Coleraine Lab's Research

See what the Coleraine Minerals Research Laboratory has to offer.

Assets:

Analytical, Bench and Pilot Scale Capabilities

The expertise of our metallurgical engineering staff includes minerals processing, pyrometallurgy, chemical engineering, computerized simulations and computational fluid dynamics. We provide state-of-the-art metals analyses including ace mineral analysis in air, water, soil and minerals. We also have the capability of bench and pilot scale modeling in minerals processing, agglomeration, with feed rates of up to five tons per hour. To learn more, click here.

Advanced Computer Simulations and Computational Fluid Dynamics Capabilities

Our concentrator modeling center utilizes USIMPAC modeling software to optimize concentrator flow sheets. We are also able to provide computational fluid dynamics modeling which optimizes heat flows and energy balances in taconite operations.

CMRL Research Spotlight

Benner named SME Mining Professional of the Year

The Minnesota Section of the Society for Mining, Metallurgy and Exploration (SME) named Blair Benner Mining Professional of the Year 2010 at their annual conference April 20-21 held in Duluth, Minn.

Benner is a program director and metallurgist at the University of Minnesota Duluth Natural Resources Research Institute (NRRI). He directs the Minerals Beneficiation Program at NRRI’s Coleraine Lab with over 40 years of research and development experience in mineral processing and extractive metallurgy. Most recently, Benner has focused on the application of mineral processing techniques for environmental remediation. Read more...

Links to Coleraine Research

• Iron Ore Sintering and Pelletizing Capabilities
  Complete capabilities for sintering and pelletizing iron ore on both bench and pilot scale, with upgraded Sinter Pot and Pot Grate Furnaces.
• Modeling
  CMRL research focuses on computational fluid dynamics and concentrator modeling.
• Nodular Reduced Iron
  Nodular reduced iron research for creating a direct iron product from Minnesota taconite.
• Mercury removal
  Mercury removal from stack gases is testing at the EPA rate recommended for 2007.
• Renewable Energy Research Center
  Biomass gasification research at the Renewable Energy Center
• Fines Removal System
  NRRI's fines removal system classifies your feedstock at approximately 80 percent of the cost.
• Tungsten research
  CMRL is partnering with a private company to refine and process tungsten.
• Pre-classification of Flotation Feed
  Developed by University of Minnesota researchers, this concept was improved for plant implementation.
• Beneficiation of Minnesota's Ilmenite Ores
  Ilmenite is the most common feedstock used for the production of high purity Ti0₂, which is used in high-tech applications and paint pigments.
• Beneficiation of Minnesota's Copper-Nickel Ore Deposits
  The Coleraine Lab assists mining companies interested in developing precious metal deposits containing Cu-Ni.
• Research Publications
  Published reports by CMRL staff regarding various projects at the Coleraine Lab.
• Capabilities
  See a complete list of our equipment and capabilities.