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By H. L. Gilbert, C. T. Anderson, W. J. Kroll

In a previous paper,' the use of a split graphite tube resistor as a heater element for high-temperature furnaces has been described. The principal advantages of this type of construction are: I. The quadruple resistance or voltage compared with the top-bottom clamp resistor furnace. 2. Free expansion of the resistor. 3. The ease of protection from oxidation by air. 4. The firmness by which it may be held in the compact split clamp. This construction appeared to be well adapted for the fusion of high melting metals which require fusion in a vacuum. Zirconium metal had previously been melted at the Albany Laboratory of the Bureau of Mines in a vacuum arc furnace on a water-cooled plate, using a movable tungsten top electrode.% When larger furnace capacities were desired, this type of construction proved to have its limitations as the largest tungsten rods available were about 7/8 in. in diameter. The supply of direct current of high amperage for producing the desired arc characteristics was also not available. Considerable difficulty was also found in compensating the atmospheric pressure on the flcxible tubing of the movable electrodc, at the same time keeping its movement sufficiently free to enable the striking of an arc on any part of the metal briquet. Among the various materials used for the electrodes in conducting experiments in the vacuum arc furnace was graphite. It was found that zirconium fused in a graphite cup with a carbon arc was contaminated to only 0.2 pct carbon. It was therefore decsed to melt zirconium directly in graphite crucibles. A high-frequency furnace was first used in the attempt to melt the zirconium in graphite crucibles. The high-frequency heating coil was placed outside a silica tube which was evacuated by means of an oil diffusion pump backed up by a mechanical pump. The graphite crucible was thoroughly degassed at 19oo"C before use. Considerable difficulty was experienced in operating at such temperatures in vacuo because, as shown by Zintl,3 carbon vapor formed and reacted with silica accortling to the reaction: SiO² + C = SiO + CO. The silicon monoxide which is volatile at these high temperatures reacted with the zirconium, thereby contaminating it with silicon and oxygen. The presence of carbon monoxide was detected by means of a gas discharge tube placed in the vacuum system as indicated by the pale blue glow of the tube as soon as carbon vapor started to react with the hot silica. The reaction between the carbon vapor and hot silica was avoided by the use of split cylindrical molybdenum shields which were inserted between the graphite crucible

Jan 1, 1949

By Herbert Clark Hoover, Lou Henry Hoover

We give the following brief notes on early works containing some reference to mineralogy, mining, or metallurgy, to indicate the literature available to Agricola and for historical notes bearing upon the subject. References to these works in the footnotes may be most easily consulted through the personal index. GREEK AUTHORS.-Only a very limited Greek literature upon subjects allied to mining or natural science survives. The whole of the material of technical interest could be , reproduced on less than twenty of these pages. Those of most importance are : Aristotle (384-322 B.c.), Theophrastus (371-288 B.c.), Diodorus Siculus (1st Century B.c.), Strabo (64 B.c.-25 A.D.), and Dioscorides (1st Century A.D.). Aristotle, apart from occasional mineralogical or metallurgical references in De Mirabilibus, is mostly of interest as the author of the Peripatetic theory of the elements and the relation of these to the origin of stones and metals. Agricola was, to a considerable measure, a follower of this school, and their views colour much of his writings. We, however, discuss elsewhere1 at what point he departed from them. Especially in De Ortu ct Causis does he quote largely from Aristotle's Meteorologica. Physica, and De Coelo on these subjects. There is a spurious work on stones attributed to Aristotle of some interest to mineralogists. It was probably the work of some Arab early in the Middle Ages.[ ]

Jan 1, 1950

By J. Federico Price, Joseph E. Aparicio

This paper describes the production of a specific iron oxide pellet that has given very good and consistent results as feedstock for HYC-Process Direct Reduction Plants. The sponge iron originated from these pellets has been used for the economic production of almost 15 Mt of low carbon steel via electric arc furnace meltshops. An overview of mining, beneficiation, pelletizing, direct reduction and steelmaking for this case is given with emphasis on the charactertitics of the self-fluxing oxide pellets.

Jan 1, 1982

By Robert C. Paddock

INTRODUCTION A way of producing 3,000 tpd from the El Mochito Mine was needed. Of this production, 2,000 tpd must come from the San Juan orebody. The original sub-level stoping method did not give satisfactory results due to ground instability, and the highly irregular ore/waste contacts encountered . The experience gained from the initial system helped guide research into the ground instability problem. Results from this work, combined with knowledge gained about the orebcdy configuration, defined constraints that were previously not fully appreciated. These constraints, and others, combined with objectives, were considered together to develop a new mining method. No single technique was found to be suitable, so a hybrid mining system was developed. A combination of ramping, cut and fill, and vertical crater retreat, with an option to use top heading and benching was developed. To complement the mining system, the type of equipment needed was decided upoun. Also, to support the mining system at this expanded rate of product ion, major modifications of existing infrastructure were required. THE EL MOCHITO MINE The El Mochito Mine, of Rosario Resources Corporation, has been in continuous product ion since 198. The mine began operations in April of that yeas at a rate of 100 tpd. The reserves in 198 were 100,000 tons of silver ore assayed at 1,250 grams per tonne. As of the end of 1979, the El Mochito orebodies have produced over 5.6 million tonnes of ore averaging 516 grams per tonne silver, 6.8 lead, and 7.8% zinc. Present ore reserves are about 7.9 million tonnes, averaging 138 grams per tonne silver, 4.6% lead, and 8.7% zinc, with minor quantities of copper, cadmium and gold. An expansion plan to increase mill production two fold to 2,500 tonnes per day is underway. This expansion will require the mine to produce 3,000 tpd. The mine consists of numerous orebodies, all of which have been mined to a certain extent. Of all the orebodies, the San Juan contains 8% of known reserves. This amounts to about 6.7 million tonnes. The significance of the San Juan orebody to the future life of the El Mochito Mine is obvious. If the required mine production of 3,000 tpd is to be sustained, the San Juan must be the source of the majority of that production. Due to the mineability and overall logistics concerned with the other orebodies, the San Juan must be able to reach and maintain a production rate of 2,000 tpd by 1982. GEOLOGY OF THE SAN JUAN OREBODY The El Mochito Mine is a classic example of a chimney replacement deposit in limestone. Similar deposits axe found in Mexico, at the Naica, Providencia, and Santa Eulia Mines. The El Mochito Mine is located at the south- western end of the Sula Valley on the western edge of the Honduras Depression in the Central Cordillera and Central Highlands of Honduras in a setting of Mesozoic sediments. The orebodies occur in a structural basin developed between NNE trending normal faults and apparently hinged on the south end. Topographically, the Mochito Basin lies between the uplifted Santa Barbara mountain in the west and the Palmer Ridge on the east. The San Juan orebody occurs near the intersection of the NE trending San Juan fault and the ENE trending Porvenir fault. The downward continuation of the orebody is controlled by the westward rake of these NW and N dipping structures. The discovery of the San Juan orebody is attributed to analysis of structural evidence of known ore deposits by in-company geologists. The composition of the San Juan orebody is primarily garnet skarn, with local concentrations of hedenbergite and magnetite. The economically important sulfide mineralization consists of (in decreasing abundance), sphalerite , galena, pyrrhotite , and chalcopyrite. There is some indication that a Cu-Ag mineral such as tetrahedrite may also be present. The skarns were formed by replacement of the original limestone by hydrothermal water migrating upward roughly along the intersection between the Porvenir fault system and the San Juan fault system. Textural evidence suggests that the orebody is a composite of several pulses of hydrothermal activity which would explain, in pat, the great irregularity of the contacts and the large horizontal variation in mineralogy. A general pattern of skarn types can be seen in the orebody, partially accounting for the observed lateral variation in grades. This zonation is very generalized, and one or more zones may be missing in any given locality. The orebody is almost invaxiably surrounded by a 2 cm to 25 cm zone of bustamite skaxn with low values. The border skarn is usually

Jan 1, 1981

By G. S. Brooks

The tendency of the oxides of such metals as aluminum, zinc, chromium, and calcium to form compounds at high tempera tures with iron oxide is well established by past investigation. Data of this reaction, as developed in laboratory research, have been contributed by Burleigh, Hofman, and Wells, in America, and by many others abroad. A partial bibliography of the subject is appended. From these authorities we learn that the ferric oxide here has the function of an acid, giving in the case of ZnO a zinc ferrite, with a normal composition of ZnOFe2O3 This formation of zinc ferrite particularly affects the success of such processes as leaching or magnetic separation, and thus becomes practically important to the metallurgist. But the meager existing data do not entirely agree; and quantitative results from muffle-practice are conspicuously absent. Furthermore, it being of some general importance to the zinc smelter in both roasting and reduction, the following few notes of operations oil a commercial scale are contributed: I. Physical Properties of Zinc Ferrite. As formed for the most part synthetically by investigators, zinc ferrite exhibits characteristic physical properties, such as octahedral crystals, dark color, and a density over 5, together with a slight magnetic attractability. In examining with the microscope many products of mechanical muffle-roasting kilns, it is, however, impossible to find individual grains which can be identified as consisting entirely of zinc ferrite. The variety of colors, especially where each grain of blende was mechanically free from marcasite, rather conveys the impression of a partial ferritization of the grain. One side or end, for example, may often have the hard, dense surface and dark red to black color of the ferrite, while the balance shows the usual light yellowish brown of a normal iron-free blende.

Jan 1, 1914

By B. W. Adams, R. W. Shilling

9.4-1. Basic principles. DESCRIPTION AND BASIC FUNCTIONS. The concept of inclined skip haulage is not new. The basic idea has been in use at least 400 years. The system is essentially a steeply inclined railway utilizing a hoist to pull the skips to the top or intermediate positions. Inclined skip haulage is often justified where high lifts would require long hauls for other haulage systems. The basic system types are as follows: 1. Single skip, single drum. This system is a single car pulled by a simple hoist system. 2. Balanced skip, single drum. A system utilizing two cars (skips on cables)--one overwound, one underwound-on a single drum. The dead weight of one skip and cable balances the dead weight of the other. As one skip ascends the other descends between two fixed points. 3. Balanced skip, double drum. This system is an elaboration of system No. 2, except the drums may be disengaged from one another to permit the skips to service various loading and dumping points. The preceding are major classifications subject to numerous variations. These variations may be in the skipway, skip design, loading methods, or unloading methods. A few examples follow: 1. The skipway may be standard or special railroad, an overhead monorail or cable, or a ramp for rubber tired vehicles. 2. The skip, per se, may be of varying dumping arrangements (side, bottom, etc.) or could be the box of the vehicle hauling to the skip. 3. Loading may be accomplished directly from the service unit to skip, through an intermediate loading device (e.g., a pocket), or into bins which feed the skip. Loading may be at more than one point. 4. Unloading of the skip can be simple or complex as required. Dumping may be to the haulage unit, to bins and feeders, or to a crusher and conveyor system. Dumping may take place at more than one point.

Jan 1, 1968

By John E. Miller

The Miller Number System is a well established method of measuring the relative abrasivity-friability of slurries, resulting in data that can be used in the selection of pump type and in forecasting wear-life of pumps and pipelines in slurry service. 1,2 Then after the pump type is selected, a Flow Analysis is determined by computer using pump design and operating parameters. This is used to determine pulsation control, suction requirements and stabilization, etc.

Jan 1, 1977

By P. R. Sheorey

I read this interesting paper on pillar strength in some detail because this is also my area of interest. It has long been the desire of mining rock mechanicians to predict pillar strength from laboratory compression tests. Considerable literature is available on compression strength of rocks and coal but many of these experiments were conducted not for pillar design but for rock behavior. I have a few comments on the author's approach to pillar design, especially equation (33). Two important factors, which the author seems to have excluded, can be added to the right side of equation (2): time-dependence of strength and the influence of mine environment on strength (moisture and weathering.) The author has taken considerable pains to analyze a large amount of testing data in [Table 1], yielding the various exponents ci of equation (2) (or the subsequent equations derived from it.) He has, however, not shown by means of a worked out example how these values of [Table 1] could be applied to a practical pillar design situation. It would have been interesting to compare predicted pillar size using equation (33) with an actual case. Alternatively, equation (33) could have been used to explain the failure of a pillar, if such a case history were available. Consider we have a large number of case histories of stable and collapsed pillars in a seam and we conduct a large number of tests in a laboratory press. The exponents [ci] can then be determined for actual pillars as well as for test specimens. Thus, equation (2) will read [ ] Since laboratory testing conditions (e.g., between steel platens) are different from the conditions on pillars, the exponents [ci] in

Jan 1, 1983

By Robert T. Hill

PHYSIOGRAPHICALLY, Mexico provinces, which are, in a manner, distinct economic areas. These may be denominated, (1) the Gulf coastal plain; (2) the Cordilleran plateau; (3) the Sonoran, and (4) the Tehuantepecan province. Fig. 1 shows the approximate boundaries of these provinces. The first is the continuation of the coastal plain of Texas and the Gulf region in general, which, except for prospective oil and lignite, has little of interest for the mining engineer.

Jan 1, 1902

By Joseph Jensen

No outstanding example of an important producing unit operation exists in California today where the competitive drilling drainage feature is or was entirely eliminated We need not feel, however, that the thought of unit operation had its birth in 1924, when Henry L. Doherty named and sponsored it so strongly before the American Petroleum Institute and our own organization. No man or company in California ever drilled a wildcat well without exerting every possible effort to get all of the structure, so as to control drilling and avoid competition. Overproduction did not begin in 1923, so there has always been the wish to avoid it. In this state the practice of selling acreage around a wildcat has not been followed, except possibly in rare instances. The operator drilling the wildcat knew he must pay the bill alone, so he endeavored to get the benefit of his effort by tying up all of the land around his well and by so planning his different lease obligations as to avoid as much offsetting as possible. If he failed to get all of the land, it was because someone's price was too high, some other oil man also had the same idea and already held some lands, a competitor took leases away from him while his work was still incomplete, or (as was so often the case) the hidden structure when developed did not prove to be where the wildcatter thought it would be. The last named condition often led to a forced drilling campaign by the last leases secured and thus to serious drilling drainage problems. Ownership of the Land The land situation differs a great deal in various parts of the state. In the San Joaquin Valley, all the land is surveyed into sections and townships. Railroad land grants embraced a part of the land. In the areas that were developed at an early date, as at Kern River, Coalinga, McKittrick and the Sunset-Midway field, such land as the railroad company's diligent land department had been unable to sell for a song as grazing land still remained in its ownership. Operation and ownership

Jan 1, 1930

By R. H. Foley

It is difficult to consider any seam as unsuitable for longwall mining operation for something like 95% of British coal is produced by this system. The following is a brief report on how they do it-their techniques and equipment. Depth of working in British mines varies from about 150 ft to more than 3000 ft, with the average being about 1300 ft. Average seam thickness is approximately 40 in., but working seams vary from 16 in. to as much as 14 ft.

Jan 8, 1965

By John W. Chang

Introduction Automatic control of primary ball mill circuits has received much attention over the past decade, primarily because its advantages ultimately can be translated into economic terms. Apart from such obvious benefits as improved product quality, increased throughput, and more stable operation, less direct benefits such as easier operation, more orderly maintenance scheduling, and timely management reports all can be realized with the application of modern automatic process control equipment and techniques. Software configurable digital computer-based control systems offer ease of change in control strategies. Occasional control strategy changes are necessary whenever control objectives change or circuit modifications occur. The dependency of control strategies on control objectives and circuit equipment to effect optimal circuit operation is an important, but often neglected issue. Because of the potential for even better control, research and development work continues. [See (Ulsoy & Sastry, 1981) and (Hulbert & Braae, 1981).] Some of the possibilities are discussed later in this presentation. A few preliminary remarks may be in order concerning the relationships among control objectives, control strategies, and circuit equipment. Generally accepted control objectives for primary ball mill circuits include: 1. Maintaining a desired percent solids in the mill. 2. Maintaining a desired measure of particle size distribution at the cyclone overflow. 3. Maximizing throughput. Control Objective I is a requirement for proper operation of the ball mill, especially if it is a grate mill. It concerns smooth movement of material through the mill. Control Objective 2 is a product specification - one of the requirements for proper flotation operation. Control Objective 3, an expression of the desire to get the most out of the circuit, is the easiest to evaluate in economic terms. It assumes that the processes downstream

Jan 1, 1982

By E. A. Gulbransen, W. S. Wysong

The behavior of tungsten and its surface oxides in oxidizing and reducing atmospheres and in high vacua at elevated temperatures is a question of considerable technical importance. The use of tungsten as a a Or as an important component in alloys in high temperature Oxidizing atmospheres has been limited because of the unprotective nature of its oxide film and the volatility of its oxide. This paper will present results of a micro-balance study of the following problems: (1) the oxidation behavior in the ternperature range of 25 to 550°C (') the reduction with pure hydrogen Of thin Oxide films formed On tungsten, and (3) the volatility Of thin Oxide films On tungsten. Tungsten is an interesting metal to study for the following reasons: (1) although the Oxide to to ratio is greater than one, the oxide is not considered protective, ('1 the meta1 readily Oxidizes at temperatures from 30" to 55o°C (3) the oxides WO² and WO³ are reduced at temperatures as low as 500°C. by hydrogen, and (4) the Oxide WO3 is volatile at temperatures from 800 to 1100°C. Literature The oxidation of tungsten in its thin film range has not been studied critically. In the thick film range Dunn3 has made the only systematic study. He found the oxidation rate to obey the parabolic rate law in the temperature range of 700 to 900°c. The temperature variation of the oxidation rate constant was found to follow an exponential law of the Arrhenius type. An inflection was noticed in the temperature plot of the rate law constant at 850 to 900°C. This was attributed to a phase change in the oxides, Schei14 has studied the oxidation rate at 500 and 700°C over long periods of time and found a linear rate law. This result was interpreted as evidence for the presence of a nonprotective film. Pilling and Bed-worth's5 analyses of the oxide volume to metal volume ratio would indicate that a compact protective film should form. McAdam and Geil6 have studied the oxidation of tungsten in the thin film range using the interference color method. A parabolic rate law was found. Their curves showed that tungsten oxidizes faster than nickel but more slowly than iron. The lattice structures found in the oxidation of tungsten surfaces have been studied by Hickman and Gulbransen.? They have reported that WO3 is the stable oxide in contact with the metallic substrate up to approximately 600°C while wo³ forms first at 7oo°c. Hagg and Magneli8 have recently reported a study of the lattice structures . observed in the tungsten oxidcs using the X-ray diffraction method. In addition to an a-phase WO3 and a '-phase WO2, they reported the existence of two new phases. A 8' phase, homogeneous between

Jan 1, 1949

By J. L. Rodda

A large amount of time has been devoted to the microscopical study of the copper-zinc alloys, emphasis naturally being placed upon the commercially important alloys of the system. Suitable methods are available for microscopically recognizing the two phases richest in copper, but none appear to have been developed for the positive identification of the other phases. This is, however, accomplished, for the phases normally encountered, by an electrolytic method described in the following pages. Five phases of the copper-zinc diagram (Fig. I) are considered for the purpose of this paper: the solid solution of zinc in copper, alpha (a); the intermediate phases, beta (ß), gamma (?), and epsilon (e); and the solid solution of copper in zinc, eta (11). Beta prime is not considered a separate

Jan 1, 1937

By Louis A. Panek

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

Jan 1, 1956

By L. J. Lorig, B. H. G. Brady

The Discrete Element Method is a numerical technique suitable for use in modeling the discontinuum behavior of jointed rock. The disadvantage of this method, in its application to analysis of underground excavations, is the necessity to discretize the complete problem domain. Since the far-field rock responds to the excavation as an elastic continuum, it may be appropriately represented by the Boundary Element Method. This exploits the inherent advantage of the Boundary Element Method in representing a quasi-infinite domain in terms of its internal surface geometry and associated boundary conditions. The procedures employed in developing a first-generation coupled Discrete Element-Boundary Element algorithm are described and the solution to a simple problem verifying the performance of the coupled code is presented. A procedure for numerical treatment of installed support systems is also presented.

Jan 1, 1982

By Y. Zimmels, I. J. Lin, I. Yaniv

The potential application of magnetic and electric separation techniques in beneficiation of fine-particle feeds are reviewed. Special features of these techniques are considered and compared with a view to increased amenability of such feeds to separation in electro- magnetic fields. The following techniques are discussed, with reference to those already developed and in use to-date: - Differential-susceptibility separation (DSF). - High-gradient differential-dielectric separation (HGDDS). - High-gradient magneto-gravimetric separation (HGMGS). In this context the new approach - whereby selectivity of solid- solid separation processes, in wet high-gradient magnetic and electric separation, can be improved - is described, including experimental results from DSF and HGDDS tests.

Jan 1, 1980

By C. M. Wayman, M. A. Gedwill, C. J. Altstetter

Cobalt Whiskers were grown by the hydrogen reduction of CoBr,. The fcc = hcp martensitic trans-formation in these whiskers was studied using X-ray and metallographic techniques. Present theories of the fee + hcp martensitic transformation were ex-amined in the light of the present findings Experimental evidence for slip as a part of the transformation mechanism is presented. In the bulk form cobalt is known to undergo a martensitic transformation1 from an hcp to an fcc structure upon heating above about 430°C. Upon cooling, the reverse transformation starts at about 400°C, but does not go to completion except in single crystalline or coarse-grained samples, or upon plastic deformation. The transformation may be thought of as the shearing of close-packed atomic planes in such a way as to change the stacking sequence from ABCABC to ABABAB with a contraction normal to the shearing planes and an expansion in the planes,2 producing a c/a ratio slightly less than ideal. This restacking to give {0001) and (112) 11 (1010) can be accomplished by the passage of a shockfey partial dislocation over every other (111)f plane resulting in a theoretical shear of 19.47 deg. To date there has been no completely satisfactory explanation of how the partial dislocations are produced on the close-packed planes or propagated from plane to plane to give the correct stacking sequence. The object of the present research was to study some of the characteristics of the fcc to hcp transformation in geometrically simple single crystals. It was felt that whiskers of cobalt grown by halide reduction would be ideal specimens with which to study the transformation, because whiskers have the following desirable features: 1) are easily grown as fcc single crystals; 2) exhibit relatively simple geometries; 3) have comparatively low dislocation densities;

Jan 1, 1964

By Leo F. Reinartz

This is the fourth and final installment of Leo Reinartz' summation of the steelmaking industry over the first one hundred years. ALTHOUGH basic open-hearth steel has been in the limelight for many years, it has had to share some of its glory with two lesser but nevertheless important rivals, one 50 years old and one a rejuvenated process. Electric steel Electric-steel manufacture began in a humble way in the United States in 1906, when the first heat was tapped from a 3-ton Heroult electric furnace at the Halcomb Steel Co., Syracuse, N. Y. During the intervening years, it has completely eliminated the crucible process. For many years electric melting furnaces were located predominantly in relatively small, nonintegrated plants, making all kinds of high-grade alloy steels. Most of these furnaces, with capacities ranging from 5 to 20 tons, had basic bottoms. During and after World War II, many large basic electric furnaces, some up to 200 tons in capacity, were installed in integrated plants to make commodity steels. There were several reasons for building electric furnaces. Capital investment per annual ton of capacity was low and furnaces could be installed quickly. Since these furnaces used mostly scrap iron in the charge, no extra expensive coke- and blast-furnace capacity had to be added. The perfection of the top-charging design, and the development of large transformers and furnaces, made possible tons per hour as high as from modern 350-ton. open-hearth furnaces. Electric furnaces have high availability and repair costs are low. The process is flexible. Alloy and plain carbon steels of high quality can be made. Where power costs are low, the operating cost can

Jan 1, 1961

By W. Petruk, R. S. Boorman, R. Gilders

Approximately 33% of the silver in the Zn-Pb-Cu-Ag ore of Brunswick Mining and Smelting Corporation Limited is lost to the tailings and an additional 11% to the zinc concentrate for which no payment is received. 38% to 44% of this lost silver is carried by tetrahedrite, 28% by galena and 28% to 34% by a third silver carrier. The silver minerals acanthite and pyrargyrite have been identified in mill products and hence these are suggested as the principal third silver carrier(s) accounting for 13 to 20% of the silver in Brunswick ore. About 24% of this third silver carrier assemblage is lost to the zinc concentrate and 52% to concentrator tailings.

Jan 1, 1984