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By Henry T. Mudd

FLUORSPAR is a nonmetallic mineral aggregate or mass containing a sufficient quantity of fluorite (CaF2) to be of commercial interest. It has only moderate value per unit of weight and its cost as a percentage of the cost of finished consumer products is nearly negligible. Nevertheless, it has wide and great industrial importance. In periods of national emergency it is a mineral without which many very necessary manufacturing processes would be greatly handicapped; a few could not exist. Fluorite contains 51.1 pct calcium and 48.9 pct fluorine. Industrial grades of fluorspar prepared for the consumer normally contain from 85 to 98 pct fluorite, depending on the use. The ores may contain as little as 30 pct fluorite, depending on many factors such as accessibility to transportation and markets, character of ore, and prices. Fluorite is a lustrous, glasslike mineral, generally translucent to transparent; it may be clear and colorless or range in color from slightly bluish through various shades of violet, amethyst, purple, green, and yellow. It crystallizes in the isometric system and possesses perfect octahedral cleavage. Commonly it occurs in masses of very pure crystal- line material with aggregates of cubical crystals in open spaces, but - it is also found in fine to coarse granular form. Banded veins and masses with fibrous, radiating structure occur locally. It is usually found associated more or less intimately with other minerals and rocks, from which it must be separated for commercial use. The specific gravity of fluorite is 3.18 and the hardness is 4 in the Mohs scale, compared with 7 for quartz and 3 for calcite. It is distinguished from calcite by its failure to effervesce with dilute hydrochloric acid. Heated with sulphuric acid, it gives off fumes of hydro- fluoric acid, which etch glass.22,25,33.34,35.41

Jan 1, 1949

By R. B. Schluter, M. M. Fine

Processes for manufacturing prereduced pellets have heretofore required temperatures of 2100°F or higher. Sulfides will accelerate the liquid-phase sintering of metallic iron, yet do not deter the reduction of iron oxides. The sulfides may be introduced as gases to the kiln atmosphere or as solids in the re-ductants. The net result is that well metallized iron pellets with good crushing strength can now be produced at a little over 1800°F. One of the most persistent topics at technical gatherings and in the recent scientific press has been the reduction of iron ore. In May 1960, a symposium on the subject was sponsored by the Electrochemical Society. The proceedings, comprising two dozen papers, were later published.' More recently, in November 1966, a similar gathering took place at Michigan Technological University, Houghton, Mich. The latest meeting was the International Congress on Production and Utilization of Reduced Materials at Evian, France, in May 1967. If the volume of literature, symposia and conferences is a measure of industry concern, then the current interest in reduction must be at a high level. Barrett,2 one of the early pioneers, stated some years ago that "The history of sponge iron has been so discouraging that many men in the iron and steel industry are violently opposed to giving it any further consideration." In spite of the "violent opposition" noted by Barrett, research people in and out of the industry continue to be attracted by the elusive prospect of uncovering a simple, viable means of direct reduction. Wild,3 one of the speakers at Evian, listed no less than 48 direct reduction processes (laboratory, pilot plant and commercial). Some of these were of historical interest only, but many others had resulted from developments within this decade. The previous big thrust into direct reduction occurred under the artificial impetus of a wartime economy (World War 11) and was largely an effort to provide more melting stock without coke ovens and blast furnaces. The present-day inquiry is proceeding at a more leisurely pace and the emphasis is different. For one thing, there is much less anxiety to circumvent the blast furnace. On the contrary, a whole new research endeavor has grown from the discovery that metallized burdens are exceptionally productive.4 Although the search for a melting stock

Jan 1, 1970

By A. C. Dittrick

THE Simon-Carves washer, originally known as the Baum jig washer, was first built in Europe about 1892. It was probably the first washer to use intermittent pressure of air on water in one part of the wash box to obtain water pulsations in another part. This type of washer was also the first to successfully clean various sizes in the same unit. Previous practice was to size closely before washing. Today there are several large firms abroad, and a few in the United States, that are constructing the Baum type washer. The design of all is practically the same, their differences being only in details. In 1928, the Hanna Coal Co. first gave consideration to the question of coal cleaning. It was believed at that time that by efficient removal of so-called noncombustibles appearing in the Pittsburgh No. 8 seam, certain markets that had been lost due to poor preparation might be recovered. Mechanical cleaning and mechanical loading were under consideration. This type of cleaning was considered the most practical means of removing impurities in the sizes below 4 in. It was decided to adopt mechanical cleaning and develop a system of mechanical loading that would be successful on No. 8 coal.

Jan 1, 1935

By W. M. McKewan

Dense magnetite pellets were reduced in hydrogen-water vapor-nitrogen mixtures over a temperature range of 400° to 500° C at a pressure of 0.97 atm. The rate of reduction per unit area was found to be constant with time and directly proportional to the partial pressure of hydrogen at a constant ratio of water vapor to hydrogen. Water vapor poisoned the oxide surface by an oxidizing reaction and markedly slowed the reduction. The enthalpy of activation was found to be + 13,600 cal per mole. THE investigation of the reduction of iron oxides has been the subject of numerous papers. Most of these papers have dealt with the evaluation of various ores, both magnetite and hematite. There have

Jan 1, 1962

By R. J. Lutton

Empirical data from 91 rock excavations have been used to construct a family of slope curves on a chart relating excavation height and inclination. The highest and steepest slopes from each excavation are plotted and connected by a line. The 31 1ines appear to establish one or two geometrical slope fields through which the curves are projected. The curves apparently represent a lumped eflect of many factors too complex to be considered individually. Important factors such as geological structure or ground-water conditions can dominate the picture, but where these factors do not overshadow others, the slope chart should be useful for estimating or checking optimum inclination. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USAE) has been engaged since 1962 with the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission in a joint research program to develop nuclear excavation technology. The Corps is responsible for collecting the requisite data on engineering and construction problems associated with nuclear excavation. The ultimate objective is to develop a capability to use nuclear explosives as a construction tool on public works projects such as harbors and canals. The present study on empirical inclination-height curves for conventionally excavated slopes is an outgrowth of an investigation' sponsored by the USAE Nuclear Cratering Group on applicability of data from existing excavations in establishing guides for engineering judgment in crater excavation. Data were generously contributed by over 50 mining companies among other organizations. Inasmuch as several companies preferred that their contribution be anonymous, all data are treated so here. Some Factors Affecting Stability Many factors affect or are suspected of affecting the stability of excavated slopes, e.g., adverse structural orientation, degree of structural ordering, ground water, climatic conditions, mechanics of excavation, and plan-profile configuration. Such factors are lumped together in developing a slope chart. Obviously geological structure and ground water can overshadow all other factors. Where such is the case, the simplification of slope charts may give an erroneous picture (not conservative enough). A further complication results from the fact that the concept of stability may vary according to the use of the excavations. For example, slope adjustments that would be regarded as failure in a powerhouse excavation, might be tolerable in a mining operation. Mine slopes are continually being modified by further excavation, and instability that would develop in a similar permanent excavation slope over a period of years might not have time to develop in a mine. Inclination vs. Height Charts Charts of inclination vs. height for particular formations or conditions have been used in the past as an aid for designing excavation slopes. Some of these have been based upon empirical analyses of collections of data and experience. MacDonald" and Lane have presented slope tables and charts for excavated and natural slopes in relatively weak sandstone and shale. Coates' has shown an inclination-height chart for slopes in incompetent rock. Most organizations have developed slope design criteria which relate bench widths, heights, and inclinations to use in various rocks. Slope data collected in present studies can be similarly used to develop inclination-height charts; however, a plot of all slopes on such a chart shows very little because of the wide spread of the data. Reasons for the dispersion of points are: (1) many slopes are not carried at optimum inclination, particularly in mines where maintaining roadways and following irregularities of ore bodies are more important than achieving steep inclinations; (2) many engineers and geologists with varied backgrounds and viewpoints have been involved in designing these slopes; and (3) each slope is characterized by a unique combination of factors affecting stability and in turn optimum inclination. Significant curves can sometimes be constructed where the points can be grouped into related clusters from the same excavation. The essence of this approach appears when only two slopes from each excavation are considered—the highest slope and the steepest slope, connected by a line segment (Fig. 1). This reduces considerably the usable data because in many cases only one of these two slopes is available. Nevertheless, the concession seems justified. Construction of Slope Curves Ninety-one pairs of points and connecting line segments were assembled in this study. The line segments were assumed to approximate a geometrical slope field (Fig. 2), and a family of curves has been visually projected through to represent the slope field. It should be

Jan 1, 1971

By W. A. Koehler, W. L. Eaton, Reynold Q. Shotts, M. E. Hinkle, M. R. Geer, Ralph M. Hunter, H. F. Yancey, Andrew B. Crichton, E. Zimmerman, S. H. Ash

R. Maize and H. P. Greenwald presiding) E. T. POWELL*-I would like to ask either Mr. Ash or Mr. Eaton if they know of any place where the Mine Inspectors' for¬mula has been used that water has flowed from one colliery to the other. W. L. EATON (authors' reply)-We have made considerable study but we have not gotten around to very many of the barrier pillars. I would not say that any or all of them have been designed to the strict figures of this formula. Most of those ex¬amined will not hold back the water that they are supposed to hold back. E. T. POWELL-If the pillar remains ac¬cording to the Mine Inspectors' formula? W. L. EATON-We have not found very many where the provisions were followed. E. T. POWELL-Where the Mine Inspec¬tors' formula has been fully complied with, have there been failures or not? W. L. EATON-I cannot say. Most of these barrier pillars probably were designed in accordance with this formula, but most of them, if they were so designed, are not in that shape now because a large number of them will not hold back the water; they have been reinforced, and they are punc¬tured in various places. Holes have been driven through them to relieve the hydro¬static pressure to avoid a failure. They do not dare to have a failure. In many instances, the barrier is punc¬tured to avoid a failure. In order to mine their coal safely, many companies must pump water from mines that were aban¬doned many years ago. R. MAIZE-That is true, Mr. Eaton, but do you know of any case where a barrier pillar actually failed and flooded an ad¬joining mine when the pillar had been left in accordance with the Mine Inspectors formula?

Jan 1, 1948

By Max Mason

IN 1923 a Western mining company was experimenting with the device of an inventor designed to locate buried ores by radio. Because the progress was slow and the results were confusing, the company began to doubt the usefulness of the method and invited me to review the whole question of the application of physics to ore detection. I was fortunate in securing the cooperation of several physicists who had worked with me during the war on the problem of submarine detection. This group has been increased and has been studying the problem of physical exploration for ores since that time. It was evident that the problem is a big one, with many angles of approach. Its general features may be set down, in rough outline, as follows: The soils, rocks and ores hidden beneath the surface differ, one from another in many respects. These differences may be made to furnish a clew for the physicists working from the surface. To bring these differences into action the physicist creates some kind of an effect, which penetrates into the ground and is distorted and, reflected when it meets boundaries between different sorts of underground structure. In other words, he sends a message down, and the rocks and ore send back signals in, reply. In picturing this process, we should not regard the ground as dense and impenetrable. The kind of messages used pass through the earth about as readily as a sound wave travels the air. If, then, the fundamental procedure is to shout down questions in the hope that an orebody will hear and answer back to us, it is clear that a large part of the expert's study must relate to the kind of questions best suited to the temperament and intelligence of orebodies. It will be easier for the ore to, reply to some of our questions than to others, and it is for us to find the right questions. In certain cases, we are-spared the necessity of using a messenger, because nature has already provided one. For example, we already have a terrestrial magnetic field which auto-matically and continually conveys messages from underneath. We also have available the earth's gravitational field which furnishes us

Jan 1, 1927

By Carl D. Broadbent

In 1956, Kennecott Copper Corp. instituted a slope mechanics program. Its objective was to obtain effi-ient and safe pit slopes. Since then, Kennecott has onducted a great deal of research into the area, most otably at the Kimbley Pit. This paper, which describes the transitional work at this period and draws from the pertinent experimental work done by others, paves the way for the next step of the program: refining the design process and applying it for profit. The goal of slope mechanics is to achieve efficient and safe pit slopes. In the case of ultimate mine slopes, the objective is to minimize the stripping ratio by steepening the slopes to their maximum stable limit. On the other hand, the inclination of working slopes is normally established by operating space requirements and the function of slope mechanics should be the continuous surveillance of slope conditions to assure long-term stability and provide timely warning of impending slides so that corrective measures may be incorporated in production planning. In 1956, Kennecott instituted a program to provide

Jan 1, 1970

By M. Shelef, A. W. Fletcher

The effect of alkali sulfates in promoting the sul-fation of nickel and copper in a bulk sulfide flota -tion concentrate by fluidized bed roasting has been studied in the laboratory, and it was shown that the various alkali sulfates promote sulfation to approximately the same extent. The sulfation of a mixture of synthetically prepared iron and nickel oxide and of nickel ferrite has also been studied. Nickel sulfation was promoted by high ratios of Fe:Ni and by the presence of sodium sulfate. THE work described in this paper was a continuation of earlier studies into the role of alkali sulfates in promoting the sulfation roasting of nickel sulfides1,2 in an endeavor to determine how the system was affected by the presence of compounds of iron and copper. The earlier work1 showed that, in the sulfation of NiO at 680°C, the reaction was limited by the formation of an impermeable film of nickel sulfate on the oxide surface. The relative effect of the various alkali sulfates in promoting nickel sulfation varied in the order: Li > Na >Cs > Rb > K A study of alkali sulfate/ nickel sulfate interactions at high temperatures showed that the promoting action was due to the fact that the nickel sulfate product layer sintered and agglomerated only when the more active additives were present. This resulted in the formation of discontinuities in the nickel sulfate layer so that diffusion of the sulfating gases to the NiO surface was no longer impeded and the reaction could proceed to completion. A similar explanation was used for the observation that sodium and lithium sulfates promote the oxidation of NiS to NiO at temperatures below 750°C since small amounts of nickel sulfate were formed during oxidation.2 It was of interest to study the effect of alkali sulfates on the sulfate roasting of a sulfide flotation concentrate which is typical of material treated commercially. In order to control temperature it is essential to roast sulfides in a fluidized bed and this technique was therefore used, although the batchwise operation of a small-scale laboratory reactor does not reproduce all conditions which prevail in full-scale continuous plant. The results obtained are therefore only comparative, and cannot be used for predicting the optimum conditions for metal extraction. The sulfation of synthetically prepared mixed oxides of nickel + copper and nickel + iron and of nickel ferrite was also studied to evaluate the relative effects of alkali sulfates with more complex systems. SULFATION ROASTING OF A SULFIDE FLOTATION CONCENTRATE The bulk sulfide flotation concentrate used in this work contained 7.92 pct Ni, 1.74 pct Cu, 35.66 pct Fe, and 31.28 pct S. The sulfide minerals present in order of abundance were pyrrhotite FeS, pyrite FeS2, pentlandite (FeNi)S, and chalcopyrite CuFeS2. Two samples described as coarse and fine were used. The coarse sample, which was a flotation concentrate (58 pct plus 300 mesh), was ground to 100 pct minus 350 mesh to produce the fine sample. Before roasting, the sample of sulfide concentrate was agglomerated by wetting witli a solution of the alkali sulfate (or water), thoroughly mixing, and drying at 110°C. This gave a cake which was gently crushed and screened, the -18 +100 mesh fraction being used for fluidized bed roasting. A similar-size fraction had been used by the authors in pilot plant work with a 4-in.-diam fluidized bed reactor.' In this work it was found that the molar ratio of additive to the total iron + nickel + copper content of the sulfide sample should be adjusted to a value of approximately 0.06, as this was the optimum amount necessary for nickel sulfation. Experimental. The fluidized bed reactor consisted of a quartz tube approximately 60 cm long and 30 mm in diameter resting in a vertical tube furnace. The sulfide bed (30 g) was supported on a bed of -4 +12 mesh quartz particles 3 cm high, which rested on a sintered quartz disc welded to the tube. The temperature of the furnace was controlled with a variable transformer to give a final bed temperature of 680°C. The bed was fluidized with air or mixtures of air + 10 pct v/v SO2, at a total apparent gas velocity of 60 to 65 cm per sec at 680°C. The SO2 was introduced into the fluidizing air stream only when the oxidation of the sulfides was completed. At the end of the roasting period the calcine was leached with boiling water and the

Jan 1, 1964

By Ronald W. Utley

INTRODUCTION The ''Do's and Don'ts" of installing equipment in a comminution circuit begin during the study stage of a proposed project, continue through preliminary engineering, detail engineering, procurement, the actual placement of equipment at the job site, and end with turnover to the owner. Equipment supplied for a modern comminution circuit will be high quality, rugged machinery designed according to appropriate manufacturing standards for long hours of trouble-free service. However, certain precautions and procedures must be observed in plant design and layout, equipment handling, installing and servicing in order to obtain optimum performance. This chapter contains general installation "DO'S and Don'ts" for the major equipment in the circuit. •Primary Gyratory Crushers •Rock Breakers (Hammer) •Belt Conveyors •Apron Feeders •Weigh Belt Scales •Secondary Crushers •Vibrating Screens •Grinding Mills •Mill Liners •Open Gear Sets •Speed Reducers •Electric Motors •Cyclones •Slurry Pumps Some questions will not be covered in this chapter, or may not be applicable to the actual equipment purchased, as requirements do vary from manufacturer to manufacturer. Additional specific information can be obtained by contacting the manufacturer's local representative or the factory. All inquiries should be accompanied by the following information: •Unit size and type of equipment •Manufacturer's shop order number (after order placement) •Serial number (after manufacture) DO'S 8 DON'TS FOR INSTALLATION OF ALL COMMINUTION CIRCUIT EQUIPMENT Installation By Design DO obtain tables of weights and clearances from manufacturer. DO obtain WR2 forces from manufacturer to determine that the foundation is adequate. DO determine compression strength of foundation soil and/or rock. DO obtain manufacturer's recommended typical foundation drawings. If substantial alteration to manufacturer's drawings is required, check with the manufacturer before proceeding.

Jan 1, 1982

By Benj. F. Tillson

To most mine operators, it seems evident that there is a drill-steel problem, although under certain conditions the amount of drill-steel breakage does not appear serious. What is at fault? It may be one or a combination of circumstances. The development of rock drills to the hammer-drill type in place of the old reciprocating piston drill, probably is one important cause for the greater steel breakage. Perhaps the manufacturers of drill steel have failed to realize what alloys are needed for this new service or have overlooked the changes in the art of rock drilling. Although suitable alloys are provided, they may not be SO handled in the manufacturing process as to be in the best condition to withstand the demands of rock drilling. The mine operator may be at fault in desiring to use the smallest possible drill-steel section in order that the gage of the drill bits may be correspondingly small and the amount of footage drilled per unit of labor may be greater; or the black-smithshop practice at the mines may need improvement. The miner who uses the drill steel may also require more intensive supervision and education. Again, the manufacturer of rock drills may have failed to study the types of blows the steel alloys will withstand satisfactorily and which their tools are delivering and so he may not know whether or not a different design of rock drill would equal or excel their present drilling speeds without treating the drill steel so severely. All of these hypotheses probably have their supporters. On the other hand, perhaps we are seeking too much service from drill steel and we need a fuller realization of the fatigue strains developed and should prepare to relieve these by a periodic heat treatment of the steels. However, we do not find any proof that any of these suppositions may be held responsible for the drill-steel breakage attendant to mining. The proposed investigation of this matter by the U. S. Bureau of Mines is fully warranted in the promotion of the conservation of labor and material, and the safety of the workmen. The great range of field conditions, as well as the scope of the research, requires the energetic cooperative support of many interests. Various manufacturers of steel,

Jan 1, 1922

By R. H. Heyer, J. L. Bray, M. E. Carruthers

It is well known that iron markedly improves the physical properties and casting characteristics of aluminum bronzes. The use of 1 to 4 per cent iron as the principal modifying addition has become common practice in many foundries melting aluminum bronzes. Although the beneficial effects of iron are unquestioned, there is some uncertainty regarding the structural changes caused by it in the basic copper-aluminum system. It is agreed that a new constituent appears in abundance when the iron content reaches 2 to 4 per cent. This constituent, which frequently occurs in shapes resembling clover leaves, is sometimes assumed to be an aluminum-iron intermetallic compound. If this were correct we might expect a change in the structural relationships of the matrix in the direction of decreased aluminum content. On the other hand, it has been reported that iron has a negligible effect in altering the fundamental relationships of copper-aluminum alloys1 Others2'3 have reported an additive coefficient. Apparently it will be necessary to know the equilibrium relationships between the phases of the copper-aluminum-iron alloy system to establish any such theory as fact. When this has been done it may very well be that a further revision in the structural relationships may be necessary to describe the changes to be expected in commercial cast alloys. It was with this latter problem before them that the authors attempted to determine the change in the copper-aluminum relations with respect to iron. Objects of the Investigation In certain investigations carried out by the authors for a plant producing a large tonnage of cast aluminum bronzes the structures

Jan 1, 1936

By D. R. Parrish, T. M. Geffen, R. A. Morse, G. W. Haynes

Flow tests on small core plugs have indicated that a large amount of gas is trapped and not recovered by water flooding a gas sand. Instead of I to 15 per cent pore space, as is usually assumed, the residual gas saturation is 15 to 50 per cent pore space, and is thus of the same magnitude as residual oil after water flooding oil sands. A thorough investigation was made to ascertain that large amounts of residual gas actually remain in reservoirs after a water flood and that this condition is not merely a laboratory phenomenon. In field experiments, the amount of gas left in a watered-out gas sand was measured by use of a pressure core barrel and the residual gas saturation of two watered-out gas sands was determined by electric log evaluation. In the laboratory, an investigation was made of factors that could possibly cause the value of residual gas saturation as measured on small core plugs to differ from that in the reservoir, and the effect of these factors on the amount of residual gas saturation was studied. The factors studied include flooding rate, static pressure, temperature, sample size and saturation conditions before flooding All evidence established that a relatively high gas saturation is trapped in water flooded gas sands and that this residual gas saturation can be measured in the laboratory by tests on small core plugs. INTRODUCTION There. has been general agreement among engineers that very high recovery of gas could be obtained from natural reservoirs By water displacement. Gas recoveries of 80 to 95 per cent of the original gas in place have become the normal expectation in water drive fields. The assumption of high recovery has been based on: 1. low density and viscosity of gas compared with water; 2. the erroneous assumption that the flow relationship in a gas-liquid system where gas is the displaced phase will be the same as when it is the displacing phase. It has long been recognized that gas can flow at very low gas saturations (in the range of 1 to 15 per cent pore space) in systems where liquid is being displaced by gas. By assuming the reversibility of this process, the conclusion was reached that the residual gas saturation following water flooding of a gas reservoir would be the qame (1 to 15 per cent) as that at which gas first flowed continuously as a displacing phase. Recent laboratory relative permeability Studies have demonstrated that the flow characteristics are very different in gas-liquid systems, depending on whether gas is displacing or being displaced by, a liquid. Also, it has been shown that there is no difference between the flow characteristics of oil and water or gas and water in water wet porous rocks. The residual gas saturation that can be expected following water flooding of a gas reservoir then would be in the same range as the residual oil saturation normally expected after water flooding an oil reservoir! i.e., in the range of 15 to 50 per cent pore space, depending on the rock characteristics. Obviously, such a difference in residual gas saturation means very important differences in recoverable gas reserves from water drive reservoirs. For example, if the original gas saturation in a field were 70 per cent, and the residual gas following flooding were 35 per cent, only half of the gas in place could be recovered by complete water drive, compared to the previously expected 80 to 95 per cent. This is a situation in which complete pressure maintenance could result in very greatly reduced recovery, since straight pressure depletion recoveries from gas reservoirs can approach 80 to 90 per cent. Such a change in thinking must be based on more complete information than a series of small core tests. Hence the work reported herein was undertaken with the objective of determining whether or not residual gas saturations indicated from small core relative permeability tests at atmospheric pressure and room temperature are representative of the residual gas saturations which could be expected after water flood of natural reservoirs. A study was made both through laboratory and fields tests to determine any differences in residual saturation which might be occasioned by differences in pressure, temperature, rate of flooding, and original saturation conditions. Four separate types of laboratory experiments and two field mesurements were made in this investigation. The apparatus and testing methods of each will he discussed individually. LABORATORY EXPERIMENTS, APPARATUS AND PROCEDURE Relative Permeability Tests Steady state flow experiments Here conducted using the Penn State type apparatus. The equipment used has beer (described in a previous publication? "Irreducible" water satu-ration was established in the core' by imposing ,a capillary pressure of 45 psi before simultaneous flow of air and water

Jan 1, 1952

By Oswald J. Heinrich

THE great improvements which have been made in late years in the different systems and instruments used to perforate the crust of the earth for purposes of testing and exploring for mineral resources or for other reasons, by means of bore-holes of greater or less diameter and to greater or less depths, are manifold. It may therefore be of interest to make an impartial comparison of them, or of such as are most commonly used. Being well aware of the difficulties which are encountered in such a task, a reasonable allowance must be made in such a comparison. It is a rare instance when even two decidedly different systems or instruments have been used in the same locality, penetrating identically the same strata to the same depth. The diameter of a borehole as well as its greater or less depth must also be considered in regard to its cost per foot, etc. But for practical purposes, for ex¬ploration at least, we may assert this rule Any borehole, of whatever diameter, which allows the means of examining the strata most carefully and completely, will be sufficient for this purpose, but that one which will do it most economically and in the least space of time, must be considered the best for it. It will, therefore, partially depend upon circumstances, what system, in spite of other superiorities, may be the best in each case, and the following remarks may aid in deciding this question. To make the attempt here to review all that has been published upon the different systems and means of boring would be out of place. Reference can be had to the able publications treating upon this subject. A difference in this respect exists in regard to the use of the hollow rods in connection with the diamond drill, used for that purpose. The great future, which appears to be evident for this instrument, will be warrant enough for any one, who has had the opportunity to test it, to give his experience to the public. Only in this way can we bring this system to such perfection, as it seems to deserve and * The drawings illustrating this paper are one-half the size of the tools represented, with the exception of the instrument used to reverse the current in the bore-hole (Fig. 17), which is one-third the actual size.

Jan 1, 1874

By Harry L. Washburn, Robert L. Llewellyn, W. J. Halvorsen

Many of the problems that occur in the preparation plant originate from practices in the mine. Impurities in raw coal can be in the seam itself or from extraneous material taken in mining from the roof or bottom. In the case of underground mines, the choice of mining equipment will affect the size consist and the amount of extraneous material included with the coal. Also, governmental regulations concerning the degree of rock dusting, gobbing underground, and cleanup have increased the dirt in raw coal. Sulfur dioxide emission standards, on the other hand, are pressuring the coal industry to clean coal more thoroughly. Coal supplied for coking purposes is nearly all upgraded by washing, while for the largest market, electric power generation, a high proportion is shipped as a raw product with processing, in whole or in part, only necessary when excess impurities are mined with the coal. This chapter will deal primarily with plants that process or wash coal to some extent (Fig. 1) and only incidentally with mines shipping raw run-of-mine coal crushed to a top size of, usually, 51 to 102 mm (2 to 4 in.), with little, if any, other treatment. JUSTIFICATION FOR COAL PREPARATION During the past decade, major changes have occurred affecting the market, profit, and long-range planning of the coal industry. Mining companies have become "partners" with consumers at many new and some old mines, both for steam and metallurgical coals. Coal properties have become "assigned" tonnages at mutually agreed upon conditions and prices. Lower unit-train tariffs have been instrumental in helping coal markets to compete against oil and nuclear energy. Coal prices for power plants are still on a Btu (British thermal unit)

Jan 1, 1981

By Robert Goodrich

THERE is a small area about Murray where bedded gold quartz veins occur in Prichard slate. The ore taken from the upper levels, during the early days, was free milling and was treated by stamp milling and amalgamation. There was likewise a considerable placer working. The report is current that tungsten (scheelite) was encountered, which interfered with the amalgamation in the stamp mills and which, in placering, collected in the riffles in the sluice boxes and. clogged them. Consequently, in the quartz mines, the scheelite, when encountered, was rejected, being thrown into the waste, sometimes inside the mine and at other times outside on the clump. The free surface ores became worked out and as the ore in depth became pyritic and rebellious to amalgamation the mines closed down. Last spring tungsten ore brought a high price, near $80 per unit, 60 per cent. W03 and up. This so stimulated the output of tungsten ore that old clumps were explored and waste stored in the mines was gone over. Tungsten was likewise mined from virgin ground. So the district produced quite heavily for a time. The condition now is different. The price is not so high, about $20 per unit W03, which makes profits questionable when mining in new ground. The accumulations from early clay mining have been exhausted and the output has greatly declined. The Golden Chest mine was the heaviest producer of tungsten. The months of June and July were spent at this mine studying the problem. Since the mine had produced both gold and tungsten, we looked forward to the problem of recovering both from what might be called a gold-tungsten ore. A study of the Golden Chest vein showed this not to be so there. While gold ore and tungsten ore come from the same vein, the tungsten ore is confined to a more or less disturbed or distorted portion

Jan 8, 1917

FOREWORD A SERIES of papers on strategic and otherwise important mineral products was prepared some ten years ago under the joint auspices of the Committee on Foreign and Domestic Mining Policy of the Mining and Metallurgical Society of America and the Committee on Industrial Preparedness of the American Institute of Mining and Metallurgical Engineers. These papers were later published in a joint volume entitled International Control of Minerals (1925). Amongst them was one on manganese. The Subcommittee on Manganese prepared its paper in two forms. One was intended for inclusion with the series above referred to and approached its subject more particularly as an international problem. The other dealt more definitely with manganese as an element in the problem of national defense. This last was first written under date of January 24, 1924 as a confidential report, for and at the request of the War Department. It was later released and published, in slightly modified form, as a separate pamphlet by the Industrial Preparedness Committee of the American Institute of Mining and Metallurgical Engineers. After the lapse of eight years, in view of the vital position of manga-nese in the problem of industrial preparedness against a war emergency, the War Department made a request to have the conclusions of 1924 reviewed and brought up to date. To comply with this request the manganese subcommittee was reconvened (with a somewhat changed personnel) and exhaustive studies were once more made of the entire subject of manganese. A new report, with specific recommendations, was submitted to the War Department in February, 1932. This second report is now herewith released for publication. Certain specific conclusions and recommendations as expressed to the War Department are omitted. Otherwise the report stands as prepared and submitted by the manganese subcommittee of 1931. The members of this committee were: C. Minot Weld, Chairman, R. C. Allen, Arthur S. Dwight, J. W. Furness, D. F. Hewett, Reno H. Sales, Theodore Swann and Scott Turner. ARTHUR S. DWIGHT, Chairman, Committee on Industrial Preparedness.

Jan 1, 1933

By R. L. Rickett, S. H. Kalin, J. T. Mackenzie

Aluminum killed low carbon steel, § which is now used extensively for severe deep drawing or other difficult forming operations, is unusual in that its grain structure, after cold reduction and box annealing in accordance with conventional continuous sheet or strip mill practice, often is elongated, although at times it is equiaxed. Since this unusual structure has been found superior for many, but not all, severe forming operations, recrystallization of the steel, both at constant temperature and on continuous heating, was investigated and compared with that of rimmed steel in the hope that something might be learned about the mechanism of, and the factors controlling, the formation of such elongated grains. In this structure, the grains are elongated both in the lengthwise direction of the strip and transverse to this direction, even though nearly all of the extension in both hot and cold rolling is in the lengthwise direction. The grains are thus roughly pancake-shaped, being longer and wider than they are thick, as observed also by Burns and McCabe,1 and as illustrated by the typical structures shown in Fig 1. Fig la, representing a conventional longitudinal section, shows the length and thickness of the grains, whereas Fig Ib shows their length and width as seen by examining a section parallel to the sheet surface. Both illustrate the very irregular grain boundaries usually associated with the elongated grain shape. A finer equiaxed grain structure in this same grade is shown in Fig Ic. Either the elongated or the equiaxed structure may be present in the annealed product, and in rare instances the two types may coexist in a single specimen, as shown in Fig 1 d. Isothermal Recrystalliza-tion of Rimmed and Alamimum Killed Steel An aluminum killed steel known to have an elongated grain structure after conventional processing (Steel B, Table l), was selected for the initial recrystallization studies; for comparison, a rimmed steel, A in Table 1, was used. Samples of each in the form of hot rolled strip 0.075 and 0.095 in. thick, respectively, were cold rolled on a small laboratory mill in steps of about 0.010 in. per pass to obtain total reductions of 40 and 60 pct. Small pieces of the cold reduced strip were heated in lead at selected constant temperatures for one of several periods of time, then cooled in air. Rate of heating in the lead was, of course, very fast. Hardness of the cooled specimen was measured and a longitudinal section examined metallographically. Isothermal recrystallization curves for these two steels at 1050°F, based on hardness of the air cooled specimens, are shown in Fig 2 in which the amount of recrystallization corresponding to each plotted point is indicated. The marked difference in the behavior of these two types of steel is evident. After a corresponding amount of cold reduction, the rimmed steel recrys-tallizes in a much shorter time than the killed steel and the shape of its recrystallization curve, (plotted on a logarithmic time scale), is very different. The curve for rimmed steel indicates that recrystallization is analogous to isothermal transformation of aus-i.enite in that it proceeds at a progressively faster rate up to some 50 pct recrystallization, then at an increasingly slower rate. For the aluminum killed steel, however, the start of

Jan 1, 1950

By W. K. Lewis

During the last decade the petroleum refinery engineer has made great progress in achieving a better understanding of the physical behavior of hydrocarbon mixtures, with particular reference to their pressure-temperature-volume relationships, the mechanism of the evaporation of liquids, the condensation of vapors, including the changes in composition, and the heat effects accompanying them. With the new insight into the mechanism of movement of oil and gas through the formations in which they occur, achieved by the production engineer, it is clear that the latter will need to utilize in the solution of his own problems much of the information outlined above. It is the purpose of this paper to outline the portions of that information that seem most certain to prove of importance in production work. Properties of Pure Hydrocarbons While it is true that petroleum always consists of highly complex mixtures of hydrocarbons, none the less understanding of the behavior of the mixture must be based upon a knowledge of the properties of the pure components. However, in view of the tremendous number of hydrocarbons existing in petroleum, the determination and formulation of the properties of all of them would seem a discouraging task. The difficulty of the situation is increased by the undoubted facts that the overwhelming majority of chemical individuals in petroleum have never been isolated as pure compounds, none of their physical properties have been determined and even their chemical constitution is unknown. The situation would be hopeless were it not for the fact that certain extraordinary correlations of important properties of various hydrocarbons have been discovered which make it possible to predict those properties for a given chemical individual on the basis of a very limited characterization of it. Thus one can predict the vapor-pressure curve of an unknown hydrocarbon over a considerable range from the knowledge of a

Jan 1, 1934

By Ramesh Malhotra, Hubert E. (Deceased) Risser

THE WORLD Coal, as a source of energy and as a source of coke for the smelting of iron ore, has contributed significantly to the development of every major industrial nation of the world A number of other materials-oil, natural gas, wood, waste materials, water, and, in some applications, nuclear materials -can be used satisfactorily for the generation of heat and energy, but no generally acceptable and economic substitute has been found to supplant coke in iron ore smelting in conventional blast furnaces. In the development of many nations, coal provided the initial source of energy for industrialization Although coal provided more than 60% of the world's energy each year between 1902 and 1929, oil and natural gas have surpassed it as a source of energy in more recent years (Ref. 38, pp. 439, 441). Despite the rapid rise in importance of other fuels, a considerable amount of the total energy consumed is still supplied by coal. In 1972, coal supplied 32.1 % of the total world energy (Ref. 49, pp. 2-3). To produce this energy, 2.4 billion metric tons of coal were consumed-a 16.0% increase over the amount consumed in 1962. A further worldwide increase in the amount of coal used to supply energy is projected. According to Dr. Karlheinz Bund (Ref. 37, p 145), by the year 2000 world coal consumption could amount to 5 billion mt. Coal Resources and Production The world's coal resources are estimated to be about 10,872 billion mt. Of this amount, 1,297 billion mt are classified as measured reserves (Ref. 50, p. 57). In Table 13.A.1 the estimates of measured reserves and total resources, recent production, and the ratio of measured reserves to production of major coal-producing countries are shown. About 90% of the world's total coal resources are estimated to be in the USSR, the United States, and China. The United States ranks second in the world in coal resources, but in measured reserves, it ranks first. Because of the difference in rate at which available coal resources are being exploited, the ratio of measured reserves to actual production varies widely among areas and countries. France and East Germany have the lowest reserve to production ratios, 49.5 and 60.1, respectively. In Mexico, where currently less than 5 million mtpy of coal are produced, the ratio is 1257 For all countries producing more than 200 million mtpy of coal (except East Germany), the ratio ranges from 350 to 670. For the United States, the ratio is 669.7. In Table 13.A.2, distribution of the world's coal resources by area is shown. More than 97% of the total resources lie in the northern hemisphere, with Asia, including European USSR, having 63.4%. Only 1.9% of the total coal resources are estimat-

Jan 1, 1976