Ah, so you already "know" that mining and using frac sand, or "industrial sand", is a bad deal, right? Before you answer, consider where you learned that. You may have formed your opinion from biased sources that presented a negative image because it made for more controversial news or supported a particular perspective. A skewed perspective can sometimes speak in a stronger voice than factual science.
That's why we want you to become real scientists here by forming your own conclusions based on the facts that you discover. That is an important part of the scientific process. Do your own independent research such as digging into the science here, the links at the bottom of this page, and within other recent scientific studies and different online sources. You may be surprised by what you uncover.
The chemistry and geology of industrial sand in the Upper Midwest is relatively simple and very ancient. Sand is made up primarily of quartz. It's silica, or SiO2. It's the most common silica crystal and the second most common mineral on the earth. And because of its chemical and physical properties, it's key in making many of things that make our modern lives possible. Rather than simply tell you, watch the video above to get a better idea. Doing your own online research will reveal even more uses.
But why mine industrial sand when deserts and beaches are covered with tons of sand? The answer is that different kinds of sand have different chemical and physical properties. To be classified as industrial sand, the sand source needs to contain a large percentage of very pure silica sand, with uniform grain size and clean, well-rounded grains. The silicon-oxygen atoms that make up pure silica quartz form one of nature’s hardest minerals. One of the geologic factors that created sedimentary layers of industrial-quality sandstone is that the sand was "washed and sorted" for millions of years in an ancient sea by tides, currents, wave action, and storms. Most of the impurities got washed away while the sand grains became extremely rounded and sorted into very uniform spheres. In some of the sandstone layers they almost resemble clusters of miniature eggs.
This rare silica sand layer of sedimentary rock was deposited in an ancient sea 500 million years ago that used to be located in parts of Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Illinois. Because this particular sandstone layer is only exposed at or near the surface in some places, it makes certain sites in Wisconsin and Minnesota very important to the sand mining industry.
To find out more about the wide range of uses for industrial-quality sand, read the "Learn More" section below, and watch the video above. Be sure to explore these other related serious science videos and their companion lesson activities on industrial sand mining, with your teachers and fellow students for some fun interactive peer learning.
The educational partner listed below supported the science video content you see here. Visit their page to learn more about their sand mining operations.
Before you discover the science behind "Biological Carrying Capacity", consider all the other cool science you can explore on this website that combines learning with fun... that's right, it's legal and it's free. So bookmark us as your source for engaging videos and free lesson activities for teachers and classrooms.
You want the skinny on Biological Carrying Capacity? Then discover the answers by watching this Serious Science video and reading the information below. And to take this learning adventure into your classroom, have your teacher download the free Lesson Activities at the bottom of this page so everyone can share in the fun of this inquiry based learning.
So if an ecosystem can only support a limited number of a certain species before problems begin happening... how do scientists determine what that number is and what things can affect it?
Fish and wildlife biologists manage natural resources for the overall health of certain species and the ecosystem where they live. But sometimes a healthy ecosystem gets damaged when too many of a certain species eats all the food. Just imagine a swarm of locusts eating all the vegetation in sight. Once an ecosystem gets that damaged, it can impact the health of everything that lives there. So what’s the right balance?
Biologists call the right balance the “biological carrying capacity”. It’s the capacity of an ecosystem to “carry” or support a healthy number of a certain species. For instance, if a forest type supports two healthy bears per square mile, what happens if four bears try to live there? They may eat all the available food and not find enough to remain healthy. Plus, if they eat all the fruit and nuts, they might damage the next generation of fruit and nut plants in the ecosystem. Everything loses.
Hmmm, makes you wonder... what variables can affect the biological carrying capacity of an ecosystem for a certain species?
Ah ha, it's the:
To find out more about how all this works in a lake with different fish species, just click on the "Learn More" below. Plus, the educational partner noted below supported the video and lesson content here for all of us to learn from. They also offer other learning opportunities on their website. So click on their logo and discover more!
Comparing the fish life cycles of various species that share the same body of water helps biologists understand the bigger picture of the whole ecosystem.
Want to explore the underwater world of some interesting fish? That's easy! Just watch this video. Then you can learn even more in your classroom with a combination of watching the video and taking part in the fun free Lesson Guide that really dives into the underwater science of understanding fish species. Just download the free Lesson Activity at the bottom of this page to get going.
If you've ever fished in a certain river or a lake, you probably found out that it's home to some very different species of fish. Right? Then it kinda makes you wonder how the life cycles compare between some different fish species that both share the same body of water as their home.
But first, consider this. Fish, humans, birds, and all living organisms go through a “life cycle”. This life cycle begins at birth and lasts until they reach reproductive maturity. Within that life cycle, the organism typically goes through a number of physical changes. They can also have a yearly cycle of various activities or behaviors within their life cycle. Similar organisms that share the same ecosystem can have very different life cycles.
To "dive" into the depths of this topic, just click on the "Learn More" button below. Don't worry, you don't have to hold your breath.
Plus, the educational partner noted below supported the video and lesson content here for all of us to learn from. They also offer other learning opportunities on their website. So click on their logo to discover more!