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If you ask people today in Wisconsin or around the country what they think Wisconsin is best known for, the answers vary. Some people might mention the slogan "America’s Dairyland". Most people will invariably bring up cheese and cheeseheads. Sports fans will point to the Green Bay Packers. Wisconsin, though, has not always been known for these things. The presence of minerals (which are chemically ionic compounds) and other metals in Wisconsin initially were what our region was known for. Our "mineral wealth" has played in important role in the settlement and history of our state. This webpage will explore the role that different ionic compounds and metals have played in our state’s (and the region's) history and the economic impact that these compounds still have today.
Figure 1 - Mine Sites in the Upper Midwest
Several valuable minerals and metals have been found or mined in Wisconsin and the Upper Midwest region. Some of these are mines or locations have been utilized for over 2000 years. Other minerals and deposits that are deep below the surface, have only been located within the last 25 to 50 years. We will look at the history behind four elements: lead, copper, iron, zinc and the ionic compounds formed from them and one covalent compound, silicon dioxide.
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