Grounded: Mining the Facts

Education touches almost every part of our daily lives. But when we shift that lens to mining, the questions get a lot more interesting. What does education mean in the context of minerals? How can the industry partner with local teachers to help communities understand what mining actually is — and why it matters? Across the country, educators and industry professionals are digging into these questions, working to bridge the gap between classrooms, communities, and the mineral resources that shape them. 

Kick off the very first episode of Grounded: Mining the Facts with hosts Ella Bordewyk and Amelia Schaefbauer as they dig into the fundamentals — what counts as a mineral, why minerals matter, and how they shape nearly every part of our daily lives.This episode’s challenge: Name a physical item that hasn’t been touched by mining or minerals in any way. It must be something humans can physically touch — no abstract concepts allowed. Think you’ve found one? Send your submission to [email protected] or through SDMIA’s website at sdmineralindustries.org.Stay tuned for Episode 2, where we explore the connection between education and mining and how the industry partners with classrooms and communities.