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By Dr. O’Neil Thomas J., Donald W. Gentry

"We should be concerned about the future be- cause we will have to spend the rest of our lives there. " -Charles Kettering INTRODUCTION Since the early 1970s, there has been no economic phenomenon that has been more widely discussed or experienced in the United States than inflation. Al- though its precise definition and measurement are elusive, inflation has had pro- found and extensive impacts on the manner in which nearly everyone lives. It is painfully obvious to consumers that inflation is characterized by a continuing up- ward spiral of prices. In a capital-intensive industry like mining, those increases can be positively breathtaking. An interesting example is shown in Table 1. Table I shows that on a unit basis, the equivalent 1980 capital cost of Cuajone was over six times the cost of the adjacent and quite similar Toquepala operation completed in 1959. Such sobering statistics weigh heavily on the minds of executives who are contemplating major investments in new mining facilities. In spite of its monumental presence, inflation has usually been either inadequately covered or totally ignored in textbooks on engineering economy. The reasons for this are not entirely clear, but a contributing factor is the inherent difficulty in accurately predicting inflation. However, under certain conditions, inflation may become the most important factor in a mining investment, and it can rarely be safely ignored in capital investment analyses. DEFINING AND MEASURING INFLATION Defining inflation and related terms is relatively easy. Its measurement, how- ever, is the source of almost endless debate in economic and political circles. How- ever, much of that debate is not relevant to the scope of this book, so that only those issues which impact directly on the capital investment decision are covered in this section. Inflation is the general decline in the value of money as measured by what it will buy. It is clear, then, that the rate of inflation varies with the particular currency under consideration as well as the type of goods and services being purchased. One would find, for example, that the general rate of inflation relative to German marks

Jan 1, 1984

By G. D. Marshall, D. K. Sarin, V. E. Hampton

Ground support at the Thompson Mine emphasizes scaling, rock bolting and wire mesh screening on the backs and walls of all underground stoping and development areas and also full column grouted cable bolting in the bulk mining areas. This paper describes the equipment for the point anchored rock bolts as well as the full column cable bolts. Modifications in design and testing of all components and procedures has ensured a safe and efficient method of ground support for the mining conditions existing at the Thompson Mine.

Jan 1, 1983

By Max Boehmer

(Pittsburg Meeting, March, 1910.) AFTER 30 years of development and after an output of $350,000,000 in value of gold, silver, lead, zinc, and copper, there has not been published a satisfactory explanation of the origin of the immense deposits of the Leadville district. The original examination find survey of Leadville by members of the U. S. Geological Survey was a most magnificent piece of work, but their attempt to explain the origin of the ores was based upon the then-accepted theory of lateral secretion, originated by Sandberger, which theory was afterwards disproved in many cases by further development in numerous districts. This theory contended that the ore in the veins had been leached by surface-waters from the eruptive rocks in the immediate vicinity, and it had its origin in the fact that the neighboring eruptive rocks all contained, to an appreciable degree, the several metals found in the ore-deposits. But the practical miner, reasoning in a simple manner from the condition of things as he found them underground, soon discovered the fallacy of this proposition. He reasoned that, in the case of the Leadville deposits, this theory could not be true, because, if the ores were leached from the overlying eruptive rocks by surface-waters, they would as a matter of necessity be controlled by the action of gravity, and the main bodies would collect in- natural depressions of the underlying limestone, and at all points where such depressions existed. But this was not in accord with the channels of ore as he found there ; and hence the theory of lateral secretion in this district was never accepted. Another objection to it consisted in the fact that large areas within the ore-bearing district contained no ores whatever, although their formation was the same, and the same limestones were covered by the same thick sheet of

Feb 1, 1910

By Thomas N. Walthier

If current trends continue, the shrunken world of exploration will keep on shrinking and the number of new mines will be insufficient to meet production requirements. Mineral shortages-not natural, but government induced-will then occur.

Jan 5, 1976

THE CHAIRMAN (G. H. CLEVENGER, Stanford University, Cal.).¬I would like to ask Mr. Pyne if he has had any experience inn the use of chromite as refractory under conditions that are highly reducing? I am reminded of an experience I once had with an electric furnace. I imagined that chromite would form a splendid lining, but it soon disappeared; hence it seems probable that, under highly reducing conditions at a high temperature, chromite is a very poor refractory. F. R. PYNE.-In copper smelting the atmosphere is generally neutral, or slightly oxidizing; we do not use highly reducing atmospheres at all, not even in the matting furnace. You can take the chromite brick and treat it as you would an iron ore, obtaining ferro-chrome very readily, from which the copper will separate. We have done this; in fact, at one time we considered installing a small electric furnace for the production of ferro-chrome. FOREST RUTHERFORD, New York, N. Y.-During the time I was general superintendent at the smelter of the Copper Queen Consolidated Mining Co., at Douglas, Ariz., a great many experiments were made on the furnaces and settlers with different kinds of brick, and I agree with Mr. Pyne's statements about chrome brick. Their power to absorb metals is very great, and as they cannot be smelted at any temperatures obtainable in a copper furnace, to get rid of the bats and extract the metal from them is quite a problem. We finally got down to using chrome brick only for lining the settlers, out of which we often got a life of upwards of 2 years, and for lining the blast-furnace bottoms, for the reason that chrome brick can be heated and wet, or wet after being heated, without going to pieces, whereas under these conditions magnesite brick will break down very rapidly. We also used a layer of chrome brick above and below an 18-in. band of magnesite brick put on the slag line of the reverberatories, in order to separate the magnesite from the silica brick, fearing that they would slag each other and let the wall drop. The idea worked, but became unnecessary on account of a change made in the method of feeding the furnaces. Chronic brick will not stand up under pressure so well as a good Grecian or Austrian magnesite brick, on account of the poorer bonding properties of the materials from which the chrome brick is made.

Jan 4, 1918

By D. S. Newton

Introduction Historically the production of zinc dust has been based upon residual and secondary zinc. Using horizontal retorts filled with diecasting scrap, galvanizers drosses and sweater billets, dust has been produced by condensation into static condensers on a 24 hour cycle. Although fairly flexible as regards input materials the process is not amenable to close control of the product, is labour intensive and unless carefully run can cause fume problems. With a steadily increasing demand for zinc dust of consistent properties and higher quality there is a demand for an improved method of manufacture in which dust can be produced continuously and which is capable of close control thus ensuring a minimum amount of oversize or unsaleable material. The Process in use in the works of Imperial Smelting Corporation (Alloys) Ltd. in England, and in Canada and Holland, satisfies the criteria stated above, and has proved to be easy to control with a minimum labour demand.

Jan 1, 1970

By Walther Mathesus

INTRODUCTION THE use of high blast heats on furnaces melting Mesaba ores is still the exception, the average blast temperatures carried on Mesaba stacks seldom reaching 1,100° F. Some 15 years ago, when the use of fine Mesaba ores in larger proportions to the total burden first came into practice, it was found difficult to employ even those blast heats which it had been possible to carry with the Old Range ores. The furnaces refused to "take" high heats, and would persistently labor with irregular stock movement, which impaired the practice and increased the coke consumption. By lowering the blast temperature, the working of the furnace became smoother, and experience taught that with the softer and more easily reduced Mesaba ores, satisfactory practice could be obtained with comparatively low blast heats. Therefore a large number of Mesaba furnaces have ever since been operated on very low blast temperatures, ranging between 800° and 1,000° F. In the face of these difficulties, furnace men were slow to recognize that furnaces could be so designed as to permit a free movement of the charges in combination with the use of higher heats. Since higher blast temperatures did not seem to offer great advantages in the smelting of Mesaba ores, investments in hot-blast stoves were not as attractive to the furnace man as labor-saving devices and means of obtaining greater tonnages. The effect of this preference is keenly felt at the present time. It has brought about the peculiar situation, that the majority of our furnace plants (among them some of the most progressive) lack modern and efficient stove equipment. The result is that, even where the proper furnace lines have been adopted and conditions are now favorable to the successful employment of higher blast temperatures, the heats required for the greatest fuel economy are not available.

Jan 3, 1915

By C. V. Corless

WE are living at a period of the world's history in which social phenomena are on so vast a scale, are of so profoundly soul-searching a nature, and are occurring in such rapid succession in the great world drama in which we are both actors and spectators, that, in our efforts to obtain a rational point of view in relation to them, our minds may fail to discern the simple in the complex and our understanding is liable to be-come confused or even overwhelmed. To the social student whose scientific training has convinced him of the truth of the evolutionary law, Natura non facit saltum, it is neither the vast scale of the events; their deeply soul-stirring nature, nor their rapid succession that matters so much, as the discovery of the underlying principle or law in accordance with which the disintegration and reintegration, which are the two aspects of social evolution, or indeed of evolution everywhere, are occurring. He is most deeply concerned in seeking an answer to the question: Have we in the present great and perplexing upheavals in human society, whether regarded in Central Europe, in Russia, in Great Britain, or in America, a really new cause at work, or, have we, though on a very- large scale, merely new manifestations of the working out of an old principle? When we think of the appalling struggle in Europe, into which the world's greatest exemplar of democracy was finally drawn, no one has any hesitation in admitting that the great conflict was fundamentally a life-and-death struggle for self-preservation and self-propagation on the part of autocracy. The variations we meet with in the statement of the cause of the war arise mainly from differing distances of perspective: but in the last analysis all agree that the autocratic system of political government, which found its very soul and center in Prussian despotism, was consciously arrayed in a final "world-power-or-downfall" struggle against a love of freedom which was steadily widening and-deepening throughout the world, and particularly throughout those parts of the world where this love of freedom and justice has found expression in democratic institutions. It is not irrelevant to our discussion to recall in passing that this most imposing structure ever conceived by the human mind as an instrument of tyranny is lying today an irretrievable mass of ruins, completely over-

Jan 4, 1919

By T. E. SCHTVARZ

THE publication of the report by Mr. F. L. Ransome was welcomed by many engineers who had mined in the heart of the Sail Juan country, braved its long and snowy winters, climbed its lofty peaks, run the gauntlet of its snow-slides, and studied its problems of geology, while making dividends for their English or American clients. This report helps one to understand why the bonanzas occurred, and why the inevitable borrasca presents itself where least expected. The Red Mountain district of Ouray county, a very productive section from 1884 to 1893, occupies considerable space in the report mentioned.. The character of the ore-occurrence, being distinctive and presenting many features not existing elsewhere, has been deserving of special study. It is to be regretted that Mr. Ransome was .unable to observe the conditions underground, as all the principal properties, many of which I opened and developed, were closed at the time of his investigation: It has been my privilege to have contributed a few brief papers recording my observations in developing these properties ; and it is the object of the present paper to present certain sections of the Yankee Girl mine, which throw additional light on the geology of the section and make the available data more complete. The main Yankee Girl chimney or " stock" was the most productive for the first 500 ft. in depth of any chimney in the district.

Mar 1, 1905

By H. L. TERWILLIGER

THOSE of us who have been following rock drilling work for the last 15 or 20 years can recall some of the problems that were encountered with the old piston type of rock drill and the solid steel which it used. There was frequent trouble in keeping a straight hole in badly broken ground when using the ordinary four- point bit that had a flare on the wings of about 14". The drill steel, when pounding down its hole, would follow the line of least resistance and draw away from the desired line when it encountered a weak side in the ground through which it was drilling. Some would overcome the difficulty by making long winged bits to prevent the steel crowding over; this would relieve the troubles to a great extent. There was trouble with the rifling of drill holes and inability to drill round holes in some ground. The cure for these ills was to use the "X" bit, rather than the crossbit. The "2" bits were brought out in an effort to make it easier to drill a round hole in bad ground. Most of these troubles were before the days when the mechanical drill sharpener was in as common use as it is today. It was not until the introduction of the Leyner type of rock drill, requiring hollow steel that the users of rock drills found themselves confronted with more difficult prob- lems than they had ever encountered before with drill steel because the steel had to stand more severe service.

Jan 1, 1924

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS W E WRATHER, Chairman A B KINZEL -EARLE E SCHUMACHER DONALD H MCLAUGHLIN - JOHN R SUMAN FINANCE COMMITTEE OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS ERLE V DAVELER, Chairman PHILIP KRAFT - CLYDE E WEED

Jan 1, 1952

By F. C. Stanford

The work of an engineer is to direct natural forces so that the: bring about the results that he wishes to secure. Heretofore he ha concerned himself chiefly with physical forces and inanimate objects until he has secured a truly marvelous degree of control over them The great problem of the present age is to secure a like degree of know1 edge and control of the human factor. Progress has already been made along this line, but it is only a beginning. Wilhelm Ostwald says tha scientific knowledge enables a man to be a true prophet; but it must be remembered that a good many people do not seem to be able to main tain a high average in prophecy. In short, 'the average of knowledge is not equal to the average needs of the present time, but continually fails to keep pace with it. It has been aptly said that the really essentia need of the period is for more brains; if we only had sufficient knowledg and sagacity we could not only solve all difficulties, but prevent then from arising. This generalization holds good for an industrial organization. Th most vital need of the management is for more brains. The logica course for an engineer in charge of an industrial organization is, therefore to direct whatever forces may be at his command toward the development training, and guiding of all the brains in his organization. This is easie said than done, for it involves the carrying on toward two objective: the maximum of productive work, and the development of the individual who perform it. This is essentially like the rebuilding and enlarging of plant, keeping it in full operation the while. On the other hand, if th aim is merely for maximum production from an organization, withou offering opportunity for development, the final outcome will necessari be like that of a plant that is driven at full capacity without stoppin for repairs or improvements; it eventually becomes so run down th either a complete rebuilding is necessary or else it has to be abandone

Jan 1, 1918

By Blandford C. Burgess

Mica is an orchid among minerals. It is formed in pegmatites, one of the most bizarre of igneous formations, and is exceeded by few other minerals in the perfection it may attain as to size, color, and cleavage. First used for window glazing, as an ornament and article of trade, it has become one of the most essential insulators of electricity, heat, and shock. Most internal combustion engines use mica condensers or capacitors and such machines of war as planes, tanks, and submarines are immobile without it. The original manuscript of this guide was written in April 1943 at the peak of war emergency. It was not used because shortly thereafter a decision was made to buy on a one price basis eliminating differentials for both quality and size. This is now presented with the thought that from the standpoint of preparedness we can only consider another war imminent and every effort should be made to set up in usable form the experience gained during the Second Morld War. Colonial Mica Corp. was set up by Metals Reserve Co. as a wholly owned government agency to encourage production of domestic mica and to purchase it. It soon became the exclusive buyimg agency for such mica. The writer as Southern Manager called on all the private agencies buying mica to assist in formulating buying policies, methods, and prices. A meeting was held for that purpose in Asheville, N. C., July 20, 1942. In the general discussion the first two hours of the meeting it was decided that the following factors should be considered in pricing strategic mica: clearness, flatness, trimming, color, classification (size and quality), free splitting, hardness, and air inclusions. Most of the mica miners have been buying strategic mica, according to the mine, as No. 1, No. 2, or Nos. 1 and 2 combined. In addition to these grades of strategic mica they have been buying three lower grades of mica, electric (vegetable-stained), black-spotted and black-stained. A number of mines were named one by one and the buyers present gave their opinions as to the basis they would use in buying the sheet mica from each. It was suggested that in addition to the prices already published, prices be posted up to 10 pct higher for special quality and preparation and prices be posted 25 pct lower than the published prices for the lowest acceptable grades of strategic mica, giving the buyers authority to make intermediate prices according to the quality and preparation. It was thought desirable at the same time to announce prices for nonstra-tegic mica where such quality is being obtained in mines producing strategic mica and where it would be necessary to take the output in order to get the strategic mica. It was also suggested that the price of electric and black-spotted mica be 50 pct below the price of the lowest grade of strategic mica and the price of black-stained mica be 60 pct below the price of lowest grade strategic mica. The few experienced buyers available were employed but they were inadequate for the job and others had to be trained. All needed a guide or primer of some kind to attain systematic procedure and consistent prices in their respective buying areas. The Mica Buyers Guide was formulated for that purpose based on experience gained in the first six months of buying. The Preface to the original guide was as follows: The purpose of this guide is to serve as a text in training beginners and as a handbook for experienced buyers of the instructions which have been issued up to this time. At the meeting of prospective buyers last summer, it developed that the first essential to attain uniformity must be some kind of check sheet. Our "Mica Buyers Report" was developed for this purpose and forms the backbone of this guide. Price is determined according to size, quality and preparation. Size can be measured, but no system of measurement or machine has been devised which can be substituted for the trained eye of the buyer to deterrnine quality and preparation. Although the "One Price" system was instituted and the "Guide" not used, the buyers were required to continue making out a "Mica Buyers Report" (Fig1) with each lot of mica purchased. The form proved its value and there is no doubt that in another such emergency some similar form should be

Jan 1, 1950

National Steel Shuts Weirton Coal Operation Dutch Firm May Aid Ungava Project

Jan 7, 1953

By T. V. Moore

DURING 1910, crude-oil production in the United States reached a record level averaging about 3.700,000 barrels daily. Export declined sharply while imports increased with the result that large quantities of crude oil were run to storage during the year. Imports consisted largely of residual fuel oil brought in from South America bit because of a shortage of that product in this country and of Mexican crude. The price of petroleum products followed the declining trend of the last three year resulting in serious disparity between crude and product prices. This condition was aggravated in some areas by the increasing production of distillate by recycling operations and by the high tanker rates prevalent in the last two months of the year. As a result two small purchasers found it necessary to reduce crude-oil price in the Corpus Christie area of Texas.

Jan 1, 1941

By Arthur Knapp

The petroleum industry is confronted with the problem of conservalion. This is not a simple problem in view of a wide difference of opinion among authorities as to whether conservation is necessary and the specific direction that it should take. Many writers accuse the petroleum industry of wasting the natural resources of the country. Others link the consuming public with the industry in this waste. Let us define our terms; agree, if possible, on where and when waste occurs in connection with either the recovery or use of petroleum and select such plans for conservation as appear most practical. A plan for conserv3tion which appears to be logical today may not meet the problem tomorrow. The conservation of petroleum is closely linked with the advancement of marly arts and sciences and as these advance, the plan of conservation has to change. The need for conservation does not necessarily rest upon the elimination of waste. There is not necessarily a fixed connection between waste and conservation. Conservation may be necessary or desirable although there is no waste. Definitions Waste: Useless or unnecessary expenditure. Conservation: The preservation of the natural resources for economical use. Both definitions contain adjectives the interpretation of which is extremely difficult. It is the determination of what expenditures are "unnecessary" or what uses are "economical" that will require study and agreement. If one lets his automobile engine run in cold weather in order to keep it hot, it is difficult to measure that necessity. If an automobile is driven two blocks, when the driver is physically capable of walking, what is the measure of necessity. This question is in the realm of one of the oldest of sociological problems, "What is a luxury?"—a problem which has not been solved. The history of society indicates that the measure of a man's wealth has been the measure of necessity. What he can afford to buy without stinting himself in some other direction, is not a luxury to him and, if it fulfills his desires, may be considered his necessity.

Jan 1, 1927

The Library of the above-named Societies is open from 9 A. M. to 10 P. M. except on holidays. It contains about 70,000 volumes and 90,000 pamphlets, including sets of technical periodicals and publications of scientific and technical societies. Members of the Institute, with few exceptions are forced to spend a portion of their time in localities isolated from sources of information. To these the Library; through its Library Service Bureau, can render valuable service through correspondence; letters requesting information will receive especial attention: The Library is prepared, to furnish references and photographic copies of articles on mining and metallurgical subjects; to determine the existence of mining maps, and to furnish general Information on the geology and mineral resources of-all countries. All communications should be made as definite as possible so that the information received may be what is desired and not include collateral matter which may not be of interest. The time spent in searching for such collateral matter will be saved, and the information will be sent more promptly and in more usable shape. HARRISON W. CRAVER, Director.

Jan 4, 1919

The San Manuel district of Arizona was first prospected prior to the Civil War, but there was little or no production until 1881. Small operators tried to develop ore bodies from time to time after that without success. Then, in 1917, a drilling program was carried out; but it did not indicate a copper content of interest. Finally, in the 1940s, the U. S. Geological Survey drilled the property and obtained indications of a mineralized area. At that time, Magma Copper and its principal owner, Newrnont Mining Corporation, drilled many deep holes through the gravels and conglomerates and in 1948 proved an ore reserve of 367 million tons of 0.785% copper sulfide ore. Underground exploration and development were started in early 1948, and in 1953 design and construction of the surface facilities commenced. By the end of 1955 plant construction was completed. The ore deposit of disseminated pyrite, chalcopyrite, chalcocite, molybdenite, silver, and gold is in quartz monzonite porphyry gangue. Mine production, which is entirely underground, is by full-gravity block-caving. Initially, ore mined at a rate of 36,000 tpd was hoisted through two identical shafts. From the 5,000 ton coarse ore bins located at the collar of each shaft, the ore was hauled by a shuttle service rail- road in 100-ton bottom-dump rail cars a distance of seven miles to the rail bin. Fragmentation from block-caving supplemented by underground grizzlies at the loading stations controlled the oversize material to give a feed size acceptable to the two 7 ft standard Syrnons crushers. During operation, however, it became evident that a large amount of secondary breaking in the grizzlies was necessary to produce a suitable feed for the standard crushers. The decision was then made to install primary gyratory crushers on the surface adjacent to the shaft site ore bins. Under each 5,000-ton coarse ore bin, an 8ft by 20 ft (2.44 m by 6. 1 m) apron feeder transfers the ore to a 13 ft 6 in. by 10 ft (4. 1 m by 3. 05 m) grizzly set at 6 in. (152 mm) and sloped at 45 degrees. About 65% of the ore passes the grizzly and thus bypasses the 42 in. by 65 in. (1.07 m by 1. 65 m) Allis -Chalmers gyratory equipped with a Hydroset mechanism and having an open side setting of 5 ½ in. (140 mm). Grizzly undersize and crushed ore drop onto a 6 ft by 30 ft (1. 83 m by 9. 14 m) variable- speed apron feeder for transfer to a 54 in. by 90 ft 5 in. (1.37 m by 27.6 m) inclined conveyor equipped with a tramp iron detector. Indication of tramp iron automatically stops the conveyor and both apron feeders. When the iron is removed from the belt by the operator,

Jan 1, 1978

By Carl H. Beal

DURING the latter part of 1915 and the first half of 1916, the writer held the position of geologist in connection with the conservation work instituted by the U. S. Bureau of Mines, on oil and gas land belonging to the Indians of the Five Civilized Tribes in Oklahoma. The duty of the geologist was to correlate formations containing oil, gas, and water, and to determine the relations of these substances in the different formations so that the conservation agents might carry on their work most intelligently. On account of the rapid development of the Cushing field, which lies in the western part of the Creek Nation, much work was done there by the inspection force. In the course of the geologic studies a large amount of information was collected, which, on analysis, has disclosed some interesting facts worthy of publication. The report, of which the following remarks are an abstract, has been prepared and submitted to the U. S. Geological Survey for publication. This report is now (June, 1917) in the press and will doubtless be issued in a few weeks. Methods Used In addition to the structure maps showing the folding of the Pawhuska limestone, which crops out in several places in the Cushing field, separate structure maps of the three most important productive sands—the Lay-ton (Fig. 2)) Wheeler, and Bartlesville—have been prepared. These structure maps were prepared by obtaining the logs of nearly all the wells

Jan 1, 1918

By A. W. Hahn

USE of gold leaf goes back to biblical and even to prehistoric times. Both gold and silver, as well as other metals, were employed in illustrating or illuminating manuscripts. The medieval monks also used bronze powders. Metals were subdivided as finely as possible by mechanical methods, or by granulation and then were pounded into finely divided flakes. Substances such as honey have also been employed, since early times to keep the flakes of metal apart during grinding. Stearic acid is a more modern agent used in flaking aluminum and other metals. Finely divided "blue powder" is a by-product in retorting zinc ores, and contains from 78 to 90 per cent of zinc metal. This has been used as a precipitant for precious metals in the cyanide process and for chemical reduction processes. The making of zinc dust by atomizing is a step well known in electrolytic zinc plants. The Thermit process of Goldschmidt also requires the use of finely divided aluminum.

Jan 1, 1937