The Mining Industry Of The United States Essay

In 1907, two miles south of Centralia, Illinois was the Centralia Mine No. 5. The Mine was there to provide coal during World War II. This particular mine employed 250 men and produced 2,000 tons of coal each day. During the next several years there were several complaints made regarding the safety of the mine. On March 25, 1947, the mine exploded, killing 111 miners. (Stillman, 2010)

Iron ore mining was very successful in the late 1800s, and it is still going today.

The title of this case study alone insinuates that perhaps this mine disaster could have been prevented. Martin opens his case study with very descriptive and gruesome details about the events that lead up to the explosion. Martin states: “One hundred and eleven men were killed in that

One Saturday night, a mob of masked men, who numbered forty to sixty, approached a small house. Arriving at the house, they dragged two slumbering men from their bunks and hustled them from the house, without even allowing them to put on their clothes, and started to kick and beat them. One of the invaders drew his pistol and shot at one of the victims. The bullet pierced the body of the man and inflicted a terrible wound. Both men who were attacked that night died. This event occurred in Rico, a camp in the San Juan Mountains of Colorado on May 13, 1882. The two Chinese miners that inhabited the village were kicked, cuffed, and dragged over the ground by the hair of their heads, clubbed

Of all the values plaguing Montana socially and environmentally, the issue of mining plays the greatest role in the state. Although recognized as being one of the largest pillars of Montana’s economy, mining poses a serious threat to the ecosystems surrounding it. The main problem within this industry is that after mining takes places, there are many toxic materials, like arsenic and zinc, that remain in the waste rock and tailings. These toxic substances are harmful to people as well as wildlife and once they enter the groundwater, rivers, or soil, they become a very serious health hazard. Currently, there are government regulations for all mining companies that assure none are participating in these harmful practices. Although many new companies

The buyers for mining industry usually have medium to high power. There are two elements that could affect the buyer’s power. One is buyer’s level of negotiation; the other is buyer’s price sensitivity. In our case, the two companies are producing coal and uranium. These two products are mainly used for producing electricity. Buyers for these natural resources must have large quantity of demand, and also they usually have government behind them for negotiation. Even through these natural resources are unrenewable and limited, there are other mining companies producing them and these resources are undifferentiated from other companies products. This makes the buyers have high

According to an NBC Nightly News report (2011) on a Monday afternoon of April 5, 2010 a massive sound of underground explosions burst through the Upper Big Branch Mine located in southern West Virginia killing twenty-nine miners. This was reported to be one of the worst disasters in the United States since 1970. Based on the information reported on the NBC Nightly News (2011), the owners of Massey Energy along with the Health and Safety Administration fail the responsibility to ensure the safety conditions of the mine workers.

Colorado has a longstanding past of providing the nation with the needed coal, oil, gas and other "energy" supplies, while providing jobs along with wealth in abundance through boom and bust fashion. These industries show a trend of bringing in a positive flood of employees along with a helpful economic boost; only soon to be followed by an overwhelming loss of jobs and confusion. Lee H. Scamehorn, in High Altitude Energy: A History of Fossil Fuels in Colorado, portrayed one boom and bust situation Colorado’s coal industry experienced.

States has a large amount of coal remaining to be mined and burned, almost three-fourths of the public land in America has been declared off-limits for mining. Mountaintop mining is a relatively new form of surface mining that has steadily gained popularity. The debate as to whether or not this process is an economic necessity or environmental disaster for Kentuckians is the question. Undoubtedly, it is an environmental disaster and it should be removed in every state that they are using it not to mention the health hazards. One report found states, “Although dozens of new coal-burning power plants are planned or under construction, the latest coal boom is meeting resistance from critics who want to shift the U.S. economy toward cleaner fuels. Even if electricity from coal is cheaper than other sources, they argue, the savings are far outweighed by its environmental and health impacts” (Isabella, 2013).

Mountain Top removal mining (MTM), is decimating some of the last pristine environments left in our country, and it needs to stop. The devastation left in the wake of mans’ pursuit to satisfy his insatiable greed for energy, is nothing shy of a brutal crime scene. I feel, like many others, it has got to be stopped, and replaced with a more sensible, and appropriate, appetite for energy. The severe health, and environmental risks are abundant, yet we continue to mask this atrocity behind statistics, and well-orchestrated advertising. As noted by RP Siegel of Triple Pundit Magazine (April 2012), “Coal contains the most CO2 per BTU, the largest contributor to global warming.” Obviously, this should be enough to convince the average, sensible individual that there is no more tolerance for continued MTM practices. However, big mining companies continue to destroy delicate ecosystems, rural family lands, and cause irreversible damage to the geological infrastructure of the land.

Preview: Coal mining is a huge part of our nation though few people know much about it. This speech will address three of the main values that are held by the Interior Department Plan and the citizens across our country that support coal mining. These three values are: energy should be available for all, American jobs are important, and our country should be self-reliant and self-sufficient. During this speech, I will explain why each of these values is crucial to how we as a country function and how coal mining will effect each of these values significantly if banned.

Some may say the best way to mine is by strip mining some may not agree to this, until you have lived near an area that has been completely destroyed due to this you would never understand. It is so hard to see such a breath taking view that once was part of your home taken away from you. You may think over time all of the tree and all of the animals that lived in this area will come back, but that is not always the case. Many may say due to living in West Virginia we depend on coal mining for many jobs to support families but not only this so we have a natural resource here for more jobs to become available, but are the effects from this truly worth it? What brings so much money into are state also destroys the beautiful rolling mountains

Mountaintop mining has been practiced in the United States since the 1960s, primarily in the Appalachian Mountains. The process involves removing all tress from the site, then the topsoil, and then using explosives to remove the remaining soil and rock to reveal coal. The coal is removed and processed, and then the mountaintop is “reclaimed” with soil or an appropriate substitute, and sometimes replanted.6 While mountaintop mining in the Appalachians is only a small percentage of coal produced by the United States, the issues surrounding it are complex and wide-ranging. Some of the many issues raised with mountaintop mining are: high unemployment (due to the lessened man power needed to operate the mining machinery), deforestation,

Copper is a valuable metal that has been used throughout history for many different purposes. Copper has been mined for over 2,000 years. Historical records show the Chinese recovered copper from blue vitriol by placing iron into the vitriol solution as early as 150 BC. Copper is also a trace element that is needed to maintain many biological life forms and processes.

The mining industry has seen an explosive growth from the past few decades. It has played an important role in economic growth, infrastructure development and a raise in the living standard of the whole world. According to the Australian National Accounting System, the mining sector has made contributions of 9.8% GDP growth to the Australian economy between 2008 to 2009 (Australia Bureau of Statistics, 2012). However, the mining industry has caused many environmental issues such as adverse effect to air, land and water quality and continues to affect global environment as a whole. According to the World Health Organization, it evaluated that 25% of worldwide death are directly associated with environmental pollution (Blacksmith Institute, n.d). This essay will outline the environmental issue raised by the mining industry with pinpoint focus on the effects to air, water and land. It will also provide strategies for mining companies to improve the environmental conditions.