Educational Resources

 Mineral Education Resources

A wide variety of mineral education materials are available to students, educators and the general public. We encourage you to learn more about the important role that minerals play in our lives and how modern mining practices focus on environmental responsibility and safety. The following resources may be ordered direct, for modest fees and have met our test for great content and delivery. Return to this site regularly to learn of new materials available.

I Dig Dirt-30 minute video
What do kids love most? That’s right, DIRT! See huge earth-moving equipment in action and up close. Marvel at the biggest dump trucks in the world that move 240 tons of dirt in one load. From little tykes to adults, this is the kind of education that’s fun for all to see.
For info, call Dreams Come True Productions at 1-800-297-8787.

Mining Discoveries for Progress-10 minute video
This video is a great overview of what part mining plays in our lives and its necessity to forward progress. Good for ages 12 to adult.
Order direct: fax your request to National Mining Association, Joyce Slack, at 202-463-6152 or e-mail [email protected]

Bigger Than Big-28 minute video
A 28 minute tape, narrated by two twelve year olds, which shows the world’s largest mining equipment at work, including P&H shovels and haul trucks with tires 14′ tall! Great for ages 5-13.
For info, call 1-800-253-6966

Mining for Gold-30 minute video
Watch as your guides take you to Barrick Goldstrike Mine in Nevada. They get to ride on giant trucks and help operate six-story tall shovels! See the daily blasts down in the pit and learn about ore samples, geologists, rock crushers and grinders. Marvel as they take you into the high security gold room where gold is poured. Each solid gold bar is worth over $300,000! For ages 5 to adult.
Contact George Belcher Productions at 415-668-1239.

Mining in the West-23 minute video
A great video for ages 12 to adult. Provides a history of the early days of mining, when people came from around the world to make their fortunes in the west, dealing with conditions that are far different from today’s mining environment. This video brings you up to current day mining, showing how different working conditions are today, how differently the land is mined and how reclamation is a part of everyday modern mining.
Contact Western Museum of Mining and Industry at 719-488-0880 or e-mail [email protected].

Out of the Rock
A comprehensive mineral resource and mining education program for grades K-8. Developed by the National Energy Foundation. Integrated Learning Activities for Students.
Order from National Energy Foundation, 3676 California Ave. St. A117, Salt Lake City, UT 84104 PHONE: (801) 908-5800 FAX: (801) 908-5400 email: [email protected]

Coal, Careers and You
The American Coal Foundation has put together a 20 page, color booklet that reveals the many exciting career choices available in the coal industry today.

Coal, Careers and You is aimed at students in grades 8 and above. This booklet gives a comprehensive overview of the importance of coal to the U.S. economy and way of life. It covers every facet of the industry: surface and underground mining, reclamation, safety and health issues, transportation and trade, and coal’s use in the steel, coke and energy industries. Each section lists many related occupations, such as geologist, chemist, roof bolter, environmental manger, safety inspector, conveyor technician and more. Whatever a student’s interests, Coal, Careers and You has a coordinating career suggestion.

Coal, Careers and You is free to teachers. For more information contact ACF at 202-466-8630 or e-mail [email protected], or consult their website at www.acf-coal.org.

Other Mineral Education Sources

Excellent materials are also available from the following sources. Teachers should write to the addresses on school letterhead.

Mineral Information Institute, Inc. 501 Violet Street, Golden, CO 80401 (303) 277-9190 (fax: (303) 277-9198) – The single best source for materials…..all at no cost to teachers. Posters, worksheets, experiments, fact sheets.

National Energy Foundation, 3676 California Ave. St. A117, Salt Lake City, UT 84104 PHONE: (801) 908-5800 FAX: (801) 908-5400
email: [email protected]

This poster is very well done and extremely educational, it is a must for all classrooms. The Reverse (Not Shown) has the equivalent of 7 pages of information. Items covered range from Safety, Student activities, hazards around mines just to name a few. Order yours today!

Hot off the press, from the National Energy Foundation the beautiful new 23″ x 35″ Act Responsibly: Stay Out – Stay Alive instructional poster is now available for $4.95. Quantity discounts are available, shipping and handling of 10% applies to all orders.

To order, call (801) 908-5800 or (800) 616-8326.

Now available, a matching eight page ‘primer’ on the mine safety theme, as well as a Spanish version of the poster. To find more information about this poster, please click here. Or, if you’re interested in either of these items, please e-mail [email protected].

National Mining Association, 1130 17th Street NW, Washington, DC, 20036 (202)463-2625

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources has launched a web site offering information on the regulation of mining in Wisconsin. The Web site is intended to help promote greater public understanding of how metallic mining is regulated in Wisconsin as well as how the DNR is progressing in its review of current mining proposals. Check it out at www.dnr.state.wi.us/org/es/science/mining.

The American Coal Foundation/ACF), was created in 1981 as a 501(c)(3) organization to develop, produce and disseminate coal-related educational materials and programs designed for teachers and students. ACF does not engage in lobbying and all corporate contributions are tax deductible. This is a good source of information.

The Silver Institute is a nonprofit international association that draws its membership from across the breadth of the silver industry. This includes leading silver mining houses, refiners, bullion suppliers, manufacturers of silver products and wholesalers of silver investment products. Established in 1971, the Institute serves as the industry’s voice in increasing public understanding of the many uses and values of silver. This website is loaded with lots of information about silver!

Mining in Manitoba A web site Prepared by the Mineral Science Technology students at R. D. Parker Collegiate, Thompson, Manitoba, Canada, that was researched as a science project, then done up as a web site by other students as a web site. Very well done and contains a lot of information and terms about the mining industry Past/Present/Future. Site has few dead links, what works is well done. Subjects covered even go into mining in the future and under the sea. Like I said very well done and it contains some interesting information on mining. Added note; an Email confirmed they will be updating the site links and the site is going to remain active which is a very good, since the students did a fine job.

Women in Mining – Women in Mining Mineral Resources for Teachers Women In Mining is dedicated to educating students, teachers and the general public about the importance of minerals.

Kentucky Coal Council’s Coal Education Web Site In an effort to educate the public, the contents of this page are directed to students, teachers, employees of the coal industry, and the general public to expand their knowledge of coal and the coal industry. The Coal Education Web Site is a dynamic, growing portrait of one of America’s most essential industries. Its purpose is to present factual, useful information about coal in a fun and productive way.

The Mine Safety and Health Administration – Look here for information about the dangers of playing near or in mines.

Rights Preservation Sites

Dredge Earth First. This is a pro mining site supporting the rights of individuals to mine. This site also has its own discussion forum about mining issues.

Stripmine.Org Web Site dedicated to the preservation and restoration of large pieces of strip mining equipment. This site has many photos of strip mining machines. If you are interested in machines from past and some present this is the place to find them.