AG IN THE CLASSROOM–HELPING THE NEXT GENERATION UNDERSTAND THEIR CONNECTION TO AGRICULTURE

Colorado

R e a d e r

M A R C H 2 0 0 3M I N E R A L & E N E R G Y I S S U E

C O L O R A D O F O U N D A T I O N F O R A G R I C U L T U R E / w w w . g r o w i n g y o u r f u t u r e . c o m 1

Colorado is Rich in Natural Resources andMining History

The search for gold had a largeimpact on the settlement andhistory of Colorado. In 1858, goldwas discovered in Cherry Creek(just south of Denver) and thegold rush was on!

As word of riches spread, a rushof prospectors came seeking theirfortunes, and mining camps sprangup throughout the mountains.Soon more gold was discovered inIdaho Springs, Blackhawk, CentralCity, South Park, Boulder,Colorado City, Gold Hill, Hamiltonand Tarryall.

During these early years ofColorado history, coal was alsodiscovered near Boulder and inparts of Weld County. At onetime, this area had more than 100coal mines! Most of the coal minedin Colorado today comes from thenorthwestern part of the state.

With mining came farmers,ranchers, grocery stores,newspapers, banks, schools,stagecoaches and railroads. Overtime many mines shut down andsome camps turned into ghost

towns. Other towns continued togrow and became cities that westill have today.

While looking for gold in 1860in the Leadville area, prospectorsfound silver ore. Soon Leadvillebecame a bustling mining camp.Mining in this area continuedthrough the 1900s. Zinc and leadwere mined in addition to goldand silver.

During this time, additionalnatural resources were beingdiscovered in Colorado. In 1862the first oil well was drilled nearFlorence. In 1879 Molybdenum(pronounced mah-lib-da-num)was found in Climax, north ofLeadville. Molybdenum is used tomake rockets, jet engines, autoparts and tools.The Climax areawas the largest source ofmolybdenum in the United States.

Radium, vanadium and uraniumwere discovered near Montrosein 1881. Radium is used inmedical testing and uranium isused for nuclear power.

In the late 1800s coal miningaround Trinidad and Walsenburgwas big business, and in 1882

Pueblo built a steel mill.Electrical power for the millwas generated by burning coal.That was about the same time (continued on page 2)

Horses, mules and burros helped old-timeminers and prospectors in many ways.

Miners use picks and shovels to get ore out of underground mines.

Prospectors use gold pans to helpfind gold in streams and rivers.

2

The Colorado Reader publication and Ag in the Classroom are projects of the Colorado Foundation for Agriculture. Educational projects are produced in cooperation with the Colorado Department of Agriculture, other state and federal agencies, Colorado commodity groups, Colorado agricultural associations,

state universities and colleges and interested individuals. Colorado Readers are provided free to educators requesting them. For more information contact:Bette Blinde, Director, Colorado Foundation for Agriculture, P.O. Box 10, Livermore, CO 80536 or phone (970) 881-2902.

Financial support for this reader has been graciously provided by: State of Colorado, Department of Natural Resources, Division of Minerals and Geology;Anglogold North America,Inc.; Shell Frontier Oil and Gas; Colorado Mining Association; Colorado Rock Products Association; Colorado Ready Mixed Concrete Association;

Rocky Mountain Association of Geologists; American Institute of Professional Geologists; Marcia and Ira Paulin; and Associated Governments of Northwest Colorado Written, Illustrated and Designed by Carrie Jordan, Edited by Bette Blinde and Emmett Jordan

If you’ve ever played the guessinggame Twenty Questions, you knowone of the first questions asked is,“Is it animal, plant or mineral?”That’s because almost everythingthat is not derived from a plant oranimal is made from minerals andpetroleum products.

From the time you get out ofbed in the morning, brush yourteeth and wash your face, to thetime you go to bed, you are

continually using products that aremade from minerals.

Your toothbrush and toothpaste,soap, comb, toilet, sink and showerare all made from materials thatwere mined or pumped from theground.

Then there is your breakfastcereal fortified with zinc and otherminerals. Don’t forget the ceramicbowl, juice glass and metal spoon,and the muffin you ate made with

Why Is Miningtelephones and electricity came toDenver.

Colorado’s largest gold discoverywas made in Cripple Creek in1891.This area alone producedmore than 20 million dollars worthof gold in 1900, making it the fourthlargest gold camp in the world.

The discovery of tungsten nearBoulder in the early 1900s createdanother boom. Tungsten is used inlight bulbs.

By the 1950s, natural gas joinedcoal and uranium as sources ofenergy for the west.

Crushed stone, gypsum,limestone, clay and other materialssuch as sand, gravel and limestonehave been mined for a long time inColorado.These materials are usedto construct roads and buildings.

Central Colorado produces someof the finest white marble in theworld.This marble was used tobuild the Tomb of the UnknownSoldier and part of the LincolnMemorial in Washington, D.C.

Colorado is also famous foraquamarines, rhodochrosite, beryl,and even diamonds, which werediscovered in Larimer County in 1975.

With mountains, canyons andplains, Colorado has greatgeological diversity that makes ourstate rich in mineral resources.Mining isn’t just a part ofColorado’s history–it is a large partof our present and future. Miningand supporting industriescontribute nearly 8 billion dollars toour state every year.

Mining Historycontinued...

THE HOUSE THAT MINING BUILT

Asphalt shingles nailedwith steel nails Glass windows

made fromsand andfeldspar

Guttersmade ofgalvanizedsteel (fromiron andzinc)

Insulationmade ofsilica andfeldspar

Vinyl sidingmade frompetroleumproducts

Swingset made from steel

Sandbox full of sand

Wallboards made from gypsum

Toilets and sinks made

fromporcelain

(clay)Pipes made

from copper,zinc or steel

Electrical wiringmade from

copper

Appliances madefrom steel,

aluminum and plastic

Asphalt road made from petroleum products

Foundation and sidewalk made ofconcrete (limestone,clay, shale and gypsum)

Steel edging, sprinklers and gravel for landscaping

Fireplace made from brick or

stone lined with steel box (iron)

Paint contains zinc

Doorknobs locks and hinges

made of steel

Bricks made from clay

C O L O R A D O F O U N D A T I O N F O R A G R I C U L T U R E / w w w . g r o w i n g y o u r f u t u r e . c o m 3

gImportant To Us?baking soda. Many fabrics such aspolyester and nylon are made frompetroleum products. Even thezippers and buttons on yourclothes and backpack are probablymade from metal or plastic.

Do you ride a bus or bicycle toschool? They are both made ofmany types of metal that aremined. Cars and trucks usegasoline to run. There is asphalt inthe road they drive on; limestone

in sidewalks; and bricks, shinglesand windows in the schoolbuilding.

The walls are made fromgypsum.The floors may be madewith ceramic tiles. Copper is usedfor electrical wiring.The list goeson: light fixtures, bulbs, computers,calculators, crayons, pencils,blackboards, chalk, chairs anddesks. Even the paper found inbooks and magazines has a clay

coating on it.You can’t go a day without

using products that were mined.Minerals are some of our mostvaluable and widely used naturalresources.

15 different minerals are usedto make a car. 35 minerals areused to produce a TV, and 42separate minerals are used tomake a telephone.FU

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CT

Look at the items above and list all the items on the lines below that are not made of minerals:

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

Which things are not made with minerals?

4

Mining means taking minerals outof the earth.There are many typesof mining that are used dependingon the type of mineral and whereit is located. Holes or tunnels aresometimes dug in the ground toremove ore, metal or otherminerals that we use every day.

Surface mining such as open pitor strip mining is used when amineral is near the surface. Anopen pit mine usually looks like adeep bowl cut into the earth withsides that look like huge stairsteps.This type of mining is donewith heavy earth-movingequipment, explosives to break upthe ore, and huge trucks thatmove the ore out of the pit. Someof the minerals removed bysurface mining include: gold, coal,iron, gypsum and copper.

Strip mining is a kind of surfacemining frequently used for miningcoal near the surface. A strip minelooks like a wide, not very deep,

flat-bottomed pit. Heavyequipment is also used for thistype of mining. Huge shovels digand dump trucks carry the ore.

Quarrying is cutting large blocksof rock out of the ground withsaws.They are then lifted withcranes and loaded onto trucks.From there they are cut intopieces that can be used forsculpting monuments orconstruction of buildings andbridges. Rocks such as marble,granite and sandstone are minedthis way. Sometimes marble andgranite is polished and used forcountertops or floors.

Underground mining is usedwhen minerals such as coal, leadand zinc are found deep in theearth. Miners dig vertical shafts into the earth, or if they are mining a hillside they dig ahorizontal opening called an adit.From there, horizontal tunnelsare dug.

Placer mining is used whenminerals are found mixed withsand or gravel along rivers, lakesor oceans. Panning for gold is anexample of placer mining.Theminer scoops up sand, gravel andwater into a pan or sluice box.Using water and a shaking-swirlingmotion, metals such as gold orplatinum sink to the bottom.Thesand and gravel wash off in thewater at the top.

Dredges which can look likehuge 3-story buildings are alsoused for placer mining.Thesehuge pieces of equipment floaton the water and dig materialthat is as much as 200 feet belowthe surface.They then use waterto separate the minerals fromthe waste that is put in pilescalled tailings.

What Is Mining and How Is It Done?

Some mines are very deep

underground, sometimes

more than a mile.FU

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Why did the prospector kiss his mule?

!286 1248 286 221 790 807 806 595 1061 221 188 790

Write the answers for these number problems. Match the letters to theanswers on the lines below.Then you’ll discover the answer to the question.

H

E

I

T

P

A

Y

D

R

853-632

995-231

415+392

189+406

11x26

276-93

C

MS

26x31 366

-178

482+308

78x16 590

+471

64x5

C O L O R A D O F O U N D A T I O N F O R A G R I C U L T U R E / w w w . g r o w i n g y o u r f u t u r e . c o m 5

Every year, dozens of peopleare injured or killed whileplaying on mine property. Mines,whether they are old andabandoned or still operating, arevery dangerous places.The only

safe thing to do is STAY OUTand STAY ALIVE!

Fences and “No Trespassing”signs are sometimes found onmine properties. You shouldnever climb these fences and

enter mine property. Some oldabandoned mines may not havesigns or fences. If you shouldfind yourself at an old mine,quarry or gravel pit, leaveimmediately and stay away.

STAY OUT–STAY ALIVE!

Do not walk anywhere near mine openings. The groundaround shafts, open pits and caves can collapse withoutwarning, and you could fall hundreds of feet downthese underground holes. At the surface, they may behidden by plants or covered by rotting boards.

Do not walk through or touch horizontal mineopenings or supports. Timbers are used to supportthe mine’s roof or walls and can rot easily. Theymay seem sturdy, but you could brush against themand cause the entire area to collapse or cave in.

Do not touch equipment or wires on the ground. Theymight explode. Unused explosives such as dynamite,black powder and blasting caps can be set off by yourvoice, a touch or a step.

Do not swim in quarries, pits or mines. You could breakyour neck diving into the water. There could be sharprocks or equipment near the surface, and the steepsides make it difficult to get out once you get in. Also,the water may be contaminated with chemicals.

Do not go into old mine buildings. Stairs, ladders orfloors may collapse. Never play with equipment. Oldbuildings might contain explosives, electric hazardsor other dangerous materials or equipment.

...you might encounter poisonous gases in an abandonedmine. You can come upon these dangerous gases withoutwarning as they are odorless and colorless.

...you might get bitten by poisonous snakes, scorpionsor spiders that often live in abandoned mines. Bearsand mountain lions may make their homes there too.

...you could get lost or trapped and starve to death ordie from thirst, exhaustion or exposure to the elements.

Do not climb or play on or around piles of tailings,rocks or sand. The entire pile can collapse or slide,hurting you or someone below you.

NEVER GO INSIDE UNDERGROUND MINES

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Materials Mined and Produced in ColoradoDirections: Use this map of the State of Colorado to answer the questions below.

Moffat

Rio Blanco

Garfield

Mesa

Delta

Montrose

San Miguel

Dolores

Ouray

San Juan

MontezumaLa Plata

Hinsdale

Mineral

Archuleta

Rio Grande

Conejos

Alamosa

Saguache

Gunnison

Pitkin

Eagle

Costilla

Custer

Chaffee

Lake

Park

Fremont

Teller

Pueblo Crowley

OteroHuerfano

Las AnimasBaca

Bent

Prowers

El Paso

Lincoln

Kiowa

Cheyenne

Kit Carson

Routt Jackson

Grand

Summit

ClearCreek

LarimerWeld

Morgan

Jefferson

Adams

Arapahoe

Douglas Elbert

Washington

LoganSedgwick

Phillips

Yuma

DenverGilpin

Boulder

Gold

Coal

Peat

Granite

Limestone

Sandstone

Quartz

Silver

Copper

ShaleDolomite

Molybdenum

Vanadium

Lead

Zinc

Marble

Ash/Cinders

Clay

Gypsum

Cobalt Pumice

Stone

SilicaMicaOil Shale

Gemstones

Lithium

Ore

Uranium

Sodium

DiamondsCarbonates

Carbon

Iron

Cadmium

All Colorado Counties Mine Sand and Gravel except Denver and Gilpin Counties

Oil

Natural Gas

1. In which Colorado county are diamonds mined? (It’s in the northern part of the state) _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _2. What do people in Baca County mine besides sand and gravel? (Baca is in southeastern Colorado) _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _3. In which county, Lake or Summit, is molybdenum mined? (Both counties are in central Colorado) _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _4. In what county was cadmium mined? (It’s in the southwestern part of the state) _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _5. What do people in Teller County mine besides sand and gravel? (Teller County is in central Colorado)

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _6. In which county, Boulder or Jefferson, was copper mined? (Both counties are located near Denver

county) _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _7. What do people in Fremont County mine besides sand and gravel? (It’s in the south central part of

Colorado) _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

C O L O R A D O F O U N D A T I O N F O R A G R I C U L T U R E / w w w . g r o w i n g y o u r f u t u r e . c o m 7

What Colorado’sMinerals Are Used For:Ash/Cinders Concrete, cinder blocks, soil stabilization and

back-filling in constructionCadmium Batteries, fire detection systems, electric

cables, pigments for plastic, ceramics and glassCarbon Batteries, bicycle parts, tennis racket parts, parts

for wind turbines and the aerospace industryCarbonates Cement, mortar and antacidsCoal Generating electricity (82% of Colorado’s electricity

is generated from coal), dyes, fertilizer, explosives,synthetic fabrics, fingernail polish, medicines and steel

Cobalt Airplane engines, ceramics and paint driersCopper Plumbing, electric wiring, power lines,TVs and penniesClay Bricks, ceramics, sculpting, paper, paint and kitty litterDiamonds Jewelry, cutting blades and drillsDolomite Asphalt, pavement, ceramics and fertilizerGemstones JewelryGold Computers, electronics, jewelry, satellites and dentistryGranite Buildings, floors and countertopsGypsum Wallboard, plaster and cementIron Pipes, brass, steel, screws, nails, cosmetics and hair dyeLead Car batteries, fuel tanks, computers,TV tubes

and fishing sinkersLimestone Buildings, pavement, cement and fireplacesLithium Ceramics, glass, lubricants, medications and batteriesMarble Sculpting, bridges, buildings, floors and countertopsMica Sheet rock (for walls), paint, hair dye, cosmetics, soap

and electronicsMolybdenum Rockets, jet engines, auto parts, tools and steelNatural Gas Heating buildings, vehicle fuel, generating electricityOil Gasoline, heating, asphalt, and plasticOil Shale Fuel, lubricating oil, grease, and fertilizerPeat Soil supplementation and waste water treatmentPumice Building materials, cleaning and scrubbing productsQuartz Watches, radios and lighting fixtures Sandstone Buildings, walkways, flooring and landscapingShale Paints, plastics, asphalt, and roofingSilica Glass, insulation, computer chips, cosmetics, antacids,

light bulbs, paint, laundry detergent and drain cleanerSilver Jewelry, film, electronics, silverware and dentistrySodium Making table salt, cleaners, glass and baking sodaStone Building, construction and landscaping materialUranium Generating energy and nuclear defense Vanadium Making steel, electronics and ceramicsZinc Sunblock, fertilizer, cosmetics, shampoo and paint

Weld County has the most

oil and gas wells in Colorado

at over 10,000 (42%).FU

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AC

TSupplement Facts:

Cobalamin-Vitamin B12 6 mcg

Retinol-Vitamin A 5000 I.U.

Calcium 100 mg

Ascorbic Acid-Vitamin C 60 mg

Zinc 15 mg

Magnesium 20 mg

Vitamin D 400 I.U.

Phosphorus 100 mg

Thiamin-Vitamin B1 1.5 mg

Copper 2 mg

Riboflavin-Vitamin B2 1.7 mg

Iron 18 mg

Tocopherol-Vitamin E 30 I.U.

Pyridoxine-Vitamin B6 2 mg

Kelley’s brother likes to teaseher whenever he gets a chance. AsKelley is taking her vitamins onemorning, he jokes,“Don’t break yourteeth on the rocks in there.”

Vitamin tablets don’t really haverocks in them. But they do containminerals. Help Kelley find theminerals in the ingredient list below,by circling them.

RECYCLING It’s everyone’s job to recycle.

Metals such as aluminum can berecycled and used again.Aluminum is used for manydifferent things–from the spaceshuttle to baseball bats, skate-boards to pop cans or deodorant.

Recycling steel uses 74% lessenergy than mining and refiningthe ore. And recycling coppersaves 87% over mining it for thefirst time. Even concrete can berecycled from old buildings androads and reused as road base.

In addition to taking yournewspaper, glass and pop cans toa recycling center, you should buyand ask for recycled products.You can do your part to help cutdown on the use of naturalresources.This will decrease ourneed for landfills and reduce theamount of energy we use formining and processing minerals.All of this will save money andhelp protect the environment!

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Once all the minerals havebeen taken out of the ground, themine closes down.Then the workof reclamation begins.This meansreturning the site to its naturalcondition so that it can be usedby people and animals again.

Today, reclamation is as much apart of mining as taking theminerals out of the earth.Environmental engineers workwith wildlife biologists,conservationists and naturalresource officials to developreclamation plans.

Miners take down buildingsand remove equipment androads. Frequently they seal uppits and the shafts fromunderground mines. Othertimes instead of closing theseopenings, miners will partiallycover them with metal grates sosmall animals can live in them.The shaft becomes a manmadecave–perfect for bats and othersmall creatures.

Water and air pollution arecleaned up, and waste rock ortailings are treated if needed.Then the miners smooth and

even out the ground, fertilize thesoil and plant native grass,wildflowers and trees.

Sometimes miners createmarshes, ponds and islands thatprovide habitat for birds, fish andother wildlife such as baldeagles. Wetlands such as thesecan provide a natural way toclean polluted water. Rivers andlakes may even be stocked withfish for recreational fishing.After reclamation, the animalscome back.

In the case of deep open pitmines, it may not be possible toreturn all the land to its originalcondition. Sometimes old minesor quarries are used for landfills(for trash) or filled with water forreservoirs or recreational use.

When reclamation is completemine sites can be used forwildlife refuges, cattle grazing,new home or officedevelopments, farm ground orrecreation.

Reclamation can take manyyears to complete. Once it’sdone, you might not ever knowthat mining took place there.

Every Day Is Earth Day For Miners

It takes 96% less energy to

recycle and reuse aluminum

than it does to mine and

process it in the first place. FUN

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How many animals can you namethat live in this reclaimed mine?

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