On this adventure I hike through this Florida wilderness around old mining quarries, once used for phosphate and limestone mining as well in the past. This area is where some of the first phosphate mining took place in Florida. Phosphate was a large industry here in the 1800's and early 1900's now reclaimed by this forest. The mining pits look much different than they did during active mining operations. Phosphate mining is still very much a large industry in Florida and throughout the world. In Florida you can find many interesting hikes by finding places where trails lead you around old phosphate and limestone mining pits. On this hike I explore areas in west central Florida. Phosphate is a controversial subject because of it's impacts on the environment . I hope that you found this video informative and adventurous, stay tuned for more and thank you!

History of Phosphate Mining in Florida: Phosphorus, a nonrenewable resource, is mined as phosphate minerals, which were formed millions of years ago when Florida was underwater. It is believed that phosphate formed when skeletal remains of animals, organic matter and dissolved phosphorus in seawater solidified and settled at the ocean’s bottom, ultimately becoming sedimentary layers of rock. Through a series of discoveries by amateur geologists and mining engineers, the Florida “phosphate boom” of the late nineteenth century was sparked. In 1881, Captain J. Francis LeBaron of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers discovered phosphate while surveying the Peace River south of Fort Meade. Florida phosphate mining also dates back to the first hard rock deposits found near Hawthorne in Alachua County in 1883. In those early years phosphate mining was done with wheelbarrows, picks and shovels. Next came mule-drawn scrapers. Mechanized excavation began between 1900 and 1905 with steam shovels. Steam dredges and barges came into use in hard rock areas where the water level was too high for picks and shovels. Phosphate comes out of the ground as mix of the phosphate, sand and clay. The phosphate must be separated from the sand and clay it has melded with in the ground over millions of years. Early separation methods included crushing, washing, screening and, in the case of hard rock, picking out silica by hand on a conveyor belt.

Uses of Phosphate: Phosphorus, the 11th most common element on earth, is fundamental to all living things. It is essential for the creation of DNA, cell membranes, and for bone and teeth formation in humans. It is vital for food production since it is one of three nutrients (nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus) used in commercial fertilizer. Phosphate can also be turned into phosphoric acid, which is used in everything from food and cosmetics to animal feed and electronics.

Information on Phosphate: [ Ссылка ]

Information on Phosphate: [ Ссылка ]
[ Ссылка ]

Information on Phosphate: [ Ссылка ]

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