Post 1: Sand Mining in Western Wisconsin Overview

Sand frac mining is the process of excavating sand particulates of a specific quality, then using the sand to produce fractures in rock formations, and ultimately, allow the petroleum industry to easily access and extract the natural gases and crude oil found within the rock. Wisconsin is a hotspot for the sand frac mining industry since the resource exists in abundance, is of high quality, and is located near to the surface. The location of these sand frac mines are largely dependent on the geological structure of the area. In Wisconsin, the mines follow the geologic sandstone formations located predominantly in the West-Central region of the state. Additionally, mines can also be found in Burnett, Waupaca, Green Lake and Columbia Counties.

The state of Wisconsin has been subject to sand mining for over a century, with frac sand mining introduced approximately 40 years ago. Over the course of the last decade, however, the overall number of sand frac mines has increased exponentially due to an increase in the demand for oil. Paired with its growth, the industry has also received a significant amount of backlash due to the long list of potential hazards that it poses to both the environment and residents living nearby. Some of these issues include:

• ·         The release of dust and pollutants to spoil the air quality
• ·         Well contamination due to sinking water tables
• ·         Threats to Fisheries
• ·         Decreased property values  

And particularly for the active industrial regions within Wisconsin:

• ·         The loss of wetlands, their values and functions

GIS can be used to further explore some of these issues by layering the locations of these mines with variables that are subject to these hazards (such as wetland areas), and analyzing the spatial patterns and attributes which may demonstrate the impact of these mine on the surrounding environment.

Citations:

“Frac Sand in Wisconsin,” Wisconsin Geological and Natural History Survey, 2012. http://wcwrpc.org/frac-sand-factsheet.pdf

“Silica Sand Mining in Wisconsin,” Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, January 2012. http://dnr.wi.gov/topic/Mines/documents/SilicaSandMiningFinal.pdf

Sally Younger, “Sand Rush: Fracking Boom Spurs Rush on Wisconsin Silica,” National Geographic, July 2013. http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/energy/2013/07/130703-wisconsin-fracking-sand-rush/