The KIDS Report is a biweekly publication produced by K-12 students as a resource to other K-12 students. It is an ongoing, cooperative effort of 15 classrooms from around the world. Teachers assist and provide support; however, students select, evaluate and annotate all resources included in every issue of the KIDS Report.

The KIDS Report is published with a generous grant from John and Tashia Morgridge and with the support of the General Library System of the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

This issue of KIDS, dated November 9, 1999, was written and produced by Nora Kneebone's class at West Iron County Middle School in Iron River, Michigan.

In This Issue

Mining in the Upper Peninsula

Mining in Michigan
http://www.sos.state.mi.us/history/museum/explore/museums/hismus/prehist/mining/mining.html
WOW--what a site! If you have any interest at all in mining and/or Upper Michigan, this is the site for you. There is information on iron mining or copper mining, you can choose where you want to go and which facts you want to learn more about. Did you know that in 1924 mule drivers working underground earned 40 cents per hour, worked 48 hours and took home a total salary of $19.20 per week? Check out this site for other interesting facts.
Reviewed by John M.


Painesdale Mine Shaft, Inc.
http://www.portup.com/copperrange/sos.htm
Have you ever toured the inside of a real mineshaft? Here's your chance. This site is so cool! If you're working on a report, you will find loads of information, some great pictures and even a 3-D image that brings you a mile beneath a mine!
Reviewed by Amanda P.



Modular Mining Systems Inc.
http://www.mmsi.com/
Do you know what an adit is? Would you know a stope if you saw one? If not, this is definitely the place for you. Besides pointing the way toward some great links, this site offers a complete listing of mining and geology terms. You can either browse the list or search for a specific term. Before you know it, you will be well on your way to becoming an expert in mining lingo! Check it out and see for yourself.
Reviewed by Matt M.



Fresh From the UP -- Pasty Central
http://www.pasty.com/
Why does a site about food have a link to the Quincy Mine? Good question! If you know anything about the Upper Peninsula, you know that Yoopers, people who live in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, love pasties! Also, any well-adjusted Yooper should know the story behind where pasties come from. The truth is, although the history of these tasty pies originated in Cornwall, England, they soon became a common site among the entire mining community. Pasties could be found lying on warm pipes throughout the mines so hungry miners would have a hearty meal later in the day. Since there were no washing facilities for the dust covered miners, the thick crust around the edge of the pasty served as a handle which could be thrown away once the tasty interior was devoured.
Reviewed by Danny G.


Mines Can Be Dangerous!

MSHA -- Mine Safety and Health Administration
http://www.msha.gov/

"The time has come to put an end to the deadly falls of roof and rib that occur all too often in underground coal mines..." -- J. Davitt McAteer, Assistant Secretary

The following reference is from the Mine Safety site listed above, but refers to a different area of the site which proves much more user-friendly for children.


Mine Safety Kids' Page
http://www.msha.gov/KIDS/KIDSHP.HTM

Let's go swimming! It's fun to go swimming on a hot day, but it is also important to use your head. Mining property may have formed a small lake, but do not swim in it! You do not know what is in the water! Water temperature could be extremely cold and there could also be sharp rocks near the surface. Children and adults have drowned in accumulated water, fallen to their death from the top of a pit, or been fatally struck by falling rock when playing or exploring inside a pit. Mines are interesting places, but they can be dangerous too. Visit this site, and not only will you learn how to play safely, you will also learn about children who used to work in mines!
Reviewed by Jake S.


Mine Hazard Awareness Campaign Fact Sheet; (Michigan Tech Mining Engineering Department)
http://www.mg.mtu.edu/facts.htm
Did you know that in the United States there are over 500,000 abandoned mine sites and nearly 14,000 active mines? There are over 800 underground mines in Michigan alone with more than 2300 shafts, or other openings to the surface and many open pits and quarries. Even though the mine sites may be inspected by the county mine inspector, some old mines are still unknown and unmarked and even when old mine sites are inspected, there is no guarantee that a new cave-in may not occur the next day. This site contains important words of advice to keep you safe.
Reviewed by Ryan V.


Rough and Rugged Mining Equipment

KOMATSU Mining Systems, Inc.
http://www.komatsumining.com/
The power behind this new D475A-3 Super Dozer deserves a Tim Taylor grunt! Check out this site for more power! Whether you're interested in shovels, loaders, dozers, graders or trucks, Kumatsu has it all. You can buy a shovel that weighs 685 tons!
Reviewed by Aaron S.



Brookville Mining Equipment Corp.
http://www.bmec.com/index.html
This site has some great photographs of some interesting machinery. Mining has changed a lot since the days of dynamite, picks and shovels. I wonder what the old coal miners would have thought of a 45 ton diesel powered mining locomotive or a 30 ton battery/trolley powered locomotive. I'm certain our early ancestors would have fainted at the size and power as well as the prices!
Reviewed by Melissa P.


To Top of Page

A special thank you to Mrs. Sandie Langdon slangdon@up.net and her eighth grade class for all their help in completing this project.
Mining graphics from Pennsylvania's Department of Environmental Protection Web site
To subscribe to the KIDS Report, send email to: listserv@cs.wisc.edu with the following message: subscribe kids Yourfirstname Yourlastname

These Internet resources were evaluated on the basis of Site Selection Guidelines that the students developed. Questions and comments can be sent to the facilitating teacher at West Iron County Middle School, Nora Kneebone, at nkneebon@up.net

1999 Copyright by the Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System. Permission is granted to make and distribute verbatim copies of the entire KIDS Report provided this paragraph, including the copyright notice, is preserved on all copies.

Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

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