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By C. F. Kaiser, T. J. Roberts, I. A. Thomson

The Broken Hill Pty. Co. Ltd. grate-kiln pelletizing plant located at Whyalla, South Australia, produced a total of 250,000 tons of fluxed pellets during 1970. More than 180,000 tons were exported to Japan, while the remainder was used in B.H.P. Co. blast furnaces. The pellet plant treats high grade hematite ore fines and has a nominal capacity of 1.5 million tpy. The induration equipment includes a grate 12-ft 2-in. wide by 164-ft 1-in. long, a kiln 18-ft 6-in. diam by 118-ft 8-in. long, and a rotary cooler 50-ft mean diam by 7 ft wide. Operating problems encountered in the production of fluxed pellets are detailed. The most significant aspect of the trial was the increased production, from about 5100 tpd up to a maximum of 7100, brought about by the addition of artificial magnetite to the plant feed. Laboratory evaluation of fluxed pellets showed that pellets having a basicity ratio (CaO to SiO2) in excess of 1.2 have excellent physical qualities. Reducibility and compressive strength after reduction were both higher for these fluxed pellets than for normal acid pellets. Although it was not possible to publish blast furnace operating data, blast furnace trials on fluxed pellets indicated that production was higher and dust losses substantially lower, compared with similar operations on acid pellets.

Jan 1, 1973

By Basil Prescott

A thorough knowledge of the peculiarities of this type of orebody is necessary in sampling these limestone replacement deposits. Oxidized ores are often overestimated because of error in determining specific gravity and actual cross-section of the orebody, and sulfide ores are often underestimated because it is difficult to scatter the samples so that they will accurately represent the area under consideration. This paper describes various methods of sampling and cites factors that enter into the estimation of these deposits. IN THE science of evolution of the species, there is a law which, simply stated, avers that the history of the individual repeats the history of the race. Similarly, if unassisted by the experience of others, each successful engineer would perfect and develop his methods and technique from the rough grab sample up to the carefully taken, recorded and studied samples and observations which now determine and decide the expenditure of the large sums required for modern mining. Hence real progress results from the interchange of experience, as in that way the entire experience of the profession can be made available to every engineer. The literature of this subject is already voluminous, but some progress has been made in the gathering of data and in their compilation or presentation.

Jan 3, 1924

In late May, at its final session in Nairobi, Kenya, the UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) narrowly rejected the US proposal for a new International Resources Bank suggested by Secretary of State Henry Kissinger. The proposal was defeated by a roll-call vote of 33 to 31, with most of the nay votes cast by communist countries, and with 89 of the less-developed countries abstaining or absent.

Jan 7, 1976

By P. W. George

THE rapid increase in cost of discovering new orebodies by churn drilling in the Tri-State district has led to some attempts to lessen the expense by using geophysical methods. Electrical prospecting was tried three or four years ago, but no successful results were recorded. In 1926, the Federal Mining and Smelting Co. engaged the North American Exploration Co., of Houston, Texas, to make some tests with the torsion, balance. At first, it was thought that the most favorable conditions for discovery of ore deposits with the torsion balance would be in locations where the ore was known to occur at rather shallow depths, FIG. 1.-CROSS-SECTION OF DUENWEG LEASE. therefore the first trial was made at Duenweg, east of Joplin, where some zinc ore had been developed at a depth of 130 ft. The gravity gradients at 61 stations on a tract of about seventeen acres indicated plainly one large zone of maximum gravity and a smaller narrow zone of minimum gravity. Fourteen churn-drill holes, half of which struck .ore, show that all the ore found was located outside the zones of maximum and minimum gravity. In the zone of maximum, gravity the limestone beds were closest to the surface, and the first chert beds encountered were at the greatest depth. The results (shown in Table 1) indicated that the gravity of the limestone was greater than the gravity of the fractured chert together with its orebodies, and probably also greater than the bouldery soil and clay on top of the limestone. A cross-section of the Duenweg lease is shown in Fig. 1.

Jan 1, 1928

By Louis D. Huntoon

After the completion, in 1905, of the Hammond Mining and Metallurgical Laboratory of the Sheffield Scientific School, Yale University, it became necessary to secure and assay a large assortment of ore-samples, and to arrange the results in such a manner as to admit of use with the least amount of work on the part of the instructor. At first, pulp-samples, together with their respective assays, were secured from the mines, smelters, and public aesayers, but this practice did not prove satisfactory. It was not only difficult to secure a suffciently large supply of material, but it was also impossible to secure the proper assortment required for instructing students. It involved considerable work for the donors to select the samples and furnish a record of the assays, and also for the instructors to examine each pulp and determine its character. Some of the samples did not contain a sufficient quantity of pulp for the student to check his work in case his first assay did not correspond to the record. In order to increase the number of samples and to vary the character of the material, pulp-samples were later mixed with barren rock and with sulphides, but this method also was unsatisfactory and has been discontinued. At present, small lots of ore are secured by gift or purchase from engineers, public assayers, and the managers of mines, mills, and smelters. These lots weigh from 10 to 100 lb. each, and are rarely finer than 0.25 in. in size. The larger samples permit of a careful study by the instructor in order to determine the best method of assaying to be followed. In universities in which assaying is taught the record of the samples should fulfill the following requirements:

Jan 1, 1910

By J. M. Mutmansky, Y. J. Wang, H. L. Hartman

Procedures for determining the operating point that results when a fan is connected to a mine and placed in operation have been a source of confusion for decades. A variety of techniques have been proposed, often to the detriment of the practicing ventilation engineer trying to apply the techniques to the many mine/fan matching problems encountered in the engineering of mine ventilation systems. This paper proposes some different assumptions and definitions that simplify the problems in determining the operating point. As a result, a set of procedures is provided for determining the operating point of a mine/fan system when the outlet areas of the mine and fan are known. To simplify the development of procedures for determining the operating point for a mine/fan combination, the authors suggest that the mine pressures be redefined and then used in such a manner that the conservation of energy is ensured. This provides the basis for the recommendation that the fan operating point be determined using the fan total pressure and the system total pressure characteristics. This procedure can be applied to fans in the blower, booster, and exhaust positions equally well, and to both single-fan and multiple-fan networks. Another advantage is that the method is applicable to fans with or without an evase.

Jan 1, 1986

By F. P. Dewey

The subject of this paper does not embrace the consideration of ways and means for the increase of analytical accuracy, or the question what could or should be attained in that direction. I desire simply to call attention to the degree of accuracy exhibited in actual every-day practice. In estimating this, little weight will be given to the evidence afforded by the agreement of duplicate or multiple determinations by the same chemist; for I am convinced that such agreement is a delusion and a snare. Nor will special importance be attached to the agreement of two or even three analyses in special cases, or to the agreement between two methods practiced by the same analyst. I propose to compare the results obtained by several chemists, working upon the same sample and by various methods, in order to exhibit, as I have said, the actual condition of practice. The available material for illustrating this phase of the question is unfortunately scanty; but something has been done; and I hope, by calling attention to some of the work in this line, to stimulate further work in the same direction by inducing others to prepare suitable samples and submit them to various chemists who are competent and willing to make the necessary determinations, and fully describe the methods they employ. I draw most of my illustrations from the Transactions of the Institute, the Proceedings of the Association of Official Agricultural Chemists, and from personal experience. Manganese in Steel.—In May, 1881, Mr. William Kent presented a paper to the Institute entitled " Manganese Deter-

Jan 1, 1897

By Waldemar Lindgren

CONTENTS. [ ] I.-CHARACTER OF THE DEPOSITS. 1. Principal Features. IN many schemes of classification and description the term contact-deposit has been somewhat loosely applied to all accumulations of useful minerals (other than those of unquestioned sedimentary origin) which are enclosed between two different rocks. As thus used, the term may include deposits of widely differing origin, and, unless qualified, is not in place in a genetic classification. The present paper deals with a special class of contact-deposits. In many geological provinces, granular igneous rocks, such as granite, diorite and syenite, have broken through and invaded sedimentary rocks. The molten magma may in part have reached the surface and there solidified with relative rapidity as a lava. The largest masses of it, however, did not reach the surface, but cooled very slowly at considerable depth under great pressure, and eventually consolidated into a rock of granitic texture. Uplifts and extensive erosion may have followed; and at the present day, in many places, thousands of feet of material have been removed, bringing to the surface the intrusive granular rocks and their once deep-seated contacts with the sedimentaries which they shattered at the time of in-

Jan 1, 1902

By P. E. Hopkins

Introduction and History IN speaking of the economic geology of southeastern Ontario, W. G. Miller and C. W. Knight' say that "there occurs in southeastern Ontario a variety of minerals and rocks of economic value, probably as great as in any district of like size on the North American continent. Some of these deposits, including marble and trap, are inexhaustible. Others, including talc and iron pyrites, have proved to be of considerable economic importance. From time to time, during the last 50 years, the following minerals and rocks have been mined or quarried with varying success: gold, iron pyrites, zinc blende, copper pyrites, galena, mispickel, magnetite, hematite, talc, actinolite, mica, marble, ophicalcite, feldspar; fluorite, apatite, corundum, graphite and sodalite. All of the economic materials, with the exception of fluorite, appear to be of pre-Cambrian age. The fluorite veins penetrate the Ordovician, Black River, limestone." Accompanying that report was an article by the writer on the Queensboro Pyrite Area which includes one of the two working pyrite properties in southeastern Ontario. In the present paper will be given a brief description' of all the known pyrite deposits in the area which may at some time possess an economic value, with fuller descriptions of the two working mines-The Canadian Sulphur Ore Co.'s mine near Queensboro, and the Nichols Chemical Co.'s property at Sulphide. The earliest mining of iron pyrites in Ontario was done in 1868 on the Billings property near Brockville. The mines were closed down in 1879 under the assumption that they were exhausted. Many other

Jan 8, 1916

By James T. B. Ives

The map exhibited* as an example of my method of construct ing geological strata-maps is essentially an educational appliance. The method, however, is available for the production of maps of comparatively small areas, which, I am confident, will be found of great practical value to mining engineers. Before stating how the method may be so applied I will briefly describe the map exhibited, as the easiest way of making my meaning clear. Almost any region might be taken. This map represents the eastern half of the United States; and the geology is that of the map issued by the Geological Survey, and revised and extended subsequently by Professor Hitchcock for your Institute. I use ten cards, of the colors used in the geological map, each having the geog raphy of the area printed upon it; and I superimpose these in the order in which the colors occur in the index to the map. I next cut away a portion of each card, excepting the lowest, leaving only so much of each as represents the exposure of the formation of that color plus all those which overlie it. When that is done, the whole, looked at from a distance, appears to be an ordinary geological map. Looked at more closely, however, the formations are seen to overlie one another, as in nature. The cards are covered with glass in a frame, which, hinged at the bottom edge, can be let down. The cards are then found to be all hinged in the same manner, and they, too, may be lowered, one after the-other. I am told by teachers of geology of great experience and the highest reputation that by this appliance they will be assisted in im parting to students the first facts and principles of geological sci ence. Having let down the whole series of cards, until that repre senting the Archaean is seen underlying all the rest, the teacher will gradually rebuild it. The Cambrian will thus be laid down upon the Archaean before the eyes of the class, the Silurian upon that,

Jan 1, 1888

By Henry M. Howe

The natural effect of large ingot-size should be to increase segregation. I have previously pointed1 to the excessive segregation in many large ingots as tending to confirm this, but I have shown that in case of ingots less than 16 in. square this expected effect of ingot-size is liable to masked by that of Note.—The "maximum enrichment" of each ingot, i.e., the excess of the richest spot over the average of the whole ingot, is first calculated in percentage of that average. The average of the maximum enrichment of the several ingots of a given group is the abscissa in Fig. 1. The number beside each spot tells the number of cases which that spot represents. FIG. 1.—Influence of Ingot-Size on Maximum EnrichNent in Steel Ingots. other variables. Under these conditions we should expect that, if large ingot-size really does tend to increase segregation, this effect would be shown by taking the average of large numbers of cases, so that the effects of these other variables might off-set and cancel each other.

Jan 1, 1910

SHELBY M. HARRISON,* New York, N. Y. (written discussion ?).¬Your secretary requested a brief description of the Russell Sage Foundation, in order that members of the Institute, if they should desire to avail themselves of it, would know what type of service is offered to them through our institution. The foundation was established in 1907 by the gift of Mrs. Russell Sage of $10,000,000 as a capital fund, the income of which is to be spent for the improvement of social and living conditions in the United States. One of the lines of activity which the foundation has felt would lead toward this end is the development and promotion of community surveys; and because the scope and methods followed in these surveys are very similar to the scope and method of much of the institution's work in general, an idea of its main activities can perhaps be given best by describing one of our surveys. Incidentally, it may be pointed out that antecedent to the survey stand at least two important facts: first, the recognition. that communities are active, not static forces, that they develop, that changes in. material and human relationships occur continuously, and that with them come new social and civic problems which must, in many cases, be diagnosed and prescribed for anew; and second, the reality of scientific advances along lines which make possible at least some measure of solution of the problems. Evidences of these changes are abundant; many of them are found in the rapid growth of cities in the last few decades. Villages in agricultural districts, places where everybody knew everybody else, where the pulpit had been long the chief or only influence molding public opinion, where the air was unclouded by the smoke from factory stacks, where the water supply was not affected by pollution, where sunlight and building

Jan 5, 1918

By H. F. Yancey, O. L. Furse

Although usually coal is screened with punched plate screens having round-hole perforations, there has been an increasing use of wire-cloth screens with square apertures, especially at pneumatic coal-cleaning plants and at other plants that use vibrating screens. It is therefore desirable to establish a relationship between round-hole and square-hole screens for use not only in experimental investigations of coal-preparation problems, but also for use in commercial operations. This need is apparent whenever it is necessary to substitute wire cloth for punched plate and still retain the familiar trade-size product. Although similar work probably has been done by industrial organizations concerned with the screen sizing of coal, the only recorded study of the subject other than the one described herein of which the authors are aware is that of Roesler,1 who screen-sized two samples of limestone and two of zinc concentrates crushed to pass 1/2 in. with a set of square and round-hole screens and found the ratio to be 1:1.23. Procedure In the course of a study of various methods for determining the friability of coal,2 it was necessary to screen-size the products of a series of friability tests of three different coals with both round-hole and square-hole screens. The coals used were from the Roslyn No. 3 and the Bayne mines in Washington and the Rolapp mine in Utah. Twenty 25-lb. samples of each of these three coals at 3 to 2 1/2 in. round-hole size were dropped from a height of 10 ft. to a concrete floor, and then screened with

Jan 1, 1934

By O. U. Bradley

The methods of handling the oil output of the Mid-Continent fields are not unlike those practised in other oil fields of the United States, and it is not expected that this paper will present any entirely novel ideas. Some features of the practice of handling this oil may be of interest, however. Wooden Gaging Tanks Practically all of the oil sold to pipe line? and other purchasing agencies throughout the Mid-Continent field is gaged from wooden tanks. Steel gaging tanks are slowly coming into use, and are preferable in many ways—leakage and evaporation are reduced, and the strapping and recalculation of capacities are unnecessary. The wooden tanks are slightly coned to facilitate tightening the hoops. The sizes in common use are 250, 500, 800 and 1600 bbl. The number and the capacity of the gaging tanks upon any producing oil property depend upon its production, and the facilities for disposing of the output. The 1600-bbl. size was the most common in the Cushing field, particularly during the period of flush production. The tanks are distributed over the leased premises in groups of two, three, and four tanks each, and these are filled from flow tanks, or through direct pipe connections with the heads of the wells. Flow tanks are merely temporary reservoirs to facilitate the transfer of oil from the wells to the gaging tanks. They diminish fire risk, and are considered indispensable on small producing properties where water is pumped with the oil, as they permit the refuse and water to 'settle out before the production is run to the gaging tanks. strapping and Calculations After a gaging tank has been strapped (measured) and its contents computed, a deduction of 3 per cent. is made from its computed volume. The strapping of a tank requires four steps: (1) The outer circumferences

Jan 1, 1920

By AIME AIME

THE portrait of Herbert Hoover, President of the United States, recently painted by Philip A. de Laszlo at the request of the four Founder engineering societies, was unveiled at a special meeting in the Engineering Societies Building on Feb. 15. The portrait was delivered by Gano Dunn, chairman of the Hoover Medal Board of Award, who said, in part:,

Jan 1, 1932

By D. W. Gillmore, C. C. Wright

DEWATERING is a major problem in the preparation and utilization of fine-sized coals now being recovered in increasing amounts from colliery effluents, refuse banks, and silt ponds. Of the various methods which have, been proposed for dewatering fine coal, gravity drainage is probably the oldest and most widely used, and yet little information on this subject has been published. Consequently a laboratory investigation of gravity drainage phenomena was undertaken not only to provide basic data for predicting the drainage behavior of fine coals in cars, bunkers, basins, and silos, but also to obtain some understanding of the moisture retention properties of fine coal. Because of practical interest in the problem, a reproducible laboratory technique, which simulated plant conditions as closely as possible, was developed for the evaluation of drainage variables. The ap- paratus selected consisted of vertically-mounted lucite columns, nominally 4 to 8 ft in length and 2, 3 or 6 in. in diam; the bottom of the column was provided with a rubber stopper through which was inserted a -in. diam drainage tube; a wad of glass wool was placed on the upper part of this outlet tube to retain the coal and a plug was temporarily located at the lower end to prevent drainage during charging of the column, see Fig. 1. The most satisfactory testing procedure is as follows: 1—The fine coal, which has been thoroughly

Jan 1, 1953

D. F. HEWETT, Washington, D. C. (communication to the Secretary*).-I am not prepared to discuss the metallurgical use of manganese in the form of alloys. In connection with other work for the U. S. Geological Survey, however, I have been investigating incidentally, for about 5 years, the American as well as other sources of manganese. There are some conclusions that come out of this investigation that may interest those whose greatest interest lies in the use of the alloys. From a geological point of view, most manganese ore deposits may be regarded as concentrated masses of manganese oxides, as there are few masses of the other manganese minerals that are rich enough in manganese and low enough in silica to warrant smelting. The deposits of the Huelva district, in Spain, which are largely manganese carbonate and silicate, are exceptions to this statement. Some deposits of manganese oxides, such as those of Russia and Cuba, are bedded with ancient sediments, and although they are clearly concentrated under unique conditions, the source of the manganese cannot be determined. Probably 60 per cent. of the world's production of manganese ore, or 95 per cent., if that of Russia be excluded, is derived from the superficial parts of deposits that have undergone weathering and enrichment near the surface. In other words, the situation with the manganese ore supply is such as it would be with regard to copper, if instead of being derived largely from deep zones of deposits of deep-seated origin, such as veins, it were derived solely from the zone of secondary enrichment. Manganese oxide occurs in all rocks but is most abundant in igneous rocks, of which, according to Clarke, it forms an average of 0.10 per cent. It also forms 0.05 per cent, of the average limestone, but only traces are present in shales and sandstones. It is interesting that although many commercially important manganese deposits occur in rocks that are but slightly richer in manganese than the average, the most important deposits occur in rocks of unusual character that are much richer in manganese than the average. Thus, the most important deposits of India and Brazil overlie or occur near masses of rocks that contain excessive amounts of manganese garnet and pyroxene.

Jan 5, 1917

By E. DeGolyer

I. INTRODUCTION VOLCANIC origin. was among the first of the theories advanced to account for the occurrence of the salt domes of the Gulf coastal plain, northern Louisiana., and eastern Texas, and it is still being re-stated in various forms by the most recent contributors to our knowledge of the geology of such deposits. Argument has been largely by analogy and attention has repeatedly been called to the Mexican oil fields, particularly those of the Tampico-Tuxpam region, because of the occurrence of oil in close proximity to volcanic plugs in those fields, an occurrence supposed to have some resemblance to the common occurrence of oil in the salt domes of the United States. The author, having spent several months of the past year in a general study of salt domes and in a detailed study of certain domes in the United States, and having been acquainted for some time with the exploration of similar domes in the Isthmus of Tehuantepec region, Mexico, and with the general geology of the Tampico-Tuxpam region, Mexico, has reviewed the various theories of volcanic origin for salt domes which have been advanced to the present time. The purpose of this paper is to present such review and to discuss the supposed Mexican analogy.

Jan 5, 1918

R. B. BRINSMADE, Ixmiquilpan, Hgo, Mexico* (written discussion). As the discussion of Mr. Graton's paper by Messrs. Norris, Patterson, and Crane has been from the standpoint of the mineral land-value owners, a few remarks in the interest of the "under dog"-the average taxpayer and citizen-may prove timely. In my discussion of Doctor Raymond's Paper1 and of the papers of Messrs. Gibson2 and Godson, 3 have endeavored to demonstrate, from both political economy and history, that our existing system of unrestricted private ownership of land is incompatible with equality of economic opportunity and, therefore, subversive of our democratic political institutions. In Mr. Graton's paper, the same land problem is important, though camouflaged by the failure of the Federal income tax laws to distinguish between land and capital, in the requirements for valuation, or between earned and unearned incomes in the levying of taxes. I disagree with Mr. Graton's statement, on p. 2967, as follows: The immense majority of mining ventures are failures. A multitude of disappointments is relieved by occasional success. Were it not for the chance of great rewards, all the vitally necessary but mainly unremunerative work of exploration would not be undertaken. In contrast with nearly all other fields of endeavor, it is altogether unlikely that, on the whole, the gains in the successful mining ventures suffice to offset the losses in the unsuccessful.

Jan 3, 1920

By F. D. Mahone

Much crude oil, as produced from the well, carries varying amounts of water, which may be present as free water in globules sufficiently large to settle out, in time, if the fluid is allowed to stand, or as an emulsion formed by myriads of minute water particles, each surrounded and entrapped by a film of oil through which it cannot break under the action of gravity alone. Such an emulsified mixture of oil and water is commonly termed "cut oil." When such an emulsion is subjected, under proper conditions, to the influence of a high-potential alternating-current field, the minute water particles rupture the enveloping oil films and coalesce into larger water droplets this procedure continuing until all the water is freed into drops of such size that they readily settle out. This action has been photographed by the micro-moving-picture camera; under the microscope, the breaking-up of the emulsion, as described, is seen to be accomplished in a few seconds. The low power requirements of the process, from records of commercial plants, substantiate the theory that the action is that of a multitude of electrical condensers in series, rather than that of a number of conducting paths. The minute water particles serve as the metallic elements, or plates, of the condensers and the separating oil acts as the dielectric. Such surface charges as the particles may have are removed, and the intervening oil is broken, probably electrically by the voltage and mechanically by the attractive force between adjacent oppositely electrified particles. The principle of breaking up an emulsion under the influence of an alternating electric field was discovered by F. G. Cottrell and Buckner Speed, through experiments conducted, at the University of California, which resulted in a plant being installed on the property of the Lucile Oil Co. in the Coalinga field, California, early in 1909. This plant was able to reduce 14-per cent. emulsion to less than Pper cent. with commercial success. Standard Cottrell Apparatus The present standard Cottrell apparatus consists essentially of the electric treater and a settling or trap tank. The treater is a galvanized-iron tank approximately 3 ft. in diameter and 10 ft. high, which con-

Jan 1, 1924