Gold is one of the most valuable minerals found in the Mountain West region. Nevada is the number one supplier of gold in the United States. Montana is third in the US.
Copper is another mineral mined in this region. Bingham Canyon, in Utah, is one of the world's largest copper mines. Open-pit mining is used to scoop out the copper ore. Trains are used to move the copper from the mines. Copper wire is used to carry electricity. Other products made from copper are plumbing pipes and kitchen equipment.
Oil shale is found in this region, especially in Wyoming, Utah and Colorado. Oil shale is rocks that have tiny drops of oil locked in it. When the rock is heated to 900 Fahrenheit, it is changed to liquid oil. There is enough oil shale in this region to last over 100 years in the United States. However, oil shale is not used very much because the process of turning the rock into oil is very expensive. It can also cause environmental problems.
New industries in the Mountain West region include the manufacturing of electronic equipment, aerospace products, and computers. Gasoline and plastic goods are produced in Wyoming. There are many governmental research centers in the Great Basin area of this region. They test missiles, aircraft, and military weapons.
The lumber industry is popular in the Rocky Mountain states of Wyoming, Idaho and Montana. Pine and spruce trees are cut to make lumber, wood pulp, paper and newsprint.
The travel industry is important to the Mountain West region. Tourism is the second largest industry in Montana and Wyoming.
