Pit & Quarry, March 2015

the stigma F ew people are aware that toothpaste is made with the same mineral they walk on every day Members of Women in Mining WIM a national organization use this fact as an educational tool for teaching students how to make their own toothpaste out of calcium carbonate and baking soda If it cant be grown it has to be mined Thats our motto says Julia Lakes Martinez California chapter president of WIM and environmental manager for the Southern California Materials Division at CalPortland Women in Mining was founded in 1972 in Denver It aims to educate its members and the public about the mining and aggregate industries The purpose is really to change peoples view or outlook on the mining industry and educate people on the importance of mining minerals and aggregates Lakes Martinez says We want to change peoples negative view of the mining industry Educating the public Women in Mining has chapters throughout the A mostly female organization educates the public on the mining and aggregate industries United States with locations in California Colorado Kentucky Missouri Nevada and Virginia One of its main goals is to support students wanting to excel in the mining and aggregates industries In 2014 the California chapter awarded 10000 in scholarships to students studying mining related fields including geology engineering and environmental studies I would say about 50 percent of the money we raise goes directly into scholarships for college kids and high school kids says Stephen Tibbals vice president of the Nevada chapter and senior account representative at Solenis More importantly the organization focuses on eliminating the negative stigma that can be associated with mining and quarrying In California especially its very difficult to overcome some of those preconceived ideas about mining and tearing up the earth and then leaving this big empty pit somewhere Lakes Martinez says Thats why one of the organizations main goals is to educate teachers and students We really reach out to teachers says Darlene Bray president of WIM National and environmental engineer at Cemex We help educate them and give them information about mining which they can carry on in their classrooms WIMs California chapter often collaborates with the Mojave Environmental Education Consortium MEEC to conduct teacher workshops They provide materials and instruct teachers on how to carry out aggregates related activities In addition members of the organization travel to schools to give presentations conduct hands on activities and carry out demonstrations Making toothpaste is one of the organizations most effective tools The kids were pretty much amazed that you can eat it as well as walk on it says Nancy Windus sixth grade science and math teacher at Temecula Middle School in California They were EDUCATION BY ALLISON BARWACZ Julia Lakes Martinez California chapter president of WIM teaches students how to make toothpaste out of calcium carbonate and baking soda 64 PIT QUARRY March 2015 www pitandquarry com