DIRT PILE DREAMS: CRAFTING A PROJECT AND ENGAGING THE COMMUNITY ABOUT CRETACEOUS SEDIMENTS

In summation of the literature and collections of the Cretaceous deposits of Minnesota, the Paleontology department of the Science Museum of Minnesota is conducting site revisits pertinent to current research. One such site is the Hill Annex Mine State Park on the Mesabi iron range of northern Minnesota and their 100 year old stockpiles of Cretaceous soils excavated from historic open pit iron mines. The park’s small public fossil program had yielded some noteworthy samples, inspiring us to seek methods to engage the community, expand our references and dig deeper. Initial grant success has guaranteed a start to our endeavors to bring to light the Coleraine Formation through volunteer enrichment, broad outreach, and enhancement of collections at the Science Museum of Minnesota and project partners. Share the hard lessons and triumphs won during the quest to spark a more thorough examination of the geological significance of this slice of Minnesota prehistory and conservation of the evidence before it is lost.