Mos, the worlds largest phosphate producer, the us has a strong history of phosphate refining and production. In the meantime, we can accept orders for scans and prints by phone. Overburden, the layers of material above the phosphate, is removed to expose the phosphate reserve matrix. A brief history of floridas phosphate business by donald e.
Fipr institute 1855 west main street bartow, florida usa 33830 863 5347160. Central florida is home to some of the biggest phosphate mining operations in the world, and the industry says that without it, food production as we know it would cease. Ted ehmann is available to present his research and forthcoming book. In the first book ever written about the impact of phosphate mining on the south carolina plantation economy, shepherd mckinley explains how the convergence of the phosphate and fertilizer industries carried longterm impacts for america and the south. Just 15 years ago, the scrub jay had a small chance of survival. The collection includes approximately 8,500 books and reports, thousands of.
The mosaic companys florida phosphate mining and fertilizer production operations duration. Mosaics phosphate mines and fertilizer factories must store their waste this way. Mosaic, the worlds largest phosphate company, made headlines around the world when a giant sinkhole opened up in august in a towering stack of acidic, radioactive phosphate mining waste. Endurance was imperative in the early years when phosphate mining was done with wheelbarrows, picks and shovels. With the coming of floridas railroads to haul it to ships in 1885, rock phosphate, the purest variety, was mined north and south of dunnellon on floridas rock phosphate ridge.
In the first book ever written about the impact of phosphate mining on the south carolina. Hes the author of four books, most recently, oh, florida. Despite the economic promise that phosphate mining may have held for the. Phosphate mining also releases some of the naturally radioactive material found deep in floridas soils. Suit alleges phosphate company knowingly developed homes. Samuel proctor writes in the new history of florida that by 1900 mining phosphate for fertilizer joined lumbering and turpentine as the states leading industries. Television ads and billboards portray phosphate strip mining as a wholesome industry that creates jobs and feeds the world.
Nature, phosphate, and harry crewss naked in garden hills jstor. Millions of years ago, the florida coast was believed to be sixty miles further inland. Already, like other key commodities with oncedominant sources running low, the price of phosphate is starting to yoyo alarmingly. Nine mines are 100 percent reclaimed and released from reclamation obligations. Florida mines florida mines the risk of phosphate mining.
In the early years, phosphate ore was collected out of the river by hand. Joshua mcdaniel and adam ronan look at an old boiler from the phosphate mining era on wednesday, may 22, 2019. The industry says that florida provides 75 percent of the nations entire phosphate supply and 25 percent of the worlds supply. We are the worlds only library focusing on all aspects of the phosphate story. Because of the complete destruction that takes place during mining activities, the goal of reclamation is to bring the land back to a place that will allow natural processes to begin again. Floridas phosphate fields and business a brief history. Floridas natural watersheds, known to the florida phosphate mining industry as phosphate overburden, are being destroyed for the beginnings of a phosphate strip mine. Discovery of phosphate in florida florida industrial and.
Now, the scrub jay population has rebounded and thrives. Phosphate discovery changed face of florida orlando. Mine operations consist of surface workings extending 5,350. Florida memory digitizes materials that illuminate the states history and culture.
We have items in the following subject areas, and more. Online ordering for florida memory photos, maps and films is temporarily unavailable, but will return soon. The history of boca grande florida is steeped in discovery, dating back to 5000 b. We know that substantial quantities of phosphate strip. An overview of phosphate mining and reclamation in florida. The sinkhole sent a reported 215 million gallons of polluted water into the underground fresh water aquifer.
Floridas phosphate industry practices also illustrates the industrys cavalier attitude concerning reclamation projects and is known to be poor environmental stewards of the florida landscape. A closer look reveals that phosphate mining is extremely harmful to our wetlands, water quality and quantity, and wildlife habitat. The history of mining in polk county goes back over 100 years when phosphate was king. Many different minerals have been mined and processed in the development of the industrial growth in our country. History of mulberry greater mulberry chamber of commerce. In the region now called bone valley because of the many fossils found in the area, prospectors discovered thick beds of phosphate rocks, covered only by twenty to fifty feet of sand and clay. Florida phosphate not only helps farmers grow food, but also works to protect native wildlife like the scrub jay. Bone valley encompasses portions of presentday hardee, hillsborough, manatee, and polk counties. Scs forgotten phosphate industry spurred transformations. Displays and graphics in converted air conditioned. Florida currently contains the largest known deposits of phosphate in the united states. There are 27 phosphate mines in florida, covering more than 450,000 acres. This book is designed to identify issues and develop concensus on policy recommendations that will guide the regulation of phosphate mining mining subject category.
The mulberry phosphate museums mission is to promote and interpret the local history of mulberry, florida from the prehistoric to the contemporary and to examine the impact of the phosphate industry on that history. Central florida phosphate district southeastern geological society. Adequacy and use of phosphate resources of the united states, held at lakeland, fla. Unlike mining in other states, phosphate deposits are found closer to the surface, about 3040 feet below ground. Stinking stones and rocks of gold university press of florida. The florida phosphate company at phosphoria and the pharr phosphate company at pebbledale. The clock is ticking on floridas mountains of hazardous. Pierce after leaving his first venture into phosphate at pierce. Reclamation is the process of returning the land and water to a usable condition once mining has ceased.
Sometimes, the effects of phosphate mining arent detectable and that is the scariest risk. Yet the history of phosphate in florida has largely been a story of doing the. Lesson summary summary the mining industry has played a key role in the development of world and united states history. Phosphate is found all over the country, with the highest amounts in florida and idaho. The phosphate story watch the phosphate story for a nineminute view into mosaics phosphate mining, fertilizer production, reclamation and stewardship practices in. Florida phosphate mining dates back to deposits first found in alachua county, near hawthorne, in 1883. Mines in florida and north carolina were responsible for about 85% of the united. San gully 1914, was the last community built by a mining company. Geologic history of florida covers the complete geologic history of the sunshine statea saga approximately 700 million years long. In florida, the phosphate rock is extracted by a process referred to as stripmining. History of phosphate industry in florida polk county public schools. This new company was called southern phosphate company and was the first to utilize the now necessary dragline.
Historically the site has been part of the polk phosphate mining district. Cargill phosphorusphosphates mine near fort meade, florida. At the same time, prospectors began searching westward for other sources of phosphate. Floridas gray gold, phosphate mining in the deep south 1868 to 2018. Florida phosphate mining began on the peace river in 1888. This area contains several phosphate processing plants that assist in the production of agricultural fertilizer. Florida contains the most massive known deposits of phosphate in the united states. Geography of florida tampa bay area history of florida economic geology phosphate mines in the united states. This website and my forthcoming book floridas gray gold, has been written to put these incredible images in the appropriate contexts. Phosphate florida department of environmental protection. Shepherd mckinley presents the firstever book on the role of phosphates in economic, social, and industrial changes in the south carolina plantation economy. Mining operations while most of mosaics mining operations use dragline machines, some areas use specialized dredges like the one shown here.
The state of florida, owns a wealth of historic photographs that show the birth of phosphate mining, its dramatic changes and the people who played a key role in its history. And phosphate mining in florida, which is home to the worlds largest phosphate mine, is being challenged by environmentalists concerned about its impact on waterways and drinking water supplies. Mulberry phosphate museum 2020 all you need to know. Florida memory is a digital outreach program providing free online access to select archival records from collections housed in the state library and archives of florida. The boiler will be preserved as bulow county park is improved and eventually opened. Very soon, the mining was done the hard way with picks, shovels, wheelbarrows, strong backs, and sweat. There were only two mining plants in the land pebble district in 1890. When reclamation doesnt work or when revegetation takes a long time, plant and animal communities can be lost or greatly reduced. Special science library in bartow, florida, focusing on phosphate.
Mosaic is currently mining phosphate rock on more than 70,000 of the 380,000 acres it owns in manatee. Florida memory mining phosphate at dunnellon florida. Florida industrial and phosphate research institute library. Florida has been surface mined for phosphate for the last 120 years. Timeline of phosphate communities florida industrial and. The remaining mines are either not started or are shut down. The cargill phosphorusphosphates mine is near fort meade, florida. History of phosphate industry in florida by bill woolwine, winter haven high school i. In the southwestern part of the county, fluctuations in water use related to phosphate mining have had a major impact on. Central floridas groundwater and aquifers are becoming extinct by watershed destruction via phosphate strip mining operations. The process of phosphate mining in florida phosphate mining in florida is a stripmining process. To have a better understanding of the danger this event poses, how this happens, and a bit of history behind the phosphate mining industry here in florida you must take the time to watch this. Citizens against phosphate mining in bradford and union counties capm began with a petition and a facebook page. Fueling the rapid growth of lowcountry fertilizer companies, phosphate mining provided elite plantation owners.
Pharr made the first shipment of land pebble in may 1891. A summary of operations at pierce, florida 1960s id64971 5 2 history of agrico id64972 5 3 history of the phosphate industry and their methods id64973 5 4 various phosphate company transactions 1890s id64974 5 5 miscellaneous property lists and papers id64978 2 pierce school files id64980 6 oversized pierce school files. Florida phosphate mining history florida industrial and. The economic vitality and environmental sustainability of southwest florida is at risk from many activities, but none of them more direct, predictable and quantifiable than the risk of phosphate strip mining.
The cargill phosphorusphosphates mine is a surface mining operation. Bone valley is renowned for fossils found and on display at the museum. Come to mulberry and enjoy a afternoon with your children and grandchildren at the mulberry phosphate museum. Albert hine takes the reader on a journey that begins at the earths south pole during a time when floridas basement rocks were part of a supercontinent and ends with the emergence of south florida and the keys. As part of the florida phosphate mining process, we designated 850 acres of habitat and worked with experts to relocate the endangered species. Sandy topsoil, also known as overburden, is removed by large digging machines called draglines. Phosphate mining companies own or have mineral rights to over. Florida phosphate mining dates back to the first hard rock deposits found near hawthorne in alachua county in 1883. The mining industry has played a key role in the development of world and united states history. This website and my forthcoming book floridas gray gold, has been written. Its the biggest phosphate company in the world and a major presence in florida. The fipr institutes library is focused on, but not limited to, the following areas as they relate to phosphate in florida.
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