Mining for the Future
When people think about the Wild West, they automatically associate it with saloon fights between cowboys and sheriffs. However, an integral part of this period was all the mining happening. I mean, it was the hunt for gold that basically drove us to the Wild West in the first place.
Photo by Granger / Shutterstock
But it was more than just gold that was discovered in the gorgeous, mountainous western states. Prized metal and minerals, including brass, copper, coal, bronze, iron, and silver, were also found. What they didn’t know is that many of these metals would be used in the future for hygiene and medical equipment.