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By W. J. Millard

VAGUE rumors and stories have been heard, from time to time, about the diamond and gold deposits of southern Venezuela. It is perhaps appropriate, at this time of revived interest in gold mining, to publish a few facts in regard to this country, which has been undergoing exploration since the fifteenth century. Gold and diamonds are found principally in the State of Bolivar which lies in southeastern Venezuela and is bounded by British Guiana on the east and Brazil on the south (see Fig. 1). The famous Mt. Roraima is situated at a point where these three countries meet in a common point (see Fig. 2). Some gold is also found in the southern part of the territory of Amacuro. Good oil prospects exist in the northern part of this same territory. Diamonds are found on the Caroni river from Rio Paragua to the village of Guri. Another small district is on the headwaters of the Cuyuni river. Quartz veins containing gold are chiefly exploited in

Jan 1, 1931

By Evert Hoek

Summarising a conference is never an easy task, but I will try to keep my comments brief and to the point. There are a number of lessons which we have learned from our deliberations together during these past three days, and I will try to give you my impressions of these lessons and of their practical implications in open pit mining. The first thing that has become increasingly obvious during these discussions is that it is no longer acceptable to offer an 'Act of God' as an excuse for a major slope or tailings dam failure. Disasters such as that at Aberfan in the United Kingdom have focussed the world's attention on the activities of the mining industry and the report of the commission set up to investigate the Aberfan disaster clearly showed that adequate knowledge was available and that failure to apply this knowledge did not qualify as an 'Act of God'. The courts and the world's press are certain to impose increasingly harsher penalties and criticism on those held responsible for major failures, particularly of tailings dams, in the future. One of the major problems in applying available knowledge to slope problems is that attempts to apply this knowledge are frequently left too late. To provide an engineering solution in the case of a slope in an advanced state of failure is an almost impossible task, and it is essential that those responsible for the stability of a slope must learn to recognise signs of distress at an early enough stage for effective remedial measures to be taken. As our ability to solve slope problems improves, the time at which slope stability problems are considered in a mining project must move forward to a stage at which these problems can be anticipated and dealt with before they arise. Conferences such as this are important in that they enable us to exchange ideas and advance our knowledge to a level at which such predictive engineering will be possible. It has been encouraging to hear of mining projects such as the Bougainville Copper operation where slope stability studies were carried out as part of the overall evaluation programme and it is hoped that this will become a more common procedure in the future. Providing a safe slope in an opencast mine obviously costs money, either in terms of the reduced ore to waste ratio given by flat slopes or because of the cost of stabilization techniques such as drainage or the use of rock anchors. An optimum slope design will provide maximum safety at minimum cost but achieving this optimum is not an easy task. Any one of us could design a slope which would be stable to the end of time, but it is probable that that slope would be so flat as to be totally uneconomic in most open pit mining situations. On the other hand, if the overall economics of a mining project are so critical as to require slope angles which the engineer responsible for these slopes considers to be unsafe, it is his duty to make us could design a slope which would be stable to the end of time, but it is probable that that slope would be so flat as to be totally uneconomic in most open pit mining situations. On the other hand, if the overall economics of a mining project are so critical as to require slope angles which the engineer responsible for these slopes considers to be unsafe, it is his duty to make

Jan 1, 1971

By Fleming, R. C.

ONE OF THE NEWEST developments of industry rising from the commercial application of scientific knowledge is in the making of solid carbon dioxide from the gas about 1925 the first efforts were made to manufacture "dry ice" on a large scale and at a price to permit widespread use. From that beginning the industry has grown to a consumption of 40,000 tons in 1930. Carbon-dioxide ice, as the name implies, is merely the gas compressed and cooled to a solid. The ice has a temperature of 109° F. below zero and is in many ways superior to water ice. It evaporates to a gaseous form so it is not wet and leaves no trace; in fact, one suggested minor use is as coasters under water glasses on the dining table. The gas is harmless except in large concentrations and. when the ice is used as a refrigerant, the resulting gas actually becomes a preservative, keeping oxygen away from perishable products. Not only does the ice have a greater amount of cold in a small volume than water ice but cooling is effected by direct contact of the resulting gas with the materials to be refrigerated rather than by convection air currents.

Jan 1, 1932

By S. Clark Komardi

Freeport Indonesia, Incorporated produces 180,000 tons per year (200,000 STPY) of 32% copper concentrate. A 111 kilometer (69 mile) pipeline transports the concentrate slurry to the sea coast. Rheology characteristics of the concentrate slurry must be monitored continuously to assure that the pipeline does not plug and that mini- mum degradation of the pipeline occurs. Factors affecting the rheobgy include particle size, percent solids, pH, and reagent additions. This paper includes a general pipeline description, slurry rheology factors affecting operations, and the problems encountered and their subsequent resolution. Six years successful operation of the worlds longest copper concentrate slurry pipeline has provided a unique insight into slurry behavior.

Jan 1, 1980

By S. C. Sun, D. R. Mitchell

T LTRASONICS can be used to deslime and up-grade ores, such as tungsten and tin, which slime excessively with high losses of value in the tailing and are difficult to deslime with conventional methods. Experimenta] work has been performed with a test-tube size ultrasonic classifier. Larger equip-

Jan 1, 1957

By Charles Hardy

?POWDER METALLURGY? is the production of semiformed or fully formed metal products by compressing metal powders. It had its beginnings in the fabrication of tungsten and molybdenum bars and wire by compression, sintering, and swaging. Powder metallurgy, although still in its infancy with other metals, has shown remarkable progress in recent years. Production of Metal Powders-The first step in any powder-metallurgy process is the production of metal particles of suitable shape and size. Mechanical processes for producing metal powders, as by crushing, stamping, or grinding, are usually not suitable, as the resulting particles may cause laminations and decreased strength in the finished articles. The principal metal powders now in use on a large scale are produced by electrolysis or by reduction of metal oxides by gases.

Jan 1, 1936

By AIME AIME

AMONG the European nations Germany is the center of interest economically as well as politically, and of prime importance for Europe as a whole is Germany's capacity to produce mineral products for armament and for export in exchange for the import of the essential supplies to maintain its industries. So far as minerals are concerned, Germany is worse off than any other great power except Italy, and deficiencies are being met by attempts to increase output from local deposits and by greater use of substitutes derived from domestic raw materials to replace imported metals, petroleum products, and other minerals.

Jan 1, 1939

By John Hower, Frank J. Markewicz, William Lodding

Greensand, greensand marl, and green earth are names given to sediments rich in the bluish green to greenish black mineral known as glauconite by the mineralogist. The word glauconite is from the Greek word glaukos, meaning bluish green. The term "greensand" as a rock name for a glauconite-bearing sediment is more appropriate than "greensand marl," a term that has been doggedly perpetuated in the literature. Because of its potash and phosphate content, greensand was dug and marketed as a fertilizer and soil conditioner for more than 100 years. The advent of prepared fertilizers with adjustable nutrient ratios led to the decline of greensand for agricultural application. The material has since been recognized for use in water treatment. Unfortunately, in spite of large reserves and worldwide distribution, the mineral has not been utilized to any significant commercial extent because no major application has been found for a substance with its chemical composition and properties. This lack is probably due to a paucity of research on its potential commercial application. Extraction of potash received considerable attention during and just after World War I. Because of relatively high extraction costs and generally low potash content (up to 8% ), glauconite lost its appeal as a source of this commodity. Historical Background Greensand was used as a fertilizer in New Jersey in the latter part of the 1700s. During the early 1800s its use became more common; applications of up to 100 tons per acre were sometimes made, although recommendations for agricultural use suggested 20 to 50 tons per acre (Tedrow, 1957). Many crops, especially the forage type, were said to improve with greensand application; however, because of, slow release of potash, large quantities were required. Certain greensands that contain sulfur and sulfide minerals are harmful to plant growth, and these were classified as "poison," "burning," or "black marls." The availability of higher-grade potash salts from other mineral sources, and the manufacture of prepared fertilizers, displaced the agricultural use of greensand during the later 1800s. During the mid-1800s the domestic greensand industry, centered in a small section of the eastern United States, grossed more than $500,000 per year. Toward the end of the century, annual production had dwindled to less than $100,000. By 1910 there were only six or eight greensand producers, grossing less than $5000 (Tyler, 1934). There was a small revival in the industry during World War I because of the curtailment of foreign potash, especially from Germany. During the later 1940s and early 1950s greensand was again recommended as a food nutrient for plants and farm crops. Agronomic studies discussed its potential as a soil additive that gradually releases potash and many trace-element nutrients essential for plant growth (Tedrow, 1957). Greensand was sold with the idea that it would condition soil and absorb and hold water while its base-exchange properties would release trace elements. For a short time glauconite was utilized in certain parts of New Jersey as a binding additive in the brick industry, and in the 1800s for making green glass (Cook, 1868). In the early 1900s the base-exchange property of glauconite was recognized for water treatment, and the mineral gained acceptance as a water softener. Mansfield (1922) does not mention base-exchange; however, the base ex-

Jan 1, 1983

By K. R. Evans

The deformation mechanisms occurring in polycrys-talline, commercially pure titanium and a Ti-8 pct A1 alloy have been investigated and compared to earlier results by Levine on high-purity titanium single crystals and by Conrad on commercially pure titanium. In accord with Levine, two consecutive deformation mechanisms are observed to exist below 500°K with the transition temperature between mechanisms, Tc, strongly dependent upon interstitial composition. T, is found to be 210°. 375° -430°, and 450°K for alloys A large number of investigations have been conducted to determine the rate-controlling mechanisms of plastic deformation occurring in fcc and bcc metals. Very few investigations of a similar nature have been conducted for hexagonal metals. In fact, until very recently, magnesium is the only hexagonal metal which has been systematically investigated for determination of the rate-controlling deformation mechanisms.1"3 From these investigations, it was concluded that basal slip below 420°K occurs by the intersection of forest dislocations,1'3 while for prismatic slip the Peierls mechanism is rate-controlling at low temperatures with interstitial compositions of 0.024, 0.42, 0.61, and 1.13 at. pct expressed in terns of oxygen equivalents. The low-temperature mechanism is found to be an impurity obstacle mechanism in contrast to Levine's earlier conclusion of the Peierls barrier. Measurement of the activation parameters for deformation and estimation of the force-distance profile of the obstacles show their retarding force to be effective over longer distances from the obstacle as the interstitial composition increases. and thermally activated cross slip at higher temperatures. 2 The potential technological importance of titanium alloys has prompted recent studies of the deformation and fracture characteristics of titanium and its alloys. 4-8 Levine' systematically investigated the low-temperature deformation behavior of high purity titanium single crystals oriented for either basal or prismatic slip. It was concluded that the Peierls mechanism was rate-controlling at temperatures below 210°K, while above this temperature an undefined mechanism was rate-controlling. Conrad 7,8 concluded from an analysis of the composition dependence of the critical shear stress at 0°K and measurement of the activation parameters that the low-temperature deformation of titanium is controlled by an impurity

Jan 1, 1969

By R. W. Bond

The gas-lift is a comparatively recent development in the Oklahoma and Kansas fields. It was used to some extent in the old Dilworth field several years ago, but the first extensive installations were made in the Tonkawa and Garber fields in Oklahoma early in the year 1926. Compressor Equipment During the early development of the system, the equipment used generally consisted of small tandem compressors of about 250 cu. ft. per min. displacement, driven by automotive-type gas engines, using a short belt drive. These compressors were first installed at the individual wells largely as an experiment. After the experimental installations had proved the method a success, it was considered economically advisable to centralize the compressor equipment in strategically located stations. However, as the information in regard to "gas-lift flowing life" was anything but definite, and the most optimistic estimates in regard to it did not exceed six months, portability of equipment was still the first consideration in the minds of many operators, who continued to install srnall semi-portable com-pressors in their centralized stations. As electric power became available in the fields, the electric motor came rapidly into use as the prime mover for the small compressors. The operating cost of this motor is greater than that of the automotive-type gas engine for the same power output, but the greater continuity of service tends to balance the extra cost. Aside from the semi-portable units, a number of strictly portable compressors were used. These consisted of automotive-type gas engines direct connected to vertical compressors. The unit was assembled on one base and could be mounted on wheels or skids as desired. The chief objection to these, in the writer's opinion, was their small capacity— approximately 150 cu, ft. per min.—which made it necessary to use two, three, and sometimes more units per well, thus making the installation rather costly. However, they have been found valuable for test purposes and emergencies, where installation time is an important factor.

Jan 1, 1928

The Sub-committee on Safety of the Industrial Organization Com-mittee of the Institute has been asked to cooperate with the National Safety Council, and has made certain recommendations to the Board of Directors of the Institute regarding ways and means of bringing about this cooperation. The National Safety Council has been in existence seven years. Its inception was at a meeting of the American Iron and Steel Electrical Engineers held in Milwaukee in 1912. The first annual congress was held in New York City in October, 1913, at which time the Council was definitely organized. Its membership now consists of nearly four thousand members, representing industrial plants, railroads, public utility companies, insurance companies, state labor commissions, Chambers of Commerce, manufacturers' organizations, etc. These members are in all states of the Union and in eleven foreign countries, and through them the National Safety Council reaches more than six million workers.

Jan 7, 1919

By J. A. Snyder, W. L. Finlay

G. Edmunds—Solid solubility is considered to be of either the interstitial or the substitutional type. Is it possible, in a binary alloy as the simplest case, that some of the solute atoms are present in the normal lattice sites (substitutionally or filling lattice vacancies) while simultaneously others are in interstitial positionss One might even ask whether a distribution of the two types may be the normal situation. H. M. Meyer—Metastable states of interstitial atoms occupying vacant lattice sites possibly occur as well as of substitutional atoms squeezed in between regular matrix positions. However (as we know since Hume-Rothery), the solute atoms choose between the two kinds of solutions; consequently, every solute will be unequivocally either substitutional or interstitial in the equilibrium state of the solid solution. M. Balicki—In view of the fact that the authors apparently correlate the analysis of the alloys at the ingot stage with the properties exhibited at the testing stage, I would like to ask whether this is a fully justifiable procedure. In other words, how good are their determinations of solute concentration for correlating them with the mechanical properties. The answer to this question may explain some of the divergencies. Assuming good enough homogenization of the samples and exact determination of mechanical properties the position of the plotted experimental points will depend solely upon the accuracy of composition determination. If this is not accurate, say due to loss or pickup of elements during processing from the ingot to the testing stage, or due to a systematic error in the method employed for obtaining solute concentration data, the points will deviate from their true position and may align themselves along a different curve than the one expected. H. V. Kinsey—We have been studying the creep-rupture properties of titanium-base alloys at 1000°F. In the course of this work, anomalies in behavior of the alloys that would suggest that the material under test was becoming stronger as the test progressed have been observed. If this was so, the most likely explanation that we could think of was that the test bars were absorbing oxygen and nitrogen from the air during the test and were thereby becoming strengthened. In an attempt to determine the strengthening effect of absorbed oxygen and nitrogen the following experiment was conducted. A length of cold-rolled titanium was supplied by the E. I. du Pont Co. Two test bars, having a 1/4 in. diam gauge length, were prepared from this material. One bar was tested in the as-received condition. The second bar was heated in air at 1550°F for 100 hr and subsequently air cooled prior to testing. A testing temperature of 1000°F was employed. The results of these tests are tabulated in table 11. In the author's opinion, is it reasonable to assume that the bar that was exposed to air at 1550°F for 100 hr was stronger because it absorbed oxygen and nitrogen from the air during this heat treatment? W. L. Finlay (authors' reply)—Direct experimental evidence for or against Mr. Edmunds' interesting suggestion will probably never be available. It seems possible, however, that mixed interstitial-substitutional solid solution might well occur with interstitial elements. The less likely possibility of interstitial solution of a normally substitutional element like copper in aluminum was recently discussed at length by the

Jan 1, 1951

By H. J. Wasson

WITH the close of 1932 and the third year of the depression, the activity of oil production presents, amidst the general wreckage and chaos of industrial society, a somewhat unique picture of rationalized economic effort. East Texas still dominates the contemporary horizon, but it has become, at least for the time being, a definitely known factor. With its 9500 wells it is approximately 90 per cent drilled up. So long as production control obtains, it is merely one important factor of the national oil reserve. Each succeeding month of stabilized production tends to lull the industry's fears and the menace, both actual and psychological, of this giant field becomes ever more remote.

Jan 1, 1933

University of Alabama University, Alabama Mining and Metallargical Society. FRED PISACAYNE. President JAMES REYNOLDS, Secretary (George T. BATOR. Faculty Sponsor RAY L. FARALEE. Counselor University of Arizona Tucson, Arizona Miners' Society J. POTTER TRAINER, President BLANCHE E. LIGHTOWLER, Secretary J. B. CUNNINGHAM, Faculty Sponsor BRENT N. RICKARD, Counselor

Jan 1, 1944

By AIME AIME

A CORPORATION would go into bankruptcy if its affairs were conducted as are those of the state of New York, according to the Committee on New York State Government Reorganization of the American Engineering Council of the Federated American Engineering Societies, in a report to the chairman, of the Joint Judiciary Committees of the Senate and Assembly. The report, just made public, was signed by the three members of the committee who were appointed by Herbert Hoover. They were H. de-B. Parsons, chair- man, Paul G. Brown and Lewis B. Stillwell. Although the American Engineering Council is a national organization, it decided to aid in governmental reorganization in New York State because of the magnitude of the task. The Council's committee in its report urged the passage of three state reorganization amendments for consolidation of departments, an executive budget system, and a four-year term for the higher state officials. In the words of the report :

Jan 1, 1921

By AIME AIME

THE petroleum economics session," held on Wednesday morning, Feb. 20, 1929, presided over by Campbell Osborn, chairman, proved to be of un- usual interest and resulted in serious and constructive discussion of the papers presented. The first paper on the program, "Gasoline Economics and Refinery Operation," was by H. J. Struth, petroleum economist of the Gulf Publishing Co., Houston, Tex. While this paper was intended to cover the re- finery situation, it also presented the author's reasons for believing that the oil producer should give cognizance to gasoline demand as a most reliable barometer by which to parallel the production of crude petroleum. The discussion which followed brought out some interesting points in connection with the immediate outlook for the industry as a whole during the present year. Some advanced the opinion that, regardless of the out- come of proration efforts, the refiner is in a position to conduct his operations on a reasonably profitable basis, provided that he exercises control over them. This would mean running less crude and resorting to wider utilization of cracking to produce the gasoline demand. Thus, if the refiner uses diligent care in scheduling his still runs, the producer will be obliged to carry over a large stock of crude this year, unless he is able to keep production below the limits prescribed by the demand for gasoline.

Jan 1, 1929

By L. D. Ricketts

AN older man looks back, perhaps wistfully, on a long and rather active experience, and possibly a popular and brief glimpse of some contrast between past and present may hold your attention for a few brief moments and prove useful. In the late nineties an engineer was .called on to de- sign and build two copper ore concentrating mills of 400 tons average daily capacity. There were larger mills than this at Washoe and elsewhere, but a 400 ton' mill was a large one as mills went over thirty years ago, and one might say a large mill of those days could crush a ton of copper ore in 216 seconds. In the mills I refer to steel construction and the conveying belts were introduced into the copper industry and rein- forced concrete came shortly after. Since then we in the West have ever been faced with a constantly de- creasing tenor in the grade of our copper ores and a constantly increasing demand for our product, and we have therefore been obliged to call for far larger castings and finished machines than were formerly used. The mechanical engineer has also enabled us to accomplish notable economies in power generation and distribution. Ore handling and crushing have been simplified and through the introduction of reagents to induce physical or chemical reactions, or both, our older methods have been vastly improved or even supplanted by new and better ones and our recoveries greatly improved.

Jan 1, 1929

By Sid T. Killan

The utilization of the reducing power of blast-furnace gas can be estimated by applying two rectifying calculations to the gas analysis. A resulting corrected CO/CO2 ratio varies inversely with furnace production. Directions for calculating the corrected CO/CO2 ratio are given, and a corrected CO/CO2 ratio is compared with actual furnace production. THE inadequacy of the normally accepted CO/CO, ratio as a measure of blast-furnace performance and furnace efficiency was discussed following the presentation of the paper by H. F. Dobscha.' In this outstanding example of careful observation on large scale blast-furnace operation, the changes occurring with beneficiated ores were: 1—A net gain in tonnage of 21.2 pct. 2—A decrease in net coke of 15.3 pct. 3—A decrease of 1.9 pct in the CO/CO, ratio. In this great change in furnace performance, the CO/CO, ratio proved itself worthless. The discussion of the inadequacy of expressing furnace performance and efficiency by the CO/CO, ratio led indirectly to the calculations forming the basis of this paper. At that time Dr. T. L. Joseph said: "We must consider difference in CO, from the stone in the two cases when we talk about the ratios of CO/C02." This statement is used for the second of the two CO/CO, ratio corrections forming the basis of this paper. The research work in attempting to find out why the furnaces could op-erate so differently with practically the same CO/CO, ratio lead not to the answer sought but, after a shift to the gaseous phase in the research work, the proof that the normal CO/ CO, ratio was outmoded and a new corrected ratio should replace it. To be of any value, any new corrected ratio should express approximate furnace efficiency and give an idea of practical furnace performance to be expected. This the normal CO/CO, ratio has failed to do. However, in the absence of anything better, some credence has been attached to the normal CO/CO, ratio. As far as the writer can ascertain, the present paper is the first attempt to change or improve the normally accepted index of

Jan 1, 1952

By C. H. Mathewson

CONSIDERABLE progress has been made during the last few years in analyzing the action of plastic deformation in metallic crystals. This is due largely to the development of X-ray spectrographic methods for studying changes in the orientation of single crystals, or of conglomerates, as they occur during the process of plastic deformation, but partly to the widespread knowledge of suitable technique for preparing large (single or variously combined) crystals for direct crystallographic observation under stress or in various conditions of strain. These two methods of studying changes in the crystalline structure of metals may of course be used in conjunction with features of mutual support, but unfortunately the advantage of direct crystallographic observation is lost when we proceed to the study of severely cold-worked structures, owing to the occurrence of real or apparent crystalline discontinuities which become more and more complicated as the amount of plastic action increases. Furthermore, the X-ray methods do not appear to be adequate, at least in their present stage of development, to fix definitely the character of structural alteration in the parent crystal lattice by plastic deformation. The principal question at issue concerns the nature of the crystalline particles that remain after plastic deformation. These are generally known in our American metallurgical literature as crystalline fragments,' and they seem, indeed, to diffract as individuals causing the Hull pattern of a severely cold-worked metal to resemble the pattern of a fine powder,2 with certain features of preferred orientation among the particles deter- mined by the manner and intensity of cold working. We must freely concede that there are conceptions of lattice alteration, apart from that of simple fragmentation, which would account for an increasing number of lattice positions according to X-ray spectrographic observation as the degree of deformation increased.

Jan 1, 1927

By MALCOLM FRASER

I was delighted to be invited to be patron of this Joint Conference, but the challenging task you have set yourselves, and your speakers' depth of expertise, deny anyone, even the patron, the opportunity to be patronizing. Australia's history has been inextricably linked with the fortunes of our great mining industry. That link will remain. Just as the gold rushes of the last century, and the discoveries at Kalgoorlie and Broken Hill changed the lives of generations, so the more recent development activity in iron ore, bauxite, nickel, coal, and uranium are having a significant impact on the lives of Australians today. The minerals industry has contributed to Australia's jobs and prosperity. Mining is not free of problems, but so long as safeguards are strong and appropriate the net benefits the mining industry brings Australia will continue to be enormous. We rely on our mining industry to find, prove, develop and sell our minerals profitably, and my Government is committed to maintaining a healthy mining industry. In the past year there have been positive signs of a resurgence in exploration and development. The North-West Shelf ventures are spending $50 million on a feasibility study to work out the extent of future investment in that project; exploration expenditure for minerals other than petroleum increased by 34 per cent in 1976-77 to $134 million; petroleum exploration increased dramatically last year almost doubling to $94 million-this year it is projected to reach $125 million.

Jan 1, 1978