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Chapter 2
states such as Texas and Oklahoma. Soon,
other states began to pump more oil from
the ground. Most of our oil is pumped from
the ground in northwestern Pennsylvania.
Our oil is a high-quality product. Today, it is
used to make high-grade motor oil for
automobiles and engines. Quaker State and
Pennzoil are two brands of oil that are
produced inOil City, Pennsylvania. How do
you think these companies got their names?
NATURAL GAS:
Pennsylvania is one of
the leading states in the production of
natural gas. Most of our wells are located in
thewesternAllegheny Plateau. Natural gas is
pumped from the ground and sent tomany
places by pipelines.
Natural gas causes less pollutionwhen it is
burned. When a burning fuel causes less
pollution, we say it burns cleaner. Because of
this, it has become apopular fuel for heating
homes andbusinesses. It alsohas become an
important sourceof fuel formany industries.
Because it causes less pollution, it has
replaced coal as a way to heat homes and
industries inmany places.
Mineral Resources
A
mineral
is a natural substance that
is dug or cut from the ground. Our
state is a leading producer of
minerals in the United States. There are two
kinds of minerals —
metallic
and
non-metallic
. Both kinds of minerals are
non-renewable resources.
Ametallicmineral is one that has ametal
ore in it. An example of a metallic mineral
would be
iron ore
. Our state has major
deposits of iron ore found at Cornwall, near
Reading. Iron ore is used tomake steel. Our
state is a leading producer of steel.
Bauxite
is another important metal ore that is used
tomake aluminum. Themain offices of The
Aluminum Company of America, or Alcoa,
are located in Pittsburgh. Alcoa is the third
largest producer of aluminum in theworld.
A non-metallic mineral is one that does
Aluminum in foil form is often used for cooking and preserving food.
