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Mining and Fracking in Wisconsin

This article explores the history and current state of mining and fracking in Wisconsin, detailing the extraction of various minerals from 1200 BC to present. It discusses the processing of low-grade and high-grade ores, the environmental and health impacts of fracking, the chemicals involved, and the potential risks to groundwater and agriculture. The rapid expansion of mining operations raises concerns about contamination and impacts on farming productivity. Recommendations for safer practices and alternatives are also highlighted to mitigate environmental harm.

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Mining and Fracking in Wisconsin

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  1. Mining and Frackingin Wisconsin Michael Montenero, Jeremiah Morrissey, Mera Yi

  2. Long Mining History in WI • 1200 BC Copper • 1680s Lead • 1850s Zinc • 1960-90s Gold, Silver and other Metallics • Recently Oil Shale, Taconite and Quartz Sand

  3. Gogebic Taconite Mining • Low Grade (20-30%) v High Grade (50-70%) • Must be concentrated and processed into pellets first • Process: • Large amount of waste rock removed from iron ore deposits • Mixed with large volume of water, separated by magnets • Mix of water waste dumped into basin (sulfides that react with water and oxygen creating acid)

  4. Hydraulic Fracturing • Rounded, almost pure quartz needed • Advantages: Economy,Natural gas • Disadvantages: Health and Environmental Impacts

  5. Fast expansion • 2010 5 mines • 2011 16 mines, 25 proposed • 2012 60-80 mines, 20 proposed • Low demand; possible overseas shipments

  6. What Makes Fracking Fluid Bad? • Up to 600 chemicals are used in fracking fluid such as lead, uranium, mercury, radium, and methanol.

  7. How Do Contaminations from Fracking Get into the Environment? • Chemical leakage from wells during the process gets into nearby ground water. • Mishandling of fluid waste evaporates and releases harmful VOC’s into the atmosphere.

  8. What does this Impact? • Humans. Chemicals leak into drinking water and go unnoticed to the naked eye. The chemicals also do not smell abnormal. • Fracking requires a lot of water in the processes. • Fracking well pads are much larger than conventional oil and gas drilling pads. These well pads can fragment forests and impact other habitats.

  9. Why Fracking and Farming Don’t Mix • Fracking farm land has the potential to disrupt farming productivity, endanger livestock health and affect produce and livestock quality.  It presents a huge danger to our food supply. • Fracking chemicals contaminate the soil. The plants absorb the toxins and these plants are being consumed by animals which lead to build-up of toxins in the food chain.

  10. Fracking study: Gordalla et al. 2013 • 3 German fracking sites • Fracking fluid and flowback • Compared to ground, drinking water standards • Possible spill scenarios • Alternatives and Recommendations

  11. Composition of fracking fluid • What’s pumped into the ground • Water, sand or ceramic, chemicals • 1.3-3% chemical • Not hazardous levels, but too high for drinking • Some chemicals have unknown effects, safe levels for drinking water

  12. If fracking fluid leaked… • Study assessed likely amount to leak before noticed • Accidents are pretty unpredictable • Up to 1:103-105 dilution required for initial fracking fluid • Up to 1:106 dilution required for flowback • Hydrocarbons, especially PAHs

  13. What can be done? • Safer alternatives available • “Environmentally friendly” gel agents, biocides, etc. • May even be cheaper! • Fracking indicators • Flowback worse than fluid • Pick up hydrocarbons, heavy metals from below

  14. Recommendations • Switch to more environmentally friendly additives • Keep flowback in secure, closed systems • Keep a distance from wells and drinking water facilities • Gordalla, Birgit C., Ulrich Ewers, and Fritz H. Frimmel. "Hydraulic Fracturing: A Toxicological Threat for Groundwater and Drinking-Water?" Environmental Earth Sciences70.8 (2013): 3875-93. Print.

  15. Questions? • Thank you!

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