NATURAL RESOURCES PROJECT

This study is designed to be a calculated and informative writing about the dangers of coal mining and collection of Methane gas to the earth’s environment. I will attempt to make a case as to the dangers of mining to wildlife and forestry. When complete, you will fully understand how wild land areas have been affected.

To begin, I used Google Earth to look at the coal mining site in Wyoming called Powder River Basin, where coal is mined and methane gas is collected. Methane gas has similar properties as natural gas; however methane gas is higher in pollutants like Sulfur and Carbon Dioxide (CO2). Methane is created near the Earth's surface, primarily from microorganisms by the process of methanogenesis. It is carried into the stratosphere by rising air, especially in the tropics. Coal Bed Methane, often referred to as CBM, is distinct from a typical sandstone or other conventional gas reservoir, as the methane is stored within the coal by a process called adsorption. The methane is in a near-liquid state, lining the inside of pores within the coal (called the matrix). The open fractures in the coal (called the cleats) can also contain free gas or can be saturated with water. As I looked at the ground view it was obvious that this area had been used for a lengthy duration for mining coal and harvesting methane gas. If this were near a stream, creating a decomposition zone, marine animals would die not only because of depleted oxygen, but also because of high concentrations of of harmful organisms, including toxic algae, pathogenic fungi, and parasitic protists.

 The abuse in the disturbed areas is quite obvious, especially when compared to undisturbed or natural areas. Little plant life is obvious as well as no obvious signs of wildlife. The drainage to waterways was obvious from the mining site, which has an effect on fish and other organisms that live in the local waterways. There are no obvious trails or other evidence of wildlife thoroughfares in the disturbed areas while in the natural areas there are. Also, few roads exist in the natural areas, and compared to the Google earth view of the mining site the roads appear like a huge spider web. Other dangers to wildlife include deposits of overburden discarded off of mountain top removal include, but are not limited to blockage of migration trails, trails that wildlife use to make local area rounds, blockage of drainage's, canyons and crevices. Disturbing migration patterns for wildlife can be cause for reduction in population.

 I visited the Melvina Lode mine area approximately 5 miles from the town of Wilhoit, AZ on 3/4/2012 where I made a study of a gold mining site where the ground had been disturbed in order to complete my case study. Since we live in an arid zone, study of waterways is impossible because precipitation occurs rarely during this time of year. To make my case, please review the following pictures.

These pictures show the excavation of the overburden material 

while miners have been seeking gold. 

Below is a general map of the site. 

             The next portion of this study is the undisturbed location. This wash gives access to trail hiking and hunting areas in the hills off of trail 72. The site consists of hills, boulders, boulder formations, trees, bushes and weeds. Soils are decomposed granite, organisms present are trees (scrub oak and mesquite), prickly pear cactus, bushes, weeds, rabbits, javelina, coyote, lizards, range cattle, flies and bees. Below are pictures of the site:

These pictures of the undisturbed site show the wash that animals and people 

have visited for many years and it looks the same. 

Below is the map of the area:

Now that you have reviewed the above material, you can see that mining of natural resources is detrimental to the environment. Actions taken to extract minerals like gold, gases like methane and the extraction of coal take a toll on the environment in general as well as human and animal life. The Melvina Lode site was once a beautiful area, having been relatively undisturbed since the original mine was in full operation. Now it is ugly; thousands of tons of overburden material have been excavated in pursuit of riches. It will take a long time for Mother Nature to restore this site. In contrast, the second site has been relatively untouched since the earth was formed. Animals and insects use this area for shelter from the elements, hunters, predators and the like. Humans use this area to raise cattle, for fun and the pursuit of education. I enjoyed this assignment; I learned things about our environment that other wise I wouldn’t have, as well as forming an educated opinion.