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By N. B. Aughenbaugh

Subsidence due to abandoned coal mines has received copious attention recently. This is a result of many factors such as the enactment of new mining laws and the effect subsidence has on land use over the mines. Prediction of subsidence features and the time aspects over supercritical extraction (i.e., longwall and high extraction ratio pillaring) is relatively accurate. However, predicting when subsidence will occur and the surface features' size and shape above subcritical extraction of room and pillar mining is not yet possible. This paper will discuss the factors that influence the time aspects of subsidence in room and pillar mining.

Jan 1, 1983

By V. F. Hollister

Computer programs developed as part of the PROSPECTOR project at SRI International can indicate where the highest grade hypogene copper occurs in porphyry copper prospects. The programs are useful in selecting drilling targets in untested porphyry deposits. Because of mineralogic, structural and lithologic variations in porphyry-type deposits, three distinct computer programs have been constructed; however, this paper considers only the stockwork type in homogeneous rock (similar to the Lowell and Guilbert model). The programs represent models in the form of inference networks that utilize the mineralogic, alteration, lithologic, structural, geochemical and geophysical data normally collected prior to a drilling decision. One example of an application of the PROSPECTOR program for a stockwork-homogeneous porphyry is given: Island Cooper in British Columbia. Computations based on the surface geologic, geochemical and geophysical data for Island Copper clearly disclose the best hypogene grade of the deposit. Other deposits were tested in the programs as well, and in each case PROSPECTOR programs indicate the region with the highest hypogene grade.

Jan 1, 1983

By William C. Larson

The Bureau of Mines, as a result of its contract research program, is developing a retractable core bit for the wireline drilling system (Retractable Sit System, No, H0272004). The prime contractor, Longyear Company, Minneapolis, Minnesota, and the subcontractor, Doerfer Division, Cedar Falls, Iowa, have designed, fabricated, and are currently field testing the in-hole retractable bit system. he objective of the program is to develop a minerals exploration core drilling system that allows retraction of a worn out bit and insertion of a new core bit, without pulling the drill rods out of the hole. To date, the results of the project are encouraging, and the retractable bit contract is currently in the last phase of a four-phase program, which is on schedule and under budget.

Jan 1, 1980

By Richard E. Ellwanger

Methods of utilizing flocculants as settling and filter aids for mineral processing slurries are reviewed. Broad chemical classifications and techniques for proper dilution, multiple addition, and combination treatments are discussed. A variety of custom built and commercially available systems for make up and delivery of flocculants to the application points are in use through- out the mining industry. Those concepts which, in the author's opinion, are particularly important to the successful make up and use of flocculants are presented in relationship to the available make up and feed systems. Actual industrial applications are included in the presentation.

Jan 1, 1980

By Jay P. Chapman

The basic control requirement for multi-pump, long distance slurry pipelines are discussed and a particular example of an operating slurry pipeline using programmable controllers is presented.

Jan 1, 1983

By John Durkin

A system based on seismic techniques has been developed to detect and locate men trapped underground following a mine disaster. Both theoretical and field studies have been used to generate models to predict the performance of the system. For a strong source, it is almost certain that the miner's signal will be detected if the geophone array can be positioned over a likely area of entrapment. After signal processing, it is highly likely that the location of the miner can be determined within an accuracy of 100 ft (30.5 m). The system is presently operational in a state of readiness in the event of a mine disaster.

Jan 1, 1980

By R. V. Ramani

An improved mine environment is the single most critical factor affecting the health and safety of workers engaged in underground coal winning. A very important subclassification of this wide field is mine ventilation, which essentially deals with 'mine atmospheric environmental control.' To ensure proper mine atmospheric environmental control, adequate quantities of air must flow through working sections in the mine. In recent years much attention has been paid to the fan and its prime movers, but the efficient use of the fan output in the workings has not received an equal amount of investigation. In mechanically ventilated mines friction losses in main airways often account for 70 to 90 percent of the total pressure loss sustained in the system. Also the leakage losses are a serious detriment to the efficiency of mine ventilation systems. It is not uncommon to loose 60 to 70 percent of the air between the fan and the last open cross-cuts due to leakage directly into the return Proper assessment of these losses in simulating and projecting complex ventilation systems is vital. Network analysis of ventilation systems is not new. Scott and Hinsly (1951) presented the detailed mathematical framework. Since then work has been done in adopting this technique to analog, and within the past few years, to digital computers. Development of computer programs to solve ventilation network problems has been reported in United Kingdom, Japan, U.S.S.R., South Africa, Germany, and the United States. The purpose of these programs is to serve as an experimental mine wherein analysis of proposed alternatives or ventilation planning can be tested. The great power of the computer as a planning tool lies in the ability to input empirical or Projected data into programs with predicting ability. But, however good a computer program is, unless fairly accurate input information is available accurately assessing the engineering factors of the ventilation system, the output will be suspect. Thus, to simulate and project mine ventilation systems, good estimates of leakage and friction factors are important. Yet, relatively little work has been done in the past three decades to determine these more realistically.

Jan 1, 1973

By C. B. Henderson

The development of slurries of coal and water as a boiler fuel replacing No. 6 fuel oil has been actively pursued at the Atlantic Research Corporation since 1976. Funding for this effort has been provided by the U.S. Department of Energy, the Electric Power Research Institute, and by corporate funds. The name ARC-COALTM has been selected for these slurries. Stable coal-water slurries with bone-dry coal loadings between 62% and 77% have been prepared, evaluated rheologically, and successfully burned in an experimental furnace without the assistance of other fuels. The advantages and properties of these slurries, including combustion results, are reviewed. Also discussed is the pilot line used for processing barrel quantities of fuel and a pilot plant capable of processing 600 bbl/day, currently being designed.

Jan 1, 1982

By Rollin A. Slater

The bulk materials handling industry has served silently for years as the skeleton structure and often the central system of nerves and nourishment for the body of basic production industries. During the past two decades, this body has undergone substantial growth and mutation to meet the surging demands of our national economy for more and better products. The steel industry has been prominent in this phenomena and plants of the sixties are as unlike the second war vintage as our current crop of basketball players differ from their fathers. Steel has kept pace with spiralling demand by innovation which has resulted in new processes and improved designs which generally yield greater production from fewer units. The supporting industry of materials handling has likewise improved its techniques and currently has a new stronger generation of equipment to perform its necessary supporting function. It has been my fortunate experience to have been instrumental in the creative stages of several new steel mills which are currently in conceptual design or actual construction. Drawing upon exerpts from this experience, this paper will describe a basic approach to the selection and application of modern bulk materials handling systems to an entirely new steel plant. Specific details of past work are not available for publication, therefore, the plant described herein is a composite of ideas and will be the new plant of the Hypothetical Steel Corporation which will be located on the lower shores of the Great Lakes.

Jan 1, 1967

By R. J. Haydel

The Highland Uranium Operations of Exxon Company, U.S.A. is a large uranium mining and processing complex situated in the Powder River Basin of East-central Wyoming. Surface mining and chemical processing of a large relatively low-grade ore body began in late 1972. An underground mine was later developed and began production in November of 1977. Figure 1 shows the location of our operations. During the planning stages of the project, it was recognized that hiring and retaining quality employees would be a significant problem. Other operations in similarly isolated locations were experiencing high turnover rates and were forced to employ inexperienced and poorly trained operators. In an attempt to attract employees, many of the companies provided mobile home or bunk- house facilities, but these costly peripheral ventures did not prove to be noticeably successful.

Jan 1, 1979

By D. H. Stonehouse

There is no such thing as an industrial minerals industry. There are, however, many industries operating in the general field of industrial minerals. And although we use the phrase "industrial minerals industry" out of sheer convenience, the only common denominator among, say, the potash mining and processing industry, the sulphur-sulphuric acid industry and the granite industry is, in fact, that they each are exploiting an industrial mineral resource. May I quote the person whom I consider to be the reigning Mr. Industrial Minerals, Robert L. Bates, who in the 4th edition, 1975, of Industrial Minerals and Rocks states: "An industry is considered to belong to the industrial minerals field if its operations consist of extraction and processing, but not manufacturing. Thus the mining and beneficiation of feldspar is a mineral industry, but the manufacture of ceramic products is not. In the cement and lime industries, processing merges into manufacture, and the line is less distinct. It disappears altogether in a plant that extracts salt as artificial brines, and makes sodium and chlorine chemicals, all under the same roof."

Jan 1, 1981

By W. F. Riggs

INTRODUCTION Flotation equipment is becoming more definitive in design as well as greater in dimension. The last ten years have witnessed the implementation of large flotation cells ranging in size from 28 to 85 cubic meters. However, small plants still operate with cells as small as 3 cubic meters. These changes have increased the operational sensitivity of the flotation system to the chemical reagents used. No scientific study has been undertaken to develop the relationship between the size of equipment and the response of reagents in the flotation system. Hence, this article is an attempt to present several observations from past experience for the purpose of stimulating future research in an area previously ignored and perhaps subsequently not used to advantage. CONVENTIONAL FLOTATION Recent advances in conventional flotation cell design have been made in two areas: a. Flotation cells are becoming larger, and b. Basic design of flotation cells has changed. They can be classified into two types: deep cell and shallow draft cell. Size and design changes of flotation cells have a greater effect on frother performance than on the performance of other chemical reagents. Hence, the discussion in the following sections is restricted to the impact of frothers in the flotation system. Flotation Cell Size The advent of increasing flotation cell size has resulted in the increase of frother consumption. There appears to be a correlation between reduced horsepower (kilowatt) consumption and increased frother consumption per ton of ore processed in the circuit. This is more prevalent when the frother chemistry remains unchanged. Another reason for increased frother consumption is the increased distance between the rotating central shaft and the lip of the cell for larger flotation machines. Increasing this distance results in increased surface area corresponding to the larger cell size. Reduced power input per ton combined with the need for longer, stronger load support of the froth bubble as a result of increasing cell size has resulted in the development of a new series of stronger and more persistent frothers. By the same token, these newer, stronger frothers are difficult to control when applied to the smaller cells. This is true even at lower dosages because the break point between too much frother and not enough frother for optimum metallurgy is normally very narrow. This problem is often exaggerated when operators have established an optimum setting for pulp level and air for the particular frother in use. Generally, the tendency is to operate the flotation cells simply by adjusting frother dosage. The increase in frother strength to accommodate the large cells often results in the realization, after a retrofit, that the existing pump box or sump which is still handling the same volume of concentrate is no longer adequate in size. Flotation Cell Design The two most common flotation cell designs installed during the past ten years are the deep cell and the shallow draft cell. The deep cell provides for complete mixing of air and pulp at the bottom of the cell. The shallow draft cell does all the mixing/pumping in the bottom haft of the cell whereas the mixing of the air is performed further up the shaft and is brought into contact with the pulp midway up the vortex. There are many preferences for one or the other. It is the author's contention that both designs have very valid concepts and must simply be suited to the particular situation as required by the operator. The following comments are subjective observations which should be explored in greater detail. The deep cell mixes both air and pulp together at the bottom of the cell requiring a full depth ascending of the homogenized air to the surface to form the froth layer. This design, in combination with charged air, provides for good concentrate grade control under adverse conditions of selectivity, especially when faced with a fine grind and a slime-laden gangue. A selective frother can be applied without a competitive loss in recovery. One of the conditions for good selectivity in this environment is operating at medium pulp solids concentration in the range of twenty-six to thirty-four per cent (26-34%). When a higher solids concentration is used in combination with a coarse grind, it becomes difficult to maintain the same recovery with a selective frother due to higher pulp viscosity. This condition sometimes results in an unacceptable coalescence of the air bubbles as they ascend the full height of the deep cell. The increased pulp viscosity at higher solids concentration can also retard the flotation kinetics. The combination of decreased surface area of dispersed air and slower kinetics can result in reduced recovery causing coarse particles to continue to drop

Jan 1, 1989

Though the mining industry is beset with problems-a broad slump in metal prices, a rash of acquisitions and takeover attempts, rising capital costs, and an aggressive Canadian energy program-there was an under-current of optimism at the 1981 AMC conference that's been missing at industry meetings in recent years. The industry anticipates a turnaround in the 1980s, buoyed perhaps by the new spirit of cooperation from the Reagan administration. For the first time in years, it appears that Washington and the mining industry share mutual goals for developing the nation's resources. A number of prominent Reagan officials were on hand during the three-day conference in Denver, September 28-30, to reassure conferees that restrictions plaguing energy and minerals development would be eased. Interior Secretary James Watt and other government speakers promised cooperation in bringing balance to federal public lands policies, a review of regulations that have hampered the industry, and prompt action on domestic minerals policy. Daniel N. Miller, Jr., assistant interior secretary for energy and minerals, said, "It is our intent to dismantle the overhearing bureaucracy that has stifled mineral and energy exploration. We know that Interior's rules have shackled the mining industry in recent years, and we know that those rules must be eased." Miller noted that the administration will not permit mining on national park lands or wildlife refuges, but added that "we must assess a variety of uses of public lands ... we will restore lands to multiple use where practical." EPA administrator Anne Gorsuch assured industry representatives that the administration intends to work within environmental laws and with Congress to review and revise water, soil, and air pollution policies. "We have a strong commitment to see that there are major mid-course corrections" of air regulations, Gorsuch said. Support from these "new friends in Washington" will be crucial in light of the serious problems pressuring the industry. Copper prices have plunged to almost three-year lows and prices for molybdenum, gold, and silver have slumped. Earnings are down and today's high interest rates prevent a quick turnaround. Companies are on edge after the recent takeovers of Kennecott, St. Joe Minerals, and Texasgulf Though the companies may benefit from the major injection of capital that large energy firms can provide, many observers fear the new parent companies won't be willing or able to survive the cyclical metal markets. Arco and Gulf Resources, for example, have been criticized for closing Anaconda's Montana copper facility and the Bunker Hill unit in Idaho, respectively. Canada's national energy program has brought additional pressure on the industry. This policy, which emphasizes Canadian majority ownership of the country's energy sources, resulted in acquisition of Texasgulf's Kidd Creek lead-zinc-silver complex by Canadian and French interests. In response, the American Mining Congress adopted two resolutions on takeovers. One calls for the US government to review laws regulating tender offers and takeovers "to better ensure that principles of fairness and sound investment policy govern such transactions.'' The other asks the government to demand "fairness and reciprocity" as a basis for US policy governing international trade in minerals and investment relations with other countries. AMC's shopping list included four other priority goals, aimed primarily at the Interior Department: • Prompt implementation of Interior's efforts to bring order and balance to rules governing access to public lands for exploration and development. • Statement by the President of a comprehensive and coherent domestic minerals policy. • Amendment of the Clean Air Act to remove impediments to productivity and barriers to economic development that are not necessary to essential goals of the act. • Development of new approaches to better achieve worker health and safety in the most cost-effective manner without penalizing productivity. Almost 6000 mining industry executives attended the 1981 convention-the largest in AMC's 84-year history. As in years past, the conference offered a wide spectrum of presentations-nearly 100 papers in 26 sessions-ranging from commodity forecasts to the latest technical achievements. New Administration Stockpile Goals The minerals availability session included a presentation on management of the minerals stockpile by Paul K. Kruege r of the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Krueger notes that rather than providing incentives for development of a domestic raw materials industry, the government has "a history of providing disincentives to industry." In mining industries, he adds, the rate of productivity growth has been -6% over the last six or seven years. Krueger feels there will be a major change under the Reagan administration. In March 1981, FEMA began the first purchase program for the national defense stockpile in over 20 years. The stockpile is sadly out of balance, Krueger adds. Stockpile materials are

Jan 12, 1981

By K. C. Liddell

Chemical processing research made notable advances during 1986. This overview is necessarily brief. It is intended, though, to give the flavor of selected areas where recent activity has been high. At the 1986 Annual Meeting of The Metallurgical Society, a symposium was held on hydrometallurgical reactor design and kinetics. R. G. Bautista, R. J. Wesely, and G. W. Warren edited the resultant proceedings volume. This is the first available volume on this subject. It includes 26 papers on fundamental kinetic studies, modeling of reaction kinetics and reactor performance, and pilot and production-scale operations. Metals discussed include silver, gold, platinum, titanium, cobalt, nickel, zinc, copper, manganese, and iron. Agitated tanks, heaps, dumps, pachucas, pressure auto-claves, electrolytic reactors, liquid membranes, and fluidized beds are among the reactor types covered. An international symposium dealt with iron control in hydrometallurgy. It was sponsored by the Metallurgical Society of CIM, the Institution of Mining and Metallurgy, The Metallurgical Society of AIME, and Gesellschaft Deutscher Metallhutten and Bergleute. J. E. Dutrizac and A. J. Monhemius edited a proceedings volume containing 41 papers. These covered many areas of process chemistry, solvent extraction, precipitation, treatment of pickle liquors, impurities, residues and the environment, and process selection. Precious metals Concerning precious metals processing, the US Bureau of Mines IC 9059 is noteworthy. It includes papers presented at a USBM briefing at the Western Mining Conference in Denver. Topics covered included ion exchange, staged heap-leaching direct-electrowinning, and mercury precipitation during cyanide leaching of gold ores. Also dealt with were carbonaceous gold ores, carbon adsorption and desorption, heap leaching, the carbon-in-pulp process, and precious metals recovery from electronic scrap and solder. R. C. Sandberg and J. L. Huiatt (Journal of Metals, June 1986, and USBM RI 9022) developed a method to recover silver, gold, and lead from a complex sulfide using ferric chloride, thiourea, and brine-leach solutions. Gallium Gallium recovery was also a subject of considerable interest. Much information on this topic is proprietary. But two papers described solvent extraction of gallium. V. P. Judin and R. G. Bautista (Metallurgical Transactions B, 1986) developed an equilibrium model to separate gallium chloride from aluminum chloride. Tributyl phosphate was the extractant studied. T. Sato and H. Oishi (Hydrometallurgy, 16, 1986) investigated gallium extraction from sodium hydroxide by using Kelex 100. Data were given on the equilibrium distribution and the extraction kinetics. Galena Interest continues in recovering lead by hydrometallurgical processing of galena. J. E. Dutrizac; S. H. Kim, H. Henein, and G. W. Warren; and M. C. Fuerstenau et al. (Metallurgical Transactions B, 1986) all investigated leaching of PbS by ferric chloride. Dutrizac reported parabolic kinetics and reaction control by outward diffusion of lead through a porous layer of elemental sulfur. Kim, Henein, and Warren, however, reported that two leaching reactions occur. A nonoxidative reaction produces H2S and there is an oxidative leaching by ferric ion. Acid dissolution was found to predominate when the acid activity to ferric activity ratio is high. Surface chemical reaction was reported to be controlling. Fuerstenau et al. also reported that mass transfer through the sulfur layer is rate determining. But they believe that the species transferred are chloro complexes of ferric ion. In other work on lead, A. Y. Lee, A. M. Wethington, and E. R. Cole, Jr. of the USBM described an environmentally acceptable hydrometallurgical alternative to the smelting of lead concentrates (RI 9055). Uranium In spite of depressed prices, much work has been reported on uranium processing. R. G. L. McCready, D. Wadden, and A. March-bank (Hydrometallurgy 17, 1986) described the nutrient needs for in-place leaching by T. ferrooxidans. They reported the optimal conditions for uranium solubilization. L. E. Eary, H. L. Barnes, and L. M. Cathles (Metallurgical Transactions B, 1986) carried out an experimental and modeling study of uraninite dissolution. They concluded that ferric ion preferentially leaches uraninite in pyritic ores. Hydrogen peroxide was found to be less selective. A. Vuorinen, P. Hiltunen, and O. H. Tuovinen (Hydrometallurgy 15, 1986) studied redox and precipitation reactions of iron and uranium in leach liquors. P. T. Chiang (Hydrometallurgy 17, 1986) reported on the effect of uranium loading in the DEPA-TOPO process to separate uranium and iron from wet-process phosphoric acid. F. J. Hurst (Hydrometallurgy 16, 1986) conducted a fundamental study of the separation of uranium from phosphoric acid by DEPA and TOPO. D. E. Chia and W. C. Cooper (Hydrometallurgy 16, 1986) reported on bench and pilot scale work to recover uranium by the HIMIX process. They reported that the acid consumption to produce an eluate suitable for yellowcake

Jan 5, 1987

By Keith A. Yarborough

INTRODUCTION The National Park Service (NPS) conducted a research program from mid-1975 to early 1978 to measure alpha radiation levels in natural caves which it administers. Subsequently, a long-term management program was developed which has conducted routine monitoring of radiation levels and has computed employee exposure accumulations in certain NPS caves. The overall program: research and management; was undertaken to evaluate the possible health hazard to cave visitors, interpreters, researchers, maintenance personnel, concessions employees and other workers and to protect their health. The results of this work have been reported extensively elsewhere (see References 1 through 3, 5, 6, 9 through 13, and 14 through 26). This paper deals with the relation of radon gas and daughter produced radiation levels to the cave air flows which mobilize them. These flows are a function of interior cave and exterior ambient air temperatures and pressures and of the cave's geophysical configuration. The low-level, ionizing radiation is produced by minute concentrations of radon and thoron gases which emanate from within caves. Because of confinement, the radiation levels are often appreciably higher than in surface atmospheres. Subsequent radioactive disintegration of the gases into their ionized "daughter" products, which are particulates, permits distribution of the alpha radiation throughout a cave system. The extent and character of this distribution depends upon the particular cave and the air flows which it produces. Thus, the alpha radiation serves as a "tracer" to describe the flows. The flow analysis is divided into two parts: 1) A qualitative description with respect to the two basic geophysical cave types over both long-term (annual) and short-term (diurnal to weekly) periods. 2) A quantitative description of the unsteady, uniform and non-uniform, one-dimensional, incompressible motions for both influent and effluent air flow situations in both basic geophysical cave types. A part of the qualitative description presents "Special Measurement" data: Tsivoglou [vs.] Kusnetz working levels, Tsivoglou individual daughter levels and free ion concentrations, radon gas concentrations, and equilibrium ratios. A great deal of important work has been carried out by Mr. Bobby C. Carson, Cave Radiation Technician at Mammoth Cave National Park, Kentucky. He reports these findings later in this conference (Ref. 6). Some of his results have been used here to establish the cave air flow analysis. Other National Park Service personnel have made measurements at others of the caves for which data are reported here. All of this work and cooperation has been vital to the success of this research program. It is very much appreciated. THEORETICAL FLOW DESCRIPTION Previously reported research (See Ref's. 20, 21, 23 and 25) has established the qualitative relationship between the alpha radiation in caves and their natural air flows. The radiation serves as a representation of these air flows. Changes in radiation with time represent changes in the main forces which produce the air flows. The quantitative data have substantiated that [all caves in which the primary cause of air flow is due to temperature produced gravity (density) gradients and also having minimal man-made disturbances, experience seasonal variations in airborne alpha radiation. The radiation levels increase in summer but decrease in winter], based upon seasonal air movements through each cave system which occur naturally. Two general types of physical cave configurations which control the air flows have been identified as: 1. Those which go up into a hillside or mountainside: Type I ("Upside-down" = USD). 2. Those which go down into the earth; Type II ("Right-side-up" = RSU). These act to control the air flows seasonally. The summer increase in Type I caves is due to increased air flows, whereas in Type II caves it results from stagnation or reduced air flows. This seeming paradox is explained by the physics of the air flow regime in each cave type and has been detailed elsewhere [Ref's. (20), (22) through (25)]. It[ i] true, in general, that air flow decreases airborne radiation in the [immediate vicinity] in which it occurs. Any paradox results from subsequent distribution throughout the case as to [ how] the air moves through a cave [system] with respect to time and space. Exceptions to the cave air flow "rule" are: 1. Caves in which pressure gradients and pressure fluctuations [predominate] in producing the air flows. 2. Caves in which man-made effects and management practices are superimposed on the natural air flow regime. Man-made disturbances which can alter the natural cave air flows are tunnels, elevator shafts, bore holes, sealed and closed portals, etc. If these are not properly sealed, the natural air flows which they change will totally alter the distribution and seasonal variations of the alpha radiation levels. These exceptions may act separately or in combination.

Jan 1, 1981

By Immo H. Redeker, O. E. Pothier, E. W. Gieseke

Phosphate rock is the primary source of phosphorus, an element necessary to all forms of life--plant, animal, and human. While phosphorus finds many uses in everyday life, it is an irreplaceable ingredient in all complete plant foods. With the present need for intensive farming, the fertility of the soil can be maintained only by external additions supplied by mines or other sources. A major consideration in any mining operation is to establish the economic and ecological impact of the development on the local population as well as the national interest. The Commodity Data Summaries, as published by the U.S. Bureau of Mines (USBM), is a ready reference concerning the importance of phosphate to the national and local interest. The summary of domestic and world pro¬duction is given in Table 1. During 19722 the demand for marketable phosphate rock exceeded the supply in the United States and the rest of the world. Domestic and world reserves are more than adequate to meet furture demands. Phosphate rock prices firmed and export prices increased, reflecting the change from oversupply to a shortage of phosphatic fertilizers. Demand is expected to exceed supply through 1973. New fertilizer plant capacity planned for 1973-74 will increase the production of phosphate rock by more than 5 million tons in the United States. Morocco and Spanish Sahara are scheduled to increase their production to 18 and 3 million tpy, respectively, within 2 to 3 years. The domestic phosphate rock production for 1972 was 40.8 million tons and 1973 was 42.1 million tons.' Industry, with government-supported programs, will emphasize restoration of mined land and solution of the colloidal slime disposal problem in Florida. The foregoing information comes by courtesy of The Division of Nonmetallic Minerals of the U.S. Bureau of Mines, January 1973. The summary gives a great deal of information but does not give a complete picture. There are many supporting industries which contrib¬ute to the area in which the mines are located. The figures shown in Table 1 deal with concentrates. To produce such concentrates many more tons of waste overburden and ore must be moved. Because of the competitive nature of the phosphate rock industry, data on concentration ratios not only are difficult to obtain but also are not for publication by companies. The concentration ratios vary from one mine to the next in Florida as well as in Tennessee and the western United States. To produce 42.4 million tons of phos¬phate rock in the United States required moving about 350 to 400 million tons of material. Domestic Industry. In 1972 some 26 firms and the Tennessee Valley Authority produced phosphate rock, with several firms produc¬ing from more than one mine. The distribution of marketable phos¬phate rock production was: Florida and North Carolina 82%; Idaho, Montana, Utah, and Wyoming 13%; and Missouri and Tennessee 5%. The value of this production was $223 million. The principal consuming classifications were: agriculture 75%, soaps and detergents 5%, plating and polishing 3%, animal feed supplements 4%, and miscellaneous applications 13%. Over 5,000 firms processed end-prod¬ucts for agricultural purposes. Uses of Phosphate Rock. The tendency in the United States has been to produce more phosphoric acid by the wet process, while the production of electric furnace phosphorus, triple superphosphate, and ordinary superphosphate has been on the decline. Exports of phosphate rock have been on the increase for several years and in 1971 reached 33% of total production. However, export sales of phos¬phate rock are expected to decline in the years ahead, both in total tons of sales and in percentage of production as domestic sales increase (see Table 2). The description and chemistry involved in the production of phos¬phate fertilizers is too complicated to be presented here. The Waggaman13 book is a very thorough reference on the subject involv¬ing production, utilization, and chemistry. The various operations generally have chemical plants near the dry plants or ship to associated chemical plants for further processing. Wet rock, dry rock, and ground dry rock of various grades are sold. In addition various grades of calcined phosphate rock, including defluorinated phosphate rock for animal food supplements, are pro¬duced. Various grades of phosphoric acid, superphosphate, triple suerphosphate, as well as diammonium phosphate, are produced. These products are available from the various producing compa¬nies listed in the text. For prices and specifications the producing companies should be contacted.

Jan 1, 1985

By R. L. Garrett

The quality of mineral additives used 1n a drilling fluid (mud) can dramatically affect the fluid's properties and the overall cost of drilling an oil or gas well. The principally used minerals are bentonite, barite, barite/hematite blends and hematite alone. The high specific gravity minerals, barite and hematite, are used to increase drilling fluid density. Bentonite clay is used to increase drilling fluid viscosity, gel strength and to provide a low permeability filter cake. A multi-million dollar investment in a well and the safety of the personnel on the drilling rig can depend on how effectively these mud additives perform with other constituents in the mud. This paper points out effects caused by small amounts of certain carbonate and sulfide mineral impurities in barite or hematite and how polymeric extender additives in bentonites contribute to unpredictable behavior of a mud. Effects like these are the reason why oil companies who use these materials sometimes set their own quality standards beyond those already specified in API Spec. 13A. Also discussed in this paper are the current standardization activities in API Committee 13 on these minerals.

Jan 1, 1986

By J. W. Mustard

The Macmillan Pass tungsten property (MacTung) is the largest known copper-tungsten, calcic, exoskarn deposit in the Western Hemisphere. Located on the border between the Yukon and Northwest Territories in northwestern Canada, the deposit crops out on Mt. Allen within the Selwyn Mountain Range. It was discovered in 1962 by a subsidiary of AMAX Inc. and has since been explored by 16,300 meters of surface and underground diamond drilling and by 800 meters of underground development. Geologic reserves are in excess of 30 million tons, grading slightly less than 1.0% WO3. Scheelite (CaWO3 ) is the main mineral of economic interest. Accessible by road, the property is not in production. Previously estimated reserves at MacTung have been unable to fully utilize all the geological controls on mineralization. In the past three years, however, an intensive program has been underway to improve our understanding of the deposit and to use the resulting information in a more precise way. This paper will discuss the key aspects of the geology as they specifically relate to reserve estimation and will demonstrate how these controls are being used in a geostatistical model of the deposit.

Jan 1, 1985

By Peter I. Brooker

The semi-variogram, the basic tool of geostatistical estimation procedures, must itself be estimated from the available data. From a numerically simulated two dimensional deposit, with known variability expressed through its semi-variogram, the standard arithmetic mean estimator is used to calculate experimental semi-variograms. These are determined on a series of data sets obtained from the deposit with various sampling grids which cover different areas of the deposit and which have a wide range of available data. The orders of discrepancies between estimated and theoretical semi-variograms are determined in this idealized situation; and this provides a basis against which to assess experimental semi- variograms made on field data.

Jan 1, 1982

By George A. Komadina

The Pima Mining Company lies 20 miles southwest of Tucson, Arizona, and some 45 miles north of the Mexican border. The mill is situated on a hillside overlooking Tucson and the Santa Cruz Valley, the ground generally sloping northeast at a 2.5 percent grade. The hillside location allows for gravity flow generally through the plant as well as for: tailing disposal.

Jan 1, 1965