Frac Sand Mining Overview
Wisconsin has always been known for a few things like cheese production, cold winters, and the famous Packer football team. However, a long standing tradition that dates back about a hundred years that goes unnoticed is sand mining. Sand mining in Wisconsin has been one of this states past times, specifically the mining of frac sand which is a rare quartz sand used in new modern mining techniques. This so called " frac sand" has now become so useful in mining all over the country that production of frac sand mining has increased significantly and as seen in figure 1.1 it is most abundantly found in the south western region of Wisconsin.
With new advances in the mining industry like horizontal mining a process in which one can now turn the pipe and drill parallel to the ground allowing us to reach a desired depth and then drill sideways keeping in the hot zone for the material to be extracted. The other process that was adapted with horizontal drilling was fracking. Fracking is a process that requires a few key components being, the drill crew, water air pressure and frac sand. Once the crew has reached its target material which can be oil, natural gas, or other material they then can drill horizontal and start fracking. Fracking is carried out with a constant flow of a mix of water and silica sand ( frac sand) being pumped into the ground causing shoots off the pipes in multiple directions like a spider web reaching out from one wall to the next. These shoots allow for more material to be reached with less pipes and effort needed to go into production. This new high tech method of drilling is revolutionizing our ability to obtain precious resources. However, with every upside to an equation there needs to be a opposing view. With such a high concentration of sand being located in the south west region of Wisconsin it has caused a lot of companies to start tapping into every variable area for mining sand. With the sand being rare but in high demand it has started an almost gold rush like mind set for many people seeking a high pay out.
Although with any upside to a story there is always the oposition. With the dollar signs glowing in the miners eyes there is always concerns in the eyes of people who are living in theses mining areas. A few of the concerns that have been raised over the years are, cancer gain due to inhaling air, water quality issues with run off, and loss of critical habitat to mining areas. Each of these key opposing views holds a strong defense with the continuous mining in these specific areas science has shown an increase in cancerous causing air quality from breathing in sand fragments for a long period of time. They have also shown that the run off from the mines and mining processes of filtration have contaminated local water systems. Last when the mines are done being used or abandoned not much has been done to restore the large areas that have been completely altered from there original fauna. With each issue there are copious answers to how to fix them, but the question is what way will people follow and what is the best practice to fix the issue quickly inexpensively.
It is this question that is driving a large number of new and innovation geographers to jobs. The new spatial techniques that have been invented in the last decade have allowed for communities to not only track air quality, water issues, and restoration but now allows them to display them spatially over a time scale to show past, present and potential future areas. Hopefully through legislation, local and state government, and passionate field workers we will be able to utilize this great gift of silica sand in Wisconsin to bring stronger more sustainable communities that can work together in harmony extracting this rare and useful resource.
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| Figure 1.1: shows best locations across the central areas of the US that hold the best frac sand deposits shown in red. |
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| Figure 1.2 shows silica sand mining areas (red) and locations of silica sand , frac sand, (yellow). |
Although with any upside to a story there is always the oposition. With the dollar signs glowing in the miners eyes there is always concerns in the eyes of people who are living in theses mining areas. A few of the concerns that have been raised over the years are, cancer gain due to inhaling air, water quality issues with run off, and loss of critical habitat to mining areas. Each of these key opposing views holds a strong defense with the continuous mining in these specific areas science has shown an increase in cancerous causing air quality from breathing in sand fragments for a long period of time. They have also shown that the run off from the mines and mining processes of filtration have contaminated local water systems. Last when the mines are done being used or abandoned not much has been done to restore the large areas that have been completely altered from there original fauna. With each issue there are copious answers to how to fix them, but the question is what way will people follow and what is the best practice to fix the issue quickly inexpensively.
It is this question that is driving a large number of new and innovation geographers to jobs. The new spatial techniques that have been invented in the last decade have allowed for communities to not only track air quality, water issues, and restoration but now allows them to display them spatially over a time scale to show past, present and potential future areas. Hopefully through legislation, local and state government, and passionate field workers we will be able to utilize this great gift of silica sand in Wisconsin to bring stronger more sustainable communities that can work together in harmony extracting this rare and useful resource.
Sources:
http://www.wqow.com/story/28183900/2015/02/24/public-will-have-chance-to-share-questions-concerns-about-frac-sand
http://dnr.wi.gov/topic/Mines/Deposit.html
http://dnr.wi.gov/topic/Mines/documents/SilicaSandMiningFinal.pdf
