Natural Resoures


The many natural resources of Illinois!


Illinois has many natural resources.  Here’s a little taste to give you an idea about some of them.

Did you know that fluoride is made of calcium? Fluorite is one of Illinois’ natural resources. Can you believe that ¾ of Illinois land is farmland?

Illinois corn is made into food products, stoves, furnaces, and soap. Also, Fluorite is the state mineral.

Well, now you have an idea of what Illinois natural resources look like. So, be sure to visit Illinois to find out more.

By: Rory,
Zana, and Andrew

Photo Courtesy of:
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Fluorite



Salt
by Paul and Luc


Illinois has a lot of natural resources. For example salt, which has many uses. It can be used for melting ice and for eating. Salt can be in big chunks for melting ice, but small pieces can't be seen very well and are used for eating.

Salt starts out as a huge lump of salt, then they crush it down into very little pieces for eating and they don't crush it as much for the salt that people use to melt ice.



Salt Mining

by: Lena, Natalie, and
Olivea


Salt mining
is a job some people do. Salt is a natural
mineral. And we use salt almost every day. Salt was mined in Illinois until the 1870s.   When it was mined, it provided people with jobs. The money they earned for salt mining helped support their families. Did you know slaves were brought to Illinois  to mine for salt? Also way back when salt was used for money!



Image source:  http://www.merseybasin.org.uk/blog/underwych/uploaded_images/Salt-001-723113.jpg