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By P. M. Robinson, J. S. LI. Leach

The heats of solution oj' indiurrr, tin, lend, nrzd tellurium have been calculated from the measured heat effects when mechanical mixtres of indium and telLuium tin and tellurium, and lead and tellurium were added to liquid bismuth. The results are in good agreement xith publislzed values.s for the separate sollction of each eleltzent in bismuth. The heats oj solution of cadmium and tellurium calculated from the rneasuved heat effects on adding trechanical mixtures of these elements do not ugree zc,itl the published values jbv the separate solution of each element. It is shown that at 623°K Ile interaction between cadmium and tellurium dissolved in liquid bismuth is strong enough to led lo preciPitation of solid CdTc. The heats oj- jor-mation of CdTe at 273" nd 623°K (1)-c crilculated fi-or the measured heat ejlfecls. The calcnlaled az'erage deviation from the Kopp-l\'ez?,zunrz rule fov solid CdTe is less than 0.06 cat per g-atom- C over this lertzperalure range. Tlze importance 0.f these oDserl.ations to the determination of heals of formation hy metal solution calorimetry is considered. LIQUID metal solution calorimetry is a convenient method for determining the heats of formation of solid compounds. In this technique the heat of formation is the difference between the measured heat effects on dissolution of the compounds and of mechanical mixtures of the components in the liquid metal.' The heat of solution of the mechanical mixture may be calculated from the measured heat effect. At infinite dilution of the solutes, this heat of solution is equal to the sum of the heats of solution of the separate components. If the heat of solution of one of the components is known, the value for the other can be derived; if both are known, they may be used to check the accuracy of the calorimetric technique. The heats of formation of the tellurides of cadmium, indium, tin, and lead have recently been measured by metal solution alorimetr. The heats of solution of indium, tin, lead, and tellurium at infinite dilution in liquid bismuth at 623"K, calculated from the measured heat effects on solution of the mechanical mixtures, are in good agreement with the published values. The heats of solution of cadmium and of tellurium calculated from the measured heat effect on solution in bismuth at 623'K of mechanical mixtures of cadmium and tellurium, however, do not agree with values estimated from the literature. 1) EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE AND RESULTS The Heats of Solution of Indium, Tin, Lead, and Tellurium in Bismuth. The heat effects were measured when mechanical mixtures corresponding to the compounds In,Te, InTe, In2Te3, In2Te5, SnTe, and PbTe were dissolved in bismuth. The calorimetric procedure and the method of calculation have been described elsewhere.' The heats of solution of the mechanical mixtures were obtained by subtracting the change in heat content per gram-atom of the sample between the addition temperature (273°K) and the bath temperature (623"K), (H623°K - H273°K)S, from the measured heat effects. The calorimeter was calibrated with pure bismuth. The reported values of the measured heat effects are based on (HGoK - ^273oK)Bi = 4.96 kcal per g-atom.3 The measured heat effects are found to be linear functions of the solute concentrations of the bath in the dilute solution range. The values, extrapolated to infinite dilution, are listed in Table I, together with the heats of solution of the mechanical mixtures calculated using the published values of (H 623°K - H273°k)s for indium, tin, lead,3 and tellrium. All the error limits quoted in this work represent the spread of values obtained. The heats of solution in liquid bismuth at 623°K of mechanical mixtures of indium and tellurium in four different proportions were determined. Values of the heats of solution of the two components were then calculated from the resulting four simultaneous equations: The heats of solution at infinite dilution of tin and lead in liquid bismuth at 623°K were calculated from the heats of solution of the mechanical mixtures of tin and tellurium and of lead and tellurium using the heat of solution of tellurium calculated above. These values of the heats of solution are listed in Table I1 together with some published values for comparison.

Jan 1, 1967

MISCELLANEOUS U.S. 0,029,598 - Extraction of vanadium values from vanadiferous iron oxide ore. A pelletized mixture of ore, limestone and bentonite is roasted in an oxidizing atmosphere to form calcium vanadates, the calcine ground, the ground material leached with aqueous ammonium carbonate or sodium carbonate to produce a vanadium-rich solution while leaving an insoluble residue of calcium carbonate and/or calcium bicarbonate along with undissolved iron values, and the solution separated and treated for its vanadium content. This patent is a reissue of U.S. Patent No. 3,853,982, dated Dec. 10, 1974. C. B. Bare and J. W. Pasquali, assigned to Bethlehem Steel Corp. Mar. 28, 1978. 7 pp. (423-68). Filed: 3-3 1-77 (783,352).

Jan 1, 1979

By David A. Milligan

This paper outlines the research and development of a process to treat flotation tailings from the Darwin mill in lnyo County, California. A flowsheet was developed incorporating an agglomerated heap leach process using sodium cyanide to extract the silver values. Agglomeration was the key to developing this resource as the mill tailings averaged only 13% plus 100 mesh. Percolation through the heap would have been impossible without agglomeration to improve the permeability. The various tests that went into this research program are described with particular emphasis on the agglomeration techniques developed at the Anaconda Minerals Research Center. Start up and operation are discussed.

Jan 1, 1984

By W. E. Keck

THE flotative properties of the principal minerals in Michigan's potential iron ores have been investigated to develop methods of bene-ficiation for the ores. One of these minerals, magnetite, is of considerable importance as a source of iron. Study of its flotation was similar to that of hematite1, another iron mineral in these potential ores. The present research consisted essentially of: (1) a survey of the literature on mag-netite flotation, (2) the preparation of pure magnetite, (3) the develop-ment of laboratory procedure and (4) flotation experimentation. Literature an Magnetite Flotation.-For the purpose of this discussion, the results of previous work on the flotation of magnetite can be sum-marized as follows. The mineral has been floated with pine oil2, and it has also been separated from synthetic mixtures with silicates by the use of the same reagent2. Magnetite and apatite in iron-ore slimes have been separated by flotation of apatite with sodium palmitate3. These data were utilized in the present investigation. Preparation of Magnetite.-The pure mineral was prepared from the magnetic-separator concentrate of an iron ore (obtained from the Wither-bee Sherman Corporation, Port Henry, N. Y.). This concentrate was slowly comminuted with laboratory rolls and pulverizer to pass 65 mesh and was then tabled several times. Tabling yielded a relatively coarse magnetite concentrate, tailing and slimes. The two latter materials were rejected insofar as the present work is concerned, and treatment of the magnetite (table concentrate) was continued by separating it into -65 + 200 and -200-mesh sizes. Separation of the sizes was made by first dry screening and then wet screening. The -200-mesh material was rejected to eliminate possible introduction of error into flotation

Jan 1, 1937

By W. J. Babyak

The habit planes for hydride precipitation in large grains of alpha zirconium and Zircaloy-4 were determined in specimens containing 161 and 136 ppm hydrogen, respectively. In zirconium, the hydride platelets precipitated on various pyramidal planes inclined to the basal plane at angles ranging from 10 to 50 deg and 75 to 90 deg. Hydrides were most frequent at inclinations of about 20 deg and 90 deg. In Zircaloy-4, hydride plates were inclined to the basal plane at angles vanging from 5 to 25 deg with the predominant inclinatioiz equal to 12 deg; no platelets were found near the prism plane position. In both zircoinium and Zir-caloy-4, hydrides were principally, but not exclusively, parallel to (1011) type planes. When the Zircaloy-4 gmins were subjected to tension stresses of 12,100 psi and 19,400 psi during hydride precipitation, the hydride habit was unchanged except that precipitation favored those habit planes which were inore nearly perpendicular to the stress direction. The stress-orientatioiz effect increased with the magnitude of the stress. THE hydride habit plane in a zirconium has been determined by several investigators. Langeron and Lehr1 in 1956 found platelets parallel to (1010) slip planes. In 1962, Westlake and Fisher2 confirmed these findings and showed that hydride precipitation on twin planes, as reported by Kunz and Bibb,3 was probably due to incomplete removal of worked metal from specimen surfaces. Secondary habit planes, ( 1011) and (1015), were also found by Westlake and Fisher under particular charging conditions where a hydride layer may have existed at the hydrogenation temperature. Most recently, walters4 and westlake5 again observed the (1010) habit exclusively in zirconium. Louthan and hgermans have reported that hydrides precipitate on various ( 101l ) and (112l) planes positioned 31.5 to 90 deg to the basal plane in Zircaloy-2. The present investigation was concerned with the hydride habit in Zircaloy-4 in relation to that in zirconium and the possible change in habit when precipitation occurs under stress. The latter consideration was prompted by the stress-orientation phenomenon originally reported by Marshall and Louthan.7, 8 I) EXPERIMENTAL Materials and Specimens. Chemical analyses of all materials are given in Table I. The zirconium specimen was a 1 by 4 in. section cut from wrought crystal bar that was hot-rolled at 790°C to 0.300 in. and cold-rolled to a final thickness of 0.095 in. All surfaces were mechanically polished and then chemically polished with a solution of H2O, HNO3, and HF (10:10:l by volume) prior to annealing. Grains as long as 0.25 in. were grown by thermally cycling the specimen three times (in 10-5 mm Hg vacuum) between 825" and 1000°C at approximately 125°C per hr. The specimen was isothermally annealed at 825°C for 24, 40, and 120 hr after each cy-

Jan 1, 1968

Discussion of the paper of A. P. WATT, presented at the St. Louis meeting, October, 1917, and printed in Bulletin No. 130, October, 1917, pp. 1476 to 1563. THE CHAIRMAN (0. M. _BILHARZ, Miami, Okla.).-Mr. Watt's reference to sorting or hand-picking of the ore in the lead district, which is being introduced at Mine La Motte, is especially interesting. I believe, from my former experience in the district, that hand-picking should be practised to some extent by all the companies in the Lead Belt. I know that a great many thousand tons containing only very small amounts of lead are passed through the mills, which, of course, is not to the advantage of milling machinery. That procedure may be Warranted at times of high prices, but I think that hand-picking should ordinarily be adopted to some extent: ERNEST GAYFORD, Salt Lake City, Utah.-On page 1525, speaking of the settling of slime previous to treatment either on slime tables or by flotation, Mr. Watt states: "The settling area allowed per ton of dry slime varies from 11 to 16 sq. ft.-an average for the district would be about 13 sq. ft. of settling area per ton of dry slime. This figure applies when the, discharge contains 20 per cent. solids." Mr. Ramsey, of the Dorr company, is here and I would like to ask him whether a settling area of 13 sq. ft. per ton of dry slime per 24 hr. is not considerably above the average area of Dorr settling tanks, and whether 20 per cent. solids is not above the general dilution for that' capacity? I should also like to know what is the general average on slimes of that character. E. R. RAMSEY, Denver, Colo.-An allowance of 13 sq. ft. per ton does seem rather large. I am not familiar with the settling characteristics of the dolomitic gangue, but as an average over the country, I should say that 6 or 7 sq. ft. would be nearer correct for discharge at that consistency. L. A. DELANO, Bowie Terre, Mo.-We have had an opportunity to try our tanks at the highest capacity, and-find that by thickening the slime to 30 per cent. solids we average 12 sq. ft. per ton of dry slime. ERNEST GAYFORD.-DO you find any definite ratio between the thickness of the discharge and the settling capacity of the tank? Do you consider that the tank has a larger capacity if the discharge is 3 to 1 than if it is 50 per cent. solids? L. A. DELANO.-I think it has greater capacity with the thinner discharge. It depends a good deal on the density of feed to the tanks; in our case the feed contains 2.5 per cent. solids.

Jan 1, 1918

By A. S. Richardson

AIR conditioning, or air cooling, for the improvement of ventilation in the Butte mines has come into increasing use during the past 10 years. In part, the methods practiced have been described in previous publications of the Institute, but some improvements on earlier methods have been made and a number of new features have been developed. This paper is presented as a record of progress made, and for the sake of completeness describes all general features of the work. The need for air conditioning in the ventilation of mines in the district arises from the fact that the temperature of the ground and mine water has shown a very great increase with increase in mining depth, and has now reached a maximum of slightly over 130ºF. The most difficult part of the ventilation problem is the maintenance of temperature and humidity of a satisfactory standard in the working places, especially on the lower levels. Although ordinary ventilation is adequate to maintain good conditions in most of the working places it is subject to a number of limitations at great depth. Most important among these limitations is that with increase in depth the air becomes heated before it reaches the working places, both by compression from increase in atmospheric pressure and by heat transferred to it from rock at high temperature, so that its capacity for lowering temperatures is greatly reduced before it reaches the operating zone. Increasing depth of mining also increases the distance traveled by the air in its passage through the mine, and this causes a corresponding increase in resistance to air flow, so that there is greater difficulty in maintaining even the same volume in circulation. Thus, in the face of a demand that the ventilating system have a very much greater capacity to remove heat from the mine, the tendency is for that capacity to diminish. The only evident alternatives were (I) the opening of additional air shafts to increase the volume of air in circulation, (2) an extension of the existing system that would be subject to the same limitations, or (3) the adoption of an entirely different method such as air cooling. Fortunately for an economic solution of the problem, the mean annual temperature of the surface atmosphere at Butte is about 40°F., with very low relative humidity in summer, so that there is unlimited natural cooling power at a temperature range adaptable to air-conditioning methods. METHODS Two similar methods of air conditioning are used, as necessitated by service requirements and dependent upon the equipment available. In one, which is the more important and has the greater cooling capacity, water is circulated in a closed circuit, and, alternately, first absorbs heat from warm mine air and then dissipates it in the surface atmosphere by cooling at a cooling tower. The second

Jan 1, 1941

By L. W. Page

PREVIOUS to the introduction of the motor vehicle the broken stone or macadam road met the conditions of rural horse-drawn traffic better than any other type of road, but under fast motor traffic it has been proved to be quite unsatisfactory, and necessitates high maintenance charges. Such a road depends for its success upon the fact that the rock dust fills the voids between the stones and acts as a cement or binder. Under ideal conditions it should be constructed of rock so suited to the volume and character of horse traffic that only enough fine dust is worn from the stones of which the road is composed to take the place of that carried off by wind and rain; and when these conditions are met, the fine dust resulting from the wear. of traffic forms with the stone a smooth, impervious shell, shedding the surface water and protecting the foundation. With increase in the number and speed of motor vehicles, however, it was soon found that the cost of maintenance also increased, until at the present day highway engineers consider the old method of constructing and maintaining broken-stone roads increasingly inadequate, and are introducing every known type of binding material other than rock dust to cement the stone together. Among the most prominent types of products in use are those produced from our various petroleums. That the value of modern methods of road preservation was appre¬ciated in this country much earlier than we have been accustomed to believe is demonstrated by the recent revival of an old patent which was granted to one John Martineau, of Elbridge, N. Y., in 1834. Petroleum had, of course, not been discovered at that time, but he claims as his invention and improvement "The application of tar, turpentine, or any of that class of tenacious, cohesive substances, reduced before use to a fluid state, and that state used as a cement, to apply to, and combine with sand, gravel, pebbles, and pulverized stone, such as is used for a Mc-Adam road, or cobble stone, the interstices of coarser material being in all cases filled, as well as may be, with sand and gravel and cemented with tar or turpentine, to form the wearing face or surface of streets,

Jan 2, 1914

By R. Al-Hussainy, P. B. Crawford, H. J. Ramey

The effect of variations of pressure-dependent viscosity and gas law deviation factor on the flow of real gases through porous media has been considered. A rigorous gas flow equation was developed which is a second order, non-linear partial differential equation with variable coeficients. This equation was reduced by a change of variable to a form similar to the diffusivity equation, but with potential-dependent diffusivity. The change of variable can be used as a new pseudo-pressure for gas flow which replaces pressure or pressure-squared as currently applied to gas flow. Substitution of the real gas pseudo-pressure has a nrtmber of important consequences. First, second degree pressure gradient terms which have commonly been neglected under the assumption that the pressure gradient is small everywhere in the flow system, are rigorously handled. Omission of second degree terms leads to verious errors in estimated pressure distributions for tight formations. Second, flow equations in terms of the real gas pseudo-pressure do not contain viscosity or gas law deviation factors, and thus avoid the need for selection of an average pressure to evaluate physical properties. Third, the real gas pseudo-pressure can be determined numerically in term of pseudo-reduced pressures and temperatures from existing physical property correlations to provide generally useful information. The real gas pseudo-pressure was determined by numerical integration and is presented in both tabular and graphical form in this paper. Finally, production of real gas can be correlated in terms of the real gas pseudo-pressure and shown to be similar to liquid flow as described by diffusivity equation solutions. Applications of the real gas pseudo-pressnre to radial flow systems under transient, steady-state or approximate pseudo-steady-state injection or production have been considered. Superposition of the linearized real gas flow solutions to generate variable rate performance was investigated and found satisfactory. This provides justification for pressure build-up testing. It is believed that the concept of the real gas pseudo-pressure will lead to improved interpretation of results of current gas well testing procedures, both steady and unsteady-state in nature, and improved forecasting of gas production. INTRODUCTION In recent years a considerable effort has been directed to the theory of isothermal flow of gases through porous media. The present state of knowledge is far from being fully developed. The difficulty lies in the non-linearity of partial differential equations which describe both real and ideal gas flow. Solutions which are available are approximate analytical solutions, graphical solutions, analogue solutions and numerical solutions. The earliest attempt to solve this problem involved the method of successions of steady states proposed by Muskat.' Approximate analytical solutions' were obtained by linearizing the flow equation for ideal gas to yield a diffusivity-type equation. Such solutions, though widely used and easy to apply to engineering problems, are of limited value bemuse of idealized assumptions and restrictions imposed upon the flow equation. The validity of linearized equations and the conditions under which their solutions apply have not been fully discussed in the literature. Approximate solutions are those of Heatherington et al.. MacRobertsl and Janicek and Katz.' A graphical solution of the linearized equation was given by Cornell and Katz. Also, by using the mean value of the time derivative in the flow equation, Rowan and Clegg' gave several simple approximate solutions. All the solutions were obtained assuming small pressure gradients and constant gas properties. Variation of gas properties with pressure has been neglected because of analytic difficulties. even in approximate analytic solutions. Green and Wilts8 used an electrical network for simulating one-dimensional flow of an ideal gas. Numerical methods using finite difference equations and digital computing techniques have been used extensively for solving both ideal and real gas equations. Aronofsky and Jenkins"I " and Bruce et al.11 gave numerical solutions for linear and radial gas flow. Douglas et al." gave a solution for a square drainage area. Aronofsky 13 included the effect of slippage on ideal gas flow. The most important contribution to the theory of flow of ideal gases through porous media was the conclusion reached by Aronofsky and Jenkins" that solutions for the liquid flow case'" could be used to generate approximate solutions for constant rate production of ideal gases. An equation describing the flow of real gases has been solved for special cases by a number of investigators using numerical methods. Aronofsky and Ferris 10 onsidered linear flow, while Aronofsky and Porter 17 considered radial gas flow. Gas properties were permitted to vary as linear functions of pressure. Recently, CarteP 18 proposed an empirical correlation by which gas well behavior can be estimated from solutions of the diffusivity equation using instantaneour values of pressure-dependent gas

Jan 1, 1967

By D. P. Harris

The construction of a model to associate probability of occurrence of some measure of mineral wealth with the geology for each subdivision (cell) of the area is postulated. The questions (1) are the observations made in reconnaissance geology sufficiently related to mineral wealth to distinguish the cells of high value from those of low value, and (2) can this geology be related mathematically to mineral wealth and probability are answered in a case study of 97,000 square miles in Arizona and New Mexico. Measurements on mineral wealth and geologic variables of 243 cells were made. The geologic variables, valued in counts, percentages and lengths, quantified the theoretical concepts of the model. It was found that multiple discriminant analysis and classification analysis by Bayesian statistics and multivariate normal probability function constitute a two-phase probability model that associates probabilities with geologic information and mineral wealth. The cells of explored area must be allotted the value class indicated by their cumulative production and estimate reserves (given well-defined geological relationships in a mineral wealth area), and a discriminant and classification analysis must be performed in which probabilities of the cell belonging to each of the value groups are generated as a function of the geologic variables. This determines whether high value cells can be distinguished from low value cells by their geology as well as indicating those cells misclassified by the model into a higher value group than warranted by their known mineral wealth. The second use of the model is for extrapolation. It is demonstrated how geologic information on an explored area can be utilized in guiding exploration in an unexplored area. Exploration decisions can be predicted on explicitly determined measures of uncertainty (the probabilities). SUMMARY This study postulates the construction of a model to associate probability of occurrence of some measure of mineral wealth with the geology for each subdivision (cell) of the area. Such a model will distinguish those cells deserving further exploration on the basis of their geology: The basic postulates of this study are as follows: v = Q(R,S,F,A) P(V) = G(R,S,F,A,V), where V = a measure of mineral wealth P(V) = the probability of occurrence of V R = age and type of rock F = rock fracturing A =age of igneous activity and contact relationships. There are really two questions to be answered: 1) are the observations made in reconnaissance geology sufficiently related to mineral wealth to distinguish the cells of high value from those of low value, and 2) can this geology be related mathematically to mineral wealth and probability? In order to answer these questions, an area of about 97,000 square miles situated chiefly in Arizona and New Mexico was selected as a case study. This case study area was divided into 243 cells, each 20 miles square, and measurements were made on mineral wealth and geologic variables. Crude geologic variables valued in counts, percentages and lengths are constructed to reflect the above postulated variables. These measurement variables thus provide quantified values defining the theoretical concepts of the model. It was found that multiple discriminant analysis and classification analysis by Bayesian statistics and the multivariate normal probability function constitute a two-phase probability model that associates probabilities with geologic information and mineral wealth. Given the availability of an area that is well explored and upon which the relationships of mineral wealth to geology can be adequately defined, there are two ways in which the analysis outlined in this paper can prove beneficial. First, the cells of the explored area must be allotted the value class indicated by their cumulative production and estimated reserves, and a discriminant and classification analysis must be performed in which probabilities of the cell belonging to each of the value groups are generated as a function of the geologic variables. Such an analysis determines whether cells of high

Jan 1, 1967

By B. H. Caudle, L. H. Silberberg

Reservoir depletion by natural water drive is typified by the movement of water from an aquifer into the adjacent oil-bearing formation. Prior studies of this type 01 water movement have generally neglected the resistance to flow in the aquifer and its effect on the movement of water into the oil bearing zone. A method for designing and operating scaled models of such reservoir systems is presented. Experimental data on a model of an edge-water-drive reservoir are shown and discussed. INTRODUCTION Most petroleum reservoirs derive at least a part of their productive capacity from water influx. This water may be injected from the surface or it may come from an aquifer adjacent to the oil zone. In either case, the reservoir engineer must be able to estimate the advance of the water as a function of either the elapsed time or the fluid produced. This paper describes a type of fluid flow model which includes the effect of viscous and gravitational forces in the reservoir and the surrounding aquifer. Natural water influx can be divided into three general (but widely overlapping) categories according to the direction of flow in the aquifer. These are shown schematically in Fig. 1. Fig. l(a) illustrates an edge-water-drive mechanism. In this case, water advances updip along the stratum but the movement of water is essentially horizontal and very little of the oil is actually underlain by water. The bottom-water drive (Fig. l(b)) is characterized by a thick aquifer underlying the oil zone. The water movement is generally vertical in the aquifer. The third category is illustrated in l(c). Referred to as the "thin oil column", this type of oil accumulation consists of oil over water in a relatively thin stratum. Fluid movement is horizontal in both the oil and water zones, except close to the producing well. One characteristic which all three of these types have in common is that part of the water flow takes place in the water invaded region of the oil reservoir while the remainder of the water flow occurs in the aquifer. The resistance to the flow of water usually will not be the same in these two regions. This occurs because the porous rock normally contains only water in the aquifer, while the water-invaded region always contains microscopic globules of bypassed oil (residual oil) which interfere with the flow of water through the rock. The production history of any type of a water-drive system is a function of two phenomena — where the water goes, and how it displaces the oil in the area invaded by the water. It is usually impractical to study these two phenomena at the same time. In most cases one type of analysis is used to predict the gross movement of water in the reservoir, while a different type of analysis is employed to determine the amount of oil to be recovered from the gross volume contacted by the water. The portion of the oil reservoir which is invaded by water is mainly a function of the resistances to fluid flow in the several parts of the flow system. This gross water influx in the three types of natural water drive typically results in water cusping to the production wells either from the side or from below (water coning). In 1747, Muskat described a greatly simplified mathematical model for predicting the area invaded by water in a bottom-water-drive reservoir.1 This model used the Laplace equation and suitable boundary conditions to describe the isopotentials and streamlines in the flow system. The use of this model assumes that (1) the reservoir rock is homogeneous in nature, (2) the oil and water mobilities are equal, (3) there is no oil flowing in the water invaded region, and (4) external forces — such as gravity — do not affect the flow. This method has been used for both natural water drives and water injection projects. In this, as in most models, the method of images is used to reduce the size of the model necessary to describe the reservoir. The assumption of equal viscosities and permea-

Jan 1, 1966

By A. C. Freeze

The first use of electric punched card accounting machines as an aid in calculating reserves at the Sullivan mine in Kimberly, B.C., was made in January, 1948. At that time their use was limited to totalling individual reserve blocks for the various reserve classes and for calculating total metal content. The immediate objective was to increase speed, improve accuracy, and to effect some savings in labor that could be employed more usefully elsewhere. It was recognized also that the potential for achieving even greater advantages was excellent. The initial experiment proved so successful that it was inevitable that the use of the method would expand. Thus, for the past nine years assay data from core hole and development headings have been processed by these machines and the results integrated with the program of calculating reserves. It was also learned that the machines could store and classify a large amount of other information concerning the mining characteristics of each reserve block in addition to tonnage and metal content. This has proven very useful for the preparation of monthly production reports as well as in long term planning, in forecasting production schedules, and in analysing the results achieved.

Jan 4, 1961

By N. Plint, E. T. Pinkney

Copper segregation developments within the Anglo American Group are described with particular reference to the work of the TORCO Project Team. Some radical differences have been adopted in the mechan-ical approach as compared with methods used by previous workers. Most important among these are the following: (1) The heating unit is a fluidized-bed roaster. (2) A moving bed segregation chamber is used in which a packed bed of heated ore, to which reagents have been added, moves slowly downwards under gravity and is discharged at a controlled rate by means of a suitable valve mechanism. (3) The quantities of reagents used (sodium chloride and some form of carbon) are only a small fraction of those recommended by other investigators. (4) Retention times of only 2 min have been satisfactory for the complete segregation of many types of ore. Project TORCO is the code name given by Anglo American Corp. of South Africa, Ltd., to the investigation undertaken in Zambia to develop a plant capable of treating large tonnages of refractory copper-bearing ores by the segregation process. The process has now been under investigation for six years (1960-66) and during that period work has progressed from bench-scale laboratory tests through small-scale pilot-plant work to a 500-tpd commercial pilot unit. Test work has been carried out mainly on the ores of the Zambian Copperbelt and results have been encouraging. Recoveries on the order of 90% have been obtained on all Copperbelt ores tested with high concentrate grades. PRELIMINARY INVESTIGATION Laboratory scale segregation test work on Nchanga banded sandstone ore and oxidized ore from Kansan-shi was originally conducted by Professor Maurice Rey. SociCtC Miniere et Mktallurgique de Pefiarroya, in 1957. Both ores responded favorably to the process. In November, 1960, the consulting engineers of Anglo American Corp. of South Africa, Ltd., initiated preliminary investigations on the application of the segregation process to Copperbelt ores. In early laboratory work, samples were heated in a closed, externally heated tube furnace for one hour at temperatures ranging from 800 to 830°C. The free moisture content of the ore feed was 4% and reagent additions were 0.5% salt and 1.0% coal. Both salt and coal were pre-crushed to -48 mesh Tyler.* All samples except an ore from the Bancroft mine responded well to the process and recoveries of over 90% were obtained. The presence of dolomite was responsible for the relatively poor recoveries from the Bancroft ore, as tests on one of the other ores with additions of calcite or dolomite confirmed. Recoveries dropped from 94 to 45% Grades of all the rougher flotation concentrates produced were low at 10-15% copper. The laboratory investigation was then followed up on a pilot-plant scale. An attempt was made to carry out the segregation process in a coal-fired 5-ft-diam fluidized-bed roaster. The feed consisted of a banded sandstone from Nchanga to which 0.5% sodium chloride had been added. Reducing conditions were maintained in the roaster by the addition of coal in excess of that required for heating the feed. The excess coal and added salt constituted the segregation reagents and the temperature of the bed was held at approximately 750°C. Recoveries of copper and grades of concentrates were low. The reasons for lack of success were: (1) The reaction is a gaseous one and a fluidized-bed roaster is therefore unsuitable as a segregation unit. (2) Coal in excess of that required for heating was introduced into the fluidized bed and under these conditions some of the copper would be reduced in situ. The term "reduced in situ" is used here to describe any copper mineral reduced to the metallic state in its original site within the ore particles. If this copper is to be recovered by subsequent froth flotation it must first be liberated from the gangue by grinding or some other method which, in practice, is usually not feasible on ores of this type.

Jan 1, 1969

By C. P. Proctor, J. B. Morrow

With numerous plans under consideration for coal classification, and with the advent of the Bituminous Coal Code, the intelligent sampling of coal has become increasingly important. To us it is rather significant that there have been very few fundamental studies of coal sampling in American technical literature since those of E. G. Bailey, which appeared in the Journal of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry in March, 1909. He covered the subject up to that time so thoroughly and in such an excellent manner that perhaps many other later students have felt that they could add very little to his findings. The recent studies of the British Engineering Standards Association have indicated the possibility of a somewhat different interpretation of Bailey's results, permitting the taking of smaller samples, and perhaps it will now be helpful to reopen this question. C. W. H. Holmes, in an informative series of articles on coal sampling recently published in Colliery Engineering, makes two rather interesting statements, as follows: It is scarcely surprising to find a lack of interest and knowledge regarding the sampling of coal not only in the mining industry itself but also among consumers of industrial fuel: at its best coal sampling is a dirty business, regarded as a nuisance and an expense by the commercial man, and usually as a nuisance and nothing else by the chemist. The writer can conceive only two classes of people who have never experienced any difficulty in obtaining representative samples of coal from wagons; those who have never tried to, and those who have never had the necessity or desire to check the accuracy of their work. The primary purpose of this paper is to present some tabulated data of the more significant results of a sampling investigation undertaken during the last four years to obtain certain fundamental data on the variables connected with coal sampling and to point out that often assumptions have been made that are not in accordance with the facts. One of the standard sampling methods states:

Jan 1, 1936

By C. P. Proctor, J. B. Morrow

With numerous plans under consideration for coal classification, and with the advent of the Bituminous Coal Code, the intelligent sampling of coal has become increasingly important. To us it is rather significant that there have been very few fundamental studies of coal sampling in American technical literature since those of E. G. Bailey, which appeared in the Journal of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry in March, 1909. He covered the subject up to that time so thoroughly and in such an excellent manner that perhaps many other later students have felt that they could add very little to his findings. The recent studies of the British Engineering Standards Association have indicated the possibility of a somewhat different interpretation of Bailey's results, permitting the taking of smaller samples, and perhaps it will now be helpful to reopen this question. C. W. H. Holmes, in an informative series of articles on coal sampling recently published in Colliery Engineering, makes two rather interesting statements, as follows: It is scarcely surprising to find a lack of interest and knowledge regarding the sampling of coal not only in the mining industry itself but also among consumers of industrial fuel: at its best coal sampling is a dirty business, regarded as a nuisance and an expense by the commercial man, and usually as a nuisance and nothing else by the chemist. The writer can conceive only two classes of people who have never experienced any difficulty in obtaining representative samples of coal from wagons; those who have never tried to, and those who have never had the necessity or desire to check the accuracy of their work. The primary purpose of this paper is to present some tabulated data of the more significant results of a sampling investigation undertaken during the last four years to obtain certain fundamental data on the variables connected with coal sampling and to point out that often assumptions have been made that are not in accordance with the facts. One of the standard sampling methods states:

Jan 1, 1936

By J. S. Seawright

Haulage is a costly feature in the operation of an open pit mine, whether it be iron, copper, or limestone. The National Iron Co. has adapted an old underground method to the open pit inclined skip haulage to bring the ore from the pit bottom to the crusher or beneficiation plant. The Rockover skip has been placed in operation where limited areas have retarded or eliminated use of long rail or road slopes. Deep and narrow orebodies subject to rapid increase in depth that discourage use of conveyor belts and necessary crushing plants are ideal for this system. The skip haulage method was developed to combine the desirable features of conveyor, truck, and rail haulage and at the same time avoid the draw- backs. The skip was designed to follow the natural angle of repose of the pit wall and can vary from 25° to 45°. Open-pit skips now in operation show that the installation is successful and provide the

Jun 1, 1955

By E. S. Wheeler

THE rapid increase in the use of monel metal and malleable nickel in the form of sheet, rod and tube has resulted in a similar increase in the demand for these metals in the form of castings. These castings range in size from small valves and pipe fittings weighing a few ounces to large centrifugal pumps, gate valves and marine propellers, some of the latter weighing as much as 24,000 lb. A group of such castings is shown in Fig. 1. A large nickel agitator is shown in Fig. 2. FIG. 1.-A GROUP OF MONEL METAL AND NICKEL CASTINGS. Monel metal castings are widely used in accessories for steam power plants and in a variety of chemical plant. equipment where the corrosion resistance, high strength and toughness characteristic of this metal render it particularly valuable. Nickel castings find extensive use in the construction of corrosion resistant apparatus, and are often used in conjunction with wrought nickel sheet and tube in the fabrication of equipment for handling a variety of chemical and food products, particularly dairy products. In response to this demand for castings, numerous foundries have undertaken the production of castings of these metals and have met with varying degrees of success.

Jan 1, 1930

ALABAMA. Aldrich, Aldrich, W. F. Anniston, Noble, A. E. Auburn,' Brown, R. L. Bessemer Abbott, C. E., Ferguson, V., Williams, E. P. Birmingham, Aldrich, T. H., Aldrich, T. H., Jr., Allen, A. W., Bowron, J., Burbidge, T. A., Crawford, G. G, Crockard, F. H., Dimmick, F. D., Ellis, E.,E., Hiller, E., Johnson, G. R., Ludwig, C. P., McCormack, G B., McCrery, Moffett, C. A., Morris, B.H, Peters, R., Jr., Pill, J. R., Ramsay, E. Gadsden, Hudson, J. B. Helena, Squire, J. Holt, Shook, J. W. Huntsville, Moss. Lehigh, Toulmin. Rock Run, Garvin, J. M. Thomas, Kluttz, W. L., Johnson, J. E., Jr. University, Litchman, H. B., Smith, E. A. Woodward, Woodward, A. H.

Jan 1, 1910

By James M. Schopf

Coal petrology is the study of the lithologic composition and texture of coal and includes megascopic as well as microscopic differentiation. Coal petrography is a quantitative study, principally (but not exclusively) microscopical in nature. The distinction between coal petrologic and coal petrographic studies usually is not important, but it is important to recognize that these studies differ materially from other types of petrology that deal primarily with minerals. The petrologic entities of coal are less clearly distinguished than most minerals and the basis of distinction is not always clearly expressed. The relation of coal petrology to geologic, mining, and technologic problems is most evident when results of coal petrologic studies can be stated quantitatively. The chemical and physical composition of coal and the determination of its quality and properties are continuing problems. The source of these problems lies in the heterogeneity of coal and in its almost complete insolubility in ordinary solvents at normal temperatures.

Jun 1, 1956

By William E. Ford, Edward Salisbury Dana

The Niobates (Columbates) and Tantalates are chiefly salts of metaniobic and metatantalic acid, RNb2O6 and RTa2O6; also in part Pyroniobates, R2Nb2O7, etc. Titanium is prominent in a number of the species, which are hence intermediate between the niobates and titanates. Niobium and tanta¬lum also enter into the composition of a few rare silicates, as wöhlerite, låvenite, etc. The following groups may be mentioned: The isometric PYROCHLORE GROUP, including pyrochlore, microlite, etc. The tetragonal FERGUSONITE Group, including fergusonite and sipylite. The orthorhombic COLUMBITE Group, including columbite and tantalite. Also the orthorhombic SAMARSKITE GROUP, including yttrotantalite, samarskite, and ånnerodite. The species belonging in this class are for the most part rare, and are hence but briefly described.

Jan 1, 1922