Michigan Technological University. Institute of Mineral Research

In 1927 the Mineral Research Bureau came into existence with an annual appropriation of funding that was designated by the state of Michigan to study the copper and iron resources of Upper Michigan. This was expanded in 1941 to include industrial research. In 1951, the Michigan Legislature passed Act 272 of the Public Acts of 1951 providing for the "construction of a building and purchase of research equipment adequate for the purpose of engaging in a broad, widespread study of the beneficiation of low-grade ore, of ore dressing, and the problems of metallurgy." In August 1955 a new building was completed on the campus of Michigan Tech to house the Bureau. The Ores Research Building was later renamed the Benedict Laboratory in honor of C. Harry Benedict who served as the chief metallurgist of a copper producer and for many years he was a respected professor of metallurgy at Michigan Tech. After 1955 the Mineral Research Bureau became known as the Institute of Mineral Research. The IMR was involved in many materials and minerals projects from all around the world as well as continuing to serve Michigan, helping to develop new industrial processes and improve the efficiency of existing processes. When the higher grade iron ores were becoming less accessible, the IMR played a major role in developing the beneficiation processes for the lower grade iron ores that have kept the Great Lakes Region as a major iron ore producer. As the Institute's activities expanded to include advanced materials engineering and processing, such as hydrometallurgy, mechanical alloying, ceramics, composites, and solid waste processing and recycling, the institute was renamed in 1985 to become the Institute of Materials Processing, reflecting the broader scope of research. In the early 1990's the Benedict Laboratory was incorporated into the new Minerals & Materials Engineering Building, a $47.7 million research facility in use by IMP since 1991 (http://www.imp.mtu.edu/information/history.html, accessed 10/20/2009).