Saskatchewan Treasures - Western Development Museum€¦ · 108 ADAPTATION AND EXTENSION To help...

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Coal miners inside a mine near Estevan, circa 1912. Western Development Museum 6-B-1

CURRICULUM CONNECTIONSGrade Five Science, Core Unit: Resources

http://www.sasked.gov.sk.ca/docs/elemsci/gr5udesc.html

LESSON OVERVIEWStudents will discover that Saskatchewan is rich in resources,

both in quantity and variety.

RESOURCES AND MATERIALSFast Facts information (at the end of resource package)

Paper and art supplies

Access to the school library and Internet

PROCEDUREPrepare to teach by reviewing the Fast Facts at the end of

this resource package. A number of additional references

are also listed in the resources section at the end of this

package for your information.

Introduce the topic of natural resources in the province

by brainstorming with the students about what kinds of

materials are harvested and extracted for economic gain.

(Non-renewable resources include uranium, potash, coal,

oil and natural gas, gold, diamonds, sodium sulphate, salt,

peat, clay, sand and gravel. Renewable resources include

forestry, wind power, hydroelectric power, solar power, fi sh,

game and wild harvested products like mushrooms and

certain plants.) What do the students think the materials are

used for? Are natural resources in Saskatchewan used only

here, or are they shipped across Canada, North America

or around the world? Introduce or review the defi nitions

of renewable (can be regenerated in a short time frame

– months, years or decades) and non-renewable (cannot

be regenerated in a human life-span) resources.

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2. Divide the students into small groups and assign one natural

resource to each group. Each group will research a natural

resource and create an informative poster. Students should

be encouraged to fi nd pictures, maps or samples for their

posters. On their posters, the students should answer the

following questions:

Is the resource renewable or non-renewable?

Where and when was it discovered in the province?

Where and how is the resource currently harvested or

mined?

How is it used, and what products is it used to make?

Where are the markets for the resource?

Are there any environmental concerns related to

mining or extracting the resource? How does it affect

the landscape?

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S a s k a tc h e wa n T re a s u re sNa t ura l R e s o urce sGrade Five Science

LESSON PLAN ONE: CLASSROOM INTRODUCTION TO THE THEMELESSON PLAN ONE: CLASSROOM INTRODUCTION TO THE THEME

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ADAPTATION AND EXTENSIONTo help familiarize students with Saskatchewan’s vast

array of natural resources, create a series of question cards

about Saskatchewan’s natural resources and play a trivia

game.

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LESSON OVERVIEWStudents will explore the contents of a discovery box and tour

exhibits in the Museum.

RESOURCES AND MATERIALSMaterials and information sent to you in your Museum tour

confi rmation package.

PROCEDUREPrepare to teach and to tour the Museum by reviewing

the resources listed. Divide your class into groups before

the visit. Discuss the required number of groups with the

Museum Programmer when you book your visit. Select

other staff members or parents to lead the groups. Advise

the group leader about what they will have to do.

Students will visit a Western Development Museum in

Moose Jaw, North Battleford, Saskatoon or Yorkton. The

entire class will assemble for a welcome and orientation.

The class will be divided into two, three or more groups.

Students will interact with artifacts, replicas and

photographs located in a discovery box. A leader’s script

included in the discovery box will spearhead discussion.

The class will tour pertinent exhibits in the Museum using

a tour handout to guide their exploration. This handout

may be a question-and-answer sheet or scavenger hunt.

A tour script for the group leader will be sent to you with

confi rmation of your Museum tour booking.

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LESSON PLAN TWO: AT THE MUSEUMLESSON PLAN TWO: AT THE MUSEUM

In the Saskatchewan Treasures - Natural Resources discovery box, students will see and touch samples of our renewable and non-renewable resources. Aided by maps, students will discuss the location of resources in Saskatchewan and how these resources have contributed to our wellbeing.

Saskatchewan TreasuresNatural ResourcesG r a d e F i v e S c i e n c e

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The Pas Lumber Company cars and mill, Reserve, SK, circa 1949. Saskatchewan History and Folklore Society, Everett Baker Collection 6256

LESSON OVERVIEWStudents will trace the pathway of petroleum products to

gain an appreciation for the many ways in which natural

resources can be utilized, how widespread their impact is on

the world, and the environmental impact of their extraction and

processing. Students will be asked to consider how the negative

environmental impact of petroleum use could be minimized,

and how they could contribute.

RESOURCES AND MATERIALSA selection of items from the petroleum products list

gathered by the teacher (appendix one)

Copies of the petroleum products list (appendix one)

PROCEDUREIntroduce the topic of petroleum by asking students what

they know about it. Petroleum or crude oil is formed from

organic matter (partially decayed plants, animals and

microbes), which has been buried deep in the earth by

layers and layers of sedimentary rock. Over time, heat

and pressure transform the organic matter into crude oil.

Because petroleum is lighter than water, it moves upwards

through ground water and fi lls tiny crevices in the rocks

until it reaches an impenetrable layer where the cracks are

too small for it to pass through. The petroleum remains

there until it is extracted through drilling. In Saskatchewan,

the fi rst commercial discovery of crude oil dates back

to 1944 in the Lloydminster area. During the 1950s and

1960s, an intensive exploration effort was undertaken

resulting in the discovery of signifi cant reserves.

Since that time, Saskatchewan has grown to become

Canada’s second largest crude oil producer after Alberta,

contributing 21 percent of Canada’s total production in

2005. Saskatchewan had over 20,000 active wells. The

province’s reserves contain the equivalent of 35-billion

barrels of oil. The petroleum industry is very important to

Saskatchewan’s economy. The revenue generated from

petroleum leases, taxes and royalties was $906.9 million

for 2004/2005. Many Saskatchewan people are employed

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which service the oil industry and in related facilities

like Moose Jaw Asphalt Inc.; Consumers’ Co-operative

Refi neries Ltd. in Regina, Canada’s fi rst heavy oil upgrader;

NewGrade Energy Inc., which converts heavy crude into

lighter products used by the Co-op Refi nery; and the heavy

oil upgrader in Lloydminster owned by Husky Oil.

Ask the students what they think petroleum is used for.

Students will likely know that it is used to produce fuel to

run automobiles and other machines. Ask the students to

take a look around the classroom and pick out any objects

that might be made using petroleum products. Bring

out the various items that you have collected that have

been made using petroleum products for the students to

examine. Explain that although the main use of petroleum

is as a fuel, it is also used to make all plastics, asphalt for

road construction, paraffi n wax and much more (see list

in appendix one). Are they surprised by the vast number

of items that are made from petroleum products? Ask the

students to look around the room again. What other items

can they spy that may be made with petroleum products?

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LESSON PLAN THREE: WHEN A MUSEUM VISIT ISN’T POSSIBLELESSON PLAN THREE: WHEN A MUSEUM VISIT ISN’T POSSIBLE


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Discuss with students the environmental impacts of

extracting, manufacturing and using petroleum products.

There are environmental concerns for land and ecosystem

disturbances due to investigation and drilling. There

is the potential for oil spills that can severely damage

ecosystems. Improper recycling of oil and other products

can pollute the environment. Plastics discarded in landfi lls

take a long time to degrade. The burning of fuels releases

carbon dioxide which contributes to global warming.

Discuss ways in which these environmental effects have

been minimized over time. For example, thanks to cleaner

burning gasolines, it would now take 37 cars to produce

the same emissions as one car in the 1960s, motor oils,

paints and other solvents can be recycled, and oil drilling

and excavation methods are being developed to minimize

site disturbance.

3. Distribute copies of the sheet from appendix one entitled

“Petroleum Products.” Using the list of petroleum products

as a reference, instruct the students to write a page about

how we could contribute to minimizing the environmental

effects of petroleum use, like identifying products they

could recycle from plastics to motor oil, encouraging

family to walk, bike or take public transportation, using

alternatives like cloth diapers instead of disposable ones

and so on.

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ADAPTATION AND EXTENSIONVisit a local museum. Go to www.saskmuseums.org to check

out museums and heritage sites around Saskatchewan.

Some of the museums located throughout the province

that explore and preserve Saskatchewan’s natural

resource industry history include: Kamsack Powerhouse

Museum – Kamsack; Nipawin Living Forestry Museum

– Nipawin; Northern Gateway Museum – Denare Beach;

Goodsoil Historical Museum – Goodsoil; Meadow Lake

Museum – Meadow Lake; Vintage Power Museum –

Prince Albert; Conservation Learning Museum – Prince

Albert; Souris Valley Museum – Estevan; Claybank Brick

Plant National Historic Site - Claybank; Swift Current

Museum – Swift Current; Barr Colony Heritage Cultural

Centre – Lloydminster; Saskatchewan Science Centre –

Regina; Royal Saskatchewan Museum – Regina; Potash

Interpretive Centre - Esterhazy.

Arrange a tour of a facility in your area by contacting one

of the many resource development companies located

throughout the province Visit a potash mine, peat moss

plant, diamond mine, coal mine, or wind power project.

SaskPower and Shand Greenhouse, for example, offer

a school room presentation for grades fi ve to six called

“Energy and Our Environment”. If you are interested

in booking this presentation for your school, contact:

Shand Greenhouse toll free: 1-866-SPTREES, or email

[email protected].

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Cory Potash Mine, Potash Corporation of Saskatchewan, Highway 7 southwest of Saskatoon, 2005. Ruth Bitner Photo

LESSON OVERVIEWStudents will discuss some of the up and coming initiatives in

Saskatchewan to utilize renewable sources to produce energy.

Students will create their own short commercial to inform

people of why using renewable energy is important.

RESOURCES AND MATERIALSAccess to school library and Internet

Pictures and/or props gathered by the students

PROCEDUREBegin the lesson by reviewing the difference between

renewable (can be regenerated in a short time frame –

months, years or decades) and non-renewable (cannot be

regenerated in a human life-span) resources. Ask students

to give examples of renewable and non-renewable

resources in Saskatchewan that they have learned about

during the previous lessons.

Explain that more and more, as greenhouse gas emissions

from the combustion of fossil fuels like coal, oil and natural

gas continue to increase, contributing to climate change and

other environmental problems, and costs increase, we look

to more renewable and environmentally-friendly options. In

Saskatchewan, methods to exploit renewable resources to

generate electricity, heat and fuel have been developed,

and more investigation is ongoing. In Saskatchewan,

wind turbines and hydroelectric plants generate electrical

power, ethanol and canola bio-diesel production creates

new markets for Saskatchewan’s farmers and employment

in related processing facilities, solar heating, solar electric

energy and even burning grain to heat homes are being

tested and implemented on a small-scale.

Brainstorm about the positives and negatives of both

renewable and non-renewable resource use. Draw a

chart on the black/whiteboard to document the student

comments.

Discuss ways in which people can reduce their consumption

of fossil fuel energy, and in turn help the environment by

reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Possible examples

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include turning lights off when they leave a room, walking

to school or taking the bus, recycling, using energy-effi cient

light bulbs and appliances and using cold water to wash

clothes. You may want to start off the discussion by asking

the students to think of the ways in which we use energy

in our daily lives.

There are positive environmental and economic reasons,

along with some limitations, regarding the development

of renewable resources to meet some of Saskatchewan’s

energy needs. In Saskatchewan we rely heavily on the

burning of non-renewable fossil fuels (fuels formed in the

ground from the remains of dead plants and animals, and

include oil, natural gas and coal) to generate electricity

and to run automobiles and other machines. Divide the

class into small groups and assign each group one of the

following renewable resources: wind power, hydroelectric

power or ethanol production. Each group will prepare a

short television commercial outlining the benefi ts of using

their assigned renewable resource, and how each resource

is currently being used in Saskatchewan. Encourage the

students to gather pictures and props to enhance their

productions.

Have the students perform the commercials for the class

or a larger group of your choice.

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LESSON PLAN FOUR: CLASSROOM WRAP-UPLESSON PLAN FOUR: CLASSROOM WRAP-UP


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ADAPTATION AND EXTENSIONInvestigate the Craik Sustainable Living Project in Craik,

Saskatchewan at http://www.craikecovillage.ca to learn

about this ecologically sustainable development on the

prairies. Let this project stimulate the class to build a model

of a home or school that utilizes sustainable alternatives to

meet electrical, heat and water needs.

Survey your students. If any of them have a connection to

someone who works in the resource development industry,

invite them to the classroom to discuss his or her work.

Visit the SaskPower website for more information on

power generation and to view coal, hydroelectric and

wind power animations. http://www.saskpower.com/

powerandenvironment/powerandenvironment.shtml.

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RESOURCES

WDM Resources

A number of WDM research papers on various resources can be found at http://www.wdm.ca/

skteacherguide/.

A Noble Quest: The Search for Gold in Saskatchewan

Diamond Drills and Saskatchewan Thrills

Sand, Gravel, and Stone

Peat Production in Saskatchewan

Saskatchewan’s Clay Resources

Logging in Saskatchewan

What a Rush! Staking Mineral Claims in Saskatchewan’s North

Prospecting

Saskatchewan’s Uranium Bonanza

Nourishing the Crops of the World: Saskatchewan’s Potash Industry

Saskatchewan’s Long History of Coal Mining

The Development of Oil and Natural Gas in Saskatchewan

General Information

25 Saskatchewan Science Achievements: http://www.sk25.ca

Industry and Resources, Government of Saskatchewan: http://www.ir.gov.sk.ca/

Saskatchewan Mining Association: http://www.saskmining.ca/ (includes many good photos)

Natural Resources Canada: http://www.nrcan.gc.ca/inter/index¬_e.html

SaskPower Power Museum: http://www.saskpower.com/pm/index.shtml

Climate Change Saskatchewan: http://www.climatechangesask.ca

Saskatchewan EcoNetwork: http://econet.sk.ca

Craik Sustainable Living Project: http://www.craikecovillage.ca

Re-energy.ca renewable energy project: http://www.re-energy.ca

Fung, Ka-iu, ed. Atlas of Saskatchewan. Saskatoon: University of Saskatchewan, 1999.

The Encyclopedia of Saskatchewan. Regina: Canadian Plains Research Centre, 2005. The

Encyclopedia of Saskatchewan is available online at http://www.esask.ca

Waiser, Bill. Saskatchewan: A New History. Calgary: Fifth House Publishers, 2005.

Forestry

Saskatchewan Forestry Association: http://www.whitebirch.ca

Prince Albert Model Forest: http://www.pamodelforest.sk.ca

Saskatchewan Forest Centre: http://www.saskforestcentre.ca

Weyerhaeuser: http://www.weyerhaeuser.com/

Forestry in Saskatchewan, Unit Outline (Elementary): http://www.usask.ca/education/ideas/

tplan/sslp/forestry.htm

Forestry in Saskatchewan: http://www.saskschools.ca/~gregory/sask/forestry.html

Uranium

Cameco: http://www.cameco.com/ (see especially “Let’s Learn About Uranium” section)

Cogema: http://www.cri.ca/

Canadian Nuclear Association: http://www.cna.ca/

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Potash

PotashCorp: http://www.potashcorp.com/

Agrium: http://www.agrium.com/home.jsp

Potash: http://www.ir.gov.sk.ca/Default.aspx?DN=3558,3541,3538,3385,2936,Documents

Potash Mining In Saskatchewan: http://www.saskschools.ca/~gregory/sask/potash.html

Gold

Shore Gold: http://www.shoregold.com/

Claude Resources: http://www.clauderesources.com/

Diamonds

Shane Resources: http://www.shaneresources.com/diamondinfo.html

Diamonds: http://www.ir.gov.sk.ca/Default.aspx?DN=3551,3541,3538,3385,2936,Documents

Coal

SaskPower: http://www.saskpower.com

Coal: http://www.ir.gov.sk.ca/Default.aspx?DN=3549,3541,3538,3385,2936,Documents

Coal: http://www.saskschools.ca/~gregory/sask/mining.html

Memories of Shand: History of a Saskatchewan Coal Mining Community: http://cap.estevan.

sk.ca/Shand/Memories/

Coal Mining: http://geoscape.nrcan.gc.ca/sask/resources_e.php

Oil & Natural Gas

SaskEnergy: http://www.saskenergy.com/ (see especially “Kids Zone,” which includes a slide

show and games, as well as “Teacher’s Aide”)

Claude Resources: http://www.clauderesources.com/

Imperial Oil: http://www.imperialoil.ca/Canada-English/HomePage.asp

Saskatchewan’s Oil and Gas Resources: http://www.ir.gov.sk.ca/Default.aspx?DN=3384,2936,

Documents

Natural Gas and Oil: http://www.saskschools.ca/~gregory/sask/mining.html

Oil (Petroleum): http://www.saskschools.ca/~gregory/sask/oil.html

Natural Gas: http://www.saskschools.ca/~gregory/sask/ngas.html

Natural Gas: http://www.ir.gov.sk.ca/Default.aspx?DN=3802,3541,3538,3385,2936, Documents

Salt

“Our World of Salt,” Sifto Canada Inc.: http://www.siftocanada.com/saltbookframe.html

Sodium Sulphate

Saskatchewan Minerals Sodium Sulphate Plant: http://www.saskminerals.org

Sodium Sulphate: http://www.ir.gov.sk.ca/Default.aspx?DN=3562,3541,3538,3385,2936,Documents

Wind


Canadian Wind Energy Association: http://www.canwea.ca/

Canadian Renewable Energy Network: http://www.canren.gc.ca

Hydroelectric



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Clay

A Little Brick Plant in the Middle of Nowhere: Claybank Brick Plant National Historic Site and

Museum, Claybank, Saskatchewan: http://www.virtualmuseum.ca/CommunityMemories/

ADFK/00aa/Exhibits/English/

Clay: http://www.ir.gov.sk.ca/Default.aspx?DN=3548,3541,3538,3385,2936,Documents

A Tale that is Told: Estevan Brick Ltd.”: http://cap.estevan.sk.ca/community/ATaleThatIsTold/

chapt04/EstevanBrick.html

Claybank Brick Plant Historical Society: http://www.sasktelwebsite.net/cbphm/index.htm

Peat

Peat: http://www.ir.gov.sk.ca/default.aspx?DN=3557,3541,3538,3385,2936,Documents

Ethanol

Ethanol: http://www.fuels05.ca

Saskatchewan Ethanol Development Council Inc.: http://www.saskethanol.com

Saskatchewan Eco Network: http://econet.sk.ca/issues/ethanol/index.html

Pound-Maker Agventures Ltd.: http://www.pound-maker.ca

Solar

Climate Change Saskatchewan: http://www.climatechangesask.ca/html/learn_more/Solutions/

Solar_Power/index.cfm

Kelln Solar: http://www.kellnsolar.com


“Saskatchewan Solar Power Pioneers” on Saskatchewan Eco Network: http://www.econet.

sk.ca/solutions/energy/pioneers.html

Geothermal

Geothermal Energy: http://www.templegardens.sk.ca/liquid_gold.html

Geoscape Southern Saskatchewan: Geoscience for Prairie communities: http://geoscape.

nrcan.gc.ca/sask/index_e.php

Dwight’s Geothermal: http://www.dwightsgeothermal.com/index.htm

Fisheries

Saskatchewan Environment: http://www.se.gov.sk.ca/fi sheries

Saskatchewan Tourism Fishing Outfi tters and Lodges: http://www.sasktourism.com/default.

asp?page=18&menu=47

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FAST FACTSGeneral

Saskatchewan’s natural resources include a spectrum of precious and base metals and other

minerals, including copper, zinc, gold, lead, cadmium, platinum group metals, rare earths,

nickel, silver and selenium

Industrial minerals found in the province include sodium sulphate, silica sand, clays, peat, and salt.

Mining uses only 0.1% of available land in Saskatchewan, which is less than the size of the city

of Saskatoon!

Forestry

More than half of Saskatchewan is forested - about 355,000 square kilometres

The province’s commercial softwoods include balsam fi r, black spruce, jack pine, tamarack and

white spruce. Hardwoods include balsam poplar, trembling aspen and white birch.

Fishing

In Saskatchewan, fi shery resources are used by recreational anglers, by First Nations for

subsistence and commercial fi shing.

In 2004, there were about 500 licensed commercial fi shermen in the northern part of the

province. Over 80 percent of those licensed were First Nations.

In Saskatchewan, Alberta, Manitoba, Ontario and the Northwest Territories, the sale of fi sh is

governed by the Fresh Fish Marketing Corporation. Independent fi shermen can sell their catch

directly to fi sh processing facilities and consumers within Saskatchewan.

Fur

Long before Saskatchewan became a province or European fur traders arrived, First Nations

trapped and traded furs with an established network of other groups.

In Saskatchewan there are 25 species of animals with marketable pelts including lynx, coyote,

muskrat, otter and marten. Swift foxes are endangered and their pelts cannot be harvested.

Trappers in Saskatchewan must obtain a trapper’s license. They can sell their pelts independently

to local dealers or the large fur auction houses out of province.

The Saskatchewan fur industry fl uctuates with market demand, and the demand for furs

has been decreasing over time. However, the trapping industry is an important source of

supplemental income for many trappers and important to the preservation of traditional First

Nations lifestyles.

Uranium

A massive uranium deposit was discovered in northwestern Saskatchewan in 1949.

Saskatchewan is the world’s largest uranium producer, with about 34% of the world’s uranium

production.

Uranium is one of the more common elements in the earth’s crust, found naturally in the rocks,

soil, rivers and oceans of the planet. Nuclear fi ssion, the process by which the nuclei of uranium

atoms are split, releases energy in the forms of heat and radiation. This energy is harnessed to

generate electricity.

Uranium mines are located in the northern quarter of the province.

Uranium is used to fuel nuclear reactors to generate power. It is also used to create radioisotopes

used in the treatment diseases like cancer, and to sterilize medical equipment and extend the

shelf-life of some foods through the process of irradiation.

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Potash

Potash was discovered in Saskatchewan during oil drilling in the 1940s.

Saskatchewan is the largest potash producer and exporter in the world - supplying one-third

of world demand.

Potash is a nutrient essential for plant growth, and is a cornerstone of modern agricultural

fertilizers. Roughly 95 per cent of world potash production goes into fertilizer, while the other

fi ve per cent is used in commercial and industrial products - everything from soap to television

tubes.

Potash got its name in Europe where there was a long tradition of burning wood or seaweed

and leaching the ashes in water. Then the solution was evaporated in large iron pots. What was

left was a hard, white residue called potash.

Saskatchewan had the world’s fi rst solution potash mine in 1964, and all 10 mines were in

production by 1971.

Six of Saskatchewan’s ten potash mines operate near Saskatoon. They mine the upper potash

layer, known as the Patience Lake Member. In the south, three are operating in the lower potash

layer, known as the Esterhazy Member. A solution mine just outside of Regina is the only mine

operating in the Belle Plaine Member, at depths of about 1,600 metres.

Potash is important around the world in helping to feed a rapidly expanding population that

must grow its food on diminishing amounts of arable land. Many of the world’s major crops are

being nourished with Saskatchewan potash, including corn, soybeans, coffee, rice, tobacco

and potatoes.

Saskatchewan’s potash is sold in more than 35 countries. About fi ve per cent is consumed in

Canada. Approximately 70% of exports (about 9 million tonnes) go to the U.S., where it supplies

about 70% of the market demand, mostly in the northern part of the U.S. Midwest. The other

25%, about 5 million tonnes, goes beyond North America to the Pacifi c Rim and other offshore

markets, including China, Japan, Malaysia, Korea, Indonesia, Australia and Brazil.

Coal

Saskatchewan is the third-largest coal producer in Canada, with reserves in excess of 30 billion

tonnes.

Coal mining in Saskatchewan dates back to 1857.

Coal is about 100 million years old, formed from buried swamp plants at the edges of ancient

seas. The plant matter has been converted into a fuel by pressure and heat.

The same coalfi elds are being mined today as have been harvested since the late 1880s.

The surface-mineable deposits of the Ravenscrag Formation are located in three coal basins:

Estevan/Bienfait, Willow Bunch/Wood Mountain and Shaunavon.

Oil and Gas

Fossil fuels such as oil, natural gas, and coal, are formed from organic material such as plants

and animals that over millions of years, have come under intense pressure and increased

temperature.

Oil deposits in Saskatchewan are found in pores, cracks, and microscopic holes in porous

rocks such as sandstone and limestone.

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118

Saskatchewan’s fi rst commercial crude oil discovery was made in 1944. Saskatchewan is the

second largest oil producer in Canada after Alberta. The province produces approximately 21 per

cent of total Canadian oil production. Most of the oil Saskatchewan produces is exported. After

extraction, oil is transported by pipeline or truck to be processed in refi neries, where it is convert-

ed to gasoline, diesel, aviation, and other fuel for its single largest use - transportation. Additional

uses of refi ned petroleum products include the manufacture of lubricants, asphalt, and plastics.

Natural gas was struck in 1911 while boring a water well on the farm of Joseph Frank, north of

Estevan.

Saskatchewan’s fi rst commercial natural gas well, Discovery No.1 near Lloydminster, was

drilled in 1934.

In Saskatchewan, over 81% of households use natural gas for heating.

Gold

Gold has been prized by humans throughout recorded history, and used in jewellery and

ceremonial wear, and as a store of value (money). It is also an important industrial metal.

Because it is resistant to corrosion and is a very good conductor of electricity, gold is widely

used in electronic applications.

Gold was fi rst discovered in Saskatchewan in the North Saskatchewan River near Prince

Albert in 1859. Saskatchewan began producing gold in small quantities in the early 1900s and

possibly earlier from panning and dredging operations on the North Saskatchewan River and

its tributaries.

Diamonds

The discovery of kimberlite pipes and diamonds led to extensive exploration and drilling by

more than 30 companies.

The fi rst discovery of kimberlite (a potentially diamond-bearing rock) in Saskatchewan was

made in 1988, in the Sturgeon Lake area, about 30 km northwest of Prince Albert.

Kimberlites were found in 1989 in the Fort à la Corne area. With over 70 kimberlite bodies

identifi ed, the Fort à la Corne Kimberlite ranks among the world’s largest.

Sodium Suphate

Sodium sulphate deposits are found in alkaline lakes with restricted drainage in southern

Saskatchewan. Sodium sulphate is used in the glass, detergent, deodorizer, textile and pulp

industries.

Saskatchewan Minerals is a leading producer of sodium sulphate in North America. It now

operates a plant at Chaplin, and owns a plant at Ingebright Lake near Fox Valley, which in

2005 was on standby. Miller Western Industries operates the Palo Plant at the Whitehorse Lake

deposit near Landis.

Salt

The Saskatchewan salt industry produces a number of different salt products including fi ne

vacuum pan table salt, water softening salt, livestock salt, road de-icing salt. Some salt is

further processed into caustic soda and chlorine chemicals for pulp and paper.

The earliest production of salt in Saskatchewan was by the Senlac Salt Co. around 1920 near

Senlac.

Salt deposits were discovered at Unity in 1945. Sifto currently operates a plant at Unity which

has been operating since 1949.

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Clay

The term “clay” refers to a varied group of soft, fi ne grained natural earthy materials which

become plastic when moist. Clay minerals derive from ancient igneous and metamorphic rocks

which have been weathered and altered over time. In Saskatchewan, clays include such types

as bentonite, brick and ceramic clays and kaolinite.

In the past, clay products were mined and bricks were produced at several locations. The

Claybank Brick Plant in the Dirt Hills operated between 1914 and 1989. Near Estevan, clay

suitable for brick making was found along the banks of the Souris River by early coal miners. By

1902, typical buff coloured brick was being manufactured by several small outfi ts in the Estevan

area. The Bruno Clayworks operated between 1905 and 1946.

Saskatchewan made brick has been used to construct many buildings within Saskatchewan and

outside its borders including the Bessborough Hotel in Saskatoon and the Chateau Frontenac

in Quebec. Fire brick from Claybank was used to line steam engine fi re boxes and Second

World War Corvettes, and was used to construct launch pads at Cape Canaveral in the 1970s.

At present, three major companies produce clay products in Saskatchewan.

Alternative Renewable Energy Sources

Geothermal

Special geothermal units can utilize the heat from deep within the earth to provide heating

for buildings. During summer, the same units can draw hot air out and down into the earth to

provide cooling. Geothermal systems are effi cient and low maintenance, and provide great cost

and energy savings over conventional natural gas, propane, electric and oil furnaces.

Did you know that between 1932 and 1957 the Natatorium (an indoor swimming pool) in Moose

Jaw was supplied with warm water from a 1000 metre well?

The Temple Gardens Mineral Spa in Moose Jaw utilizes geothermally heated mineral water to

fi ll its hot pools.

Wind Power

Saskatchewan is a leader in the development of alternative wind power projects. Three

developments are currently operating in Saskatchewan which supply power generated from

wind energy to the provincial electrical grid: the Centennial Wind Power Facility (operated by

SaskPower) near Swift Current, and the Cypress Wind Power Facility (operated by SaskPower)

and SunBridge Wind Power Project (joint venture between Suncor and Enbridge) near Gull Lake.

Hydroelectricity

Hydroelectricity is generated by falling water which turns a turbine, which then rotates a

generator to produce power.

SaskPower currently operates the Athabasca, Coteau Creek, Nipawin, E.B. Campbell and

Island Falls hydroelectric stations.

Solar Energy

Solar energy is the generation of heat and electricity using the energy derived from the sun.

In Saskatchewan, solar energy is being tapped on a small scale in some homes, and on farms

to power things like livestock watering systems, water pumps and electric fences.

SaskPower is researching the potential of tapping solar energy as a viable green energy

alternative.

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Ethanol

There exists great potential for the development of an ethanol industry in Saskatchewan.

Ethanol, also known as grain alcohol, can be produced from grain grown here in Saskatchewan.

Ethanol can be blended with petroleum gasoline to produce a high octane fuel that is cleaner

burning. Because ethanol contains 35 percent oxygen, it results in greater combustion and less

emissions.

Saskatchewan became the fi rst province to pass legislation mandating the use of ethanol in its

gasoline. The ethanol mandate began November 1, 2005.

Saskatchewan ethanol production is expected to increase. In 2005, one plant called Pound-

Maker Agventures was operational near Lanigan, and two other plants were under construction

in Weyburn and Lloydminster.

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APPENDIX ONEProducts Derived From Petroleum

Computers

Toys

Telephones

Linoleum

Glue

Shoes

Disposable Diapers

Shampoo

Soft Contact Lenses

Credit Cards

Milk Jugs

Balloons

Heart Valve Replacements and Artifi cial Hearts

Antihistamines

Antiseptics

Aspirin

CD Players and Compact Discs

Crayons

Fertilizers

Furniture

Garbage bags

House Paint and Paintbrushes

Inks and Dyes

Lipstick

Pantyhose

Cameras and Film

Photographs

Candles

Roofi ng Shingles

Toothpaste

Vitamin Capsules

Rubbing Alcohol

Clothing

Oil Filters

Insecticides

Dishwashing Soap

Tires

And more…


Saskatchewan Treasures - Western Development Museum€¦ · 108 ADAPTATION AND EXTENSION To help...

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