Among the four different types of technology, production technology is the knowledge, tools, machines, and systems that we use to make artifacts we need and want for living our lives. We manufacture “products”, which are artifacts transported from the location where they are produced, or we construct “structures”, which are artifacts that remain at the location they are produced. Our unique human actions of inventing, designing and producing artifacts to satisfy ourselves partially defines what people are, and understanding production technology is fundamental to understanding humans.

When we think about the physical products and structures we already own or are available to us to buy, we don’t typically spend much time thinking about the resources that are used to produce those products. This is common with many things related to our lives — we don’t know their origin or how they get to us. We may notice if something is made from wood, or metal, or plastic, or glass, or a combination of those, or if a food product taste good, but that is usually the extent our thinking. What the product does for us is typically foremost in our thoughts. I’d assume that most humans have been thinking this way about our artifacts from our very beginnings on Earth. But it is good to spend some time thinking about the resources we use and where they come from. Materials all have positive and negative characteristics about them and knowing more about this can help us make good decisions about the products we use and buy. It can also raise our awareness about the consequences of choosing certain materials over others, and the long-term effects of those products and structures after we are finished with them. There are also geopolitical effects of certain resources which are abundant in certain places in the world and rare or non-existent in others.

The United States is very rich in natural resources and believe it or not one of the most important and abundant natural resources found here, and more specifically right here in the upper Midwest, is fresh water. The rivers, lakes, and underground aquifers provide ample water ready for drinking to support human and animal populations, large scale agriculture production of plants and animals, and reliable sources of good water for industry. The Great Lakes are the largest deposit of fresh water in the world – right here in our own “backyard”! Think of how difficult life would be without the simple but oh-so-important supply of fresh water.

Natural gas is abundant in the United States which is used primarily to generate electricity to power our homes and factories, but to also heat them as well. Natural gas is a fossil fuel created by microorganisms from millions of years ago and is an exhaustible natural resource which also releases large amounts of carbon into the atmosphere when it is burned. Certain states like Texas and Pennsylvania have huge reserves of natural gas that are drilled into and mined for production. The U.S. also has abundant coal deposits found primarily in Wyoming and West Virginia. Coal is used for producing electricity and heat and like natural gas releases pollutants into the atmosphere when it is burned. To finish off the trifecta of fossil fuels, we also have vast supplies of petroleum located primarily in Texas and North Dakota as crude oil, and in Colorado, Utah and Wyoming in oil shale (a sedimentary rock which must be processed to obtain the oil contained in it). Petroleum is used to produce thousands of products which include one of the most important – gasoline and diesel fuel for powering vehicles. Oil shares the same detrimental effects of natural gas and coal and can cause additional environmental damage when it spills during transport through pipelines or on ships, trucks, or trains.

The United States is fortunate to have vast timber forests, particularly in the Pacific Northwest region which provide wood for paper and furniture, construction, and many other industries. Some lumber is especially valued in other countries and is sold for high prices to export. The Midwest and other states have hardwood forests used primarily for furniture. Luckily trees can be farmed, or harvested from forests, and then new trees can be planted and raised to replace them. A wonderful renewable resource!

Uranium is a crucial mineral found in large quantities of deposits located in Wyoming. Uranium is used as fuel for nuclear power plants. Illinois has 11 nuclear reactors found in six different power plants — the most nuclear reactors in the United States. These plants in our state produce the most nuclear-generated electricity in the U.S. and are critical to our economy and lifestyle. Energy production is, and has been, a very important need for all of us.

The United States is lucky to have several other, perhaps less well-known natural resources which are found in large quantities here as compared to the rest of the world. Bentonite is a natural clay which is unique in its properties and is especially useful as drilling mud for mining fossil fuels. It is also especially useful as a transport agent for agricultural fertilizers and pesticides. While Canada is the leading producer of potash, the U.S. also has very significant reserves located in New Mexico. This mineral is essential for agriculture fertilizers because it contains vital potassium necessary for healthy plant growth. Limestone is vital for producing the cement and rocks needed for concrete, and the United States has extensive limestone deposits especially here in the Midwest. Maybe you have noticed the large quarry right here in Rochelle near the intersection of Illinois Route 38 and Interstate 39 operated by Macklin Incorporated. Lime and limestone are removed from the earth and processed into the materials needed for heavy construction such as road and bridge building as well as structural concrete.

While there are many other important materials to know about, these are some of the “biggies” that make United States unique among the rest of the world. Stay tuned for more about the importance of our natural resources, and those found in other countries.

Kurt Wolter has studied and taught technology - including production, transportation, energy, and communication - for over 30 years. He enjoys trying to better understand technology’s past, present, and future while also attempting technical journalism. He can be reached at technohistory100@gmail.com