Search Documents

By John B. Hastings

Chief among the varied problems facing the mine-manager is that of vein-structure and origin, which is highly important as a guide to successful discovery and development. If metalliferous deposits can be traced to the intrusion of waters along definite lines, then is there something tangible for him to study. But when he is told by a geologist that metalliferous deposits are due to some other cause, like magmatic differentiation, while not perhaps discouraged, he is impressed with a vague sense of new worlds to be conquered. In 1897, while manager of the War Eagle mine at Rossland, B. C., where, previously, the ore-bodies had not been supposed to occur as veins, I suggested to visiting members of the Canadian Geological Survey that, perhaps, the structure of the pyrrhotite-bodies of that mine, which had been proved to occur along well-defined fractures, might throw some light on the similar deposits of Sudbury, then held to be basic aggregations from the original magma. Later investigation has at least provoked discussion of this last deduction, questioning its correctness and suggesting that, perhaps, the deposits are actual veins. The following extract from a paper by J. E. Spurr' is quoted, because it sets forth Mr. Spurr's theory of the quartz-occurrences of the Silver Peak mines, which will be discussed in this article. It also graphically describes the attendant geological features. "The Drinkwater group of mines, which is the most important part of the Blair gold properties, and which has produced practically all of the million dollars' worth of ore, as above stated, may be taken as typical of the gold-veins which, though widespread and numerons, show a wonderful similarity of character. On the surface two adjacent veins outcrop, the Crowning Glory and the

Jan 1, 1906

By Alfred James

Some months since, in the Johannesburg gold-fields of South Africa, the attention of the author was directed to certain statements to the effect that the gold-contents of foul or extremely dilute cyanide-solutions could not be effectively precipitated in practice by the usual zinc-method. Such statements caused all the greater surprise, because it is well known that this difficulty is not encountered in other wellknown districts, as, for example, in New Zealand, where solutions containing less than 0.05 per cent. of KCy are regularly reduced in practice to below 1 grain of gold per ton, while in Mexico and the United States almost equally satisfactory precipitations are not uncommon. As a result of these representations, however, the author visited several plants at work in the Transvaal, and noted that while at some few mines the precipitation was really excellent, at others the effluent, after treatment, was much too high in bullion-contents. An investigation into the causes of these unsatisfactory results disclosed the fact that more attention to the close packing of the zinc-shavings in the extractor-compartments tended to improve the results, even with the most dilute solutions. The function of the zinc being one of surface, it stands to reason that a compartment well filled with zinc would be more effective than a half-filled one. Moreover, the quality of the zinc was inferior. This should be in long, tough, thin, light threads; light enough to ignite readily, and tough enough not to disintegrate easily into a slime. The coarse shavings too frequently employed appear to give the reverse of the best practice ; they are brittle, contain less surface, and take up more room. It is almost impossible to pack a compartment properly

Jan 1, 1898

Division of Geology, State of Tennessee, 401 Seventh Ave, North, Nashville, Tenn. Walter F. Pond, State Geologist A selected list of Bulletins available: Bulletin 1(B), Bibliography of Tennessee geology (1911); 2(A) Outline introduction to mineral resources (1910), 2(D) Marbles (1911); 2(G) Zinc deposits (1910), 16, Red iron ores of east Tennessee (1913), 22, Geology and natural resources of Rutherford County (1920), 24(A) Geology and oil possibilities of parts of Overton, Clay, Pickett and Fentress counties (1920); 24(B) Oil and gas resources of northeastern Sumner County (1920), 26, Mineral resources of Waynesboro Quadrangle (1921); 28, Marble deposits of East Tennessee (1923), 29, Magnetic iron ores of east Tennessee (1923), 31, Zinc deposits of east Tennessee (1923), 33, Tennessee coal fields, 37, Geology and mineral resources of Hardin County, 38, Stratigraphy of the Central Basin (in press), 39, Brown iron ores of the Eastern Highland Rim (in press) From 1911 to 1919, inclusive, volumes were issued annually on The Resources of Tennessee Only a few of the separate papers contained in those volumes are now available Vol. 2 (1911): No 1, Explosions of coal dust in mines, and other papers, No. 4, Lignite and lignitic clays in west Tennessee, and other papers; 5, The growth of knowledge of Tennessee geol¬ogy; 9, The valley and mountain iron ores of east Tennessee, 10, The iron industry of Lawrence and Wayne counties, and other papers; 11, Barite deposits in the Sweetwater district, and other papers, 12, The iron ore deposits in the Tuckalioe district, and another paper Various oil maps (15 to 40 cents each) and traverse maps of counties (25 cents and 31 each) can be had, as well as pertinent U. S topographic maps.

Jan 1, 1933

By John Branner

FIVE of the geologic horizons that yield oil in other parts of the world are represented in Brazil; namely, the Devonian, Carboniferous, Permian, Cretaceous, and Tertiary. Thus far, the first two have shown no, evidences of being oil bearing within Brazilian territory. Not enough exploring has been done to permit trustworthy comparisons of the relative importance of the Permian, Cretaceous, and Tertiary as oil-bearing horizons in this country. The most important, indeed almost the only, information available relates to the locations of the areas and to the structural features of the several horizons. The theories regarding the physical conditions under which these rocks were laid down, however, I regard of the utmost importance. PERMIAN Rocks of Permian age cover an enormous area in Brazil, extending from Rio Grande do Sul to Maranhão on the north, and to Matto Grosso on the west. These Permian rocks in many places are known to include oil-bearing shales and in some locations contain small veins of gilsonite. The geologic map of Brazil shows that the Permian area is widely distributed, but there is considerable doubt about 'the origin of some of the rocks:. Some of the lower Permian beds in southern Brazil contain marine fossils, but in Minas no fossils have as yet been found in them, and in Bahia, at only one locality have a few Permian plants been found. Indications of oil have been found in the states of São-Paulo, Paraná, and elsewhere farther south, but wells drilled in the Permian of São Paulo near the Morro do Bofete did not find oil. One well has been started, by the Brazilian government, in the Permian of Paraná near Marechal Mallet, close to latitude 26° south, but thus far oil has not been found.

Jan 6, 1922

By Waldemar Lindgren, Clyde P. Ross

To the miner, as well as to the geologist, the eastern part of Cuba is a most interesting region. Here we find, in contrast to the moderate relief predominating elsewhere in the island, an imposing mountain range, the Sierra Maestra, extending east and west parallel to the coast, its precipitous front facing the blue Caribbean Sea. In a geological sense this range is largely an unknown land, the only well-explored region being that in the vicinity of Santiago. The range also contains the most important mineral deposits of the island. They comprise, first, a series of iron deposits yielding a partly hematitized magnetite with low content of phosphorus; second, a remarkable copper-bearing vein at El Cobre; and third, various manganese deposits. Probably more deposits will be found, for the larger and western part of the range is as yet little explored and its slopes are covered by a thick tropical jungle. The following notes are based on a short visit by the senior author in January and February of 1914 to the mines at Daiquiri, El Cobre, and Mayari. For many courtesies and great assistance he is deeply obliged to Charles F. Rand, President of the Spanish-American Iron CO.; to George W. Pfeiffer, General Manager, and to the several members of his staff. Geological Features of the Sierra Maestra For our knowledge of the geology of the Sierra Maestra we are indebted to reconnaissance work by Fernandez de Castro, R. T. Hill, Mr. C. Hayes, T. W. Vaughan, and A. C. Spencer. The summary by the latter three geologists furnishes the best guide to the region.' The range is undoubtedly outlined by a great east-west dislocation. Its southern slope drops abruptly to the sea, while on the north side a much gentler declivity leads down to the rolling plateau of Tertiary limestone which occupies much of the adjacent part of the island. Viewed

Jan 1, 1916

By Benjamin F. Tillson

The hammer drill rightly receives the credit for having made the one-man drill possible, and so many economies seem possible through the proper application of different types of hammer drills to various mining, quarrying, and excavating operations, that an indication of the 'economies effected by the New Jersey Zinc Co. at its Franklin mines may be of pertinent interest. When this company commenced its trials of hammer drills in 1907, these tools had not been developed to one-fourth the capacity and refinement which they have at present. At that time it was frequently stated that such a small tool, drilling holes of less diameter than the reciprocating rock drill, could not drill enough holes in a shift to permit the placing of sufficient explosive to break a tonnage of ore comparable with that produced by the "rock drills;" that the placing of small holes inclined upward, at angles steeper than 40' above the horizontal, could not be expected to produce results equal to the large flat, wet or dry, holes in the breasted back of an overhand stope, and would only shatter the ground so as to make the back unsafe. In spite of these adverse opinions, the hammer drills first showed their superiority over both heavy and light reciprocating drills in raising and in stoping, and then in drifting and quarry work. As a result, all of the reciprocating drills at the Franklin mines were scrapped three years ago, all of the mining work being accomplished with increased efficiency, as shown in detail in this article. With the advent of the hammer drill in this property, it was considered advisable to make comparative tests of all the tools accessible, and it has since been the policy to investigate the merits of any advance of the drilling art in order to get the maximum amount of work from the tools. The necessity of devising some means of standardizing drill tests, and of measuring the consumption of compressed air as well as the drilling speed, was early realized. The common test was to fill a measured air receiver with compressed air at a certain gauge pressure, run the drill until the pressure had dropped to too low a figure, then compute from the time, drop in pressure, and

Jan 1, 1915

Rossiter Worthington Raymond, Ph.D., LL. D-1840 to 1918.-Dr. Rossiter W. Raymond, Past President, Honorary Member and Secretary Emeritus, died suddenly of heart failure at his home, 123 Henry'St., Brooklyn, N. Y., on the evening of Tuesday, Dec. 31, 1918. He was one of the founders of the Institute and its second President. A Memorial 'Service will be held on Monday afternoon, Feb. 17. James Douglas.- The Institute suffered a second very severe loss by the death of Dr. James Douglas, Honorary Member, Past President (having served as President for two years), and in three separate respects the greatest benefactor of the Institute: first, in raising funds by volun¬tary subscription and his own personal gifts to pay the Institute's share of the money owed on the land on which the Engineering Societies Build¬ing now stands; second, as original donor to Engineering Societies Library; and third, by his bequest of $100,000 for the maintenance of the library of the American Institute of Mining Engineers. A resolution regarding the death of Dr. Douglas was passed by the Board of Directors and at the meeting of the Institute on Sept. 4, 1918, in Colorado, at which time a memorial service was held in the thea¬ter of the Hotel Broadmoor, attended by about 400 members and guests. A copy of the resolution was prepared and sent to the family. A bronze tablet is now being prepared and will be placed in the Members' Room and unveiled at the February meeting. A biography and portrait of Dr. Douglas was published in the September, 1918, Bulletin. There is also placed in the Engineering Societies Library an oil portrait of Dr. Douglas which had his own approval and was presented by him. American Institute of Metals.--During the Spring of the year, plans were completed with the American Institute of Metals whereby this society became the Institute of Metals Division of the American Insti¬tute of Mining Engineers. This body was a dignified aggregation of metallurgists which had been in existence for about 11 years. A bronze tablet commemorating the American Institute of Metals is now being placed in the Members' Room of the Institute, and during the year 1919 the Bulletin will bear the following title: "Bulletin of the American Institute of Mining Engineers, with which is consolidated the American Institute of Metals." Visits to Local Sections.-During the year President Jennings made visits to six of the Local Sections, on three of which occasions he was accompanied by the First Vice-president and the Secretary. First Vice-president Goodale made five visitations and the Secretary made eight.

Jan 1, 1923

By J. A. Heskett

NEW ZEALAND is dependent on the outside world for its ferro goods, yet it can boast of at least two well-defined iron-ore deposits; namely, Para Para limonite, 3 Fe203 + 21120 also found as lower hydrated oxides, and Taranaki iron-sand, a combined magnetite and ilmenite, 2FeO + 2Fe203 + FeO + Ti02. The former is of massive variety and the FIG. 1.-VIEW OF WORKS SHOWING IRON-SAND DEPOSITS, ALSO WHARF AND BREAK¬WATER IN THE DISTANCE. latter granular and mixed with various proportions of fine shell and siliceous sand well water-worn. This latter deposit forms the greater portion of the beach sands of the west coast of the North Island of New Zealand. It is so fine that the whole of a sample passed through a sieve of 40 meshes to the inch. The ilmenite cannot be detected by the microscope, as in the titaniferous ores of the Adirondacks, nor can it be magnetically separated, as in the titaniferous ore of Natashkwan, Canada. To all appearances it is a chemical compound of the double oxides of iron and titanium and not a mechanical mixture, as is the ore of the Adirondack deposits.

Jan 8, 1920

By H. S. George

On one occasion when it seemed desirable to reveal under the microscope not only the metallic structure of an alloy, but certain small non-metallic inclusions that are ordinarily obliterated by etching, it was discovered that, by partly eclipsing the illuminating pencil of light rays, the residual light was thrown on the object from one side and the structure was brought out in relief. At the same time, the non-metallic inclusions were retained in clear view. In this first demonstration of lighting obliquely through the objective a card was thrust part way into the light beam between the arc iris and the light filter; the shadow of the card on the filter served to locate its position. Next several stiff-paper disks of various diameters were mounted on flexible wires; some plasticine on the other end of the wires made it easy to adjust and maintain a disk at any desired position in the light beam. To facilitate manipulation, an assortment of disks was mounted on a wheel, as shown in Fig. 1. The purpose of partly eclipsing the light beam was discussed in an earlier paper.' There it was pointed out that the usual methods of illuminating opaque objects for microscopic examination lend an unnatural appearance to the view, while the new method, which has been termed conical illumination, revels the true relationship of constituents by simulating natural lighting. In nature, all objects are lighted diffusely, or by light predominating from one direction, or by a combination of diffuse and directed light. Under these conditions, objects appear to have three dimensions—they possess relief. The kind of illumination known to metallographists as vertical or axial results in an unnatural appearance, as a large proportion of the illuminating rays are parallel to the line connecting the eye with the object, a condition almost never met in nature. Microconstituents

Jan 1, 1924

By V. H. Wilhelm

The trend initiated in January 1936, of stabilized gasoline prices, increased demand and extraordinary drilling activity, continued in California during the year 1937. Crude prices were maintained during the year at the highest level since September 1930. Wildcat activity with resultant new discoveries and development of proven acreage were greater than in any year since 1928. Many fields in California in former years have been produced at full capacity, with consequent loss of reservoir energy, but at the present time continued activity is maintained to develop adequate reserves, so that production in these fields can be taken at a rate to correspond with good operating practice. Naturally, this good operating practice will be influenced to some degree by gas outlets and, in certain instances perhaps, by oil outlets. In any event, these last two controlling features will result in favorable rather than detrimental operation. In fields producing from great depths, ultimate production will be practically limited to the flowing and compressor life of the well, since there is as yet no economical method for pumping wells below depths of approximately 7000 ft. Experience has shown, however, that such pumping difficulties will be overcome and that production secured by pumping will add some to reserves established on the flowing life of the wells. California continued to operate under voluntary curtailment, but with unlimited transfers of allowable between various fields. Even though there was at all times considerable production above the Umpire's established quota, a constantly increasing demand reduced storage during the year. This increasing demand was due mainly to the rapid rise in Pacific foreign shipments from May to September. It is questionable, however, whether this favorable condition will be maintained over a prolonged period. (See Fig. 1.) Field Discoveries The great drilling activity during the year resulted in the discovery of three new fields in the San Joaquin Valley, as well as many extensions

Jan 1, 1938

By C. WIFLARD HAYES

(New Haven Meeting, February, 1909.) I DESIRE to make it perfectly clear at the outset that I fully realize the hazardous nature of any attempt to estimate the quantity of iron-ore or any other mineral in the ground. I should not have had the temerity to venture upon an inventory of the iron-ore supplies of the United States except for the requirements of the Conservation Commission. During the preparation of this inventory I have been impressed by the wide diversity in estimates of those best qualified to. hold an opinion, and I am therefore prepared in advance for criticism of my figures. Inasmuch as this report was prepared in large part for unprofessional readers, I considered it necessary to classify and describe the commercial iron-ores in a somewhat elementary manner, in order to explain the reasons for the large element of uncertainty in the estimates. I have therefore given a chemical and a geological classification of iron-ores, which place the commercial deposits in six classes: (1) magmatic segregations in basic igneous rocks; (2) contact-deposits formed in connection with igneous intrusions; (3) concentration-deposits; (4) replacement-deposits; (5) bedded-deposits, and (6) gossan-deposits. The iron-ores are further distinguished under two classes available and not available. This classification is in large measure arbitrary, and it, is evident that it will vary front time to time. In the available class are placed those ores which can be worked at a profit under conditions essentially as they exist at present. Since it depends wholly on the question of costs, the various factors which affect cost will determine the classification of any particular deposit. Actual production, * Abstract of Report prepared for the Conservation Commission. t Chief Geologist, United States Geological Survey. .

Apr 1, 1909

By L. J. Ingvalson, Roy H. Miller

IN 1948, as part of a program to expand the copper tube mill facilities of the American Brass Co. plant at Kenosha, Wisconsin, plans were formulated to convert the 100 ton capacity anode casting furnace at the Great Falls, Montana plant of the Anaconda Co. to the production of 3 in. phosphor -ized billets. The furnace was rebuilt completely and construction was started on an addition to the building. Members of the Great Falls staff visited various billet casting plants to draw upon the experience of other producers of this type of casting. Many features of other plants were incorporated into the Great Falls plant but, in addition, many new designs were made and perfected to make the plant the most advanced of its type. Construction was begun in 1949, with the intention of having the plant in production in the early part of 1951. In January 1951, as the plant was being rushed to completion, the government placed restrictions on the production of copper tubing. As a result, work was halted and the plant lay idle for two years. Interest was reactivated in May 1953 with the lifting of restrictions on copper. Plans were laid to go into production in July and the first charge was taken out July 1, 1953. Basically the plant is designed to produce from cathode copper a 3 in. diam billet, 50 in. long. weighing 110 lb, and containing 0.013 to 0.036 pct P, at a rate of 150,000 Ib per operating day. These billets are to be pierced and drawn into tubing. Furnace The furnace is a 100 ton capacity reverberatory type, gas fired furnace; 21 ft long and 9 ft wide. Gas is introduced to the furnace through two 38 hole Mettler gas burners. These burners are of chrome nickel alloy with four jets per hole. The furnace is charged with cathodes from the Electrolytic Copper Refinery plus return scrap from the casting operation by means of a Wellman Seaver Morgan Co. 7,000 lb capacity charging machine. The charge crane has a 20 ft boom and fork peel provided with an air ram to push material off the peel. The machine travels on overhead tracks and can be moved in any direction. The boom can be raised and lowered and swung through an arc of 180". With well stacked units of 6,000 lb, an experienced operator can put the first charge into the furnace in 40 min. After charging, the steel framed silica brick charge door is put in place and sealed with clay. After melting and skimming off the slag, the copper is blown until an oxygen content of 0.40 pct is reached. The metal is then heated to 2180°F, covered with coke, and poled. Poling is continued until a 3 in. diam test billet, 8 in. long, shows a flat set. The oxygen content is usually 0.030 pct at this time. At the end of poling, a temperature of 2160" to 2180°F is desired. In the side of the furnace opposite the charging door is the taphole slot, extending 36 in. upward from the bottom of the furnace. It is 4½ in. wide at the outside face and widens to 9 in. at the inside face of the furnace. It is filled with a wet mixture of sand, fireclay, and crushed coal. Flow of metal

Jan 1, 1957

By Wittenau, E.

OPERATION of a pilot mill of 100 tons' daily capacity during 1930 and 1931 proved that the copper minerals of the Colorado and Clay sections of the Morenci ore body could be successfully concentrated by the flotation process. Economic conditions caused postponement of further testing work until late in 1938 when the former No. 6 Concentrator at Morenci was converted into an experimental mill of 1500 tons' daily capacity which was known as the Test Concentrator. The Test Concentrator began continuous operation on April 3. 1939, using such crushing and grinding equipment of the No. 6 Concentrator as was appropriate. Modern classifiers and certain flotation machines were installed and later other types of flotation machines, a large grate-type grinding mill. mechanical screens, a short-head cone crusher, and a disk filter were added to the test equipment. Operation was uninterrupted until Dec. 31, 1941.

Jan 1, 1942

By AIME AIME

DESTRUCTION of the plants, machines, utilities, tools, materials, and other essentials for peacetime living penalizes not only the owners of the materials destroyed, but the world as a whole. Specifically, the fundamental fallacy of any proposal for the in- discriminate destruction of the German industrial system is that it fails to differentiate between the wartime and the peacetime economy of the Reich. We are for one simple, clear objective-an effective industrial means to keep Germany from starting another war. This objective should not be con- fused, especially before the war is even won, with the appropriate punishment of Germany or with the international arrangements for the long future to be made around the peace table by the representatives of the Allied Nations after victory is achieved. This paper, therefore, does not deal with broad, complex postwar questions of diplomacy and international policy. "Unconditional surrender" implies disarmament of the German armies, the surrender of all arms, munitions, air- planes, and other ordnance material in stock piles or in process. It also should include the elimination of all German war production facilities, such as ordnance plants, munitions plants, and submarine works, and the control of raw materials required by war industries.

Jan 1, 1944

AN excerpt from the Odessa Isvestia Vechernia, dated April 24, 1927, and translated by P. Routzitzky, summarizes a report by Professor Preobragensky ad-dressed to the Russian Government. Professor Preo-bragensky writes in regard to newly discovered potash deposits in eastern European Russia. Near Solikamsk in the Perm district, about 100 miles east of the Ural mountains and on the Kama river, large deposits have been located and the belt has been traced southward about 25 miles. Subsequently the search for potash salts has been transferred to the Berezovsky district, near Nikolsk, on the Kosva river, about 70 miles north-east-of the city of Perm. Toward the end of March, 1927, at a depth of 800 ft., drilling at the Levensk salt works revealed potash salts in, definite strata. The bed has a thickness which extends from a depth of- 245 to 307 meters (latest data in middle of April, 1927) and has not been bottomed yet. Professor Preobragensky goes on to say that these operations have definitely, developed very large de-posits, the limits of which are still unknown. There is at least an implication that the reserves far exceed those of Stassfurt, Germany. For European use they are, of course, much less accessible, for by through rail they lie 1200 miles east of Petrograd. Further, no particulars are given as to the potash content. It is to be supposed that the salt occurs in the Permian beds that extend north and south along the west flank of the Ural mountains, as the localities mentioned .all lie within the area so mapped on the new geologic map of Russia issued by the Scientific and Technical Di-vision of the All-Russian Council of Soviets in 1922. It is interesting to note that these salt beds are of the same geologic age as those of 'the Stassfurt region and of the west Texas-New Mexico district, in which the U. S. Bureau of Mines is at present drilling.

Jan 7, 1927

By C. H. Brehaut, W. N. Taylor, R. S. Douglas, H. A. Shannon

THE name for this new method of mining is derived from a composition of Horizontal, Radial, Diamond, and the drilling is from raises. This method, worked out at Copper Mountain, B.C., is believed to be distinct in many features from other known methods. GEOLOGY The ore deposits of Copper Mountain are related to the Copper Mountain stock, which is an ideal example of the magmatic differentiation in that it grades from a basic gabbro at the border to an almost pure orthoclase-pegmatite core. The "contact" ore bodies lie along the contact of the gabbro and an older complex of volcanics and sediment termed the "Wolfe Creek" formation. These older rocks, collectively referred to as greenstone, had been fractured prior to the intrusion of the stock and were highly metamorphosed during the intrusion. The "outlying" ore bodies are somewhat different in character, though a similar structural pattern prevails. It is believed that a deep-seated magma of which the Copper Mountain stock is a part has given off solutions that caused a partial granitization of some of the volcanics. Mining problems are caused further by the presence of a series of soft barren dikes intersecting a great many of the ore bodies, which are about 30 ft. wide, strike north-south, and dip at a high angle to the east; and are further increased by the presence of four major faults, with a great many minor faults running at acute angles from them. Fault zones average 8 ft. in width, and consist of gouge and breccia. They strike northeast and dip steeply to the northwest. The faults cut through the ore zones and the dikes, and continue on into the gabbro. The general mine structure with two types of ore bodies, bounded by weak walls and intersected by several series of soft barren dikes and major faults, indicated that a method of mining should be devised that would remove the ore at low cost with the least disturbance of the waste walls and dikes. THEORETICAL ESTIMATE OF STOPING WITH THE DIAMOND DRILL After consideration of various methods, the most suitable one appeared to be horizontal drilling to break the ore in a manner similar to shrinkage stoping. Drilling vertical holes or rings from a bench and breaking to an open slot was eliminated because the weak walls of ore, dike or waste would not permit this type of opening. It was then decided to drill either horizontal radial holes from a raise or parallel holes from a slot cut across the ore body. After discussion, the latter method was believed unsuitable, for the following reasons:

Jan 1, 1945

By Carle R. Hayward

WHEN lead production began to recede from the peak productions of 1929 many plants took advantage of the curtailed operations to make necessary improvements and repairs about the plant. There followed a period of adjustment to synchronize production and demand, which merged in the present period of marking time. The lead smelting and refining industry has produced little that is new during the past year except in what might be called makeshifts, which have been introduced to make operation at fractional capacity profitable. This is more particularly true in refineries than in smelters. The Parkes process had become standardized during the period of normal production, with softening, desilverizing, and dezink-

Jan 1, 1935

By H. D. Strain

Potash is a generic term used to describe a number of compounds containing the element potassium (K), which is one of the three major plant nutrients. Potash content of these compounds is commonly expressed as percentage potassium oxide (K20), and the market value of the products is usually dependent on contained K20. Most of the potash produced (approximately 95%) is used in agriculture as fertilizer. Potash products today are shipped by producing countries all over the world to meet the need for increased food production. WORLD POTASH RESERVES Apparent world potash reserves are shown in Table 15.2B.1 and total some 96 billion mt of recoverable potassium oxide. The Canadian reserves account for approximately one-half the known world reserves. The reserves shown represent the potassium oxide content of a variety of potash-bearing ores. The major ore is sylvinite (a mechanical mixture of KC1 and NaCl) from which KC1 or sylvite is recovered (63.2% K20 equivalent). Other ores, such as langbeinite (potassium, magnesium sulfate-22.7% K20) and carnallite (potassuim magnesuim chloride-17.0% K20) are also mined in various parts of the world, mainly for the potassium content. Theoretically, potassium is available in almost unlimited qualities from brines and saline waters. To date, the cost of recovery from salt brines has been greater than the costs by mining operations, but new technology could make brines and seawater an increasingly important source. POTASH PRODUCTION Potash production dates back to the 1860s in Germany, which was the only recorded producing country until 1912. By 1912 Germany was producing approximately 1 million tpy of K2O equivalent. Production began in France in 1913 and in the United States in 1915. World potash production and consumption are shown in Table 15.2B.2 for the years 1950-51 through 1967-68. In 1967 and 1968 the major potash-pro¬ducing countries in order of importance were those listed in Table 15.2B.3. By 1972 Canadian production had outstripped U.S. production. WORLD CONSUMPTION World consumption of potash for the years 1950-51 through 1967-68 is shown in Table 15.2B.2. Table 15.2B.4 shows total world consumption of potassium materials in 1967-68 by country. More than 70% of the world's potash is

Jan 1, 1976

By J. Chupak, D. J. Salley, G. L. Simard

Radiotracers were demonstrated to be of considerable value in a study of the interaction of dithiophosphate with galena. The interaction had characteristics of both chemisorption and chemical reaction, being complex because of the nature of the galena surface. Sorption was rapid and markedly reversible, and flotation occurred at relatively small amounts of dithiophosphate sorbed.

Jan 1, 1950

MARCH 15-Industry is rapidly snapping back from another coal crisis, other business news is in general favorable and the outlook through the Spring is by most observers considered quite promising. Most industries report comfortable backlogs of unfilled orders, department store sales in recent weeks have equalled in dollars those of the corresponding period last year, retail sales of automobiles show again over the same period a year ago, and new orders for machine tools are at the highest figures since August 1946. Orders for railway freight cars have shown a very encouraging pickup, with a total of 9385 cars in January and the N. Y. Central alone ordering 4500 in February. Construction continues very active. In January new housing starts totaled 80,000 against 50,000 a year ago and the daily average contract awards, according to the Dodge reports, were 57 pct larger. In the first 22 days of February the increase in awards was 27 pct. Lumber orders since Jan. 1 have run 22 pct above last year. All of these favorable factors bolster the opinion that the upturn in industrial output and employment which began last summer has not yet spent itself and that the setback caused by the strikes will be made up when people get back to work. Only in a few lines are there indications that primary production may be outrunning the consumption of finished goods, although inventory build-up would seem to be rather modest as the National Association of Purchasing Agents reported in February that 78 pct of its members were buying for 60 days or less. Industrial prices as a whole show no significant trend despite the continued alarm over both the immediate and the long-term possibility of inflation caused primarily by the government's increasing expenditure and its inability to balance the budget. A recent advance of 1.9 pct in primary market prices is viewed by some people as the surface symptom of renewed inflation, but even so it is more than two years since the alltime high was reached by the daily index of sensitive commodities in November 1947. Over two years have passed since prices received by farmers hit their peak and about a year and a half since all wholesale prices and the consumer price index touched their highest points in August 1948. The decline in the wholesale price index has been almost continuous, interrupted only twice by slight advances in the monthly figures from February to March 1949, and, later in the year, from August to September. Of course, this continued decline in the last half of 1949 largely reflects a downward movement in farm and food prices. Wholesale prices for commodities other than farm and food leveled out after June and now stand only slightly under the June level. Farm products are down by 22 pct from January and by 18.6 pct from August 1948. Food prices are down only slightly less. Consequently, the farm price support program is in serious trouble and has imposed a heavy financial burden on the Treasury. In those commodities other than farm products only building materials, chemicals and textiles have come down as much as the average, while housefurnishings and metals and their products have fallen hardly at all. Glancing away from the domestic front, the results of the British general election indicated a highly inconvenient situation, that public opinion there is so exactly deadlocked as to divest the victors of much ability to make forceful decisions or create significant policy. It is generally considered that another election in the near future would give substantially the same result. The British people are equally divided and the politicians are not likely to precipitate another appeal to the country until there is manifest reason to believe that external and internal circumstances have changed sufficiently to permit one party or the other to obtain a decisive verdict. Because of the lack of a clear mandate steel nationalization will likely lag in Britain. In the meantime there is considerable discussion going on as to whether the European steel industries as a whole are at a disadvantage in world competition with the American industry. An article in the "Statistical Bulletin" for January of the British Iron and Steel Federation takes issue on this point with the authors of the Geneva report, observing that they wrote before devaluation, and this particular conclusion "has been overtaken by events." The "Bulletin" also contends that the statement was in any case incorrect so far as Britain was concerned, and that it was based on scanty and insufficient evidence. To support the rebuttal a detailed and extensive comparison is made of the home prices of certain steel products in Britain and in other countries of the world. The accompanying table gives a selection of the prices published. It sets out the changed position since devaluation and since the recent increases in American steel prices. These are home market prices; no doubt in competitive export business some of the price levels could be brought closer together at need.

Jan 4, 1950