KET's Brandon Wickey and Charlie Bissell with host Dave Shuffett

Cottonmouth snake

The next edition of Kentucky Life features the history of mining the mineral fluorspar. The program air s Saturday, May 26 at 8/7 p.m. CT and Sunday, May 27 at 4:30/3:30 p.m. CT on KET1 and Sunday, May 27 at 7/6 p.m. CT on KET2. Host Dave Shuffett also braves the cottonmouths of Murphy's Pond and meets a young Mercer County harpist.

First, Dave provides a history of the mining of fluorspar. Crittenden County is believed to be the first place in Kentucky where the mineral was mined. The region, which includes the counties of Crittenden, Livingston, Caldwell and Trigg, was mined prior to the Civil War. Mining peaked in about 1937 and the industry finally died in the early 1950s due to foreign competition. Fluorspar is used primarily as a flux in the steel-making industry and, to a lesser extent, in the production of hydrochloric acid.

Next, Viewers can come along as Dave, Marc Evans of the Kentucky State Nature Preserves Commission and Murray State University's Ed Zimmerer canoe through Murphy's Pond in Hickman County. One of the most pristine natural areas in Kentucky, it is home to 19 threatened or endangered species and is believed to have been formed during the New Madrid earthquakes in the early 1800s. Home to what has been said to be the largest concentration of cottonmouth, or water moccasins, in the world, it's obvious there are a lot -- the canoeists see more than 40, including a log where the snakes have just given birth to their young.

Finally , viewers can enjoy the talent of one of Kentucky's young musicians when Kentucky Life introduces Deanna Tomlinson of Harrodsburg who, at 15 years old, is an accomplished Celtic harp player.

Kentucky Life is a KET production, produced by Joy Flynn. Segment producers for this program are Brandon Wickey , Dave Dampier and Dave Shuffett . Some Kentucky Life programs are now available for on-demand videostream viewing at www.ket.org/kentuckylife.