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Think Global, Mine Local

2017 SME MN CONFERENCE . THINK GLOBAL, MINE LOCAL . DULUTH ENTERTAINMENT CONVENTION CENTER2

Calendar of Events Monday, April 17, 2017

Registration 7 am – 5 pm

Short Courses: 8 am – 4:30 pm

Flotation Practice in 8 am – 4:30 pm the Iron Ore Industry

Mine-to-Mill Process 8 am – Noon

New Concepts in Noon – 4:30 pm Environmental Permitting: Site-Specific Standards and TALU

Vendor Move-In 1 pm – 5 pm

Welcome Reception 6 pm – 8 pm

Tuesday, April 18, 2017 Registration 7 am – 5 pm

Student Breakfast 7 am – 8:30 am

Vendor Move-In 7 am – 9 am

Welcome and Plenary 8:30 am – 10 am

Exhibit Hall Open 9 am – 6:30 pm

Break (Exhibit Hall) 10 am – 10:45 am

Technical Sessions 10:45 am – 12:15 pm

Lunch 12:15 pm – 1:45 pm

Technical Sessions 1:45 pm – 2:45 pm

Break (Exhibit Hall) 2:45 pm – 3:30 pm

Technical Sessions 3:30 pm – 4:30 pm

Reception (Exhibit Hall) 4:30 pm – 6:30 pm

Wednesday, April 19, 2017Registration 7 am – Noon

Ethics Course 8 am – 9 am

Vendor Move-Out 10 am – 2 pm

Ethics Course 8 am – 9 am

Technical Sessions 9 am – 10 am

Break 10 am – 10:30 am

Closing Plenary 10:30 am – 11:45 am

Professional Networking Lunch Noon – 1:30 pm

Annual Business Meeting 2 pm – 3 pm

2018 Planning Meeting 3 pm – 4 pm


32017 SME MN CONFERENCE . THINK GLOBAL, MINE LOCAL . DULUTH ENTERTAINMENT CONVENTION CENTER

About the ConferenceThe 90th Annual Meeting of the Minnesota Section of SME is the premier regional minerals conference in the Midwest, featuring a wide range of session topics addressing pressing industry issues, emerging industry trends and latest industry technology developments. The conference is hosted annually in Duluth, Minnesota and has a long history of being one of the top performing regional conferences in the iron ore industry.

Today, our industry is affected by changes across town as well as those from around the world. The 2017 SME MN Conference is your opportunity to learn more on the current economic trends in our mining region and how it is impacted by global economics.

Testimonials

“The SME Minnesota Conference provides a great opportunity to network with my

industry colleagues and the short courses are a great way to gain in-depth knowledge

from industry experts.”– Julie Marinucci, Sr. Project Engineer for SEH

“The SME MN Conference is a breath of fresh air every spring! After being cooped up all winter in a work, home, work, home cycle, the April Conference provides the opportunity

to get out and to network and learn about success stories, breakthroughs, and

happenings in our industry.”– Mike Perala, Director – Strategic Accounts,

Minnesota Power

Exhibit Information – Booth sales are now open!

Your booth includes: Space Cost:· One 8-foot skirted table · $700 – 1st 10’ x 10’ booth

· Two chairs · $600 – 2nd 10’ x 10’ booth· One 7” x 44” company ID sign

with company name and booth number

· Wireless Internet service· Two booth staff registrations per 10’ x 10’ booth

To purchase your booth, please visit the conference website www.smemnconference.com or contact the Exhibits Department at [email protected]!



Housing InformationA block of rooms has been reserved for meeting participants at the following hotels from April 17–19, 2017. The rates are subject to a 12.88% Duluth hotel tax. Make your reservations early! Room blocks are released on March 15, 2017.

Please call for reservations: reference SME 2017 group rate.

Holiday Inn Hotel and Suites200 West First Street, Duluth, MN 55802Phone: 218-722-1202 or 800-465-4329Rates: $99 (single/double)

Radisson Hotel Duluth-Harborview505 West Superior Street, Duluth, MN 55802Phone: 218-727-8981 or 800-333-3333Rates $139

Pier B Resort800 West Railroad Street, Duluth, MN 55802Phone: 218-481-8888Rates: $239

Sheraton Hotel-Duluth301 East Superior Street, Duluth, MN 55802Phone: 218-336-2701 or 888-627-8122Rates: $119

The Inn on Lake Superior350 Canal Park Drive, Duluth, MN 55802Phone: 218-726-1111 or 888-668-4352Rates: $109.99 – $149.99For online reservations, please visit www.theinnonlakesuperior.com, select Reservations, select Sign In, select Attending a Group Function, and enter the Group ID and Password:Group ID: 7382 Password: 37000033

The Suites Hotel at Waterfront Plaza325 Lake Avenue South, Duluth, MN 55802Phone: 218-727-4663 or 800-794-1716Rates: $94 – $129


Special EventsMonday, April 17, 2017 Welcome Reception

$15/person advanced registration required6 pm – 8 pm Location: Pier B Resort

Celebrate the beginning of the 90th Annual Meeting of the Minnesota Section of SME with this evening social. This reception is the perfect opportunity to make new connections with other conference attendees and our conference exhibitors.

Tuesday, April 18, 2017 Student Breakfast

7 am – 8:30 am Location: Gooseberry Falls 1

This casual networking breakfast provides students the opportunity to meet industry representatives, learn about internships, co-ops, employment opportunities and SME student chapters and related activities. (open to registered students only)

Trade Show and Vendors’ Reception4:30 pm – 6:30 pm Location: Pioneer HallFood and beverages provided, name badg-es required for admission.

Sponsored by the 2017 SME Trade Show exhibitors and co-hosts from the mining industry, the Vendors’ Reception is open to conference attendees, vendors, co-hosts, mining representa-tives and guests.

Wednesday, April 19, 2017Ethics Course

8 am – 9 am Location: Lake Superior J & K

Kelsey Johnson, President of the Minnesota Iron Mining Association This course offers 1.0 Professional Development Hour toward ethics training as required for some professional licensures and certifications.

Professional Networking Luncheon$35/person advanced registration required

Noon – 1:30 pm Location: Gooseberry Falls 3

Some Things I’ve Learned Over 30+ Years in Mining

Barbara A. Filas, SME 2005 President

SME-MN Section Annual Business Meeting

2 pm – 3 pm Location: Board Room, Level 2

The agenda for the annual SME Minnesota Section Business Meeting will include the announcement of the annual election results for the 2017-2018 officers, the annual treasurer’s report, reports from the Twin Cities and Northern Minnesota subsections, as well as various Minnesota Section committee re-ports. In addition, the floor will be open to other new business items from the membership.

SME-MN Section 2018 Planning Meeting

3 pm – 4 pm Location: French River Room, Level 2

The agenda for the 2018 planning meeting is to recap and review activities and coordination that the Minnesota Section will be involved in for the 2018 SME Annual Conference & Expo scheduled for February, 25–28, 2018, Minneapolis, Minnesota. Any SME member is welcome to attend.

Congressman Rick Nolan, Opening Plenary Speaker at last year’s MN Conference.


Sponsorship OpportunitiesGold Level Co-Host Sponsorships – $400

Onsite Promotions:· 4 tickets to the Tuesday Vendors’ Reception· Recognition as sponsor of all exhibit hall functions · Recognition on general sponsor signs· Company description and contact information in onsite program

Silver Level Co-Host Sponsorships – $300Onsite Promotions:· 2 tickets to the Tuesday Vendors’ Reception· Recognition on general sponsor signs· Company contact information in onsite program

Student Breakfast Table Sponsor – $500Onsite Promotions:· Recognition as official sponsor of Student Breakfast· Students would be invited to sit at your table to network with

representatives from each company· Recognition on general sponsor signs · Invitation for a representative to sit on the panel during the breakfast

Welcome Reception Sponsor – $250Onsite Promotions:· Recognition as official sponsor of Welcome Reception· Recognition on general sponsor signs

SOLD! Wine Sponsor at Welcome Reception – $1,000

Onsite Promotions:· Recognition as official sponsor of the Welcome Reception· Recognition on general sponsor signsAdded Benefit:· You will be allowed to bring promotional material to be set by

the beverage area

Beer Sponsor at Welcome Reception – $1,000Onsite Promotions:· Recognition as official sponsor of the Welcome Reception· Recognition on general sponsor signsAdded Benefit:· You will be allowed to bring promotional material to be set by the

beverage area

Professional Networking Luncheon – $250Onsite Promotions:· Recognition as official sponsor of Professional Networking Luncheon· Recognition on general sponsor signs


As of 1/5/17

Before the conference each sponsor will receive:

· Your logo will be included on promotional material for the conference

· Your logo and link to your website are included on the conference website

· Recognition on all print advertising

· Logo on all printed promotional material

Thank you to our 2017 Conference Sponsors:


Minnesota Short CoursesMonday, April 17, 2017All courses are held at the Duluth Entertainment and Convention Center (DECC)

Flotation Practice in the Iron Ore Industry 8 am – 4:30 pm Cost: $125 per person

This course is designed to provide attendees with a basic understanding of the flotation process, especially as applied to the iron ore industry. We will discuss project examples and experiences related to the flotation of silica in concentrating iron ore (magnetite and hematite). We will also discuss examples of existing/traditional flotation equipment and new flotation technology including reagent suites. The content is designed to provide plant process staff (operations, maintenance, and environmental) with the basic knowledge and understanding of the concepts, design, operation, and optimization of flotation circuits in the iron ore industry. Plant staff, consultants and design engineers new to, or already working in the iron ore industry who wish to improve their knowledge or get a better understanding of flotation practice should attend.

The course will cover the following specific aspects of flotation in iron ore processing:

1. Flotation Basics a. Flotation scienceb. Fundamental reagent and flotation chemistryc. Bubbles, froths, bubble-particle interactions

2. Why Flotation in the Iron Ore Industrya. Historyb. Hematitec. Magnetite

3. Project Examples and Experience in the Iron Ore Industry

4. Tools for optimization of flotation process circuits

a. Flotation modelingb. Flotation analysis and process monitoring

5. Flotation Equipment Discussiona. Standard technologyb. New technology and developments

6. Chemical Discussiona. Standard technologyb. New technology and developmentsc. Environmental considerations


Minnesota Short Courses Continued

Mine-to-Mill Process8 am – NoonCost: $75 per person

To produce a high quality pellet from low-grade magnetite iron ore, it is important that each stage in the process (orebody models, mining, concentrating, and pelletizing) be reconciled to minimize deviations from product specifications and maximize throughput and recovery, but control cost. In order for this to occur, it is important that engineers or geologists managing each stage have a site-specific understanding of the standard mine-to-mill (M2M) approach applicable to any style of mineral deposit – collaboratively integrating geology, mining, and mineral processing knowledge to optimize overall productivity and cost. It begins with a good foundation in geology and mineralogy to understand liberation characteristics of valuable minerals and where downstream processing problems could originate. This information is used in planning the optimal blend of ores and optimized blasting for mine sequencing and ore liberation. The final step is reconciling planned versus actual mine-delivered ore qualities with plant performance to develop more accurate metrics for future planning and budgeting. This short course will review the following topics related to understanding M2M relationships.

1. Introduction to Geology of the Iron Range, focusing on macroscopic aspects of the Biwabik Iron Formation that impact downstream plant performance

2. Mineralogy and ore characterization – establishing cause and effect relationships between ore mineral liberation and plant performance

3. Mining the data – mine-to-mill databases, analysis, statistics, importance of QA/QC

4. Reconciliation – validating the model

This course is intended for mine operation supervisors, geologists, mine engineers, plant (concentrator and pelletizer) operation foremen, process engineers, or anyone interested in the idealized M2M process on the Mesabi Iron Range.

Speakers: Peter Jongewaard – Geologist

Mike Orobona – Geologist

Kurt Gitzlaff – Mining Engineer

Rodney Johnson – Geo-Metallurgist


New Concepts in Environmental Permitting Site Specific Standards & TALU

Noon – 4:30 pmCost: $75 per person

Potential biological impacts on water systems receiving discharge from municipal and industrial facilities are increasingly being considered when reviewing environmental permit applications and determining appropriate discharge effluent limits. Understanding and characterizing potential impacts on a case by case basis is an integral component of this concept, as discharges and associated receiving water systems vary greatly across the state. More and more, biological populations are being studied in addition to chemical analyses, which have historically been used to determine effluent limits. As biological populations change from site to site, there is no one-size-fits-all model to apply to a discharge being considered for permitting. Generating site-specific standards based on biology is a newer concept that is receiving more attention as a better understanding of existing biological populations associated with existing discharges has been developed. This course will examine the rationale, methodology and advantages for developing site-specific biological standards as opposed to strictly chemical-based effluent limits.

Speakers: Will Bouchard and O’Niell TedrowWill Bouchard, Research Scientist, MPCA. Will Bouchard received his M.A. (2002) in Entomology from the University of Kansas and his Ph.D. (2007) in Entomology from the University of Minnesota. He was an adjunct professor at Hamline University and a post-doctoral researcher at the Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University before becoming a research scientist at the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) in 2008. His work at the MPCA includes coordinating the implementation of the tiered aquatic life uses (TALU) framework and the development of water quality standards to protect aquatic biota.

In 2004, O’Niell Tedrow earned a Bachelor’s of Science in Aquatic Biology from St. Cloud State University with a research focus on Freshwater Toxicology. O’Niell continued his education at Clemson University, and in 2007 earned a Master’s of Science Degree in Forest Resources with an emphasis on Freshwater Toxicology. Following graduation, he worked as an USEPA SSA Research Assistant in Athens, GA, from Sept. 2007 – June 2009. In June 2009, O’Niell became full-time employed at Northeast Technical Services, Inc. (NTS) in Virginia, MN, as a Water Resources Scien-tist / Aquatic Toxicologist until August 2012 when he became a Biology Instructor at Vermilion Community College while retaining a part-time position at NTS as a Water Resources Scientist / Aquatic Toxicologist. Currently, O’Niell is earning his PhD from Lakehead University with a focus on wild rice ecology, while maintaining his Instructorship at VCC and part-time position at NTS.


Technical SessionsProgram Chairs: Allyz Kramer, Short Elliott Hendrickson Inc. and John Heine, NRRI

Tuesday, April 18

8:30 am – 10 am OPENING PLENARYOpening Remarks by Julie Lucas, Conference Chair

Pat Huston, “U.S. 53 Highway Relocation Project”The talk will emphasize domestic steel use, social license and responsibility, sustainability for a key taconite production facility in NE MN, and efficient and effective project management.

SME Session Chair Paula Gyrin, Hibbing Taconite Co.

SME Session Chair Greg Beckstrom, Donaldson Co.

NRRI Session Chair Chan Lan Chun

SME Session Chair Dan Gebhart, Hibbing Taconite Co.

SME Session Chair Dan Palo, Barr Engineering Co.

SME Co-Chair Katie Larson, Short Elliott Hendrickson Inc.

NRRI Co-Chair Julie Oreskovich

NRRI Co-Chair George Host

NRRI Co-Chair Marsha Patelke

NRRI Co-Chair Shashi Rao

Start TimeEnvironmental – Air Quality

Industrial Minerals – Aggregates

Environmental – Technology Mining and Exploration Processing

10:45 am

Tech

Session

1

A Survey of the Best Time-Saving, Headache- Reducing, Flexibility- Increasing Air Permitting Innovations in Mining States

Clay Raasch, Trinity Consultants

Environmental Review Update and Silica Sand Update

Erik Dahl, Minnesota Environmental Quality Board

Remote Sensing of Wetlands for Land Use Planning and Environmental Permitting

Bryan Tolcser, Short Elliott Hendrickson Inc.

Presplitting in Taconite – An Update on Progress

Travis Davidsavor, Barr Engineering Co.

Production of High Carbon DRI: The Downstream Integration for Mining Companies

Angelo Manenti, TENOVA Core

11:15 am

Tech

Session

2

Sensitivity of Fugitive Dust Air Modeling Results to Non-Default Modeling Options

Todd Fasking, Barr Engineering Co.

Establishing the Potential for Lithium Mineralization on State-Managed Mineral Rights

Andrea Reed, MN DNR

The Impact of Sulfate and Sulfide on MeHg in Mining-Impacted Freshwater Lake and Wetland Sediment

Nate Johnson, University of Minnesota Duluth

Structural Controls on Mineralization in the Black Hills, SD

Stephen Allard, Winona State University

Optimum Use of DRI in North American Mini-mills: Latest Operational and Technological Developments

Dario Pauluzzi, Danieli

11:45 am

Tech

Session

3

NextGen Ambient Air Particulate Monitoring

Michael Zebell, ERM

Innovative Peat Harvest and Manufacturing for the Production of Granular Carriers for Agriculture

Peggy Jones, American Peat Technology

Advanced Horizontal Water Drainage Boreholes for Mine-related Reme-diation Applications and Active Mining Operations

Michael Bohan, REI Drilling

Fuel Filtration Needs and for Heavy Duty Off Road Equipment and Understanding Cold Weather Implications

Jim Doyle, Donaldson Co.

NorthMet Ore Processing

David Dreisinger, UBC

12:15 pm – 1:45 pm LUNCH1:45 pm

Tech

Session

4

Evaluation and Ranking of Dust Control Measures for Mine Tailings Impoundments

Robert Farmer, ERM

Continuing the Dimension Stone Inventory of Northern Minnesota

Cheyanne Jacobs, MN DNR

Reclamation of Iron Ore Scram Mining Tailings: Innovations in Establishing Native Vegetation

Allyz Kramer, Short Elliott Hendrickson Inc.

Appropriate Correlation Factors for IS50/UCS Tests at the Grasberg Mining Complex

Franz Campero, MEC International

Testing an Organic Binder to Replace Bentonite in the Iron Ore Pellets

Matias Penttinnen, University of Oulu Finland, Kemira Inc.

2:15 pm

Tech

Session

5

Learn How Wind Fences Can Be an Effective Method to Prevent the Creation and Release of Airborne Dust from Your Stockpiling Operation

David Gilroy, Dust Solutions

Finding Aggregate Faster: The New Web Application That Identifies Construc-tion Aggregate Resources on School Trust Lands

Corrie Thomas Floyd, MN DNR

Temporary Recreational Use of Mine Lands to Assist with Social License

Peter Kero, Barr Engineering Co.

Instrumentation Planning and Use at a Saskatchewan Mine

Vicki Hagberg, Barr Engineering Co.

Characterization of Sinter Raw Mix by Laser Induced Breakdown Spectrometer

Mingming Zhang, ArcelorMittal

2:45 pm – 3:30 pm BREAK


Tuesday, April 18SME Session Chair Paula Giryn, Hibbing Taconite Co.


SME Session Chair Christie Kearney, PolyMet Mining Co.


SME Session Chair Jon Maki, Kemira, Inc.

SME Co-Chair Katie Larson, Short Elliott Hendrickson Inc.


NRRI Co-Chair Rolf Weberg



Start TimeEnvironmental – Air Quality


Environmental – Social License, Policy Mining and Exploration Processing

3:30 pm

Tech

Session

6

Laboratory Analysis of the Generation and Mitigation of Fugitive Dust Events at Tailings Impoundments in Cold Weather Climates

Bonnie Zwissler, Barr Engineering Co.

Advanced Aggregate Exploration Techniques: Landform Mapping Using LiDAR and GIS

Jacqueline Finck, Terracon

Making Positive Safety Practices Successful and Sustainable

Marilee Robertson, ERM

HibTac Hydrology and Water Balance

Chris Winter, Hibbing Taconite Co.

Estimating Ultra-fine Screening Performance and Efficiency

Ryan Cunningham, DRA Global

4 pm

Tech

Session

7

How to Address PM Emission Testing Issues

Todd Potas, Short Elliott Hendrickson Inc.

Integration of Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) into Mining Operations

Matt Chaffee, Tiller Corporation

Educational-Based Economic Development

Allen Huju, Iron Range Engineering

Mine Water Management at a Limited-discharge Potash Mine in Saskatchewan

Jeff Grinsel, Barr Engineering Co.

Process for Increasing Iron Recovery with Oxidized Iron Ores

Tom Petersen, NRRI

Wednesday, April 19

8 am – 9 am ETHICS COURSEKelsey Johnson, President of the Minnesota Iron Mining Association

This course offers 1.0 Professional Development Hour toward ethics training as required for some professional licensures and certifications.

NRRI Session Chair Chan Lan Chun


SME Session Chair Christie Kearney, PolyMet Mining Co.


SME Session Chair Jon Maki, Kemira, Inc.

SME Co-Chair Les Flemming, Iron Range Engineering


NRRI Co-Chair Rolf Weberg



Start TimeEnvironmental – Technology


Environmental – Social License, Policy Mining and Exploration Processing

9 am

Tech

Session

8

Microbial Contributions to Pyrrhotite Oxidation in the Duluth Complex

Daniel Jones, University of Minnesota

An Overview of NRRI Minerals-based by-product Research and Development Activities

Larry Zanko, NRRI

How to Wage Peace in the Community: Avoid the Contention, Divisiveness, Negativity that Kill Com-munity Relationships and Projects Site Successfully with Lots of People Still Angry

Jim Lukaszewski, The Lukaszewski Group Division, Risdall

A Checklist of Laws, Rules and Contacts for Companies Exploring in Minnesota

Glenn Melchart, MN DNR

Development of a Global Vision for Alternative Processing of Iron Ore Deposits: the Case of High Phosphorous Oolitic Iron Ores

Luca Tommasi, Danieli

9:30 am

Tech

Session

9

The Development of Peat-based Weak Anion Exchange Resin that Removes Sulfate Anions from Acidic Water

Igor Kolomitsyn, NRRI.

Aggregate Materials Response to High Strain Rate Testing

Stanley Vitton, Michigan Tech University

The Trump EPA: Reform or Rehash

Peter Tomasi, Quarles & Brady LLP

Why Minnesota: A Guiding Question for the Redesign of the Minnesota Minerals Coordinating Committee Website

Don Elsenheimer, MN DNR.

Review of the Most Cost Effective North American Steelmaking Routes Over the Past 10 Years and Predictions for the Future

Janice Bolen, Hatch

10 am – 10:30 am BREAK


Tuesday, April 18, 2017

Opening Plenary8:30 am – 10:00 am

Opening Remarks Julie Lucas, Conference Chair

U.S. 53 Highway Relocation ProjectPat Huston The talk will emphasize domestic steel use, social license and responsibility, sustainability for a key taconite produc-tion facility in NE MN, and efficient and effective project management.

Technical Program AbstractsEnvironmental – Air Quality Chairs:

Paula Gyrin, Hibbing Taconite Co.Katie Larson, Short Elliott Hendrickson Inc.

10:45 amA Survey of the Best Time-Saving, Headache- Reducing, Flexibility-Increasing Air Permitting Innovations in Mining States

Clay Raasch, Trinity Consultants, Lake Elmo, MN David Strohm, Trinity Consultants, Boise, ID Eddie Al-Rayes, Trinity Consultants, Phoenix, AZ

Whether a company is mining for metals, coal, phos-phate, industrial minerals, or any other valued raw material, the language included in its environmental permitting documents can produce significant oper-ational constraints—or flexibility. This is particularly true with air quality permits which can limit the usage of fleet vehicles, process equipment operation and even the routine testing of emergency generators. Across the nation, state air quality permitting agen-cies are addressing the unique needs of the mining sector using an array of programmatic and regulatory tools. Trinity Consultants has worked with these air quality regulators, and provided air quality permitting services to over 125 mining clients on upwards of 700 projects for mining facilities across the United States. The authors will summarize the best innovations they have participated in or been witness to, for producing functional and operationally flexible air quality permits. Specifically, the presentation will address permitting options and approaches for permit exemptions and waivers, registration type permits, fugitive dust con-trol, fleet vehicle operation and particle size distri-butions for fugitive dust (PM

10 vs. PM

2.5 emissions,

including limiting prediction of PM2.5

emissions to high-temperature processes).

11:15 am Sensitivity of Fugitive Dust Air Modeling Results to Non-Default Modeling Options

Todd Fasking and Jenni Koenen, Barr Engineering Co., Minneapolis, MN Jeff Bennett, Barr Engineering Co., Jefferson City, MO Eric Edwalds and Pat Sheehy, Barr Engineering Co., Minneapolis, MN

Model results are crucial to regulatory project approv-ability. EPA’s air quality modeling system (AERMOD) has default and non-default options. The non-default options require technical demonstrations and agency approvals to use, but in some instances this may be worth pursuing. Here we will discuss two alternative options related to fugitive dust sources at mining oper-ations: (1) particle deposition algorithms (Methods 1 and 2) which can be used to calculate plume depletion (removal) and (2) a surface roughness option (adjusted u star) that addresses the tendency of the default model to over predict fugitive transport in low wind speeds.

11:45 amNextGen Ambient Air Particulate Monitoring

Michael Zebell, ERM, Milwaukee, WI

Imagine parents, out for a stroll with their infant, can check a real-time map to view the air quality in their neighborhood. Imagine that they have a device clipped to their stroller that sends particulate data to the cloud...one of hundreds in their town. This is the vision of companies seeking to empower citizens to measure and share air quality information. This presentation covers the progress made in next generation ambi-ent monitoring technology; the products available and current activity to evaluate these technologies. A sum-mary of particulate and haze monitoring devices on the market is presented, including data comparisons to reference methods. Current trends toward facility fence-line monitoring driven by Environmental Justice and future empowerment of citizens with these inex-pensive, portable tools are discussed.

1:45 pmEvaluation and Ranking of Dust Control Measures for Mine Tailings Impoundments

Robert Farmer, ERM, Scottsdale, AZ Fred Tyratti and Cassady Kristensen, Rio Tinto, South Jordan, UT

Mine tailings, particularly in arid climates, can represent substantial sources of windblown dust. Mining facilities operated worldwide by Rio Tinto and others have imple-mented innovative methods to mitigate these emissions. This study identified and evaluated dust control practices that have been tested and successfully applied for mine tailings dams and impoundments. Operations in the United States and elsewhere in the world were surveyed. First, the range of control strategies and best manage-ment practices (BMPs) were evaluated over a diverse range of conditions. Secondly, this study developed a ranking of candidate controls, and identified key fac-tors that contributed to successful implementation. This approach provides decision criteria to refine the choices among proven and innovative practices for tailings dust control to suit local conditions.


2:15 pmMining Operators Are Facing Increasingly Stringent Government Regulations to Control Fugitive and Respirable Dust from Their Stockpiling and Material Handling Operations

David Gilroy, Dust Solutions Inc-DSI, Vancouver, WA

The EPA recognizes permeable wind barriers as an effec-tive method to control fugitive dust from open storage piles. Fabric type wind fences with a proven track record of over 30 years can be constructed in a matter of weeks without interfering with ongoing operations. This keeps your plant in compliance, lessening the visual impact of your operations and enhance public perception of your efforts to protect the environment. What is a wind fence? How does it work? Where does it go? How are wind fence projects developed? Site surveys, effectiveness studies and engineering. Comparison of wind fence materials and methods of construction.

3:30 pmLaboratory Analysis of the Generation and Mitigation of Fugitive Dust Events at Tailings Impoundments in Cold Weather Climates

Bonnie Zwissler, Barr Engineering Co., Minneapolis, MN Stan Vitton, Thomas Oommen and Eric Seagren, Michigan Technological University, Houghton, MI

Large volumes of tailings, which are a by-product of mining operations, are typically stored in tailings impoundments. These impoundments are subject to increasing levels of environmental scrutiny, for potential issues including fugitive dust emissions. Wind erosion of mine tailings and the resulting dust emissions, especially those generated in cold weather, remain an ongoing challenge for the mining industry to manage. This presentation will discuss industry-stan-dard approaches to fugitive dust mitigation at tailings impoundments, the additional challenges associated with managing cold weather dusting events, and the development of a laboratory-based method to repli-cate this cold weather dusting phenomenon (freez-ing and sublimation) on tailings and characterize the fugitive dust using wind tunnel testing. This labora-tory-based method allows for preliminary testing of mitigation techniques prior to field implementation.

4:00 pmHow to Address PM Emission Testing Issues

Todd Potas, Short Elliott Hendrickson Inc., St. Paul, MN

Particulate emissions characterization continues to present a challenge for facility air quality compliance. The lack of emissions data for sources at the particu-late matter (PM) less than 2.5 microns (PM2.5) and for that matter, PM less than 10 microns (PM10) size frac-tions, has led to more and more facilities conducting PM emissions testing versus using reference emission factors from sources like U.S. EPA AP-42. This pre-sentation will discuss PM2.5, PM10 and PM emission testing issues to address for compliance testing pro-tocol plans. Techniques for engineering testing before a scheduled compliance test will also be discussed. Testing as it relates to permitting compliance and air dispersion modeling will be reviewed with project examples. Particulate emission source comparative data from PM2.5, PM10 and PM results and discussion will be included in the presentation.

Industrial Minerals/AggregatesChairs:

Greg Beckstrom, Donaldson Co.Julie Oreskovich, NRRI

10:45 amEnvironmental Quality Board: Environmental Review Update and Silica Sand Update

Erik Dahl, Courtney Ahlers-Nelson, Minnesota Environmental Quality Board, St. Paul, MN

The 2013 Minnesota Legislature passed and Governor Mark Dayton signed new legislation to address silica sand mining, processing and transportation opera-tions in Minnesota. The legislation directs state agen-cies to provide local units of government with technical assistance on regulation and permitting. As part of the 2013 Legislation, the Environmental Quality Board was mandated to: Develop model standards and cri-teria for mining, processing, and transporting silica sand: 1) Tools to assist local governments in planning for and regulating silica sand projects. 2) Assemble a silica sand technical assistance team to provide local units of government, at their request, with assistance with ordinance development, zoning, environmental review and permitting, monitoring, or other issues arising from silica sand mining and processing oper-ations. 3) Amend its rules for environmental review.

11:15 amEstablishing the Potential for Lithium Mineralization on State-Managed Mineral Rights

Andrea Reed, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, Hibbing, MN

Lithium batteries are powering our electronic devices and vehicles more than ever, leading to increased interest in lithium deposits. Global production of lith-ium is currently from brines and granitic pegmatites, with potential production from clays. Of these deposit types, the best likelihood of a Minnesota discovery may reside in pegmatites. As a land and mineral rights manager for the Public School Trust Fund, the Depart-ment of Natural Resources is conducting a project to evaluate pegmatites for lithium potential. This project will contribute to the education of future generations through sales, leases, or royalties and possibly a greener future for everyone.

11:45 amInnovative Peat Harvest and Manufacturing for The Production of Granular Carriers for Agriculture

Peggy Jones and Doug Green, American Peat Technology, Aitkin, MN

Peat, partially decayed vegetation, accumulates in low-lying depressions. Peat is a valuable resource in the horticultural and turfgrass industries, and the depos-its can reach depths of over 10 meters. American Peat Technology (APT), however, harvests reed-sedge peat to create innovative products for use in the agricultural industry. The success of APT is driven largely by a his-tory of creative engineering and innovative thinking. In an


industry where buyers are unwilling to pay a premium for a product that can be dug out of the ground with a shovel, APT has developed a state-of-the-art manufacturing facility that supplies most of the North American mar-ket for peat-based microbial carriers. This presentation describes APT’s methods of peat harvest and manufac-turing process, which together, brand them as a stand-alone type of company in the peat industry.

1:45 pmContinuing the Dimension Stone Inventory of Northern Minnesota

Cheyanne Jacobs, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, Hibbing, MN

Dimension stone is an integral part of interior and exterior design for both home and commercial proj-ects. Because of the high demand for quality stone products, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources conducts a dimension stone inventory. This is a part of its trustee role to provide mineral potential information to the surface land managers. Areas of high potential are offered for lease to generate funds for the school trust and tax districts. Resources such as aerial photography, LiDAR, geologic maps, and other digital data, as well as field verification, are used to locate areas of high dimension stone potential.

2:15 pmFinding Aggregate Faster: The New Web Application That Identifies Construction Aggregate Resources on School Trust Lands

Corrie Thomas Floyd, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, St. Paul, MN

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources is directed by statute to manage School Trust Lands in a manner that adds value to the Permanent School Fund. Identification and development of construction aggregate resources on School Trust Lands provides one such opportunity. In an effort to promote the potential leasing of School Trust aggregate resources, The Division of Lands and Minerals has developed the “School Trust Aggregate Finder” application. This tool is an interactive web map that identifies School Trust parcels which may contain valuable sand and gravel deposits based on geologic data, gravel pit records, elevation data and field records. Our goal is to help public transportation administrators and private com-panies locate aggregate prospects faster, and improve public recognition of School Trust lease opportunities.

3:30 pmAdvanced Aggregate Exploration Techniques: Landform Mapping Using LiDAR and GIS

Jacqueline Finck and Jonathan Ellingson, Terracon, West Fargo, ND

Landform mapping has been used for decades for the exploration of sand and gravel deposits by mapping geomorphic landforms within glacial and fluvial sys-tems. Geographic Information System (GIS) has been an effective tool used to access, interpret, summarize, and display massive amounts of geological data. New light detection and ranging (LiDAR) data reveals land-forms not visible with traditional mapping techniques, making it easier to map areas with little topographic relief such as the Red River Valley. LiDAR, combined with GIS to complete landform mapping, gives geol-gists the ability to identify and map sand and gravel deposits never seen before.

4:00 pmIntegration of Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) into Mining Operations

Matt Chaffee, Tiller Corporation, Maple Grove, MN

The migration of UAS technology from the government & military realm to the civilian enthusiast and forward thinking business population has created a firestorm of innovation in technology, data collection, and work-flow improvements. As the technology continues to advance, the applications for exploration, mine plan-ning, and mine operations scale along with it. It is easy to get excited and eager to implement this new technology into your operations, but one must always be aware of the current limitations of the technology and its proper application. Tiller Corporation is a con-struction materials supplier based in Maple Grove Minnesota, supplying the market with aggregates, hot mix asphalt and liquid asphalt cement. In this pre-sentation we will share our successes, struggles and discoveries during our two years of UAS technology use. Having used both fixed wing and multi-rotor tech-nology we will talk about the appropriate environment for each aircraft, how we have integrated the technol-ogy into our workflow, and the direction we see the industry evolving.


Environmental – TechnologyChairs:

Chan Lan Chun, NRRIGeorge Host, NRRI

10:45 amRemote Sensing of Wetlands for Land Use Planning and Environmental Permitting

Bryan Tolcser, Short Elliott Hendrickson Inc., St. Paul, MN Allyz Kramer, Short Elliott Hendrickson Inc., Duluth, MN

The wetland permitting process can be cumbersome for large projects involving many site design alterna-tives or vast areas of landscape to evaluate. Remote sensing can be used as a tool during preliminary proj-ect planning and environmental review to identify wet-land areas to be avoided or minimized for project site selection, placement of site infrastructure, and alter-natives analysis. Better technology and newer, higher quality aerial imagery and LiDAR data make it possi-ble to achieve a level of wetland mapping accuracy adequate for project site design alternatives analysis. By combining these data sets and others including topography, flow models, and wetness indices, it is possible to make wetland boundary determinations quickly over large areas. This approach is more effi-cient than onsite field delineation and can provide sub-stantial cost savings during environmental review by screening alternatives for potential wetland impacts. When more site details are needed for specific alter-natives, field reconnaissance can then be focused on those areas where more data are needed. Remote sensing of wetlands is not meant to be a replacement for field wetland delineation. Rather, the goal is to identify potential wetland areas that may be targeted for further investigation when more precision (i.e. field wetland delineation methods) is needed to determine future impacts in specific areas. This presentation will briefly discuss the remote sensing methodology and provide graphical details of past successful environ-mental screening for wetlands to streamline alterna-tive site selection and impacts evaluation.

11:15 amThe Impact of Sulfate and Sulfide on MeHg in Mining-Impacted Freshwater Lake and Wetland Sediment

Nate Johnson, University of Minnesota Duluth, Duluth, MN

A study of lakes and wetlands downstream from the Mesabi Iron Range in NE Minnesota investigated spa-tial and temporal patterns in MeHg and associated geochemistry in sediments of waterbodies receiving contrasting loads of sulfate. Although significantly more sulfide accumulated in sediment of sulfate-im-pacted ecosystems, dissolved and solid-phase MeHg concentrations in sediment were statistically similar in sulfate-impacted and un-impacted systems. Iron and water level fluctuations were identified as key controls on the extent to which sulfate and sulfide impact sed-

iment MeHg production and accumulation. Further research is needed to determine how sulfate-limited freshwater lakes and wetlands might respond to new inputs of high-sulfate runoff, but chronically impacted wetland and lake sediment do not appear to contin-ually accumulate or produce MeHg at rates different from lakes and wetlands un-impacted by mining.

11:45 amAdvanced Horizontal Water Drainage Boreholes for Mine-related Remediation Applications and Active Mining Operations

Michael Bohan, REI Drilling, Berlin Center, OH

Mining can impact the surrounding environment as workings become inundated after mine closure. Localized raising of the water table can impact nearby surroundings by the redistribution of runoff, and/or increased pore pressures and subsequent weeping through strata. Horizontal drainage boreholes are engineered and developed to intercept the mine pool, safely lowering and controlling the mine pool. They can have diameters as large as 16 inches, lengths of up to 5,000 feet, and flow several thousand gallons per minute under gravity and head pressures alone. Mining entities can realize significant cost reductions related to pumping operations by utilizing horizontal drainage boreholes in mine planning. Horizontal bore-holes take advantage of gravity drainage or by low-ering head pressures through reducing elevations at which pumping operations have to overcome.

1:45 pmReclamation of Iron Ore Scram Mining Tailings: Innovations in Establishing Native Vegetation

Allyz Kramer, Short Elliott Hendrickson Inc., Duluth, MN Joel Asp, Short Elliott Hendrickson Inc., St. Cloud, MN

Minnesota has robust reclamation standards and have proven results in the taconite mining industry. Recla-mation of overburden spoils, lean ore spoils and fine tailings from taconite production has generally been successful on the Iron Range, using a low input stan-dard reclamation practice. Success at reestablishing vegetation on these landscapes is likely due to fairly favorable chemical and physical properties (e.g., few limitations due to acidic generating materials, metal toxicities, and water and nutrient holding capacities). However, coarse tailings reclamation has proven more difficult, presumably due to lower nutrient and chal-lenges with moisture holding capacities. Research efforts conducted since 1990 have struggled to develop a reclamation strategy for coarse tailings that meets the Minnesota Mineland Reclamation Rules, Chapter 6130. New breakthroughs in scram mining technolo-gies are producing fine and coarse tailings that have not been encountered nor reclaimed in northern Min-nesota. Innovative research is underway to investigate and determine successful reclamation strategies to reclaim scram mining tailings from the scram mining operations. The research program is conducted through collaboration with SEH, Prairie Restorations, Inc. (PRI), and Mining Resources, LLC with funding support from


the Iron Range Resources and Rehabilitation Board. The research program is divided into three phases:Phase I: Bench scale testing to identify successful treatments to reclaim and restore scram tailings through evaluat-ing “surface soil” amendments, viable seed mixes and plant germination, growth and densities. Phase I was completed in early 2016. Phase II: Field scale pilot trial to test larger scale effectiveness of the treatments deemed successful in Phase I and test various vegeta-tive assemblages and planting techniques focused on the unique challenges with scram tailing basins. Phase II is in progress. Phase III: Produce a technical report of results for the research undertaken in this study, as well as compile prior reclamation results used during previous Minnesota iron mining reclamation projects on tailings basin applications. The presentation will step through the research proposal, Phase I bench scale results and subsequent Phase II design, implementation and year 1 field trial results.

2:15 pmTemporary Recreational Use of Mine Lands to Assist with Social License

Pete Kero, Barr Engineering Co., Hibbing, MN

For decades, closed mines around the world have been repurposed for uses ranging from food production to recreational parks to computer data storage. Better development and promotion of such post-mining land uses could change the public’s perception and sup-port of mining. Yet, mine repurposing often requires significant reclamation and infrastructure invest-ments. These investments can be difficult to reverse when economic or technological changes allow closed mines to be re-opened. This conundrum can stagnate the reuse of mine lands because stakeholders want to protect potential future mining value that may develop when conditions change. Temporary recreational use of mine lands has the potential to increase public support for mining without permanently encumbering mineral resources. This talk will explore potential tem-porary recreational uses that have both high levels of public interest and low infrastructure and reclamation investments. Also, it will discuss practices for site selection, stakeholder engagement and calculating the potential return on investment for such projects.

Mining and Exploration Chairs:

Dan Gebhart, Hibbing Taconite Co.Marsha Patelke, NRRI

10:45 amPresplitting in Taconite – An Update on Progress

Travis Davidsavor, Barr Engineering Co., Duluth, MNBrian Anderson, Barr Engineering Co., Minneapolis, MN

As taconite operations near final highwall configura-tions, measures are being evaluated to improve safety for workers, improve the long-term highwall stability for reclamation requirements, improve ore recovery, and reduce water infiltration and rock mass damage outside the pit envelope. Presplitting, a blasting tech-nique utilizing closely-spaced holes and decoupled explosives in the hole, shot instantaneously to form a tension crack along a predetermined plane, is one method being evaluated by taconite operations to improve final highwall conditions. This paper dis-cusses the continued evolution of presplit blasting at two mines. Areas discussed include the evolution of the iron ore presplit blasting design process, field implementation and coordination, and a presentation of final highwall conditions using presplit blasting and comparative control panels where presplit blasting was not conducted.

11:15 amStructural Controls on Mineralization in the Black Hills, SD

Stephen Allard, Winona State University, Winona, MNRobert Bergman and Brian Lentz, Big Rock Exploration, Minneapolis, MN

Mineralization associated with hydrothermal fluid-flow along faults is widely accepted, especially in the brittle regime, where rock cohesiveness is disrupted thus allowing for open-fracture flow. Our work in the Black Hills has identified a previously overlooked, ductile, deep-crustal structure containing evidence it served as a long-lived conduit for open-system fluid flow. The temporal and spatial relationship between this system and the Homestake deposit beg the question as to the importance of this structure to gold miner-alization. Prior to our work, the main suturing of the Wyoming and Superior provinces was thought to have deformed just the rift-related basalts and sediments at ca. 1750; however, we have identified an ~30 Mya younger event that strongly deformed the underlying Archean basement as well. Distinguishing the younger event from the older in the supracrustal rocks is often dubious, but important, as the older structures do not exhibit the hydrothermal alteration present in the younger more cryptic structures. Our ongoing research is attempting to determine the influence of this structure on mineralization in the Black Hills, but more importantly to understand the mineralization process and ultimate source of the metals in order to propose targets for future “Homestake-like” deposits.


11:45 amFuel Filtration Needs and for Heavy Duty Off Road Equipment and Understanding Cold Weather Implications

Jim Doyle, Donaldson Company Inc., Bloomington, MN

Simple visual inspection of oil samples can shed light on things that are difficult to directly assess from traditional oil analysis in many situations. Traditional oil analysis is geared towards equipment in operation and looking at trends over time. Newly manufactured or serviced equipment, incoming new fluid contamination, unex-pected contamination sources, etc., can be a challenge to meaningfully asses/ identify and remedy with typical oil analysis alone. Visual assessment of particulate can shed light on types and sources of contamination that are not easily identified by lab results. If practiced rou-tinely, this can speed troubleshooting and fixing con-tamination issues much more quickly and reliably.

1:45 pmAppropriate Correlation Factors for IS50/UCS Tests at the Grasberg Mining Complex

Franz Campero, MEC InternationalNicole Gregory, Freeport-McMoRan

The use of the pointload strength index test is ubiqui-tous across all rock mechanics fields. In mining, the pointload test is the quickest and most efficient way to evaluate large volumes of data in order to create models and projections for rock mass strength in both active areas and planned excavation areas. While the pointload strength index may be used by itself, it is most often converted to an unconfined compressive strength (UCS) using a correlation factor. These factors have very generally been outlined in previous papers as ranging anywhere from 11 to 24, depending on geology, break type, discontinuities in the samples, and other environmental factors. At the large Grasberg mining complex in Indonesia, the geology is so diverse in type and age that a correlation factor has been challenging to find. It was decided that proper correlation factors must be determined for the commonly encountered geology at this mining complex. Each specimen was taken from the same drillcore interval in order to have a pointload and UCS test performed on the same sample. The geology ranges from strong diorite with an average compressive strength of180 MPa to dolomite, with an average strength of 60 MPa. Correlations were drawn only between samples that shared geologic type as well as failure type; for example, intact failure was matched with intact failure, and combined intact/discontinuity failure was matched with other combined intact/discon-tinuity failures. This paper outlines the series of tests and methods of analysis that were performed on over 200 samples in order to obtain valid correlation factors for mining and construction activities.

2:15 pmInstrumentation Planning and Use at a Saskatchewan Mine

Vicki Hagberg, Barr Engineering Co., Hibbing, MN

The instrumentation of tailings facilities is a critical part of monitoring tailings piles and earthen embankments to verify they are performing consistent with their design. Instrumentation provides useful information during construction, after construction, and during operations to verify that the system is performing as intended. This presentation discusses case studies of the planning, implementation, and use of instrumen-tation at Saskatchewan potash mines. One case study will demonstrate the application of vibrating wire (VW) piezometers to monitor the construction of a dam over soft tailings. A second case study will show how VW piezometers were used to influence the operation of a fine tailings facility. A third case study will show how a remote monitoring installation was used to influence operation of a salt tailings pile.

3:30 pmHibbing Taconite Company – Hydrology and Water Balance

Chris Winter, Hibbing Taconite Co., Hibbing, MN

Hibbing Taconite Company (HTC) extracts magnetic iron from taconite ore using a separation process requiring a significant and stable water supply. To sup-port this process, HTC manages between four and six billion gallons of water, all of which is recycled through the processing facility at a rate of 120,000 gallons per minute. Understanding the hydrology of the HTC tail-ing basin is key to maintaining sufficient water for the concentrating process. This paper explores how HTC models the hydrology of the basin, tracks water vol-umes within the basin, and manages its process water supply to support uninterrupted plant operations while at the same time conserving important resources.

4:00 pmMine Water Management at a Limited- discharge Potash Mine in Saskatchewan

Jeff Grinsel, Art Kalmes and Seth Anderson, Barr Engineering Co., Minneapolis, MN

The management of water at a Saskatchewan mine must consider the variability in mining operations and climatic cycles. Many mining facilities have discharge limitations and must operate below regulatory storm containment levels while maintaining adequate water for operation of other parts of the mine site. The assessment of the mine water management system typically relies on event-based models to understand performance during a specific precipitation event. Water balance model-ing should also be considered in assessing facilities to account for season trends and extended wet/dry cycles. Commonly occurring wet cycles can sometimes place a greater demand on containment systems than less frequent design storm events. This presentation will dis-cuss methods for mine water assessment and include an application of these concepts to a limited-discharge water management system.


ProcessingChairs:

Dan Palo, Barr Engineering Co.Shashi Rao, NRRI

10:45 amProduction of High Carbon DRI: The Downstream Integration for Mining Companies

Angelo Manenti, TENOVA Core, Coraopolis, PA

Iron ore mining companies, big or small, if located nearby to an economical source of natural gas, have a key advantage and incentive to produce and sell DRI vs. just iron ore pellets. DRI production adds significant value to iron ore mining products. In this paper will be analyzed the fundamental reasons for this fact, identi-fied which is the best DRI to produce for given market and the best plant size for different market location.

11:15 amOptimum Use of DRI in North American Mini-mills: Latest Operational and Technological Developments

Dario Pauluzzi, Danieli Company, Buttrio, Udine, Italy

The performance requirements for modern steelmak-ing facilities are ever more stringent, as customers and markets are continuously pushing for technologies which allow having high quality steel produced in an economic and sustainable way. In the details, this paper has the aim to present the excellent results obtained by integrated steel plant where an EAF is fed with high quality hot ENERGIRON DRI. The recent technology developments, combined with the affirmed basic pro-cess design, contributed to further maximize the energy of the DRI, reaching the EAF at temperatures above 600°C with a carbon content up to 3.5%, as confirmed by plant data. These improved input material character-istics resulted in reduced electrical energy consumption and increased liquid steel production.

11:45 amNorthMet Ore Processing

David Dreisinger, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada

The NorthMet orebody of PolyMet Mining contains large amounts of copper, nickel, cobalt and precious metals. The processing options for the NorthMet ore include the use of flotation and hydrometallurgical leaching and metal recovery. The split cleaner flotation process for production of separate copper and nickel concentrates from the NorthMet ore and the use of hydrometallurgical leaching of nickel concentrates will be presented.

1:45 pmTesting an Organic Binder to Replace Bentonite in the Iron Ore Pellets

Matias Penttinnen, Kemira, Espoo, FinlandMikko Iljana Iljana and Timo Fabritius, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland

Acid iron ore pellets with some organic binder were produced by a pellet plant in Russia. The pellets were produced for research purposes in a laboratory-scale pelletizing drum and fired in sample baskets set in the middle of the sintering belt in the same production line as the commercial blast furnace pellets. Initial target was to increase the cold crushing strength of the fired pellets with an organic binder. In this study, three organic binder test pellets with a different amount of bentonite were produced while keeping the organic binder and the amount of it constant. The results were compared to the commercial acid pellets. In addition to CCS, other metallurgical parameters (LTD, reduc-ibility under un-constrained conditions and reduc-tion-softening behaviour under load) were studied. Green pellet properties were not under investigations.

In the chemical analysis, the positive effect of decreasing the amount of bentonite was noticed in the decreased SiO2 content and increased total Fe con-tent. The initial target was achieved while CCS was significantly increased as the amount of bentonite was decreased. Simultaneously, also other metallurgical parameters were improved. Preliminary results sug-gest that it’s worth substituting bentonite for organic binders in the metallurgical point of view. However, it must be taken into account that only one organic binder and one iron ore pellet type was studied in this research. Additionally, further research is needed to optimize the amount of organic binder and bentonite in the iron ore pellets.

2:15 pmCharacterization of Sinter Raw Mix by Laser Induced Breakdown Spectrometer

Mingming Zhang, Deka Mitrajoyoti and Marcelo Andrade, ArcelorMittal Global RD, East Chicago, IN

Laser induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) is a novel technique for elemental analysis based on laser-generated plasma. The developed system was applied for quantitative measurement of elemental concentration present in sinter plant raw material samples. The concentrations of various elements of process control significance such as iron, calcium, magnesium, aluminum, etc., in these samples were determined. Optimal experimental conditions were evaluated for improving the sensitivity of developed LIBS system through parametric dependence study. The laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) results were compared with the results obtained using X-ray Fluorescence (XRF). This study demonstrates that LIBS could be highly appropriate for rapid online analysis of sinter plant raw materials.


3:30 pmEstimating Ultra-fine Screening Performance and Efficiency

Ryan Cunningham, Met-Chem Member of the DRA Group, Verdun, QC, Canada

The ultra-fine screen technology (as found in Derrick’s StackSizer™) provides high classification efficiency at relatively (in terms of a screen) fine sizes. Review of results reveals that the performance of the technology differs from a traditional screen (i.e. where classifica-tion success is highly dependent on screen solid bed depth and % of material near the aperture size) and is more driven by the ability of the slurry to flow through the screen panel. A performance equation for an ultra-fine screen is proposed that combines slurry head pressure at the top of the screen and slurry viscosity.

4:00 pmProcess for Increasing Iron Recovery with Oxidized Iron Ores

Tom Petersen, University of Minnesota-NRRI, Coleraine, MN

The Natural Resources Research Institute (NRRI) is evaluating a means to reduce iron mining cost by max-imizing iron recovery from current taconite operations and other potential oxidized iron resources. This will be accomplished by combining proven, emerging, and newly devised technologies and developing modified or new process flowsheets. The process development has shown significant potential to increase weight recovery at the same concentrate grade on numerous iron ore samples containing oxidized iron minerals. It also has indicated the ability to produce higher iron grade concentrates and may allow for low-silica (< 2% silica) concentrates to be produced with some iron ores that was not previously possible. The pro-cess effectively removes quartz and apatite, as well as magnesium and alumina gangue minerals, to produce a high-purity concentrate product.

Environmental – Social License, Policy Chairs:

Christie Kearney, PolyMet Mining Co.Rolf Weberg, NRRI

3:30 pmMaking Positive Safety Practices Successful and Sustainable

Marilee Robertson, ERM, Houston, TX

Successful and sustainable safety programs across industries and across organizations are often devel-oped and deployed differently, however the safety programs with the most success have a few similar elements that make a defining difference. Identifying these elements and engaging them in the culture of the organization can make the different between wise and fulfilling investments or wasteful and faulting investments in safety. Highlighting a successful global project, we will demonstrate how engaging the hearts and minds of organic champions resulted in a wise and fulfilling and effective process.

4:00 pmEducational-Based Economic Development

Allen Huju, Iron Range Engineering, Marcell, MN

Iron Range Engineering (IRE) is an educational insti-tute that offers both a Bachelor of Science in Engi-neering and a Masters in Engineering to encourage educational-based economic development in North-ern Minnesota. Since 2010, there have been over 100 engineering graduates who have been employed in a wide variety of industries throughout the Iron Range, the state of Minnesota, and the United States. Of these graduates, over sixty percent have made the Iron Range their home. The IRE curriculum is project based; where students tackle four semester-long industry and/or entrepreneurial projects in their junior and senior years. Students develop as engineers by practicing design, technical, and professional aspects of their chosen engineering focus by working directly with industry partners. This type of curriculum has allowed IRE students to develop as active, self-di-rected learners in communication, teamwork, ethics, entrepreneurialism, and project management. These skills allow the student to give back to their community through various outreach programs. IRE is comprised of a partnership between Minnesota State University Mankato, Itasca Community College, Mesabi Range College, and the University of Minnesota Duluth. The Iron Range Higher Education Commission has provided start-up grants to IRE through the Mining Production Tax. These grants have allowed over 225 individuals to pursue higher education with many of the graduates remaining in the area to work, live and support the Iron Range. Through the support of the mining industry, the graduates of Iron Range Engineering are able to continue growing, innovating and contributing to the economy on a local and global scale.


Wednesday, April 19, 2017

Ethics Course8:00 am – 9:00 am

Kelsey Johnson, President of the Minnesota Iron Mining Association

This course offers 1.0 Professional Development Hour toward ethics training as required for some professional licensures and certifications.

Located in Lake Superior J & K

Technical Program AbstractsEnvironmental – Technology Chairs:

Chan Lan Chun, NRRILes Flemming, Iron Range Engineering

9:00 amMicrobial Contributions to Pyrrhotite Oxidation in the Duluth Complex

Daniel Jones, Kathryn Hobart, Elizabeth Roapke, Paige Novak, Michael Sadowsky and Joshua Feinberg, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN

The Duluth Complex in Northeastern Minnesota con-tains magmatic sulfide mineral deposits that are esti-mated to represent one of the largest undeveloped copper-nickel prospects on Earth. Microorganisms are important catalysts for metal sulfide oxidation under certain conditions, and decades of research on microorganisms from extremely acidic waste rock has improved our management of sulfidic mine waste. How-ever, because ores and waste rock from Duluth Complex weather under more moderately acidic conditions, and because the dominant sulfide minerals are pyrrhotite and other acid-soluble sulfides, little is known about the microbial processes that could influence water quality from the proposed mines. We will discuss new research on the microorganisms that occur in weathered Duluth Complex waste rock, and ongoing experimental work on pyrrhotite oxidation in the Duluth Complex.

9:30 amThe Development of Peat-based Weak Anion Exchange Resin that Removes Sulfate Anions from Acidic Water

Igor Kolomitsyn and Liudmyla Kildyshova and Natural Resources Research Institute, Duluth, MNRami Hallak, American Peat Technology LLC, Aitkin, MN

Peat is a slowly renewable resource. Because of its lim-ited availability it is essential to add value to products that are produced from peat. Recently, we reported the development of three peat products for the removal of heavy metals: APTsorb IITM, APTsorb IIITM, and APT-sorb II*NaTM. This presentation describes toward the development of a peat-based weak anion exchange material that effectively removes sulfate and other anions from very acidic waters. The new material has a total anion exchange capacity of 80 mEq/100 g and is stable at a wide range of pH. A new technique for mea-suring anion exchange capacity as well as performance data using mine water will be presented.


Industrial Minerals/AggregatesChairs:

Greg Beckstrom, Donaldson Co.Julie Oreskovich, NRRI

9:00 amAn Overview of NRRI Minerals-Based By-Product Research and Development Activities

Larry Zanko, NRRI, Duluth, MN

The Natural Resources Research Institute of the Uni-versity of Minnesota Duluth (NRRI-UMD) is conduct-ing applied research focused on identifying potential beneficial end-uses for and expanding the utilization of mineral by-product materials generated by mining, mineral processing, and other industrial processes and activities. Much of this research effort has been aimed at pursuing near-term implementation projects that: 1) improve durability, safety, and natural resource sustain-ability; 2) introduce these materials to targeted markets in project-sized quantities; 3) have value-added com-mercialization potential; and 4) make environmental and economic sense. Focus areas include:

· Value-added friction aggregates · Pavement repair materials and technologies · Cement manufacturing · Mix design and other aggregate uses · Coordinated strategies for reducing transporta-

tion costs Today’s presentation is an overview and update of these efforts.

9:30 amAggregate Materials Response to High Strain Rate Testing

Stanley Vitton, Michigan Tech University, Hancock, MI

High strain rate research was developed in the early 1900’s to study the behavior of impact loading on metals by John Hopkinson and his son Bertram. The device is generally known today as a Split Hopkinson Pressure Bar (SHPB). High strain rate research using the SHPB was extended to brittle materials in the 1970’s. In the past fifteen years, a series of research projects at Michigan Tech investigated the response of high strain rate testing on course aggregates used in concrete highways, which included igneous, carbon-ate and blast furnace slag aggregates. The primary purpose of this research was to investigate high strain rate behavior of the concrete’s course aggregate in transferring shear loads across concrete joints. Later research investigated the high strain rate response of wood, specifically oak and pine, to better understand the compliance of the SHPB to low modulus materials. The presentation will summarize the results of this research and its application to aggregates in the areas such as crushing, grinding and blasting.

Environmental – Social License, PolicyChairs:

Christie Kearney, PolyMet Mining Co.Rolf Weberg, NRRI

9:00 amHow to Wage Peace in the Community: Avoid the Contention, Divisiveness, Negativity that Kill Community Relationships and Projects Site Successfully with Lots of People Still Angry

Jim Lukaszewski, The Lukaszewski Group Division, Risdall, Rosecille, MN

Waging peace is a winning strategy: recognize and respect community core values; build neutrality rather than advocates vs enemies. Stop the production of critics and victims. Answer every question. Avoid the old failure causing mistakes. Skip the short cuts and backdoor deals. Stop thinking job creation is an entitlement to siting (the discredited “Social License” argument). Answer the tough questions “Would you put this in your own back yard?” These projects natu-rally generate angry people and communities because they impact health and safety, the environment, prop-erty values, peace of mind and disrupt local culture. Reduce contention. Be responsive. Absorb criticism. Apologize frequently. Be nice. Peace requires seek-ing, gaining and maintaining community permission and trusting them as much as you are asking them to trust you.

9:30 amThe Trump EPA: Reform or Rehash

Peter Tomasi, Quarles & Brady LLP, Milwaukee, WI

The new administration has entered office after prom-ising voters significant regulatory relief – such as dropping three of the prior administration’s signature initiatives, the Paris Accord, the Clean Power Plan, and the Waters of the United States Rule. While some of these commitments may be delivered on, others may not. In addition, a series of court settlements entered into under the prior administration make it likely that more rules are on the way. This session provides an overview of the likelihood of meaningful federal environmental regulatory reform, and the likelihood of changes to NEPA, the Clean Air Act, and Clean Water Act.


Mining and Exploration Chairs:

Dan Gebhart, Hibbing Taconite Co.Marsha Patelke, NRRI

9:00 amA Checklist of Laws, Rules and Contacts for Companies Exploring in Minnesota

Glenn Melchart, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, Hibbing, MN

Citizens are more and more aware of exploration activ-ities in their neighborhood or places they recreate and they expect complete compliance with all applicable regulations at a minimum. Compliance with all regula-tions related to exploration is an essential early step to establish a positive relationship with local communities and governmental units. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) developed a checklist to help exploration companies navigate the regulations and approvals needed when exploring for metallic miner-als and other mineral commodities in Minnesota. The regulations and requirements vary with some land own-ers, mineral owners and locations. This presentation reviews the elements of the checklist.

9:30 amWhy Minnesota: A Guiding Question for the Redesign of the Minnesota Minerals Coordinating Committee Website

Don Elsenheimer, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, St. Paul, MN

The Minnesota Minerals Coordinating Committee (MCC) website, designed and published in 2011 in order to support the Mineral Diversification Program, has been redesigned using the guiding question, “Why Minnesota?” to expand the user base beyond mineral exploration companies and public/private sector geol-ogists, and to add useful, searchable on-line plain-language content that targets the general public. The new website continues to archive MCCfunded content, maps, and geospatial databases. An enhanced “user experience” for mining professionals bolsters the MCC’s business development activities, providing com-modity specific content within searchable web pages. The redesigned MCC website also provides information about Minnesota’s reclamation and permitting pro-grams, and explores the ethical obligation for developed countries to more closely align their mineral production levels with per capita mineral consumption.

ProcessingChairs:

Jon Maki, KemiraShashi Rao, NRRI

9:00 amDevelopment of a Global Vision for Alternative Processing of Iron Ore Deposits: the Case of High Phosphorous Oolitic Iron Ores

Luca Tommasi, Danieli, Ronchi dei Legionari, Italy

As time goes by, the amount of high quality iron ore is almost depleted. Iron ore deposits containing dif-ferent contaminants, such as Sulphur, Phosphorus, Arsenic, Titanium, and Vanadium are coming back in the spotlight. Processing of the Oolitic iron ore depos-its (over 15 billion tonnes resources worldwide), still represents a challenge. Different processing routes can be applied in order to try to make it suitable for the steelmaking industry by removing the Phosphorus from the ore matrix.

By the combination of different conventional and alternative beneficiation methods at the laboratory scale, DANIELI has obtained very promising results in terms of Phosphorus removal.

9:30 amReview of the Most Cost Effective North American Steelmaking Routes Over the Past 10 Years and Predictions for the Future

Janice Bolen, Hatch Ltd., Mississauga, ON, Canada

Commodity pricing over the last ten years for iron ore, coal, coke, scrap and natural gas will be used to cre-ate historical North American iron and steel operating costs. This paper will show whether the integrated, Hot DRI-EAF, Scrap-EAF or scrap & import AIU-EAF route have been the best historical choice on an oper-ating cost basis. Commodity pricing thresholds that give each route an advantage will be presented. This paper will use published commodity consensus pricing to examine the best steelmaking route going forward. A particular focus will be on future demand for blast furnace versus DR grade pellets in North America.

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