Local geologist explores history of mining

By Janine Jobe of The Montana Standard

Local geologist Dick Gibson gives a lecture about minerals, mining, oil and Montana's role in their production Saturday at the World Museum of Mining. (Walter Hinick/The Montana Standard)

When copper was king in Butte, nearly 21.5 billion tons were mined from the 35,000 miles of tunnels snaking under Butte.

Its fall into the realm as a mineral

pauper is only heighten by the fact that the once lowly and dusty mineral of simple crushed stone in now the reigning king as the most valued mineral commodity in the United Stated, said local geologist Dick Gibson.

"There's no question as to why copper mattered, especially here in Butte. It meant jobs and a strong economy," he said. "Changes in industries and economic shifts across the country, as well as the current environmental climate, have all attributed to the downward trend."

The geologist, a consultant for out-of-state mineral, mining and oil companies, volunteers at the World Museum of Mining and gave two lectures Saturday on the resources that have been extracted from the earth what Montana's role has been in that production.

He plans to continue the geology series Sunday with two lectures. One on the

geology of Yellowstone and Grand Teton national parks and another on the Geology of Glacier National Park.

"It's great to have (Gibson) as a resource for both the Butte people and the people who visit here," said the museum's

director, Robin Urban.

California, with its massive highway system and large population requiring continued construction, takes first place in providing America's mineral commodities with its crushed stone. Nevada comes in second with gold and silver

production.

Arizona, with its three operating mines, has replaced Montana as America's most productive copper producer.

The value of minerals fluctuates over time with the need and availability. Once the country was pretty much wired for electricity and ways were found to refine the technique demand began to diminish. As people moved out of log and wooden homes and into stone buildings facing paved streets, the need for crushed stone increased, Gibson said.

But with the exception of copper and gold, the United States is dependent on the rest of the world for at least 50 percent of its other mineral needs.

Minerals for everything from household goods, cosmetics and car dash boards, to the stuff that makes up computer components, lubricates airplane parts and wires the space shuttles.

"The mineral business is a global business and when you are using things, even the most common of things, you are using the world," Gibson said. "If you can't grow it, you have to mine it."

As well as a boost in the copper market by the recent announcement of the reopening of the Continential Mine, Montana's mineral future in the global market may likely fall to the paladium mine near Stillwater, Gibson said. The Montana mine is the only place in the U.S. the mineral is found.

"We have to remember that at aluminum isn't found in Europe, and at one time a small hand-held chest, made out of aluminum and owned by one of the Napoleans, was probably the most valuable object in Europe," Gibson said. "Such is the history of minerals and mans use of them."

Reporter Janine Jobe may be reached via e-mail at janine.jobe@mtstandard.com.

Lecture series

continues today

As a part of National Earth Science Week, the World Museum of Mining will conclude its lecture series today.

1 to 2 p.m. — Geology of Yellowstone and Grand Teton national parks,

geysers, volcanoes and earthquakes.

3 to 4 p.m. — Geology of Glacier National Park and vicinity, ancient rocks and modern glaciers.

For details, call the World Museum of Mining, 723-7211.