Second and third graders from Mrs. Mikaela Koppers class at San Andreas Elementary started their school year off with a fun and educational field trip to US Mine Corporation in Ione on August 24, 2023. While their monthly topic centered around the property and usefulness of various materials such as metal, wood, paper, and soil, they got to learn about the specific material of clay, erosion, and local watersheds.
US Mine Corporation is a privately owned and fully permitted mining operation in Ione. It is actively producing clay products and silica products in California that are distributed for use throughout the United States and Canada. Currently, US Mine Corporation is the largest producer of kaolin clay and silica on the West Coast. Silica sand is used for the glass industry and construction industry. Kaolin clay is widely used in rubber, paint, ceramics, plastics, and agriculture. At the current production rate, US Mine Corporation’s Ione Clay Project and Ione Silica Project have more than 100 years of mine life available.
With the tour guided by Mr. Scott Dockter, CEO and owner of US Mine Corporation, the students got to learn more about the properties of clay and what the clay from US Mine Corporation is used for. They were especially excited to look at all of the large heavy machinery in action.
While the students took away some very valuable education, they each also got to take a safety vest home with them after the field trip as a souvenir.
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