Picher, Oklahoma: From Mining Boomtown to Lead-acious Ghost Town
Picher, Oklahoma, might just be the most metal place on Earth... literally. This once-booming town was a major center for mining, but not the kind you do with a pickaxe and a hard hat. No, sir (or ma'am), Picher was all about the heavy hitters: lead and zinc.
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| What Was Mined In Picher Oklahoma |
A Town Built on Shiny, Not-So-Pretty Rocks
Imagine this: it's 1913, and you're just a regular ol' farmer tilling your land in Oklahoma. All of a sudden, someone strikes it rich... but not in the way you'd expect. They find a whole lot of lead and zinc hiding underground! News travels fast, and before you can say "mine shaft," a town explodes into existence around this newfound treasure trove. That, my friends, is the origin story of Picher.
Peak Picher: More Lead Than a #2 Pencil Factory
Picher boomed like nobody's business. Over 50% of the lead and zinc used in World War I came straight outta this Oklahoma town! The place was crawling with miners, all eager to unearth those shiny, not-so-pretty rocks. Saloons with names like the "Rusty Nail" and the "Chat Pile Cha Cha" lined the streets, and the town buzzed with a rough-and-tumble energy.
The Not-So-Shiny Side of Mining
But as they say, all good things must come to an end. By the mid-20th century, the easy pickings were gone. Mining companies skipped town, leaving behind a legacy of environmental damage. Those piles of mine waste, called "chat," were full of lead and zinc, and not exactly the healthiest things to have hanging around.
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Picher Today: A Ghost Town with a Cautionary Tale
Sadly, Picher became a ghost town. The land was deemed too toxic to live on, and the residents were forced to relocate. Today, it's an eerie reminder of the boom-and-bust cycle and the importance of responsible mining practices.
Picher serves as a cautionary tale, a reminder that while mining can bring prosperity, it's crucial to consider the long-term consequences.
Picher Mining: Frequently Asked Questions
How to visit Picher?
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Picher is a Superfund site, so visiting requires a permit. It's best to join a guided tour to explore the town safely.
How dangerous is Picher?
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The lead contamination is serious, so avoid breathing in dust or touching the chat piles.
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How much lead and zinc did Picher produce?
Estimates say Picher produced over $20 billion worth of lead and zinc ore between 1917 and 1947!
How did Picher get its name?
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The town was named after O.S. Picher, the owner of the Picher Lead Company who started the whole mining frenzy.
How did Picher become a ghost town?
Lead contamination from the mines made the land unsafe to live on, forcing residents to relocate.
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