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By John F. Blandy

ALTHOUGH the question of the "waste of anthracite coal mining" has been so frequently discussed, and a committee was appointed at the first meeting of this Society to consider and report upon the subject, still but little progress seems to have been made in arriving at a conclusion as to how it can be reduced. That committee made a preliminary report at the August meeting, 1871, in which it divided the question into three parts, namely Waste in mining, in preparing for market, and in transportation. I shall not here refer to the first item, as so much depends upon the peculiar features of each separate mine, and the skill of those in charge; but in reference to the second, that of preparing the coal for market in breaker and screens, I wish to make some remarks. There is no use considering the question, whether the coal should be broken up to suit the fancy of consumers; all miners are satisfied that it should not be, but the consumers decide that they want it that way, and the miner must submit, and simply utter his maledictions upon the head of the man who first suggested a breaker or screen, if that is any consolation to him. What is called waste in this process of preparation, is the dust and fine coal, which results from the breaking and screening, and, as we all know, this is a very important percentage of what passes from the slope to the top of the breaker. Now, if this dust and fine coal can be utilized-the slate which is' picked out is not to be taken into consideration as waste-then we get rid of this item entirely. There is no question in my mind that this article can and will be used as a steam generator at least, and I think, therefore, that in depositing

Jan 1, 1877

By ERIK CHARRIER, ADITYA JUGANDA, Jürgen Brune, Patrick Maier, Gregory E. Bogin Jr

Confined explosions are a major risk in underground coal mine operations. Depending on confinement, ignition location and obstacles in the flame path, methane explosions can transition to detonations. As a result, the severity of mine explosions ranges from minor damage to loss of lives and permanent mine closure. Experimental results have shown that the inclusion of obstacles can significantly increase the flame propagation velocity by inducing turbulence. This research focuses on explosion experiments in a 71 cm diameter, 30.5 m long reactor that includes rock piles as obstacles along with developing the corresponding CFD model that captures the observed flame behavior and interaction with the obstacles. The rock rubble increases the flame front propagation velocity by 500% compared to the maximum velocity observed in the empty reactor experiments. The 2D and 3D CFD models predict the experimental flame front propagation velocity, whereas the 3D model shows a more explicit conformity than the 2D model. Although the computational time to complete the simulation is much less for the 2D model than for the 3D model, the 2D model is not sufficient to simulate cases with rock rubble since it cannot capture the propagation of the flame through the small voids between the rocks with the same effective blockage ratio as the 3D model. The validated CFD model can be scaled up to simulate methane explosions in full scale mine and industrial settings.

Nov 20, 2023

By M. L. Leonardi

THE Searles Lake orebody is located in the north- west corner of San Bernardlno County. It is a dry lake bed with an exposed salt surface covering an area of 12 square miles. Recoverable mineral values are contained in the mother liquor below the surface of the lake. Stratification in the lake bed has separated the brine into two bodies which dlffer in composition. Although liquor is processed from both bodies, this paper will discuss only the upper structure brine. Fig. 1 illustrates a typical cross-section of the two commercial orebodies. The orebody is composed of a porous salt deposit 70 to 90 ft deep. The upper structure is separated from the lower orebody by a 12 to 16-ft thick impervious mud seam, as shown in Fig. 1. These salt structures are composed of 55 pct solid-phase salts and 45 pct voids which are filled with the original mother liquor. The brine wells are drilled to the separating mud seam and cased to wlthin 10 ft of the bottom. This is done to draw the brine horizontally from the bottom of the structure. It is pumped with multistage centrifugal pumps Into the plant at the rate of 3 milllon gal per day. The first process that was successful was developed by Charles P. Grimwood for the recovery of potash. The first evaporator unit was built in 1916. In the early twenties, Dr. Morse worked out a process for the recovery of borax. This made the cycle more efficient, as the end liquor could be sent back to the evaporators rather than being sewered. In 1926 the American Potash & Chemical Corp. was formed as a new company, and the entire plant was remodeled. The plant at that time produced only potash, borax, and boric acid. Since then the American Potash & Chemical Corp. has added processes for the production of USP boric acid, refined potash, sulphate of potash, soda ash, salt cake, lithium concentrates, Pyrobor (Na2B4O7) bromine, phosphoric acid, and lithium carbonate. The main plant cycle may be depicted as a closed cycle, see Fig. 2. The raw material, brine, enters the cycle to be mixed with the end liquor, known as ML2, from the pentahydrate borax crystallizers. The mixture of these two forms evaporator feed. Evaporator feed is pumped to the evaporators where it is concentrated, with respect to potash and borax. In the same operation water vapor, sodium chloride, salt trap salt, and clarifier salt are removed from the cycle, see Fig. 3 for potash plant product. The evaporators produce a concentrated liquor which contains approximately 19.5 pct KCI. This liquor is diluted as it enters the potash plant to keep all salts, except potash (KCI, 97.0 pct) in solution. Here the moist potash leaves the cycle at 100°F. The end liquor, known as ML1, is pumped to the borax pentahydrate crystallizers, where crude borax pentahydrate is crystallized and removed as solid phase. The ML2 is sent back to pan feed to be reconcen-trated, see page 207. Note that the only water to leave the cycle is in the form of vapor and moisture in the solid phase products crystallized. Thus there is a constantly cycling volume of liquor to which brine is added. Since the volume of liquor cycled does not increase, the brine is, in effect, evaporated to dryness. This would be true if there were no liquor losses. But, as in all processes, there are always unavoidable and accidental losses which reduce the volume of cycling liquors. The losses must be made up with brine. The concentration process is the beginning and the end of the cycling liquors. In this process there are three evaporator units of the triple effect counter-current type, that is, there are three pans in each unit and the heat flows in one direction while the liquor flows the other way through the evaporator pans, see Fig. 4. During the evaporation process a great deal of sodium chloride, burkeite, some sodium carbonate monohydrate, and a little lithium-sodium phosphate are crystallized. The volume of these salts is so great that they must be removed as they are formed or the process would come to a standstill. Brine and recycled mother liquor No. 2 enter the third effect evaporator pan from the evaporator feed storage tanks, see Fig. 5. A steady flow of liquor is removed from the bottom of the No. 3 pan and is pumped through the No. 3 cone of the salt trap, a clear liquor being returned to the NO. 3 pan. A portion of this clear liquor is pumped to the second effect pan. This process is repeated in each pan. The liquor from the No. 2 pan is pumped through the No. 2 salt trap cone and returned to the No. 2 pan.

Jan 1, 1955

By W. E. C. Coxe

At the meeting of the Institute in Philadelphia, in June, 1876, it was my pleasure to read a paper on the "Manufacture and Endurance of Iron Rails." I then spoke of some trial rails which had been placed in the down track of the Philadelphia and Reading Railroad, over which passed, in addition to merchandise and passengers, most of the heavy coal traffic of that company. One of these rails, made at the Philadelphia and Reading Rolling Mill in 1870, and then placed in the track, was removed in 1876, after having carried about 55,000,000 gross tons, and was on exhibition at the Centennial Exhibition. A piece of this worn rail, twisted cold, was also shown there. One of the same series of rails was allowed to remain in the track until 1878, and short sections of this rail, as well as one not worn, to show its original shape, are presented for your inspection. A comparison of the two will show that the top of the head or tread has morn down 3/16ths of an inch during its nine years of service. It carried in that time 67,000,000 gross tons of freight, passengers, cars, and engines. This rail was made in the usual way of manufacturing iron rails at the Philadelphia and Reading Rolling Mill. The head was made from puddled iron bars, piled, heated, and rolled into bars, 41/2 and 3 inches wide by 1 inch thick, these bars, breaking joints, were made into a pile in section 9 inches square, heated and rolled into slabs 9 inches wide and 2 inches thick; the balance of the rail-pile was made of 41/2 and 3-inch bars, rolled from two-thirds old rails and one-third puddled iron, the

Jan 1, 1880

By Evan Just

?We are certain there is need for research in every phase of mining." This statement by R. M. Crump of the Jones and Laughlin Steel Company (047) paraphrases opinion widespread among mining people. It is undoubtedly true. In preparation for this presentation, 193 organizations were asked to describe their mining research efforts. 60% responded, The meaning of "research" was taken in several different ways. The continual efforts of progressive companies to improve themselves were reported as research. We will call this and any effort to solve specific and immediate problems "practical research". The continuing investigation of subjects of long range interest will be called "basic research".

Jan 1, 1961

By J. M. Wempen

Booster fans in underground coal mines are often located using the concept of a neutral point. Normally, intake airways are maintained at higher absolute pressure than return airways; therefore, air leaks from intake to return. By adding a significant pressure force to a region of a ventilation system, booster fans installed in a return airway can increase the pressure in the return so that air leaks from return to intake. This is commonly referred to as recirculation. The neutral point occurs at the location in the system where the pressure difference between [ ] the intake and the return airway is zero. At this point, there is no leakage or recirculation. Ideally, placing a booster fan near the neutral point minimizes leakage and recirculation. However, in practice, the position of the neutral point is not static and it changes as the ventilation system parameters change. Booster fans have the potential to increase the capacity and efficiency of coal mine ventilation systems. However, these fans add a significant pressure source to ventilation systems and can create areas where the pressure in the intake is less than the pressure in the return causing recirculation. In systems with multiple booster fans, there may be multiple recirculation paths and, as the capacity of these fans increases, recirculation is more likely to occur.

Jan 1, 2012

By Arthur Winslow

Location.—The Liberty Bell gold-mine is in the San Juan region, in the southwestern corner of Colorado. It is situated about 2 miles from the town of Telluride, near the summit of the Uncompahgre range, at the head of Cornett basin, at an altitude of 11,000 feet, and in a district of excellent record in the past and of great promise for the future. In the immediate vicinity are such well-known and important mines as the Smuggler Union, with a total production of over $12,000,000; the Virginius and Revenue Tunnel group, with a production of probably $5,000,000; the Tom-Boy, with a production of probably at least $3,000,000; the Japan, the Cimarron, and a number of others. History.—The first prospecting in this district is reported to

Jan 1, 1900

By Kurt Wiener

A major process control system is in some ways like a complex organism. The extremities, (that is, field instruments) are exposed to many hazards and suffer malfunctions of relatively minor and repetitive nature. Here I equate a stuck valve or dead transmitter with a skin abrasion or cut. The maintenance and repair of the extremities can be done by technicians with basic but thorough knowledge of relatively few problems and their solutions. Here I equate with administering Band-Aids and aspirin. On the other extreme, when the master control device (such as a computer) fails, one does not attempt home remedies. A "brain" specialist is called in. It is, however, crucial that the patient be able to clearly describe his symptoms. Getting down to the case at hand, a complex system consisting of field instruments, instrument racks, interface equipment, and perhaps a computer, may require maintenance at all levels. At the field equipment end where physical damage, corrosive atmospheres, reconfiguration, and routine calibration checks are common, the customer has the opportunity to develop a competent staff of maintenance people. The relatively high maintenance activity assures competence through repetition.

Jan 1, 1980

By C. A. Winkler, V. Hospadaruk

PREVIOUS papers from this laboratory have discussed the effect of chloride ion on the cathode polarization during electrodeposition of copper from copper sulphate-sulphuric acid electrolytes, in the presence and absence of gelatin. The steady state polarization'" was found to decrease sharply and pass through a minimum with increasing chloride ion concentration in the presence of gelatin. The minimum shifted to higher chloride ion concentrations and to higher polarization values with increase in current density or gelatin concentration, while an increase of temperature shifted the minimum toward lower halide concentrations and lower polarizations. Since these observations were made in acid-copper sulphate electrolytes that contained no other addend than gelatin, there was obviously the possibility that they were not applicable to deposition of copper from commercial electrolytes that contain a variety of other substances in relatively small amounts. In particular, it was of interest to determine whether the presence of arsenic, antimony, or bismuth in the electrolyte would materially alter the behavior. Experiments have now been made under a variety of conditions with systems containing these cations, and the results are summarized in the present paper. Experimental Polarization measurements were made at 24.5oC in a Haring cell in the manner described previously.' Electrolytes were made with doubly-distilled water, and contained 125 g per liter of copper sulphate and 100 g per liter sulphuric acid, both of reagent grade Eimer and Amend gelatin from a single stock was used throughout. Chloride ion was introduced as reagent grade sodium chloride, and arsenic, antimony, and bismuth by dissolving the chemically pure metal in hot concentrated sulphuric acid and adding appropriate amounts of the solutions to the electrolyte. Each cathode, of 1/16-in. thick rolled copper, was first etched in 40 pct nitric acid and washed thoroughly with distilled water. The surface was then brought to a standard condition4~9 by electrodeposition from an acid-copper sulphate electrolyte containing no gelatin, at a current density of 3 amp per sq dm for 30 min, followed by deposition at a current density of 2 amp per sq dm for l hr. As in previous studies, the cathode polarization eventually attained a steady-state value (15 to 75 min) such that further change in polarization did not exceed 0.2 mv per min. The polarization values recorded are those for the steady states. "Excess weights" were determined with arsenic and antimony present in the electrolyte, as the difference between the weights of the deposits obtained in the presence of these cations and those obtained in their absence, with the two cells connected in series. When gelatin was present along with the arsenic or antimony, it was also added to the electrolyte in the cell in series. Results and Discussion The results of the study are summarized in Figs. 1 to 6. From Fig. 1, top, it is evident that the presence of arsenic or antimony alone results in an increase of polarization, while bismuth alone causes a decrease. The presence of gelatin (25 mg per liter) rather drastically modifies all three cation effects, as indicated in the lower panels of the same figure. The addition of chloride ion, when no gelatin is present, causes comparable decreases in polarization in the presence of antimony and bismuth, but a relatively larger decrease when the electrolyte contains arsenic. It is interesting to note that the decrease in polarization brought about by addition of chloride when both arsenic and antimony are present parallels the behavior with arsenic alone, while the polarization in the electrolyte containing the cation mixture, without chloride added, corresponds to that for an electrolyte containing only the antimony cation. Similarly, the polarization at zero concentration of chloride in electrolyte containing arsenic and bismuth is that corresponding to an electrolyte containing arsenic alone. From Figs. 3a, 4a and 4b, it is clear that, in the presence of gelatin at a level of 25 mg per liter, the effect of chloride in the presence of arsenic and antimony, or a mixture of the two, becomes quite analogous to that observed in the absence of added cations. When both bismuth and gelatin are present (Fig. 5), the decrease in polarization with increased chloride concentration is virtually absent. This is perhaps a reflection of the large decrease in polarization brought about by the bismuth itself in the presence of gelatin. The shifts of the minimum in the polarization-chloride concentration curves brought about by changes of temperature (Fig. 3b), gelatin concentration (Figs. 3c and 4c) and current density (Fig. 3d) when the metal cations were present are all similar to the corresponding shifts observed in their absence." The approximately linear "excess weightv-anti-mony concentration relation recorded in Fig. 6 would seem to indicate that antimony is codeposited with copper to a considerable extent. On the other hand, only very limited amounts of arsenic appear to be adsorbed or codeposited.

Jan 1, 1954

By N. L. Wesis

General History The first jaw crusher in the US was patented about 1830, but the Blake crusher that has maintained a substantial advantage over other types was invented in 1858 by Eli Whitney Blake. For going on 150 years the jaw crusher has been an invaluable machine; even today, when gyratory crushers have assumed most of the burden of crushing large tonnages of large rock and ore, the jaw crusher has a firm place in the mining industry. It is interesting that soon after the invention of the Philetius Gates gyratory crusher in 1881, a contest between the first No. 2 Gates and Blake jaw crushers of equal gape showed the gyratory to be 3.2 times as fast. This foretold a day not far in the future when the jaw crusher would not be adequate on the largest jobs. In his Textbook of Ore Dressing (1909) R. H. Richards recom¬mended that the word breaker be used for all machines breaking to relatively large sizes (say to 5 in. or greater), and crusher be used for finer work. Even in the 1968 US Bureau of Mines dictionary of mining terms the work breaker is defined by Richards in this context. However, in modern US usage it is nearly limited to coal breaking. Over the years the jaw crusher has been developed in a variety of forms but it appears today in these three general forms: (I) Blake type, (2) Dodge type, and (3) single toggle (or overhead eccentric) type. All of these crushers have a fixed jaw and a moving jaw, between which the coarse rock fragments are intermittently caught and crushed. The three types are differentiated by the manner in which the movable jaw is moved in relation to the fixed. Types The Blake-type crusher is shown in cross section in Fig. 1. The simplicity and strength that have made it first among jaw crushers are evident. The movable jaw is suspended from a cross-shaft at its upper end, this shaft being carried in bearings on the sides of the frame. The actuating mechanism consists of an eccentric shaft, also supported in frame-mounted bearings, which imparts through a pit¬ man and a pair of toggles a reciprocating motion to the bottom of the swing jaw, the return movement being effected by several spring¬loaded rods. The whole is built into a box frame with the crushing chamber at one end. As in all jaw crushers, the eccentric shaft is equipped with a heavy flywheel that maintains an even speed through¬out each stroke. The Dodge-type crusher illustrated in Fig. 2 is simple, mechani¬cally. Its movable jaw, being pivoted below the discharge opening, has minimum movement at crusher discharge and maximum at crusher feed. Because the choke point coincides with the point of least motion, these crushers are of relatively low capacity, and the rapid action in the feed area gives the machine the advantages of large reduction ratio and closely sized product. Thus, it fits well into low-capacity operations like sample reduction. Besides low capacity, its principal disadvantages are tendency to pack and make fines. The single-toggle or overhead-eccentric type of jaw crusher (see Fig. 3) has gained in usage, starting as a modification of the Dodge idea in that the greatest movement of the movable jaw occurs at the top, and being gradually improved and strengthened to its position today where it covers just as wide a field of application as the Blake type from the standpoint of feed opening. The motion of the movable jaw is the result of the circular motion of the eccentric shaft at the top of the swing jaw combined with the rocking action imparted to the bottom by the inclined toggle plate. Because of light weight and mechanical simplicity, it is economical in small mills and portable plants where the rock is not as tough and abrasive as to punish the machine with excessive impact from shocks, or excessive wear result¬ing from the pronounced vertical component of motion.

Jan 1, 1985

By N. W. Xu, M. D. Wei, F. Dai, B. Li

"Chevron notched samples achieve general acceptance for measuring the Mode-I (opening mode) fracture toughness of rocks. The cracked chevron notched semi-circular bending (CCNSCB) sample, which is developed from the International Society of Rock Mechanics suggested the cracked chevron notched Brazilian disc method, has recently received much attention. However, these chevron notched methods have not been fully mastered, some ideal assumptions based by their theories and formulas, such as the straight-through crack assumption (STCA), have not been verified detailedly. Fractures of CCNSCB specimens were numerically simulated considering different heterogeneities, geometrical and mechanical parameters. The results show that, the real fractures of CCNSCB specimens are never satisfied with the STCA. In fact, micro fractures not only occur in the notch tip but also the two chevron edges. Consequently, the crack front features prominently in a shape of parabolic curve, far from being straightthrough. Moreover, curvature of the crack front is only affected by shape of the chevron ligament. Cracks usually start from two sides of the notch tips rather than center of the notch width, and propagate deviating from the postulated fracture routes. These fracture mechanisms induce errors with the measurements, and thus more attentions should be paid to the real fractures of the chevron notched samples for measuring fracture toughness more accurately. INTRODUCTIONWith the increasing requirement of people for resources and energies, frequent rock engineering activities have been conducting, such as underground excavation, oil exploration and deep burial of nuclear waste. Many problems appear in rock fracture. Consequently, there are more and more attentions paid in rock fracture mechanics due to its broad application prospects for solving these engineering problems. Since Mode-I (opening mode) fracture is the most common failure mode in rocks, Mode-I fracture toughness is a primary parameter to predict rock mechanical properties in actual engineering, and thus its accurate values are necessary to the researches of rockburst, rock mass slope stability, rock cutting, hydraulic fracturing, tunneling, et al. Therefore, it is thus significant to evaluate and study relevant methods to obtain the reliable value."

Jan 1, 2015

By J. C. Norman

The boron review arrived too late for the June issue. The United States was the world's largest producer and consumer of boron compounds during 1993. Boron mineral concentrate and chemical production in the United States totaled an estimated 958 kt (1.05 million st), yielding 526 kt (580,000 st) of B203, according to the US Bureau of Mines. Estimated value was $322 million. This level of production was about 5% less than 1992 revised production figures. The United States continued to provide essentially all its own boron while maintaining a strong position as a source of sodium borate products and boric acid to foreign markets. Domestic employment in the mining and beneficiation of boron products in 1993 was 900 people, about the same as in 1992. That was down from 1988 levels of 1250 people. Total world production of boron in 1993 was about 2.5 Mt (2.75 million st), yielding about 1.2 Mt (1.3 million st) of B203. World production in 1993 was about equal to revised 1992 levels. Production United States In 1993, mines and processing operations in southern California were the only domestic sources of boron mineral concentrates and chemicals. Domestic producers, in order of quantity of production, were: • US Borax and Chemical Corp., which operates an open pit kernite and tincal mine at Boron, CA, producing boric acid and borax products, • North American Chemical Co., which produces boric acid and borax products as coproducts from chemical operations at Searles Lake, CA and • American Borate Co., which produced small amounts of colemanite and shipped from inventories from its operation in Death Valley, CA.

Jan 1, 1994

By Karl W. Mote, R. K. "Ivan" Urnovitz

One of the Northwest Mining Association's guide-lines is: "If you always do what you've always done, you'll always get what you've always gotten." Another way of saying this is, simply, "when the road curves, don't refuse to turn." Our industry has been roundly criticized for living in the old political world, and, I believe, justifiably so. Until about 20 years ago, members of both houses of Congress deferred to specialists among their members for mining legislation. This was true for all public lands and natural resource issues, and were referred to as the mining bloc, or the timber bloc, or the ranching bloc. We felt safe, and to a large degree, were safe in the sense that western members of the US House of Representatives and of the US Senate understood the need for multiple use of public lands, and the need for the natural resources they supply. They also knew what it takes to stay in business and how to create the economic atmosphere that encourages private industry to find and provide the natural resources. Almost daily, members of our industry bemoan the destructive effects that current regulations, let alone new proposals, are having on American industry. And, there are some intriguing aspects for us to ponder. First, the specific complaint about the government is not regulation per se, but rather that the rules or policies don't make sense. We recognize that few understand our industry, but we have assumed that the government will rely on people experienced and knowledgeable in the area being brought under government controls. There was a time that this assumption was valid, but it is no longer true since we have entered the era of the professional regulator. Much like the MBA who believes that a professional manager can manage anywhere, the new breed of regulator sincerely believes that process is the key to developing effective regulations or programs. They reason the process virtually assures that all the pertinent facts will inevitably come to light and, after receiving appropriate considerations, will result in the proper decision being reached and implemented. Unfortunately, following the process also allows politics to play a new and greater role than ever before, since information based on what can only be called weird-science can now be presented to the professional regulator and accepted as fact. Regulators do not have the background to question the basic tenets of the conclusion being presented to them. To add insult to injury, testimony from people in the industry involved, intended to set the record straight, is too easily discounted as being merely self-serving. A second aspect is that the question of why the associations aren't doing more to stop poorly conceived legislative and regulatory proposals, or to counter the ever-increasing influence of the selfappointed public interest groups is being increasingly discussed. This is occurring despite the fact that there is a higher level of involvement and closer cooperation between the various associations than ever before. This raises a most important question: where are we going wrong? In the last 20 years or so, major changes have taken place. A new philosophy, taking advantage of the public's recognition of need to protect our environment, has swept through the nation, resulting in a whole new body of law enacted to assure environmental protection. We all acknowledge the need to prevent undue degradation during the course of mineral development, and we all consider ourselves to be responsible stewards of the land, because we live and work in the outdoors and know the importance of environmental protection. The changes in the federal statutes apply now to every aspect of mineral discovery, development, and production, and assure adequate reclamation of lands when we are done. Along with the positive changes, are a constant barrage of attempts to stop public land use, or stop mining, or stop any new economic development, ostensibly to "protect the environment," but often reflecting a hidden agenda of social reform. These types of extreme, irrational, and just plain impossible proposals are everyday occurrences, but we have not geared up to challenge all the proposals which could end mining. Instead, we did what we always had done. The road turned, but we didn't. And we wondered why those who had always protected mining weren't doing their job, and why we were having such limited success in reining in the regulators. The Congress had changed, the public demands had changed, the recognition of importance of natural resources had

Jan 1, 1991

The total cost of horizontal development can be minimised by optimising the cost of each of the component operations (eg drilling, blasting, etc). Component costs should not be minimised. To optimise blasting results (ie the mean advance per round, muckpile characteristics and overbreak), operators need to optimise the blast design and drilling and blasting procedures. The costs of pulling extremely long (say >6 m) rounds, producing unnecessarily fine fragmentation, and minimising overbreak are excessively high. Operators should continually consider how they can shorten the cycle period by saving time at the face. To enable it to be matched to the pertinent rock properties, the blast design needs to be based on as much relevant experience as possible. To develop the most valid correlation between blasting results and blast design, the latter must be implemented carefully and accurately, but without sacrificing speed excessively. The total cost can often be reduced by using: 1. computer-controlled jumbos (to reduce the period and cost of drilling and to increase drilling accuracy); 2. larger diameter (51 mm to 64 mm) and longer (4.5 m to 6 m) blastholes; 3. at least three large diameter ( ¦89 mm) relief holes that are 0.2 m to 0.3 m longer than the blastholes; 4. explosive products that are selected on the basis of proven reliability and overall cost efficiency rather than price; and5. stemming (to increase the amount of effective work done by each kilogram of explosive and, hence, to reduce the powder factor and possibly the number of blastholes and the costs of drilling and initiation). Non-perimeter blastholes should be charged with ANFO or a bulk emulsion of established performance. Upper perimeter blastholes should be charged with a bulk explosive with a much lower effective density. But where geology varies considerably, greatest control over overbreak could possibly be achieved with the versatile pre-assembled charge shown in Figure 1. This paper presents numerous potential ways in which the total cost of development can be minimised. It concentrates on recommending blast design features and the safe, rapid, cost-effective implementation of designs.

Jan 1, 1998

By D. M. Fermino, C. G. Bastos Andrade, M. G. Fernandes, F. R. Valenzuela-Diaz

Treatments with high concentration solution of inorganic acid at temperatures under boiling point are a usual method for clay minerals structure modification. For many industrial uses bentonites must be cleared of impurities. In the present paper, a sample of Brazilian bentonite from Vitoria da Conquista, Bahia was modified by mild acid attack using hydrochloric acid under moderate conditions (90 °C, reaction times of 1, 6, 12, 18 and 24 h in close reactor, concentration of the aqueous solution of hydrochloric acid 1.5 M, acid solution/clay ratio of 1 g/10 mL). The attacked samples were characterized by CEC, XRF, SEM, EDS and Stereomicroscopy. The purpose of these attacks is to reduce the concentration of impurities with minimal damage in clay minerals structure. The modified bentonite presented good results and tends to be a good economic and environmental alternative to manufacturing products with high added value such as polymer/clay nanocomposites, cosmetics and medicines.

Mar 1, 2017

By H. M. Cooper

The determination of moisture in coal is an empirical test, because the time, temperature, and equipment are specified. The essential features of the equipment and details of the procedure are given in A.S.T.M. Designation: D271-44.:2. According to the specifications, the following features should be incorporated in the equipment used: 1. Oven must have uniform temperature in all parts. 2. Oven must be constructed with minimum of air space. 3. Oven must have means of changing the air two to four times per minute. 4. Air must be dried over sulfuric acid (sp. f-7. 1.84). The analytical procedures governing most of the nation's coal purchases are those given in A.S.T.M. Standards referred to above. These standards are general arid of such scope as to cover all ranks and types of coal. In cases where only the moisture is required, a faster method than the standard procedure is desired.

Jan 1, 1948

By AIME AIME

THE Fall Meetings of the Institute of Metals Division and of the Iron and Steel Division were held in Cleveland from Tuesday, Oct. 20, to Thursday, Oct. 22, as a part of the National Metal Congress. The registration at the technical sessions was something over 450 and the attendance at the joint dinner of the two Divisions on Wednesday evening taxed the capacity of the dining room. The president of the British Institute of Metals, W. R. Barclay, consulting metallurgist to the Mond Nickel Co., Ltd.; of London, was in attendance at several of the technical sessions and was one of the after-dinner speakers at the banquet. He commented on the desirability of greater international amity and cooperation in these troubled times and of the role that technical societies, such as the A. I. M. E. and his own British Institute of Metals, can and indeed are playing in bringing this to pass, with their membership and contacts reaching to all parts of the world. He also referred to the new reciprocal membership arrangements in effect between the A.I.M.E. and the British Institute of Metals.

Jan 1, 1936

By AIME AIME

ON Thursday, Oct. 9, oil men from far and wide gathered at Beaumont, Texas to participate in a three-day celebration of the fortieth anniversary of the completion of the famous Lucas gusher well at Spindletop field just south of Beaumont, and to pay tribute to Anthony F. Lucas, for whom the Lucas Medal of the A.I.M.E. is named. In the afternoon the gathered host drove to the site of the discovery well to dedicate a 58-ft. granite monu¬ment erected on the spot where the original derrick stood. Representatives of the A.I.M.E. took a prominent part in the dedication ceremonies, giving the two principal addresses of the afternoon's program. Everette DeGolyer, past President, paid a personal tribute to Capt. Lucas, as a pioneer producer, an engineer, and a friend and well wisher of all young engineers. He gave a splendid picture of the useful and full life of Capt. Lucas who always took a great interest in the activities of the Petroleum Division of the Institute, from its inception to the time of his death.

Jan 1, 1941

By William J. McDonough

Advanced materials are polymers, metals, and ceramics fabricated as intermaterial compounds, alloys, or composites. The resultant components have higher strength-to-density ratios, greater hardness and wear resistance, and one or more superior thermal, electrical, or optical properties when compared with traditional materials. Advanced materials, the basis for many of today's emerging technologies, offer savings in total energy consumption, improved performance at reasonable cost, and less dependence on imports of strategic and critical mineral resources.

Jan 1, 1992

By Robin O. Williams

Robin 0. Williams (Oak Ridge National Laboratory)— The authors have questioned the degree to which the coherency strains between the iron-rich and chromium-rich phases are isotropic as proposed in Ref. 5 on the basis of the difference between the elastic properties of the two phases. The relative magnitude of the stresses is determined by the moduli as shown by Eqs. [2], [3], and [4] of Ref. 34. However, the moduli of the two phases have no direct bearing on the uniformity of either the stress or strain within either phase. The idea that the strains are isotropic within each phase (but normally of different magnitude and always of different sign) is based entirely upon the experimental observation that X-ray line broadening has not been detected even when the particles become rather large. It has not proven possible to grow the particles sufficiently large that they lose coherency. Based upon this lack of line broadening one can estimate an upper limit for the nonuniformity of the strains within each phase as follows. It is considered possible to detect line broadening if it is as great as 10 pct of the separation of the K, doublet for the (211) line using chromium radiation. The doublet separation would correspond to a total strain of 0.0017 such that the total variation of lattice parameter relative to the average lattice is now k0.05x0.0017 or something less than ± * For the present case the strain in each phase is roughly 0.002 such that the variation of strain within a phase will not exceed 5 pct. It is stated that the expression derived for strengthening for the hydrostatic straining as observed in this system would substantially overestimate the magnitude due to dislocation flexure. This is contrary to the conclusion reached in the original paper34 for the present range of particle sizes. What is the lowest temperature at which a has been observed to form in this alloy? M. J. Marcinkowski, R. M. Fisher, and A. Szirmae (nutlzors' reply)— -Williams' arguments based on X-ray findings for a chromium-rich precipitate and an iron-rich matrix strained to a common lattice parameter are certainly convincing. This being the case, there are no shear components of strain associated with the precipitate-matrix aggregate to interact with the shear components of the dislocation stress fields, contrary to the opinion expressed by the present authors. On the other hand, the present authors, in spite of this error, did not expect the shear interactions to be significant. The chief objection to Williams' model in the present case is that the various segments of the dislocation line are assumed to pass from one potential valley to the next independently of neighboring segments. This is only true for a highly flexible dislocation line, i.e., one whose radius of curvature is something less than the center to center distance between precipitate particles which amounts to about 90A in the present alloy. In order to maintain this curvature, an externally applied shear stress of at least 230,000 lb per sq in. would be required or about four times the observed stress. It is therefore concluded that the dislocation lines move rather rigidly through the lattice. This being the case, the forces on the dislocation resulting from the hydrostatic interaction between the stress fields of the edge-dislocation components and the precipitate particles should average out to zero; that is particles above the below the slip plane produce forces on the dislocation of opposite sign and therefore will cancel when averaged over the entire length of the dislocation. On the other hand, since the dislocation is not perfectly rigid, Williams' model may lead to some strengthening, but far less than that predicted. A second and equally serious objective to using Williams' strengthening model for the present alloys is that profuse wavy slip due to the motion of screw dislocations played a predominant role not only in the unaged alloys but in the fully aged ones as well. Since the screw dislocation has associated with it only shear components of stress the hydrostatic strengthening model no longer applies. In view of these arguments the present authors must reject Williams' model of strengthening as being pertinent to the present alloy system. The present authors have made no detailed study of the lowest temperature at which a forms in the quenched ferritic alloys. None was ever observed n the alloys aged at 500°C so that forma-tion must occur at temperatures higher than this and was therefore not a factor in the present study.

Jan 1, 1965