Leonardite -- Bakken, North Dakota, USA

Another North Dakota product, discovered here and named after a NoDak pioneer: leonardite.

Leonardite was first described from North Dakota and is found associated with virtually all the lignite deposits in the state. Source: Wiki

According to Leonardite Products, LLC (see link below): Leonardite is found throughout the world, although the mines near Williston, North Dakota are unique due to the fact Leonardite occurs between layers of clay, which prevent other minerals and impurities from leeching into the Leonardite, resulting in a product that is more pure. Numerous tests have been conducted which substantiate the fact that our Leonardite consistently shows higher levels of carbon content, resulting in a higher humic content.

Leonardite is a soft waxy, black or brown, shiny, vitreous mineraloid that is easily soluble in alkaline solutions. It is an oxidation product of lignite, associated with near-surface mining. It is a rich source of humic acid (up to 90%) and is used as a soil conditioner, as a stabilizer for ion-exchange resins in water treatment, in the remediation of polluted environments and as a drilling additive. It was named for Dr. A.G. Leonard, first director of the North Dakota Geological Survey, in recognition of his work on these deposits. Source: Wiki

There is a leonardite mine just east of Williston. Here's the sign. Up the road there were not less then 30 trucks for hauling leonardite but I couldn't take the photo without being on private land, so I chose not to take the photo.

From their website:

Leonardite Products LLC is an independently owned and operated mining and processing company located in Williston, North Dakota, an area boasting one of the richest Leonardite deposits in the world. Leonardite is the only material mined and processed at our plant.

We’re dedicated to providing high quality Leonardite in convenient and economical forms. Most Leonardite Products employees are also owners of the company, and as such take pride in the personal attention and hands-on service only a smaller, employee-owned company like ours can provide for our customers.

The firsts from North Dakota just never quit, do they? I would have to say "we" get everything from the ground that we can. Not much is wasted. Meanwhile, just down the hill from this is a city boat landing and river recreation area with access to the Missouri River, for boating and fishing. Ice fishing in the winter, of course, something one cannot do in Texas, California, Alabama, or Florida.

How much you wanna bet the sign will be bigger ten years from now?