Salone Tourism Thursday - Mining in Sierra Leone

Follow my adventures as Miss ECO Sierra Leone on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

2015 USA Earth Grand Pageant

Gree(n)tings everyone!!!

I hope you and yours are doing well. I am doing well, just recuperating from nationals last week. If you follow me on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram, then you know how it all went through my social media updates. I had an amazing time, learned a lot from the weekend, and truly an awesome once in a lifetime experience. I represented myself and Maryland with pride and purpose, and thankful to the Almighty for everything. I won Miss Beauties for a Cause along with a gold medal for my BFAC initiative, and received 2nd Runner Up for Miss Grand USA 2015.

Miss Earth Maryland 2015
Miss Beauties for a Cause (USA) 2015
Miss Grand USA 2015 2nd Runner Up

Tree planting activity
Miss Earth Maryland 2015 Ruby B. Johnson

Trash to Glam Fashion Show Prep
Miss Earth Maryland 2015 Ruby B. Johnson

Throughout the weekend, I got to meet so many amazing people and was glad to have crossed paths with them. From this, I have gained valuable friendships from some of the women and now a place to stay when I visit their states. The national director, staff, and volunteers of the U.S. Earth Grand pageant did their best to give all the delegates a memorable experience and I am humbled to have been part of Class of 2015. The activities and events were awesome, and enjoyed being in the West Coast for the first time. Congratulations to the women who were crowned, as well as all the delegates nationwide. Wishing them all the best in their future endeavors.

Miss Beauties for a Cause (USA) Ruby B. Johnson from Maryland and Miss Teen Earth USA 2015 Alyssa Alvarado from Texas

Miss Beauties for a Cause (USA) Ruby B. Johnson from Maryland and Miss Earth United States 2015 Brittany Payne from California

I am so grateful for all the prayers and love received throughout my time there, and thankful for my amazing family, friends, and sponsors. My journey would have been much tougher if I didn't have all of you. I believe in myself, and I'm grateful that you also believe in me. I will continue promoting my initiative, "Bridging The Gap: Miners and Environmentalists Must Work Together for Mother Earth!" The journey is not over for me, so stay tuned!


Ruby B. Johnson,

Your Miss Earth Maryland 2015
Your Miss Grand United States 2015 2nd Runner Up

Continuing the legacy of beauty and responsibility

Miss Earth Maryland 2015 Interview on WBFF Fox45 Morning News

Gree(n)tings everyone!!!

I hope you and yours are doing well. I'm doing awesome, thanks be to God! I can't believe that 3 days from today I'll be on a plane heading to Ontario, California for the 2015 Miss Earth USA 2015 pageant to represent my beautiful Blue Crab state! My time of service as Miss Earth Maryland has been one of the greatest experiences of my life thus far, given me the opportunity to learn a lot as well as travel and meet amazing people. Now, I am looking forward to the experience in California and trusting God for favor in the final results on July 26th. This past Saturday, July 18th, I had a live interview on WBFF Fox45's Morning News in their Baltimore studios.

Miss Earth Maryland USA 2015 Ruby B. Johnson

Miss Earth Maryland USA 2015 Ruby B. Johnson

The TV interview was a success. I had a great time talking with Tony Pagnotti. Thanks to Fox 45, especially the Morning News producer, Marie Mandelberg, for having me and giving me the opportunity to talk about being Miss Earth Maryland, my Beauties for a Cause initiative, mining, and many more! Special thanks to all who tuned in to watch the interview via television or online. The full interview is posted on the Fox Baltimore website. Check it out!

VIDEO

Miss Earth Maryland USA 2015 Ruby B. Johnson

Miss Earth Maryland USA 2015 Ruby B. Johnson

My outfit for the interview: bright orange jumpsuit! Did you know that orange is associated with joy and the tropics, and represents happiness, creativity, and determination? It's also a key color for Maryland's baseball team, Baltimore Orioles. The Baltimore oriole is our state bird!

Miss Earth Maryland USA 2015 Ruby B. Johnson

Ruby B. Johnson,

Your Miss Earth Maryland 2015

Continuing the legacy of beauty and responsibility

Help me compete at Miss Earth United States 2015. DONATE HERE

Miss Earth Maryland 2015 Visits United States Department of Agriculture Headquarters

Gree(n)tings everyone!!!

I hope you and yours are doing well. I've been busy getting ready for nationals but also continuing my service duties as Miss Earth Maryland exploring my beautiful state and advocating for my Beauties for a Cause project. I'm so excited that two weeks from today I'll be getting ready to head to California for the opportunity for the job of Miss Earth United States. I've been working a lot and smart as Miss Earth Maryland, and by God's grace I hope to continue this on a bigger platform as Miss Earth US. All modesty aside, I want this really bad but as a Christ-believer, I know it's in God's hands. If you'll like to follow my preparation and journey, follow me on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram.

Miss Earth Maryland 2015 Ruby B. Johnson

On June 30th, I visited The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) office in our nation's capital, District of Columbia. USDA is the federal executive department responsible for developing and executing federal government policy on farming, agriculture, forestry, and food. It aims to meet the needs of farmers and ranchers, promote agricultural trade and production, work to assure food safety,protect natural resources, foster rural communities and end hunger in the United States and internationally. I got a tour of the building and learned about the different departments and spoke to some folks who work there. My tour was done by the Sustainability Manager in the Office of Operations, Mr. Edward Murtagh; I know Mr. Murtagh through GreenWheaton, an organization I'm a proud volunteer of. This office actively promotes sustainable practices in the country and in the office. I got to see ways in which they practice this in the building's cafeteria with biodegradable containers, techno trash bins for disposing batteries and old electronics, rain gardens, etc.

Miss Earth Maryland 2015 Ruby B. Johnson

Did you know that the USDA Administration Building is also known as the Jamie L. Whitten Building? The USDA headquarters projects into the National Mall from the larger USDA South Building, and is the only building on the Mall that is not intended for use by the general public. It was the first large Beaux-Arts style building in Washington and set the prototype for the later buildings of the Federal Triangle. The Whitten Building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1974. In addition to getting my tour of the building, I was granted access to the rooftop. Check out the beautiful view of our nation's capital. A view of the city including the National Mall, Washington Monument, Smithsonian museums, etc.

Miss Earth Maryland 2015 Ruby B. Johnson

Ruby B. Johnson,

Your Miss Earth Maryland 2015

Continuing the legacy of beauty and responsibility

Help me compete at Miss Earth United States 2015. DONATE HERE

Miss Earth Maryland 2015 School Tour: Parkland Magnet MS (Mission Planet Earth)

Gree(n)tings everyone!!!

I hope you and yours are doing well. I'm doing amazing, all thanks to the Almighty! Yesterday, I continued my Miss Earth Maryland School Tour presenting my Beauties for a Cause project, “Mining Rocks: Importance of Mining in Our Everyday Life.” This platform provides kindergarten through grade 12-level children mining education lessons and activities, and to inform and educate the general public about the importance of mining in their everyday lives. My next school stop was Parkland Magnet Middle School for Aerospace Technology in Rockville, my former school. I am forever a Proud Parkland Panther!

Miss Earth Maryland 2015 Ruby B. Johnson

Miss Earth Maryland 2015 Ruby B. Johnson

Mrs. Donna Blaney (Parkland Magnet Coordinator) and Miss Earth Maryland 2015 Ruby B. Johnson

Yesterday, I returned to my first school in the United States, Parkland Magnet Middle School. This school is near and dear to my heart because it is where I got my "welcome to America" experience and started my American academic journey. It was great seeing my old teacher and the changes the school has gone through. I presented to Mrs. Vincent's 6th grade Mission Planet Earth class. This group of students were very interactive and asked lots of awesome questions about mining and college. I know they still have a long way to go, but hopefully I've inspired one of them to study mining in college (specifically Virginia Tech). I believe in recruiting them young :)

Miss Earth Maryland 2015 Ruby B. Johnson

Miss Earth Maryland 2015 Ruby B. Johnson

Miss Earth Maryland 2015 Ruby B. Johnson

Miss Earth Maryland 2015 Ruby B. Johnson

Miss Earth Maryland 2015 Ruby B. Johnson

Miss Earth Maryland 2015 Ruby B. Johnson with Parkland Magnet MS 6th grade Mission Planet Earth students

Dr. Benjamin OuYang (Parkland Magnet MS Principal), Miss Earth Maryland 2015 Ruby B. Johnson, and Mrs. Ben-Ami (Parkland Magnet MS English teacher)

It was so great seeing Mrs. Ben-Ami during my visit because she was the only teacher that didn't penalize me for spelling color and labor with a "u" and understood why I pronounced "z" differently when I had just come from Sierra Leone. Coming to America I wrote and pronounced words in British English and that was my biggest struggle in school. She was my eighth grade English teacher. She was patient with me and helped me understand the differences between American and British English.

....but after, let's take a selfie!
Miss Earth Maryland 2015 Ruby B. Johnson with Parkland Magnet Middle School students

Parkland Panthers!!!
Miss Earth Maryland 2015 Ruby B. Johnson with Parkland Magnet Middle School students

Ruby B. Johnson,

Your Miss Earth Maryland 2015

Continuing the legacy of beauty and responsibility

Help me compete at Miss Earth United States 2015. DONATE HERE

Miss Earth Maryland Presents... Earth Month 2015 (Week 4)

Gree(n)tings everyone!!!

I hope you and yours are doing well. I am doing great, thanks be to God! As some of you may know, April commemorates Earth Month! If you are connected with me on Facebook, you will have noticed that every day last month, I posted interesting tidbits about planet Earth in my Thank You, Mother Earth series. Below is a summary of Earth Month 2015, the final week:

Day 22: Molybdenum

The name (Molybdenum) is from Neo-Latin molybdaenum, from Ancient Greek molybdos, meaning lead, since its ores were confused with lead ores. Used in alloy steels to make automotive parts, construction equipment, gas transmission pipes; stainless steels; tool steels; cast irons; super alloys; and chemicals and lubricants. As a pure metal, molybdenum is used because of its high melting temperatures (4,730 F) as filament supports in light bulbs, metalworking dies and furnace parts. Major producers are the United States, Chile, China, and Peru.

Day 23: Zeolite

Zeolites are microporous, aluminosilicate minerals commonly used as commercial adsorbents and catalysts. Natural zeolites form where volcanic rocks and ash layers react with alkaline groundwater. Zeolites also crystallize in post-depositional environments over periods ranging from thousands to millions of years in shallow marine basins. Zeolites are used in animal feed, cat litter, cement, aquaculture (fish hatcheries for removing ammonia from the water); water softener and purification; in catalysts; odor control; and for removing radioactive ions from nuclear plant effluent.

Day 24: Silver

Silver is used in coins and medals, electrical and electronic devices, industrial applications, jewelry, silverware and photography. The physical properties of silver include ductility, electronics conductivity, malleability and reflectivity. Used in lining vats and other equipment for chemical reaction vessels, water distillation, etc.; a catalyst in manufacture of ethylene; mirrors; silver plating; table cutlery; dental, medical and scientific equipment; bearing metal; magnet windings; brazing alloys, solder. Also used in catalytic converters, cell phone covers, electronics, circuit boards, bandages for wound care and batteries. Silver is produced in the U.S. at over 30 base and precious metal mines primarily in Alaska and Nevada. The leading global producers include Mexico, China, Peru, Chile, Australia, Bolivia and the U.S. The U.S. was 57% reliant in 2012. 

Day 25: Sodium Carbonate

Sodium carbonate (soda ash or trona) is used in glass container manufacture; in fiberglass and specialty glass; also used in production of flat glass; in liquid detergents; in medicine; as a food additive; photography; cleaning and boiler compounds; pH control of water. Most U.S. production comes from Wyoming. The U.S. is a major producer. Trona, is mined in several areas of the US and provides nearly all the domestic consumption of sodium carbonate. Large natural deposits found in 1938, such as the one near Green River, Wyoming, have made mining more economical than industrial production in North America.

Day 26: Tantalum

There are many species of tantalum minerals, only some of which are so far being used by industry as raw materials: tantalite, microlite, wodginite, euxenite, polycrase. Tantalite is the most important mineral for tantalum extraction. Tantalite has the same mineral structure as columbite; when there is more tantalum than niobium it is called tantalite and when there is more niobium than tantalum is it called columbite (or niobite). Tantalum is a a refractory metal with unique electrical, chemical and physical properties used to produce electronic components, tantalum capacitors (in auto electronics, pagers, personal computers and portable telephones) ; for high-purity tantalum metals in products ranging from weapon systems to superconductors; high-speed tools; catalyst; sutures and body implants; electronic circuitry; thin-film components. Used in optical glass and electroplating devices.

Day 27: Tungsten

More than half of the tungsten (also known as Wolfram) consumed in the United States is used in cemented carbide parts for cutting and wear-resistant materials, primarily in the construction, metalworking, mining, and oil- and gas-drilling industries. The remaining tungsten is consumed to make tungsten heavy alloys for applications requiring high density; electrodes, filaments, wires, and other components for electrical, electronic, heating, lighting, and welding applications; steels, superalloys, and wear-resistant alloys; and chemicals for various applications. 

Day 28: Clay

A clay pit is a quarry or mine for the extraction of clay, which is generally used for manufacturing pottery, bricks or Portland cement. Clay is used in floor and wall tile as an absorbent, in sanitation, mud drilling, foundry sand bond, iron pelletizing, and light weight aggregate. It is produced in 40 states. Ball clay is used in floor and wall tile. Bentonite is used for drilling mud, pet waste absorbent, iron ore pelletizing and foundry sand bond. Kaolin is used for paper coating and filling, refractory products, fiberglass, paint, rubber and catalyst manufacture. Common clay is used in brick, light aggregate and cement.

Day 29: Beryllium

Beryllium is used in the nuclear industry and to make light, very strong alloys used in the aircraft industry. Beryllium salts are used in fluorescent lamps, in X-ray tubes and as a deoxidizer in bronze metallurgy. Beryl is the gem stones emerald and aquamarine. It is used in computers, telecommunication products, aerospace and defense applications, appliances and automotive and consumer electronics. Also used in medical equipment. The U.S. was 10 percent import reliant in 2012. 

Day 30: Environmentalism

Woman of the Earth
Miss Earth Maryland 2015 Ruby B. Johnson

Environmentalism is a broad philosophy, ideology and social movement regarding concerns for environmental protection and improvement of the health of the environment, particularly as the measure for this health seeks to incorporate the concerns of non-human elements. Environmentalism advocates the lawful preservation, restoration and/or improvement of the natural environment, and may be referred to as a movement to protect plant and animal diversity. For this reason, concepts such as a land ethic, environmental ethics, biodiversity, ecology and the biophilia hypothesis figure predominantly. At its crux, environmentalism is an attempt to balance relations between humans and the various natural systems on which they depend in such a way that all the components are accorded a proper degree of sustainability.


Ruby B. Johnson,

Your Miss Earth Maryland 2015

Continuing the legacy of beauty and responsibility

Help me compete at Miss Earth United States 2015. DONATE HERE

Ruby B. Johnson
Seeking Sponsors for Miss Earth United States 2015

Miss Earth Maryland Presents...Earth Month 2015 (Week 3)

Gree(n)tings everyone!!!

I hope you and yours are doing well. I am doing great, thanks be to God! As some of you may know, April commemorates Earth Month! If you are connected with me on Facebook, you will have noticed that every day in the month so far, I've posted interesting tidbits about planet Earth in my Thank You, Mother Earth series. Below is a summary of Earth Month 2015, Week 3:

Day 15: Granite

Granite is a felsic intrusive igneous rock and has been used as a building material for many centuries. The granite mineral composition is composed primarily of quartz, mica and feldspar as well as other minerals. Granites can be predominantly white, pink, or gray in color, depending on their mineralogy. Granite is blasted from quarries in large blocks and then sliced like a loaf of bread to create bundles. The granite slabs in that bundle will match and mimic each other in directionality and color variation. Most slabs are rarely longer than 10 feet long. Granite has tiny pits or spaces between the various mineral crystals. This is caused primarily by Biotite. The extrusive igneous rock equivalent of granite is rhyolite.

Day 16: Potash

Potash is any of various mined and manufactured salts that contain potassium in water-soluble form. The name derives from "pot ash", which refers to plant ashes soaked in water in a pot, the primary means of manufacturing the product before the industrial era. The word "potassium" is derived from potash. Today, potash is produced worldwide at amounts exceeding 30 million tonnes per year, mostly for use in fertilizers. Various types of fertilizer-potash thus constitute the single largest global industrial use of the element potassium. Potassium was first derived by electrolysis of caustic potash (potassium hydroxide), in 1808.

Day 17: Bauxite

Bauxite, an aluminium ore, is the world's main source of aluminium. It consists mostly of the minerals gibbsite, boehmite and diaspore, mixed with the two iron oxides goethite and haematite, the clay mineral kaolinite and small amounts of anatase. Lateritic bauxites (silicate bauxites) are distinguished from karst bauxite ores (carbonate bauxites). The carbonate bauxites occur predominantly in Europe and Jamaica above carbonate rocks (limestone and dolomite); lateritic bauxites are found mostly in the countries of the tropics. Bauxite is usually strip mined because it is almost always found near the surface of the terrain, with little or no overburden. Bauxite rocks are typically classified according to their intended commercial application: metallurgical, abrasive, cement, chemical, and refractory. Increased aluminium recycling, which has the advantage of lowering the cost in electric power in producing aluminium, will considerably extend the world's bauxite reserves.

Day 18: Platinum

Platinum is a soft, dense, ductile metal that is very resistant to corrosion. It is used to make jewelry, wire, electrical contacts and laboratory vessels. Platinum expands at nearly the same rate as soda-lime-silica glass, so it is used to make sealed electrodes in glass systems. Platinum is used to coat missile nose cones, jet engine fuel nozzles and other devices that must operate reliably for long periods of time at high temperatures. Platinum resistance wires are used in high temperature electric furnaces. Platinum anodes are used in cathodic protection systems to prevent ships, pipelines and steel piers from corroding in salt water.

Day 19: Boron

Boron is a vital trace mineral that is required for the normal growth and health of the body. Many dangerous conditions like arthritis and osteoporosis are naturally managed by Boron, and it helps to reduce menopausal symptoms as well. It is believed that boron improves the natural ability of the human body to absorb calcium and magnesium. Boron is able to enhance the testosterone levels in males; this quality is increasingly taken advantage of by male body builders and athletes. Boron neutron capture agents are used for cancer therapy and in the development of strong enzyme inhibitors. Boron can significantly alleviate the difficulties caused by congestive heart failure conditions.

Day 20: Graphite

Graphite is a soft, crystalline form of carbon. Other forms are diamond and fullerenes ("buckyballs"). It is gray to black, opaque, and has a metallic luster. It is flexible but not elastic. Graphite occurs naturally in metamorphic rocks such as marble, schist, and gneiss. It exhibits the properties of a metal and a nonmetal, which make it suitable for many industrial applications. The metallic properties include thermal and electrical conductivity. The nonmetallic properties include inertness, high thermal resistance, and lubricity. Some of the major end uses of graphite are in high-temperature lubricants, brushes for electrical motors, friction materials, and battery and fuel cells. 

Day 21: Halite

Halite, the natural form of salt, is a mineral found in solid masses, and as a dissolved solution in the oceans and in salt lakes. The inland lakes that are rich in salt exist in arid regions, and may also be below sea level without an outlet. Many of these inland lakes have already dried up, leaving over enormous salt deposits which may be commercially mined. Halite also exists in non-arid regions, in underground deposits which can reach great depths. Underground Halite deposits are often mined by drilling wells into the salt layer, and bringing in hot water which quickly dissolves the salt into a brine. The brine is saturated with dissolved salt and is then pumped out. The brine evaporates and the remainder salt crystallizes and is harvested. In some underground salt deposits such as Texas and Louisiana, salt is pushed upwards by an underground force through soft ground and forms arched structures known as salt domes. These deposits are also important sources of salt mining operations and are very unique geological formations. Halite can be used for food, and deicing snow roads during winter season.



Ruby B. Johnson,

Your Miss Earth Maryland 2015

Continuing the legacy of beauty and responsibility

Help me compete at Miss Earth United States 2015. DONATE HERE

Ruby B. Johnson
Seeking Sponsors for Miss Earth United States 2015

Miss Earth Maryland 2015 School Tour: Paint Branch HS (Honors Physics, Engineering Design Development, and Principles of Engineering)

Gree(n)tings everyone!!!

I hope you and yours are doing well. I'm doing amazing, all thanks to the Almighty! Last week, I kicked off my Miss Earth Maryland School Tour presenting my Beauties for a Cause project, “Mining Rocks: Importance of Mining in Our Everyday Life.” This platform provides kindergarten through grade 12-level children mining education lessons and activities, and to inform and educate the general public about the importance of mining in their everyday lives. After my two days with 6 class presentations at Montgomery Blair High School, my next school stop was Paint Branch High School in Burtonsville. The school's signature program focuses on Science and Media education.

Miss Earth Maryland 2015 Ruby B. Johnson

Paint Branch High School Students

On Friday, February 20th, I gave three class presentations to various students in Engineering Design Development, Principles of Engineering, Physics, and Honors Physics. The classes consisted of students in grades 9 through 12. Prior to starting my presentation, I shared my personal story with the students about my initial intention of becoming a lawyer when I entered high school but later changed that goal after I took my 9th grade Foundation of Technology class with Dr. James Distler at Montgomery Blair High School and discovered my passion for hands-on technical work, tools, and machinery. As my high school years progressed, my passion changed my path and I decided to pursue engineering in college and future career. The engineering students are currently working on a project, and I talked about steps to break down engineering problems and arriving at a solution.

Miss Earth Maryland 2015 Ruby B. Johnson

Miss Earth Maryland 2015 Ruby B. Johnson

The three groups of students had lots of great and challenging questions and conversation, which include: mining working conditions, as well as health and safety of workers; pay rate of a starting mining engineer; Miss Earth United States and Miss Earth pageants, and the role of titleholders; how I got my mining internship in Sierra Leone; questions about college life; importance of working in groups in engineering; the need for more women in mining and STEM fields; courses to take when considering a track in engineering, especially Physics, Math, and Chemistry; I shared the importance of taking Advanced Placement classes in high school and how that helped me enter Virginia Tech with credits and could skip certain classes; and many more. The students were very intrigued with my mining internship in Sierra Leone which had to do with Kimberlite rocks (diamond-bearing rocks). Special thanks to Mr. Ray Jenkins (Architect) and Mr. Zaleski (Mechanical Engineer) for having me in their classes and getting the opportunity to talk with their students. I wish all the students excellence and nothing less.

Miss Earth Maryland 2015 Ruby B. Johnson with Paint Branch High School students

Being at Paint Branch was also a wonderful experience for me because I got to hang out with Mr. Jenkins, who was my mentor in high school while in Montgomery Blair Robotics team! He used to pick me up and drop me off at home during practice, and when we had Robotics competitions. He was one of the people that were instrumental in growing my passion for engineering, and encouraging me to study something in college that will stimulate my technical skills. After my presentations, he took me and his daughter out for lunch! Thanks Ray, you're the best...always! Special thanks to Dr. Myriam Rogers, principal of Paint Branch High School. She's a science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) advocate like myself! It was a pleasure meeting her.

Left-Right:
Mr. Raymond Jenkins (PBHS Engineering teacher), Miss Earth Maryland 2015 Ruby B. Johnson, and Mr. Zaleski (PBHS Physics teacher)

Dr. Myriam Rogers (Paint Branch High School principal) and Miss Earth Maryland 2015

My Goals: (1) to educate the students on what mining is, (2) to inspire at least one student to pursue a degree and career in engineering and/or mining, (3) to ignite or increase the interest of girls in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields; (4) and to inspire the next generation of leaders to be Eco-friendly and thankful for the provisions that Mother Earth has given us.

Miss Earth Maryland 2015 Ruby B. Johnson

I'll love to speak with your class. If you will like me to visit your school in the state of Maryland and present to your students, send me a message (e-mail) at MissEarthMaryland2015@gmail.com

Maryland School Tour with Miss Earth Maryland 2015 Ruby B. Johnson

Ruby B. Johnson,

Your Miss Earth Maryland 2015

Continuing the legacy of beauty and responsibility