SC.4.E.6.6 Florida Resources

 SC.4.E.6.6: Identify resources available in Florida (water, phosphate, oil, limestone, silicon, wind, and solar energy).

What are Florida’s natural resources?

Florida is one of the world’s largest producers of phosphate. Phosphate is a mineral resource that is needed by all plants as a nutrient. When farmer plant crops to harvest every year, the plants quickly use any phosphate that might be in the soil. More phosphate needs to be added to soil so that new crops can be grown. Phosphate in Florida is mined in a region called the “Bone Valley.” Because the phosphates there were formed under a shallow ocean, there are many fossilized remains of ancient animals in the soils that are mined for phosphate. Florida supplies 25%, or one fourth of the world’s phosphate.

Florida also produces oil, but not as much as other places in the Gulf of Mexico. Texas and Mississippi produce far more oil than Florida. Most of the oil that is drilled in Florida is used for industrial purposes. It is not usable to produce gasoline for our cars.

Limestone in Florida was used in the construction of buildings. Many buildings were made from limestone rocks cut from quarries around the state. Today, most buildings are made using concrete. Limestone is also crushed and used in the production of concrete. Limestone is often crushed into gravel and used for road construction.

Sand is an abundant resource found in Florida. Sand is made from several minerals, including quartz and silica. Silica is used in the production of glass. When silica is heated, it will melt. It can then be poured into sheets to make glass for windows. It can also be poured into molds to make drinking glasses and other things we use made from glass.

Florida’s nickname is the Sunshine State. Sunlight is another abundant natural resource in Florida. As the cost of producing solar panels comes down, more electricity is being produced in Florida from sunlight energy. Wind turbines can also be used to produce electricity, but this has not been used as much in Florida. Winds in Florida can be used to move sailboats, or even just to fly a kite!

Florida’s sunshine, wind, water, and mineral resources all combine to make Florida a top producer of agricultural products. Oranges, tomatoes, seafood, and beef are top products that Florida produces and sends around the world.