ABSTRACT
Coal and uranium mining made the largest gains, the petroleum industry had a resurgence as well after the fourfold increase in world oil prices in 1974. Extractive industries include the following: mining-divided into energy fuels, metals, nonmetals, and quarried materials; forest industries–including lumbering for sawlogs and pulpwood, and other products such as Christmas trees or fence posts; fishing; gathering; and hunting or trapping. Led by the mineral-fuels industries, Wyoming faced tremendous growth problems in the 1970s. Trona, iron ore, bentonite, cement, and sand and gravel production also contributed to the state’s growth cycle. The production of bentonite clays from near surface levels was expanded at several of the many deposits in Wyoming during the period. Like the oil fields, great diversity is found in the productive capacity of Wyoming’s natural-gas fields. Production of natural gas by county in 1976 clearly shows the leadership of Wyoming’s southwestern quadrant.
