Geology of Idaho Cities and Industries

Idaho – vast forests, rolling plains, soaring peaks, and surging rivers

Idaho – land of active towns/cities where businesses and industries thrive

Some of the important towns and cities of the state of Idaho states/maps/id_maps.htm

Historic Big 4 Industries

Gold dots indicate early mining claims Dark shading indicates areas of current impact

Coeur d’Alene Mining District (Silver Valley)

Currently mining silver, lead, zinc Silver profitable when >$5/oz (currently $12)

Currently mining molybdenum

Currently mining phosphate for fertilizers, explosives, etc.

Idaho – the most forested state in the Western U.S. Timber has been one of the major industries for Idaho

Idaho is growing money!

An old logging train with roughneck loggers

Idaho agriculture is concentrated in two major zones. It is important statewide, however, just on a smaller scale.

The agricultural processing industry shadows agricultural areas for obvious reasons

Bluegrass seed in the panhandle Wheat in the Palouse “Spuds” and in the SE Orchards in the SW

Sugar beets in the South Grasses/hay on the Camas Prairie Livestock throughout the State Truck farms in the SW

“Here We Have Idaho…..” Recreation and Tourism are rapidly becoming the biggest, most important, (economically) industry in the state The problem is that they pay much lower wages than mining and timber have historically provided

Idaho’s scenic beauty draws a variety of people for different reasons The out-of- doors in North Idaho

Sun Valley The River of No Return Native American Casinos

The major population centers are located in two particular regions:

Snake River Plain

Boise River Greenbelt

Boise – the capital of Idaho and business/financial/education/entertainment center of Southern Idaho/Northern Nevada/Northern Utah/Eastern Oregon

Also a major transportation crossroads for the region

Major irrigation centers

Turning the desert into productive ground through irrigation

Processing of ag products is a big business, too!

Some of Idaho’s main brands

And, of course…………

Sugar beets livestock Alfalfa hay Potatoes

Food processing Twin Falls Pocatello Idaho Falls (incl. stockyards) Rexburg (Sugar City)

Many towns grew up on the plain to support the various forms of agriculture there

Light Manufacturing and Related Industries Water resources from Snake River Electrical power Growing workforce Resulted in a new type of industry

Light Manufacturing

Mining – sometimes in unusual forms- is found in Idaho Phosphate mining near Soda Springs

Rail yards in Pocatello

Atomic energy at the Idaho National Laboratory

On February 1, 2005 the Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory and Argonne National Laboratory-West became the Idaho National Laboratory (INL).

A military presence

Farming is important up north as well

The Camas Prairie

The Palouse Hills

The educational center of North Idaho

Lewiston – Idaho’s Seaport

Industry in Lewiston

Historic Big 4-a reminder 2

Mostly Sparsely Populated 3

Largest population in the Northern Panhandle 4

Bonners Ferry Post Falls Riggins Challis Stanley McCall American Falls Gooding Oakley Preston 5 Numerous small towns are scattered throughout the mountainous regions of Idaho

The mountains of the Northern Rockies have historically been rich in mineral ores, including the Coeur d’Alene Mining District 6

7 There are many stories of mining associated with this region

8 And then, of course, there’s timber…..

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10 The largest white pine stand in the world is located near the N. Fork of the Clearwater River

11 Conservation and wise management have allowed our forests to survive

12 However, we are losing job opportunities at an alarming rate

13 Farms/ranches inhabit the mountain valleys of the region A “Palousey” horse !

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Because of mining in the Middle Rockies, our phosphorus brightens teeth in toothpaste, makes bread rise, and adds the fizzle to soda pop. It is made into a treatment for metal, and hydraulic fluid airplanes, and a purification for water. In one form it causes a phenomenal growth in plants, while in another form is an effective environmentally-safe herbicide for unwanted weeds. It helps keep hospitals and food services sanitary, and can put out the flames of a raging forest fire. 15

16 The service industry includes basic services through support of the ever- growing tourism trade that takes advantage of Idaho’s wonders

Shoshone Ice Caves Sawtooth Mts. City of Rocks Bruneau Sand Dunes Hell’s Canyon Silver City – Ghost Town 17 Pts. Of Interest

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Historic Big 4 21

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