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The Mining Engineering Society of the State College of Washington, Pullman, Wash., has elected the following officers for this semester: F. MASON, President, WILLIAM WHITE, Vice-President,. L. E. TRAEGER, Secretary and Treasurer. The Society holds meetings every two weeks at which papers on mining and metallurgical topics are presented by students and members, of the faculty. At the meeting of Oct. 25, Prof. H. R. Robbins gave an interesting talk upon the Rankin Process for the treatment of base-metal ores. In this process the metals are extracted by the use of nitric acid, the acid -being recovered almost entirely. Prof. Robbins thinks the process has great possibilities, but it has not yet been worked on a commercial scale. The Missouri Mining Association, the student organization at the Missouri School of Mines, Rolla, Mo., has. elected the following officers for the ensuing year: L. W. EHLERS, President, H. A. KLUGE, Treasurer, J. G. REILLY, Vice-President, N. E. RITTER, Secretary.

Jan 12, 1915

By J. D. Vincent

During the history of man, the term concentration has had many meanings. Early in history, it may have been construed to mean sorting and smelting. Not many years ago, its definition included only the physical beneficiation processes. Today, and in this article, the term concentration is taking on the meaning of beneficiation and chemical processing, or either separately. An alternate definition could be: concentration is the process of recovering and upgrading an element or nonmetallic mineral so that the product can be used or refined for the needs of man. For the purpose of this article, concentration will have the same connotation as it does in the mineral industry, which has come to include processing methods such as leaching and chlorinization under this heading. Usually, smelting techniques and electrorefining are excluded and classified under the heading of refining. Using the broad definition of concentration, the areas of mining processing include not only the physical beneficiation processes and flotation but also hydrometallurgy and vapor-metallurgy. These methods include sorting, sizing, crushing and grinding, gravity concentrating, magnetic processing and flotation as well as hydrometallurgy and vapor- metallurgical processing.

Jan 1, 1971

By Antonio Marrano, Eda F. Quadros, Diogo Correa [Fo], Paulo T. Cruz

For many years the water pressure test has been used as a normal procedure to investigate the hydraulic characteristics of rock masses and discontinuities. Although the test has given evidence of problematic areas, the nature of flow and the so called equivalent permeability are seldom seriously affected by the testing tecnique. In order to improve the information on these points the Instituto de Pesquisas Tecnológicas de São Paulo - IPT, has developed an extensive program at laboratory and field research on the hydraulics at rock fractures. This paper summarizes the main items related to this research. Is shows that with only small improvements on field tests and some support of laboratory conductivity tests on natural rock joints it is possible to obtain a better understanding of the nature of flow in fractures, improve flow predictions and estimate the opening and hydraulic conductivity, as well as the transmissivity of natural joints or rock discontinuities.

Jan 1, 1982

Assistant Professor of Mining Engineering.-Mining engineer to teach mine surveying, mine mapping, assaying, etc., but not metallurgy. Location, Ohio. Salary, $1800 per annum. No. 379. Metallurgist.-Experienced metallurgist capable of running 25-ton blast lead furnace. Man who knows the country and speaks Spanish desired. You may know that this state is in peaceful conditions and that even during the worst time of the revolution there were several mining concerns never idle. Besides, its resources are wonderful, and once a man gets started, he will find many possibilities. Notwithstanding that Sinaloa is a mining state, our smelter will be the only lead smelter on this coast. Location, Culiscan, Sin., Mexico. No. 381. Quarry Superintendent.-Engineer experienced in limestone quarry work for position as superintendent; must be capable of producing results; must increase output of quarries from 4 to 12 cars per day. Young man with abundant energy is desired. Permanent position, chance to grow up with the company. Location, New Jersey. Salary depends upon the man. No. 382.

Jan 4, 1919

By R. H. Ernst, H. R. Ogden, D. J. Maykuth

AT present, no theories exist which allow prediction of the effect of alloying additions on the thermoelectric properties of metals. Nevertheless, Battelle and others1 have observed that, at high temperatures, the peak thermal electromotive-force output (relative to a platinum standard) occurs with metals in Group VI of the Periodic Chart. The authors suspected that this peak was associated with the fact that maximum electronic bond stability is achieved with these metals which have six bonding electrons per atom. On the basis of current electron-concentration theory for transition metals and alloys:' it was surmised that the addition of valency electrons to metals of Groups IV and V (accomplished by the addition of metals from Groups VI, VII, or VIII) should progressively increase the thermoelectric-power output of the resulting alloys until an alloy composition is reached at which the number of valency electrons per atom is six. A further increase in the ratio of valency electrons per atom should then decrease the thermoelectric power. In contrast, the addition of bonding electrons to Group VI, VII, or VIII metals should decrease their thermoelectric power since the electron per atom

Jan 1, 1965

The. Library of the above-named Societies is open from 9 A. M. to 10 P. M. except on holidays. It contains about 70,000 volumes and 90,000 pamphlets, including sets of technical periodicals and publications of scientific and technical societies. Members of the Institute, with few exceptions, are forced to spend a portion of their time in localities isolated from sources of information. To these the Library, through its Library Service Bureau, can render valuable service through correspondence; letters requesting information will receive especial attention. The Library is prepared to furnish references and, photographic copies of articles on mining and metallurgical subjects; to determine the existence of mining maps, and to furnish general information on the geology and mineral resources of all countries. All communications should be made as definite as possible so that the information received may be what is desired and not include collateral matter which may not be of interest. The time spent in searching for such collateral matter will be saved, and the information will be sent more promptly and in more usable shape.

Jan 3, 1919

An Interstate Mining Commission organized in Raleigh, N. C., on April 27 still has no offices, no budget and only four members, but it could spell the beginning of the end for the state-to-state environmental control variations that have lately been con- founding the mining industry. Established by Kentucky, North Carolina, Oklahoma and Pennsylvania, the new organization is committed to protecting land, water and other resources through improved strip and other mining practices. In pursuit of this end, it has broad authority to study all mining activities affecting the environment and to recommend improvements in mining practices and in laws regulating the mining industry. The Startup The Commission was created under an interstate Mining Compact enacted in the 1960's by the legislatures of the four member states. According to the rules of this Compact, the Commissioners in the new organization are, ex officio, the governors of the member states-namely, Chairman Louie B. Nunn (Ky.), Vice Chairman Robert W. Scott (N.C.), David Hall (Okla.) and Milton J. Shapp (Pa.). Each Commissioner, however, must appoint an advisory body to counsel him in matters relating to Commission business and delegate one member of this body to act as his alternate. Each advisory body must include representatives of mining, conservation and other public and private interests.

Jan 1, 1971

By James E. Gingrich

The new Track Etch technique for uranium exploration has been utilized in several survey programs conducted during the last few years. The results from these programs have been very encouraging, and new uranium ore bodies have been discovered by using this new technique. The method is being used in several exploration programs in various locations around the world. This exploration technique utilizes small pieces of special radiation-sensitive plastic film to detect the presence of radon gas which is released by uranium ore bodies. Because of the selectivity and sensitivity of the technique, ore bodies not normally detected with other surface or airborne monitoring methods are found. Since no large equipment or special training of personnel is needed, the technique is easily used in field operations. The basis for the Track Etch method, its application in field exploration programs, and the results obtained to date in locating uranium ore bodies are discussed.

Jan 1, 1976

By L. P. Durham

DuRing the early mine development period, 1929 and the first part of 1930, a 300-ton pilot-plant concentrator was built at Nkana mine of the Rhokana Corporation, Northern Rhodesia. This plant operated from May 26, 1930 until Oct. 26, 1931, treating 101,080 tons of Nkana ores and producing 4372 tons of concentrate. The plant was built, primarily, as a test unit to determine the grinding characteristics, floatability, etc. of the Nkana ores and other ores of the Rhodesian copper belt and to supply sufficient data on which to base the design of a 5000-ton concentrating plant at Nkana mine. The test unit operated wholly on development ores and no attempt was made to grade or select the ores from any section of the mine. The average assays for the 17 months of operation are given in Table 1. The first ground was broken for the 5000-ton concentrator during June, 1930, and the construction of the plant was completed in November, 1931. The plant started on Dec. 10 and has operated continuously since that date: The whole of the concentrating plant is compact and closely connected, yet with sufficient space for expansion of all sections up to 20,000 to 25,000 tons per day capacity. Mining operations are carried on along a length of about four miles on the easterly limb of the Nkana syncline. This length includes the North orebody, from which all production has thus far originated, and the Mindola orebody, now being developed for production. The ore-bearing measures in the North orebody are leached for some 75 ft. below the surface; the oxidized zone varies in vertical extent from 100 to 150 ft. Practically all the ore below the 200-ft. level is sufficiently

Jan 1, 1935

Prof. Henry M Howe, New York: It is extremely probable that this efflorescence of silica is due to the liquation either of silicon or of a silicide, and the subsequent oxidation of the silicon to silica. As Mr. Fackenthal says, it is very hard to see why silicon should liquate from an iron containing so little silicon, and it seems more probable that some silicide of some volatile element has liquated, and has dissociated on reaching the air, and that the volatile element has volatilized, leaving the silicon to oxidize to silica. The volatile elements present which might thus liquate in combination with the silicon are sulphur, zinc, and lead. It is hard to see why sulphide of silicon should have liquated from an iron containing so little of either sulphur or silicon. At first, one naturally thinks that either the zinc or the lead present in this furnace might have liquated as silicide. It is true that they are both volatile at the temperature within the furnace, but then the vapor-tension* of each of them within

Jan 1, 1901

The Library of the above-named Societies is open from 9 A.M. to 10 P.M. on all week-days, except holidays, from September 1 to June 30, and from 9 A.M. to 6 P.M. during July and August. The Library contains about 55,000 volumes, including sets of technical periodicals and the publications of scientific and technical societies. Members of the Institute, with few exceptions are forced to spend a portion of their time in localities isolated from sources of information. To these the Library can render valuable service through correspondence; letters requesting information will receive special attention. The Library is prepared to furnish references and copies of articles on mining and metallurgical subjects; to determine the existence of mining maps, and to furnish general information as to the geology and mineral resources of all countries. All communications should be made as definite as possible so that the information received may be what is desired and not include collateral matter which may not be of interest. The time spent in searching for such collateral matter will be saved, and the information will be sent more promptly and in more usable shape. The members of the Institute can be of service to the Library by forwarding copies, of mining reports, maps privately issued, and similar material, which will be classified, indexed, and made available to other members. Suggestions for additions to the Library, either by purchase or personal solicitation as gifts, will be welcomed. It is hoped that members while in the city will use the Library freely, and assurance is given that most careful service will be rendered to them.

Jan 11, 1915

CONTENTS PAGE WARNER, ROBERT K.-Efficiency of Screening. Discussed by Robert C. Canby,Robert K. Warner, W. 0. Borcherdt, V. E. Flanagan 1 FAHRENWALD, A. W.-Surface Reactions in Flotation. Discussed by Arthur F. Taggart, A. M. Gaudin 7 Efficiency of Screening Discussion of the paper of ROBERT K. WARNER, presented at the New York Meeting, February, 1924, and issued, as Paper No. 1293-M, with MINING AND METALLURGY, January, 1924. ROBERT C. CANBY, Wallingford, Conn.-On page 2, the author speaks of the importance of using a testing sieve clothed with the same material as the screen being studied; does he regard this as essential? In practice, how does the screen efficiency calculated by the difficult-grain method compare with those computed by the usual undersize method? Is it possible by the author's method, to obtain a measure of efficiency that can safely be compared with that of another screen sizing a different ore? ROBERT K. WARNER.-The use of a testing sieve clothed like the mill screen being studied is desirable but not essential for routine work about a mill where the character of the feed varies little, as regards the shape of the grains and the sizing test. Close agreement in size of aperture between the sieve and the screen is, however, important if the data obtained are to be valuable to others working on a different feed. If the testing sieve is coarser than the mill screen, the efficiency will appear unfairly low; whereas if it is too fine one might get efficiencies greater than 100 per cent. because of the apparent oversize in the undersize. In either of these cases the usefulness of the difficult-grain method of calculation would be reduced. As screens wear, the undersize grows appreciably coarser so that it is desirable to test screens only when the cloth is new or else to provide testing sieves that are worn about the same amount. The futility of making efficiency observations on a. distorted or broken screen surface is obvious.

Jan 6, 1924

By Russell C. Flemming

The aim of this Source Book has been to bring together in concise form information on the wealth of technical literature on mining and geology issued by the bewilderingly many state bureaus, federal bureaus, technical societies, trade associations and other noncommercial agencies in the United States. The effort has been made to include the navies of all the noncommercial publishers of such technical literature, to indicate where and at what price the articles may be obtained, as well as to give with as much detail as space permits specific information on individual papers. The thought has been to put the information particularly in the hands of the younger members of the profession, who may not yet have had the wide contacts with this literature that they will need in later life. Several factors have interfered with the complete attainment of the original intention. Undoubtedly some agencies that properly have a place in these pages have unintentionally been omitted; many agencies canvassed were omitted as not having literature of direct concern here; in other cases some. of the needed information was lacking; and the limitations of time and space have bounded the scope of the compilation.. Except in one or two cases, only publications prior to July, 1932, are included here, and from that standpoint the book is necessarily incomplete, as additions are continually being made to the files of literature on these subjects. Individual titles have been listed whenever possible but where an agency has collected a great mass of published material only most important titles, and a general review of the scope of the works, can be made. This results in penalizing, in a way, bureaus such as the U. S. Bureau of Mines and the U. S. Geological Survey, which have voluminous and vitally important works in the fields covered, because space commensurate with that volume and importance cannot be allowed. In any event, in such cases, a complete catalog is issued periodically and repetition is superfluous. The space

Jan 1, 1933

By Roy T. Southin*

The finding of Wojciechowski and Chalmers that columnar crystal growth can be stopped by an already existing network of equiaxed crystals is supported by other recently reported work on both static and mechanically stirred ingots.27,28 Support for the dendrite arm fragmentation mechanism, too, can be obtained by comparing the effects of spinning on ingots cast in a material which has a dendritic solid/liquid interface during solidification with one which has a cellular interface, since no evidence of change at the interface, other than a change in growth direction, can be found in the cellular material. But there are alternative ways of producing an equiaxed zone in materials which characteristically solidify with a cellular interface. For example, interrupted spinning of a normally cast ingot can do it. In this case it has been shown28 that the equiaxed zone is caused by the showing of dendritic particles from the top surface of the ingot to nucleate a network of equiaxed crystals which forms a barrier to the continued growth of the columnar grains. This showering has also been shown to be a major effect in materials solidifying with dendritic interfaces. It has also been proposed28,29 that, for an equiaxed zone to form, not only must nuclei be present ahead of the interface but also these nuclei must grow to sufficient size to be a barrier to the further growth of the columnar grains. A further requirement is that a network of these grains continually be produced ahead of the growing interface; otherwise there is a reversion to columnar growth as found by Wojciechowski and Chalmers. In normally cast ingots it is possible for nuclei ahead of the interface to grow since during a large portion of the solidification time there is no temperature gradient ahead of the interface,30 and, in fact, the liquid may be slightly undercooled.29 This then is the major difference between the work under discussion and normal industrial solidification conditions, since Wojciechowski and Chalmers imposed a considerable temperature gradient in the liquid. The statement in the Wojcieshowski and Chalmers paper that one needs to lower the temperature gradient

Jan 1, 1969

By A. B. Kinzel

A PREVIOUS study1 of the relations of impact strength to inclusions showed that the dynamic strength of steel is lowered by the presence of visible counted inclusions, but that other factors comprised in the term "body" have a marked influence. The previous work was carried out on selected steels from a single source, so that the body factor was purposely minimized, but even under these conditions it was found that inclusion counting or the use of the commercial inclusion rating is not satisfactory. The tensile-impact test, however, was indicated as a satisfactory measure of dynamic strength. It was further suggested that the tensile-impact test should be so standardized as to be suitable for use in specifications, and that the hardness factor should be worked out over a sufficient range to admit ready commercial use of the tensile-impact test. In accordance with these suggestions, and in view of the fact that the steels reported in the previous paper were selected and treated so as to have a minimum variation in body, hardness and structure, further work has been performed on a variety of steels which are not limited by these conditions. The word "body" is used here for want of a better term. It is simply a convenient expression which comprises the effect of the various unknown factors that modify the dynamic strength of the steel. Thus at our present state of knowledge, the writers have chosen to consider hardness, structure and counted inclusion content as factors not comprised in the term "body," and such factors as raw materials, process of melting, fabricating, etc. as comprised in the term "body." Numerous grades of steels made in several ways have been taken from different sources and have been heat-treated to varying hardness by normalizing and by quenching and drawing. The results, therefore, may be considered to be generally applicable to current engineering steels. A certain limitation with respect to the hardness at which steel should be

Jan 1, 1931

By L. G. E. Bignell

Surveying what was done in 1929 in meeting problems of oil-field equipment corrosion, one is struck by the fact that fewer meetings were held for discussion of these problems and fewer papers written than in any year since the subject engaged the attention of petroleum engineers. This does not mean that progress has not been made, for a great deal actually has been accomplished. Recommendations that accompanied field reports have been put into actual trial and some results obtained are gratifying. The type of papers prepared also has undergone a change, for they now deal with things accomplished rather than recite damages and suggest possible remedies. Some of the most notable work pointing the way for future solution of many pipe line problems is that done for the U. S. Bureau of Standards by Dr. K. H. Logan and Dr. Gordon N. Scott, dealing with tests of pipe coatings and reports on soil conditions. Many facts of great importance have been isolated and defined by these two men, not only indicating what may be done in some instances to retard corrosion, but showing that things formerly considered of importance have little bearing apparently upon the practical results. All-aluminum Storage Tanks In April, 1928, an all-aluminum 500-bbl. field storage tank was put into actual field use in Crane County, Texas, together with another tank of the same capacity but made with steel bottom and lower section of side sheets and aluminum upper ring of side sheets and deck. In April, 1929, after a little over one year's use these tanks were opened and examined by a group of engineers and chemists. The results of the test were enlightening. Other tanks made entirely of steel and used in the same battery with the two test tanks had some of their side and bottom sheets destroyed by corrosion in six to nine months, but the all-aluminum tank was in actual use for 18 months before holes were found corroded through the bottom, when the tank was examined for a second time in September, 1929. This field test of the aluminum tank confirmed the already known

Jan 1, 1930

By H. J. Denning, M. W. Brabbins, A. K. Isaac

The quality of a coalface floor is the essential element that enables powered supports to generate their designed loads in control of coalface strata. The paper introduces a technique for the appraisal of coalface foundation stability. A criterion of support efficiency, viz., the support pressure increase/strata convergence, is included in case study data obtained from investigations in the South Wales Coalfield, U.K.

Jan 1, 1984

POSITIONS VACANT (Under this heading will be published notes sent to the Secretary of the Institute by members or other persons.) Assayer and chemist with experience in gold and silver work and refining; used to handling a force of men. Large property in Northern Ontario. Send reference, record of practice, age, married or single, and salary expected. Apply Position 54. Metallurgical chemist wanted, competent to make the following analyses: cupola, gray iron; air:-furnace iron; pig iron of various kinds; coal; coke; sand of all descriptions; materials used in modern foundry practice; steel, and bronzes of all kinds; oils for fuel in Diesel engines and lubricating purposes; materials used in a modern machine shop, in fact, all materials likely to be used in a foundry, machine shop and forge shop. No. 55.

Jan 12, 1915

By Louis A. Panek

MOST roof bolts are used in mines with bedded roofs, but it has not been determined to what degree thin-bedded roofs can be reinforced by bolting if there is no thick member in which to anchor the bolts, or what function the bolts must perform in such a case. Owing to widespread practice of sys- tematic bolting to support thin-bedded roofs, moreover, it is desirable to design roof-bolting systems on a quantitative basis. Specifically, a solution to the following problem is required: For a roof composed of beds of given thickness and physical properties, what is the optimum length, spacing, orientation, and tightness of bolts consistent with safety and economy? The investigation reviewed here has produced a functional equation to evaluate these variables and establish basic principles of roof bolting.

Jan 1, 1956

By Harrison A. Schmitt

One of the great copper-producing areas of the world is comprised of five U. S. western states and northern Sonora, Mexico. The Southwest province of this area, covering southern Arizona, south- western New Mexico, and northern Sonora, produces some 55 pct of U. S. copper output and the equivalent of 15 pct of world production. In 1956 the area produced about 550,000 tons. Tucson is approximately the center of the oval- shaped province, which measures only 300 miles on its east-west axis and about 200 miles on its short axis. Northwest of the oval, and forming a tenuous connection with the Utah and Nevada copper fields, is an important operating mine, Bagdad, and also the now inactive United Verde. Along its north- south axis, running from Globe, through Tucson, to Nogales, ten moderate to major copper properties have been discovered or revived during the past 15 years, and five of these in only the past seven years. The latter five properties lie in an area 25 miles in diameter, centering 20 miles south of Tucson. In order of discovery, or revival, they are: Banner's Mineral Hill and Daisy; Cyprus et al's Pima; Duval's Esperanza; Asarco's East Pima (now called Mission mine) ; and Lewisohn's Peach. Total tonnage is estimated at about 250 million tons averaging some 0.90 pct Cu, but ultimate production may exceed this amount since some of the reserve is open ended.

Jan 6, 1959