S S
emi-Annual Report January - June
O u r r e s e a r c h g o e s t o w o r k .
Table of Contents NRRI Semi Annual Report January – June 2013
PROJECT HIGHLIGHTS ..................................................................................................................................................... 1-10
CENTER FOR APPLIED RESEARCH AND TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT ...................................................11-78
Forestry
Assessment of Biomass Sources for Energy in Northern Minnesota for the Laurentian Energy Project ......................... 12
Minnesota Forest Productivity Research Cooperative ................................................................................................13-14
Regional Biomass Feedstock Partnership-Poplar ............................................................................................................. 15
Forest Products
Developing Thermal Verification Guidelines for Firewood ............................................................................................ 16
Development and Integration of Advanced Timber Bridge Inspection Techniques for National Bridge Inspection
Standards .......................................................................................................................................................................... 17
Development of Torrefied Wood as a Biofuel ................................................................................................................. 18
Evaluation and Demonstration of Nondestructive Assessment Technologies for Sorting Eastern Hardwoods ............... 19
Grand Log Homes ............................................................................................................................................................ 20
Thermal Modification Research for Engineered Wood Materials.................................................................................... 21
Update of Forest Products Laboratory General Technical Report 7 - Machine Grading of Lumber-Practical Concerns
for Lumber Producers....................................................................................................................................................... 22
Use of Laser Scanning Technology to Obtain As-Built Records of Historic Covered Bridges ....................................... 23
Wolf Wood - Thermal Modification of Regional Timber Species ................................................................................... 24
Wood Utilization Research 2010 ..................................................................................................................................... 25
Chemical Extractives
Betula Extractives ............................................................................................................................................................ 26
Development And Commercialization Of A Biorefinery For Processing DDGS In Biofuels And Other Value-Added
Products ............................................................................................................................................................................ 27
Midwest Gypsum, Inc ...................................................................................................................................................... 28
Energy
Compressed Air Energy Storage in Northern Minnesota Using Underground Mine Workings ...................................... 29
Hydrothermal Processing of Biomass Materials .............................................................................................................. 30
Minnesota Department of Agriculture Hydrothermal ...................................................................................................... 31
New and Improved Zinc-Air Battery System and Devices .............................................................................................. 32
Polymetallic Gas to Liquid Catalysts ............................................................................................................................... 33
Environmental Remediation
Addition of Hibbing Taconite (Hibtac) Pilot-Scale Mine Land Demonstration Site For Application ............................. 34
Bioremediation for Sulfate Removal in Minnesota Mining Waters ................................................................................. 35
Erie Pier Dredged Material Beneficial Use Study ............................................................................................................ 36
Field Monitoring Atlas Brownfield Demo ....................................................................................................................... 37
Material Transport ............................................................................................................................................................ 38
Sediment for Biomass, Minnesota Mining Cluster - The Next Generation of Innovation ............................................... 39
Minerals, Ferrous
Coleraine Lab Standards .................................................................................................................................................. 40
Establishing a Direct Reduced Iron (DRI) Pilot Scale Shaft Simulator at CMRL for Reduction of Iron Ore Pellets Using
MIDREX & HYL Natural Gas Based Processes.............................................................................................................. 41
Investigate Ideas for Further Processing of Taconite Coarse Tailings at the Plant Before Haulage and Stockpiling ...... 42
Minnesota Mining Cluster - The Next Generation of Innovation - Product Development Support ................................. 43
Paired Straight Hearth Furnace Simulation ...................................................................................................................... 44
Pellet Induration Modeling - Revised Pellet Drying Model ............................................................................................. 45
Recovery of Iron Values from Lean Ore Stockpiles from Past Mining Activities in the MMC, Minnesota Mining
Cluster - The Next Generation of Innovation ................................................................................................................... 46
RGGS Core Metamorphism Biwabik Iron Formation ..................................................................................................... 47
Systematic Survey & Characterization of Amphibole ..................................................................................................... 48
Upgrading Iron from Lean Ore Stockpiles and Tailings Basins on the Mesabi Iron Range and Producing Value-Added
Iron Products .................................................................................................................................................................... 49
Utility of Taconite Materials as Road Patch for Highway Construction .......................................................................... 50
Minerals, Industrial
By-Product Aggregate, Minnesota Mining Cluster - The Next Generation of Innovation ............................................... 51
Comparative Performance Study of Chip Seal & Bonded Wear Course Systems Applied to Bridge Decks ................... 52
Evaluate and Develop Innovative Pavement Repair and Patch ....................................................................................... 53
Geological Resources of Ox Tac Ore in the Vicinity of the Canisteo, Hunner, King, Jennison, Buckeye, Jessie 1 and 2,
and West Hill Mines: A Continuing Evaluation of Ox Tac Resources in Itasca County ................................................. 54
Modification of the NRRI Pellet Fines Removal System to Provide More Durable Wear Parts to Improve the Physical
Availability of the Unit to Minnesota Taconite Operations ............................................................................................. 55
Product Development Project for KonCote Products ....................................................................................................... 56
Minerals, Non-Ferrous
Copper-Nickel-PGE Mineralization Potential of the Cloquet Lake Intrusion, NE MN ................................................... 57
Evaluation of Tailings Generated by CU-NI Ore Processing ........................................................................................... 58
Further Evaluation of Diamond Base Metal and Precious Mineral Potential of Minnesota Using Various Glacial Till
Sampling and Analytical Methods ................................................................................................................................... 59
Non-Ferrous Hydromet, Minnesota Mining Cluster - The Next Generation of Innovation ............................................. 60
Origin and Distribution of Chromium Mineralization in the Duluth Complex and RelatedKeweenawan Intrusives in
Minnesota, and Its Relationship to PGE Mineralization .................................................................................................. 61
Precambrian Research Center .......................................................................................................................................... 62
Rare Earth Potential, Minnesota Mining Cluster - The Next Generation of Innovation .................................................. 63
TiO2 Hydromet, Minnesota Mining Cluster - The Next Generation of Innovation ......................................................... 64
Peat, Horticultural
Northeast Minnesota White Cedar Plant Community Restoration Project ....................................................................... 65
Peat Expansion Premier Horticulture, Inc ........................................................................................................................ 66
Validation of Wetland Mitigation In Abandoned Borrow Areas - Phase II ..................................................................... 67
Wetland Banking Fens Research Facility ......................................................................................................................... 68
Peat, Industrial Products
Chemical Modification of Peat Granules Surface For Waste Water Treatment ............................................................... 69
Development Of Peat-Based Media For Waste Water Treatment .................................................................................... 70
CARTD Program Notes ........................................................................................................................................................71-78
CENTER FOR WATER AND THE ENVIRONMENT ................................................................................................79-111
ECOSYSTEM STUDIES - Land Resources
Identifying Critical Habitats for Moose in Northeastern Minnesota ................................................................................ 80
Investigations of Wolf-Moose Interactions at Voyageurs National Park ......................................................................... 81
Lowland Conifer Bird Species in Agassiz Lowlands ....................................................................................................... 82
Mapping Native Plant Communities of Minnesota`s Forest Lands .................................................................................. 83
Minnesota Breeding Bird Atlas ........................................................................................................................................ 84
Post-burn Bird Surveys at Pagmi River, Superior National Forest .................................................................................. 85
Reducing Human-mediated Spread of Non-native Earthworms ...................................................................................... 86
Restoring Moose Foraging Habitat in Lake Superior Upland .......................................................................................... 87
ECOSYSTEM STUDIES - Water Resources
Amity Creek Restoration Project ..................................................................................................................................... 88
Amity Restoration Assessment: Water Quality, Fish, Bugs, People ................................................................................ 89
Ecological Design for the St. Louis River Area of Concern ............................................................................................ 90
Event-based Stream Sampling in Northeastern Minnesota .............................................................................................. 91
GLEI II - Indicator Testing and Refinement .................................................................................................................... 92
Great Lakes Beach Information Communication System ................................................................................................ 93
Great Lakes Biological Monitoring: Phytoplankton ........................................................................................................ 94
Great Lakes Coastal Database and Classification Framework ......................................................................................... 95
Great Lakes Coastal Wetland Monitoring ........................................................................................................................ 96
Indicators of Agricultural Stressors in Coastal Waters of the Great Lakes ...................................................................... 97
Lake of the Woods Paleolimnology Assessment ............................................................................................................. 98
Landscape Metrics for Coastal Wetland Integrity Indices ............................................................................................... 99
North Shore Superior Lake and Stream Water Assessment ........................................................................................... 100
Northshore Superior Periphyton Surveillance ................................................................................................................ 101
Paleolimnology Workplan: Building a Long-term Water Quality Record for the White Iron Chain of Lakes .............. 102
Prioritizing Wetland Restoration for Water Quality and Habitat Improvement ............................................................. 103
Research Development Testing and Evaluation Facility for Ballast Treatment in the Great Lakes Region .................. 104
Stressor Gradients and Spatial Narratives of the St. Louis River Estuary ...................................................................... 105
SWAG Superior Basin Lakes ......................................................................................................................................... 106
Environmental Chemical
Gonadal Deformities in Smallmouth Bass as Indicators of Endocrine Disruption int the St. Louis River Estuary ....... 107
Managing the Nations Fish Habitat at Multiple Spatial Scales ...................................................................................... 108
Land/Water Interactions
LiDAR-based Bluff Assessment for Coastal land Use Planning ................................................................................... 109
CWE Program Notes ........................................................................................................................................................110-111
NRRI BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT ...............................................................................................................................112-114
NRRI PUBLIC RELATIONS ..........................................................................................................................................115-117
Project Highlights
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CENTER FOR APPLIED RESEARCH AND TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT
Wood Products and Forestry
NRRI’s Market Oriented Wood Technology Program Partners with the Forest Products Society
and the Forest Products Laboratory for Successful Symposium
NRRI’s Pat Donahue, The Market Oriented Wood Technology Program Director, in collaboration with
the Forest Products Society and the Forest Products Laboratory executed a technical event in Roseville,
Minnesota on April 18-19, 2013, “The North American Wood Window and Door Symposium.” The
Symposium attracted over 100 participants from across North America. This event will be held every two
years in conjunction with the Window and Door Association Technical meeting, it increases the
awareness and technical advancements in the wood window and door industry.
Heating the Midwest Conference Highlights
NRRI’s Brian Brashaw served as the Chair of the annual Heating the Midwest Conference & Expo held
in Carlton, Minnesota on April 24-26, 2013. Over 190 people and 30 vendors attended this conference
that focused on biomass thermal heating in the Midwest. The conference highlights included two tours of
regional biomass heating facilities, presentations on biomass heating success stories, and the presentation
of a regional vision to increase the amount of biomass to provide 10 percent of the Midwest’s thermal
energy. Successful growth in regional biomass heating will create regional supply chain jobs, cut the
amount of fossil fuel imported into the region, and save heating costs for businesses and homeowners.
The 2014 conference will be held in Green Bay, Wisconsin, and will be hosted by the Oneida Nation of
Indians and the University of Wisconsin - Green Bay.
Softwood Lumber Testing Completed
NRRI completed a testing project for the Northern Softwood Lumber Bureau to assess the mechanical
properties of the spruce-pine-fir species classification in support of a submission to the American Lumber
Standards Council (ALSC). This monitoring testing is required by the ALSC to determine if significant
changes have occurred to the mechanical properties of visually graded wood species in the U.S. since the
last significant testing in 1991. In cooperation with the Northern Softwood Lumber Bureau, the
Northeastern Lumber Manufacturers Association, U.S. Forest Service, Forest Products Laboratory, and
the West Coast Lumber Inspection Bureau, the NRRI established and conducted a lumber testing program
for the spruce-pine-fir species. Preliminary assessment showed minimal changes from the 1991 data set.
The data was submitted to the ALSC for review and approval.
The Market Oriented Wood Technology Program Receives Grant Utilizing Waste Taconite
Tailings
NRRI’s Matthew Aro, Research Fellow with The Market Oriented Wood Technology Program, was
awarded a U.S. Economic Development Administration Mining Cluster Product Development Fund
grant. Matt will work with KonCote Products, Inc. to develop a new stucco coating utilizing waste
taconite tailings from Minnesota’s Iron Range.
Department of Energy, Biomass Energy Technology Office Requests Help from Forestry Program
At the request of the Department of Energy, Biomass Energy Technology Office, NRRI’s Bill Berguson,
Forestry Program Director, is coordinating an effort to update short-rotation poplar plantation yield
projection maps for the U.S. This involves many cooperating institutions including GreenWood
Resources (Boardman, Oregon), ArborGen (Tallahassee, Florida), Mississippi State University and
Michigan State University. This work is viewed as a critical part of efforts to highlight accomplishments
of the national biomass production research program and communicate the current state-of-the-art to
leadership within the DOE and industry.
NRRI’s Poplar Breeding Program Introduces New Genetic Material
NRRI’s Poplar breeding is ongoing for the 2013 season and very successful with a high proportion of
viable seed being produced through this effort. New genetic material resulting from this effort will be
propagated for field testing in the Upper Midwest as well as research sites in the Southern U.S.
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Northeast Minnesota White Cedar Plant Community Restoration Project
DNR, BWSR, and Michigan Tech personnel selected and characterized restoration demonstration sites in
four northeast Minnesota counties. Three of those were in Beltrami County, one in Koochiching County,
two in St. Louis County, and one in Lake County. Treatments at the sites will include direct seeding,
seedling planting, plant protectors, clearing brush, adjusting shade, and controlling hydrology. Site work
will begin in the spring of 2013.
E.D.A. Rare Earth Elements Project
Two hundred and twelve rock samples were collected during the summer field season. The samples were
then processed for: 1) making of polished thin sections for petrographic descriptions of the mineralogy; 2)
conducting geochemical analyses for major and minor elements, including a full suite of rare earth
elements; and 3) magnetic susceptibility. All of the sample locations, outcrop descriptions and related
data were entered into a Geographical Information System database. Based in part on the petrographic
descriptions that will be done in 2013, samples will be selected and sent off for geochemical analyses.
One hundred eighty rock samples (from outcrop and drill core that also includes 8 certified rock reference
standards and 2 duplicate in-house internal standards) were sent to Acme Labs in Vancouver, British
Columbia. Upon first review of the data, the most notable results from the analyses were several high
thorium analyses associated with granitic rocks in Lac Qi Parle, Redwood, St. Louis, and Swift counties.
These samples were collected based upon elevated thorium values on samples collected in this area
during the Geothermal Energy project. Thorium is a common accessory element associated with a variety
of rare earth element (REEs) deposits around the world. Some of the elevated thorium samples also have
elevated uranium values. These additional elevated thorium and uranium samples support the geothermal
energy potential of these granitic rocks and may also indicate the presence of REEs elsewhere within the
granites. Several other elevated thorium samples had elevated cerium and lanthanum (light rare earth
elements; >250 ppm cerium and 100 ppm lanthanum) values. Additional evaluation of the data and
related rock samples is underway.
USACE Projects
Erie Pier: During the second half of 2012, work associated with the United States Army Corp of
Engineers (USACE) Beneficial Use of Erie Pier sediment project included vegetation monitoring,
reporting, and planning for a new reclamation project for 2013. Erie Pier sediment was applied to four
sites in 2011 for several different reclamation/restoration purposes. These sites included the Former
Atlas Cement site (Duluth), Moccasin Mike Landfill (Superior), Northland Country Club (Duluth),
and Keewatin Taconite (Keewatin). During the summer or 2012, vegetation growth was observed and
documented. Monitoring for the presence of the invasive plant, Lythrum salicaria (Purple Loosestrife)
was also completed. Where Purple loosestrife was identified, NRRI personnel removed the plants for
proper disposal. Re-vegetation at these sites was observed to be successful. Results from this work are
presented and summarized in NRRI’s Erie Pier Dredge Material Beneficial Use Study Report, which
is in final review. NRRI has completed permitting and securing a trucking firm to deliver
approximately 4,000 cubic yards of Erie Pier sediment to a gravel pit reclamation site owned by
Hibbing Taconite. Delivery of the sediment is anticipated to start in July 2013.
Two technical summary reports (NRRI/TSR-2013/01 and NRRI/TSR-2013/02) were completed and
submitted to the Corps of Engineers during this period. A final draft for a third report (NRRI/TSR-
2013/03) was also completed during this period. This third report will summarize the remainder of the
NRRI project team's work related to various beneficial use applications of Erie Pier dredge material.
Two additional environmental remediation/restoration-related projects were added as contract
amendments in late 2012 and are currently underway: 1) Hibbing Taconite (Hibtac) mine land
demonstration; and 2) Field Monitoring Atlas Brownfield Demo. Both projects will continue into 2014.
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Throughout the first half of 2013, the NRRI project team also participated in meetings, site visits, and
conference calls, and began laying the groundwork for significant follow-up projects/new investigations
related to the beneficial use of dredge material, both locally and on Minnesota's Mesabi Iron Range. As a
result of the work accomplished since the projects began in 2011 and the excellent working relationship
that has been established between NRRI and the Corps of Engineers, additional collaborative projects are
anticipated, and will likely commence in the second half of 2013.
Stamp Sands: NRRI’s Coleraine lab completed testing to evaluate the potential of reclaiming copper
from stamp sands, a byproduct of historic copper mining. Approximately 37 million cubic yards of
stamp sands are located along the shore of Lake Superior near Gay, Michigan. The project
demonstrated that simple gravity separation mineral processing techniques can be used to make an
upgraded stamp sands product having a higher copper content. Testing suggests that the techniques
can be modified to further improve the result, but whether they can be modified (or combined with
other methods) to achieve an upgrade that is sufficiently high-grade (e.g., ≥ 0.7% copper) for making
scaled-up on-site processing economically feasible is in need of further investigation.
MnDOT Project
Evaluate and Develop Innovative Pavement Repair and Patching: taconite-based repair options ---
A project kickoff meeting took place on October 1, 2012, with MnDOT. Field trials of both repair options
(microwave and Rapid Patch) took place October 30 through November 1. Performance monitoring and
documentation of the repairs followed. Contact was made with an individual who expressed an interest in
taconite aggregate delivery to Texas. Performance monitoring indicates that the Rapid Patch and
microwave repair alternatives have excellent long-term potential for more widespread use. Both achieve a
good bond with the existing pavement, which is critical for a resilient and lasting repair. For example,
monitoring of Rapid Patch repairs on a Portland cement concrete (PCC) pavement segment of the
Highway 61 expressway between Duluth and Two Harbors, MN, clearly showed Rapid Patch
outperforming adjacent asphalt repairs. And the microwave repair option appears especially well-suited
for repairing very cold asphalt, because the existing pavement can be heated to the point that the
pavement itself becomes part of the repair.
Keeweenaw Peninsula (KP) stamp sands
A late October meeting took place with Traxys Power and the Corps of Engineers at White Pine, MI, to
discuss options for recovering copper from Gay, MI, stamp sands. Post-discussion communications
suggested that the likely outcome would be a project proposal from the Coleraine Minerals Research
Laboratory, most likely in early 2013.
Yawkey Mineral Management: Mining Cluster Product Development
Discussions were initiated with Yawkey in August of 2012 to consider undertaking a Mining Cluster
Product Development Fund project focused on its high friction surfacing (HFS) aggregate product
potential. An application was submitted, and a project was approved. The projected start-date was early
2013.
Validation of Wetland Mitigation in Abandoned Borrow Pits
Kurt Johnson completed and submitted project Task 4 “Annual Summary Report - FY2013” and project
Task 6 “Data Analysis and Interpretation - FY 2012” to MnDOT. Both were approved. He also presented
“Sphagnum Establishment on Created Gravel Pit Wetlands” based on research conducted at the MnDOT
project site at the Society of Wetland Scientists Annual Meeting held in Duluth, June 2-6, 2013. All 14
mitigation sites have achieved 100% vegetative cover. Invasive species cover varies considerably with
narrow leaf cattail (Typha angustifolia) occurring on the wetter sites and reed canary grass (Phalaris
arundinacea) on the drier sites. The best sites are dominated by native wetland plants and have saturated
soil without standing water and a stable water table. Sphagnum moss only occurs on sites with saturated
organic soil, a relatively stable water table, and where moss was introduced with the salvaged donor soil
or was spread on plots by the researchers.
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Sulfate Reduction in Mining Waters of Northeastern Minnesota
In the spring of 2013, four floating bioreactors were installed in a pit lake on the previous LTV Steel
Mining Company site in Hoyt Lakes, MN. The bioreactors were filled with sulfate reducing bacteria,
which convert aqueous sulfate to hydrogen sulfide. After this bioremediation cycle, the pit water is passed
into secondary cells which precipitate out the sulfide and remove the sulfur from the water column.
Excellent results have initially been measured to show sulfate reduction from 1200 ppm sulfate to 171
ppm sulfate, using this low cost, natural process. Currently, 32 additional floating bioreactor cells are
being installed next to the initial 4 cells. Funding is being provided by NRRI, IRRRB, and private
corporations.
DRI Dust Reduction Project for Nucor Steel, Inc. Extensive dust reduction tests were conducted at CMRL to find a specialized dust suppressant that would
help reduce the excessive dust problem created during rail and cargo shipment of Direct Reduced Iron
(DRI) pellets. Patents are being written to protect the formulation of the dust suppression chemistry
developed. Dust suppression equipment is being installed for applying this chemistry to DRI at Nucor’s
new DRI production plant being built near New Orleans, Louisiana. Specialized DRI dust reduction
equipment invented at CMRL is also being installed to treat the full-scale production of DRI at Nucor’s
Trinidad DRI plant facility.
Environmental Study of Airborne Particulate Matter
Data compilation, evaluation, and interpretation continue. In April 2013, the Natural Resources Research
Institute (NRRI) participated in a special public and media event in Mountain Iron, MN, to present the
first scientific findings from the Minnesota Taconite Workers Health Study. Scientists working on the
Environmental Study of Airborne Particulate Matter presented initial findings regarding PM and elongate
mineral particles (EMPs) in both community and taconite plant settings obtained during field sampling,
which were given further laboratory analysis. Although the NRRI’s aerosol particle sampling protocol is
exclusively for characterization purposes, it is not meant to represent, or to be considered a substitute for,
ambient air sampling, as conducted and reported by regulatory agencies, nor used in exposure/risk
assessment studies. These findings include:
All Mesabi Iron Range community samples meet the EPA - National Ambient Air Quality Standards
(NAAQS) and the Minnesota State Ambient Air Quality Standards for PM10 and PM2.5.
There are no NAAQS standards specifically for EMP. For comparative purposes, all detectable
community concentrations are one to two orders of magnitude below the OSHA/ MSHA Respirable
Asbestos Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) for an 8-hour work day, concentration of 0.1 Fibers/cm3.
Total particulate matter concentrations from all four process areas in the six ACTIVE taconite
processing plants range from a low of 141 µg/m3, to a high of 21,000 µg/m3, and averages 3,486
µg/m3. The respirable PM2.5 concentrations range from a low of 72 µg/m3 to a high of 948 µg/m3,
and averages 349 µg/m3.
Laboratory analyses detected Countable Minerals (chrysotile, 5 amphiboles ≥ 5µm) at two of the
plants: ranging from 0.0346 EMPs/cm3 to 0.3219 EMPs/cm3. The MSHA Respirable Asbestos PEL
for an 8-hour work day is a concentration of 0.1 Fibers/cm3 (Countable Minerals) as defined by the
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH 2011). All three samples collected from
the ACTIVE crushing area of Northshore, as well as one of the three samples from the ACTIVE
concentrator at Northshore, exceeded the MSHA PEL.
References to EPA, NAAQS, NIOSH, OSHA, and MSHA standards are for illustrative and comparative
purposes, and are to provide context to the findings in the NRRI study. Several reports are in progress and
nearing completion. A journal manuscript was written, peer reviewed, and accepted for publication
following revisions. Research is progressing such that we anticipate completion of the study in December
2013.
Coleraine Minerals Research Laboratory
American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI) Paired Straight Hearth (PSH) Furnace - A study was
previously conducted for the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI) to evaluate and assess the quality of
Direct Reduced Iron (DRI) produced from deep bed heating and reduction of green pellets. The initial
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work was conducted using a laboratory scale furnace that was developed at Coleraine and specifically
designed to simulate the top down heating characteristic of the PSH furnace process. This study has now
been expanded to evaluate and assess the quality of DRI pellets achieved from deep bed roasting of green
agglomerates in the Linear Hearth Furnace (LHF). The LHF can best be described as a pilot scale
moving hearth iron reduction furnace simulator. To simulate the PSH furnace process, CMRL
will modify the LHF refractories to accommodate the higher operating temperatures (1500oC). In
addition, the furnace exhaust duct will be relocated to zone 3, to exhaust the furnace in a co-current flow.
The furnace car system will be modified to accommodate the deep bed of green pellets, with the base of
the sample cars lined with a single layer of dense, high alumina brick to simulate a castable or solid brick
refractory hearth. A fiber blanket will be used to insulate the car hearth during the return strand to retain
the heat in the hearth. The burner system used during testing will be the oxy-fuel combustion. Sample
cars will be recycled in the furnace until the hearth refractory reaches a desired or equilibrium
temperature at the furnace discharge. Hot cars will be charged with approximately 120mm depth of green
balls. A series of three cars will be fed with green feed components and cycled through the furnace at the
target feed rate for each zone. The reduced pellets produced will be analyzed for metallic iron (Feo), total
iron (FeT), ferrous iron (Fe++
), carbon (C) and sulfur (S) incrementally, from the top down to the hearth to
evaluate heat transfer to the bottom of the bed.
Direct Reduced Iron The trend in the steel industry is an increase in iron and steel produced in electric arc furnaces (EAF) and
a gradual decline in conventional steelmaking from taconite pellets in blast furnaces. In order to expand
the opportunities for both new and existing iron ore mines beyond their blast furnace customer base, the
Coleraine Minerals Research lab has been evaluating opportunities for producing Direct Reduced Iron
(DRI) pellets. A significant amount of effort has been put into mineral processing and chemical flotation
techniques to reduce the silica and gangue mineral content of typical blast furnace concentrates to comply
with the requirements for DRI grade pellets. Low silica concentrates are pelletized using a pot grate
induration system, and are then evaluated metallurgically for quality specifications and reduction
characteristics. The Coleraine lab has situated itself with metallurgical furnaces and techniques for DRI
pellet evaluation using both ISO and specialized HYL methods. To further support this initiative, CMRL
is establishing a direct reduced iron (DRI) pilot scale simulator for reduction of iron ore pellets simulating
commercial natural gas based processes. To define the parameters required for development of the
simulator, a series of tests was conducted, simulating typical HYL/MIDREX gas compositions, reduction
temperature, etc. to quantify and define the quality of DRI produced.
Northeast Minnesota Mining Operations Support
The increased demand for all iron ore has resulted in an increased price for iron units, creating multiple
opportunities for applied research in new/improved technologies or process applications that previously
were not economically feasible. CMRL has been working with northeast Minnesota mining operations,
including U.S. Steel Minnesota Mining Operations, Cliffs Natural Resources Mining Operations, Arcelor-
Mittal Minorca, Magnetation, and Essar Steel Minnesota, supporting developing technologies for process
and product improvement.
Examples of projects that result from process optimization include:
Grinding mill audits to measure and optimize grinding efficiency
Magnetic iron recovery or grade improvement
Non-magnetic iron recovery using mineral processing or chemical flotation
Application of reagents or chemicals for mineral flotation, flocculation, dewatering, or grinding aids
Flowsheet modification
New or improved equipment designs such as High Pressure Grinding Rolls (HPGR), wet and dry
screening, intensive mixing/blending, cyclones, etc.
Organic binders for pelletization
Induration modeling and pot grate furnace pelletizing
Diamond drill core assessment
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Minnesota Mining Cluster
Non-Ferrous Hydromet
This project will explore mineral processing routes to make copper/nickel concentrates, and alternative
hydrometallurgical routes for refinement of the concentrates into metals. Conditions for atmospheric
pressure oxidation and leaching will be explored, along with conditions for copper solvent extraction,
precious metals leaching, precious metal solvent extraction, iron precipitation from copper raffinates, and
nickel and cobalt precipitation.
Approximately 100 kg of Minnesota copper/nickel ore has been processed at the Coleraine Minerals
Research Lab. The primary goal of this project is to investigate the feasibility of using new
hydrometallurgy technology to eliminate the expense of large autoclaves. Composite copper and nickel
grade of the concentrate was approximately 9.6% and 1.1%, respectively. The concentrate was sent to
Process Research Ortech (PRO) in Mississauga, Ontario, for hydrometallurgical testing. In addition to
the typical flotation flowsheet, a novel column flotation technology has been investigated. Initial testing
shows promise, but some modifications are required on the equipment to increase recovery.
Ilmenite - TiO2 Hydromet
The primary objective of this project is to demonstrate an alternative, low-energy, environmentally-
friendly combined mineral processing and hydrometallurgical process to generate TiO2 and high-value
byproducts from Minnesota titanium ore (ilmenite). The outcome of the project will be a credible
demonstration of product quality and process capability, providing a path to reduce U.S. dependency on
foreign sources of titanium dioxide, increase energy efficiency of the TiO2 production process, reduce
environmental burden, allow development of U.S.-owned mineral resources, and provide high quality
U.S. employment opportunities.
Approximately 150 kilograms of Minnesota ilmenite material was prepared by use of high pressure
grinding rolls. The material was bench tested on various beneficiation technologies. Alternative
concentrating technologies that were investigated included:
Low intensity magnetic separation (LIMS)
Dry belt high intensity magnetic separation
Dry induced roll high intensity magnetic separation
High tension (electrostatic) separation
The final flowsheet consisted of high pressure grinding, low intensity magnetic separation, and high
tension (electrostatic) separation. Approximately 20 kg of titanium concentrate was created and will be
sent to Process Research Ortech (PRO) for additional hydrometallurgical testing. Concentrate grade was
approximately 41% TiO2 and 29% total iron.
New Millennium Iron A pilot plant program was conducted to provide supporting data for a feasibility study to develop New
Millennium iron ore resources in the Canadian provinces of Newfoundland, Labrador and Quebec. Two
iron ores were tested, using high pressure grinding roll (HPGR) technology recently installed at the
Coleraine Lab. Objectives of this project were to evaluate the HPGR closing screen size and wet cobber
performance between two different circuits. In addition, development of HPGR design data was also
needed to finalize the circuit and equipment design. In August and September of 2012, approximately
26.5 metric tons of Block B ore were processed in HPGR / Screen / Cobber flowsheets for comparison of
3.0 mm and 0.7 mm screen sizes, to produce 9.6 metric tons of 3.0 mm cobber concentrate and 2.6 metric
tons of 0.7 mm cobber concentrate. The two cobber concentrates (3.0 mm and 0.7 mm) were processed in
the same ball mill circuit, producing a final product size of 53µm. Different feed rates were used to vary
the residence time in the mill, and after the recycle stream reached equilibrium, the silica and Blaine
values for each were measured. Performance of the cobber concentrates was compared at a Blaine of
7
about 1850 on the basis of their silica content. HPGR multipass testing was done with Block A ore to
determine the impact of using HPGRs in series to grind the ore. Three multipass tests were successfully
performed on feed samples at accumulator pressures of 33 Bar, 40 Bar and 50 Bar. Multipass test results
show the P80 of center product decreased below 5.0 mm (5,000 micron) after two feed passes at a HPGR
accumulator pressure of 40 Bar or more. The project final report was submitted in the first quarter of
2013.
Precambrian Research Center (PRC)
The annual Precambrian Research Center Board of Advisors Meeting took place on March 4, 2013, in
Toronto. Planning and promotion was conducted for the 7th annual Precambrian field camp to be held
July 7-Aug. 16, 2013. Twenty-two students from 16 colleges across the United States are enrolled in the
field camp. As well, planning and promotion was conducted for a Professional Workshop to be held Oct.
6-13, 2013, on the topic of “Copper, Nickel, and Platinum Group Element Deposits of the Lake Superior
Region” was conducted. The workshop is co-sponsored by the Society of Economic Geologists and nine
contributing partners from industry. Student support was awarded to UMD graduate students Aubrey Lee
and Craig Caton, who were awarded PRC graduate research assistantships during the spring 2013
semester. In terms of outreach, the PRC played a major organizational role in putting on the 16th annual
Minnesota Minerals Education Workshop held June 18-20 at Hibbing Community College. The workshop
was attended by 76 earth science teachers from across the state, representing grades K-12. Through June
30, PRC Membership donations for the first half of 2013 have totaled $48,000.”
8
CENTER FOR WATER AND THE ENVIRONMENT
Seeing Below the Surface Lake Superior and its tributaries are among the most pristine yet sensitive waters in Minnesota. These
water bodies are potentially stressed by increased urbanization and tourism, with stormwater impacts
potentially worsening with climate change. This creates the unusual challenge of helping the public,
businesses, local elected officials, and educators understand that these resources require protection when
few problems are obvious to the untrained eye. Over the past 17 years, NRRI Center for Water and the
Environment scientists have collaborated with scientists and educators from Minnesota Sea Grant, the
Large Lakes Observatory, the Lake Superior National Estuarine Research Reserve at the University of
Wisconsin-Superior, state and federal natural resource agencies (Minnesota Pollution Control Agency,
Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, US Geological Survey, and the Army Corps of Engineers),
the City of Duluth, and the Western Lake Superior Sanitary District to monitor and disseminate water
quality data measured by automated remotely operated sensors. These sensors collect data every 5-15
minutes in order to capture the “flashy” changes that occur due to rainstorms, spring runoff, high winds,
and sewage spills and overflows. The ultimate goal is to improve environmental decision-making by: 1)
enhancing public understanding of the connections between weather, hydrology, land use and the
condition of water resources in urban and rural watersheds, and 2) providing easy access to tools to help
accomplish cost-effective restoration of degraded sites and protection of un-impaired resources. The basic
idea is to protect both environmental and human health from water quality degradation by providing
people with a better understanding of how streams, wetlands, and lakes "work," what can mess them up,
and things people can do on their own property and with their own lifestyle to protect water quality,
habitat, and the biological communities inhabiting these water bodies.
“Our” data streams and those from partner groups are posted on a series of interrelated websites via
unique interactive graphing and animation tools to help users better “visualize” the data and conduct
exploratory investigations by comparing sites, times of year, and trends over time. These data and data
visualization tools have provided excellent opportunities for inquiry-based learning about water and basic
science by high school, undergraduate and graduate students, as well as the general public world-wide via
our first “formal” education project www.WaterontheWeb.org (1996-2004) and its daughter community
education projects www.LakeAccess.org in the Twin Cities (1998-2004) and
www.LakeSuperiorStreams.org in the western Lake Superior Basin (2002-present).
When fully operational later this year, the network of water quality sensors will be helpful to scientists
and managers involved with the restoration of the St. Louis River Area of Concern. This work has been
going on since 1989 with restoration activities re-invigorated by funding from the state of Minnesota’s
2008 Legacy Amendment and the federal Great Lakes Restoration Initiative. The sensor data, when
combined with satellite sensor measurements and manually-collected data, should provide a detailed
picture of where, when, and how suspended sediment and turbidity (the “muddiness" of the water) occurs
in the system and help focus attention on erosional “hot spots.” Sediment particles are an important
pollutant that decreases water clarity essential to many fish and the bugs they eat, smothers spawning
habitat, damages sensitive gill tissues, and carries nutrients (chiefly phosphorus), heavy metals (e.g.,
mercury), disease-causing organisms, and other industrial contaminants that have caused impairments to
the St. Louis River Estuary and potentially the nearshore waters of Lake Superior.
Forging partnerships with other entities is critical to keeping the monitoring system sustainable over the
long-term. Sharing data with public is central to maintaining relevance and achieving the goals of the
project. Data and their sources are available to agencies and the public via the Data Launch Pad portal at
www.LakeSuperiorStreams.org/streams/data/map. There are now 15 automated sites operated by NRRI,
the Large Lakes Observatory, US Geological Survey, Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, Minnesota
Department of Natural Resources, Minnesota Department of Health, Western Lake Superior Sanitary
District, and Lake Superior National Estuarine Research Reserve. These data are disseminated to
multiple audiences via the websites:
9
www.lakesuperiorstreams.org
www.GlobalGreatLakes.org
www.StLouisRiverEstuary.org
www.MNBeaches.org
www.ParkPointBeach.org
www.WaterontheWeb.org
Wildlife and Mammal Research Program at UMD-NRRI Large mammals such as moose and deer are iconic species that are aesthetically, economically, and
environmentally important to the state of Minnesota. One of the goals of the mammal and wildlife
research program is to improve understanding of different species so they can be better managed.
Numerous ongoing projects seek to do this by investigating mammal species, including moose, wolves,
Canada lynx, snowshoe hare, bats, beaver, American marten, and mice.
Research on moose is of great importance as moose populations have declined dramatically in
northeastern Minnesota over the past 10 years. Moose population was under 3,000 last year, whereas it
used to be well over 7,000 a decade ago. At NRRI, moose research began when Ron Moen became a co-
chair of the Moose Advisory Committee. This committee was convened by Minnesota Department of
Natural Resources and resulted in the Moose Research and Management Plan. One recommendation in
this report was the habitat research that was begun in 2010. For this research we placed GPS collars on
moose, and collected data that has allowed us to identify characteristics of areas used for giving birth,
foraging, and,for resting when temperatures are warm. Other current projects being conducted by
Master’s, PhD students, and PostDocs are investigating browsing and movement, winter ticks, snails
which carry brainworm parasite, and moose genetics. Additional work is being done in collaboration with
the Minnesota Zoo in the Twin Cities that examines direct and indirect effects of wolves and deer on
moose.
Additional graduate students are conducting research into other mammal species. One project examines
the identification of American Marten habitat through the identification of den sites used throughout the
year. Another focuses on the role of small rodents as prey for carnivore species such as hawks, owls,
marten, fisher, bobcats, and weasels. Rodents can potentially have cascading effects on other species,
making them ecologically important.
We have also begun a new climate change adaptation project for National Parks in the upper Midwest,
working with researchers at Voyageurs National Park and the University of Minnesota Twin Cities to
predict effects of climate change over the next 40 to 50 years on national parks. Temperature fluctuations
can affect the movement of species, and the absence of animals such as deer and moose would alter the
experience of visitors to national parks, making it important to understand and plan for the management
of animal species in this region.
Our projects would not be possible without collaboration with other researchers and entities such as the
Minnesota Zoo in the Twin Cities, the National Park Service, Minnesota Department of Natural
Resources, and the Deer Hunters Association.
10
Center for Applied Research and Technology Development
11
Assessment of Biomass Sources for Energy in Northern Minnesota for the Laurentian
Energy Project
Forestry
To assess resources and economic feasibility of procuring woody biomass from poplar plantations, brushlands, and forest
harvest residues for energy for the Laurentian Energy Authority project.
Objective
Background
Previous Activity
Current Activity
This project is funded through the US Department of Energy with the purpose to assess the feasibility of producing woody
biomass for energy for delivery to the Laurentian Energy Authority facilities in Virginia and Hibbing, located in northern
Minnesota. The project will evaluate the economic and practical feasibility of the various biomass options and conduct
research on plantation forestry and harvesting of brushlands. The following tasks are part of this project: (1) assessment of
best management practices for harvesting of brushlands and forest harvest residues, (2) development and analysis of best
available technology for harvesting brushlands, (3) biomass availability and collection technology for forest harvest
residues, (4) biomass availability from rights-of-way and, (5) evaluation of available soils and variation in productivity of
hybrid poplar plantations.
We continue to work with the DOE-Golden Field Office to prepare proposal documents and budgets to facilitate the
extension of the contract. At this point, all revisions to the budget and proposal documents have been made and an
extension to December 31, 2014 has been approved. We anticipate completion of the contractual process leading to
continuation of the project by the end of March 2013. Given the fact that approval to continue the project was received by
the University of Minnesota, we have continued to conduct analyses of biomass supplies and the effects of thinning on
productivity of Red Pine and Aspen for biomass energy. In conjunction with the MFPRC, we have collected growth data
from the network of thinning trials established by NRRI and are in the process of summarizing these data to determine
growth effects through the 2012 growing season.
Contractual arrangements to provide for continuation of this project are complete and approval for continuation of the
project was recently granted. A total of $682,926 has been awarded for this new modification. The Statement of Project
Objectives has been modified to include expanded work on breeding of poplar, harvest logistics associated with handling
forest harvest residues, and assessment of the economic feasibility of producing wood briquettes for use in the Laurentian
Energy Authority facilities. Briquetting research is targeted at enhancing the use of biomass with coal in the existing coal-
handling facilities. Ongoing research work includes breeding of poplar in the greenhouse facility at the NRRI with a high
success rate. Also, new breeding materials produced in the 2012/13 breeding season have been planted at the nursery
facility at the UM-NCROC in Grand Rapids, Minnesota. This material will be used to produce cuttings for a new set of
field clone tests anticipated for planting in 2014.
__________________________________________________________________________
151301/01/2007 12/31/2014Start Date: End Date: Project ID:
__________________________________________________________________________
Principal Investigator(s)William Berguson
AccountAmountProject Sponsor(s) Active 3002-10414-00013380150,000Laurentian Energy Authority, LLC 06/01/2009 05/31/2011
1906-187-6616-001,335,365Laurentian Energy Authority LLC (USDOE ) 01/01/2007 12/31/2014
$1,485,365Total
12
Minnesota Forest Productivity Research Cooperative
Forestry
To improve the productivity and value of natural stands and plantations in Minnesota, develop economically and
environmentally sound silvicultural practices, and transfer this knowledge to Minnesota Forest Productivity Research
Cooperative (MFPRC) members and the public.
Objective
Background
Previous Activity
Current Activity
This MFPRC is a consortium of University of Minnesota personnel, industry members, and the USDA Forest Service with
the purpose to enhance the productivity of Minnesota's forests. Research done as part of the MFPRC includes Norway Pine
management, aspen productivity research, and hybrid poplar genetics and yield improvement. The goal of Norway Pine
research proposed is to better understand productivity of Norway Pine plantations and optimize management of these stands
both in terms of productivity and value. Aspen research is concentrating on assessment of productivity of regenerating aspen
stands, an important issue as it relates to future wood resources. Hybrid poplar breeding and yield improvement is ongoing
and replaces the previous activity done as part of the MFPRC.
All data were collected from field studies evaluating productivity and effects of thinning in Red Pine plantations and aspen
stands. These data have been entered into computer format and results summarized for the 2012 growing season. In
addition, establishment of a new set of production studies in Red Pine plantations is underway with work completed on plot
establishment and measurement on 21 sites in northern Minnesota. Results of field tests of thinning methods in Red Pine
and Aspen will be summarized and results presented to members of the MFPRC in April.
Studies of Red Pine thinning and aspen production have been analyzed and data presented to MFPRC members in the spring
of 2013. Results of Red Pine thinning continue to show rapid stand recovery in terms of annual growth rates following
thinning in most thinning treatments with the greatest reduction in stand growth being associated with thin-from-below
treatments. To date, data show a considerable degree of flexibility in choice of thinning treatment. Aspen production data
have been analyzed with evaluation of second-growth aspen showing a relatively flat growth phase at mid-rotation with
many stands accruing total stand volume at a decreasing rate. However, merchantable volume continues to accumulate. A
poplar clone test was planted on a site near Thief River Falls in 2012 and maintenance activities on this site continue into
2013. Survival on this site is very high with over 90 percent of trees surviving. Also, growth rates of selected clones bred in
the NRRI breeding program look very high compared to current commercial standards. Data will be collected from this site
in the fall of 2013.
__________________________________________________________________________
Principal Investigator(s)William Berguson
AccountAmountProject Sponsor(s) Active 1664-187-6534-0020,000Blandin Paper Company 11/01/2004 06/30/2005
1664-187-6535-0020,000Boise White Paper LLC 07/09/2004 06/30/2005
1664-187-6536-0020,000International Paper Company 09/01/2004 06/30/2005
1664-187-6537-0020,000Minnesota Power 07/14/2004 06/30/2005
1664-187-6538-0020,000Potlatch Corporation 10/28/2004 06/30/2005
1664-187-6558-0020,000Forest Capital Partners LLC 07/01/2005 06/30/2006
1664-187-6563-0020,000Blandin Paper Company 07/01/2005 06/30/2006
1664-187-6562-0020,000Potlatch Corporation 07/01/2005 06/30/2006
1664-187-6561-0020,000Plum Creek 07/01/2005 06/30/2006
1664-187-6559-0020,000International Paper Company 07/01/2005 06/30/2006
1664-187-6560-0020,000MN Power 07/01/2005 06/30/2006
1664-187-6594-0020,000MN Power 07/01/2006 12/31/2006
1663-187-6542-0040,000MN Dep of Natural Resources(DNR) 11/30/2004 06/30/2007
1676-187-6585-0020,000St Louis County Land Department 11/15/2005 06/30/2007
1663-187-6581-00400,000MN Dept of Natural Resources (DNR) 07/01/2005 06/30/2007
1664-187-6593-0020,000Forest Capital Partners LLC 01/01/2007 06/30/2008
13
136310/28/2004 06/30/2015Start Date: End Date: Project ID:
__________________________________________________________________________
1664-187-6595-0020,000Plum Creek 01/01/2007 06/30/2008
1664-187-6598-0020,000Verso Paper 01/01/2007 06/30/2008
1664-187-6597-0020,000Blandin Paper Company 01/01/2007 06/30/2008
3005-10414-00005642200,000MN DNR 06/26/2008 06/30/2009
3005-10414-0000561520,000State of Minnesota 07/01/2007 06/30/2009
3000-10414-0000697120,000Minnesota Power 12/17/2008 12/31/2009
3000-10414-0000697320,000Blandin Paper Company 12/01/2008 12/31/2009
3000-10414-0000697520,000Potlatch Corporation 12/01/2008 12/31/2009
3000-10414-0000697620,000Verso Paper 12/01/2008 12/31/2009
3000-10414-0000725120,000Plum Creek Timber Company, Inc 12/01/2008 12/31/2009
3000-10414-0001598520,000Minnesota Power 03/23/2010 06/30/2010
3003-10414-0001154820,000St Louis County 07/01/2009 06/30/2010
3000-10414-0000697420,000Forest Capital Partners, LLC 12/05/2008 12/31/2010
3000-10414-0001598020,000Potlatch Corporation 01/01/2010 06/30/2011
3005-10414-0001290020,000MN DNR 09/03/2009 06/30/2011
3000-10414-0001598120,000Verso Paper 01/01/2010 06/30/2011
3000-10414-0001598220,000Plum Creek Timber Company, Inc 01/01/2010 06/30/2011
3005-10414-0002860720,000MN Dept of Natural Resources 11/03/2011 06/30/2013
3000-10414-0002920415,000Minnesota Power 01/01/2012 12/31/2015
$1,275,000Total
14
Regional Biomass Feedstock Partnership-Poplar
Forestry
To conduct research to determine biomass yields of short rotation woody crops using poplar and develop new high-yielding,
disease-resistant poplar clones for biomass production nationally.
Objective
Background
Previous Activity
Current Activity
This project is part of the DOE-funded SunGrant Initiative Biomass Feedstock Partnership national effort to develop
dedicated biomass crops for production of renewable energy. The purpose of this research is to improve yields of woody
crops for energy production focusing on poplar species. The research team is national in scope and consists of personnel
from the University of Minnesota Duluth-NRRI, GreenWood Resources (Portland, Oregon), Mississippi State University,
and ArborGen LLC (Summerville, South Carolina) which has a history of research in the genetic improvement and
production of poplars as well as commercial application of poplar plantations for fiber and energy production. The project is
viewed as a first step in a process to develop a longer term plan leading to improvement of biomass yield through genetic
improvement and plantation management research. Proposed research involves analysis of the state of current poplar
research, evaluation of the potential land resource suitable for poplar production, and establishment of new genetic material
at various locations across the U.S. to evaluate genotype performance over a range of conditions.
Data collection on a total of 36 study sites was completed during the fall and early winter. Research sites include large-
scale studies of genetic material produced in the NRRI breeding program, clone tests on multiple sites in Minnesota, and
yield studies of new hybrids on representative sites throughout Minnesota. A joint paper entitled "The Sungrant Woody
Crops Research Program: Accomplishments and Implications" was presented to the national conference entitled "Science
for Biomass Feedstock Production and Utilization" in October in New Orleans, Louisiana, by Bill Berguson, NRRI Program
Director. This is a joint paper of the Sungrant poplar research consortium made up of university and industry cooperators
from across the U.S.
Work continues on the analysis of genetics tests of poplar as well as coordination of analysis of the yield potential of poplar
across the U.S. At the request of DOE staff, an effort is underway within the Sun Grant program to estimate biomass yields
of all energy crops in the Sun Grant research portfolio. Related to this effort, analyses were done by NRRI in cooperation
with all Sun Grant Poplar team members to develop yield models of poplars across the U.S. in order to enhance the utility of
early-rotation field tests, particularly in the Southern region of the U.S. Data were analyzed to develop a set of equations to
serve as a means of comparison to other field test sites across the nation. Poplar yield data from studies underway in
Minnesota were summarized and submitted for this process in anticipation of a meeting to finalize yield maps in mid-
September.
__________________________________________________________________________
157101/01/2009 09/30/2013Start Date: End Date: Project ID:
__________________________________________________________________________
Principal Investigator(s)William Berguson
AccountAmountProject Sponsor(s) Active 3014-10414-00012404603,759South Dakota State Univ-(USDOE-Prime) 01/01/2009 09/30/2013
$603,759Total
15
Developing Thermal Verification Guidelines for Firewood
Forest Products
The objective of this project is to improve the current temperature monitoring process for heat treating firewood by
developing the necessary background data that can be used to develop thermal verification guidelines that are primarily
based on the kiln heating conditions to supplement the data from the firewood samples.
Objective
Background
Previous Activity
Current Activity
Heat sterilization is currently the most practical and official treatment to kill Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) in infested ash
firewood. To stop further spread of EAB, the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has enforced a
heat treatment process for the U.S. firewood industry to heat sterilize all hardwood firewood before it can be shipped out of
infested areas. Yet, many firewood producers have had challenges implementing the heat treatment process in firewood
operations due to a lack of sufficient heating facilities and a reliable temperature monitoring system. Significant operator
errors were also found to occur in the current monitoring process. The purpose of this project is to improve the current heat
treatment process by developing generic thermal verification guidelines that are primarily based on kiln conditions,
eliminating most operator errors that exist in current heat treatment practices. This project will be conducted by a
multidisciplinary team that include university and federal laboratory researchers, state wood products specialists, USDA
APHIS Plant Protection and Quarantine officers, and field regulatory staff from several states.
We have identified several potential Minnesota cooperators to help our project team acquire the needed data on temperature
profiles of firewood and the control temperatures and humidity of the kilns used for drying firewood. Price Firewood of
Cloquet, Minnesota has purchased and is installing a new kiln that will be used in this project. Several heating trials were
conducted at Savannah Pallet in cooperation with Price Firewood. NRRI staff worked to identify new commercial firewood
producers in this project. In Wisconsin, John's Welding will participate as a testing location in the spring of 2013. Current
Minnesota firewood producers that are currently certified by the Minnesota Department of Agriculture as heat treated
firewood producers were contacted to assist with data gathering though none were responsive.
NRRI staff constructed and trialed a wet bulb temperature monitoring device during kiln recertification at John's Welding in
Tomah, Wisconsin, in March 2013. Additional changes to the device were made and are planned for use during heat
recertification runs in the Winter 2013.
NRRI staff identified additional equipment for monitoring relative humidity in a harsh environment. This new equipment
will be evaluated in addition to traditional wet bulb devices at the USDA Forest Products Lab in Madison, Wisconsin, and
then used to collect data during new and recertification runs in Minnesota and Wisconsin in the Fall and Winter 2013.
__________________________________________________________________________
160107/01/2010 06/30/2013Start Date: End Date: Project ID:
__________________________________________________________________________
Principal Investigator(s)Brian Brashaw
Timothy Hagen
AccountAmountProject Sponsor(s) Active 3002-10414-0001600343,996USDA Forest Service 07/01/2010 06/30/2013
$43,996Total
16
Development and Integration of Advanced Timber Bridge Inspection Techniques for
National Bridge Inspection Standards
Forest Products
Help Minnesota bridge inspectors and engineers develop and implement advanced inspection techniques for timber bridges
and serve as a model for State Department of Transportation and their partners.
Objective
Background
Previous Activity
Current Activity
Minnesota’s Nobles County experienced a timber bridge failure in 2010, raising concerns among city, county, and state
engineers about the current practice of timber bridge inspections. Inspections for timber bridges have been mostly limited to
visual inspection, hammer sounding, and probing. These techniques have proven appropriate for advanced decay detection,
but are inadequate for early stage or internal deterioration. It is critical that efforts be conducted to develop and implement
advanced timber inspection techniques into routine bridge inspections in accordance with National Bridge Inspection
Standards (NBIS) requirements.
A worldwide review of commercial nondestructive inspection technologies for timber bridges was completed and used to
generate a list of equipment that could be used in Minnesota. Information on equipment costs and recommended application
was collected. Demonstrations or access to equipment was requested from the manufacturer should the project team not
currently own the equipment. Demonstrations were provided by IML USA and RINNTech, manufacturers of new
resistance microdrill technologies.
Timber bridge inspection protocols for the most promising equipment identified in the previous activity were developed. As
part of this activity, the Minnesota Department of Transportation Bridge Inspection Manual (version 1.9, 2011) and the
AASHTO Guide Manual for Bridge Element Inspection were used to define the target bridge elements (members) for which
inspection protocols were required for the project.
Comprehensive inspection protocols for timber bridges were prepared using a wide variety of techniques to assess the
condition of wood in service. These include: visual, moisture content, mechanical probing, resistance microdrilling, and
stress wave or ultrasound-based technologies. These techniques are based on solid technical information, supporting
research, and field experience. These protocols were developed for all timber elements including piling, pile caps, girders,
decks, abutments and wing walls, and other members. A special emphasis was on techniques near or below the water line.
The project team also began to develop strategies for integrating the results of inspections using advanced wood NDE
equipment into the Structure Information Management System (SIMS) that is used by Minnesota bridge owners and
maintained by MnDOT. Access to the SIMS test site was granted to the principal investigator.
__________________________________________________________________________
169808/06/2012 06/30/2013Start Date: End Date: Project ID:
__________________________________________________________________________
Principal Investigator(s)Brian Brashaw
AccountAmountProject Sponsor(s) Active 3005-10414-00031663199,786MN Department of Transportation 08/06/2012 01/31/2015
$199,786Total
17
Development of Torrefied Wood as a Biofuel
Forest Products
To develop the densification parameters for a mixed hardwood/softwood wood species torrefied to a specification of 30
percent Dry Solids Loss (DSL) at 300°C.
Objective
Background
Previous Activity
Current Activity
Effective use of biomass requires pretreatments to allow material to be used without significant modification of existing
combustion systems. Ideally, pretreated biomass should have properties that allow the materials to be deployed in a manner
similar to fuels currently used. One such pretreatment technology is torrefaction. Torrefaction is a thermal process in which
biomass is heated in an oxygen deprived atmosphere at temperatures of 270° to 300°C. Torrefaction requires a biomass
combustor in combination with a dryer placed upstream of a reactor capable of heating to 300°C in an oxygen deprived
atmosphere. The combustor provides heat for the process by combusting a fraction of the solids exiting the dryer, while
remaining solids from the dryer enter the torrefaction reactor. This environment drives off volatiles, thereby changing the
nature and properties of the product.
Compaction pressures varying from 200 to 2,500 bar were trialed in a manual 2 in. briquette press with a 300°C/30 percent
DSL torrefied feedstock ground through a hammer mill equipped with a 1/4 in screen. The mill essentially reduced the
material to a powdery consistency where 50 percent of the material between 8 and 50 mesh and 50 percent was smaller than
50 mesh. Grinding energy for this material was measured at ~23 kwh/ton. Although good quality pucks were produced
under these pressures and grinds, none of the compactions could survive significant immersion periods in water.
Deterioration and disintegration of the compacted matrix (regardless of pressure, grind spec or moisture) became evident in
the first few hours of immersion. This forced the project team to consider other compaction and heating regimes uniquely
positioned to fit the unique rhelogical properties of a hot torrefied feed stock.
Success was recently gained by using a specified compaction regime for a 1 in. heated die press. The compaction regime
encompasses the following steps: (1) 10 gram loading of powdered torrefied biomass at nominal moisture of 1 to 2 percent,
(2) compress to 4,000 lbf and hold, (3) heat quickly with MAPP Torch for 90 seconds, (4) during heating, observe lbf
migrate downward in response to material becoming plasticized, (5) after pressure has migrated to 200 lbf, re-apply 4,000
lbf and hold for 10 seconds, (6) release and eject puck and record temp of exiting puck. With this specific procedure, the
puck surface temperature at time of ejection is about 205°F. The pucks had a specular shiny surface, a density of greater
than 70 pcf absolute, and if appropriately torrefied survive a 72 hr immersion period in water with internal bond indicies of
12 to 13 psi recorded. It was noted that between 20 to 30 percent DSL at 285° and 300°C, internal bond deteriorates
significantly with greater deterioration noted at 300°C.
__________________________________________________________________________
159407/01/2010 06/30/2013Start Date: End Date: Project ID:
__________________________________________________________________________
Principal Investigator(s)Timothy Hagen
AccountAmountProject Sponsor(s) Active 1026-10414-20090-01850970,000 07/01/2011 06/30/2014
$70,000Total
18
Evaluation and Demonstration of Nondestructive Assessment Technologies for
Sorting Eastern Hardwoods
Forest Products
To evaluate several technologies including vibration, acoustic, tomography, thermography, and laser technologies for
identifying critical material defects and for assessing potential product performance from hardwood materials prior to
manufacturing into guitars and baseball bats, to assess the potential for these technologies to be used for other high value
end products, and to identify commercial vendors that are capable of adapting equipment or developing new equipment.
Objective
Background
Previous Activity
Current Activity
Recent advances in nondestructive assessment technologies offer opportunities to evaluate hardwood raw materials,
particularly the potential quality of material that is used in the manufacture of high value specialty products. This proposed
effort will focus on evaluation of several technologies for assessing the quality of material to be used in high value specialty
products, with an emphasis on raw materials for use in manufacturing guitars and baseball bats. The outputs from this
project would include an evaluation of these technologies and equipments, demonstration on these products, and the
suitability for use in other high-value products.
A tour of both C.F. Martin Guitar (Nazareth, Pennsylvania) and Rawlings Adirondack (Dolgeville, New York) was
completed to understand the types of defects and opportunities for including nondestructive evaluation technologies in their
operations. The specific defects identified at C.F. Martin Guitar were identified as compression microcracking that
occurred from wind breaks during forest growth or harvest. Samples were obtained for conducting in-depth trials using
nondestructive evaluation technologies such as thermography or laser shearography. Preliminary testing was completed
with thermography, showing some potential for identifying cracks.
Due to other project priorities, minimal activity was completed in this reporting period. Ongoing assessment of
nondestructive evaluation technologies for the hardwood industry is ongoing and will be used during an information webinar
in early 2014.
__________________________________________________________________________
155207/01/2009 06/30/2013Start Date: End Date: Project ID:
__________________________________________________________________________
Principal Investigator(s)Brian Brashaw
AccountAmountProject Sponsor(s) Active 3002-10414-0000844850,000USDA Forest Service 07/01/2009 06/30/2013
$50,000Total
19
Grand Log Homes
Forest Products
To fully develop the Grand Log technology by developing the production process, producing enough product to complete
performance testing, constructing a demonstration site, and producing trade show booth and sales samples which will lead to
the start-up of a manufacturing plant in northern Minnesota by the end of 2011.
Objective
Background
Previous Activity
Current Activity
Grand Log Homes™ has developed the Grand Log™, which combines the durability, authenticity, and curb appeal of solid
logs with greater energy-efficiency, stability, and remodeling options, along with less weight and much lower life-cycle
costs. The Grand Log™ hybrid log technology is the culmination of original NRRI research and maintenance field data
from more than 160 North American installations of a veneered foam-core log siding.
Grand Log Homes™ will compete in the 4+ billion dollar log home marketplace with more than 55 years of battle-tested
product design, engineering, product commercialization, manufacturing, construction, and sales experience. This
marketplace includes log home package sales, large diameter log siding sales, and log installation revenues. Grand Log
Homes™ will focus on the log home, hospitality & upscale rustic construction industries, in addition to the architectural,
governmental, and vacation homeowner segments of the marketplace.
Log siding materials were produced using a 16-ft long manufacturing jig and clamping system. Key design improvements
were completed and additional samples were assembled at NRRI. These samples were used to finalize the design and begin
construction of a concept carriage home. Feedback from industry trade shows was positive from both commercial and
residential users.
NRRI staff continued to provide testing and manufacturing support to Grand Log Homes during this reporting period. The
formal project has ended, but Grand Log Homes continues to move forward with the completion of the carriage house
demonstration site, and is working to secure additional capitalization funds. The following outcomes were achieved in the
project:
(1) Development of an engineered log siding product and the process to manufacture the product.
(2) Performance testing showing that a well-manufactured siding has good glueline durability performance.
(3) Market development through participation in several log home shows.
(4) Establishment of a manufacturing and sales center in Cohasset, Minnesota, creating two jobs.
NRRI staff will continue to monitor and support Grand Log Homes during the next 12 months.
__________________________________________________________________________
165101/03/2011 06/30/2013Start Date: End Date: Project ID:
__________________________________________________________________________
Principal Investigator(s)Brian Brashaw
Victor Krause
AccountAmountProject Sponsor(s) Active 3001-10412-0002420525,769Blandin Foundation 01/01/2011 12/31/2012
$25,769Total
20
Thermal Modification Research for Engineered Wood Materials
Forest Products
Advance thermal-modification technology toward the development of advanced, high-performing engineered wood products
with drastically-improved dimensional stability, resistance to biodegradation and weathering, and reduced environmental
impacts.
Objective
Background
Previous Activity
Current Activity
This project will leverage the expertise of several Knowledge-Enhancement Partners, student researchers, and public and
private stakeholders to advance thermal-modification technology toward the development of advanced, high-performing
engineered wood products with drastically-improved dimensional stability, resistance to biodegradation and weathering, and
reduced environmental impacts. This project will break the barrier from limited product applications and advance the
platform toward new, high-volume, and in-demand engineered wood products markets.
Project Partners include: Aspen Research Corporation; C.S. Industries LLC; Marshall W. Nelson & Associates, Inc.;
Wisconsin Business Innovation Corporation.
A project kick-off meeting was held at Aspen Research Corporation in November to discuss project goals, objectives, roles,
and expectations were discussed.
Also, our new thermal modification pilot plant (which will be used extensively in this project) was installed in the Fall 2012
in partnership with C.S. Industries LLC.
The NRRI team consulted with Louisiana-Pacific to select the first products to be thermally-modified: selected were two
types of plywood and oriented strand board (OSB). The plywood was purchased locally, and the OSB was donated by
Louisiana-Pacific.
The plywood has been thermally modified at five different treatment intensities. The OSB has been thermally modified at
three different levels. For each treatment level, cycle time, pressure, temperature, and water spray control were recorded
and analyzed.
The treated panels were then trimmed to the required sizes for mechanical/physical performance testing. The tests
conducted included bending tests (modulus of rupture/modulus of elasticity), screw- and nail-holding strength, internal
bond, water absorption, and thickness swell. Preliminary technical reports describing the water absorption, thickness swell,
and bending test results were prepared and shared with the project partners at Louisana-Pacific and the USDA Forest
Products Laboratory.
Principal Investigator Matt Aro and Scott Johnson have also had discussions with Dr. Igor Kolomitsyn to analyze the
composition of the process water collected from the thermal modification process. The first sample analysis is underway.
Also, Aspen Research Corporation has begun optical and scanning electronic microscopy analysis of some of the treated
wood samples. Matt Aro and Co-Principal Investigator, Brian Brashaw discussed a preliminary strategy for publishing the
project’s technical results. Matt Aro attended an NSF required grantees workshop in Arlington, Virginia, to learn more
about NSF programs and PI/grantee financial and technical reporting requirements.
__________________________________________________________________________
169909/01/2012 08/31/2014Start Date: End Date: Project ID:
Principal Investigator(s)Matthew Aro
AccountAmountProject Sponsor(s) Active 3002-10414-00030010599,550National Science Foundation 09/01/2012 08/31/2014
$599,550Total
21
Update of Forest Products Laboratory General Technical Report 7 - Machine Grading
of Lumber-Practical Concerns for Lumber Producers
Forest Products
The scope of the project will be to provide a comprehensive update of a popular Forest Products Laboratory report: General
Technical Report 7, Machine Grading of Lumber-Practical Concerns for Lumber Producers.
Objective
Background
Previous Activity
Current Activity
General Technical Report 7, Machine Grading of Lumber-Practical Concerns for Lumber Producers, was originally
published in 1977 by the US Forest Service, Forest Products Laboratory. An update to this publication was completed in
2000. Since that time, new equipment, production scenarios, forest resource changes, and other issues have arisen, resulting
in the need to update the publication.
This is a new project, no previous activity to report.
General Technical Report 7 has been marked up to determine the appropriate changes and updated information that will
need to be generated in the project. A survey was prepared and sent to all known American Lumber Standards Council
approved equipment providers. The objective of the survey was to develop information on their product line and capacity in
order to provide new information for the General Technical Report 7 publication.
__________________________________________________________________________
169001/01/2013 04/30/2013Start Date: End Date: Project ID:
__________________________________________________________________________
Principal Investigator(s)Brian Brashaw
AccountAmountProject Sponsor(s) Active 3014-10414-0003088125,000Mississippi State Univ-USDA Forest-Prime 06/07/2012 05/31/2014
$25,000Total
22
Use of Laser Scanning Technology to Obtain As-Built Records of Historic Covered
Bridges
Forest Products
To examine the technical feasibility of using laser scanning technologies for obtaining as-built records for historic covered
timber bridges.
Objective
Background
Previous Activity
Current Activity
Covered bridges have been the fabric of American life. Today there are several hundred historic covered bridges remaining.
Although there is much effort to preserve these structures, often times high cost of restoration, neglect, and vandalism takes
its toll, and many are lost forever. One of the more famous bridges from the movie "Bridges of Madison County" was
burned down. The National Park Service’s Historic American Engineering Record (HAER) has efforts underway to
document historic structures and consists of measured and interpretive drawings, large-format photographs, and written
historical reports. In order to assist in this effort, new technologies need to be explored which can provide as-built records at
a faster rate with more accuracy. This research will explore the use of laser scanning technology to scan existing bridges for
purposes of obtaining as-built records.
A final report on the 3D laser scanning of six historic covered bridges was completed and provided to the USDA Forest
Products Laboratory. This report noted the following conclusions: (1) 3D laser scanning can be used to rapidly scan historic
covered bridge structures. (2) Post-processing of the scan data requires experience and skill to cost-effectively create as-
built documentation. (3) A 3D scanner can be used to create a range of outputs that include point cloud scans, parametric
images, and 2D and 3D AutoCAD® drawings. For historic covered bridges, this information can be used for a variety of
purposes including as-built documentation and structural assessment, while also providing detail on the land topography
adjacent to the bridge.
A final report was submitted to the sponsoring agency. In this report, the process for conducting laser scanning of historic
bridges was documented using the Amnicon Falls, Wisconsin historic covered bridge as a case study. The following
conclusions were made from the study:
• 3D laser scanning can be used to rapidly scan historic bridge structures. A 3D scanner can be used to create a range of
outputs that include point cloud scans, parametric images, and 2D and 3D AutoCAD® drawings.
• 3D scanning provides millions of data points of information. The point clouds of data collected depict all visible aspects
and actual dimensions of the bridge. This information can be used to determine areas of the bridge that show excessive
deflection, rotation or skew of the structure, damaged members, and other visual indicators that a human eye cannot easily
identify or quantify.
• With new access to lower cost laser scanning technology, a comprehensive inspection protocol for historic covered bridges
should include: (1) 3D laser scanning, (2) visual inspection, (3) hammer sounding and probing, (4) moisture content
inspection, (5) stress wave timing, and (6) resistance microdrilling.
__________________________________________________________________________
157007/28/2009 03/31/2013Start Date: End Date: Project ID:
__________________________________________________________________________
Principal Investigator(s)Brian Brashaw
AccountAmountProject Sponsor(s) Active 3002-10414-0001262783,000USDA Forest Products Lab 07/28/2009 03/31/2013
$83,000Total
23
Wolf Wood - Thermal Modification of Regional Timber Species
Forest Products
To assess the properties of regional softwoods and hardwoods that have been thermally modified with NRRI hydrothermal
timber modification process.
Objective
Background
Previous Activity
Current Activity
The overall goal is to use and develop manufacturing specification and process-flow models (collectively called “recipes”)
and advanced screening methods to analyze the performance of wood window and door components and parts manufactured
from thermally-modified ash, red pine, white pine, and/or aspen and to provide a direct comparison of their performance
properties with non-modified wood and components made from non-modified ponderosa pine that has been dip treated in
traditional water-repellant preservatives.
There is no previous activity/results to report. This is a new project.
Kiln dried black ash, red pine, white pine, and aspen were purchased and have been thermally modified at 165° and 180°C.
Matched control specimens (non-modified) were prepared as well. The thermally-modified lumber is currently undergoing
mechanical and physical performance testing (testing may include modulus of elasticity (MOE), modulus of rupture (MOR),
screw withdrawal strength, and splitting resistance).
__________________________________________________________________________
171603/21/2013 07/21/2013Start Date: End Date: Project ID:
__________________________________________________________________________
Principal Investigator(s)Patrick Donahue
Matthew Aro
AccountAmountProject Sponsor(s) Active 3000-10414-0003682612,850Wolf Wood, Inc. 03/21/2013 07/21/2013
$12,850Total
24
Wood Utilization Research 2010
Forest Products
Major goals include: (1) helping existing small and mid-size wood products companies remain or become competitive
through research and development, (2) conducting forest productivity work in hybrid poplar, red pine, and other Minnesota
species to ensure the sustainability of the forest products industry and to help Minnesota meet their 2025 renewable energy
mandate, and (3) formation of new regional industries based on forest products materials and technologies.
Objective
Background
Previous Activity
Current Activity
The overall focus of the project is to complement a program of the University of Minnesota Duluth, Natural Resources
Research Institute (NRRI). The NRRI program is partially funded by the State of Minnesota, to assist with the sustainable
development of private sector forest products opportunities in Minnesota and the Upper Midwest. Specific sub-projects
include: (1) Assessment of the Species Effect on Pellet Production, (2) Thermally Modified Strand Composite Panels, and
(3) Development of New Silicone-based Non-toxic Binders for Wood Materials.
NRRI has worked with the Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa to assess the performance of a variety of wood
species and their composition for use in producing wood pellets.
NRRI utilized the remaining funds from this grant to participate in Heating the Midwest. The annual conference was held
April 24-26, 2013 in Carlton, Minnesota. It was attended by over 190 people and the trade show expo had over 30 booths
representing heating technologies, engineering, and other associated organizations. The highlight of the conference was the
presentation of "A Midwest Vision" calling for the Midwest to increase the amount of biomass used for thermal energy and
combined heat and power. The new Vision calls for achieving 10 percent of thermal energy by 2025, an increase from the
current level of 3.5 percent. NRRI staff member Brian Brashaw serves as the chair of the Heating the Midwest Steering
Committee and served as the chair of the April conference.
__________________________________________________________________________
170409/01/2011 08/31/2013Start Date: End Date: Project ID:
__________________________________________________________________________
Principal Investigator(s)Brian Brashaw
AccountAmountProject Sponsor(s) Active 3002-10414-00000-000163162,811USDA National Inst of Food & Agriculture 09/01/2010 08/31/2013
$162,811Total
25
Betula Extractives
Chemical Extractives
Technology of birch bark processes into natural products. Sample preparation.
Objective
Background
Previous Activity
Current Activity
The scientific background of this is nearly 15 years of research by the Laboratory of Chemical Extractive (LCE) at the
Natural Resources Research Institute in the identification, extraction, and isolation of the constituents of birch bark.
No previous activities to report.
Results of this work to date are presented in patents, papers, and a comprehensive review in Natural Products Report. The
Laboratory of Chemical Extrative conducted broad biological screening of all birch bark products and their derivatives on
anti-fungal, anti-bacterial, anti-inflammation, anti-viral, anti-proliferation, anti-cancer, and immune stimulation activity.
The technology of birch bark processing is ready to be transferred to small business partner Betula Extractives LLC.
__________________________________________________________________________
171103/01/2012 03/31/2015Start Date: End Date: Project ID:
__________________________________________________________________________
Principal Investigator(s)Pavel Krasutsky
AccountAmountProject Sponsor(s) Active 3001-10412-0003601119,500Blandin Foundation 03/01/2012 03/31/2015
$19,500Total
26
Development And Commercialization Of A Biorefinery For Processing DDGS In
Biofuels And Other Value-Added Products
Chemical Extractives
To develop and optimize parameters of Dried Distillers Grains and Solubles (DDGS) processing into value-added products
at lab scale and pilot scale industrial conditions with a subsequent commercialization of the value-added products.
Objective
Background
Previous Activity
Current Activity
Minnesota's corn ethanol industry produces millions of tons of a lower value co-product called Dried Distillers Grains and
Solubles (DDGS) that is marketed as a feed product. It has been determined that the components of DDGS can be
selectively extracted yielding a liquid fraction (oil and solubles) and a solid fraction (a higher protein distillers grain).
Research and development was directed towards optimization biodiesel synthesis process using DDGS extract. Two
approaches were explored: (1) batch process of biodiesel synthesis with the use of different heterogeneous and
homogeneous catalysts, and (2) continuous process with the use of heterogeneous and homogeneous catalysts. It has been
discovered that process (2) is more efficient than homogeneous catalysts. Optimal parameters "solvent-to-oil ratio,
temperature and retention time in reaction zone" have been determined. A sample of oil was obtained and used for this
process of transesterification with ethanol. A sample of solubles was transferred to GlycosBio for optimization of the
process of bioconversion.
During this reporting period, all planned research and development works have been successfully fulfilled and the project is
prepared for transferring to industrial partner for biorefinery projection and construction. Economical criteria and
assortment of additional valuable products have improved. All technological processes of the project have been piloted on
the laboratory and industrial pilot scale equipment. The yield of the most valuable product zein has been increased from 2%
to 14%. Samples of all products have been produced, analyzed, and transferred to industrial partners. All procedures are
ready for industrial pilot scale operations. An economical model of biorefinery was created and adjusted to the economical
model of the corn ethanol plant. A $400 gain in revenue from a ton of DDGS was shown that would be realized at the
baseline conditions that we modeled.
__________________________________________________________________________
165803/23/2011 09/30/2013Start Date: End Date: Project ID:
__________________________________________________________________________
Principal Investigator(s)Pavel Krasutsky
AccountAmountProject Sponsor(s) Active 3006-10419-00025792100,000Minnesota Corn Growers Association 03/23/2011 09/01/2012
1780-10419-21314-00025760,000MN Initiative for Renew Energy&Env(IREE) 11/01/2011 09/01/2012
3006-10419-00028299155,000Agricultural Utilization Research Inst 05/31/2012 09/30/2013
$315,000Total
27
Midwest Gypsum, Inc
Chemical Extractives
To develop value-added products from recycled gypsum.
Objective
Background
Previous Activity
Current Activity
This project seeks to develop value-added products from recycled gypsum.
This project was funded through the NRRI product development fund.
The project activities have been completed with various production and testing assessments. Based on potential intellectual
property and business competitiveness concerns, the information is considered confidential. A final report was completed
and submitted to the client detailing the results of the production trials, testing, and possible commercial applications.
__________________________________________________________________________
167908/15/2011 06/30/2013Start Date: End Date: Project ID:
__________________________________________________________________________
Principal Investigator(s)Brian Brashaw
Timothy Hagen
AccountAmountProject Sponsor(s) Active 3001-10412-0002981716,805J & J Knight Foundation 08/15/2011 12/31/2012
3001-10412-000298157,852Blandin Foundation 05/15/2011 12/31/2012
$24,657Total
28
Compressed Air Energy Storage in Northern Minnesota Using Underground Mine
Workings
Energy
The objective of this project is to explore the feasibility of utilizing underground Compressed Air Energy Storage(CAES)to
capture the benefits of being able to shift intermittent energy production in the region to times of greater need and usage.
Objective
Background
Previous Activity
Current Activity
This Compressed Air Energy Storage(CAES) technology feasibility project targets using underground caverns from iron
mining and non-ferrous mining on the Minnesota Iron Range(s) and Duluth Complex's copper-nickel areas. Compressed Air
Energy Storage has high potential to be a solution to the challenges of integrating large amounts of intermittent renewable
energy sources, such as wind and solar power, into the grid. CAES is currently one of the most viable large-scale energy
storage options under study across the U.S. With research and planning, CAES has the potential to enable and enhance the
utilization of wind and solar power in the region.
Funding for this project was received in December 2012. A meeting of the geological, facilities, environmental, and policies
teams was planned for January 2013 to further define the project and its goals.
Teams met for the first meeting in Hinckley and also communicated via conference call and computer. Various
presentations by each group were given at that time, outlining the work to be pursued:
CAES Budget and Introduction; CAES Budget Breakdown; Underground Sites for CAES; Key Questions to be Answered;
and CAES Storage Options. These data and a transcript of the meeting were sent to all team members after the meeting.
Another team meeting was planed for mid- to late summer 2013 to review progress and continue to define work, potential
sites, equipment required, and to address policy questions.
__________________________________________________________________________
170712/01/2012 12/01/2014Start Date: End Date: Project ID:
__________________________________________________________________________
Principal Investigator(s)Steven Hauck
AccountAmountProject Sponsor(s) Active 1780-10416-21314-100001119,071IREE - RL-0021-13 12/01/2012 12/01/2014
$119,071Total
29
Hydrothermal Processing of Biomass Materials
Energy
To conduct research that relates to processing of renewable fuels so as to improve the useful quality of biomass fuels by
means of hydrothermal treatment. Exploration is planned regarding various kinds of biomass, including forestry, agricultural
products, and energy crops, in bench top scale hydrothermal processing experiments, followed by characterization of the
obtained products.
Objective
Background
Previous Activity
Current Activity
The term "Hydrothermal Carbonization" (HTC), or "HTC-processing" means exposure of material to elevated temperature
in water media. Compared to the more common Torrefaction (TM) process, the hydrothermal process shows the same
effects at more mild conditions. Hydrothermally processed biomass, commonly called as Biocoal, is friable, almost
odorless, and shows higher bulk density, lower equilibrium moisture and ash content. This makes Biocoal an effective and
manageable fuel for heat/power processing, residential heating, and other applications.
Hydrothermal processing advanced a suitable method for fabrication of Biocoal from wet slurries, farm wastes, waterweeds,
etc. Lab tests have been done at variable temperature, pressure and load ratios in order to find the best conditions for carbon
and energy recovery. The proper process temperature was found to be 250-260 deg. C for woody biomass and 235-245 deg.
C for herbaceous materials and farm wastes. The resulting solid fuel product (Biocoal) shows a higher heating value of 23
kJ/g (kilojoules/gram) and above, and can easily be fired in coal-burning furnaces and boilers, or be briquetted/pelletized for
residential heating.
A set of advanced tests on HTC-Biocoal processing have been done with a batch of cattails that originated from the Senegal
River valley of Mauritania. Based on the results obtained, we introduced a project of the two-ton/day Biocoal demo plant
for installation in the Senegal river region. The process flow diagram has been developed, and the basic equipment
parameters have been established. The project has been introduced to the Mauritanian authorities, to the U.S. Agency for
International Development (USAID), and other funding bodies.
__________________________________________________________________________
168001/09/2012 06/30/2014Start Date: End Date: Project ID:
__________________________________________________________________________
Principal Investigator(s)Donald Fosnacht
David Hendrickson
Andriy Khotkevych
Richard Kiesel
AccountAmountProject Sponsor(s) Active 1750-10417-20090-100001110,000PUF Mineral Endowment 01/09/2012 06/30/2014
$110,000Total
30
Minnesota Department of Agriculture Hydrothermal
Energy
To improve the fuel value and manageability of Biomass by conversion to Biocoal using Hydrothermal Carbonization
(HTC) technology. The project is multidisciplinary, and comprises technological studies, densification tests, biological tests,
and by-products investigations. The Biomass materials to be studied comprise common local energy crops and the large-
capacity agricultural/food industry wastes.
Objective
Background
Previous Activity
Current Activity
The term "Hydrothermal Processing", or "HTC-processing" means exposure of material to elevated temperature in water
media. Compared to the more common Torrefaction process, the hydrothermal process shows the same effects at more mild
conditions. Hydrothermally processed biomass, commonly called as Biocoal, is friable, almost odorless, and shows higher
bulk density, lower equilibrium moisture and ash content. This makes Biocoal an effective and manageable fuel for
heat/power processing, residential heating, and other applications.
Hydrothermal processing advanced a suitable method for fabrication of Biocoal from wet slurries, farm wastes, waterweeds,
etc. Lab tests have been done at variable temperature, pressure, and load ratios in order to find the best conditions for
carbon and energy recovery. The proper process temperature was found to be 250° to 260°C for woody biomass and 235° to
245°C for herbaceous materials and farm wastes. The resulting solid fuel product (Biocoal) shows a higher heating value of
23 kJ/g (kilojoules/gram) and above, and can easily be fired in coal-burning furnaces and boilers, or be briquetted/pelletized
for residential heating.
The multi-disciplinary studies have been done on processing the HTC-Biocoal out of woody biomass (hardwood, softwood,
mixed samples), conventional energy crops (switchgrass), farm wastes (corn cobs and stovers), and food industry wastes
(potato peelings and sugar beet pulp). The optimal process parameters – temperature, residence time, and load ratios have
been determined for each kind of feedstock. It was found that the HTC-process is generally not specific to the nature and
condition of raw Biomass material – this allows further processing the Biocoal out of the seasonal or blended feedstock on
the same line. The process exploration tests have been followed up with the densification trials, which demonstrate that the
Biocoal can be easily briquetted and/or pelletized. The project also includes the identification/quantification and primary
biological tests of the liquid by-products, which are now in progress.
__________________________________________________________________________
168910/01/2012 06/30/2013Start Date: End Date: Project ID:
__________________________________________________________________________
Principal Investigator(s)Timothy Hagen
Andriy Khotkevych
Matthew Aro
AccountAmountProject Sponsor(s) Active 3005-10417-0003309076,978MN Department of Agriculture 10/01/2012 12/31/2013
1780-10417-21314-00033020,093IREE-Match 10/01/2012 12/31/2013
1750-10417-20090-00033056,885PUTF Mineral Endowment 10/19/2012 12/31/2013
$153,956Total
31
New and Improved Zinc-Air Battery System and Devices
Energy
Objective
Background
Previous Activity
Current Activity
Classic Zinc-Air cell technology suffers from three major
drawbacks. These are:
1. Some of the shortest calendar life among all
conventional chemical batteries;
2. Classic rechargeable Zinc-Air batteries have
poor cycleability;
3. Conventional Metal-Air technology is known
for its poor rate capability.
Sharp decay of cell performance as a function of time (calendar life issue) is happening due to irreversible changes in
electrolyte as soon as 6 weeks after the breathing hole in the air cathode has been exposed to air. This project seeks to
develop new and improved primary and rechargeable Zinc-Air cells.
This is a new project. No previous activity to report.
A number of cathode composite materials using oxidative polymerisation, emulsion polymerization, and absorbtion
polymerization techniques were successfully synthesized and delivered to American Energy Technology Company for
further testing as a cathode material for new Zn-Air batteries. New cathode material was characterized by FTIR and
elemental analysis techniques. Structure of lead cathode composite was identified.
__________________________________________________________________________
171401/01/2013 06/30/2013Start Date: End Date: Project ID:
__________________________________________________________________________
Principal Investigator(s)Igor Kolomitsyn
AccountAmountProject Sponsor(s) Active 3010-10419-0003418922,000American Energy Technologies (NSF) prime 01/01/2013 06/30/2013
$22,000Total
32
Polymetallic Gas to Liquid Catalysts
Energy
To conduct research and development to produce novel catalysts for thermochemical processing of biofuels based on local
mineral sources.
Objective
Background
Previous Activity
Current Activity
Recent publications show the significant potential of polymetallic catalysts in Fischer-Tropsch Reaction and related
processes. Compared to the traditional pure iron or cobalt formulations, modification of iron catalysts with copper,
chromium, titanium, manganese and/or others gives better conversion, improves the lifetime of the catalyst, positively
influences the "C5+" selectivity and other parameters. Preparation of polymetallic catalysts requires multistep procedures to
obtain the proper composition. On the other side, a number of minerals available for mining in Minnesota, such as ilmenite
and magnetite, already contain the necessary metals in good proportion alongside the proper carrier compounds. These
minerals may show the catalytic activity, and may be valuable for gas to liquid technology.
A number of catalysts for conversion of syngas to liquid fuels were made on a base of the local mineral ilmenite and a base
of Direct Reduced Iron (DRI). Processing of the catalysts out of DRI was found to be a much more labor and cost effective
procedure as compared to conventional means of catalyst preparation, and as compared to mineral-based catalysts. A
systematic study proceeded with conversion of low-hydrogen (below 50% H2) blends, since this composition is typical for
syngas obtained from biomass. It was also found that CO2/H2 blends can be converted to hydrocarbon mixtures over the
named catalysts. The effects of temperature, pressure and dope metal additives, and certain kinetic studies as well, have
been explored on a regular basis. Both common types of DRI (HYL and Midrex) have been tested as basic materials, and
both demonstrate a good potential for fabrication of the catalysts.
Sufficient information has been acquired, so no lab tests were scheduled for the period. The current stage of the project
includes scale-up simulations and searching industrial partners for commercialization.
__________________________________________________________________________
150002/29/2008 06/30/2014Start Date: End Date: Project ID:
__________________________________________________________________________
Principal Investigator(s)David Hendrickson
Andriy Khotkevych
Richard Kiesel
AccountAmountProject Sponsor(s) Active 1896-783-1239-00190,000PUF Mineral Endowment 02/29/2008 06/30/2014
$190,000Total
33
Addition of Hibbing Taconite (Hibtac) Pilot-Scale Mine Land Demonstration Site For
Application
Environmental Remediation
To evaluate the use of dredge material from the Erie Pier facility in Duluth to restore vegetation at a degraded upland
borrow pit site controlled by Hibbing Taconite (Hibtac). The upland site will also be used for monitoring growth of
potential invasive species such as purple loosestrife, and for assessing best practice control measures. The pilot project will
provide useful comparative information that could be applied to other mine land and marginal land restoration and
reclamation applications.
Objective
Background
Previous Activity
Current Activity
The U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC) and NRRI have identified a degraded mine land site
on property controlled by Hibbing Taconite Co. (Hibtac). The site, located north of Duluth on Minnesota�s Mesabi Iron
Range, provides an opportunity to conduct an additional pilot-scale demonstration project beginning in the fall of 2012.
Approximately 4,000 cubic yards of fine-grained sediment will be transported from a dredge material stockpile at the Erie
Pier sediment storage facility in Duluth, Minnesota, to the Hibtac site. The sediment will be used for conducting a pilot-
scale test of the dredge material�s capacity for restoring vegetation to a degraded upland borrow pit site. The upland site
will also be used for monitoring growth of potential invasive species such as purple loosestrife, and for assessing best
practice control measures.
A site visit and project planning and coordination with Hibtac personnel took place in the second half of 2012. Delayed
receipt of funding for transportation cost support for moving the dredge material to the Hibtac site required that most project
work be pushed into 2013.
In the first half of 2013, NRRI met with Hibtac personnel at the project site. Hibtac staked out three locations, with each
location intended to receive different dredge material applications. The late spring and wet site conditions delayed the start
of material delivery from Erie Pier to Hibtac. Most material was expected to be delivered after July 1, 2013.
__________________________________________________________________________
172101/01/2012 09/30/2013Start Date: End Date: Project ID:
__________________________________________________________________________
Principal Investigator(s)Lawrence Zanko
Steven Hauck
AccountAmountProject Sponsor(s) Active 3002-10416-0003433230,000USDOD Army Corps of Engineers 01/01/2012 09/30/2013
$30,000Total
34
Bioremediation for Sulfate Removal in Minnesota Mining Waters
Environmental Remediation
To demonstrate a low cost biological and chemical aqueous sulfate removal technology at pilot scale in a taconite mining
water filled pit capable of reducing sulfate levels from 1200-1500 ppm sulfate to 100-200 ppm sulfate.
Objective
Background
Previous Activity
Current Activity
The maximum level of aqueous sulfate in mining discharge waters is being reduced to 20-40 ppm by the Minnesota
Pollution Control Agency and the Department of Natural Resources. Current taconite mining water levels of sulfate can
range from 100-1500 ppm of sulfate, and a new, low-cost sulfate remediation technology is needed immediately to avoid the
potential shut-down of taconite operations in the State of Minnesota. Due to the massive volumes of water existing in
taconite mining tailings basins, this new technology must be both practical and scalable to accomplish the treatment of such
large water volumes in both summer and winter months. The Minnesota Iron Range Resources and Rehabilitation Board
(IRRRB) is offering $125,000 in matching funds to NRRI to create this project, along with in-kind support from both Cliffs
Natural Resources (NR) and Polymet Mining.
Modular floating bioreactor cells were designed by a small business in northeastern Minnesota and were built of recycled
plastic materials. CliffsNR and Polymet Mining designated a water-filled mining pit on their joint property near Hoyt
Lakes, MN, to carry out the sulfate reduction demonstration project at pilot scale during 2012 and 2013. The modular
bioreactor floating cells contained recycled fiber media to support the growth of sulfate-reducing bacteria to reduce aqueous
sulfate to hydrogen sulfide. It was planned that hydrogen sulfide process water would then be passed through a cell
chamber containing taconite iron ore, which would convert hydrogen sulfate to precipitated forms of iron sulfide. Therefore,
sulfate would be removed from the mining water environment.
In the winter of 2012, sulfate reducing bacteria were cultured indoors at the Hoyt Lakes site to be ready for filling into the
floating bioreactor cells in the spring. Four modular floating bioreactors were installed in a pit lake location at the previous
LTV site in Hoyt Lakes, MN, in the spring of 2013, with permission of Polymet Mining and Cliffs Erie. The four cells were
mounted on a floating platform near the shore of the pit lake. Water from the lake was pumped continuously through each
cell throughout the spring and summer. Water samples were taken and analyzed by Pace Laboratories in Virginia, MN.
Results showed that the pit water contained 1200ppm +/- 50 ppm sulfate, which dropped to as low as 171 ppm sulfate in the
discharge of the floating bioreactor cells. The system is being tuned to see how low the bioreactor discharges can go in
terms of sulfate concentration. Two solar cells are mounted on the floating platform to charge batteries for operation of the
pumps and sensors. Data is sent remotely to project managers.
__________________________________________________________________________
172309/01/2012 06/30/2014Start Date: End Date: Project ID:
__________________________________________________________________________
Principal Investigator(s)David Hendrickson
AccountAmountProject Sponsor(s) Active 1750-10417-20090-100001123,188PUTF Mineral Endowment 09/01/2012 06/30/2014
$123,188Total
35
Erie Pier Dredged Material Beneficial Use Study
Environmental Remediation
(1) Identify landowners willing to participate in demonstration projects and receive fine grained dredged material for
restoration demonstrations.
(2) Evaluate the cost and feasibility of using rail transportation to move Erie Pier fine grained dredged material to potential
recipient sites.
(3) Provide monitoring and results analysis of vegetative health, plant diversity and control of purple loosestrife for
demonstration sites.
(4) Evaluate the effectiveness of using microwave technology to sterilize seeds contained in Erie Pier fine grained dredged
material.
(5) Conduct a laboratory and field assessment of the stamp sand area near Gay, Michigan, within the context of this location
being a potential recipient site for navigation channel material from the Duluth-Superior harbor and/or Erie Pier for
establishing stamp sand-stabilizing vegetative cover.
Objective
Background
Previous Activity
Current Activity
The University of Minnesota Duluth Natural Resources Research Institute (NRRI) is working with the U.S. Army Corps of
Engineers (COE) to evaluate beneficial use of Erie Pier fine grained sediment dredged from the Duluth-Superior harbor and
stored at the Erie Pier facility located in Duluth, Minnesota. The Erie Pier facility will reach its engineered design capacity
within the next five years. Consequently, finding small, medium, and large-scale sites for beneficially reusing the materials
stored at Erie Pier is an important goal. The current study is evaluating potential beneficial uses for the sediment within
approximately a 60-90 mile radius of Erie Pier, in part as it relates to mine land usage. The project was several components
that will address previously listed objectives.
Second half 2012 highlights:
1)Demonstration site monitoring, documentation, and mitigation for Purple Loosestrife growth control
2)Meetings and site visits/tours with Corps of Engineers personnel
3)Developed work plans for an additional project at Hibtac, expanded activities at Atlas Cement, and for material transport
to Hibtac; all three were added to the overall project
4)Participated in meeting and conference calls specific to the Gay, MI, stamp sands.
5)Completed an interim draft report, and a GIS product for the final report.
6)Final reports for the Stamp Sands, Microwave, and Mineland Reclamation/Demonstration site portions of the project were
begun, with planned completion in early 2013.
Final reports for the Stamp Sands (NRRI TSR2013/01)and Microwave (NRRI TSR2013/02) portions of the project were
completed in early 2013, and submitted to the COE. The final report for the Mineland Reclamation/Demonstration site
portions of the project is in prep. Stamp Sands meetings took place in June in Houghton, MI, where potential follow-up
processing was discussed. Two projects were added in late 2012: a restoration/re-vegetation project at Hibtac (including
material transportation) and expanded water quality monitoring at Duluth's Atlas Cement site. The late winter delayed the
start of the Hibtac project.
__________________________________________________________________________
161201/24/2011 09/30/2013Start Date: End Date: Project ID:
__________________________________________________________________________
Principal Investigator(s)Lawrence Zanko
Steven Hauck
AccountAmountProject Sponsor(s) Active 3002-10416-00021820197,500USDOD Army Corps of Engineers 01/24/2011 09/30/2013
$197,500Total
36
Field Monitoring Atlas Brownfield Demo
Environmental Remediation
NRRI and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC) in Vicksburg,
Mississippi, are partnering to conduct a benefit analysis for using Erie Pier dredge material to passively mitigate pH at the
former Atlas Cement site, located in Duluth near the St. Louis River and the Morgan Park neighborhood. The current
project will focus on monitoring to measure the effects of buffering site pH and potential release of metals from site soil.
Project results will be used as a guide for the potential use of Erie Pier dredge material at other brownfield sites.
Objective
Background
Previous Activity
Current Activity
The U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC)and NRRI coordinated to deliver 2000 cubic yards of
fine grained Erie Pier Dredge Material (EPDM) to the former Atlas Cement Plant in the fall of 2011. The sediment was
utilized for the construction of a storm water treatment pond to reduce the pH of surface water from the site. The site,
located in Duluth near the St. Louis River and the Morgan Park neighborhood, provided an opportunity to conduct an
additional benefit analysis in using EPDM to passively mitigate pH at Brownfield sites. Therefore, a supplemental project
was undertaken as a follow-up to the application of Erie Pier dredged material to the site in late 2011. The current project
will focus on monitoring to measure the effects of buffering site pH and potential release of metals from site soil.
This is a new project.
Site monitoring and several pH sampling events were conducted at multiple locations within and near the Atlas site by
NRRI in the first half of 2013. Meetings with the Corps of Engineers, the City of Duluth, and Barr Engineering also took
place during this period.
__________________________________________________________________________
172001/01/2012 09/30/2013Start Date: End Date: Project ID:
__________________________________________________________________________
Principal Investigator(s)Lawrence Zanko
Steven Hauck
AccountAmountProject Sponsor(s) Active 3002-10416-0003433325,500USDOD Army Corps of Engineers 01/01/2012 09/30/2013
$25,500Total
37
Material Transport
Environmental Remediation
To load, transport, and deliver up to 4,000 cubic yards of dredge material from the Erie Pier facility in Duluth to the Hibtac
site. Erie Pier dredge material will be used for conducting a pilot-scale test of the dredge material capacity for restoring
vegetation to a degraded upland borrow pit site at Hibbing Taconite (Hibtac). This project represents the material transport
portion of the Hibtac project (Project Number 1721).
Objective
Background
Previous Activity
Current Activity
The U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC) and NRRI have identified a degraded mine land site
on property controlled by Hibbing Taconite Co. (Hibtac). The site, located north of Duluth on Minnesota's Mesabi Iron
Range, provides an opportunity to conduct an additional pilot-scale demonstration project beginning in the fall of 2012.
Approximately 4,000 cubic yards of fine grained sediment will be transported from a dredge material stockpile at the Erie
Pier sediment storage facility in Duluth, Minnesota, to the Hibtac site. The sediment will be used for conducting a pilot-
scale test of the dredge material�s capacity for restoring vegetation to a degraded upland borrow pit site. This project
represents the material transport portion of the Hibtac project described in the semi-annual report for Project Number 1721.
Delayed receipt of funding for transportation cost support made it necessary to push the delivery of dredge material to
spring of 2013.
In early 2013, bids were solicited from several contractors to perform the loading, hauling, and delivery of the dredge
material to the Hibtac site. A contractor was chosen. The late spring and wet site conditions delayed the start of material
delivery from Erie Pier to Hibtac. Most material was expected to be delivered after July 1, 2013.
__________________________________________________________________________
172201/01/2012 09/30/2013Start Date: End Date: Project ID:
__________________________________________________________________________
Principal Investigator(s)Lawrence Zanko
Steven Hauck
AccountAmountProject Sponsor(s) Active 3002-10416-00035451100,000USDOD Army Corps of Engineers 01/01/2013 09/30/2013
$100,000Total
38
Sediment for Biomass, Minnesota Mining Cluster - The Next Generation of Innovation
Environmental Remediation
To conduct field trials of varieties of cellulosic feedstock on mineland tailings basins and other marginal lands using readily
available soil amendment materials: clean sediments dredged from Duluth-Superior Harbor amended with treated municipal
wastewater/biosolids. Objective is to conduct field-scale (>3-acres) research at one or more host taconite mines (or other
brownfields/marginal lands location). Ultimate products will be: 1) identification of the most appropriate cellulosic
feedstock species; 2) an assessment and proof-of-concept demonstration of overall waste and energy management planning
and recycling in the region so long as sediment disposal challenges and mine land reclamation needs remain; and 3) energy
development opportunity. Project findings would be applicable to other areas around MN and the Great Lakes region,
including tailings basins, gravel pits, brownfields, and other marginal lands.
Objective
Background
Previous Activity
Current Activity
Marginal and unproductive mining lands, including iron mine tailings basins and stockpiles which no longer have economic
mineral value to be recovered, have enormous potential to act as plantation sites for growth and production of cellulosic
feedstock such as hybrid poplars and switchgrass. Large-sized basins and stockpiles and their location within active mining
areas make them especially attractive targets for large-scale biomass plantation development that minimizes environmental
impact. However, the physical properties and relatively sterile nature of these sites requires adding supplemental soil-like
materials and nutrients to support plant growth.
Progress is related to site selection, materials logistics, plot layout and vegetation management, including: 1) Logistical
planning for movement of sediment from Erie Pier Containment Facility to research sites is being finalized. Sediment will
be transported, delivered and placed at two mineland research sites; one at Keetac and a second site at Hibtac were selected
and plot marked. A presentation on this research resulted in additional interest from potential cooperators; 2)Planting stock
was temporarily planted at the U MN station in Grand Rapids, to be maintained and monitored prior to planting at the two
research sites, where floristic inventories were conducted by a contractor. Additional species will be selected to optimize
plant succession and accumulation of organic matter in sediment at the sites.
Keetac and Hibtac project planning continued. Movement of material to Hibtac is planned for summer 2013. A large
opportunity with St. Louis County was identified and discussed. Other large-scale mine land recipient sites are under
consideration and will be a focus in the second half of 2013. Key will be coordinating transportation with a back-haul of
mining byproduct aggregate to minimize transportation costs.
__________________________________________________________________________
167710/01/2011 09/30/2013Start Date: End Date: Project ID:
__________________________________________________________________________
Principal Investigator(s)Lawrence Zanko
Steven Hauck
AccountAmountProject Sponsor(s) Active 3002-10416-00028242100,000US Dept of Commerce 10/01/2011 09/30/2013
$100,000Total
39
Coleraine Lab Standards
Minerals, Ferrous
To establish new laboratory standard samples for regulation of standardized procedures and calibration of equipment and
instrumentation.
Objective
Background
Previous Activity
Current Activity
The previous lab standard was collected and prepared in 1986, and is commonly referred to as the Coleraine 9-barrel
standard. Several barrels of fired pellets were collected from a local taconite plant and were screened to remove fines,
resulting in nine barrels of +1/4" pellets. These pellets have served as a lab standard for almost 25 years, and we are now
down to the last 5-gallon pail. Fired pellet standards are routinely run to ensure that equipment and procedures are reliable.
Two fired pellet and one iron ore concentrate standard were collected and prepared as follows: 1) acid pellet, 2) flux pellet,
and 3) acid
concentrate. The pellets were split and blended to ensure that each barrel collected was identical and that they were
representative of each other. Each barrel of pellets was then analyzed to ensure that the sample was reliable and uniform.
Fired pellets were tested using ASTM, ISO and lab standardized procedures to establish an acceptable statistical mean and
standard deviation. This was done for each pellet sample to establish both an acid and a flux pellet standard. Essentially the
same technique and procedure were used on the iron ore concentrate. It was split, blended, mixed and analyzed using a
standardized set of screens
to ensure that it was uniform and reliable. Fired pellet samples were collected, split and analyzed. Baseline data were
recorded, and data were analyzed for full determination of statistical mean and standard deviation. The ISO test furnaces
have been calibrated and the data reporting function has been modified to accommodate the new spreadsheet format for data
reports. The fired pellet sample for fluxed pellets was found to contain too much variability to be established as a lab
standard. An additional sample will be collected, blended, representatively split and tested. ISO furnace testing for the acid
pellet sample is in progress.
This project has been expanded to improve CMRL laboratory QA/QC procedures in the analytical lab, mineral processing,
and pyrometallurgy.
Chem Lab:
1. Develop on-line run charts for major analytical procedures
Mineral Processing:
1. Develop coarse fraction sieve standard
2. Re-establish a coherent sieve set for coarse and fine fractions that match to a master sieve set
3. Develop on-line run charts for Blaine
4. Monthly Gauss checks on Davis Tubes and Lab Mag drums
6. Bond mill and lib grind mill ball counts and weights
Pyrometallurgy:
1. Establish a standardized acid and fluxed pellet sample
2. Establish practices for measuring and recording coarse pellet screen sieve sizes
3. Monthly high/low fired pellet reducibility and low temperature disintegration
4. Monthly high/low fired pellet compression
5. Establish practices for measurement and documentation of ASTM and ISO tumble drum specifications
__________________________________________________________________________
163611/19/2010 06/30/2014Start Date: End Date: Project ID:
Principal Investigator(s)Richard Kiesel
AccountAmountProject Sponsor(s) Active 1750-10417-20090-10000182,000PUF Mineral Endowment 11/19/2010 06/30/2014
$82,000Total
40
Establishing a Direct Reduced Iron (DRI) Pilot Scale Shaft Simulator at CMRL for
Reduction of Iron Ore Pellets Using MIDREX & HYL Natural Gas Based Processes
Minerals, Ferrous
To (1) Cater to the needs of U.S. and other North American based pellet producers to assess the suitability of their pellets
for Direct Reduced Iron (DRI) production, (2) Provide technical support to companies interested in setting up natural gas
based DRI plants and in selection of the process and feed stock most suitable for their purpose, and (3) Use existing electric
melting furnace facilities at the University of Minnesota`s Coleraine Minerals Research Laboratory (CMRL) for smelting of
DRI products as a forward integration.
Objective
Background
Previous Activity
Current Activity
Electric Arc Furnace (EAF) steel making continues to expand worldwide because of its capital and operating cost
advantages, flexibility, relatively low carbon emission and environmental benefits. Currently, 65% of steel produced in the
U.S. is through the electric steelmaking route, and on a worldwide basis it has increased to 30%. With the long-term
availability of low cost natural gas, and hot charging of DRI, the economics of steelmaking have become very attractive. In
North America and elsewhere in the world, a number of projects with natural gas based DRI processes are either under
implementation or in the planning stages. The most important and established DRI production processes using the natural
gas reduction route are MIDREX & HYL.
This is a new project.
In February 2013, prior to establishing a DRI simulator, it was decided to carry out a Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA)
study simulating typical HYL/MIDREX gas compositions, reduction temperature, etc., to optimize these variables in respect
to the reduction rate and quality of DRI produced. Specific information would be obtained, such as off-gas composition,
volume, temperature, etc., which would prove helpful in setting up the DRI simulator and its peripherals. Tests were
conducted on Minnesota low-silica DRI grade pellets, which were produced in the Coleraine laboratory. For initial tests, a
sample of 25 pellets (65g) was used at reduction temperatures of 750, 850, and 950°C, using 10 l/min of a reducing gas at a
mixture of 70% H2 + 25% CO + 5% CO2. Realizing that the gas was being underutilized during reduction, tests were
conducted using 250g of pellets with a combination of various reducing gas compositions at the same flow rate of 10 l/min.
It was observed that the gas composition consisting of H2 65–70% + CO 20–25% would be optimum for reduction. Greater
than 95% metallization can be achieved at 950°C in a pellet, while metallization at 750°C is relatively poor (< 86%) and the
reduction is incomplete. Since this is an ongoing study, a further series of tests will be conducted using a larger sample of
1000g. Due to limited instrumentation facilities, measurement of off-gas volume and its composition water vapor generated
following reduction could not be measured properly. Arrangements are being made to upgrade these facilities.
__________________________________________________________________________
171902/05/2013 06/30/2014Start Date: End Date: Project ID:
__________________________________________________________________________
Principal Investigator(s)Richard Kiesel
Sarat Panigrahy
AccountAmountProject Sponsor(s) Active 1750-10417-20090-UMF00200,000PUF Mineral Endowment 06/01/2011 06/30/2014
$200,000Total
41
Investigate Ideas for Further Processing of Taconite Coarse Tailings at the Plant
Before Haulage and Stockpiling
Minerals, Ferrous
NRRI Duluth and Coleraine will work with each taconite facility to assess how and where coarse taconite tailings are
produced in the facility`s flow sheet, and to determine if simple physical methods can be used to efficiently, cost-effectively
recover one or more gradations from the process stream cost-effectively. Proposed work would include: 1) taconite plant
visit and flow sheet evaluation; 2) development of sample collection/recovery strategy; 3) collect sufficient sample for
physical, chemical, and mineralogical characterization; 4) suggest possible recovery methods; 5) estimate cost and benefit
of implementing recovery methods; 6) summarize results and produce a final report of investigation.
Objective
Background
Previous Activity
Current Activity
Based on its taconite aggregate investigations to date, the NRRI feels there is an excellent opportunity for generating value-
added products on a modest scale at taconite facilities that make use of the full gradation spectrum of taconite coarse
tailings. For example, plants that use spiral classifiers to separate fine and coarse tailings are already doing much of what a
commercial aggregate washing/screening plant does to recover aggregate products like sealcoat chips, which are a premium-
value aggregate product. Depending on the gradation, such products can sell for $15 to $20 per ton, FOB producer. Some
specialty friction products, when dried and bagged, can sell for considerably greater amounts, e.g., over $150 per ton.
Investigation showed that it would take considerable effort and cost to implement a system to recover size-bracketed coarse
tailings fractions at their point of generation, especially within taconite plants. An in-plant recovery system would be better
suited for designing into a new operation’s process flow-sheet prior to construction, rather than retrofitting an existing one;
space constraints and potential disruption of operations would pose challenges. Field sampling conducted by NRRI outside
of a taconite facility, however, suggests that selective recovery – e.g., at a tailings basin discharge point – might be a
simpler, more flexible, cost-effective alternative. This project also evaluated physical and mineralogical/microscopic
properties of the tailings.
Limited progress occurred in the first half of 2013 due to ongoing and competing project commitments. However, given
recent developments in the potential for use of coarse tailings for high friction surfacing (HFS) applications and growing
interest from external parties, additional friction aggregate testing and material characterization will be conducted in the
second half of 2013.
__________________________________________________________________________
161805/01/2010 06/30/2013Start Date: End Date: Project ID:
__________________________________________________________________________
Principal Investigator(s)Lawrence Zanko
Steven Hauck
AccountAmountProject Sponsor(s) Active 3005-10416-0001443922,800MN Department of Natural Resources 05/01/2010 06/30/2011
$22,800Total
42
Minnesota Mining Cluster - The Next Generation of Innovation - Product Development
Support
Minerals, Ferrous
NRRI to provide assistance with product development or improvement and processing design and efficiency to five
projects, averaging $20,000/investment, with project entrepreneur/small business providing in-kind and/or cash match to
expand the effort and to ensure that the entrepreneurs and small businesses are intimately involved in a hands on manner in
the initiative.
Objective
Background
Previous Activity
Current Activity
NRRI, together with its partners in the Minnesota Mining Cluster (MMC), will search out entrepreneurs and small business
suppliers/vendors and assist them with new product development, product improvement and processing efficiencies to help
them either start new businesses or expand existing businesses, with the goal of job creation and new investment within the
cluster. NRRI has found that prospective partners have unique needs.
The existing Product Development Fund (PDF) program procedures will be utilized for this piece of funding, and an
application has been developed to meet the parameters of the Economic Development Association portion of the funding.
Preliminary discussions are being held with internal NRRI Center for Applied Research and Technology principal
investigators to discuss potential projects.
A number of projects are ongoing during this reporting period. This includes:
1) Green Heat Corporation. The objective of the project is to validate and document the performance of a novel heat
exchanger attached to a cooking grill. A 6th generation prototype unit has been fabricated and is undergoing testing.
2) Yawkey Minerals Management. The focus of the project is to facilitate the qualification, certification, and acceptance of
Mesabi friction aggregate products and byproducts produced by Yawkey Minerals Management (YMM) for use in state,
regional, and national highway projects, and for use in other value-added applications. The project team has been work to
define specifications, develop relationships with customers and complete performance testing.
3) ME Electmetal. The objective of the project is to determine ways to recover high cost zircon sand from a mix of zircon
and low cost silica sand for reuse. An airtable separation process has shown preliminary success at capturing the high value
zircon sand materials. A test unit has been installed at ME Electmetal for further assessment.
4) KonCote Products. THe objective of the project is to develop a building products coating material using byproduct
tailings from the iron industry in northern Minnesota as a replacement for silica sands from Florida. This project would
create new markets for the MN fine aggregate material and result in new production capacity. Sample materials have been
fabricated and are undergoing assessment.
__________________________________________________________________________
168810/01/2011 09/30/2013Start Date: End Date: Project ID:
__________________________________________________________________________
Principal Investigator(s)Brian Brashaw
Steven Hauck
AccountAmountProject Sponsor(s) Active 3002-10416-0002824350,001US Dept of Commerce 10/01/2011 09/30/2013
1750-10416-20090-00028250,000PUF Mineral Endowment 10/01/2011 09/30/2013
$100,001Total
43
Paired Straight Hearth Furnace Simulation
Minerals, Ferrous
To design and construct a furnace with electrical heating, capable of achieving 1600 degrees C in each of two separate
zones to accommodate a deep bed of pellets (nominal 120 mm height) and produce Direct Reduced Iron (DRI) under
conditions prescribed by the American Iron & Steel Institute (AISI).
Objective
Background
Previous Activity
Current Activity
CMRL will conduct a study for the AISI Paired Straight Hearth (PSH) Furnace Project to evaluate and assess the quality of
Direct Reduced Iron (DRI) pellets achieved from deep bed roasting of green agglomerates in a specifically designed furnace
to simulate the PSH process. This program is required to understand the heat transfer and kinetic characteristics for
metallization in a tall bed for the design and construction of a pilot plant for the potential commercialization of PSH
technology. The proposal is submitted in two parts: 1) design and fabrication of the DRI furnace and 2) production and
quality assessment of deep bed produced DRI pellets. Objectives of these tests are to produce DRI pellets with
characteristics more closely related to the proposed commercial furnace and to evaluate pellet volume and quality as it
transitions the bed.
Furnace design was finalized in agreement with AISI and their associated industrial partners for testing the PSH Furnace
process. The initial phase of the deep bed Direct Reduced Iron (DRI) Pelletizing Study for American Iron and Steel Institute
(AISI) Paired Straight Hearth (PSH) Furnace project is complete. This includes 10 additional tests, with green balls
prepared with a bentonite binder. The final report for the initial test work is complete and under review.
This study has now been expanded to evaluate and assess the quality of Direct Reduced Iron (DRI) pellets achieved from
deep bed roasting of green agglomerates in the Linear Hearth Furnace (LHF). To simulate the PSH furnace process, CMRL
will modify the LHF refractories to accommodate the higher operating temperatures, (1500 oC). In addition, the furnace
exhaust duct will be relocated to zone 3 based on recommendation from AISI, to exhaust the furnace in a co-current flow.
The ceramic fiber refractory on the furnace car system will be modified to accommodate the deep bed of green pellets, and
the base of the sample cars will be lined with a single layer of dense, high alumina brick to simulate a castable or solid brick
refractory hearth. Hot cars will be charged with approximately 120mm depth of green balls. A series of three cars will be
fed with green feed components and cycled through the furnace at the target feed rate for each zone. The reduced pellets
produced will be analyzed for metallic iron (Feo), total iron (FeT), ferrous iron (Fe++), carbon (C) and sulfur (S)
incrementally, from the top down to the hearth to evaluate heat transfer to the bottom of the bed.
__________________________________________________________________________
164111/30/2010 12/31/2013Start Date: End Date: Project ID:
__________________________________________________________________________
Principal Investigator(s)Richard Kiesel
AccountAmountProject Sponsor(s) Active 3010-10417-00019327379,288American Iron and Steel Institute 11/30/2010 12/31/2013
$379,288Total
44
Pellet Induration Modeling - Revised Pellet Drying Model
Minerals, Ferrous
To develop an improved pellet drying model for incorporation into Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) pellet induration
furnaces. The current drying model that was developed under the ArcelorMittal Straight Grate program for Iron Ore
Cooperative Research has proven difficult to converge. Our goal is to develop a computationally stable drying model, and to
complete the CFD Straight Grate Modeling effort.
Objective
Background
Previous Activity
Current Activity
A CFD Straight Grate Model was developed by the investigators with Iron Ore Cooperative Research funds. This work was
sumamrized in a report issued to the industry in September 2011. However, the model exhibited erratic convergence at
times, requiring small time scales, leading to long solution times. This project will develop an alternative pellet drying
model based on the shrinking core concept. The shrinking core drying model is similar to the shrinking core model used for
magnetite oxidation. An initial drying rate assumes uniform evaporation until the moisture fraction drops to a critical value
determined from computer experiments validated with furnace experience. At the critical moisture content, the drying rate is
controlled through a combination of heat transfer to the pellet bed, and mass transfer resistance due to diffusion and
convection.
An alternative drying model was developed and tested, however, solution time and numerical stability were not improved. It
was concluded that small time scales are required to maintain numerical stability with respect to energy transfer associated
evaporation; 28 simulations were carried out evaluating model performance, production rate, up-draft drying tempering air,
and alternatives to improve drying zone evaporation. The model will provide a useful tool in simulation of straight grate
induration furnaces, and can be used to evaluate alternative furnace designs, green ball chemistry and process fan
performance. Future plans include validation of model performance with pot-grate tests.
The objective of this project was to evaluate the model over a range of operating conditions developed around three
secondary goals:
1.Up Draft Drying Fan Tempering Air Series – to define the relationship between tempering air and drying temperature.
2.Production Series – to evaluate model predictions over a production range spanning ± 10% deviation from the baseline.
3.Investigate alternatives with potential to increase productivity, such as ways to increase evaporation in drying zones of the
furnace.
The alternatives evaluated included:
1.Decreased Down Draft Dry Cross-Over Flow
2.Recoup Bleed Stream to Increase Down Draft Dry Temperature
These simulations demonstrated that a recoup bleed stream could be used to increase the DDD process air temperature by
50 – 100 F. However, the recoup bleed scenarios were only, marginally successful at increasing evaporation rate.
__________________________________________________________________________
168107/01/2012 06/30/2013Start Date: End Date: Project ID:
__________________________________________________________________________
Principal Investigator(s)Dave Englund
Richard Davis
Richard Kiesel
AccountAmountProject Sponsor(s) Active 1750-10417-20090-10000176,527PUTF Mineral Endowment 07/01/2012 06/30/2014
$76,527Total
45
Recovery of Iron Values from Lean Ore Stockpiles from Past Mining Activities in the
MMC, Minnesota Mining Cluster - The Next Generation of Innovation
Minerals, Ferrous
To conduct research regarding recovery of iron values from lean ore stockpiles remaining from past mining activities in the
Minnesota Mining Cluster (MMC) area.
Objective
Background
Previous Activity
Current Activity
MMC has been producing iron ore for over 100 years. Over this period, piles of “lean ore”
containing from 27% to 50% iron have been generated and stockpiled across the TAA (Taconite Assistance Area). The
Minnesota DNR has tracked the generation of these stockpiles and tonnages on public lands that will soon be made
available. In addition, significant volumes of material are also held by private interests across the TAA. This represents an
enormous underutilized iron resource that has great value under current iron ore market conditions. Potential world-wide
markets exist for this upgraded material, and the processor network existing within the MMC could be utilized to recover
this iron and market the products once the technology is fully proven.
From the time period January 1 through June 30, 2012, the Coleraine Minerals Research Laboratory (CMRL) worked with a
sonic-drilling method contractor to obtain drillcore samples from a lean ore stockpile located north and west of Nashwauk,
MN. In March 2012, the drilling contractor collected drillcore samples from four different drillholes spaced throughout the
lean ore stockpile. The total depth drilled was 270 feet. During April and May 2012, core samples from the four drillholes
were characterized by visual and chemical analysis methods. In June 2012, characterization work continued on the
individual core interval samples from drillholes 3 and 4. Each core interval sample was dried and then split in half. A
sample of the minus 6-mesh from each core interval was submitted to the CMRL Chem Lab for Total Iron (Fe) analysis.
Additional work in June 2012 was performed with the 10- to 22.5-ft core interval from drillhole 3. The minus 6-mesh
sample from this core interval was used to establish operator settings for the bench scale Eriez High Intensity Magnetic
Separtor (HIMS) and for the Carpco HIMS for future core sample tests.
Besides conducting drill core sampling on lean ore stockpile reserves on the western Mesabi Iron Range, a drilling
contractor drilled a 10 million ton University owned lean iron ore stockpile on the eastern Mesabi Iron Range on the
previous LTV Steel Mining Company site in Hoyt Lakes, MN; minus 200 Mesh Davis tube tests were run on these samples,
which produced a concentrate having 56.1% Tot. Iron and silica of 15.02% SiO2. Larger samples of this ore were then
ground to 80% minus 325 Mesh and passed over 2 stages of low intensity magnetic separation (LIMS) to prepare a larger
concentrate sample. Flotation work was then completed on this magnetic separator concentrate to prepare a flotation
concentrate with lower silica. Silica concentration of this flotation concentrate was 7.86% SiO2. Further test work is
planned to lower the silica level in this flotation concentrate.
__________________________________________________________________________
168410/01/2011 09/30/2013Start Date: End Date: Project ID:
__________________________________________________________________________
Principal Investigator(s)David Hendrickson
Paul Mack
AccountAmountProject Sponsor(s) Active 3002-10417-00028241124,999US Dept of Commerce 10/01/2011 09/30/2013
1750-10417-20090-000282125,000PUF Mineral Endowment 10/01/2011 09/30/2013
$249,999Total
46
RGGS Core Metamorphism Biwabik Iron Formation
Minerals, Ferrous
To document the detailed stratigraphy of the Biwabik Iron Formation (BIF) with regard to bedding type changes in the
various iron-formation submembers, and to document the effects of metamorphism by the Duluth Complex in order to
spatially establish more up-to-date lines that separate specific metamorphic zones.
Objective
Background
Previous Activity
Current Activity
There are very few publically-available drill cores of the Biwabik Iron Formation (BIF) from the eastern Mesabi Iron
Range. While this area has been extensively drilled by the mining companies, there are only four holes that are available to
the public. However, the core from 68 drill holes (over 20,000 feet of core drilled by United States Steel Corp.) from this
same area has recently been obtained from the RGGS Land Company in Virginia, MN. This core will be used to conduct a
detailed stratigraphic study of the BIF, as well as a study of the metamorphic effects to the BIF by the nearby Duluth
Complex.
Ten drill holes were logged. Correlation of various iron-formation submembers has been completed. Preliminary work has
established several criteria by which each of the submembers can be recognized in future core logging endeavors. A
progress report detailing these criteria has been submitted by Severson and is currently in editorial review. Major
differences in the iron-formation stratigraphy in the eastern Mesabi Iron Range include: 1. Lower Cherty member shows a
drastic thinning in an easterly direction across Siphon Fault; 2. the top of the Lower Slaty is picked with some difficulty due
to the presence of a submember called the “Mesabi Select Equivalent” unit, which may have good road aggregate potential;
and 3. several submembers associated with the Upper Cherty are better defined as a result of this investigation. In regard to
metamorphism of the iron-formation, this study has confirmed previously-established boundaries of various metamorphic
zones (Zones 1 through 4 as defined by French, 1962, and Morey et al., 1972). However, there appear to be subhorizontal
zones within Zone #4 wherein specific submembers of the iron-formation have undergone higher degrees of metamorphism
than immediately adjacent submembers.
A progress report was released in January, which is summarized aptly in the Previous Activity section by Mark Severson,
who is currently on a leave of absence. Work on the drill core, mineralogy, and petrology will be continued by John Heine
and Marsha Meinders-Patelke as time permits.
__________________________________________________________________________
166912/22/2010 12/31/2013Start Date: End Date: Project ID:
__________________________________________________________________________
Principal Investigator(s)Mark Severson
Steven Hauck
AccountAmountProject Sponsor(s) Active 1750-10416-20090-10000175,000PUF Mineral Endowment 12/22/2010 06/30/2014
$75,000Total
47
Systematic Survey & Characterization of Amphibole
Minerals, Ferrous
The objective of this project is to physically, mineralogically, and chemically characterize amphibole and phyllosilicate
minerals that may become airborne particulates during processing of potential Duluth Complex ores and associated waste
rocks. This will be accomplished by scientific evaluations utilizing a wide variety of techniques including petrography,
scanning electron microscopy, and transmission electron microscopy.
Objective
Background
Previous Activity
Current Activity
Ongoing and potential future activities involving mining Duluth Complex ore and associated waste rocks requires a need to
identify and characterize elongate particles of silicate minerals that may become airborne as fine particulates. Exposure to
elongate mineral particles of phyllosilicate and inosilicates (in particular, asbestiform amphiboles) have been historically
linked to lung disease. Late stage deuteric alteration of the mafic minerals (for example, pyroxene and olivine) of the Duluth
Complex has produced hydrous secondary amphibole and phyllosilicate minerals in the rock. At the present time, the
detailed mineralogy, mineral chemistry, and mineral morphologies of these minerals are not well defined.
Elutriation results have been received. MLA analyses continue to be evaluated. Databases have been and continue to be
updated with newly obtained data. Report writing has commenced.
Data compilation, evaluation, and interpretation continues.
__________________________________________________________________________
161302/19/2010 06/30/2013Start Date: End Date: Project ID:
__________________________________________________________________________
Principal Investigator(s)Mark Severson
Steven Hauck
Stephen Monson Geerts
George Hudak
AccountAmountProject Sponsor(s) Active 3005-10416-00014315102,000MN Department of Natural Resources 02/19/2010 06/30/2011
$102,000Total
48
Upgrading Iron from Lean Ore Stockpiles and Tailings Basins on the Mesabi Iron
Range and Producing Value-Added Iron Products
Minerals, Ferrous
To evaluate the low-grade stockpiled hematite ore and hematite tailings available from past mining operations on the
Mesabi Iron Range, and to ascertain the ability to upgrade the iron in the ore and tailings for production of value-added iron
products from these materials.
Objective
Background
Previous Activity
Current Activity
Millions of tons of hematite low-grade ore stockpiles and coarse tailing material containing 35-40% iron are available from
iron ore plants that operated in past decades on the Mesabi Iron Range. Since these ores and tailings are already crushed and
ground to a size which can be used directly in mineral processing concentrator flowsheets, operating costs are minimal to
turn these low-grade materials into value-added hematite concentrates containing 65-66% iron and 4-5% silica. Flowsheets
need to be developed to attract corporate operators to build low-cost concentrating facilities in northeastern Minnesota to
recover these valuable iron resources.
In order to evaluate iron upgrading techniques, representative lean ore stockpile samples were taken by drilling the piles
using sonic drilling techniques. Major Drilling, a Minnesota-based drilling company, was commissioned to drill lean ore
stockpiles from a western Mesabi Iron Range location near Nashwauk, MN, and an eastern Mesabi Iron Range location near
Hoyt Lakes, MN. Drill core samples from these two locations were brought back to the Coleraine Minerals Research
Laboratory for analysis. The two Iron Range locations provide quite different ore types. The western location contained
primarily hematite ore with a smaller portion of magnetite, while the eastern location contained primarily magnetite ore.
Samples containing hematite ore are being evaluated using wet and dry high intensity magnetic separation, flotation, and
magnetic roasting techniques to upgrade the iron content. Samples containing magnetite are being evaluated using low
intensity magnetic separation and flotation to upgrade the iron content.
Drill core samples recovered through the use of ultrasonic drilling on a Western Iron Range iron ore stockpile located near
Nashwauk, MN, were analyzed as containing primarily hematite with a small amount of magnetite. A concentrator flow
sheet was thus designed by CMRL staff to upgrade this iron ore, which first utilized wet low intensity magnetic separation
(LIMS) to remove the magnetite component of the ore followed by wet high intensity magnetic separation (WHIMS) of the
LIMS tailings to recover hematite iron units to give the circuit high iron recovery. This type of concentrator flow circuit is
currently being evaluated by several Minnesota taconite operations to recover hematite iron units currently being lost to
tailings in their low intensity magnetic separator circuits.
__________________________________________________________________________
163802/19/2011 06/30/2014Start Date: End Date: Project ID:
__________________________________________________________________________
Principal Investigator(s)David Hendrickson
Paul Mack
AccountAmountProject Sponsor(s) Active 1750-10417-20090-100001125,000PUF Mineral Endowment 02/19/2011 06/30/2014
$125,000Total
49
Utility of Taconite Materials as Road Patch for Highway Construction
Minerals, Ferrous
To confirm the utility of using inorganically bound taconite aggregate and concentrate as highway road patching and
construction materials.
Objective
Background
Previous Activity
Current Activity
Preliminary test work using a proprietary binder formulation has demonstrated the utility of using taconite mining products
as a highway patching material. Actual field demonstrations show that the material, if properly formulated, can act as a semi-
permanent patch.
The modified formulation developed by NRRI in the first half of 2012 was adopted by TCC Materials, and was produced by
TCC in pallet-load quantities for more detailed field evaluations by potential customers. This new formulation was tested
during a late October field trial in Duluth, done in conjunction with a new MnDOT-supported project. Further formula
modification is planned for 2013.
No new work was performed in the first half of 2013. The modified formulation developed by NRRI in 2012 continued to
be evaluated by TCC Materials in 2013. It was also used in a March 1, 2013, field installation for the new MnDOT project.
__________________________________________________________________________
139207/01/1999 04/30/2014Start Date: End Date: Project ID:
__________________________________________________________________________
Principal Investigator(s)Lawrence Zanko
Steven Hauck
Donald Fosnacht
AccountAmountProject Sponsor(s) Active 1896-783-1216-0050,000PUF Mineral Endowment 02/09/2005 06/30/2014
1831-187-2680-0010,000Minnesota Power 02/08/2005 06/30/2014
$60,000Total
50
By-Product Aggregate, Minnesota Mining Cluster - The Next Generation of Innovation
Minerals, Industrial
To focus on implementation projects that introduce aggregate materials to targeted markets in project-sized quantities, value-
added commercialization opportunities, and promising avenues of taconite-based applied research. Program includes: •
Accelerated aggregate material qualification/certification program; • Development & deployment of mix and pavement
designs using high quality taconite aggregate materials in their upper wear courses; • Production of value-added products
from coarse taconite tailings, such as high friction bridge deck and airport runway surfacing aggregates; • Further
development and implementation of innovative concepts, products and technologies such as: pothole/paving compounds and
pursuing microwave-based technologies for all-season pothole and pavement repair; energy-absorbing materials for possible
defense applications; UV, solar, and geothermal heating and energy storage. This project area is highly dependent on private
sector and public sector interactions, negotiations, and timetables. Collaboration with private and public sectors at local,
state, and national levels will be a key for implementing these activities and leveraging project resources.
Objective
Background
Previous Activity
Current Activity
Construction materials and value-added aggregate by-products from mining have potential for economic development and
immediate job creation in Northeastern MN. Expanding the use of these byproduct materials is one leg of a three-legged
strategy for long-term economic stability and competitiveness of iron ore mining and steel-making industries. This strategy
also contributes to sustainability in that it maximizes resource utilization while contributing to reduced energy consumption.
Cement manufacturing lab testing showed taconite tailings would work as raw material replacement for cement makers on
the Great Lakes. Discussions continue regarding next steps and potential scale-up of testing. Frac sand potential preliminary
testing has been performed. In other product development, interest was shown in two different value-added products that
require silica. 2nd Half 2012 Highlights: 1)Friction aggregate plant operational 2)Continued interest in cement making
3)Texas interest in aggregate 4)Repair technology field testing 5)Potential paving project locations ID'd 6)Product
development
1st Half 2013 Highlights:
1)Friction aggregate plant operational. Material certification testing underway for potential 2013 projects. 2)Interest in the
use of by-products for cement making continued. Working to coordinate a back-haul to allow for a bulk test shipment. 3)TX
interest in Mesabi aggregate was discussed with a northern MN producer. 4)Repair technology (microwave and rapid repair)
field testing continued in March of 2013. 5)Paving project identified in NW MN. Use of Mesabi aggregate for a small
project planned for July.
__________________________________________________________________________
167410/01/2011 09/30/2013Start Date: End Date: Project ID:
__________________________________________________________________________
Principal Investigator(s)Lawrence Zanko
Steven Hauck
AccountAmountProject Sponsor(s) Active 3002-10416-00025751150,000US Dept of Commerce 10/01/2011 09/30/2013
$150,000Total
51
Comparative Performance Study of Chip Seal & Bonded Wear Course Systems Applied
to Bridge Decks and Approaches
Minerals, Industrial
To provide a comparative evaluation of the performance of several polymeric chip seal (PCS) and ultra-thin bonded wear
courses (UTBWC) applied to bridge decks, including sealing and corrosion protection attributes afforded to the deck, as
well as improved safety due to increased friction and retention of deicing chemicals as provided by the overlayer. Yearly
reports and a final report summarizing this comparative evaluation will be the products of this work.
Objective
Background
Previous Activity
Current Activity
Recent development and commercialization of various polymeric chip seal and ultra-thin bonded wear courses poses several
key questions with respect to the widespread application of these to bridge deck surfaces. Choices must be made among
those available in the absence of data allowing for sound comparative assessment. Primary concerns focus on the following
performance characteristics: 1) Materials quality and performance quality of materials in a given system, including both the
sealing material (e.g. polymer in a PCS system) and the aggregate component; 2) Skid resistance afforded by the overlay
system, evaluated by friction measurement over the first few years of service life; 3) Improved safety provided by higher
friction as manifested in accident reduction at the application sites; 4) Effectiveness of the sealing component to reduce or
eliminate chloride ingress into the deck as a consequence of the use of deicing chemicals; 5) Examination of issues relating
to moisture trapping at the seal coat/concrete interface which may cause premature degradation of the concrete, and; 6)
Cost/Benefit considerations as related to the above.
Project aggregate samples were provided to Prof. Dave in August. A late September meeting took place at MnDOT's
Maplewood laboratory, for project discussions and to observe demonstration of a dynamic friction tester available to UMD.
Plans were developed to conduct aggregate friction testing at the National Center for Asphalt Technology (NCAT) at
Auburn University, AL, to take place in 2013. Aggregate characterization work is also planned for 2013.
Aggregate testing and MnDOT skid testing results were reviewed with Prof. Eshan Dave. The results for taconite friction
aggregate look favorable. Additional samples will be submitted for aggregate testing and characterization in the second half
of 2013.
__________________________________________________________________________
161607/08/2010 06/30/2013Start Date: End Date: Project ID:
__________________________________________________________________________
Principal Investigator(s)Lawrence Zanko
Steven Hauck
AccountAmountProject Sponsor(s) Active 3005-10416-0001998431,790MN Department of Transportation 07/08/2010 08/31/2014
$31,790Total
52
Evaluate and Develop Innovative Pavement Repair and Patch
Minerals, Industrial
The project represents one part of a broader effort by MnDOT to evaluate current practices, materials, and policies for
pavement patching and repair, for both asphalt and concrete pavements, including evaluation of pothole patching practices,
basic pavement maintenance, utility repair methods, and rapid repair materials. The Natural Resources Research Institute
(NRRI) is focusing on two alternative approaches (both taconite-related). The first approach is a prototype
pavement/pothole repair compound formulation developed by NRRI that is fast-setting, taconite-based, and contains no
petroleum or portland cement. The second approach involves the use of a vehicle-based microwave heating system for in-
place pothole/pavement repair/recycling, a system for which taconite materials can enhance microwave heating efficiency.
Objective
Background
Previous Activity
Current Activity
The project represents one part of a broader effort by MnDOT to evaluate current practices, materials, and policies for
pavement patching and repair, for both asphalt and concrete pavements, including evaluation of pothole patching practices,
basic pavement maintenance, utility repair methods, and rapid repair materials. In support of this effort – and with the
support and cooperation of MnDOT and MnDOT District 1 – NRRI is conducting additional refinement, field testing, and
performance monitoring of two taconite-related approaches to pavement repair which rely on mixes/techniques that contain
(or are enhanced by) taconite mining byproducts and co-products.
None to report. This is a new project.
Project Tasks 1 and 2 have been completed. Task 1 activities included the following: Updated and expanded literature
review; material acquisition; formula/equipment optimization/laboratory testing; preliminary field testing. Task 2 entailed
continued formula/equipment optimization and laboratory testing; field- and demonstration-ready deployment testing;
comparative testing of multiple repair materials and methods/heating products, including microwave versus Heat Wurx; data
compilation and analysis; post-repair performance monitoring; and presentation (including materials) at one or more venues
such as the TERRA Pavement Conference and/or maintenance expo(s). Task 2 – more so than Task 1 – focused on the field
demonstrations that took place in the fall of 2012 and March of 2013, particularly as it related to follow-up performance
monitoring and comparison/documentation of repair materials and methods/equipment.
__________________________________________________________________________
171308/09/2012 07/31/2014Start Date: End Date: Project ID:
__________________________________________________________________________
Principal Investigator(s)Lawrence Zanko
Steven Hauck
AccountAmountProject Sponsor(s) Active 3005-10416-0003208240,000MN Department of Transportation 08/09/2012 07/31/2014
$40,000Total
53
Geological Resources of Ox Tac Ore in the Vicinity of the Canisteo, Hunner, King,
Jennison, Buckeye, Jessie 1 and 2, and West Hill Mines: A Continuing Evaluation of
Ox Tac Resources in Itasca County
Minerals, Industrial
To: (1) produce a geological resource estimate of the oxidized taconite ore in the area of the Canisteo, Danube, Morrison,
Walker, Fletcher, Hunner, King, Jennison, and Buckeye mines (Sections 25, 36, R25W, T56N and Sections 20, 29, 30, 31,
R24W, T56N) in Itasca County, and (2) make the data available in a Geographical Information System (GIS) format that
can be used by industry, Itasca County, the State of Minnesota, and local towns and townships for use in future land-use
planning.
Objective
Background
Previous Activity
Current Activity
A current Permanent University Trust Fund (PUTF) project is compiling data on the Judd, Sally, Plummer, Holman-Cliffs,
Homestead, Diamond, and Arcturus mine areas located northeast of this proposed study area. Approximately 20 to 30 years
ago, there was a great deal of activity aimed at determining the occurrence and quantity of oxidized taconite in both
Minnesota and Michigan, as well as evaluating alternative schemes for its exploitation. Currently, there is no mining on the
western end of the Mesabi Iron Range in Itasca County, but there has been and are many other uses, i.e., boating, water
resource management, other construction, that will directly affect the availability of these oxidized ores in the future. These
oxidized taconite, or non-magnetic ore reserves, could become economically beneficial in the future with new mineral
processing and mining techniques and with lower stripping and blasting costs. The study will provide these data in a GIS
format to local, county, and state agencies that are involved with land-use issues and will allow them to become more aware
of the mining potential of the area. Thus, it is hoped that these various entities will use the data to make informed land-use
decisions for the western Mesabi Iron Range.
No work was done on this project due to commitments to complete other projects.
No work was done on this project due to commitments to complete other projects.
__________________________________________________________________________
96207/01/2000 06/30/2013Start Date: End Date: Project ID:
__________________________________________________________________________
Principal Investigator(s)Steven Hauck
AccountAmountProject Sponsor(s) Active 1896-783-1045-0060,000PUF Mineral Endowment 07/01/2000 06/30/2012
$60,000Total
54
Modification of the NRRI Pellet Fines Removal System to Provide More Durable Wear
Parts to Improve the Physical Availability of the Unit to Minnesota Taconite Operations
Minerals, Industrial
To provide improved wear parts for the NRRI pellet fines removal system (FRS) to allow the belt to be operated at feed
rates of 300-350 tons per hour, 24 hrs per day, to remove pellet fines and chips without needing to replace chevron lifter
bars on the belt surface for at least 3-month intervals.
Objective
Background
Previous Activity
Current Activity
An NRRI pellet fines removal system was previously developed at CMRL, which efficiently removed taconite pellet fines
and pellet chips without using vibrating screen components. The pilot scale apparatus was scaled up into a full-scale
operating unit, which was mounted on a trailer that could be transported to Minnesota taconite operations or blast furnace
steel plant operations for full-scale testing. Tests were initially run at a Minnesota taconite operation, and results showed
excellent separation of pellet fines and chips from whole pellets. Chevron-shaped rubber lifters fastened to the flat belt
surface were key to the separation process. However, they exhibited excessive abrasive wear, requiring replacement after
every 25,000 tons of pellet processing. Tests were run on a variety of high wear resistant materials, which showed that
chevrons made of AR400 steel gave the least abrasive wear from the pellets. This is a continuation of previous work
reported under Project Tracking #1309, PUTF Fines Removal System.
A number of modifications have been completed on the NRRI Pellet Fines Removal System. Wear resistant AR400 steel
chevrons have been installed across the entire width and length of the 4-foot wide by 26-foot long Flexowall conveyor. Four
urethane-coated belt-carrying wheels have also been installed to support the return belt under the system. A cylindrical
rubber chute has been installed at the top of the conveyor to contain the fines being removed from the pellets and to deliver
them to the ground. Additionally, a small conveyor belt is being installed under the belt to carry away fines discharged off
the return belt. The NRRI FRS will be tested at a Minnesota taconite operation to evaluate design modifications at a pellet
feed rate of 350 tons per hour in the fall of 2012.
The newly modified NRRI fines removal system was tested at a Minnesota taconite operation for two days, operating 8
hours per day, to evaluate the system. Test results indicated that the modified system having the AR400 chevrons produced
only a screened pellet quality of 98.4% A.T. at a pellet feed rate of 246tph on the first day and only a screened pellet quality
of 96.1% A.T. at a pellet feed rate of 218 tph on the second day. These results are not sufficient to classify this technology
as a replacement for vibrating screen technology used to produce pellet screening of at least 99.5% A.T. at feed rates of 350
tph. Further analysis is being conducted to see if the NRRI FRS is capable of further modifications to produce the required
product quality at the required feed rates.
__________________________________________________________________________
163308/25/2010 06/30/2013Start Date: End Date: Project ID:
__________________________________________________________________________
Principal Investigator(s)David Hendrickson
Richard Kiesel
AccountAmountProject Sponsor(s) Active 1750-10417-20090-10000152,335PUF Mineral Endowment 08/25/2010 06/30/2013
$52,335Total
55
Product Development Project for KonCote Products
Minerals, Industrial
The objective of this project is to develop a durable, environmentally friendly, and high recycled-content KonCote Regular
Mix product (an alternative to traditional stucco coatings) utilizing Minnesota-sourced taconite tailings to replace Florida-
sourced silica sand.
Objective
Background
Previous Activity
Current Activity
The overall goal of this project is to develop a durable, environmentally friendly, and high recycled-content KonCote
Regular Mix product utilizing Minnesota-sourced taconite tailings to replace Florida-sourced silica sand. This new product
would be manufactured in Minnesota (currently, this product is manufactured in Florida). Compared with the production of
current KonCote Regular Mix, the new product should have lower cost, will have lower environmental impacts, and will
offer greater profits to KonCote Products, Inc. The project goal will be met with the following objectives:
1. Prepare new KonCote Regular Mix samples by combining Portland cement and selected Minnesota-sourced taconite
tailing gradations and mass loadings.
2. Prepare KonCote mixtures and demonstrate bonding characteristics by applying to several horizontal and vertical
substrates.
3. Test the physical and mechanical performance of the new KonCote mixtures. Performance tests may include, but are not
limited to, set time, adhesion strength, compressive strength, flexural strength, water absorption, and abrasion. The
performance of the new KonCote mixtures will be compared to the current KonCote mixtures (utilizing Florida silica sand).
4. Test the ability of the new KonCote mixtures to accept liquid pigment and dry oxide colorants.
5. Identify potential manufacturing strategies for producing the new product(s) in northern Minnesota.
6. Prepare a final report.
This is a new project. No previous activity to report.
The particle size gradation of the silica sand currently in the KonCote Dry Mix product was determined by conducting a
thorough sieve analysis.
Then, several samples of taconite tailings were collected from NRRI's Coleraine Minerals Research Laboratory. The
samples were sieved to several size gradations to approximately match the gradations found in the KonCote Dry Mix silica
sand.
It was also discovered that "river rock" (coarser rock material) is gaining more market share as a surfacing aggregate (when
bonded with epoxy). Thus, it was decided to expand the current project to assess opportunities for using coarse taconite
tailings as a river rock substitute in epoxy-bonded surfacing products.
__________________________________________________________________________
171505/01/2013 09/30/2013Start Date: End Date: Project ID:
Principal Investigator(s)Matthew Aro
AccountAmountProject Sponsor(s) Active 3002-10416-000380689,469US Dept of Commerce 05/01/2013 09/30/2013
1750-10416-20090-0003809,472PUF Mineral Endowment 05/01/2013 09/30/2013
$18,941Total
56
Copper-Nickel-PGE Mineralization Potential of the Cloquet Lake Intrusion in Northeast
Minnesota
Minerals, Non-Ferrous
To conduct a first pass reconnaissance sampling campaign to evaluate potential of the Cloquet Lake Intrusion to host basal
Cu-Ni-PGE deposits and/or stratiform PGE reef deposits related to a sulfide saturation event.
Objective
Background
Previous Activity
Current Activity
The Cloquet Lake Intrusion, comprising part of the Beaver Bay Complex, represents one of the largest Keweenawan-age
intrusions in northeast Minnesota. It is 2-3 times larger than either the Partridge River or South Kawishiwi intrusions, which
contain several Cu-Ni-PGE deposits. However, exploration for base and precious metals in Cloquet Lake Intrusion has been
limited to three drill holes. All three intersected massive sulfide at the basal contact, but PGE, Cu, and Ni values were
generally low; further exploration efforts were discontinued. Despite the lack of encouraging results, Cloquet Lake Intrusion
should still be explored for the following reasons: (1) it is situated near a buried crustal ridge of older country rock that may
have served as a local sulfur source for basal disseminated Cu-Ni-PGE sulfide deposits; (2) massive sulfide in the 3 holes
may be related to proximity to a vent wherein additional massive sulfide with higher Cu-Ni-PGE values (related to
fractional crystallization) may be present and could be located more distally to the vent; and (3) the layered nature of this
intrusion suggests that it may be possible that one or more stratiform PGE reefs (associated with low sulfide content) lies
hidden in upper portions of the intrusion. This project would be aimed at collecting more samples of weak to moderately-
mineralized rock in order to gain better appreciation of the mineralized potential of Cloquet Lake Intrusion.
All polished thin sections (28) collected from Cloquet Lake intrusion have been described in detail. This review indicates
that the vast majority of the rocks are either poikilitic olivine gabbro, ophitic gabbro, and gabbro with lesser amounts of
diorite. Overall lack of troctolitic rocks in Cloquet Lake intrusion is anomalous with respect to the nearby Partridge River
and South Kawishiwi intrusions, known to host several Cu-Ni deposits.
The presence of dominantly gabbroic rocks suggests that a sulfide-poor, PGE-enriched reef (similar to a PGE-enriched reef
in adjacent Sonju Lake intrusion) may occur higher in the stratigraphy of the intrusion. Overall, economic potential of
Cloquet Lake intrusion remains low, based mainly on limited rock outcrops found and sampled in lower portions of the
intrusion.Data suggest that any Cu-Ni-PGE targets within the interior of the intrusion will be based solely on either
geophysical criteria or on glacial till sampling results. No further work has been done on this project as the PI Mark
Severson is on a leave of absence.
__________________________________________________________________________
135809/01/2004 06/30/2013Start Date: End Date: Project ID:
__________________________________________________________________________
Principal Investigator(s)Mark Severson
Steven Hauck
AccountAmountProject Sponsor(s) Active 1896-783-1082-0015,000PUF Mineral Endowment 09/01/2004 06/30/2012
$15,000Total
57
Evaluation of Tailings Generated by CU-NI Ore Processing
Minerals, Non-Ferrous
To provide baseline data by characterizing Duluth Complex Cu-Ni ore tailings and assessing potential for additional mineral
recovery or value-added beneficial uses. Following physical, chemical, and mineralogical tests, potential end-use options
will be identified and prioritized for further bench/pilot scale testing. Short-term goals: thoroughly characterize the tailings,
determine viability of extracting additional value from them, e.g., oxide fraction, and identify realistic end uses. Long-term
goals: provide emerging non-ferrous mining industry and/or entrepreneurs with practical alternatives that are
environmentally sound to pursue, technologically simple to implement, and economically beneficial to practice.
Objective
Background
Previous Activity
Current Activity
Cu-Ni ore from Duluth Complex will generate more than 30 tons of tailings per ton of bulk sulfide concentrate produced.
This project will provide baseline data by characterizing Duluth Complex Cu-Ni ore tailings and assessing potential for
additional mineral recovery and value-added benefits. Following physical, chemical, and mineralogical tests, potential end-
use options will be identified and prioritized for further bench or pilot scale evaluation. Short-term goals: thoroughly
characterize tailings, determine viability of extracting additional value from them, e.g., the oxide fraction, and identify
realistic end uses. Long-term goals: provide emerging non-ferrous mining industry and/or entrepreneurs with practical
alternatives that are environmentally sound to pursue, technologically simple to implement, and economically beneficial to
practice. Short-term and long-term benefits to the State of Minnesota include reducing tailings disposal impacts, maximizing
resource use, and generating additional revenue streams.
Summaries of wet hi-intensity magnetic separation (WHIMS) and mineralogical analyses follow: WHIMS showed
separation is not sufficient to recommend WHIMS as a method to concentrate olivine from copper-nickel flotation tailings.
Six samples of Duluth Complex tailings were examined and have similar bulk mineralogy, consisting of plagioclase
feldspar, olivine, pyroxene and sheet silicates. Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) showed additional oxide and sulfide
mineral phases. Final report is in preparation.
None to report. Current and competing project commitments again delayed completion of the final report. However, some
additional project work may be pursued in the second half of 2013.
__________________________________________________________________________
157709/25/2009 06/30/2013Start Date: End Date: Project ID:
__________________________________________________________________________
Principal Investigator(s)Lawrence Zanko
Steven Hauck
AccountAmountProject Sponsor(s) Active 3005-10416-0001439515,000MN Department of Natural Resources 07/08/2010 06/30/2011
1750-10416-20090-10000015,000PUF Mineral Endowment 09/25/2009 06/30/2014
$30,000Total
58
Further Evaluation of Diamond Base Metal and Precious Mineral Potential of
Minnesota Using Various Glacial Till Sampling and Analytical Methods
Minerals, Non-Ferrous
To: (1) compile all pertinent Minnesota geological and geophysical information that are relevant to the formation of
diamond pipes; (2) conduct additional processing and mineral analyses on some of the 120 previously collected glacial till
samples from the Vermilion District for mineral potential; and (3) conduct a down-ice glacial till demonstration study in the
International Falls area using the methods of Larson and other recognized glacial till sampling methodologies for identifying
kimberlite and base and precious mineral indicator minerals.
Objective
Background
Previous Activity
Current Activity
In Canada, sampling glacial till has been successfully used to locate diamond pipes and base metal mineralization. Very
limited similar surveys have been conducted in Minnesota, but there has not been a systematic glacial till sampling survey
conducted in northern Minnesota.
To date, the data indicate a large diffuse train of total gold grains strongest in northern and central Minnesota, decreasing to
the south. When viewed in conjunction with the pristine and modified gold data, both of which are associated with materials
closer to the origin of the gold, we see a more defined pattern in north-central and east-central Minnesota. Silver has a
pattern similar to the total gold grains, which makes it difficult to use these indicators for locating source areas. Both
pristine and modified gold grains seem to be more useful for that purpose. The 63-micron fraction geochemistry has a
number of anomalies, which are associated with known mineral occurrences. Copper, nickel, palladium, and, to a lesser
extent cobalt, chromium and gallium, anomalies are associated with areas of known Volcanogenic Massive Sulfide (VMS)
and Duluth Complex mineralization. Zinc shows a stronger affinity for the VMS terranes, while titanium is more closely
associated with the Duluth Complex. There is a moderate manganese anomaly associated with the manganese occurrences in
the Emily District of the Cuyuna Range. Work is progressing on the final report.
No further work has been done on this project due to work on other projects.
__________________________________________________________________________
143808/10/2006 06/30/2013Start Date: End Date: Project ID:
__________________________________________________________________________
Principal Investigator(s)John Heine
Steven Hauck
AccountAmountProject Sponsor(s) Active 1663-187-6586-0074,700MN Department of Natural Resources 08/10/2006 06/30/2008
1896-783-1223-0095,000PUF Mineral Endowment 07/16/2006 06/30/2010
$169,700Total
59
Non-Ferrous Hydromet, Minnesota Mining Cluster - The Next Generation of Innovation
Minerals, Non-Ferrous
To recover non-ferrous and precious metal resources from Minnesota Mining Cluster (MMC) mineral deposits using
hydrometallurgical processing methods, which avoid the use of high cost autoclave reactor vessels. The conditions for high
recovery of metals will be established, and the costs for implementation will be estimated based on the data produced.
Objective
Background
Previous Activity
Current Activity
Base and precious metal ore mineral deposits in Minnesota require beneficiation to produce a concentrate for further
refinement into metals. This project will explore mineral processing routes to make these concentrates, and alternative
hydrometallurgical routes for refinement of the concentrates into metals. Conditions for atmospheric pressure oxidation and
leaching will be explored, along with conditions for copper solvent extraction, precious metals leaching, precious metal
solvent extraction, iron precipitation from copper raffinates, and nickel and cobalt precipitation.
Activity this period includes setting up a service agreement with Process Research Ortech to conduct hydrometallurgical
processing of non-ferrous concentrates produced at the Coleraine Minerals Research Laboratory (CMRL), preparation of a
bulk head sample from a Minnesota copper-nickel bulk sample, investigation of required grinding to achieve liberation,
rougher flotation testing to evaluate alternative collectors and processing conditions, and setup of a novel column flotation
apparatus.
Approximately 100 kg of Minnesota copper/nickel ore has been run through a ball mill with a target of 80% passing 150
mesh for the ball mill discharge and greater than 91% passing 150 mesh on the ball mill screen undersize. Two runs were
conducted to determine the throughput and collector dosing rate, along with gathering more sample for bench testing. The
material gathered for analysis was also bench tested on the Denver flot machine at Coleraine. These tests were to confirm
previous bench scale tests as well as ensure the pilot scale flotation will be high enough grade to send to Process Research
Ortech (PRO).
Rougher flotation tests with the mini pilot plant were also completed. Five separate rougher flotation runs were completed
and the bulk concentrate sample was sent to PRO. Composite copper and nickel grade was approximately 9.6% and 1.1%,
respectively. Process Research Ortech will start testing phase upon receipt of required testing paperwork. All paperwork
has been submitted to the University of Minnesota and US Economic Development Agency for approval.
While awaiting confirmation on the PRO contract from the University of Minnesota and US Economic Development
Agency, a novel column flotation technology proposed by Ed Klunder has been investigated. Initial testing shows promise,
but has had lower recovery than expected. Modifications to the bench column flot system will begin in September, 2013.
__________________________________________________________________________
168310/01/2011 09/30/2013Start Date: End Date: Project ID:
__________________________________________________________________________
Principal Investigator(s)Richard Kiesel
Matthew Mlinar
AccountAmountProject Sponsor(s) Active 3002-10417-00028240137,501US Dept of Commerce 10/01/2011 09/30/2013
1750-10417-20090-000282137,500PUF Mineral Endowment 10/01/2011 09/30/2013
$275,001Total
60
Origin and Distribution of Chromium Mineralization in the Duluth Complex and Related
Keweenawan Intrusives in Minnesota, and Its Relationship to PGE Mineralization
Minerals, Non-Ferrous
To expand our knowledge of Cr-mineralization and its potential relationship to PGE mineralization by: (1) using existing
geochemistry data and collecting Cr-bearing samples for polished thin section analysis; (2) identifying other unassayed drill
core that may contain chromium mineralization, analyzing the drill core, and collecting samples for polished thin sections;
(3) supporting one Ph.D. thesis on the Birch Lake area that will investigate the PGE-Cr mineralization and relationships to
oxide mineralization; (4) conducting quantitative microprobe analyses to determine the various chromium-related minerals;
and (5) evaluating and further analysis of one chromium occurrence identified in a drill hole outside of the Duluth Complex.
Objective
Background
Previous Activity
Current Activity
Chromium (Cr) mineralization associated with PGEs in the Duluth Complex was first recognized by Sabelin and Iwasaki
(1985, 1986) in Du-15 in the Birch Lake area. The presence of chromium spinels was noted earlier by Weiblen and Morey
(1976) at the Spruce Road deposit. Severson (1995) identified chromium and platinum mineralization in drill hole SL-19
northeast of the Water Hen deposit. Severson (1991) identified Cr-rich spinels in the Local Boy ore zone of the Babbitt
deposit. Hauck et al. (in prep.) have identified a variety of Cr-rich spinel in the Birch Lake area, not all of which are directly
associated with PGE mineralization. In addition, Heine et al. (1998) reported 1.64% Cr2O3 in saprolite in a drill hole
drilled into a Keweenawan ultramafic body in Stearns County.
Based upon discussions with Dr. James Miller, UMD Geology Department, a graduate student will use the data collected to
date, and complete the study as a part of a M.S. thesis.
Graduate student has not yet been selected by Dr. Miller. No work has been done.
__________________________________________________________________________
119202/01/2002 06/30/2013Start Date: End Date: Project ID:
__________________________________________________________________________
Principal Investigator(s)Mark Severson
Steven Hauck
AccountAmountProject Sponsor(s) Active 1896-783-1071-0076,000PUF Mineral Endowment 05/01/2002 06/30/2014
$76,000Total
61
Precambrian Research Center
Minerals, Non-Ferrous
To provide training and support to the next generation of geoscientists in modern methods of geological mapping and
mapmaking. This training will focus on the unique attributes of mapping the ancient Precambrian rocks of the southern
Canadian Shield. The Canadian Shield and similar terranes on every continent are host to many of the world`s premier ore
deposits.
Objective
Background
Previous Activity
Current Activity
The Precambrian Research Center (PRC) was created at the University of Minnesota Duluth (UMD)in 2006 to satisfy an
urgent, long-term demand for and critically low supply of geoscientists skilled in field mapping. The PRC seeks to reverse
the -decades-long decline in the teaching of geologic mapping skills in U.S. colleges and to provide advanced training to
professional geologists.
FIELD CAMP: Planning and promotion was conducted for the 6th annual Precambrian field camp to be held July 8-Aug.
17; by early February, 24 students from 18 different schools had registered for the camp.
WORKSHOPS: Planning and promotion was conducted for a Professional Workshop to be held Oct. 1-3 in the Twin Cities
on the topic of Silica Sand Resources in Minnesota and Wisconsin. The workshop is being co-organized with the Twin
Cities SME subsection.
STUDENT SUPPORT: Three UMD graduate students, Ben Brooker, Matt Chaffee, and Chris Gosniack were awarded with
PRC graduate research assistantships during the Spring 2012 semester.
OUTREACH: The PRC played a major organizational role in putting on the 15th annual Minnesota Minerals Education
Workshop held June 19-21 at Winona State University. The workshop was attended by a record 96 K-12 earth science
teachers from across the state.
FUNDRAISING: Membership donations for the first half of 2012 lagged a bit from the record pace of 2011, but we hope to
pick up the pace to exceed our goal of $100,000 for the year.
BOARD OF ADVISORS MEETING: The annual Precambrian Research Center Board of Advisors Meeting took place on
March 4, 2013 in Toronto.
FIELD CAMP: Planning and promotion was conducted for the 7th annual Precambrian field camp to be held July 7-Aug.
16. Twenty-two students from 16 colleges across the United States are enrolled in the field camp.
WORKSHOPS: Planning and promotion was conducted for a Professional Workshop to be held Oct. 6-13 on the topic of
“Copper, Nickel, and Platinum Group Element Deposits of the Lake Superior Region”. The workshop is co-sponsored by
the Society of Economic Geologists and nine contributing partners from industry.
STUDENT SUPPORT: UMD graduate students Aubrey Lee and Craig Caton were awarded PRC graduate research
assistantships during the Spring 2013 semester.
OUTREACH: The PRC played a major organizational role in putting on the 16th annual Minnesota Minerals Education
Workshop held June 18-20 at Hibbing Community College. The workshop was attended by a 76 K-12 earth science teachers
from across the state.
FUNDRAISING: Membership donations for the first half of 2013 have totaled $48,000.
__________________________________________________________________________
143207/18/2006 06/30/2013Start Date: End Date: Project ID:
Principal Investigator(s)Donald Fosnacht
Jim Miller
Dean Peterson
George Hudak
AccountAmountProject Sponsor(s) Active 1896-783-1226-00150,000PUF Mineral Endowment 07/18/2006 06/30/2010
$150,000Total
62
Rare Earth Potential, Minnesota Mining Cluster - The Next Generation of Innovation
Minerals, Non-Ferrous
The purpose of this project is to conduct a multi-disciplinary geological and geochemical assessment of a variety of rock
types in Minnesota for potentially economic rare earth elements (REE) mineral deposits.
Objective
Background
Previous Activity
Current Activity
China controls upward of 95% of the world production of rare earth elements. Recently, they have curtailed exports of these
elements, which are considered to be important critical and strategic minerals to the U.S. Based upon the reduction in
Chinese exports, there has been increased exploration worldwide for rare earth elements. Minnesota has favorable geology
that may contain rare earth element mineralization.
During the last six months, we collected an additional 132 granitic rock samples from outcrops and drill cores. These
samples were processed for: 1) potassium, thorium, and uranium radionuclides (120)analysis; 2) for whole rock trace
elements and rare earth elements chemistry, which will be sent out next period (1-25-150+ samples); and 3)for polished thin
sections (200 samples), which will be used to select the chemistry samples. Samples will be sent out for analyses in the
spring. All of these samples have been input into a database that contains sample locations, sample dates, lithology, and
outcrop descriptions for the outcrops. Also, for all the samples, there is a list of photos, scintillometer data, and related lab
data (weights of samples, whether we could make thin sections , etc.) for all the samples we processed. These data can also
be displayed in GIS format.
Work during the last six months concentrated on preparing samples for geochemical analyses and getting permission from
EDA to spend the funds for the analyses. One hundred seventy-three rock samples were sent out with two internal duplicates
and eight certified reference standards to check the accuracy and precision of the analyses. In addition to the unknown
certified standards and internal duplicates, NRRI requested reporting of all the analytical laboratories internal duplicates,
blanks, and certified reference standards as a further check on the quality of the analyses. Additional research went into
identifying rare earth minerals previously mentioned in Minnesota's geological literature. To date, eight rare earth mineral
species or mineral phases have been identified in the literature. These rare earth minerals occur in thirty Minnesota counties.
__________________________________________________________________________
167510/01/2011 09/30/2013Start Date: End Date: Project ID:
__________________________________________________________________________
Principal Investigator(s)Steven Hauck
AccountAmountProject Sponsor(s) Active 3002-10416-00028238100,000US Dept of Commerce 10/01/2011 09/30/2013
$100,000Total
63
TiO2 Hydromet, Minnesota Mining Cluster - The Next Generation of Innovation
Minerals, Non-Ferrous
To recover titanium oxide (TiO2) from iron titanates using hydrometallurgical processing methods to produce high quality
titanium-bearing products for metals and pigment production. The process will be tested under laboratory and simulated
pilot conditions. Necessary processing conditions for potential commercialization by future mine operators will be defined,
and product quality of both titanium and iron-bearing products will be quantified.
Objective
Background
Previous Activity
Current Activity
Pigment-grade titanium dioxide (TiO2), used in many energy-saving products, is predominately produced from titanium-
rich slag imported from Canada. Conversion of slag to TiO2 is environmentally challenging due to high energy use and deep
well injection of the iron chloride byproduct. The project objective is demonstration of an alternative, low-energy,
environmentally-friendly combined mineral processing and hydrometallurgical process to generate TiO2 and high-value
byproducts from Minnesota titanium ore (ilmenite). The outcome of the project will be a credible demonstration of product
quality and process capability providing a path to reduce U.S. dependency on foreign sources of titanium dioxide, increase
energy efficiency of the TiO2 production process, reduce environmental burden, allow development of U.S.-owned mineral
resources, and provide high quality U.S. employment opportunities.
Approximately 150 to 200 tons of 6-inch size Minnesota ilmenite ore was made available for the project. The coarse +5-
inch ore was scalped off by grizzly and saved. The minus 5-inch size ore was crushed to pass 3/4-inch size. Approximately
10 lton of the minus 3/4-inch ore was placed and saved in 30 each 55-gal. drums for use as feed to mineral processing.
Approximately 150 of minus 3/4 inch kilograms of Minnesota ilmenite material was prepared by use of high pressure
grinding rolls to 100% passing 20 mesh. The material was then subjected to titanium concentration testing. Alternative
concentrating technologies that were investigated included:
*Low intensity magnetic separation
*Dry belt high intensity magnetic separation
*Dry induced roll high intensity magnetic separation
*High tension (electrostatic) separation
The final flowsheet consisted of high pressure grinding, low intensity magnetic separation, and high tension (electrostatic)
separation. The bulk of the required 20 kg of concentrate for Process Research Ortech (PRO) has been created on the high
tension (electrostatic) unit. Concentrate grade was approximately 41% TiO2 and 29% Fe. Additional scavenging circuits
are currently being tested via high tension (electrostatic) and dry high intensity separation. The final composite concentrate
will be assayed and sent to PRO once the project scope, budget, and timeline are received from PRO.
__________________________________________________________________________
168210/01/2011 09/30/2013Start Date: End Date: Project ID:
__________________________________________________________________________
Principal Investigator(s)Matthew Mlinar
Paul Mack
AccountAmountProject Sponsor(s) Active 3002-10417-00028239137,499US Dept of Commerce 10/01/2011 09/30/2013
1750-10417-20090-000282137,500PUF Mineral Endowment 10/01/2011 09/30/2013
$274,999Total
64
Northeast Minnesota White Cedar Plant Community Restoration Project
Peat, Horticultural
To reverse decline of northern white cedar wetland plant communities in Minnesota. The project will achieve its goals by
evaluating and prioritizing white cedar stands for restoration and preservation and through establishment of demonstration
restoration and preservation projects. Critical wildlife habitat and winter thermal cover will be restored and preserved for
white tailed deer, black bear, fisher, marten, and many songbirds in northeastern and north central Minnesota. The second
goal of the project will be to improve the quantity and quality of white cedar plant communities in northeast and north
central Minnesota. The project will accomplish this by development of a training program for local government resource
managers regarding:
• Restoration techniques for white cedar plant communities regarding site preparation and revegetation techniques and •
Protecting white cedar from damage by poorly designed wetland crossings for roads and trails.
Objective
Background
Previous Activity
Current Activity
Northern white cedar (Thuja occidentalis) wetland plant communities have been declining in Minnesota for decades.
Currently white cedar regeneration success is extremely rare in Minnesota due to seedling damage from deer, snow shoe
hare and rodents and unsuitable seedbed conditions. Many mature white cedar stands have been lost due to high water levels
caused by poorly designed road crossings in wetlands.
A total of seven (7) white cedar restoration demonstration sites were selected in Beltrami, Koochiching, Lake, and St. Louis
Counties in the summer and fall of 2012. Sites were selected with help from NRRI GIS staff. Various treatments will be
established at the sites in the spring of 2013.
All seven white cedar demonstration sites with a variety of treatments including seeding cedar, planting white cedar
seedlings, installing mesh tree protectors to protect seedlings from deer and rabbit depredation, site thinning, water level
controls, and co-planting cedar with tamarack and black spruce were established this spring.
A field trip titled “Peatland Restoration: Cedar Swamps and Bogs” was hosted by NRRI and Michigan Tech staff on
Sunday, June 2, as part of the Society of Wetland Scientists Annual Meeting held in Duluth, June 2-6, 2013. NRRI GIS staff
assisted in identifying additional Minnesota white cedar sites to monitor this fall.
__________________________________________________________________________
167204/04/2012 06/30/2014Start Date: End Date: Project ID:
__________________________________________________________________________
Principal Investigator(s)Kurt Johnson
Steven Hauck
AccountAmountProject Sponsor(s) Active 3005-10415-0002782644,988MN Board of Water and Soil Resources 04/04/2012 06/30/2014
$44,988Total
65
Peat Expansion Premier Horticulture, Inc.
Peat, Horticultural
To locate, assess, and secure a suitable horticultural peat resource for Premier Horticulture, Inc., to allow expansion of their
Peatrex operation, and to initiate the environmental review and permitting process.
Objective
Background
Previous Activity
Current Activity
Premier Horticulture, Inc., contacted NRRI for assistance in expanding their Peatrex operation located west of Cromwell,
Minnesota. It is estimated that their current peat resource (approximately 240 acres) will be depleted in the next 5 to 10
years. Also, their packaging facilities are presently operating under capacity and could readily handle additional peat from
another resource, making the operation more cost-effective and profitable. An expansion would not only maintain present
employment at Peatrex, but would also result in 15 additional jobs at the processing plant and harvesting site.
Supplementary employment would also occur in spin-off industries such as trucking. NRRI will assist Premier Horticulture,
Inc., by: (1) conducting a detailed assessment of potential peat resources in proximity to the Peatrex operation, (2)
identifying financial assistance and other incentives available for peatland development from State, County, and local
agencies, and (3) assisting in the purchase or lease of the property, and beginning the environmental review and permitting
process required by Federal and State regulatory agencies prior to peat development.
NRRI staff have continued work on the proposed Wright Bog horticultural peat operation, including creating GIS maps of
the site and mining layout, determining discharge flows, designing sedimentation basins, organizing all information
previously collected, and filling out the required State and Federal regulatory applications. Work on the permits will be
ongoing throughout the coming months. An amendment to the Premier Services Agreement was approved in October 2012
extending the project until December 31, 2014.
Extensive progress was made on the Minnesota Local/State/Federal Application Forms for Water/Wetland Projects required
for the proposed Wright Bog project. After final review by Premier, the application will be sent to the appropriate agencies
early next quarter.
__________________________________________________________________________
107407/01/1999 06/30/2013Start Date: End Date: Project ID:
__________________________________________________________________________
Principal Investigator(s)Kurt Johnson
Steven Hauck
AccountAmountProject Sponsor(s) Active 1673-187-6441-0099,982Minnesota Technology, Inc 07/01/1999 06/30/2004
1196-187-2428-00 10/25/2001 06/30/2014
$99,982Total
66
Validation of Wetland Mitigation In Abandoned Borrow Areas - Phase II
Peat, Horticultural
To develop cost effective methods for creating functional mitigation wetlands in abandoned borrow areas that meet
regulatory permit requirements and are an integral part of road construction projects.
Objective
Background
Previous Activity
Current Activity
Wetland impacts are often an inevitable consequence of road construction requiring compensatory mitigation. Northeast
Minnesota still retains more than 80 percent of its pre-European settlement wetland acreage presenting very few
opportunities for traditional mitigation such as wetland restoration. Abandoned borrow areas that have been excavated for
road construction materials are one of the few remaining areas that can serve as wetland mitigation sites within the impacted
watersheds. In a previous project "Wetland Mitigation in Abandoned Gravel Pits" a demonstration site was established to
evaluate techniques for creating fresh meadow, shrub swamp, wooded swamp, and bog wetlands in abandoned gravel pits.
Preliminary results are encouraging, but continued monitoring is needed to determine long-term success. This project would
continue monitoring for the existing demonstration site wetlands for an additional three years. The effect of established
treatments such as donor soil and seed mixes on native plant cover, species richness and diversity will be the primary focus,
with special attention to monitoring and control of invasive plant species. Additional vegetation monitoring will also be
conducted on other mitigation sites within the U.S. Trunk Highway 53 reconstruction corridor to evaluate their progress.
The overall goal of the project is to develop cost effective methods for creating functional mitigation wetlands in abandoned
borrow areas that meet regulatory permit requirements.
Vegetation surveys were conducted on all sites in both July and September 2012. Biweekly monitoring of water table wells
on all mitigation sites was continued throughout the frost-free season. Data have been entered on computer and organized
for the Task 4 annual summary report. Work on the Task 4 annual summary report is ongoing.
The Task 4 "Annual Summary Report - FY2013" was completed and submitted. Task 6 "Data Analysis and Interpretation -
FY 2012" was also completed and submitted. June vegetation surveys have been completed for all sites, and water level
monitoring has been ongoing throughout the growing season.
“Sphagnum Establishment on Created Gravel Pit Wetlands” based on research conducted at the MnDOT project site was
presented at the Society of Wetland Scientists Annual Meeting held in Duluth, June 2-6, 2013.
__________________________________________________________________________
162803/25/2011 03/24/2016Start Date: End Date: Project ID:
__________________________________________________________________________
Principal Investigator(s)Kurt Johnson
Steven Hauck
AccountAmountProject Sponsor(s) Active 3005-10415-00022641142,023MN Department of Transportation 03/25/2011 03/24/2016
$142,023Total
67
Wetland Banking Fens Research Facility
Peat, Horticultural
To restore most of the effectively drained Fens Research Facility (Fens) to a variety of wetland types so new wetland credits
can be deposited into a state wetland bank for future withdrawal as wetland mitigation credits.
Objective
Background
Previous Activity
Current Activity
For about 100 years, the Fens has been used for agriculture, horticulture, fuel peat production, and peatland research. The
peat soils have been intensively drained. With recent demand for wetland mitigation credits, the Fens became a candidate
for peatland restoration. The Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources (BWSR) and the Minnesota Department of
Transportation (Mn/DOT) approached NRRI about establishing numerous wetland banks at the Fens. After lengthy review,
five banks are in the process of being established. A variety of wetland types are being established. New wetland credits
(NWC) are being deposited into BWSR wetland banks. NWC are used for wetland replacement mitigation following loss of
wetlands as a result of road construction in Northeast Minnesota.
In 2002 and 2005, the University of Minnesota (UM) entered into agreements with BWSR and Mn/DOT to restore 333.2
acres of drained peatlands for NWC at the Fens. Under the 2002 and 2005 agreements, the land was cleared, vegetation
killed, and the soil rototilled. Subsequently, the ditches were filled, the land leveled and donor material (plant fragments)
from nearby bogs was gathered and spread at the Fens. Water wells and vegetation plots were monitored and herbicide was
sprayed on invasive species in August and September of each year since bank establishment. In 2008, UM entered into
another agreement with BWSR to restore 145.4 acres of drained peatlands for NWC at the Fens. Construction (2009) and
establishment of monitoring sites followed the same process as that for the 2002 and 2005 agreements.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) approved Wetland Bank I (established in 2002), and the Corps and NRRI
subsequently signed a Mitigation Banking Instrument (MBI) for perpetual care of the Bank Site. An MBI is in the final
stages of review for Wetland Banks II and III (established in 2005). The UM Office of General Counsel (OGC) and Real
Estate Office (REO), together with NRRI, are doing the review. In spring and early summer 2011, intensive vegetation and
water table monitoring were done on Wetland Banks IV and V (established in 2009). In May 2012, BWSR gave approval
for the deposit of 10 acres of NWC for Bank IV. NRRI continues to meet all agreement requirements for these banks,
including control of invasive species. Wetland Bank IV and Wetland Bank V (both established in 2009) are progressing
well as functioning restored peatlands in 2013. Routine maintenance was done on the facility and equipment as the field
season began.
__________________________________________________________________________
136705/01/2001 09/30/2013Start Date: End Date: Project ID:
__________________________________________________________________________
Principal Investigator(s)Steven Hauck
Thomas Malterer
AccountAmountProject Sponsor(s) Active 1196-187-2426-00 05/01/2001 06/30/2014
$Total
68
Chemical Modification of Peat Granules Surface For Waste Water Treatment
Peat, Industrial Products
To develop environmentally beneficial peat-based material that will exhibit an anion exchange properties for water
remediation purposes.
Objective
Background
Previous Activity
Current Activity
High levels of sulfates released from Minnesota's mining industry are suspected of diminishing Minnesota's native wild rice
beds. The wild rice grew best in mucky water with a sulfate concentration of 10 parts per million or less. The state is
reconsidering its current standard for sulfate in wild rice waters, but until recently it hasn't been enforcing the existing
standard. Several available treatment processes can be organized in 4 categories: (1)chemical treatment with mineral
precipitation, (2) membrane technologies, (3) ion-exchange technologies, and (4) biological sulfate removal. All these
technologies are expensive or based on using non-renewable resources; therefore, a new and cheaper solution is required.
This research project is dealing with a development of new peat-based granular media with anion exchange properties
targeting an absorption of sulfate anion from waste water. Peat is partially decayed vegetation that accumulates in wetland
bogs and fens. Approximately 15 percent of Minnesota is covered with this valuable resource. Peat has been investigated as
a sorbent for the capture of dissolved metals, which usually represent a cation exchange mechanism. American Peat
Technology, LLC, partnered with NRRI to develop environmentally beneficial peat-based media that can be used for
purification of agricultural, mining, and industrial waste water from anion contaminates like sulfates.
This is a new project. No previous activity to report.
The procedure of attaching the precursor group to the surface of peat granules was developed. It was shown (phase 1) that
reaction of precursor group with amines occurred with formation of quaternary ammonium group on the peat surface. This
ammonium group exhibited an anion exchange property. Structurally different quaternary ammonium groups have been
attached to the surface of peat granules and activity toward absorption of sulfate anion was observed. The team also
demonstrated that a developed technique can be used to screen the structure of amino groups targeting the selectivity of
attaching the sulfate anion. This discovery led to a second phase of the project – development of the laboratory procedure
of attaching a quaternary ammonium group that will be able to withstand multiple loading and regeneration phases.
__________________________________________________________________________
170801/01/2012 12/13/2014Start Date: End Date: Project ID:
__________________________________________________________________________
Principal Investigator(s)Igor Kolomitsyn
AccountAmountProject Sponsor(s) Active 3000-10419-0002737351,272American Peat Technology, LLC 10/01/2011 12/31/2014
$51,272Total
69
Development Of Peat-Based Media For Waste Water Treatment
Peat, Industrial Products
To develop environmentally beneficial peat-based products that can replace chemical treatments for agricultural and
remediation purposes.
Objective
Background
Previous Activity
Current Activity
Peat is partially decayed vegetation that accumulates in wetland bogs. Approximately 15 percent of Minnesota is covered
with this valuable resource. Peat has been investigated by several researchers as a sorbent for the capture of dissolved
metals from waste streams. Utilization of peat and other biomass materials for treatment of waste water containing heavy
metals is gaining more attention as a simple, effective and economical means of pollution remediation. Besides being
plentiful and inexpensive, peat possesses several characteristics that make it an effective media for the removal of dissolved
metal pollutants. Drawbacks of using peat are its low mechanical strength, high affinity for water, poor chemical stability,
tendency to shrink and/or swell, and leaching of organic compounds. American Peat Technology, LLC, partnered with
NRRI to develop environmentally beneficial peat-based products that can be used for purification of agricultural and
industrial waste water. Developed peat products should overcome the major drawbacks of parent peat material, and should
also either inherit parent peat properties to absorb heavy metals or else have additional chemical and physical properties that
will be useful for agricultural and remediation purposes.
Newly developed APTsorb III peat granules underwent a series of column performance tests to measure absorbtion
capacity. The sorbtion capacity of APTsorb III depends on the flow velocity of waste water that has to be in the range of
0.1–0.4 m/hr to reach up to 10 mg/g for Cd. Elemental analysis of APTsorb III was completed. Results demonstrated that
the peat material passed the required Toxicity Characteristic Leachate Procedure test and can be used in industrial waste
water treatment applications. Another batch of APTsorb III (400 lb) was produced in the batch-type process. The next phase
of research has been initiated. New funding has been secured to further develop the technology.
An NRRI Team is leading the effort to develop environmentally beneficial peat based products for water remediation
purposes. The team developed a new generation of peat granular product - APTsorb III. The product is designed to adsorb
heavy metals from industrial and storm waters to meet EPA regulations. A patent application was submitted to United Stated
Patent Office covering the newly developed water remediation technology and the product. The team also has measured
and plotted the dependence of flow velocity vs the absorption capacity of APTsorb III. It was shown that APTsorb III
exhibits the preferred selectivity of adsorbing cadmium ion compare to zinc ion. Several industrial trials are currently
underway. Additional funding has been secured to further describe the adsorption characteristics and mechanisms of newly
developed product.
__________________________________________________________________________
161411/13/2009 12/31/2013Start Date: End Date: Project ID:
__________________________________________________________________________
Principal Investigator(s)Igor Kolomitsyn
AccountAmountProject Sponsor(s) Active 3000-10419-00009400182,049American Peat Technology, LLC 11/13/2009 12/31/2013
$182,049Total
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Center for Applied Research and Technology – Program Notes Forestry/Forest Products Personnel
Adam Beissel, Matthew Young, and Joseph Klett were hired as student engineers to work on a variety of
timber bridge inspection and repair projects. Adam is a junior at the University of Minnesota Duluth,
Matthew is a sophomore at the University of Minnesota Duluth, and Joe is a senior at the University of
Wisconsin.
Eric Skare was hired for a research assistant position to assist with our thermal modification research for
engineered wood materials (NSF) project. Eric is a junior at the University of Minnesota Duluth in the
mechanical engineering program.
Scientific Meetings/Presentations
Matthew Aro gave a presentation entitled “Thermally-Modified Timber: Opportunities for
Window and Door Manufacture” at the North American Wood Window and Door Symposium in
Roseville, Minnesota, April 2013.
Matthew Aro gave a presentation entitled “Using Waste Paper Mill Residues to Manufacture
Fire-rated Building Components” at the Next Generation Raw Material Sourcing: Industrial
Byproduct Utilization, A Dialogue with Great Lakes Business and Industry Conference in
Duluth, Minnesota, in March 2013.
Bill Berguson gave a presentation of our poplar research and related biomass production
activities associated with the Laurentian Energy Project at the Department of Energy’s semi-
annual program review meeting. This project was highly reviewed by a panel of industry,
government, and university experts with very positive feedback regarding direction and execution
of the research work.
Brian Brashaw gave a presentation entitled “Thermal Heating Opportunities for Using Biomass
in the Midwest” at the Next Generation Raw Material Sourcing: Industrial Byproduct Utilization,
A Dialogue with Great Lakes Business and Industry Conference in Duluth, Minnesota, in March
2013.
Brian Brashaw gave a presentation entitled “Use of Laser Scanning Technology to Obtain As-
built Records of Historic Covered Bridges” at the Second National Covered Bridge Conference
in Dayton, Ohio, in June 2013.
Brian Brashaw gave a presentation entitled “Lightweight Deck Systems for Historic Covered
Bridge Rehabilitation” at the Second National Covered Bridge Conference in Dayton, Ohio, in
June 2013.
Tim Hagen gave a presentation entitled “Products and Opportunities for Waste Materials” to the
University of Minnesota Duluth, University for Seniors, in Duluth, Minnesota, in May 2013.
Tim Hagen gave a presentation entitled “Products and Opportunities in Mattress Recycling” at
the Next Generation Raw Material Sourcing: Industrial Byproduct Utilization, A Dialogue with
Great Lakes Business and Industry Conference in Duluth, Minnesota, in March 2013.
Pavel Krasutsky gave a presentation entitled “Extracting More: Chemical Technologies for
Value-added Products From Waste Birch Bark and Dried Distillers Grains and Solubles (DDGS)”
at the Next Generation Raw Material Sourcing: Industrial Byproduct Utilization, A Dialogue with
Great Lakes Business and Industry Conference in Duluth, Minnesota, in March 2013.
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Publications
B.K. Brashaw and S. Anderson. 2013. Use of Laser Scanning Technology for Covered Bridges:
Amnicon Bridge Final Report. Natural Resources Research Institute Technical Report Number
NRRI/TR-2013/22.
B. Brashaw, V. Krause, and R. Vatalaro. 2013. Northern Softwood Lumber Bureau SPF south Lumber
Testing Results. Natural Resources Research Institute Technical Report Number NRRI/TR-2013/13.
V. Krause. 2013. Adhesive Heat Testing Jowat 150.90 and Daubert 6493. Natural Resources Research
Institute Technical Report Number NRRI/TR-2013/01.
V. Krause. 2013. Adhesive Heat Testing – Solo Heat Test. Natural Resources Research Institute
Technical Report Number NRRI/TR-2013/02.
V. Krause. 2013. Evaluation and Comparison of Cutting Surfaces. Natural Resources Research Institute
Technical Report Number NRRI/TR-2013/04.
V. Krause. 2013. Adhesive Heat Testing Jowat vs. Daubert Adhesives. Natural Resources Research
Institute Technical Report Number NRRI/TR-2013/15.
T. Hagen. 2013. Densification Properties for Torrified Feedstock. Natural Resources Research Institute
Technical Report Number NRRI/TR-2013/17.
V. Krause. 2013. Laminate Performance Testing - Arctic White 0228, Dune 0226, Vintage 0203,
Seagull 0227. Natural Resources Research Institute Technical Report Number NRRI/TR-2013/19.
Outreach
Region Five Development Commission, Staples, Minnesota, and Minnesota Department of Employment
and Economic Development, St. Paul, Minnesota: Brian Brashaw continued to provide support to the
regional planning grant provided to Region Five and the Department of Employment and Economic
Development for the development of a Minnesota renewable energy proof of concept center. Brashaw
and his team provided information and key directories of Minnesota’s college and university renewable
energy researchers.
Northern Softwood Lumber Bureau, Minnesota & Wisconsin: Brian Brashaw, Victor Krause, and Robert
Vatalaro completed static bending tests for structural 2- by 4-inch softwood lumber. Testing of balsam
fir, eastern spruce, jack pine, and red pine was conducted to determine the structural properties and the
failure type. The data was analyzed and submitted to the American Lumber Standards Council for
review.
Heating the Midwest with Renewable Biomass: Brian Brashaw is serving as the chairperson of the
steering committee for this grass roots effort aimed at developing a vision and implementing increasing
use of renewable biomass for thermal heating applications. This organization contracted with Future
Metrics, a leading biomass thermal consulting economist, to develop a Midwest Vision for Biomass
Heating that was presented at the 2013 Heating the Midwest Conference and Expo held in Carlton,
Minnesota, on April 24-26, 2013, at the Black Bear Casino Convention Center. This event included two
pre-conference tours, presentations on biomass heating, and an expo hall demonstrating the latest
technology for biomass thermal and combined heat and power.
Hawks Boots, Inc. (Epicurean Cutting Surfaces/Loll Design/Intectural) Duluth, Minnesota: NRRI
continued evaluation of raw materials for Loll Design by exposure to exterior weathering. NRRI staff
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continued to identify product and manufacturing options for utilization significant volumes of waste
materials produced by Epicurean.
Cirrus Design, Duluth, Minnesota: NRRI conducted laboratory conditioning of fabric samples for flame
spread testing. Ongoing testing of resin flow of fiberglass samples was conducted as part of Cirrus’
ongoing relationship with NRRI.
Ferche Millwork, Rice, Minnesota: Victor Krause worked with Ferche Millwork in an attempt to identify
problems with the wrapped door jamb product. He assisted in determining potential causes for adhesion
problems.
Northern Contours, Inc., Fergus Falls, Minnesota: Victor Krause conducted scratch mar testing, heat
resistance testing, boiling water resistance testing, and steam exposure testing for a variety of wood and
laminate cabinet door products.
Cass County Economic Development Corporation, Backus, Minnesota: Tim Hagen provided information
on the production of bio-char as a wood product option.
Saint Louis County Land Department, Duluth, Minnesota: NRRI assisted the Saint Louis County Land
Department in estimating the amount of additional biomass that may be expected when top- and limb-
biomass is harvested along with the standard roundwood harvest. Information was summarized and sent
to the Land Department based on data collected from a cooperative project on Red Pine biomass
assessment.
Molphus Woodlands Group: Assistance was provided to the Molphus Woodlands Group in estimating
aspen harvest volumes on regenerating stands in Minnesota.
Dixon-Moody Timber Group, LLC, Opelika, Alabama: Developed and executed Service Agreement with
Dixon- Moody Timber to investigate thermally modified wood products with Southern Yellow Pine.
Stora Enso Oy, Helsinki, Finland: Developed and executed Services Agreement with Stora Enso Oy,
Helsinki, Finland, to provided professional consulting services that include providing trade event
discovery of North American events.
Timeless Timber, Ashland, Wisconsin: Developed and executed Services Agreement with Timeless
Timber, Ashland, Wisconsin, to assist in the development of wood light poles.
Urban Research and Outreach Center, University of Minnesota Twin Cities: Assisted the University of
Minnesota Twin Cities – Urban Research and Outreach Center vet a business development – job creation
concept using ready to assemble building technology. The effort included assisting in a business
feasibility study conducted by Carlson Consulting Enterprises.
Koochiching Economic Development Authority, International Falls, Minnesota: Assisted Koochiching
Economic Development Authority vet a business development – job creation concept using ready to
assemble building technology. The on-going effort is focusing on the potential to build an automated
factory in International Falls, Minnesota.
Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, LaCrosse, Wisconsin: Brian Brashaw provided information
on the inspection equipment and techniques for a timber bridge near Cornell, Wisconsin, that is on the Ice
Age Trail.
Kansas Forest Service, Valley Falls, Kansas: Brian Brashaw provided five copies of the publication
“Wood Utilization Options for Urban Trees Infested by Invasive Species” (Brian Brashaw, Ross, Wang,
and Wiemann) to Kansas Forest Service.
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Delaware Center for Agriculture, Wilmington, Delaware: Brian Brashaw provided a copy of the
publication “Wood Utilization Options for Urban Trees Infested by Invasive Species” (Brian Brashaw,
Ross, Wang, and Wiemann) to Delaware Center for Agriculture.
Mississippi State University, Starkville, Mississippi: Brian Brashaw provided information on the use of
ultrasonic inspection equipment for timbers.
Pak Mail, Blaine, Minnesota: Brian Brashaw provided information on companies that log or harvest
underwater wood. Pak Mail is a custom shipper that was asked by one of their custom furniture
manufacturers to help source product.
Sensient Colors Inc., St. Louis, Missouri: Tim Hagen referred Sensient Colors Inc. from St. Louis to a
Minnesota company who is looking for a lower cost colorant for their mulch products.
Better Future Enterprises, Minneapolis, Minnesota: Tim Hagen and Brian Brashaw provided insight,
guidance, potential funding strategies, and resources for finding beneficial uses for deconstruction wood
waste that they process.
Biovation, LLC, Mankato, Minnesota: Victor Krause tested laminate samples for physical performance
(scratch, mar, abrasion, etc.).
BTD Powder Coatings, Brainerd, Minnesota: Victor Krause completed a scratch and mar testing on
powder coated wood samples.
Grand Log Homes, LLC, Grand Rapids, Minnesota: Victor Krause assisted in assembly procedures and
testing that included accelerated adhesive aging and R-value insulation testing.
Henkel Adhesive Technologies, Bridgewater, New Jersey: Victor Krause evaluated spray ability,
pressing performance, and heat resistance of one-part adhesive for membrane pressing.
Northern Contours, Inc., Fergus Falls, Minnesota: Victor Krause conducted scratch mar testing, heat
resistance testing, boiling water resistance testing, and steam exposure testing in support of their
manufacturing operations.
OMNOVA, Monroe, North Carolina: Victor Krause conducted a study to assess flatness of wood panel
laminates for application as store fixtures.
Sappi, Cloquet, Minnesota: Victor Krause provided support on assessment of wood species for Sappi.
Van Technologies, Duluth, Minnesota: Victor Krause fabricated decorative foil stamping device and
discussed potential causes for yellow discoloration of coating for Van Technologies.
Ken Raihala, Superior, Wisconsin: Brian Brashaw discussed invention idea and introduced Mr. Raihala
to the NRRI Rapid Prototyping Center Director, Steve Kossett.
Development Capital Networks, Minnesota: Brian Brashaw provided referral to the USDA Forest
Service, Forest Products Laboratory, for possible product development associated with plastic, recycled
plastic and agricultural residues.
Krueger Contracting, Duluth, Minnesota: Brian Brashaw provided information on the type of
deterioration that might occur to red pine logs installed as a monument at Unitarian Universalist Church
in Duluth.
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Graphic Wood Technologies, Spooner, Wisconsin: Victor Krause and Scott Johnson completed a trial of
membrane pressing veneer onto parts brought in by Tim Hagen. Product is proof of concept for applying
thin veneer to garage door parts to offer a mid-range alternative to solid wood garage doors.
Bob Owens, Duluth, Minnesota: Brian Brashaw provided background information on softwoods sawmill
technology and wood supply in Minnesota.
Viracon Inc., Owatonna, Minnesota: Brian Brashaw provided information on finger jointing lumber for
possible expansion of manufacturing process.
Micro Fibers Inc., Charlotte, North Carolina: Tim Hagen provided assessment of pellet ability of a
sample of flax fibre.
Premium Plant Services, Hibbing, Minnesota: Tim Hagen provided information about filtering grit from
storm water. They were referred to Contech Stormwater Solutions in an effort to build credibility
surrounding grit removal from wastewater.
University of Minnesota, Crookston, Minnesota: Tim Hagen completed a pelleting trial on the ability to
torrify and pellet cattail fiber.
Facilities
The NRRI greenhouse is being used as part of the 2013 poplar breeding cycle. The controlled climate
facility was used in January and February to pre-treat cottonwood female plants as part of the breeding
program to increase plant vigor and breeding success.
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Coleraine Minerals Research Lab & Economic Geology Group The CARTD Minerals Division was reorganized, to improve project and work load supervision and
budget management, enhance coordination of strategic developments that have the potential for bringing
in new industry related to minerals, and to address serious environmental issues associated with minerals
development on a pro-active basis. As such, more efficient coordination between CMRL and the Duluth
Minerals Section was required. As a result, two new positions were created that enhance organizational
effectiveness. The first position is the Director, Minerals Division. This position is responsible for
coordination of the work within the Minerals Division that arises either at CMRL or the Duluth Minerals
Section. This position will also manage the overall strategic plan for the Division and the tactical details
that will allow the strategy to be implemented efficiently. This individual will report directly to the
Director, CARTD. A second new position, Director, Strategic Development, was created to manage
multiple special developmental opportunities that have arisen and are expected to continue to arise as the
non-ferrous industry and ferrous industries are established or expanded. In addition, the modified position
of the Director for CMRL will focus on efficient operation of the laboratory with full budgetary, planning,
project and personnel management responsibilities. These leadership changes are indicated below:
Director, Minerals Division: George J. Hudak, Ph.D., P. G.
Director, Coleraine Minerals Research Laboratory: Richard F. Kiesel Director, Strategic Developments: David W. Hendrickson
Personnel During this semi-annual period, new employees added at Coleraine were as follows: Matt Mlinar and
Tom Petersen (January), Dick Bellefy, Joe Cannella and Graham Redshaw (February), Basak Anameric and Jack Grochowski (April), and summer students Fred Kiesel, Gina Gould, Ryan Hoag, Gregory Gargano, Sarah Post and Bazil Zuelke (June).
Mark Severson continues to log drill core (>50% time) for Teck American in Babbitt.
Scientific Meetings/Presentations/Papers
Society of Wetland Scientists (SWS) Annual Meeting
Kurt Johnson attended the Society of Wetland Scientists Annual Meeting being held in Duluth, June 2-6,
2013. He presented “Sphagnum Establishment on Created Gravel Pit Wetlands” and also moderated a
session of the Peatland Restoration Symposium. Additionally, he was a co-leader for the SWS field trip
“Peatland Restoration: Cedar Swamps and Bogs” with Rod Chimner of Michigan Tech and Tom Malterer of NRRI, held on Sunday, June 2. Kurt also hosted Dr. Neil Cowie, a restoration scientist from
Scotland, spending several days touring NRRI restoration sites the week before the conference.
George Hudak attended the 2013 Geological Association of Canada/Mineralogical Association of
Canada in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, on May 22-24. While at the meeting, he gave two oral
presentations on gold-rich volcanogenic massive sulfide deposits. These included “Stratigraphy and
Physical Volcanology Associated with the Paleoproterozoic Back Forty VMS Deposit, Menominee
County, Michigan” with co-authors Cabin Totenhagen (Twin Metals Minnesota), Ronald Morton
(Department of Geosciences, UMD) and Tom Quigley (Aquila Resources, Inc.); and “Physical
Volcanology and Hydrothermal Alteration at the Rainy River Gold Project, NW Ontario” with co-authors
Jakob Wartman (Cliffs Natural Resources) and Ronald Morton.
Field Trips
On May 8, John Heine and Marsha Patelke participated in a field trip titled “Geological Overview of
the Keeweenawan Peninsula Michigan,” and Steve Monson Geerts and Steve Hauck participated in a
field trip titled “Caledonia Mine, Ontonagon, Michigan” as part of the 2013 Institute on Lake Superior
Geology (ILSG) annual meeting. On May 11, Steve Monson Geerts participated in a field trip titled
“Geology of the Porcupine Mountains – a late Keweenawan central volcanic complex, Michigan” as part
of the 2013 ILSG meeting.
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From May 25-May 31, 2013, Steve Monson Geerts participated in the “Geological Field Trip – Eastern
Isle Royale, Michigan.” This field trip was also associated with the 2013 ILSG meeting.
George Hudak attended a field trip to investigate the physical volcanology associates with the world-
class VMS orebodies in the Flin Flon mining camp of Manitoba and Saskatchewan from May 25-29,
2013. The field trip was part of the 2013 Geological Association of Canada/Mineralogical Association of
Canada annual meeting.
Outreach
Jim Miller, Marsha Patelke, and John Heine were instrumental in running the 2013 Minnesota
Minerals Education Workshop held at Hibbing Community College June 18-20.
Jim Miller and George Hudak are Faculty Advisors for the new student chapter of the Society of
Economic Geologists at UMD.
George Hudak continues to be a mentor for the Society of Economic Geologists.
Coleraine Technical Reports
Kiesel, R.F, Confidential Technical Report issued to Kumba/Sishen – February 18, 2013 – NRRI/TR-
2013/03, 53 pgs.
Petersen, T.S., Mack, P.J., and Mlinar, M.A., Confidential Technical Report issued to New Millennium
– March 8, 2013 – NRRI/TR-2013/06, 198 pgs.
Englund, D.J. and Davis, R.A., Confidential Technical Report – March 11, 2013 – NRRI/TR-2013/08,
142 pgs.
Englund, D.J., Confidential Technical Report issued to ArcelorMittal – March 22, 2013 – NRRI/TR-
2013/16, 14 pgs.
Economic Geology Group Technical Summary Reports
Zanko, L.M., Patelke, M.M., and Mack, P.J., 2013, Keweenaw Peninsula (Gay, Michigan) Stamp Sand,
February 15, 2013; Natural Resources Research Institute, University of Minnesota Duluth, Technical
Summary Report NRRI/TSR-2013/01, 54 p.
Zanko, L.M., Levar, T.E., Maly, C., and Patelke, M.M., 2013, Evaluate the Effectiveness of Using
Microwave Technology to Sterilize Seeds Contained in Erie Pier Fine Grained Dredged Material,
February 28, 2013; Natural Resources Research Institute, University of Minnesota Duluth, Technical
Summary Report NRRI/TSR-2013/02, 40 p.
Patelke, M.M., Levar, T.E., Zanko, L.M., Oreskovich, J.A., Mack, P.J., and Maly, C., 2013, Erie Pier
Dredge Material Beneficial Use Study – Final Report; Natural Resources Research Institute, University of
Minnesota Duluth, Technical Summary Report NRRI/TSR-2013/03, in prep.
Economic Geology Group Reports of Investigation
Monson Geerts, S.D., Hudak, G.J., Marple, V., Lundgren, D., Olson, B., and Brecke, D.M., 2013,
Minnesota Taconite Workers Health Study: Environmental Study of Airborne Particulate Matter -
Development of Standard
Operating Procedures for Particle Collection and Gravimetric Analysis; Natural Resources Research
Institute, University of Minnesota Duluth, Report of Investigation NRRI/RI-2013/01, 107 p, in review.
Monson Geerts, S.J., Hudak, G.J., Marple, V., Zanko, L.M., Lundgren, D., and Olson, B., 2013,
Minnesota Taconite Workers Health Study: Taconite Processing Facilities Particulate Matter Collection
77
and Gravimetric Analysis; Natural Resources Research Institute, University of Minnesota Duluth, Report
of Investigation NRRI/RI-2013/02, in prep.
Economic Geology Group Posters
Heine, J., Hauck, S., Severson, M., Post, S., and Chlebecek, S., 2013, Searching for Rare Earth Elements
in Minnesota; Natural Resources Research Institute, University of Minnesota Duluth, NRRI/POSTER-
2013/01.
Hudak, G., Monson Geerts, S., Zanko, L.M., Severson, A., Kramer, S., and Bandli, B., 2013, The
Minnesota Taconite Workers Health Study: Environmental Study of Airborne Particulates – 2013 Update;
Natural Resources Research Institute, University of Minnesota Duluth, NRRI/POSTER-2013/02.
Fehrs, E., Kenny, E., Kuchma, J., Sauer, S., Sylvester, W., and Hudak, G.J., 2013, Bedrock Geologica
Map of the Putnam Lake Area, St. Louis County, NE Minnesota; Natural Resources Research Institute,
University of Minnesota Duluth, NRRI/POSTER-2013/03.
Facilities
Plans are being developed to add a new Hydrometallurgy building on the CMRL campus to help advance
copper/nickel/PGM hydromet processing technologies in northeastern Minnesota if appropriate funding
can be secured from a variety of sources. This facility would also provide additional jobs for northeastern
Minnesota.
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Center for Water and Environment
79
Identifying Critical Habitats for Moose in Northeastern Minnesota
ECOSYSTEM STUDIES - Land Resources
The project is a coordinated effort to determine whether it is possible to slow or prevent a decline in northeastern
Minnesota`s moose population. Public outreach and education will be accomplished with a website that provides
information on moose in Minnesota and allows the public to report moose sightings. The Minnesota Zoo in Apple Valley
will develop an on-site informational kiosk about Minnesota moose and zoo educators will help develop a curriculum for
teacher workshops to be held both at the zoo and at the Boulder Lake Environmental Learning Center near Duluth. We will
schedule 25 public moose presentations per year. The project combines research and education to increase public
understanding of Minnesota moose now and in the future.
Objective
Background
Previous Activity
Current Activity
Moose are one of Minnesota's most prized wildlife species. In less than 20 years moose in northwestern Minnesota declined
from over 4,000 to fewer than 100. The northeastern Minnesota moose population, with over 7,000 moose, may be
beginning a similar decline. Higher mortality in radiocollared moose is correlated with warm temperatures. Satellite collars
will track moose in northeastern Minnesota and collect GPS locations day and night 365 days a year. Specific habitats
needed by moose will be identified using the satellite collars. Spatial distribution and availability of habitat types will guide
identification of specific sites for enhancement, protection, or acquisition. Development of habitat guidelines will help
private and public land managers provide the best possible habitat for moose.
This is one of four current GPS collar projects. In January of 2011, we deployed collars on 64 moose that will collect GPS
locations every 20 minutes and send the locations via the Iridium satellite cell phone network to the PI. Activity and air
temperature is also monitored on the collar.
This is the first project in the world to take locations frequently enough to monitor an animals movement 24 hours a day, 7
days a week. We expect that it will provide insight into landscape use by moose, management activities that could benefit
moose, habitat selection in cool and hot weather, and information on calving by moose.
The Minnesota Zoo completed updating the existing moose display with new graphics that cover basic moose biology,
explain historical trends in moose populations in Minnesota, and present findings from this project. A new moose sculpture
was acquired by the zoo with other funding.
We are now finishing up data analysis and will be presenting results as Technical Reports and peer-reviewed papers over
the next several months. Important findings relate to moose use of thermal refuge habitats when it is warm, and also the
extent to which feeding occurs on younger regenerating forests. Several graduate students are currently using GPS locations
obtained from this moose collar project to develop their thesis research project.
__________________________________________________________________________
158607/01/2010 06/30/2013Start Date: End Date: Project ID:
__________________________________________________________________________
Principal Investigator(s)Ronald Moen
AccountAmountProject Sponsor(s) Active 3015-10430-00010577507,000Legislative Comm on MN Resources 07/01/2010 06/30/2013
$507,000Total
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Investigations of Wolf-Moose Interactions at Voyageurs National Park
ECOSYSTEM STUDIES - Land Resources
The objective of this research project is to study interactions between the recently delisted gray wolf and moose, a species in
decline.
Objective
Background
Previous Activity
Current Activity
This project will increase the public's understanding of predator-prey dynamics in the relatively intact ecosystem of
Voyageurs National Park. It will also help the public understand about how changing environmental conditions, such as land
use change and climate change, may fundamentally alter the way that boreal ecosystems function. During the past two
decades, moose density declined dramatically in NW Minnesota, from at least 4,000 to fewer than 100 animals. Annual
moose mortality was high, at 21%, and moose pregnancy and recruitment rates were very low in the late 1990s in
northwestern Minnesota (Murray et al. 2006). Essentially, Minnesota lost one of two relatively disjunct populations of
moose in the state.
We assisted in the capture and collaring of wolves beginning in the summer of 2012, assist in acquiring and programming
GPS collars for placement on captured wolves, assist in data acquisition and management of collar data, including GPS
locations, and assist in data analysis, report writing, and manuscript preparation summarizing ecological interactions
between wolves and moose.
We collected about 104,000 locations in 2010 and over 200,000 locations in 2011 from 25 different moose. After collars
are retrieved in 2013 we will calculate seasonal and annual home ranges of moose in Voyageurs National Park. Size and
cover type composition of home ranges in Voyageurs National Park will be compared to to home ranges of moose from
previous radiotelemetry projects in Minnesota, Ontario, and other parts of moose range.
We are continuing to download wolf and moose locations, and have assisted with wolf capture over the summer. We are
also analyzing data and writing manuscripts for publication. Among the manuscripts in progress are a comparison of home
ranges and cover type use for historical GPS collar data from VOYA (1995-1997) and this research project (2010-2012).
Cover type use will also be evaluated with respect to temperature, wind, and humidity conditions consistent with climate
change predictions.
__________________________________________________________________________
167607/01/2012 06/30/2014Start Date: End Date: Project ID:
__________________________________________________________________________
Principal Investigator(s)Ronald Moen
AccountAmountProject Sponsor(s) Active 3002-10430-0003151312,000USDI National Park Service 07/01/2012 06/30/2014
3002-10430-0003117353,043USDA US Geological Survey 06/01/2012 06/30/2014
$65,043Total
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Lowland Conifer Bird Species in Agassiz Lowlands
ECOSYSTEM STUDIES - Land Resources
The objective of this project is to gather information on breeding bird populations in the Agassiz Lowland subsection of
Minnesota. The primary goals are to understand how management of lowland conifer forests is affecting breeding birds as
well as to identify how we can improve habitat management for specific target species in these forests.
Objective
Background
Previous Activity
Current Activity
In recent years, more extensive logging efforts have been undertaken in lowland conifer forests of north central Minnesota.
These forests, primarily made up of black spruce and tamarack, are vast and potentially have a great impact on many species
of breeding birds in Minnesota.
To better understand how these changing management practices are affecting breeding birds, CWE staff undertook a project
that samples habitat-based locations for birds throughout the breeding season. The design consists of five classes of lowland
conifer forests categorized by dominant tree species and age-class of tree species. These locations are sequentially surveyed
for breeding birds throughout the breeding season (early May through early July).
Breeding bird data were gathered from a series of lowland coniferous sites identified by the Minnesota DNR in Grand
Rapids. These sites were in stands of various age classes, cover types (e.g., black spruce, tamarack,and white cedar), and
site quality. Counts were all completed by June 30, 2011. A report will be sent to the Minnesota DNR with the results of the
surveys. These surveys will form the basis on decisions regarding future work in the Agassiz lowlands subsection,
especially in the context of future logging within these vast lowlands.
CWE staff designed and organized the sampling protocol in the winter and spring of 2013. The final design consists of 65
different forest stands of five different cover types. Each of these stands was sampled for breeding birds three times
between May and July, 2013. This broad coverage allows for early as well as late-breeding species to be identified.
All of these data were entered and recently completed a dual-entry error checking process. In total, nearly 6,000 individual
birds of 107 species were observed in the lowland conifer forests of the Agassiz Lowland subsection. Many observations are
of uncommon or declining species that have been identified by the MN DNR as species of Conservation Need. Further
summary and analysis will be initiated in the fall of 2013 to investigate where specific species breed and how management
practices might affect their populations.
__________________________________________________________________________
164505/15/2011 03/30/2014Start Date: End Date: Project ID:
__________________________________________________________________________
Principal Investigator(s)Gerald Niemi
Edmund Zlonis
AccountAmountProject Sponsor(s) Active 3005-10429-000240603,000MN DNR 05/15/2011 06/30/2011
3013-10429-0003148229,289MN Department of Natural Resources 05/14/2012 03/30/2014
3013-10429-0003041936,341MN DNR/Federal Funds 05/14/2012 03/30/2014
$68,630Total
82
Mapping Native Plant Communities of Minnesota`s Forest Lands
ECOSYSTEM STUDIES - Land Resources
Mapping of the native plant communities for Minnesota`s Laurentian Mixed Forest based on the Minnesota DNR
Ecological Classification System.
Objective
Background
Previous Activity
Current Activity
The Minnesota Forest Resources Council's Landscape Program recognizes several distinct regional landscapes, formed by
integrating the natural physiographic and climatic regions of the state with social and economic objectives. These
landscapes have served as focal points for regional planning efforts involving multiple groups of stakeholders. While the
landscape regions have unique issues and potentials, they all have common data needs. Foremost among these is an
assessment of landscape potential, which is required to formulate desired future conditions.
This project will: 1) Integrate a suite of geospatial data layers to create native plant community maps of the Drift and Lake
Plains and Western Superior Uplands ecological sections, with a spatial resolution similar to the Minnesota-Ontario
Peatlands and Northern Superior Uplands native plant community maps and based on the Department of Natural Resources
classification of native plant communities. 2) In support of the landscape committee planning efforts, summarize acreages of
native plant communities at the system and class level by ownership; provide other reports in consultation with committee
members.
We downloaded and processed the newly available soil series data from the Natural Resources Conservation Service. We
also acquire the plant relevee database, which provides ecological descriptions for 3000+ sample points across northern
Minnesota. Finally, we summarized geomorphic, topographic and other relevant geospatial data to develop an input data set
to test against the native plant community relevees.
Analyses are underway - the end product will be a synoptic map of native plant communities for the Minnesota Drift and
Lake Plains and Western Superior Uplands, which will complete the native plant community classification for the entire
Laurentian Mixed Forest within Minnesota.
We used recursive partitioning generate a model that assigns native plant community (NPC) classes to 30 x 30 m grid cells
across the Northern Minnesota Drift and Lake Plains and Western and Southern Superior Uplands Ecological Sections.
Inputs to the model included land type association, soil texture and drainage, slope, aspect, and other topographic features.
Lowland and upland sites were separated based on a score derived from the National Wetland Inventory, a soil moisture
index, soil survey data, and GAP site classification.
The resulting map was refined using the MN DNR GAP classification; this lead to a more reliable classification of Wet
Forest, Acid Peatlands, Open Peatlands, and Mesic Hardwoods. Areas in different NPC Classes were summarized by
ownership (federal, state, county, private) and by MFRC Landscape Regions. The latest version of the map is under review.
__________________________________________________________________________
94706/05/2000 06/30/2013Start Date: End Date: Project ID:
Principal Investigator(s)George Host
Terry Brown
AccountAmountProject Sponsor(s) Active 1663-189-6195-0020,000MN Dept of Natural Resources 06/05/2000 09/30/2000
1663-189-6216-0025,000MN-Deptartment of Natural Resources 01/01/2001 06/30/2001
3005-10107-000294629,500MN Department of Natural Resources 05/30/2012 06/30/2013
3002-10107-0003040912,000USDA Northern Research Station 08/29/2012 06/30/2013
$66,500Total
83
Minnesota Breeding Bird Atlas
ECOSYSTEM STUDIES - Land Resources
To complete a systematic count of breeding birds in all townships in the state of Minnesota as part of the Minnesota
Breeding Bird Atlas. The methodology will allow samples to be gathered in the future in a representative and repeatable
fashion.
Objective
Background
Previous Activity
Current Activity
Minnesota is one of only six states in the United States that does not have a breeding bird atlas. An atlas is important to
define the distribution and abundance of breeding species throughout the state. It will be useful for conservation planning
and environmental impact assessment.
During the 2009 and 2010 breeding seasons we sampled 40% of Minnesota townships (>920). We observed over 200
species of birds and counted over 78,000 individual birds in over 950 townships and in over 2,800 individual point counts.
CWE bird censusers also contributed thousands of observations to the Minnesota Atlas database in the complementary
study organized by Audubon Minnesota. This represented over 4,000 probable or confirmed breeding records for Minnesota
birds.
During the winter of 2011, data gathered during 2009 and 2010 were summarized. Many qualified bird observers were
identified, primarily graduate and undergraduate students at the University of Minnesota. Breeding birds were sampled in
over 700 townships with over 2,000 point counts from May 27 to July 15, 2011. Because these data collection efforts were
recently completed, they have not yet been analyzed. These data are currently being double-entered and error-checked to
During the 2011 and 2012 breeding seasons CWE staff completed systematic sampling for breeding birds in more than 1000
Minnesota townships. This huge effort, in conjunction with 2009 and 2010, nearly completed the sampling of Minnesota's
approximately 2500 townships. In 2013, these remaining townships were completed. These data have recently been
entered to an online database and are in the final stages of error checking. In total, more than 200,000 individual birds of
more than 225 species were detected.
In addition to systematic point-count sampling, CWE staff participated in collecting breeding evidence data in conjunction
with Audubon Minnesota. These efforts were focused during the breeding seasons of 2012 and 2013, when many areas
receiving little attention by Audubon volunteers were sampled by CWE. This included many remote and road-less areas
like the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, Voyageurs National Park, the Northwest Angle, and the peatland region
of northern Minnesota. Based on sampling by both CWE personnel, Audubon Minnesota, and volunteers, nearly 250
species of birds have been shown to have probable or confirmed breeding evidence throughout Minnesota.
__________________________________________________________________________
152907/01/2008 12/30/2013Start Date: End Date: Project ID:
__________________________________________________________________________
Principal Investigator(s)Gerald Niemi
Annie Bracey
Edmund Zlonis
AccountAmountProject Sponsor(s) Active 3015-10429-00000576101,000LCCMR 07/01/2008 06/30/2010
3015-10429-00019124161,000Legislative Comm on MN Resources 07/01/2010 06/30/2012
3006-10429-00030942117,601National Audubon Soc (MNDNR Prime) 05/15/2012 12/30/2013
$379,601Total
84
Post-burn Bird Surveys at Pagmi River, Superior National Forest
ECOSYSTEM STUDIES - Land Resources
To sample breeding birds (2012-2016) in habitats burned by the Pagami Creek Fire (2011). These data will be used to
compare with the breeding communities of both pre-fire samples and areas not affected by the fire.
Objective
Background
Previous Activity
Current Activity
A two-year study comparing the breeding bird communities of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCAW)
and the surrounding Superior National Forest (SNF) was conducted in 2010-2011. The principal goal of this research was to
compare bird communities of areas primarily affected by natural disturbance (BWCAW) with those with more extensive
human use, and in particular, logging (surrounding SNF). The study consisted of 10 transects that cross the border of the
BWCAW. More information about this study can be found in a Master's thesis (Edmund Zlonis) recently submitted to the
Graduate School at the University of Minnesota.
In the early fall of 2011, the Pagami Creek Fire completely burned one of these transects and nearly burned two additional
transects. This event allows the unique opportunity to survey bird communities pre and post-fire. Due to the importance of
fire in boreal ecosystems, and concerns over increasing forestry impacts, some research has been conducted on the effects of
wildfire on boreal bird communities. However, opportunities for pre and post-burn surveys are uncommon and the proposed
research will add to knowledge of regional bird communities and potentially to broad patterns throughout boreal forests.
In June of 2012, CWE staff re-sampled avian point count locations at three transects in and around the BWCAW and Pagmi
Creek Fire (PCF). In total, seventy-two 10-minute point counts were sampled for breeding birds. In addition, burn severity
estimates were also conducted to assess the intensity of the fire. All data have been entered in our online database; however,
extensive summary and statistical analysis have yet to be completed.
Over 1300 individual birds of 74 species were detected in the resample of avian point counts. Four species that had never
been observed at point counts in the previous thesis project were observed in the PCF area. In addition, several species,
although surveyed in past seasons, showed especially high abundance in recently burned areas.
In late May and early June, 2013, CWE staff re-sampled avian point count locations in and around the PCF area. The data
were entered and error checked in August, 2013. A detailed summary is expected in the winter of 2013-2014.
An effort to systematically survey the vegetation and vegetation changes at these locations was initiated in 2013. In
particular, detailed surveys of vegetation were conducted in both burned and unburned locations in late August, 2013. In
the future, these data will be used in conjunction with avian data to better understand how natural forest disturbances affect
the flora and fauna of northeastern Minnesota.
__________________________________________________________________________
168506/01/2012 07/16/2017Start Date: End Date: Project ID:
__________________________________________________________________________
Principal Investigator(s)Gerald Niemi
Edmund Zlonis
AccountAmountProject Sponsor(s) Active 3002-10429-000312604,000USDA Forest Service 06/01/2012 05/31/2014
$4,000Total
85
Reducing Human-mediated Spread of Non-native Earthworms
ECOSYSTEM STUDIES - Land Resources
The long-term goal of this integrated proposal is to substantially reduce the rate of spread of damaging, invasive earthworms
in northern hardwood forests.
Objective
Background
Previous Activity
Current Activity
This project focuses on several aspects of earthworm invations, including the effect of bait labels on bait disposal behavior
in the population of anglers. We assessed behavior of anglers visiting fishing resorts and anglers purchasing bait at bait
shops. This was done directly by counting the number of containers placed in a bait disposal bin at the resorts, and indirectly
through written surveys in both groups. We also developed computer models to predict the potential for earthworm invasion
and assessed earthworm densities at varying distances from boat landings.
We began a modeling project to predict levels of earthworm invasion based on geospatial data, including distance to boat
landings, campgrounds, and other sources for colonization, along with abiotic factors such as soil type, slope and aspect.
The project will test statistical models against predictions derived from simple tesselation and kriging methods. The
predictions will be evaluated in Fall 2012 with field visits.
We also conducted a project to how different phases of colonization relate to distances from boat landings. Colonization did
decrease with distance, with heavy nightcrawler infestations found within the first few hundred meeters of the boat launch,
with progressively decreasing densities to relatively low levels at 1000 m.
We used two modeling approaches - kriging and logisti regression - to predict the potential distribution of earthworms
along the north shore. The best predictors from the logistic regression were elevation, distance from roads, and presence of
boat launches.
We were able to develop predictive models for areas that should be free of earthworms, but were not able to predict the
intensity of invasion. This was due in part to the finding that 95% of all study sites had earthworms present.
The drought in 2012 prevented our planned fall field assessment of model results; this assessment was deferred to fall 2013.
__________________________________________________________________________
164902/01/2010 01/31/2013Start Date: End Date: Project ID:
__________________________________________________________________________
Principal Investigator(s)George Host
Cindy Hale
AccountAmountProject Sponsor(s) Active 3002-11022-0001181250,000Dept of Entomology(USDA Food&Ag
Prime)
02/01/2010 01/31/2013
$50,000Total
86
Restoring Moose Foraging Habitat in Lake Superior Upland
ECOSYSTEM STUDIES - Land Resources
Restore moose foraging habitat in Lake Superior upland.
Objective
Background
Previous Activity
Current Activity
Moose populations in the western portion of the Lake Superior watershed may be declining. Annual mortality rates of adult
cows are much higher than in other moose populations. We will restore over 200 acres of moose foraging habitat. We will
also evaluate moose use of previously restored foraging habitat, and test how moose wearing GPS collars use restored sites,
and how far moose will move from thermal cover to forage. Funds will only be used for habitat restoration and measuring
moose use of restored habitat because the GPS collar project is funded by the Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota
Resources.
We did contracts to restore about 200 acres of moose foraging habitat and monitored browse intensity at several sites in
northeastern Minnesota.
The habitat restoration on Lake County forestry land was accomplished in December 2010 and January 2011. In midwinter
we measured browsing intensity and sampled bites in areas where GPS collared moose were foraging. This measured the
actual forage availability to moose on the landscape. This spring when the snow was gone we measured overall browse
removal in the winter on some of these sites as well as other sites. The net effect was that browse removal was locally
higher than expected, and there were other areas with relatively low browse removal.
We continue to measure browse response to different habitat treatments on this project. Rachel Ward has almost finished
her M.S. thesis on moose browsing. Amanda McGraw is also working on her Ph.D. on this project.
__________________________________________________________________________
160808/16/2010 09/30/2013Start Date: End Date: Project ID:
__________________________________________________________________________
Principal Investigator(s)Ronald Moen
AccountAmountProject Sponsor(s) Active 3002-10430-00015901193,432Environmental Protection Agency 08/16/2010 06/30/2014
$193,432Total
87
Amity Creek Restoration Project
ECOSYSTEM STUDIES - Water Resources
Reduce sediment to Amity Creek by improved land cover in riparian areas disturbed by development or legacy impacts, and
improved stormwater planning and management tools in two rural townships experiencing continued development
pressures, and broader use of stormwater reduction and watershed protection resources available on the regional website
www.lakesuperiorstreams.org.
Objective
Background
Previous Activity
Current Activity
The turbidity and sediment-impaired Amity Creek watershed was chosen as a demonstration site for various restoration and
protection activities. Superior trout streams may be harmed by excess muddiness from soil and grit washing in, and erosion
caused by too much water entering the streams too quickly after storms and snow melt instead of slowly seeping into the
ground first. This project evolved from the Weber Stream Restoration Initiative (www.lakesuperiorstreams.org/weber) and
is a collaboration among NRRI, S. St. Louis SWCD, Duluth, MN Sea Grant, UMD geology, and MN PCA. Tasks: 1)
remediation/restoration of sediment sources (eroding banks, failing bridges and culverts, gullies/washouts); 2)
revegetation/reforestation of disturbed shorelines; 3) tools for rural stormwater runoff and erosion reduction (model land
use/stormwater planning tool for township landowners and development of ditch maintenance manual with training
workshops; 4) outreach and education; 5) assessment of activities.
Trees were planted and a GIS database created for tracking re-vegetation efforts. The prototype landowner stormwater
planning tool is being linked to St. Louis County parcel data, and new remote sensing and LiDAR topography data. A
consultant was hired to develop the ditch design/operation manual. Terrestrial laser scanning was completed and bluff
erosion & deposition calculations in progress. NRRI signed a data sharing agreement with St. Louis County to create a
spatial database engine to link current parcel/ownership data to an online NRRI ArcGIS sessions focused on stormwater
management. Fish, bug, algae, and habitat data are being analyzed from 2005-2012 and an interactive map developed for
ease of data access. Continued stormwater runoff/erosion control information was disseminated via the LSS website.
1. Revegetation: ~ 2800 trees were planted in stream riparian zones; 2. Model Land Use/ Stormwater Planning Tool is now
online using a new (beta tested) stormwater calculator developed by MPCA; 3. The road ditch design and maintenance
manual is in development by a consultant (Fortin); 4. An Amity Watershed Assessment Data Mapper was created for the
three Amity synoptic stream surveys and for locating other BMPs and various study sites; 5. Real-time water quality
monitoring instruments were operated at lower Amity, redesign of the restoration section was finished, and a web section for
information about the 2012 Solstice flood was created.
__________________________________________________________________________
166706/30/2011 09/30/2014Start Date: End Date: Project ID:
__________________________________________________________________________
Principal Investigator(s)Richard Axler
AccountAmountProject Sponsor(s) Active 3013-10428-00026890139,884MN Pollution Control Agency 06/30/2011 09/30/2014
3013-10424-0002688894,569MN Pollution Control Agency 06/30/2011 09/30/2014
3013-10423-00018878193,454MN Pollution Control Agency 06/30/2011 09/30/2014
$427,907Total
88
Amity Restoration Assessment: Water Quality, Fish, Bugs, People
ECOSYSTEM STUDIES - Water Resources
Two major Amity Creek watershed restoration projects were completed in 2009, and approximately twelve related activities
are funded for 2011-2013. In this project, water quality, flow, stream bugs and fish (upstream/downstream and pre- and post-
construction) will be assessed to evaluate the performance and cost-effectiveness of the restorations and disseminate this
essential information via www.lakesuperiorstreams.org. Although this project specifically covers the Amity Creek
watershed, it is relevant to all Lake Superior watersheds in the Minnesota Lake Superior Coastal Program management
boundary.
Objective
Background
Previous Activity
Current Activity
In 2005 the Weber Stream Restoration Initiative, via private endowments created a partnership of UMD scientists and
extension educators, and local, state, and federal agencies to restore and protect Lake Superior basin trout streams
(lakesuperiorstreams.org/weber). It features; 1) a demonstration project targeting turbidity/sediment impaired Amity Creek
watershed for multiple restoration activities; 2) map landscape stressors to highlight areas of higher erosion risk; 3) use real-
time data and on-line interactive visualization tools to inform and educate a broad audience; 4) disseminate technical and
non-technical information from the project and related activities via the website. This project funded 2012 water quality,
bug, fish, and habitat assessment activities coordinated with the Great Lakes Reconstruction Initiative project to assess
efficacy of the suite of restoration projects.
Lab analyses from all 2012 surveys were completed and data posted on the web. New website sections are being
developed: 1) a new Amity Restoration web section featuring Amity and other regional watershed restoration projects in the
Superior basin; 2) a new DataViewer to allow for stream to stream and multiple-year comparisons; 3) new BMP information
and training opportunities via the WHAT'S NEW section; a new Solstice Flood section as a library for agency and media
flood related information.
The Amity Creek flow gaging station and automated water quality monitoring sensors were operated and data uploaded to
website through June 2013. Instrumentation damaged by the Solstice 2012 Flood was replaced in the spring (via City of
Duluth FEMA award). Remaining project tasks were completed in June 2013 and the final report is being written. A
manuscript submitted to the Journal of the American Water Resources Association (JAWRA) that describes how our real-
time automated stream water quality sets from 2002 -2010 can be used to estimate annual, storm event, and spring runoff
loading rates for suspended sediment and total phosphorus has been accepted for publication (Ruzycki et al. in press).
__________________________________________________________________________
165609/14/2011 06/30/2013Start Date: End Date: Project ID:
__________________________________________________________________________
Principal Investigator(s)Richard Axler
AccountAmountProject Sponsor(s) Active 3013-10423-0002159364,435MN DNR (USDOC NOAA Prime) 09/14/2011 06/30/2013
$64,435Total
89
Ecological Design for the St. Louis River Area of Concern
ECOSYSTEM STUDIES - Water Resources
To develop an ecological design for restoring the Fish and Wildlife Service`s 40th Avenue West and 21st Avenue West
projects in Duluth, Minnesota.
Objective
Background
Previous Activity
Current Activity
The lower 21 miles of the St. Louis River, the largest U.S. tributary to Lake Superior, form the 4856 ha St. Louis River
estuary. Despite the effects of more than 100 years of industrialized and urban development as a major Great Lakes port, the
estuary remains the most significant source of biological productivity for western Lake Superior, and provides important
wetland, sand beach, forested, and aquatic habitat types for a wide variety of fish and wildlife communities.
The St. Louis River Alliance Habitat Plan identified several sites within the area of concern with significant habitat
limitations. The 40th Avenue West site was identified by a focus group within the SLRA Habitat workgroup as a priority for
a remediation-to-restoration project.
NRRI scientists are working with the habitat workgroup to develop an 'ecological design' that will be used to develop
remediation and restoration plans for the 40th Avenue West site.
Aquatic vegetation models were completed and applied to the remediation scenarios developed by the habitat committee of
the St. Louis River Alliance. Maps and summary data were delivered and are under consideration by the committee.
We acquired and processed wind energy and substrate data for the 21st Avenue West site, and are in the initial phases of
modeling aquatic vegetation at that site.
We completed the vegetation modeling and have simulated the effects of five restoration scenarios on vegetation,
macroinvertebrates and birds.
The initial ecological design scenario runs were completed and results presented to the St. Louis River Area of Concern
(AOC)Coordinators. The AOC coordinators developed a final "preferred design" scenario that was then simulated and used
to create a final report and recommendations for remediation of the 21st Avenue West site.
The design scenarios provide guidance toward understanding how plant and animal communities might change with the
changes to bathymetry, expansion of existing shoreland, and the creation of islands and additional shallow habitat to
promote aquatic vegetation and reduce wind energy. The most pronounced effects are predicted to result from scenarios that
create new shallow and intermediate depth habitat, especially when this can be done in areas provided protection from wave
and wind energy. These areas would, in turn, support development of emergent marsh and floating leaf plant communities.
Shallow and, ideally, low energy environments provide increased habitat for macroinvertebrates, wetland-affiliated fish and
birds – effects that would be further amplified by the trophic relationships among these communities.
__________________________________________________________________________
162008/01/2010 06/30/2013Start Date: End Date: Project ID:
__________________________________________________________________________
Principal Investigator(s)George Host
Lucinda Johnson
AccountAmountProject Sponsor(s) Active 3002-10426-00019490143,980USDI Fish and Wildlife Service 08/01/2010 06/30/2012
3002-10424-00025375194,586USDI Fish & Wildlife 08/04/2011 06/30/2013
$338,566Total
90
Event-based Stream Sampling in Northeastern Minnesota
ECOSYSTEM STUDIES - Water Resources
Determine pollutant concentrations and annual loads of nutrients and suspended sediments by intensively sampling streams
during different hydrologic regimes (base flow, storm events, spring runoff).
Objective
Background
Previous Activity
Current Activity
The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency's Major Watershed Load Monitoring Program requested assistance from local
partners to collect samples and field data at designated stream monitoring sites for the purpose of assessing water quality
and calculating annual pollutant loads. This project will generate water quality data for ten stream locations MPCA
designated for their 2012 and 2013 open-water sampling seasons (eight by NRRI-UMD and two via subcontract to the
North St. Louis Soil and Water Conservation District). The overall project goal is to collect event-based physical and
chemical data sets for ten agency-prioritized stream sampling sites in northeast Minnesota for calculating pollutant loads
and for incorporation into the overall state database for Minnesota Pollution Control Agency assessment purposes.
Field personnel training was done by Minnesota Pollution Control Agency event-based stream sampling staff (coordinated
by Stacia Grayson)in sampling procedures and the quality assurance project plan developed by NRRI.
Sampling occurred throughout spring and summer. Water samples have been analyzed for depth, temperature, dissolved
oxygen, specific electrical conductivity, pH, and secchi tube depth; and in the Lab for TSS, TSVS, lab turbidity, TP, OP,
TKN, NO3/NO2-N.
We met with MPCA staff in early March 2013 to review proposed changes to the program and to provide input.
Sampling is ongoing, with samples collected every three weeks during base flow conditions. Field measures of depth,
temperature, dissolved oxygen, specific electrical conductivity, pH, and secchi tube depth are taken. Water samples are
being analyzed in the Central Analytical Lab for TSS, TSVS, lab turbidity, TP, OP, TKN, NO3/NO2-N. Results are
submitted to the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency on a regular basis.
__________________________________________________________________________
167103/21/2012 06/30/2014Start Date: End Date: Project ID:
__________________________________________________________________________
Principal Investigator(s)Richard Axler
AccountAmountProject Sponsor(s) Active 3005-10423-00028735148,869MN Pollution Control Agency 03/21/2012 06/30/2014
$148,869Total
91
GLEI II - Indicator Testing and Refinement
ECOSYSTEM STUDIES - Water Resources
The GLEI-II project will focus on wetland near shore conditions of the Great Lakes, and consist of five tasks: 1) Refine
coastal ecosystem indicators from previous monitoring programs through calibration against updated landscape/land use
information within the entire Great Lakes basin, 2) test the temporal and geographic integrity of existing Great Lakes
indicators. Determine scores for a suite of metrics from sites not sampled previously, and test the applicability of metrics
across the Great Lakes basin, including Canada, 3) test and compare analytical techniques to cross-calibrate indicators from
concurrent monitoring programs, 4) evaluate indicators for cost-effectiveness, 5) implement a data collection, analysis, and
reporting system for recommended indicators as well as a web-based reporting system that integrates landscape/land use
information systems, and 6) create a map of baseline conditions for the Great Lakes basin based on historical and current
monitoring information.
Objective
Background
Previous Activity
Current Activity
A comprehensive basin-scale suite of biological, chemical, and habitat indicators throughout the Great Lakes ecosystems,
along with monitoring plans for the long-term measurement, will provide valuable information on Great Lakes. Better
understanding the condition of this vast resource is vital to the parties charged with administering the agreement.
Statistical analysis of structural equation modeling (SEM) using GLEI I dataset was initiated. The structure of models was
designed in the impact direction from the first group of land impacts (land use, disturbance, shoreline activities, agriculture
and development, water/sediment) to the intermediate groups of water quality and habitat, and finally to macroinvertebrates.
Preliminary analysis focused on macroinvertebrates traits as response variables. Dominant factors from principal component
analysis of each group were employed in the model development. Seven SEM models have been successfully constructed.
Structural equation models have been tested for macroinvertebrate richness and relative abundance of 12 traits using coastal
disturbance, adjacent watershed characteristics as indirect predictors and using water quality and aquatic plant coverage as
direct predictors. At end, total 15 models were successfully developed for lower taxonomic unit richness and relative
abundance of three traits (climbers, shredders, sprawlers) for large-scale area and ecoprovince based regions. The effects of
environmental factors in models were compared to determine the key variable and pathway to influence wetland
macroinvertebrate communities. Modeling results have been used to draft a manuscript, which is under co-authors
reviewing.
__________________________________________________________________________
162508/01/2010 01/31/2014Start Date: End Date: Project ID:
__________________________________________________________________________
Principal Investigator(s)George Host
Gerald Niemi
Richard Axler
Lucinda Johnson
Terry Brown
Valerie Brady
Euan Reavie
Meijun Cai
AccountAmountProject Sponsor(s) Active 3002-10426-000188421,625,769Environmental Protection Agency 08/01/2010 01/31/2014
$1,625,769Total
92
Great Lakes Beach Information Communication System
ECOSYSTEM STUDIES - Water Resources
To develop real-world and on-line warning systems to alert beachgoers to real-time rip current conditions.
Objective
Background
Previous Activity
Current Activity
Great Lakes beach users have access to an unprecedented amount of data about beaches, including bacteria monitoring,
harmful algal blooms, weather, and water forecasts. All of these pieces of information can help beach users decide if today
is the right day to go to the beach, but nowhere is it synthesized in one place. This project will bring these disparate sources
of information together into a single 'beach report.' By assembling all relevant beach information and providing the data in
multiple formats that are increasingly accessible through wireless technologies, beach users will have a one-stop shop for
finding out critical beach information on the go. This increased convenience will result in fewer beach users swimming
during unsafe conditions, and greater awareness of beach safety issues.
We developed a model beach report system capable of synthesizing various sources of digital information from a single
beach into a single report, and automatically generating summary notices for distribution to beach users through a variety of
formats. The parkpointbeach.org website reports rip current, temperature and other key information; it also links to a local
webcam on Park Point to show current conditions. The system continuously monitors the National Weather Service and
responds when there is a change in rip current forecasts.
The ParkPointBeach.org website is in its second summer, and was adapted for sites in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and South
Haven, Michigan.
A key advance of this year was the deployment of a real-time "splash zone" temperature data feed. This was a challenging
problem: "Hardwiring" of a temperature sensor to a source of power, the Internet, a data logger, and a telecommunication
modem was not possible due to electrical safety reasons, lack of Internet access, presumed power fluctuations, and lack of
funding for on-site staff. Volunteer monitoring was also found unreliable for getting up-to-date data. Relating surf zone
temperatures to Duluth Inlet sensor data from lakesuperiorstreams.org was confounded by river and seiche influences.
Pilot work in fall 2012 and summer 2013 by Natural Resources Research Institute (NRRI) in collaboration with City of
Duluth Parks & Recreation led to installation of an Omega OS137 non-contact Infrared Temperature Sensor/Transmitter on
the roof of the Park Point Beach House along with an independent webcam with data logged on a desktop computer with
modem to transmit data to the PPB server at NRRI. Results are promising but require comparison to actual water
temperature over a broad range of temperatures and wave heights that reflect conditions encountered during the PPB beach
season.
__________________________________________________________________________
164708/01/2010 05/31/2014Start Date: End Date: Project ID:
__________________________________________________________________________
Principal Investigator(s)George Host
Jesse Schomberg
AccountAmountProject Sponsor(s) Active 3002-10434-0001891536,585Sea Grant (EPA Prime) 08/01/2010 05/31/2014
$36,585Total
93
Great Lakes Biological Monitoring: Phytoplankton
ECOSYSTEM STUDIES - Water Resources
The primary objectives of the Great Lakes phytoplankton program are to: 1) collect phytoplankton from the Great Lakes; 2)
identify and enumerate phytoplankton, maintaining quality assurance standards; 3) maintain a database of phytoplankton
data; 4) interpret phytoplankton data, including evaluation of long-term trends in phytoplankton and food web dynamics; 5)
dissemination of data and interpretations through reports, presentations, peer-reviewed journals and on the internet.
Objective
Background
Previous Activity
Current Activity
Phytoplankton are known to respond to stressors such as nutrient loading and invasive species. We will take a
comprehensive approach to GLNPO’s Biological Monitoring program for the Great Lakes using proven sampling and
evaluation techniques. New and long-term phytoplankton data will be used to track shifts in the offshore biological
community related to natural and anthropogenic influences.
The research will characterize and evaluate phytoplankton communities throughout the Great Lakes. Analyses of these data
in concord with long-term sampling data, and other project data (e.g., zooplankton, water quality) will provide
interpretations of stressor influences on lake biology. A database of detailed, quality-assured phytoplankton data will be
provided for contemporary and future evaluations of Great Lakes condition.
Sample preparation and analysis of 2012 and 2011 phytoplankton samples is ongoing.
The first version of the floral database is complete and will be delivered to the EPA shortly. This database is an integration
of images and species descriptions. Digital drawings, photographs and descriptions for over 1000 taxa have been compiled
from the historic literature.
Sediment core analyses continue for Lakes Erie, Michigan and Huron. These cores have been sectioned and are in
processing for various indicators (diatoms, metals, organic/inorganic content, etc.). We anticipate coring of Lake Ontario in
the 2013 sampling season.
Sample preparation and analysis of 2012 and 2013 phytoplankton samples is ongoing.
Establishment of non-native dreissenids and changing water quality has impacted the primary producers of the Great Lakes.
Our sampling clearly shows a decrease in algae, with the exception of Lake Erie which shows significant blooms of diatoms
in the spring and blue-green algae in the summer.
The Great Lakes floral database is complete and has been delivered to the EPA. This database is an integration of images
and species descriptions. Digital drawings, photographs and descriptions for over 1000 taxa.
Paleolimnology: Sediment core analyses continue. These cores have been sectioned and are in processing for various
indicators (diatoms, metals, organic and inorganic content, etc.).
__________________________________________________________________________
148703/01/2007 06/30/2016Start Date: End Date: Project ID:
Principal Investigator(s)Euan Reavie
AccountAmountProject Sponsor(s) Active 1628-189-6315-001,000,000Environmental Protection Agency 03/01/2007 04/30/2013
3006-10425-0003055340,000Northeast Midwest Institute 03/01/2012 12/31/2013
3002-10425-000235021,296,105Environmental Protection Agency 07/01/2011 06/30/2016
$2,336,105Total
94
Great Lakes Coastal Database and Classification Framework
ECOSYSTEM STUDIES - Water Resources
To develop a habitat classification system that focuses on the nearshore and coastal systems of the Great Lakes to provide a
data framework that will guide future restoration and management objectives.
Objective
Background
Previous Activity
Current Activity
The Great Lakes basin spans two nations, eight states, and two provinces. As a result, it is exceedingly difficult to
characterize and quantify stressors and physical characteristics across the entire Great Lakes basin. The spatial framework
will provide managers with the first consistent geographic framework that has an essential capability to link, map, integrate,
and track habitat classifications, assessments, indicator development, ecological forecasting, monitoring, and restoration
activities across the entire Great Lakes basin. The spatial framework will consist of inventory, assessment, and monitoring
data along with the underlying physical data covering the Great Lakes basin. The database will link features such as
wetlands, embayments, coastal watersheds, and rivermouths with terrestrial watershed and open water systems. Due to its
extensive work characterizing stressors for the Great Lakes Indicators Initiative, NRRI serves as an advisor to this project.
The project team assembled participants in Ann Arbor, MI on November 8 to discuss the underlying habitat classification
scheme that will be used for the framework. Progress has been achieved in mapping 'geoforms' within the lakes
(combination of relief and bathymetry).
A spatial "frame" consisting of 30x30 m pixels for the shoreline and watershed, and an 180m x 180 m frame encompassing
the open water of the Great Lakes has been created. Data from the US and CA has been identified to form the basis of the
underlying classification scheme. Subbasins for each Great Lake were also identified. Definitions of the habitat "zones"
has been finalized. Monthly meetings have been held to evaluate progress in compiling the spatial data layers and ancillary
biological, chemical, physical data that will be used to populate the database. The next step is a series of statistical analyses
to identify "homogeneous units" representing distinct areas within each habitat class
__________________________________________________________________________
166809/01/2011 05/01/2014Start Date: End Date: Project ID:
__________________________________________________________________________
Principal Investigator(s)Lucinda Johnson
AccountAmountProject Sponsor(s) Active 3006-10426-0002475919,563Univ of Michigan (Prime) Gr Lks Fishery 09/01/2011 05/01/2014
$19,563Total
95
Great Lakes Coastal Wetland Monitoring
ECOSYSTEM STUDIES - Water Resources
To assess the biotic condition of all the major coastal wetlands of the Great Lakes, United States and Canadian shorelines.
Objective
Background
Previous Activity
Current Activity
This project will assess the baseline biotic condition (health) of all the major coastal wetland complexes along all the coasts
of the Great Lakes. Crews around the Great Lakes are using birds, frogs, fish, aquatic invertebrates, aquatic macrophytes,
water quality and habitat to determine wetland condition. Duluth crews sample wetlands across Lake Superior, Green Bay,
and northern Lake Michigan. Wetland condition information will be used by state agencies, non-profits, and other groups to
aid in wetland restoration efforts and to find very good wetlands in need of protection.
The NRRI GIS lab created a site selection system that will be used by all collaborators across the Great Lakes to virtually
review and select sites appropriate for sampling in each year. There were about 1000 sites selected for the five years.
In the first two years, NRRI fish/invertebrate/veg crews visited about 50 sites, while bird/amphibian crews visited over 100
sites. In 2012, crews sampled several wetlands on Isle Royale, which was quite an adventure for the field personnel. The
database system that supports the entire project and holds and serves all of the data was built by the NRRI GIS laboratory.
Our database programmer, Dr. Terry Brown, is creating a web-based data portal that will be able to provide the data to
agencies who can use it to help protect and restore Great Lakes coastal wetlands, as well as track their condition over time.
Crews sampling all wetland biota (birds, amphibians, fish, macroinvertebrates, and wetland vegetation) spent the summer
sampling coastal wetlands from Green Bay to Thunder Bay. Crews sampled 25-35 wetlands, depending on which biota were
being sampled. Two Sites on the Apostle Islands were also sampled this year.
Work on the web-based data portal is well underway and should be unveiled this fall at a meeting with wetland managers
from around the Great Lakes. The early results indicate that wetland plants are highly affected by alterations to wetland
hydrology, which has happened quite a bit on lakes Erie and Ontario. Macroinvertebrates and fish seem to be more sensitive
to local conditions and stressors, resulting in wetlands with good indicator scores near wetlands with poorer scores.
__________________________________________________________________________
160509/01/2010 08/31/2015Start Date: End Date: Project ID:
__________________________________________________________________________
Principal Investigator(s)George Host
Gerald Niemi
Richard Axler
Lucinda Johnson
Valerie Brady
AccountAmountProject Sponsor(s) Active 3014-10429-00023385532,018Central Michigan University (EPA Prime) 09/10/2010 08/31/2015
3014-10426-00023387425,959Central Michigan University(EPA Prime) 09/10/2010 08/31/2015
3014-10426-00018810190,372Central Michigan University (EPA Prime) 09/10/2010 08/31/2015
3014-10424-00023381161,099Central Michigan University(EPA Prime) 09/10/2010 08/31/2015
3014-10423-0002339071,854Central Michigan University (EPA Prime) 09/10/2010 08/31/2015
$1,381,302Total
96
Indicators of Agricultural Stressors in Coastal Waters of the Great Lakes
ECOSYSTEM STUDIES - Water Resources
The overall goal of this project is to identify `topping points` at which effects of agricultural activities result in measurable
effects on water quality and biota in tributary streams to the Great Lakes. Such knowledge will assist managers and policy
makers in identifying appropriate actions to restore water quality in tributaries of the Great Lakes. This project is a
subcontract to a larger effort centered at Purdue University and University of Michigan. In this project, data from the Great
lakes Environmental Indicators project (GLEI) is being reanalyzed to assess specific responses of invertebrate and fish
communities to agricultural land use using structural equation modeling techniques. This technique identified direct and
indirect effects of land use and specifically agricultural activities on invertebrate and fish communities.
Objective
Background
Previous Activity
Current Activity
The development and dissemination of the land use and agricultural indicators will enable more effective protection and
management of key natural resources within the Great Lakes region by provide land use planners and natural resources
managers with relevant and timely information to aid in their decision making processes (from Purdue University,
http://prodgis.agriculture.purdue.edu/TPI_GL/). Through a collaborative effort between university and agency scientists, a
new suit of land use and agricultural indicators relating to water quality and ecosystem health within the Great Lakes region
are being developed. These indicators will provide insight into the stressors (e.g., impervious surfaces, habitat
fragmentation, pollutants) negatively affecting the water quality and natural resources within the Great Lakes, as well as
allow for the identification of 'hot-spots' or key locations where the presence of multiple stressors are greatly impacting
ecosystem health.
Structural equation models have been developed for invertebrate communities. These models show that it is necessary to
consider the location in the basin when assessing impacts of land use on aquatic biota. In particular, results show that
development has a greater impact than agriculture on the number of taxa at a site, and local disturbances are more influential
than landscape level disturbances.
To test the effects of agricultural land application on wetland macroinvertebrates, GLEI I dataset was used to develop casual
models using structural equation modeling (SEM) statistical method. In the model network, agriculture worked on wetland
macroinvertebrates through the pathway of water quality and aquatic vegetation coverage. Total 15 SE models have been
developed for lower taxonomic unit richness and relative abundance of climbers, shredders and sprawler for large-scale area
and ecoprovince based regions. Overall agriculture can increase the relative abundance in the northern ecoprovince but
reduced them in southern area. Modeling results have been used to draft a manuscript, which is under co-authors reviewing.
__________________________________________________________________________
165909/01/2011 07/01/2013Start Date: End Date: Project ID:
__________________________________________________________________________
Principal Investigator(s)Lucinda Johnson
AccountAmountProject Sponsor(s) Active 3014-10426-0002666929,592Univ of Illinois (USDOC Prime) 09/01/2011 07/01/2013
$29,592Total
97
Lake of the Woods Paleolimnology Assessment
ECOSYSTEM STUDIES - Water Resources
Lake of the Woods has been placed on Minnesota`s impaired list for nutrients and eutrophication indicators, so the future of
the lake has become a high profile concern for the Ontario and Minnesota governments and the lake`s diverse group of
stakeholders. Research recommendations and data gaps suggested that improved coordination of monitoring efforts and the
construction of a long-term ecological reconstruction for the lake were logical steps in management of the resource. NRRI`s
objective in this investigation is to collect sediment cores and use archived materials to provide long-term trends and
trajectories of lake conditions for use in resource management.
Objective
Background
Previous Activity
Current Activity
Lake of the Woods has been placed on Minnesota`s impaired list for nutrients and eutrophication indicators, so the future of
the lake has become a high profile concern for the Ontario and Minnesota governments and the lake`s diverse group of
stakeholders. Research recommendations and data gaps suggested that improved coordination of monitoring efforts and the
construction of a long-term ecological reconstruction for the lake were logical steps in management of the resource. NRRI`s
objective in this investigation is to collect sediment cores and use archived materials to provide long-term trends and
trajectories of lake conditions for use in resource management.
Sedimentary sample analysis is ongoing. Isotopic analyses indicate that all cores contain reliable profiles for
paleolimnological analysis.
So far biological stratigraphic data show a gradual, long-term change due to human activities in the lake catchment. It is too
early to confirm impacts on the lake, but we anticipate a robust characterization of lake history.
Sedimentary sample analysis is complete and data are being compiled for analysis. Stratigraphic data show a gradual, long-
term change due to human activities in the lake catchment. Preliminary data indicate increasing productivity in Lake Of the
Woods despite a known decline in nutrient loading to the lake. A research workshop in September 2013 in Ely will evaluate
species shifts and long-term trends in an effort to determine mechanisms of water quality degradation.
__________________________________________________________________________
164606/30/2011 06/30/2015Start Date: End Date: Project ID:
__________________________________________________________________________
Principal Investigator(s)Euan Reavie
AccountAmountProject Sponsor(s) Active 3005-10425-00017805111,546MN Pollution Control Agency 06/30/2011 06/30/2015
$111,546Total
98
Landscape Metrics for Coastal Wetland Integrity Indices
ECOSYSTEM STUDIES - Water Resources
To test existing landscape indicators of coastal marsh integrity that can be incorporated into a coastal wetland monitoring
program. Using the same set of coastal marshes selected for the USGS project we will 1) evaluate the ability of individual
landscape indicators to discriminate between reference, disturbed, and managed sites, and 2) analyze redundancy among
landscape indicators and between landscape and site specific indicators.
Because funds for monitoring are often tight, it is advantageous to maximize the amount of information relative sampling
costs in a monitoring program. For example, it would not be wise to monitor more than one variable that conveyed the same
information. Thus, one part of developing a multi-metric assessment is to evaluate redundancy among indicators. If there are
indicators that are highly redundant, then the variable that is more expensive to monitor or is less useful may be eliminated
from consideration.
Objective
Background
Previous Activity
Current Activity
The National Wildlife Refuge System includes 161 coastal refuges on 1,045,925 acres of coastal marsh. The majority of
these marshes have experienced some form of anthropogenic alteration such as oil spills, chemical mosquito control,
drainage for mosquito control, salt hay farming, introduction of invasive species, restricted tidal flow, road construction, or
channelization. These alterations impact both the intrinsic value of coastal marshes as well as the quality of marsh habitat
for the unique wildlife they support.
Tools for the assessment of ecological condition remain underdeveloped for these ecosystems. Such tools are critically
needed to guide decisions regarding protection, management, and restoration. The most meaningful and useful assessments
of ecosystem condition are based on reliable indicators of ecosystem integrity that are integrative across several spatial
scales and levels of biological and environmental organization.
Neckles et al. (2008) listed >50 measurable attributes for coastal marshes that could serve as indicators for coastal marsh
condition. USGS is evaluating the response of candidate indicators within coastal marshes on 15 National Wildlife Refuges
throughout the Atlantic and Pacific coasts of the U.S. In conjunction with site specific indicators, there is a need to evaluate
landscape indicators for this same set of coastal marshes.
Wetland monitoring was conducted in 13 National Wildlife Refuges, with sampling in reference, disturbed, and managed
areas. Landscape data and metrics were acquired or derived across the region. Each was evaluated for redundancy and
ability to discriminate across disturbance status.
Landscape metrics were incorporated into analyses and reported for coastal marshes in 15 National Wildlife Refuges.
Comparisons of metrics across sites and disturbance status are completed with recommendations in development.
__________________________________________________________________________
156108/01/2009 06/30/2013Start Date: End Date: Project ID:
__________________________________________________________________________
Principal Investigator(s)Lucinda Johnson
Jennifer Olker
AccountAmountProject Sponsor(s) Active 3002-10426-0001266093,052USDI US Geological Survey 08/01/2009 06/30/2013
$93,052Total
99
North Shore Superior Lake and Stream Water Assessment
ECOSYSTEM STUDIES - Water Resources
To collect field and water chemistry data from eight Northern Lakes and Forest (NLF) Ecoregion lakes and three NLF
streams during May – September in 2013-14 for the purpose of determining surface water quality.
Objective
Background
Previous Activity
Current Activity
The Clean Water Legacy Act Surface Water Assessment (SWA) Grant Program created funding for local organizations,
universities and citizen volunteers to help MPCA assess the condition of Minnesota's streams and lakes. Water quality,
biological, and habitat data are critical for identifying status and trends that may reflect short and long-term trends in
response to impacts at local, regional, and global scales such as urbanization, agriculture and forestry practices, invasive
species introductions, atmospheric deposition, and climate change. NRRI will collect lake and stream data in NE
Minnesota's NLF Ecoregion focused on northern Lake Superior Basin, and targeted by the MPCA for the NLF for 2013-14.
The project began in May 2013.
Field data and water sample collection began in May 2013 and will continue through September and analysis of water
chemistry and chlorophyll will continue though mid-October.
__________________________________________________________________________
171205/02/2013 06/30/2015Start Date: End Date: Project ID:
__________________________________________________________________________
Principal Investigator(s)Richard Axler
Elaine Ruzycki
AccountAmountProject Sponsor(s) Active 3005-10423-0003627873,330MN Pollution Control Agency 05/02/2013 06/30/2015
$73,330Total
100
Northshore Superior Periphyton Surveillance
ECOSYSTEM STUDIES - Water Resources
1) Establish baseline (i.e. benchmark) conditions for attached algae along the rocky North Shore Lake Superior ``splash
zone`` by establishing a sampling protocol, determining areal periphyton biomass and species composition, and providing
archival algal material for other scientists interested in the issue (i.e. from EPA-Mid Continent Ecology Lab, the USGS,
NRRI, and U. Wisconsin, Oshkosh [Dr. R. Pillsbury]); 2)Determine if there is a relationship between periphyton
distribution (i.e. biomass) and stormwater outfalls, illicit wastewater discharge, ground water seepage, and various stressor
indices of land use along the MN Lake Superior shoreline that were developed at NRRI via the Great Lakes Environmental
Indicator (GLEI) projects.
Objective
Background
Previous Activity
Current Activity
In large deep, oligotrophic lakes, the shallow nearshore waters -especially nutrient-poor environments such as Lake
Superior- are very sensitive to perturbations occurring as shorelines are developed.
Most visitor experiences in Lake Superior occur close to or within the nearshore environment and conditions can directly
influence public perception of lake conditions. Periphyton (attached algae) growing within the eulittoral or splash-zone can
play an important role in the aesthetic, beneficial use of the shoreline. The rapid growth ability of eulittoral periphyton in
response to nutrient inputs has been shown to be of particular value in monitoring this community as an indicator of
localized differences in nutrient loading.
The presence of periphyton along the lakeshore has been linked to lakeshore development in many oligotrophic lakes
including Lake Tahoe, CA/NV, Lakes Chelan and Crescent, WA, Priest Lake and Lake Pend Orielle, ID, and lakes of the
Laurentian region of Quebec. Periphyton is a useful indicator because this algal community integrates environmental
conditions over long periods of time and is relatively easy to collect and measures of biomass are inexpensive to analyze.
The Great Lakes Environmental Indicators project showed strong links between nearshore conditions and adjacent
watershed variables across the entire Great Lakes basin. To our knowledge no comprehensive survey of eulittoral
periphyton in Lake Superior has occurred since the early 1970's.
Site selection started in the fall of 2012 and was based on accessibility, substrate type; with interfluve zones between stream
mouths that represent a range of stressor gradient scores selected. We then overlaid the historical periphyton sampling
locations from 1969-1971.
The Duluth shoreline was assessed in early October 2012. Photos, GPS coordinates and water samples were collected from
approximately 50 sites that could potentially deliver stormwater into Lake Superior.
Seventeen survey sites between the Duluth Arial Lift Bridge and Knife River (~20 miles of shoreline) were sampled from
June through August 2013. Replicate samples were collected from four randomly chosen boulders or bedrock outcrops
along a 20 m transect. Samples were processed for areal biomass, percent organic matter and chlorophyll. Composite
samples were preserved for algal community analyses. Data analysis is on-going.
__________________________________________________________________________
170608/28/2012 12/31/2013Start Date: End Date: Project ID:
__________________________________________________________________________
Principal Investigator(s)Elaine Ruzycki
AccountAmountProject Sponsor(s) Active 3013-10423-0002811350,535MN`s Lake Superior Coastal (USDOC
Prime)
08/28/2012 12/31/2013
$50,535Total
101
Paleolimnology Workplan: Building a Long-term Water Quality Record for the White
Iron Chain of Lakes
ECOSYSTEM STUDIES - Water Resources
The White Iron Chain of Lakes comprises the lower portion of the Kawishiwi watershed, draining an area of 1,200 square
miles of northern Minnesota’s Rainy River basin. Water quality in the White Iron Chain of Lakes has been subject to human-
induced environmental changes since settlement of the region approximately 150 years ago. By describing in detail impacts
caused by past environmental insults, we may be able to predict the impacts of future development scenarios. Our
paleolimnological assessment will offer pre-settlement baselines, environmental trends, and the timing and magnitude of
changes related to human activities. These evaluations will provide important background and remedial information.
Objective
Background
Previous Activity
Current Activity
The White Iron Chain of Lakes comprises the lower portion of the Kawishiwi Watershed, draining an area of 1,200 square
miles of northern Minnesota’s Rainy River basin. Water quality in the WICOL has been subject to human-induced
environmental changes since settlement of the region approximately 150 years ago. By describing in detail impacts caused
by past environmental insults, we may be able to predict the impacts of future development scenarios. Our
paleolimnological assessment will offer pre-settlement baselines, environmental trends, and the timing and magnitude of
changes related to human activities. These evaluations will provide important background and remedial information.
Initial results from paleolimnological analyses indicate that gradual changes have occurred in these lakes in response to
human activities such as deforestation (and recovery), shoreline development and changes in nutrient flux. These results
suggest that the major influence on lake characteristics has been damming, which changed the hydrology. A reduction in
biodiversity in lake primary producers suggests some eutrophication, but further data developments are required for more
detailed conclusions. We anticipate a more complete story for the WICOL lakes later in 2013.
Eutrophication apparently occurred following Euro-American settlement, particularly in White Iron Lake, but reconstructed
phosphorus trends indicate more recent nutrient reductions. Pollen data track the decrease in pine abundance in the region
and the rise of birch. Sedimentary metals largely reflect physical changes in the system, such as a change in sediment
deposition regimes resulting from damming. Recent increases in metals are probably a result of increasing accumulation of
soil and bedrock materials, a trend that is supported by increasing accumulation rates of overall organic and inorganic
material. These recent increases in the last 30-40 years, which include increased algal deposition in Birch, Farm and Fall
lakes, are not well explained at this time, but may be due to shifting water quality unrelated to phosphorus and possibly
hydrological changes.
__________________________________________________________________________
165506/15/2011 06/30/2013Start Date: End Date: Project ID:
__________________________________________________________________________
Principal Investigator(s)Euan Reavie
AccountAmountProject Sponsor(s) Active 3015-10425-0002401785,000White Iron Chain of Lakes Association 09/15/2011 06/30/2013
$85,000Total
102
Prioritizing Wetland Restoration for Water Quality and Habitat Improvement
ECOSYSTEM STUDIES - Water Resources
To prioritize wetland restoration to select sites that will most likely result in high quality wetlands which will be sustainable
in the future and second, to prioritize wetland restoration that will improve water quality and habitat.
Objective
Background
Previous Activity
Current Activity
Minnesota has over nine million acres of wetlands that provide significant tourist dollars through duck hunting, birding and
fishing and also provide untallied benefits through water quality, flood control and wildlife habitat. Competing interests
including agriculture, commercial, and residential development have reduced pre-settlement wetland area by 52%.
We are developing a map-based wetland prioritization decision web tool for Minnesota that will accommodate a variety of
management restoration objectives including: prioritizing wetland restorations for improved water quality and/or habitat and
also for restorations that will be sustainable far into the future. The tool will also identify areas most in need of protection.
A restorable wetlands inventory (RWI) for Minnesota was created using a compound topographic index (CTI) derived from
a digital elevation model (DEM) along with soil and wetland data.
The prioritization tool was designed using Python programming language with a base layer of all the possible restorable
wetlands derived from soils and elevation data, three thematic decision layers created from readily available GIS data, and
a final output modifier comprised of available environmental data for the desired region. For the decision layers, stress
reflects anthropogenic activities that negatively influence water quality and habitat, viability ranks areas for their likelihood
of supporting high functioning sustainable wetlands into the future, and benefits identify locations where wetland restoration
could reduce nutrients or enhance wildlife habitat. Each of the tool layers were developed from a series of GIS data layers.
A panel of wetland experts consisting of university, state, and federal officials convened in November 2012 to assist with
determining the relative importance (weighting) of the GIS inputs for each decision layer.
The weighted GIS inputs were imported into the model decision layers. A web-based user interface was developed.
In May 2013, a workshop was held for potential end users to beta-test both the web interface and the prioritization tool.
Their recommendations were incorporated into the current tool.
Two potential methods of incorporating LiDAR DEM data into the model were also tested including delineating gullies for
predicting erosion rates and assessing how much RWI predictions improved using higher resolution DEMs.
Future additions to the tool include 1) refining tool decision layers with recently completed or refined data layers, 2)
addressing how landscape connectivity and spatial position of natural and anthropogenic land covers affect wetlands, and 3)
adding additional data layers and web links to further assist end users.
__________________________________________________________________________
162703/14/2011 06/30/2014Start Date: End Date: Project ID:
Principal Investigator(s)Lucinda Johnson
Terry Brown
Valerie Brady
Jeremy Erickson
AccountAmountProject Sponsor(s) Active 3005-10426-00022003350,000MN Pollution Control Agency 03/14/2011 06/30/2014
$350,000Total
103
Research Development Testing and Evaluation Facility for Ballast Treatment in the
Great Lakes Region
ECOSYSTEM STUDIES - Water Resources
The Great Ships Initiative is a innovative collaboration whose objective is to end the problem of ship-mediated invasive
species in the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Seaway System, including through independent research and demonstration of
environmental technology, financial incentives and consistent basin-wide harbor monitoring. NRRI`s task in this effort is to
develop, test and apply methods to evaluate the effectiveness of candidate treatments systems in their ability to exterminate
algae and protozoans.
Objective
Background
Previous Activity
Current Activity
The near-term objective of the Great Ships Initiative is to significantly accelerate research, development and implementation
of effective ballast treatment systems for ships that visit the Great Lakes from overseas. To that end, the Initiative has
established research capabilities at three scales—bench, land-based, and shipboard. Each scale is dedicated to addressing
specific evaluation objectives, with protocols as consistent with the International Maritime Organization and federal
requirements as practicable.
NRRI`s role in the Initiative is to test candidate ballast water systems to ensure they are able to meet the International
Maritime Organization`s criteria for mortality of the microorganisms carried in ballast water.
Efforts for 2013 are under way, starting with a risk-release workshop in Washington DC in April.
This year we will be testing several candidate treatment systems for consideration as a ship-board treatment alternative.
These tests involve ship-board testing and land-based assessment at the facility in Superior WI.
A new publication summarizes GSI work that combined ballast water treatment with ballast water exchange at sea:
Briski, E., L.E. Allinger, M. Balcer, A. Cangelosi, L. Fanberg, T.P. Markee, N. Mays, C.N. Polkinghorne, K.R. Prihoda,
E.D. Reavie, D.H. Regan, D. Reid, H.J. Saillard, T. Schwerdt, H. Schaefer, M. TenEyck, C.J. Wiley, S.A. Bailey 2013. A
multi-dimensional approach to invasive species prevention. Environmental Science and Technology (in press).
Efforts for 2013 continue. We have been testing several alternative treatment systems for consideration as ship-board
treatments. These tests involve ship-board testing and land-based assessment at the facility in Superior WI and at ship
mooring locations around the Great Lakes.
New efforts provide efficacy reports for treatments that include sodium hydroxide, hydrogen peroxide, yeast, chloride and
sonic energy. Several new technical reports summarize activities and findings: www.greatshipsinitiative.org
__________________________________________________________________________
146901/22/2007 04/30/2015Start Date: End Date: Project ID:
__________________________________________________________________________
Principal Investigator(s)Euan Reavie
AccountAmountProject Sponsor(s) Active 1673-189-6311-0030,000University of Wisconsin Superior 01/22/2007 12/31/2007
1673-189-6323-0017,497University of Wisconsin Superior 12/01/2007 05/31/2008
623,769Northeast Midwest Institute 06/01/2008 04/30/2015
$671,266Total
104
Stressor Gradients and Spatial Narratives of the St. Louis River Estuary
ECOSYSTEM STUDIES - Water Resources
Provide an assessment of reference and at-risk aquatic habitats in the St. Louis River watershed and estuary to guide future
monitoring, restoration, remediation, land use planning, along with community awareness, and stewardship.
Objective
Background
Previous Activity
Current Activity
The St. Louis River estuary, an EPA area of concern and soon to become Superior National Estuarine Research Reserve, is
a complex mosaic of high quality plant, animal, and aquatic habitat intermingled with areas of heavy industrial use,
contaminated sediments, and effluents from an urban landscape. Communities surrounding the estuary are actively
developing land use plans that will set the course for their future environmental and socioeconomic health, and it is
imperative that local decision makers have access to data, tools and technologies that allow them to make the best decisions
for their communities.
Spatial narratives for the St. Louis River estuary were captured through five vignettes of key activities important to the area:
fishing, shipping, wild ricing, recreation, and community; and through perspectives of local people who told their stories
about places and experiences related to these activities. We share these stories through narrative, photos, audio, and a deep
map.
Water Resources Science student Will Bartsch successfully defended his master of science thesis, which studied variation in
tributary and nearshore water quality to watershed-based stressors across the estuary. Key findings: there is a strong chloride
signal related to human activity; and geomorphic variability between the Minnesota and Wisconsin sides of the estuary
must be taken into consideration to quantify stressor effects.
We created a "Science in Detail" section of the website that describes results from the water quality,macroinvertebrate, and
plant community data sites along the anthropogenic stressor gradient. By selecting sites along the human stressor gradient,
we quantified how individual streams contribute to the overall health of the estuary.
We developed two kinds of GeoQuests. The first is based on the popular sport of Geocaching, which involves using Global
Positioning System (GPS) devices to find hidden containers. We created three sleuthing-based caches that involve science-
based activities such as collecting stream and lake water quality data to add to our data library. A geocache placed in
Chamber's Grove has had 25 logged finds, the most recent on 8/19/2013.
The second type of GeoQuest is based on Augmented Reality players use their mobile phones to interact with virtual
characters located throughout the estuary, viewing videos, text, or pictures triggered by the phone's built in GPS system.
Each of these quests has a theme and a mission tied to the stories and science of the estuary.
__________________________________________________________________________
159007/01/2010 03/31/2013Start Date: End Date: Project ID:
__________________________________________________________________________
Principal Investigator(s)George Host
Richard Axler
AccountAmountProject Sponsor(s) Active 1000-10424-20857-000169110,311MN Sea Grant 02/01/2010 03/31/2013
$110,311Total
105
SWAG Superior Basin Lakes
ECOSYSTEM STUDIES - Water Resources
This project will generate physical and chemical water quality information for three lakes that the Minnesota Pollution
Control Agency has included in their list of `targeted lakes` for assessment in the 2011 and 2012 field seasons. NRRI`s
Center for Water and the Environment has a long-term interest in identifying status and trends that may reflect short and
long-term trends in response to impacts at local, regional, and global scales such as urbanization, agriculture and forestry
practices, invasive species introductions, atmospheric deposition, and climate change.
Objective
Background
Previous Activity
Current Activity
The Clean Water Legacy Act Surface Water Assessment Grant Program has created funding for local organizations,
universities and citizen volunteers to help the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency assess the condition of Minnesota's
streams and lakes. Water quality, biological, and habitat data are critical for identifying status and trends that may reflect
short and long-term trends in response to impacts at local, regional, and global scales such as urbanization, agriculture and
forestry practices, invasive species introductions, atmospheric deposition, and climate change. Ideally, since field
collections are costly, sampling designs and types of assessment data are best selected by considering multiple benefits and
efficiencies. NRRI was funded to collect seasonal limnological data from three Superior basin lakes in 2011 and 2012.
Lakes were sampled from May-September 2012 and data were submitted to the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency via
their electronic data access system.
This project has now been completed.
__________________________________________________________________________
162103/15/2011 06/30/2013Start Date: End Date: Project ID:
__________________________________________________________________________
Principal Investigator(s)Richard Axler
Elaine Ruzycki
AccountAmountProject Sponsor(s) Active 3005-10423-0002141016,283MN Pollution Control Agency 03/15/2011 06/30/2013
$16,283Total
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Gonadal Deformities in Smallmouth Bass as Indicators of Endocrine Disruption in the
St. Louis River Estuary
Environmental Chemical
Document the occurrence and prevalence of testicular oocytes and other altered gonadal morphology in smallmouth bass
generally, specifically from the St. Louis River estuary. These goals will be accomplished using two research components:
1) a histological analysis of gonadal tissue from smallmouth bass collected in field surveys of sites in the Lake Superior
watershed and northern Minnesota; and 2) laboratory studies to document early gonadal development in smallmouth bass in
the presence and absence of a controlled exposure to a known estrogen.
Objective
Background
Previous Activity
Current Activity
Endocrine active chemicals (EACs) are an emerging concern in many natural waters, including the St. Louis River, its
estuary, and Lake Superior. Synthetic estrogens such as one which originates from oral contraceptives, are present in U.S.
waters receiving municipal wastewater effluent in the range of 73 - 831 ng/L, where they are considered the primary
contaminant contributing to estrogenic activity. Evidence for detrimental effects of EAC activity on fish exposed to these
low concentrations has been observed in both field and laboratory studies, and includes biochemical indicators of exposure
(e.g., vitellogenin [egg yolk protein] in male fish), and histological markers, such as testicular oocytes in wild fish. While
such reports foster concern in both public and scientific circles, our ability to gather data and make observations has often
outpaced our ability to place them in physiological and ecological context, which takes into account the background
prevalence of these effects in fish from relatively unimpacted areas. This project focuses on the background occurrence of
one potential biomarker of endocrine disruption in smallmouth bass, the presence of oocytes in testicular tissue, and
evaluates the likelihood that any elevated prevalence of this deformity could be caused by exposure to synthetic estrogen
during early life stages.
Field collection started in 2012, when we collected a total of 176 smallmouth bass (Micropterus dolomieu) from the St.
Louis River estuary and four inland lakes.
To date, we have collected 292 male smallmouth bass (Micropterus dolomieu) from the St. Louis River Estuary and 7
inland lakes, including two 'impacted' inland lakes and 5 'reference' inland lakes. Collected fish were dissected, gender
identified, and gonads were removed, preserved, and are currently being evaluated for presence and abundance of testicular
ooctyes. Testicular ooctyes have been found in multiple specimens, with varying prevalence across the sites sampled.
Additional sampling and severity ranking are underway.
Laboratory exposure experiments of early life-stage smallmouth bass to -ethinyl-estradiol were initiated in early
summer 2013. These exposures are designed to describe the timing of development of smallmouth bass gonads under
controlled conditions and determine the developmental stage(s) at which TOs may be induced by xenoestrogens in
smallmouth bass.
__________________________________________________________________________
167807/01/2012 06/30/2014Start Date: End Date: Project ID:
__________________________________________________________________________
Principal Investigator(s)Pat Schoff
Jennifer Olker
AccountAmountProject Sponsor(s) Active 1000-10426-20857-00016949,925Minnesota Sea Grant 07/01/2012 06/30/2014
$49,925Total
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Managing the Nations Fish Habitat at Multiple Spatial Scales
Environmental Chemical
1) To refine empirical and mechanistic models for predicting extent of cold water fish habitat under current land use and
climate regimes. Predict oxythermal habitat for coldwater fish species using an empirical model incorporating existing land
use, lake morphometry, and climate data.
2) Predict future extents of cold water fish habitat in lakes of the Glacial Lakes region under future climate and land use
scenarios. Predict future oxythermal habitat in lakes under changing land use and climate for a large set of regional
coldwater lakes using empirical models. Predict future oxythermal habitat for individual lakes under changing land use and
climate for distinct lake classes and/or geographic regions using a mechanistic model.
Objective
Background
Previous Activity
Current Activity
Coldwater fish communities are especially vulnerable to eutrophication and the effects of climate change. Climate warming
has the potential to reduce coldwater fish habitat by direct warming and increased hypolimnetic oxygen depletion. Deep
lakes with large, oxygenated hypolimnions may represent important sanctuaries for coldwater species such as cisco.
Projected range reductions for cisco and other coldwater species would allow for the identification of high priority refuge
lakes. Once identified, lake watershed protection efforts could be directed at refuge lakes to prevent further anthropogenic
impacts.
A sensitivity analysis was performed to assess which lakes experience the greatest changes for spatially uniform change in
land use and air temperature. Statistical methods for summarizing and generalizing the results are being developed,
including the selection of a spatial scale for summarizing individual lake results and identifying the most vulnerable regions
and types of coldwater lakes.
The deliverables for the project include a manuscript, data tables, and maps. A manuscript is currently being finalized for
submission, describing the phosphorus loading model development, integration with the MN DNR oxythermal habitat
model, and future coldwater fish habitat projections. The manuscript will be submitted to the Canadian Journal of Fisheries
and Aquatic Sciences. The process of creating data tables and maps of projected coldwater habitat has begun. The tables
and maps, and associated metadata, will include lake-level projections and summaries by ecoregion of future in-lake
phosphorus concentrations and fish habitat scores. These products will be published on the USGS project web site.
Several technical tasks are also ongoing. The fish habitat projections for the baseline set of 260 coldwater lakes in
Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan are currently being expanded to a set of 895 coldwater lakes in the three state region.
Climate projections from an ensemble of statistically-downscaled climate projections from 16 GCMs (the CMIP-3 project)
are being summarized for the region. The statistics of projected air temperature and precipitation from the 16 GCM set will
be compared to the 3 GCM set used in the study.
__________________________________________________________________________
156301/19/2010 12/31/2015Start Date: End Date: Project ID:
__________________________________________________________________________
Principal Investigator(s)Lucinda Johnson
AccountAmountProject Sponsor(s) Active 3002-10426-00015141269,648USDI CESU Coop Ecosystem Study 01/19/2010 12/31/2015
$269,648Total
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LiDAR-based Bluff Assessment for Coastal land Use Planning
Land/Water Interactions
To conduct a digital terrain analysis of this newly-acquired LiDAR across Lake Superior`s North Shore to identify critical
or at-risk areas.
Objective
Background
Previous Activity
Current Activity
The striking character of the Lake Superior’s North Shore comes from its rugged bedrock-controlled topography, which
produces beautiful scenic vistas, abundant waterfalls, and fast-flowing streams that provide habitat for trout and many other
species. This same topography provides significant challenges, however, to natural resource management and land use
planning. The overlying soils are often erosive, and while erosion is a natural process, it can be accelerated by human
activity, resulting in impairments to streams and ultimately coastal waters of Lake Superior. The steep banks and bluffs are
also often important archeological sites, providing campsites and lookouts that have been used from early history to the
present by travelers along the North Shore.
Identifying bluffs, steep slopes, slumps, and other critical areas has been difficult in the past due to a lack of high-resolution
elevation data combined with the complexities of photointerpreting steep terrain in areas of heavy conifer cover. As a result,
while many problem areas along the North Shore are known, there is not a comprehensive understanding of the distribution
of steep topographic features throughout the coastal program boundary.
The intent of this proposal is to conduct a digital terrain analysis of this newly-acquired LiDAR across the coastal program
boundary to identify critical or at-risk areas. We will identify sites where steep slopes occur adjacent to stream reaches with
significant flow accumulation and/or erosive soils. In addition, we will conduct a more detailed characterization of several
critical sites using a side-scan terrestrial laser scanner (TLS). The TLS is a complement to the airborne LiDAR data; it is a
tripod-mounted device that can be used in the field to develop detailed characterizations of eroding banks, bluffs, or other
landscape features. This use of this new technology will serve two purposes – it will provide accurate baseline data to assess
changes in stream banks and bluffs over time, and will serve as a demonstrated of the capabilities of this emerging
technology to the community of north shore resource managers.
In the Duluth area, we are using LiDAR in conjuction with recent high resolution (3") CIR airphotos to develop detailed a
classification of urban stream watersheds, particularly to characterize the type cover on bluffs and other steep features. We
expanded our digital terrain analysis of LiDAR data, to north shore watersheds as well, including delineations of the Sucker,
French, Knife, Talmadge, Flute Reed and Grand Portage Rivers. We have calculated several terrrain analysis variable,
including the channel network, flow direction and flow accumulation.
__________________________________________________________________________
170908/28/2012 12/31/2013Start Date: End Date: Project ID:
__________________________________________________________________________
Principal Investigator(s)George Host
AccountAmountProject Sponsor(s) Active 3013-10424-0002814534,723MN Lk Sup Coastal Prog (USDOC-Prime) 08/28/2012 12/31/2013
$34,723Total
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Center for Water and the Environment – Program Notes
A project that started eight years ago with a generous donation from the late philanthropist Ron Weber
was recognized as the 2013 Partnership of the Year by Environmental Initiative on May 23. The Weber
Stream Restoration Initiative, managed by UMD’s Natural Resources Research Institute, was one of
15 finalists from across Minnesota. The Weber Stream Restoration Initiative is a collaborative effort
among local governments, agencies, citizen groups, and University of Minnesota scientists and educators.
Together they work to restore and protect the integrity of Lake Superior’s tributaries by identifying
critical areas, implementing restoration activities, and critically evaluating projects to inform future
restorations. Over $2.5 million in grants and in-kind matches have been raised leading to two major
restoration projects in 2009 and a suite of other projects still in progress. Key partners in the restoration
efforts were the City of Duluth and the South St. Louis Soil & Water Conservation District and the
Minnesota Pollution Control Agency and Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Other partners
include Minnesota Sea Grant, UMD Geological Sciences, Facilities Management and Office of
Sustainability, and the Boulder Lake Environmental Center. The Environmental Initiative organization
works to build partnerships that address complex environmental problems. The annual awards ceremony
honors innovative projects that have achieved extraordinary environmental results by harnessing the
power of partnership.
Personnel Gerald Niemi, senior research associate, was elected to a three-year term to the Raptor Research
Foundation board of directors. The Foundation is an international scientific society that accumulates and
disseminates scientific information about raptors. The group publishes the Journal of Raptor Research. Lucinda Johnson, senior research associate, received the Society for Freshwater Science Distinguished
Service Award for 2013. She was recognized for her contributions as president of the society in 2010-11
during which she administered progressive changes including changing the name from the North
American Bethological Society (NABS). Also highlighted were her years of service as secretary and on
various committees, as well as her efforts to coordinate a 4-society joint meeting in 2014 and active
student mentoring.
Lucinda Johnson, senior research associate, will serve as NRRI's interim director while a national search
is underway following the retirement of Mike Lalich in June.
Ron Moen was promoted to senior research associate in NRRI's Center for Water and the Environment.
Publications Scott Loss (UM TC campus), Ryan Hueffmeier, Cindy Hale, George Host, Gerald Sjerven, Lee Frelich
(UM TC campus). 2013. "Earthworm Invasions in Northern Hardwood Forests: a Rapid Assessment
Method." Natural Areas Journal 33(1): 21-30. Cindy Hale. Earthworms of the Great Lakes Region, 2nd ed. 2013. Kollath & Stensaas Publishing.
Carly Lapin, Matt Etterson (U.S. EPA), Gerald Niemi. 2013. "Occurrence of Connecticut Warbler
increases with coniferous forest patch size." The Condor 115:168-77.
Scott Loss (University of Minnesota TC), Ryan Hueffmeier, Cindy Hale, George Host, Gerald Sjerven, Lee Frelich (University of Minnesota TC). 2013. "Earthworm Invasions in Northern Hardwood
Forests: a Rapid Assessment Method." Natural Areas Journal 33(1). Cindy Hale, research associate, recently had her Great Lake Worm Watch online resources upgraded. Of
special note is the Invasion Earthworm Rapid Assessment Tool (IERAT) section. In addition, her ABC's
of Vermicomposting brochure was significantly updated.
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Scientific Presentations/Meetings NRRI staff participated in the following presentations at the 11th International Lake of the Woods Water
Quality Forum held in International Falls, Minn., in March: “A multi-indicator approach to describing the
ecological history of the White Iron Chain of Lakes,” Euan Reavie; Amy Kireta, research fellow; and
Andrea Nurse (University of Maine). Also presented was “A historical phosphorus budget for Lake of the
Woods: Sedimentation in the southern basin,” Mark Edlund (St. Croix Watershed Research Station);
Reavie; Shawn Schottler (St. Croix Watershed Research Station); Devin Hougardy, teaching assistant,
UMD Large Lakes Observatory; Nigel Wattrus, associate professor, UMD Large Lakes Observatory;
Nolan Baratono (MPCA); Andrew Paterson (Ontario Ministry of the Environment); and Dan Engstrom
(St. Croix Watershed Research Station).
NRRI staff participated in the following presentations at the Association for the Sciences of Limnology
and Oceanography (ASLO) Aquatic Sciences meeting held in New Orleans, La., in February: “New
problems, new tools: updating the paleolimnology of the Laurentian Great Lakes,” Euan Reavie;
Victoria Chraïbi, UMD graduate student; Lisa Allinger, research fellow; and Amy Kireta. Also
presented was “An updated paleolimnology of Lake Superior,” Chraïbi, Reavie, Amy Kireta, Meijun Cai, research associate, and Terry Brown, research associate.
Valerie Brady, research coordinator, presented information about her ongoing Great Lakes wetlands
research at the 2013 Society of Wetland Scientists Annual Meeting in Duluth, Minn., from June 2-6.
Outreach Cloquet middle school eighth-grader Holly McGinn, mentored by Research Fellow Jennifer Olker, was
chosen as a national semi-finalist for the Broadcom MASTERS (Math, Applied Science, Technology, and
Engineering for Rising Stars) program of the Society for Science & the Public. Holly's project used NRRI
frog skeletons and digital images to calculate the symmetry between frogs with limb mutations and frogs
without mutations. Euan Reavie attended the Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research Flow Cytometer Workshop held
in Texel, Netherlands, in February, to vet several vendors for analytical methods to analyze organisms in
ship ballast tanks.
Valerie Brady gave an invited presentation “How Stormwater Runoff Affects Stream Biota” at the Lake
Superior Watershed Ditch and Culvert Design Workshop in March, at the US EPA laboratory in Duluth.
The room was filled to capacity with 80 resource managers, hydrologists, and road and ditch engineers in
attendance. Brady also gave an invited seminar titled "Using Benthic Macroinvertabrates to Diagnose
Stream Impairment due to Excessive Fine Sediments" at the Twin Ports Freshwater Folk seminar series
on April 3. In addition, Brady gave an invited presentation titled “The Great Lakes Coastal Wetland
Monitoring Program: Assessing high-variability ecosystems” at the U.S. EPA Mid-Continent Ecology
Division Laboratory in Duluth on April 24.
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NRRI Business Development
112
Small Business Development Assistance
The NRRI supports the UMD Center for Economic Development (CED) for small business development
assistance to those businesses focusing on the commercialization or conservation of natural resources.
The assistance is related to business planning, financial planning, financing plans, marketing plans,
ecommerce, etc, which complements the research and development activities at NRRI.
From January through June 2013 fifteen businesses with a base in natural resources or energy
conservation were provided one-on-one consulting. Of those, eight deal with alternative energy
production, particularly in the use of biomass or wood pellet production.
Between January and June 2013, CED continued to assist businesses that would be considered “green.”
The industries included alternative energy using solar, wind or alternative fuels, energy saving initiatives,
environmentally sustainable products and geo-thermal processes. Some of the current businesses involve
the development of bio-fuels.
CED continued to market the MN Cup Business Plan Competition throughout the NE region, and advise
participants in the student and alternative fuel categories. The Minnesota Cup is sponsored by the
University of Minnesota, Wells Fargo and the State of Minnesota.
One of the NRRI Product Development Fund recipients is also participating in the CED Business
Incubator Program and has been working on numerous business and financial projections with CED staff
members. This business is a past semi-finalist in the MN Cup competition and is reviewing new investors
and financing, including product licensing agreements.
CED continues to work with one of the regional communities on a solution to a biomass project, and its
partnership with the Minnesota Logger Education Program.
The 20th Annual Basic Economic Development Course will be hold in July. This course is accredited
through the International Economic Development Council (IEDC) and is the first course in a series of six
that is required for the certification as a Certified Economic Development Professional (CEcD). The 24
participants come from six states - Nebraska, Iowa, Illinois, North Dakota, Wisconsin and Minnesota and
represented various levels of, private industry and the energy sector. The course is composed of ten
required topics that are covered during the week. Through the years, this course has received very high
ratings in the required evaluation structure.
Teen Enterprise - the Youth Entrepreneurship Camp – is scheduled in the Duluth area in June and in
Virginia in August. This camp was developed over a year ago and gives high school youth the
opportunity to explore entrepreneurship and business ownership. The participants are given the
opportunity to develop a Business Plan and they present their idea at the closing session. From the
classroom to the computer lab students participate in activities that focus on the challenges and
opportunities that come with starting a business. The Teens also visit and speak with members of the
business community and meet with entrepreneurs. The teens comment that their favorite part of the camp
is meeting real business owners and talking to them. This program was just recognized as a finalist for the
University Economic Development Association (UEDA) Awards for Excellence.
Expansion of SBDC network in northern Minnesota - The UMD Center of Economic Development
was recently notified that UMD and CED will be the new host for the NW SBDC in addition to the NE
SBDC. The NW SBDC covers eleven counties in north central and north western Minnesota. UMD has
been host to the NE SBDC for over 30 years and will be working with the regional partners in the NW
region to transition the NW SBDC to a regional host during the coming three years. The NW SBDC had
previously been hosted by Bemidji State University and most recently by Concordia College in Moorhead
which will continue as host until December 31, 2013. CED will work closely with UM Crookston and
Bemidji State as well as other regional partners to bring a new vision and direction to the NW SBDC.
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There are a number of efficiencies that can be accomplished with UMD covering both regions and there
are additional partnerships that can be increased to focus on the various industries that are more specific
to the northern third of Minnesota such as the timber industry and certain types of agricultural activity.
The SBDC network directs its activities to assisting entrepreneurs and existing business owners expand
and stabilize their businesses by providing one-on-one consulting, information resources, and educational
opportunities.
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NRRI Public Relations
115
PUBLIC RELATIONS ACTIVITIES
Media Progress/Results
Burrelle’s Luce Clipping Service Media Value = $437,164.00
Other media value (Not tracked by Burrelle’s) = $9,759
Total Media Value $446, 923 (-$237,414.66 since last report)
Articles by Media Type: 66% print, 57% online
Print Newspaper mentions/stories:
- Duluth News Tribune 16
- Minneapolis Star Tribune 1
- St. Paul Pioneer Press 1
- Minnesota Enterprise 1
- Twin Cities Business 1
- Minnesota Business mag. 1
- Small towns/Weeklies 47
Online mentions/stories: 57
Television broadcasts: 10
Radio broadcast: 6
Social Media
- Facebook (8/8/13) 196 Likes/Fans (+52)
- LinkedIn (8/8/13) 50 members of the NRRI Group (+2)
Print NRRI Now Newsletter: 2,086 subscribers (-48)
Electronic Now Newsletter: 680 active contacts (+78)
42.2% (+4.0%) Open Rate (Industry Avg. = 20%)
NRRI Website: 15,918 Avg. successful page requests per day (+4,082)
Activity for requested reports:
- Economic Geology Group = 39.11%
- Moose in Minnesota = 11.43%
- Great Lakes Worm Watch = 8.49%
- Canada Lynx = 7.92%
- Rustmap = 5.99%
- CARTD = 5.62%
- Coastal GIS = 3.59%
- Default = 2.93%
- NRRI Now Newsletters = 2.40%
Visibility/Other PR Projects
Total number of people toured NRRI: 153
Other Public Relations Promotions:
Organized Writer’s Workshop for NRRI Book Project – Feb. 25
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Coordinated Industrial Byproducts Conference – held March 6
Led 4 University for Seniors classes with NRRI staff – throughout May
Coordinated Lung Health Partnership media event with TC campus – April 12
Staffed Lake Superior College Earth Day display – April 23
Coordinated media for Heating the Midwest conference – April 25
Gave invited talk to P.E.O. Women’s organization – 10
Nominated and won Partnership of the Year award for Weber Stream Restoration
Initiative – May 23
Gave invited talk to Association of Recycling Managers – June 13
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