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