Mining supplies our everyday lives more than most people realize. If you have ever resided in a building, driven on a road, switched on a light, worked or played on a computer, or used your cell phone, mining has provided for you in some way. In fact, 65 different minerals are used to produce a modern computer, and those minerals must be mined. Furthermore, coal is used for nearly 50% of electric power in the United States. Mining provides key resources such as coal, iron, copper, zinc, beryllium, soda ash, sulfur, and gold. While mining is crucial, it is not without its dangers and drawbacks. The very nature of mining volatile materials makes it a dangerous job that should be respected. This infographic explores the most catastrophic mining disasters since 1960. Most of them have occurred in coal mines, and the deadliest mining disaster of the past 60 years occurred in a coal mine in West Virginia.
Infographic by: yourlawyer
