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HillAnnexPaleontologyProject
2016Season–PhaseII
Finalreport
2016servedtobeastronglessoninmomentumfortheHillAnnexPaleontologyProject.Itisnotalwaysclearthefitsandstartsthatwilloccurforanendeavorofthismagnitude.Itwasonlythreeyearsagothatwestartedcraftingtheideatore-examineknownhistoricallocalitiesofCretaceousMinnesota.Nooneknewwe’dfindadinosaurclaworthewonderfulammonites.Wehadn’tconsideredthecrustaceanevidence,thegastropods,orthedepthofalifelongprivatecollection.
Whiletheyearstartedwithgreathopesandvividdreamsfollowingourinauguralfieldseason,thedynamicsofmuseumenvironmentscontinuedtotugandpullatourmandatesandallowances.Byspring,wesatunsureifourStateParkpartnerwouldevenopen.OurScienceMuseumofMinnesotahostwasundergoingitsowncrisiswithachangeinseniorleadership,capitalrenovations,andfinancialchallengestodemandmanagementattentions.Whileengagementandfundingprocessesslowed,theProjectTeamcontinuedintoafieldseason,hopingtostretchourassetsaslongaspossible.HillAnnexMineStateParkworkpresseddeeperintotheexploration,asweexpandedscopeonawiderarrayoflocations.
Presentationsandlimitedengagementsprovidedastillenthralledaudiencetobuoyourspirits.Ardentsupportersofourworkcontinuedtocontributeallowingworktocontinuethroughouttheseason.WeexhibitedourresearchtotheMinnesotaandregionalpublic.Bytheendoftheyear,newinterestscameforwardwithintentionsofseeingourworkgrowontheIronRange.Amulti-yearresearcheffortmaystillbeinourfuture.
ScienceandProjectbackground
Minnesotahasadiverseandstoriedgeologichistory.Fromsomeoftheoldestrocksontheearthtotherecentlylainglacialsandsandgravelsblanketingthestate,itsgeologyoffersavarietyofglimpsesintoprehistorictime.NotwellknownamongthegeneralpublicisthattheCretaceousperiodisonetimespanthatisrepresentedamongMinnesota’ssoils.
TheCretaceousisbestknownfromtheAmericanWestaspartofthegloriousageofdinosaurs,theMesozoicAge.DuringtheCretaceousPeriod,globaltemperatureswerehotterthantodaywithwarmerclimatesacrosseventheEarth’spoles.Oxygenandcarbondioxidelevelswerehigherthanintoday’satmosphereandsealevelswereelevatedworldwide.Manyoftoday’scontinentslookedverydifferentduringthisera.Soildepositsfromthistimearescatteredoverawidemarginofthestateandvaryintheirorigination.MuchofMinnesotalayalongtheeasternshoreofashallowinlandseathatextendedfromthepresentdayGulfofMexicototheArcticOcean.NearlyalloftheMesabiIronRangeDistrictexperiencedincursionsbythisseaway.CurrentthoughtisthatCretaceousdepositsontheironrangesofcentralandnorthernMinnesotaareuniqueinrepresentingancientdrainagesystemsflowingfromtheprehistorichighlandsintheArrowheadregionandtheeast,westwardtowardthe
EpicontinentalSeawayandformingdepositsfromdeltas,swamps,lagoons,lakesandrivers.ThesedepositsarelabeledastheColeraineFormation.
MostMinnesotaCretaceousdepositslieunderathickblanketofglacialsandandgravel,oftenhundredsoffeetdeep.MiningentitiesandtheirexcavationshaveleftdeepholesinthegroundthatgraceuswiththeopportunitytoviewandsurveytheburiedCretaceousrocks.SedimentsofvaryingthicknessesareexposedinnearlyalloftheminepitsthroughouttheMesabiandunderlayamuchwiderpartofthestate.EvidenceshowsatransitionfrommarinedepositsnearColerainetonon-marinesedimentsintheeastnearthevicinityofVirginia,Minnesota[thehistoricEnterpriseMine].
TheColeraineformationhasbeenexamined,butmostdocumentationishistoricaloroutdated.Somesitelocationshavebeenlosttothecontinuedminingpresenceinthearea.Others,likeHillAnnexareslowlybeingcoveredbyrisingwaterlevelsintheminepitsorlosttoreclamationofstockpilesfortheirmineralresources.Theareahasalreadyyieldedfossilsofdozensofgroupsofprehistoricanimals,butonlyportionsoftheinvertebratefaunaarewelldescribed.ThislocationcouldbeasgoodasanyinthestatetoyieldanancientbeastfromtheAgeofDinosaurs.2015sawusrecoveronlythethirdspecimenofdinosaurfossilfoundinMinnesota.ThereisenormouspotentialhereforscientificdiscoveryandrevelationofMinnesota’sCretaceouspast.AstheonlyknowndepositsofthistypeintheUnitedStates,theColeraineFormationandMinnesota’sCretaceouspastdeservefurtherexamination.
TheScienceMuseumofMinnesotaisconductingcurrentresearchofthisEpicontinentalSeawayofMinnesota.Aspartofourvolunteerinitiativeresearchproject,wehopetomap,photographandcontinuetodocumentthegeologicalandpaleontologicalrecordofthisareabeforethedepositsareendangeredorlost.Ourteamisnotonlyinterestedinthisdata,butalsoindocumentingprivatefossilcollectionsandhistoricalmuseumcollectionsgatheredfromthearea,asameansofaddingtotheknowledgeofthediverserecordofthisenvironment.HillAnnexPaleontologyProjectwishestocontinuetoexamineCretaceousMinnesota.
HillAnnexPaleontologyProjectisnowbasedoutoftheMinnesotaDiscoveryCenter–TheMuseumoftheIronRangeinChisholm,MN.ScienceMuseumofMinnesotaremainsaprojectsupporterthroughcollaborationandtransitionassistance.TheDepartmentofNaturalResourcesatHillAnnexMineStateParkisonboardasapartnerinthisprogram.Wewillcontinuetoworktogethertodevelopandenhancethevisitorexperience,andaimtoforwardtheprojecttofutureseasons.TheMinnesotaGeologicalSurveyalsosupportstheaimoftheproject.
Goals
SincethestartofHillAnnexPaleontologyProjectourmaindrivehasbeentoexplorefurtherthegeologicalandpaleontologicaldatasurroundingtheCretaceousdepositsofMinnesota.Thesefirstfewyears,ourfocushasbeencenteredontheMesabiIronRangeanditsexposedlayersoftheColeraineFormation.Aswithallendeavors,expectationsandresultshelpsteerustorefineandsolidifythebestlaidplans.Inourreflection,we’vestriventodevelopbothlongtermandannualgoals.
LONGTERMExaminationoftheprehistoricevidence
- Thoroughreviewoftherelatedhistoricalscience.- Pursuitofnewfossilevidencethroughfieldcollection.- Documentationoftheprivateandpubliccollections.- Captureofnewstratigraphiclocalitiesanddata.
CommunityEngagementandPublicOutreach
- Offeringstothepublicthroughpresentationandexhibition.- DevelopmentofnewSTEMactivitiesutilizingProjectresearch.- Buildingofeducationalrelatedcurriculum.- Presentationofscientificfindingsthroughpublicationandprofessionalconference.
SecureandstabilizeProjectfunding
- Achieveaminimumfundingplatformtoassurecontinuedexistingresearchmethods.- BuilddiversefundingbasetobringstabilityandgrowthtoProjectgoals.- Growlongtermfundingoptionstosupportafulltimeresearchendeavor.
Opennewviews
- ExpandsurveyofnewlocalitiesforexposureofCretaceoussoils.- Growcollaborationwiththeminingindustrytoensureconservationofevidence.- Cultivatenewpartnerswithinthecommunityandregion.- SharethescienceofCretaceousMinnesota!
NurtureProjectpartners
- DepartmentofNaturalResources.Continuetobuildonexistingworkingagreementtoimprovevisitorexperiences.Utilizefullbodyofresourcestoexpandandforwardtheresearch.
- MinnesotaDiscoveryCenter.Frameupnewhostprovisions.Buildanewpaleontologycollection.Developmentofnewcommunityprogramofferings.
- FieldCrewVolunteers.Continuetoprovidearelevantfieldexperience.Openopportunitiesforprofessionaldevelopment.Participateinengagementeventstoaffordvolunteerschancetosharetheirexperience.
ANNUAL Withalltheuncertaintysurroundingthefateoftheprojectthispastyear,theannualgoalsforthisseasonweregreatlyreducedormodified.Primaryfocuswassimplytokeepworkingaslongaspossiblewiththefundsthatwehadremaining.Beyondthatexercise,themainpushwastopilotourvolunteeronsiteprogramatHillAnnexMineStateParkduringpublicFossilTours.
Results
WhiletheHillAnnexPaleontologyProjecthadanumberofgoalsfortheseason,therewerecertaineventsandcircumstancesthatbroughtaboutunexpectedresults.Somewerepleasantsurprises,othersrequiredshiftsinourfocusandtime,butlittlewentuninvestigated.Thebelowlistofinteractionshasgivenusmanynewopportunitiestobuilduponforthefuture.Undeniably,oureffortsachievedanexpandedpublicoutreachandcommunityengagement.
Collection HillAnnexMineStateParkcontinuestobeareliablesourceoffossilrecovery.Anestimated1000+additionalfossilswererecoveredin2016.Whilewedidnotunearthanynewdinosaurmaterialthisseason,theProjectdidexperienceadramaticbreakthrough.Wehadourfirstprivatefossildonations.
Thefirstitemtocomeourway,wascollectedbyMr.ArtNortonatHillAnnexMineStateParkin1987onafossiltour.Mr.Nortondonatedthemarinereptilevertebraafteritbeingpartofhiscollectionformorethantwodecades.
TheseconditemwasanentirecollectionofmaterialsdonatedbythefamilyofWilliamYachwak.Mr.YachwakwasalongtimeChisholm.MNresidentandanavidcollectorinthe1960’sand1970’s.Hiscollectionencompassesseveraltonsofmaterial,butismainlyfocusedonfossilsfromtheIronRange.Notonlydoesthecollectioncontainnewandundocumentedspecimens,butitalsohousesfossilsfromlocationsthatarenolongeraccessible. NotablespecimensrecoveredfromtheColeraineFormationduringPhaseIIofthisprojectinclude:
• Anadditionalgastropod(snail)speciesthatremainscurrentlyunidentified.MostlikelyafirstoccurrenceforMinnesota,andpossiblyanentirelynewspeciestoscience.Onlyonespecimenhadbeenrecoveredpreviously.
• Additionalcrustaceanevidencewithbothnewexoskeletonandapincer.• AvertebrafromandIchthyodectessp.fish.Manyteethhadbeenrecovered,butnobone
untilthispoint.• Newevidenceofmarinewormspecimens.
Alsocollectedthroughprivatedonation:
• Plesiosaursp.vertebra.FirstdocumentationofthisspeciesintheColeraine.• ConfirmedcollectionofplantandleafspecimensintheColerainepreviouslynever
documented.• Thousandsmorefossilsyettobereexaminedanddocumented.
AportionofthecurrentcollectionhasbeenutilizedthroughtheseasonasaProjectOutreachCollectionondisplayattheStateFair,andduringourmanyengagementopportunitiesbothatScienceMuseumofMinnesotaandontheroad.Withthelimitedtimespentthislastyearatthesite,amorecommittedinvestigationcanonlyexpandboththequantityandqualityofmaterialpreserved.
PartnersDepartmentofNaturalResources,ParksandTrailsDivision
HillAnnexMineStateParkwasonceagainahelpfulpartnerintheproject.Neitherpartyiscertainwhatcooperationwillexistin2017,duetocontinuedbudgetaryconsiderations.Ourleveloftrustandrapportoverthecourseofthetwofieldseasonshasbuiltasolidfoundation.Theparkprovidesunfetteredaccesstothegroundsandallowsusonsitestorageofgear.
During2016,HillAnnexPaleontologyProjectdidattempttopilotanewprogramatthepark.WeattemptedtobeonsiteduringparkpublicFossilTourstointeractwiththeparticipantsandinterpretthescience.Parkvisitorsseemedtoenjoyourpresence.Endoftheseasonreportingfromthepark,indicatedthatFossilTourregistrationwasupagainthisyearby>10%.TheProjecthopestofullyimplementthisOnsiteInterpreterprogramin2017,basedonsecuredfunding.DepartmentofNaturalResources,LandsandMineralsDivision Withthesuccessofourdebutatthe2015MinnesotaStateFair,welookedforwardtoanotheryearandcraftingupachangeinourexhibit.WewereabletosecureaMarjorieBolzAllenVolunteergranttocoverthecostofourFairexpenses.Itwasstillagreatdealofeffort,butknowinginadvanceandbeingabletoplanabudgetmadetheexperiencemuchmoreseamless.Anewlayoutwascraftedandsomenewfossildynamicskepttheofferingfresh.WemanagedtokeepourvolunteerstaffinattendanceforeverydayoftheFair,thoughnoteveryhour.Morethan130hourswereloggedbyprojectvolunteersastheyinteractedwithFairvisitorsandhelpedinterpretthescience.Thiswasonceagainatrulywonderfulengagementexperienceandachancetoreachsuchahugeaudience. Wehavehadlittlediscussionsincethe2016MinnesotaStateFairwithourcontactsatDepartmentofNaturalResources–Lands&Mineralsdivision.DialogueatFairconclusionwithdepartmentofficials,didleaveopenthedoorfora2017appearance.
Figure12016MinnesotaStateFairdisplay
ScienceMuseumofMinnesota TheScienceMuseumofMinnesotahasbeenasupportiveandhelpfulpartnerduringthelifeoftheHillAnnexPaleontologyProject.Throughout2016,we’vebeenabletoshareourworkandcollectionwiththousandsofvisitors.SomeoftheScienceMuseumofMinnesotaopenhouseswehadmorethan200visitorseachhour!TheMatrixCleaningactivitydevelopedlastyearhasbeenahugesuccessduringsomeofthesetimes,lettingvisitorstrytheirhandatdisassemblingachunkofCretaceoussoilinsearchofafossil.ProjectteamandvolunteerssharedtheirexperiencesduringtheannualFossilDayprogram,throughmultipleScienceMuseumofMinnesotaResearchOpenHousedays,andtheStateFairexperience.OurMatrixCleaningactivitywasutilizedduringDarwinDaycelebrations,summercamps,andweeklyActivateSaturdayprogrammingatthemuseum.
AnupdateonprojectprogresswassharedattheNovembervolunteerpotluckmeeting.TheMarjorieBolz-AllenvolunteergrantsecuredbyprojectVolunteer,JasonKorf,hascontinuedinprogresstocompleteworkontheCretaceousMinnesotaEducationCollectionforthePaleontologyGallery.InstitutionInteractions
WeengagedIronRangeandgreaterregionalareainstitutionsinourworkandopenedthedoorstofurthercooperation.Buildinguponthosecontactsandstartingtocultivaterelationships.
MinnesotaDiscoveryCenter–MuseumoftheIronRange WewereinvitedtoparticipateaspartoftheirFamilyDiscoveryDaysprogramminginFebruary2016withadisplayofourfossilfindsandapublicpresentationoftheprojectwork.Havingbroughtalongmaterialsforourhands-onMatrixActivitywehadawarmandfullreception.ThedayturnedouttobethebestattendedDiscoveryDayeveratthemuseum! Fromthatday,therelationshipbetweentheHillAnnexPaleontologyProjectandMinnesotaDiscoveryCenteronlyblossomed.Manydiscussionsandvisitshappenedoverthesummer.Byfalltheyhadcomeforwardexpressinganinterestinbecomingournewinstitutionalhost.2017shouldusherinanewlevelofsupportandcooperationwithourIronRangehome!WelookforwardtotakingtheProjecttoanotherlevelanddevotingmoretimetopushingtheresearch. Havingpresentedpubliclyonceattheendoftheyear,theProjectTeamshouldbeonhandmanymoretimesinthefuture.FamilyDiscoveryDaysagaininMarch,theScienceandEngineeringFestivalinMayandsomemorepublicofferingstokickoffthesummerseason.Welookforwardtodevelopingnewmuseumopportunitiesandofferingstoengagethecommunityaboutthisuniquenaturalresource.MinnesotaMuseumofMining Attendingtheirannualmembers’dinnerinJanuary2016,afullpresentationwasgiventotheMinnesotaMuseumofMining.Theywereverysupportiveoftheworkwearedoingandcontributedgenerouslytoourcause.Wetalkedaboutexploringwayswemaybeabletocollaborateinthefuture.AlargeandfossilrichsamplefromtheYachwakcollectionwillbedonatedtotheirmuseumdisplay.Ididnotgetachancetovisittheirpublicsitethissummerbutdolookforwardavisitin2017.WesternMesabiMinePlanningBoard Initialcontactwiththisgroupdidn’tfirstoccuruntillatein2015.TheirmandateispartlyfocusedontheHillAnnexMineStateParkanditsfuturedevelopment.Wewereabletoattendoneoftheirmeetingslatethatseason,givingabriefoverviewoftheproject.Thisboardremainsinterestedinourworkandsomediscussionhasoccurredregardingmeansofsupport.Afutureformalpresentationwilllikelyoccurthisnextyear.CityofCalumet TheCityofCalumetislocatedadjacenttotheHillAnnexMineStateParkandprovidesanotablelocallandmarkforvisitorstofollowwiththeiriconiccitywatertower.Attheconclusionofthesummerfieldseason,theHillAnnexPaleontologyProjectagainwentbeforetheCalumetCityCouncil.ThisyearwebroughtthefullroadshowwithfullPowerPointpresentation.Thecouncilhascontinuedtocontributefinanciallytooureffortsandexpressedgratitudeforourdiligence.Iexpectthatupdatesaboutprojectprogresswillbemadetothecitycouncilasrequested.MinnesotaGeologicalSurvey ItwasourinitiativetoinvolvetheMinnesotaGeologicalSurveyintheeffortsoftheHillAnnexPaleontologyProject.SomeofMinnesota’searlieststategeologistsinvestigatedandreportedontheColeraineFormationandotherCretaceousdeposits.Wefeltthattheirsupportwascriticaltoafullanalysisofthepreviousresearchandexaminationofpreviouscollections.Thisinstitution,anditsAssociateDirector,DaleSetterholm,theSurvey’sspecialistinMinnesota’sMesozoicstrata,havebeenverysupportiveandencouraging.Wewillcontinuetorelyontheirdata,mapsandrecordsofpriorworktopushtheresearchforward.
GeologicalSocietyofMinnesota DuringJulyof2016,thisgroupcamefromtheTwinCitiesonanovernightfieldtrip.Foroneoftheday’sattractions,aforumofalmost60oftheirmembersvisitedtheHillAnnexMineStateParkandinteractedwithourProjectstaff.Wehadagreattimesharingourresearch,answeringquestions,andhelpingthemallfindtheirownColerainefossil.Thegroupmadeanicecontributiontoourbudgetandwespokeindetailaboutspeakingtothegroupasafollowup.InearlyApril2017,wewillbepresentingaspartoftheirMondayeveninglectureseries.MesabiRangeGeologicalSociety InFebruary2016,inEveleth,MNwedidafullpresentationoftheHillAnnexPaleontologyProjectworktodate.Theresearchwaswell-receivedandthegroupmadeacontributiontoourefforts.Moreimportantly,wemadeanumberofvaluablecontactsamongtheaudiencethatevening,andevenendedupaddingafewoftheirmemberstoourvolunteerFieldCrewroster.Welookforwardtomoreinteractionswiththisgroupasweexploretheirlocalsoilsfornewfossilevidence.DepartmentofNaturalResources,ForestryDivision InourefforttoexpandthesurveytoabroaderviewacrosstheMesabiIronRange,inthespringof2016theProjectsecuredpermitrightstosurveyandcollectpaleontologicalevidenceonForestryDivisionlandsoftheMinnesotaDepartmentofNaturalResources.ThispropertyispartofthehistoricTiogaminelocationandhashistoricallybeenknowntoprovidefossils.TheopportunitynotonlyexpandsourlocalitiesbutdeepensProjectinteractionwiththisstateentityandmoreresourcestoournetwork.WelookforwardtocontinuingtheTiogaexplorationforatleastafewyears.ResearchCollaborations Whileconductingthepaleontologypursuitsforthisproject,wehaveinvolvedanumberofcollaboratorsintheefforttoidentifyfossilspecimensandsoils.Theseincludethefollowing:
- Dr.JosephHartman,UniversityofNorthDakota- Dr.JedDay,IllinoisStateUniversity- LouTaylor,DenverMuseumofNatureandScienceandDinosaurRidge,CO.- FieldMuseum,Chicago,IL.- UniversityofMinnesota- MinnesotaGeologicalSurvey
MiningIndustry WhiletheHillAnnexPaleontologyProjecthasbeenfocusedontheHillAnnexMineStateParkanditsdeposits,weknowthatsimilarsoilsarepresentallalongtheMesabiIronRange.OurhopehasbeentocultivatearelationshipwiththeminingindustrysinceitsworkexposestheveryCretaceoussoilswewishtoinvestigateandpreserve.Weareinterestedinexpandingthefocusoftheresearchtomoreofthegreaterthan400historicalopenpitironmines.Industrycooperationwillbeintegraltoaccessthemajorityofsuchsites.Someprogresswasmadeonafewoftheseangles. EssarSteelMinnesota,LLC. Withnewslatein2014thatEssarSteelhadfinalizedfinancingforanewopenpitironmineinNashwauk,MN,thiswasthefirstcompanyweapproached.Interestwasdrivenbythepossibilityofnew
undisturbedsoilsbeingexposedandthepotentialforintactfossilfindsthatcouldbepreserved.This4000+acressiteliesdirectlytothenortheastoftheHillAnnexMineStatePark.BoththeparkandhistoricminesontheoppositesideofthenewEssarsitehadyieldedmanyCretaceousspecimensandshowedsignsofhighpreservationsediments.Shouldthisnewsitecontainsimilarsoils,thecollectionpossibilitiescouldbeastounding. 2016allowedustocontinuetobuildthisrelationship.NewEssarcontactswereestablishedandsmallstepstakentomeetourrequestsasthecompanystruggledwithitsownproductionandfinancialissues.We’llcontinuetopressforsomeindustrycollaboration.Asmallportionofadditionalsitesurveyworkwasaccomplishedlatesummeraswehopetorevisitthesurveyagaininearlyspringbeforethevegetationsproutsanew.Thispotentialsitewillremainunderclosewatchasahighpriority.U.S.Steel Throughalocalfossilcontact,webegansomemappingsurveysin2015intheKeewatin,MNarea.OurinvestigationledustoahistoricalstockpilejusteastoftownthatwasownedbyU.S.Steel.Wereachedouttotheirlocaloperation,Keetac,andarepresentativeallowedusabriefvisittothesitewewantedtosurvey.Resultswerepromisingfromapaleontologyperspective,andwesecuredasmallsamplingofsitespecimens.Aformalrequestforaccesstothissitewassubmittedinfallof2015. Havingheardnoresponsebyspringof2016,webegantoreconnectwithcompanycontactstoascertainthestatusofourrequest.Bymid-summer,U.S.Steelrespondedwithanewcontactandtheopeningofdiscussionsaboutourintent.Earlyautum,IwasabletohaveahalfdaytourwithtwoU.S.SteelrepresentativesoftheidleKeetaclocationandsomesurroundingcompanypropertieswithhistoricalstockpiles.WearecontinuingourdialoguewithU.S.Steelandhopetocultivatethisopportunityintoamutuallybeneficialsituation.Media
ItwouldbehardtotopthemediacoveragewereceivedaftertheDromeosaurclawboneweuncoveredin2015.Oneneverknowswhatsortoffossilwillbeunearthednext,butwedidnotlayanyhopesonsurpassingthatsplashofattention.Weweregratefulfortheexperienceandthenetworkingitbuilt.Afewofoursupportersremainattentiveandhavecheckeduponourprogress.
YouTube AdedicatedProjectvolunteerandIronRangelocalvideographerfilmedusonedayonsiteatHillAnnexMineStateParkaswegreetedFossilTourattendeesandsharedsomescience! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XVG79rLV-ew GrandRapidsHeraldReview
TheGrandRapidsHeraldReviewanditsmanagingeditor,BrittaArendt,havebeensupportivefromthestart,runningtheinitialstoryontheprojectinthespringof2015withacoupleoffollowuparticles.Ms.Arendtcontinuedtosendinquiriesourwayandafewadditionalstoriesappearedin2016.
ScenicRangeNewsForum
KittyMayofromtheScenicRangeNewsForumoutofColeraine,MNhasbeenanavidfollowerofourwork.Shehasdoneatremendousjobofhelpingtranslatethescienceandillustratethetypesofcreaturesalongtheancientoceanfront.
June8,2016Aug.24,2016HibbingDailyTribuneFeb.6,2016Dec.18,2016KBJR-TVDuluth,MNReporterJenniferAustinvisitedtheHillAnnexMineStateParkinthefallof2015.She
interviewedusandsomeparkguestsonFossilTourduringtheendofseasonparkopenhouse.We’vekeptintouchovertheseasonandyou’lllikelyseeanewsegmentin2017,highlightingtheProject’swork.
LocalContacts DuringthecourseoftheprojectwehavemanagedtodevelopafewlocalresidentcontactsthatareamateurfossilcollectorsorhavehadexperienceintheminingindustryontheMesabiIronRange.Someofthesecontactshaveproventremendouslyusefulingatheringinformationonlocationandtypeofhistoricalfossiloccurrencesduringminingoperations.Shouldtheprojectbeabletoexpandeffortstoawiderarrayoflocalities,thisdataandcontactcouldproveinvaluable. AnumberoflocalcontactshavecontributedvolunteertimetotheprojectFieldCrew.FieldCrewnumberswereupto37forthe2016season.Morehavemaderequeststobeaddedtothevolunteerrosterduringourengagementsoverthecourseoftheyear.WewillbeconductingvolunteertrialsonceagaininthespringtotestoutnewrecruitsandexpandourFieldCrew.
TheseFieldCrewmembersnotonlyassistedwithourfieldtripsoverthesummer,butaidedgreatlyinourengagementandoutreachinitiatives.WeareconfidentallvolunteersreturnedwithagreaterappreciationofMinnesota’sCretaceouspastandafirst-handenthusiasmtosharetheirexperiencewithvisitors.
BudgetUnlikemostothervolunteergrants,theHillAnnexPaleontologyProjectwasgivenpermissionto
conductopenfundraisingfortheaimsoftheproject.Enthusiasticpublicresponsein2015allowedustostarttheyearwithasurplus.Wesecured,earlyintheyear,anotherMarjorieBolz-AllenVolunteergrantfor$1200.ThistimetosupportoureffortstoagaindisplayattheMNStateFairin2016.
Unfortunately,theScienceMuseumofMinnesotaturbulenceinleadershipandbuildingrepairissuesrelegatedavolunteerprojecttoalowpriority.Byspring,theprojectwasplacedonafundraisinghiatusandgrantprocessesweretabled.Lessthanadozenpreviousdonorscontributedagainin2016withoutanysolicitation.Wewereallowedtocontinuepublicpresentationsandcontributionsfromtheseaddedsignificantlytothe2016budget.Bothoftheserevenuestreamscontributedcloseto$1000toProjectbudget.MinnesotaDiscoveryCentercontributedsuppliestotheprocessingoftheYachwakcollection.
Budget:(preliminaryfinalexpenses)2016season
Contributions
$1200.00 MarjorieBolz-Allenvolunteergrant–MNStateFair
$500.00 2015surplus
$925.00 Privatedonations
$1125.00 Presentationdonations
$3750.00 total
Expenditures
$1300.00 MNStateFairexpenses
$1250.00 Transportation–fuel
$250.00 Lodging
$350.00 FieldSuppliesandEquipmentcosts
$150.00 ResearchMaterials
$3300.00 totalprojectcosts
$450.00 2016Budgetsurplus
Remainingprojectfundswillbeallowingustocontinueoutreacheffortsandresearchintospringof2017.
Acknowledgements
We’dliketothanktheMarjorieBolz-AllenFoundationandtheBolz-Allenfamilyfortheirflexiblesupport,thoughtfulconsideration,andunderstandingofourvision.Withouttheirinitialgrantaward,theHillAnnexPaleontologyProjectwouldhaveremainedonlyadream.Therrfollow-upcontributionin2016madepossibletheProjectappearanceattheMNStateFair.Ourheartfeltgratitudeagaingoesouttothemfortheircontinuedpatronage.
We’dliketothanktheMinnesotaDepartmentofNaturalResources,ParksandTrailsDivisionandLandsandMineralsDivision.TheHillAnnexMineStateParkwasintegraltogettingtheprojectunderway.Withouttheircooperation,theprojecteffortsmaywellhaveendedwithonebriefseason.LandsandMineralsDivisionwasagainagraciousandthoughtfulhostforour2016StateFairvisitandaninvaluablepartnertotheexpansionofthesurvey.
WealsothanktheScienceMuseumofMinnesotaanditsstafffortheirguidanceandsupportinamultitudeofaspectsandfunctions.AspecialthankyoutoBruceErickson;FitzpatrickChairofPaleontologyandLaurieFink;DirectorofScienceProgramsfortheirundyingpatiencewithourresearchenthusiasm.ToKimRamsden,SMMPublicRelationsCommunicationsDirector,forhersupportinhelpingsecurethe2016MarjorieBolz-Allenvolunteergrant.TotheVolunteerdepartmentanditsacceptancetoseeoutsidethebox.
Anenormousamountofthankstoourfossildonors:ArtNortonandtheWilliamYachwakfamily!YourconsiderationandtrustoftheProjecttoconserveandshareyourprivatetreasuresbringsanentirelynewdimensiontotheresearch.Wehopeyourexampleencouragesotherstosharetheirprivatecollections.
Withheartfeltgratitude,wewouldliketothankyoucoredonorswhoreachedoutandcontributedtoourcauseoncemorewithoutusevenapproachingyoutocontinue!Yourdonationsnotonlyfundedcontinuingresearchbutalsoconfirmourconvictionthatwepursueaworthycause.Wecan’tthankyouenough!
Finally,ahugethankyoutoallthegroups,clubs,programs,andindividualswhoattendedourpresentationsorexhibitions.ToallofwhovisitedwithusinmuseumsoratHillAnnexMineStatePark,wesaluteyourcuriosityandwonder!Ourjoycomesinsharingthescience.
2017andbeyond ThiscomingyearpromisestounfoldanewsuiteofpossibilitiesastheHillAnnexPaleontologyProjecttransitionstoanewinstitutionalhostwithMinnesotaDiscoveryCenter–TheMuseumoftheIronRange.Withsomeearlydonationpledgesandalistofscheduledpresentationsfor2017,ourbudgetsurplusisexpectedtogrow.Thiswillallowresearchworkandexpandingoutreachtocontinuethroughouttheyear. Plansarealreadyunderwayfornewpublicofferingsthroughournewhost.SupportandcollaborationthroughtheScienceMuseumofMinnesotawillcontinuethroughouttheyearaswe
transition.WehopetosecureanewMarjorieBolz-AllenvolunteergranttosupportanonsiteSMMVolunteerinterpreterprogramduringtheHillAnnexMineStatePark2017seasontoaugmentthesite’sFossilTourprogram.Thisfollowsupthepilotstudyoftheprogramthatranthisseason.
ADepartmentofNaturalResourcesLandsandMineralsDivisioninvitationawaitsustoexhibitagainintheirbuildingduringtheMinnesotaStateFairin2017.Bythetimethisreportisfiled,wewillalreadyhaveconductedourfirstProjectpresentationfortheNewYearwiththeCuyunaRock&MineralClubinBrainerd,MN.FurtherpublicengagementwillbeonthecalendarthroughouttheyearinGrandRapids,CalumetandChisholmalongwiththeTwinCities.AbstractsandregistrationsarealreadyfiledforourattendanceandpresentationsattheGeologicalSocietyofAmerica–NorthCentral-NorthEastJointRegionalConferenceinPittsburgh,PAinMarch2017.Sometimeduringthisyear,newdisplaysatMinnesotaDiscoveryCenter–TheMuseumoftheIronRangewillbeunveiled,highlightingthepaleontologyoftheColeraineFormationandwillbecomepartofaregularattractionforvisitorsandthecommunity.
Wearelookingforwardto2017withmuchanticipation.
Thankyouagainforyoursupportandconsideration,
JohnWestgaard
DouglasHanks
HillAnnexPaleontologyProjectTeam