Browsing by Subject "taconite"

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    Low Carbon Emission “Green” Iron Production in Minnesota
    (2025-05-01) Fatima, Nuzhat; Janisch, Jason; Khandaker, Md Mursalin Rahman
    Steel is essential to modern life, used in everything from infrastructure to transportation. Yet the industry that produces it is one of the most polluting in the world, responsible for approximately 7 to 9 percent of global carbon dioxide emissions. As the push to decarbonize grows stronger, new technologies are emerging to replace the traditional blast furnace (BF) method with lower-emission alternatives such as electric arc furnaces (EAFs), which use direct-reduced iron (DRI) as feedstock. This shift presents a major opportunity for Minnesota. Northeastern Minnesota is rich in iron ore and has long supplied taconite pellets to steelmakers in other states. But as the industry transitions from BFs to EAFs, which cannot use taconite in its current form, Minnesota must adapt. Developing the capacity to convert taconite into DRI would significantly reduce emissions while adding more value to local resources. With demand for BF-grade pellets declining, in-state DRI production could help economically revitalize Iron Range communities and position Minnesota as a leader in clean ironmaking. This paper explores whether Minnesota has the resources, infrastructure, and industry interest to support a DRI facility. While the state has key inputs such as iron ore, water, and natural gas, limited renewable electricity and environmental permitting challenges remain. Realizing green iron in Minnesota is not just technological issue; it requires navigating complex political, social, and environmental dynamics. Addressing legacy harms from mining and ensuring inclusive stakeholder engagement will be essential, and supportive policy and sustained collaboration are necessary for Minnesota to lead in this next phase of steelmaking.
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    Taconite Worker Exposures and Associations with Ischemic Heart Disease and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Mortality
    (2023-08) Hernandez, Ashley
    Background: Taconite mining (i.e., iron mining) began in the late 1800s along the Mesabi range in Minnesota and currently produces the largest amount of iron ore within the United States. Taconite mining and processing results in potential exposures to respirable dust and silica. Previous population and occupational studies have demonstrated potential associations between respirable dust and silica with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and ischemic heart disease (IHD). Additionally, a previous mortality study among Minnesota taconite workers indicated that IHD mortality was elevated. Although COPD was not elevated in the previous mortality study, IHD and COPD often occur as comorbidities. However, using only the underlying cause of death on a death certificate may result in an under-estimation of the COPD mortality burden particularly in the presence of co-morbidities such as IHD. Objective: The overall objective of this research is to evaluate the impact of occupational exposures in taconite mining (i.e., employment duration, respirable dust, and respirable silica) on IHD and COPD mortality among a cohort of taconite miners in Minnesota. Specifically, to determine whether the underlying causes of death due to both COPD and IHD were under-or over-estimated, respectively, this dissertation investigated IHD and COPD mortality among taconite workers using a multiple cause of death analysis. Further, given the potential relationship between employment duration, respirable dust and respirable silica with IHD and COPD, this dissertation also explored the association between employment duration, respirable dust, and respirable silica with IHD and COPD, respectively, among a cohort of taconite miners.
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    Western Mesabi Iron Resources of the Future
    (University of Minnesota Duluth, 2022-09-15) Johnson, Rodney C; Mlinar, Matthew A; Spigarelli, Brett P; Post, Sara P
    The purpose of this study was to initiate a long-term comprehensive characterization program of the remaining iron resources of the Mesabi Iron Range to provide a foundation for the future iron industry in Minnesota. This data is being used to direct research in the areas of reducing reliance on fossil fuels, reducing emissions, and to identify and develop value-added iron products that could be produced from underutilized portions of Minnesota iron resources. Two complete sections of the iron formation were analyzed in this study. The results have contributed to a better understanding of the mineralogical variability within the iron formation; the impacts of oxidation on iron product quality; the potential for new iron-based products; and the presence of trace elements.