Search Documents

By R. W. Prouty

THE methods of sampling and ore estimating used at the Copper Queen Branch, Phelps Dodge Corpn., as applied to the Copper Queen mines at Bisbee, Ariz., fall into two divisions because of the difference in occurrence, manner of prospecting, and methods of mining: that for the underground operations and that for the Sacramento Hill steam-shovel operations. The orebodies of the Warren district may be divided into three classes: Replacements of limestone, replace-ments of porphyry, and replacements of contact breccia The first class is more or less intimately related to porphyry intrusions, although in badly fractured country this relationship may not be well shown. These orebodies are mainly oxide and carbonate ore and very irregular, both in size and outline, although usually roughly lenticular and following the bedding of the limestones. There is usually quite a sharp boundary between the ore and waste in the carbonate and oxide orebodies and sampling is not necessary to determine the limits of commercial ore. In the sulfide orebodies it is exceedingly difficult, without sampling, to deter-mine the boundary between commercial ore and the surrounding low-grade or barren pyrite. Calculations made a few years ago showed that these orebodies had an average thickness of 35 ft. As some of the ore-bodies have a thickness of from 100 to 300 ft., it can be seen that the smaller ones form a difficult problem both in prospecting and in estimating.

Jan 11, 1922

By Robert L. Grayson, Y. J. Wang, R. Mike Mishra

Prediction of ventilation needs in long range mining projections requires serious consideration when formulating those projections. Predicting the behavior of the ventilation system of an old, complex mine poses an especially provocative problem. Air-flow around and through mined-out areas via bleeder systems, leakage flows through stoppings or other air control devices, and the use of multiple fans all add to the basic complexity of a ventilation system and make predictions of ventilation changes very difficult. Fortunately, the task of making ventilation decisions can be greatly assisted by ventilation surveying and computer simulation. The Nemacolin Mine of Jones and Laughlin Steel Corporation, located in Southwestern Pennsylvania, is one such old mine which used the computerized approach successfully. A mine-wide pressure-quantity survey was used to obtain realistic values for airway resistance factors. These values, together with network topology, formed the basic input for computer simulation. Results from this simulation indicated that air quantities generated at critical airways by the model were generally within a couple of percent of those measured in the actual survey. It was then concluded that the model was acceptable for practical application, and it was used immediately for studying the effects on the ventilation system of changing the blade settings of fans. Additionally, the model was modified to incorporate projected mine development and used to predict future ventilation.

Jan 1, 1982

By John Dasher

Extrapolation is a useful technique, but it can be overdone. Seldom is it justified to study over a range of 1 to 6 and extrapolate the results to 150,000. It is especially dangerous if the extrapolation is based on a false assumption. The authors assume settlers scale-up by residence time rather than by area, admit their result (a settler depth of 7 m) is "unreasonable" and suggest longer, wider, shallower settlers might be better. Various authors have noted for a copper-LIX system a total flow basis of 2 gpm per sq ft for sizing settlers. The results of this are compared with those in the paper in [Table 7]. The authors note that flooding of their settlers was never approached. Thus the smallest unit calculated is understandably twice too big. The largest however, is 5% of the required size. I note that the figures in [Table 6] for 1/min/cm2 are based on plan area rather than cross section as titled and are wrong by l0 4. A flow of 2050 1/min/cm2 is about Mach I. It is also 10 5/3 or 46.5 times that of the little one, although the abstract says the design was based on constant flow rate per unit cross section.

Jan 1, 1977

By C. J. Wilhem, J. M. Devine

A corrosion-testing apparatus which operates in the field and which will determine the comparative resistance of various ferrous materials to corrosion by gaseous hydrogen sulfide at ordinary temperatures is described. The principle of the uniform method of testing is to allow natural gas containing hydrogen sulfide, direct from its source in the field, to flow over the group of specimens for a given period of time, and subsequently to estimate the corrosion sustained by each specimen by determining its loss in weight. The comparative results obtained when specimens of 47 representative ferrous materials of described typical composition \\ere tested at ordinary temperatures with natural gas containing hydrogen sulfide are given in tables showing average penetration of metal, Inches per year. The primary purpose of the work Mas to determine the possible utllity to the petroleum and natural gas industries of ferrous materials that are commercially available, and no attempt is made to discuss the results of the tests from the metallurgical standpoint. The following is a summary of the results obtained: 1. Steels containing 12 to 27 per cent of chromium showed the highest resistance to corrosion. The presence of nickel In these high-chromium steels did not affect their resistance. 2. Steels containing approximately 5 per cent of chromium showed comparatively high resistance, but somewhat less than that of the high-chromium steels.

Jan 1, 1934

By Thomas MacFarlane

In smelting copper, lead, and silver ores, it is scarcely possible in every case to make analyses of the various parcels of ore, with the view of combining these and the fluxes so accurately as to yield, in the furnace, slags of exactly the most favorable composition. This is even more difficult with ores which require previous calcination, or with mattes which have been roasted in heaps. Even in cases where the greatest pains have been taken and the most elaborate calculations made beforehand, it frequently happens that variations in the working of the furnace interfere with the result so much desired. Generally, the practical metallurgist must be content with ascertaining the average composition of his ores and fluxes, making a calculation once for all as to the most advantageous mixture, and leaving slight changes in its composition to be taken care of as it is passing through the furnace. The various products then afford him the best material whereon to base his judgment as to the manner in which his smelting mixture is working. Of course the character of the slag is one of his chief guides, but it is not always possible from its outward characters alone to form a correct judgment as to its composition. Neither would it be possible or practicable to apply chemical analysis for this purpose, as it would be impossible to wait for its results while working a furnace. Abich was, I believe, the first to point out the relation existing between the composition of volcanic rocks and their densities, and to show that, the latter being ascertained, very correct conclusions

Jan 1, 1880

By C. N. Kravig

STANDARD raises at Homestake are 150 ft long. Raises of more than 150 ft, driven with the use of a cage and hoist, are considered long raises- some have been driven more than 900 ft. Long raises have eliminated the need for access drifts on each level when transfer and ventilation raises are driven. These timbered cage raises, 7x9 ft in cross section, include a rock compartment and a combination cage, pipe, and manway compartment. To prevent excessive weight on the timbers, 10x10-in. bearing beams are cemented into hitches cut in the rock at 150-ft intervals. The beams also hold back timber movement caused by daily drawing of rock through the rock compartment.

Jan 6, 1957

By Roger W. Swindle

INTRODUCTION The Uravan Mineral Belt in southwestern Colorado and southeastern Utah is a uranium-vanadium mining district with a unique set of radon daughter control problems. This paper describes these problems and the methods that have been developed to deal with them. The greatest emphasis is placed on the problems caused by air stagnation because these are the most frequently encountered ventilation problems, and this is an aspect of uranium mine ventilation that is often misunderstood. VENTILATION PROBLEMS Most of the mine ventilation problems in the Uravan Mineral Belt are caused by one or more of the following conditions: (1) the highly irregular ore deposits are difficult to locate and delineate, (2) air stagnation occurs in many areas of the extremely irregular mine workings, and (3) it is often necessary to reactivate old workings with small airways that are often caved. Planning Problems Orebodies in the Uravan Mineral Belt are so discontinuous and unpredictable that they are difficult to locate and delineate. Data supplied by surface drilling and underground test holing are often misleading; very little ore may be found in the vicinity of an ore hole, and, conversely, an unmineralized hole may be adjacent to a high-grade ore deposit. Also, ore guides are often ambiguous, and their interpretation is usually a matter of opinion.

Jan 1, 1983

By George B. Clark

THE geological data emphasized so successfully in prospecting for new deposits, that is, structural controls, strength of solutions, and type of mineralization, are basically those required for successful exploitation. In the mining of newly discovered deposits the most economical methods should be employed as early as possible to keep the overall cost per unit produced at a minimum and to permit maximum extraction of valuable minerals. A crucial question is: How can geological data be translated into useful quantitative results which will aid in achieving this end? H. E. McKinistry1 has suggested that a solution may be reached in one of two ways: 1-the usual approach, use of judgment based on experience; or 2-mathematical calculations and tests on models, both subject to certain limitations. He also suggests that in addition to better use of geology more case data and theoretical data are needed on which to base sound judgment. Further research, therefore, is necessary. Perhaps in this field the emphasis should be on more specialization in mining methods and ground movement by men with thorough training in physics, engineering, geology, and underground mining. These specialists would be equipped to point out the most economical and scientific methods of exploitation.

Jan 8, 1954

GERARD B. ROSENBLATT,* Salt Lake City, Utah (written discussion?). -Mr. Eschholz attacks this problem from what appears to me to be the proper angle. He does not limit his viewpoint to the attainment of ideal results under conditions approximating laboratory practice, but rather discusses actual commercial conditions that must be maintained in large-scale operations, where continuity of service without expert attendance is one of the prime considerations. I am of the opinion that Mr. Eschholz has not given sufficient consideration to the commercial possibilities of what he describes as System B, the use of low-tension a.-c. industrial or lighting circuits for supplying power to Cottrell treaters through the medium of a step-up transformer and a synchronously driven rectifier, without the use of motor-generators. It is true that, to date, few installations on a large scale have used this system, but I believe that when the conditions of power supply are suitable, and when proper precautions are taken, this system can be used successfully and to advantage. where at present it is considered necessary to use motor-generator sets. In the average commercial Cottrell installation of any size, the motor-generator set is used for two purposes: (1) To isolate the industrial supply circuit from the Cottrell circuit. (2) To. afford, an easily operated and smooth system of control for the Cottrell treater voltage With proper engineering, both of these objects can be accomplished without the use of motor-generator sets.

Jan 10, 1918

At a large meeting of the members of the American Fund for French Wounded it which Mr. Franklin D. Roosevelt presided and at which Mrs. B. Girault Lathrop, President of the Paris Administration A. F.F. W., gave a most interesting address, special rows of seats were reserved for the members of the W. A. A. I. M. E. Those who were unable to be present will be glad to hear that Mrs. Lathrop complimented our organization on having supplied the largest dispensary operated by the A. F. F. W. and the Red Cross in northern France. The A. F. F. W. is going to erect an American Memorial Hospital at Rheims and it is hoped that the one hundred beds in the hospital will be endowed in memory of the men who gave their lives for the liberty of the world. It will be possible not only to endow beds, for which sums of $6000 each are needed, but also to give, as. memorials, sun- parlors at a cost of $10,000 each, two roof gardens at $5000 each, a laundry at $10,000 and a garage at $10,000. The New York Section has undertaken to endow a heel in memory of members of the A. I. M. E. who gave their lives in the Great War. Perhaps other Sections or groups of Sections may wish to do the same thing, or if no other Section cares to assume so much responsibility possibly individuals may like to join the fund already growing in New York, in which case they should send their contributions to Mrs. W. Y. Westervelt, 1 Lexington Ave., New York, N. Y.

Jan 6, 1919

By U. Oko

The cause and the effect of disposing of tailings water from sulfide ore milling operation were examined. Dissolved metallic ions as well as dissolved sulfur-oxygen compounds (polythionates) can prove injurious to life in water streams. Polythionates originate in alkaline flotation circuits and may cause a severe drop in the pH of stream waters. It is proposed that a suitable "aging" period be allotted to tailings water to ensure complete conversion of polythionates to sulfate prior to neutralization and clarification treatment. Discharging alkaline solid-free tailings water without aging will cause downstream acidification. Artificial oxidation of tailings water can be economical only if the concentration of thiosulfate in solution is low. When the concentration is high, it is possible to reduce the concentration greatly by first acidifying the solution, because at a pH below 4 thiosulfate in water reacts to produce a precipitate of elemental sulfur and higher order polythionates. The residual polythionates can then be oxidized at great savings by natural aging or by chemicals such as ozone, chlorine, or peroxide. Chlorine may be an economical reagent for converting polythionates to sulfuric acid but the residual organo-chlorinated compounds can prove to be toxic to aquatic life. Ozone and hydrogen peroxide which do not leave a residue are preferred oxidizers.

Jan 1, 1976

By E. S. Bardwell

TWENTY years ago, W. T. Burns, in his paper presented at the Butte Meeting of the Institute, discussed the general scheme then in use in the electrolytic copper refinery of the Anaconda Copper Mining. Co. at Great Falls, Mont., for removing impurities from tank-room electrolyte and controlling its acid content. Since then marked changes have taken place in copper-refinery practice at Great Falls. The electrolytic copper refinery in use in 1913 has been replaced by a new and entirely modern plant capable of producing up to 27,000,000 lb. of cathode copper per month. With the building of the new plant in 1916, the treatment of converter anodes was discontinued. At first the substitution of refined anodes for converter anodes resulted in a decrease in the impurity content of the anodes, but as time went on, changes in metallurgical practices at the smelter resulted in substantial increases in the impurity content of the anodes. The leaching of the silver slime to remove copper before shipment to Raritan for treatment further added to the purification problem. The fact that the scheme of purifying electrolyte which Mr. Burns described in his paper' has proved adequate for our needs under a wide variation of conditions speaks well for its essential soundness.

Jan 1, 1933

Mark Twain once observed that "Everyone complains about the weather but nobody does anything about it." Not too long ago, the same observation held true for the problem of air pollution. During the past 25 years, however, the mounting concern over air pollution has spurred industrial and governmental research to find ways and means to combat the menacing situation. But for all the time and money spent in recent years to fight it, air pollution is still a major problem in most industrialized communities in America. At the SME Fall Meeting last September, coal's responsibility for such pollution was aired at an informative panel discussion moderated by Ernst Hall. The many-sided problem of air pollution became readily apparent as five experts, representing industry and government, parlayed over the task of cleaning up dirty air. Their opening comments are reprinted here.

Jan 11, 1964

By John W. Pack

AT present the manufacture of metallic zinc, or spelter, in Missouri, is carried on only at the establishments located at Carondelet, or South St. Louis. Although the development of the industry has not yet reached that fulness which it has attained elsewhere in the United States, still the commanding advantages of position of these establishments are so evident that the prospective importance and magnitude of spelter manufacture in this State, and especially at this locality, can hardly be doubted. A study of the chemical and technical aspects of the business of these points cannot be without interest to the metallurgist as well as to the capitalist. I have endeavored to investigate, as far as was practicable, within the limits of a paper of this character, some of the problems connected with this industry, at the same time making a few comparisons of the results attained at some of the Carondelet works with those of other establishments with regard to which information could be obtained. In the prosecution of these studies I have been kindly aided by the managers of Carondelet establishments, and by Prof. Charles P. Williams, Director of Rolla School of Mines. To the latter I am especially indebted for assistance in regard to methods of analysis. To all these gentlemen I return my thanks for their valuable aid. Other sources of information will be duly credited in their proper places.

Jan 1, 1875

By L. H. de Wald, J. Walter Scott

The removal of lead by fire refining methods from copper of electrolytic quality is growing in importance. Particularly is this true of the refining of secondary copper and copper cathodes obtained from electrolytic cells where lead is used as the anode material, as in the electrolysis of ore-leaching solutions and foul electrolyte. When investigating the removal of small amounts of lead from molten copper in a reverberatory furnace during the refining of secondary copper of otherwise electrolytic copper quality,' it was found necessary first to know something about the distribution of the lead throughout the bath. The authors believe that it is not generally known how small amounts of lead as an impurity are distributed in a molten copper bath; that is, whether the lead is concentrated at the bottom or at the top, or whether it occurs more or less uniformly throughout the bath. The data contained in this report may help, therefore, in the development of a satisfactory fire refining method for the removal of this obstinate element from a molten copper bath. The first step was the development of a method for taking samples from various locations in the bath, at the surface and at various depths. The sampling device used, shown in Fig. 1, consisted of a 10-gram fireclay assay crucible fitted into a ring on the end of a steel rod handle of suitable length. A fireclay scorifier, 2 in. dia., with a ½-in. hole bored in the

Jan 1, 1930

By Donald H. Yardley, A. Aly Selim

An economic simulation model was developed to predict the amount of copper recovered from copper oxide deposits, and the cost of producing it as a function of the deposit parameters. The economic simulation model includes programs for fragmentation design and cost, copper extraction, solution distribution and recovery, effluent solution cut-off grade, and financial analysis. Cost and price indices were also developed to evaluate the economic feasibility of in situ leaching operations as a function of their starting date. Application of the models to various hypothetical properties having the same area and different ore thickness shows that the effluent solution cut-off grade does not vary with the ore thickness nor with its grade. The percent of copper recovery is, however, shown to increase with the increase in the ore thickness and is independent of the ore grade. It is also shown that while the profit per unit of extracted copper increases with the increase in ore grade or ore thickness, the rate of return on total investment does not show any correlation.

Jan 1, 1979

By K. V. Hoover, D. M. Lapham

In Pennsylvania, 310 sampled sites of clay and shale have been studied with regard to potential use, lithology, physical properties, fired properties, major-element chemical analyses, and quantitative five-component X-ray mineralogy. Approximately 80% of the samples are of some potential use. Binary correlations of test data vs. potential use indicate that certain empirically determined parameters may be critical. These are: lithology, particularly for medium to superduty refractories and lightweight aggregate; kaolinite content for refractories vs. low-temperature fired product sources; quartz analyses with an apparent necessary minimum quantity for brick; quartz content, which is low in high grades of lightweight aggregate; mica content, which is low for refractories and possibly high for lightweight aggregate; total iron, which is low for refractories and shows a 4.0% minimum for lightweight aggregate; carbon dioxide, which is low for refractories, beneficial in lightweight aggregate, and probably restrictive for some tiles; chlorite-vermicalite, which is low for refractories and possibly beneficial in lightweight aggregate. In Pennsylvania, clay and shale materials constitute one of the state's major economic mineral resources. To date, the testing program indicates considerable development potential in brick, tile, and lightweight aggregate industries and perhaps a future potential for aluminum from shales that exceed 20% AID..

Jan 1, 1972

By L. Bruce McRae

A programme of work was initiated so that the possibility for the agglomeration of Transvaal chromite-fines by pelletization could be investigated. The use of cementitious binders did not yield promising results, binder additions of up to 10 per cent failing to produce an agglomerate that would be suitable as feed for an electric-smelting furnace. Further laboratory and pilot-plant studies showed that high-quality pellets could be made from chromite bonded with small amounts of bentonite and hardened by heat treatment at temperatures of the order of 1000°C. An investigation was also done into the reduction behaviour of pellets containing amounts of stoichiometric carbon up to that required for complete reduction. The results showed that the maximum degree of reduction that could be obtained was approximately 75 per cent, and that these pellets had the physical properties that would make them amenable to smelting in a submerged-arc electric-smelting furnace.

Jan 1, 1977

By W. A. Vine

WHEN a hole is made in a stressed solid, such as rock pierced by mine openings, equilibrium of the solid is destroyed. To re-establish that equilibrium the stress condition in the rock surrounding the opening becomes rearranged. This rearrangement may or may not develop local stresses in the vicinity of the opening which exceed the elastic strength of the rock. Since stability of the opening depends, therefore, on the strength of the naturally occurring rock surrounding the opening, this rock is an engineering material of construction, and all rock affected by the associated opening or system of open- ings may be considered a structure. The term invert is chosen to describe the formation of the structure —built from the inside, as it were, and a consequence of mining rather than an entity built for a purpose. By definition, an invert structure is formed when openings are made underground and is composed of that material on the solid side of a rock-air interface wherein the stress condition is affected by the associated opening or system of openings. The shape of an invert structure is never clearly defined; the skin of the structure may be mapped, and even described, but the boundary of the structure within the solid rock mass must be arbitrarily set. The name geomechanics is proposed to describe a branch of scientific knowledge which will encompass principles and working hypotheses for behavior and design of invert structures. It is foreseen that study

Jan 1, 1956

At a time when Congressional stiffening of health and safety regulations in the nation's coal mines seems all but an afterthought, when the problems confronting both mine operator and worker are being tossed about like a pigskin in an Australian- rules football match, what could be more appropriate to the times than to incorporate a discussion on these matters into the proceedings of an annual coal meeting. Integration of both technical and topical discussion provided the strength for this 28th Annual Meeting of the Central Appalachian Section of the AIME, convened at the The Greenbrier, White. Sulphur Springs. W. Va., Oct. 31-Nov. 1. Three technical sessions prepared for the occasion were served to those in attendance. First of these was held on Friday morning. Rendered excellent coverage, topics included Roof Structure Analysis at Blacksville No. I, presented by David Eyer, Christopher Coal Co.; Methane Monitors (evolution and evaluation of present day detection equipment); and Instantaneous Control Reaction to Mine Fires and Explosions, in which Elmer A. Fike illustrated the point quite vividly by showing a film on the potential of such control equipment. Indeed, the ability to snuff out a mine fire before it is allowed to spread even beyond its own igniting sparks speaks very well for itself. However, Fike hastened to point out that certain difficulties had to be overcome before these "fire watchers" could be implemented successfully in mines. These "bugs," inherent in virtually all coal mining environments, include ignition of sulfur pockets on mine facings and delivery of sparks on trolley rails, both of which may impede the accuracy of such control monitors.

Jan 12, 1969