The Price of Sand: Silica Mines, Small Towns and Money

Minnesota filmmaker Jim Tittle's documentary looks at one of the side issues surrounding hydraulic fracturing. Mining companies are busily excavating crystalline silica, aka sand, which plays a part in “fracking” (and also ends up in glassware and toothpaste). In order to gauge what lies ahead for his state, Tittle speaks with citizens, workers, and scientists in neighboring Wisconsin and Iowa, where frac-sand mining runs rampant. One gentleman asks, “What will it do to our water”? Other speakers express concerns about animal welfare and property values, while a public health expert cautions that silica dust—a known carcinogen—can lead to a condition known as silicosis if ingested in significant amounts. Although some home owners have been able to sell their properties, others have had no luck in attracting buyers and must stay and face the consequences. For those living in the wake of the mining operations, the accompanying noise, traffic, dust, and increasing respiratory problems (such as asthma) have become concerns. Since many of these small towns cater to tourists, business owners are also seeing a decrease in profits. Besides interview clips, Tittle includes aerial footage of the affected areas, coupled with excerpts from heated public meetings. Presenting a compelling case about the myriad harms tied to frac-sand mining, this is recommended. Aud: C, P. (K. Fennessy)