demand for metals has grown, stimulating exploration of
potential future mining projects in Wisconsin. According to a recent study by North-Star economics, the greatest opportunity for the economic development from Wisconsin mining is found right back in the Gogebic Range of Norther...
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...example is Rhonda Olkonen, a teacher from
Hurley, broke down in tears as she described how her husband is now living in a trailer in North
Dakota and working on a mine there, even though he would be qualified to work in a Wisconsin mine (Glaze, 2013). The Gov. Walkers said in a statement, “On behalf of the unemployed skilled workers in our state will benefit from the thousands of mining-related jobs over the next few years.” It is clear that many on both sides of the issues are waiting on a decision that will hopefully satisfy them. Supporters of mines hope that the bill will lead to more jobs and economic development, whereas opponents fear that the bill reduces environmental protections that exist in current mining law. Of course, everyone wants to live in both good economic and environmental conditions. However, we will have to wait for a decision.
The tar creek mining site originally was owned by a Native American tribe, the Quapaw. The Quapaw wanted to keep these lands, but the Bureau of Indian Affairs deemed members opposing a transaction to mining companies “incompetent” (1). In such a case the business could continue and the Bureau of Indian Affairs sold the lands to mining companies. In essence these lands were stolen from the Quapaw because they were ripe for mining. These mines were then used from approximately 1891 to 1970. In the 79 years the mines were open 1.7 million metric tons (~3.75 billion pounds) of lead and 8.8 million metric tons (~19.4 billion pounds) of zinc were withdrawn from the mine (2). The entire area around Tar Creek is known as the tri-state mining area. This tri-state area was a massive source of metals. This area accounted for 35% of the all worldwide metal for a decade. It also provided the majority of metals the United States used in World wars I and II (3).
The California Gold Rush is one of the most interesting events in American, as well as, California History. The event gathered many in search of quick riches and opportunity globally. The opportunity of mining stretched American east coast influence to the West coast. Also bringing many from South America, Canada, and the Pacific Islands. Andrew Isenberg wrote, Mining in California: An Ecological History, which gives a detailed account of the California Gold rush and how it affected the California economy as well as California social environment during the 19th century. Isenberg conveys his argument in two parts throughout the book the economic side as well as the social side.
Removal of the mountaintops causes environmental impacts from blasting. The blasting has caused rocks to be deposited into valleys on the hillsides, burying almost 2,000 miles of streams which feed the Mississippi River. Slurry, the residue which is used to clean the coal can wash into groundwater and may contain arsenic, lead, manganese, iron, sodium, strontium, and sulfate. A recent research study is beginning to link these environmental impacts to the grave health concerns in the Appalachian communities. During most of the Mountaintop removal mining’s history coal industries have been able to obtain permits easily to operate, but once under the Obama administration Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) those permits now take more time to obtain. The permit process requires all applications to be reviewed before being given out to coal
...es, "Navajo Generating Station and Kayenta Mine: An Economic Impact Study," Arizona State University, 2012.
The United States Environmental Protection Agency (2005) defines mountaintop removal as “a mining practice where the tops of mountains are removed, exposing the seams of coal.” Coal companies throughout Appalachia adopted this process as a means of acquiring coal faster. People in support of mountaintop removal concentrate, not only on the cheap, plentiful energy which is produced, but also the supposed increase in safer occupation opportunities for miners. Such individuals also argue that flattened land provides space for airports, prisons, and shopping centers. However, mountaintop removal has serious consequences, which need to be revealed.
Taconite mining has become more popular ever since the rock has become rare. Taconite was once considered “waste rock,” but is currently really valuable. Since the Gogebic Iron Range has about three-fourths of all the taconite in the nation people from all over the country want to take over and start mining. Although taconite mining would do some good for the community, such as creating tons of jobs and boosting the economy for awhile, there are too many risks. Taconite mining has a negative effect on the environment and health.
Smith-Baranzini, Marlene, Richard J. Orsi, and James J. Rawls. A Golden State: Mining And Economic Development In Gold Rush California. Berkeley, California: University of California Press, 1999. eBook (EBSCOhost). Web. 26 Mar. 2014.
With a large number of people come natural flaws. There’s things that need to change and these would be one of them. If it hurts many people money shouldn’t even be in the question. Fracking creates lots of revenue for our state however, it shouldn’t go so far to where it hurts the health and our states agricultural wellbeing. In other words come up with something else to solve these issues.
Another way the changes have helped is by raising the bar for wage expectations. Due to the oilfield paying so well, other businesses have to compete with their pay. Because the cost of living has gone up so much, people can live more comfortably with this raise in pay.
An estimated 1 million diamond miners in Africa earn less than $1 a dollar a day (Brilliant Earth n.d.) Children as young as 8 forgo school for daily wages ranging between $0.15- $0.60 (The International Human Rights Clinic at Harvard Law School 2009). According to Adele Farquhar, a man fighting for legal ownership of a diamond mine, the problem isn’t people mining for precious diamonds, it’s those buying the diamonds originating in conflict areas; "People think it's a Zimbabwe problem but they forget that there is huge international complicity. You can't stop the Zimbabweans until you stop the money men. The people in Zimbabwe are getting next to nothing for these diamonds. The guy with the pick and shovel is literally earning $5. The guy to go and find is the one making $1,000. Go and look at the money and see who else is benefiting. That's why there's no momentum to stop this thing” (Cahill 2009). According to Time, the owner of the mines usually takes around 70% of the value when diamonds are sold to
Kang, Stephanie. Sanders, Peter. "Off the job, Onto the streets." The Wall Street Journal. April 11, 2006.
Colorado also has a rich mining history which began in about 1859 with the discovery of gold and development of new reserves, Colorado’s present day industry is a modern, innovative, safe and environmentally responsible citizen that extracts a wide variety of minerals such as; gold, Marble, and gypsum from the earth, valued at more than $2 billion each year. (Colorado Mining Association, 2007)
Lins, C., & Horwitz, E. (2007). Sustainability in the Mining Sector. Retrieved November 6, 2017, from http://www.fbds.org.br/IMG/pdf/doc-295.pdf
The mining industry is a billion dollar industry that has been around for years. Miners and business insiders know exactly how lucrative the business is. In calendar your 2016 a net profit of $US20 billion was the aggregated profit for global miners. Mining comes at a cost and the deaths of miners is one of the costs. One of the most disastrous mining accidents took over 1500 lives. Still over the world needs miners. To prevent accidents the mining industry has stricter safety regulations. At the same time the industry has also had technological improvements. The stricter safety regulations and technological improvements in mining are
Mining is the process or industry of obtaining minerals from the earth. Topics in this paper I’ll be specifically discussing are pros and cons of mining, structures of a mine, mining in general, California gold rush, diamonds in Africa, and comparison of diamond and gold mines.