Copper and lead have been important too humanity for centuries. Copper made tools and lead made bullets. These materials had to be extracted from the ground. People have mined lead and copper for centuries. Join me as I discover how lead and copper have been mined in the United States.

60 Centuries of Copper: The Flotation Process. (n.d.). Retrieved from www.copper.org website: https://www.copper.org/education/history/60centuries/modern/theflotation.html

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How does the copper flotation process work? - Prominer (Shanghai) Mining Technology Co.,Ltd. (2025, September 6). Retrieved April 17, 2026, from Prominer website: https://www.prominetech.com/news/how-does-the-copper-flotation-process-work/

Kurtti, J. (2018, January 24). Finns in Michigan - Finland abroad. Retrieved April 17, 2026, from finlandabroad website: https://finlandabroad.fi/web/usa/finns-in-michigan

Lead Mining | Iowa PBS. (n.d.). Retrieved April 17, 2026, from www.iowapbs.org website: https://www.iowapbs.org/iowapathways/mypath/2659/lead-mining

Michigan Copper. (n.d.). Retrieved April 17, 2026, from Michiganology website: https://michiganology.org/stories/michigan-copper/

Timeline of Michigan Copper Mining Prehistory to 1850 - Keweenaw National Historical Park (U.S. National Park Service). (2016). Retrieved April 17, 2026, from Nps.gov website: https://www.nps.gov/kewe/learn/historyculture/copper-mining-timeline.htm

W. R. Ingalls (1907) Chronology of Lead-Mining in the United States

Coal has made quite a mark on the history of this country. Coal powered the railroads for many years. Coal produces electricity for houses. Coal mines have employed millions through the years. Miners faced many hardships and help build this country. Join me as I discuss the history of coal mining

References

Coal Culture Timeline. (2024). Retrieved April 10, 2026, from Indiana University of Pennsylvania website: https://www.iup.edu/library/departments/archives/coal/coal-culture-timeline.html

Company Towns | Slavery By Another Name Bento | PBS. (2017). Retrieved from Company Towns | Slavery By Another Name Bento | PBS website: https://www.pbs.org/tpt/slavery-by-another-name/themes/company-towns/

Evans, M. A., & Ramani, R. V. (2019). Coal mining - Choosing a mining method | Britannica. In Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved from https://www.britannica.com/technology/coal-mining/Choosing-a-mining-method

Knies, J. L. (n.d.). Library Guides: Anthracite Coal Mining Region of Northeastern Pennsylvania: Home. Retrieved April 10, 2026, from guides.libraries.psu.edu website: https://guides.libraries.psu.edu/anthracite

Munoz, C. (2023, October 24). Blueprints of America: The First Coal Mine in the U.S. Retrieved April 10, 2026, from GeoGrit website: https://www.geogrit.com/blogs/trail-stories/the-first-coal-mine-in-the-u-s?srsltid=AfmBOop-ZAB6ya41czmVV1L_u0eNgvtiMF0NrItlEgZlwKGOxDjOaEmi

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Research Guides: Organized Labor Since the 19th Century: A Research Guide: Mining & Steel Unions. (2024). Retrieved April 10, 2026, from Loc.gov website: https://guides.loc.gov/organized-labor/mining-steel

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West Virginia Office of Miners’ Health Safety and Training. (n.d.). Mining in West Virginia: A capsule history. Retrieved April 10, 2026, from WV Office of Miners’ Health Safety and Training website: https://minesafety.wv.gov/historical-statistical-data/mining-in-west-virginia-a-capsule-history/

Wynn, J. (2024, June 15). The Rich History of Pennsylvania’s Anthracite Region. Retrieved from Jake Wynn - Public Historian website: https://wynninghistory.com/coal-region-history/

With Easter this week, I thought it would be a good time to discuss the origins of some Easter traditions. I'm sure many of us have enjoyed visits from the Easter bunny and easter egg hunting when we were younger. Peeps adorn many easter baskets. How did these traditions begin? That is what we find out.