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By George Sachs, S. M. Clark, George Espey

he tendency of a commercially drawn cartridge case to crack in the mercury test and the relation of cracking tendency to residual stress retained after drawing were studied. The fourth drawpiece (next to the final) of caliber 0.30 cartridge cases produced by Frankford Arsenal were selected as test pieces. These exhibited an exceptionally high cracking tendency, making a detailed study possible. To obtain fast cracking in the mercury test, about 0.0015 to 0.003 in. must be removed from the wall thickness of the drawpiece by pickling, and it must be subjected to the mercury test immediately after washing. Removal of the adhering mercury by annealing and subsequent squeezing of the case in a vise was used to reveal definitely the presence or absence of cracks. Various lots of apparently identically fabricated cases were shown to possess a different cracking tendency. Machining off or boring a hole in the base gradually reduced and eventually eliminated the cracking tendency. On the contrary, shortening of the wall (body) reduced the cracking tendency only if the wall became so short that the cracking zone was directly affected. By boring out the base and pickling from the outside and then splitting the resulting rings, it was possible to determine the approximate stress distribution in the base and in the adjacent part of the wall. Small compression stresses were present in the core and the major part of the base, while the surface of the base and the adjacent wall contained high circumferential tensile stresses. On the contrary, the wall when parted from the base contained only insignificant residual stress. The conception is advanced, that the stress distribution in a drawn cartridge case corresponds fundamentally to that of a tube (wall) shrunk on a disk (base). Such a stress distribution results from the tendency of the base to recover elastically by an increase in diameter from the biaxial compression during drawing while the wall exhibits little tendency to change its diameter after progressing through the die. This is confirmed by measurements which show the base diameter to be slightly larger than the wall diameter.

Jan 1, 1945

By J. B. Stockton, D. J. Robbins, E. T. Woodburn

Batch flotation data in an equilibrium cell show that beneficiation improves with froth drainage. The limiting lamella thickness in a well- drained 3-phase coal froth appears to be determined for ultra-fine particles (-45µm) by the d90 particle size. The froth stability is considered to depend on the existence of a very thin liquid film between the outer surfaces of the d90 particles and the bounding bubble interfaces of the lamella in which the particle is held. The dependence of the coalescence rate of bubbles in these froths on the residual surfactant concentration in the lamella liquid is then consistent with stability analyses for two-phase foams.

Jan 1, 1988

Unplanned ore dilution can have severe impact on the economics of a mining operation. The paper discusses and distinguishes between controllable and natural parameters influencing ore dilution, and how it can be minimized in longitudinal mining systems of narrow vein orebodies. It is shown through data of surveyed stope profiles and numerical modelling that unplanned ore dilution is a function of stope design and construction, orebody geometry, and rock mass characteristics.

Jan 1, 2010

By G. Hoffman

Sustainable development has brought social, environmental and energy efficiency concerns together with management and governance of natural resources. Cement manufacturing, an energy- and natural resource-intensive industry, is adapting to meet sustainable development goals. Emission standards for cement plants and increasing energy costs have lead to changes in the use of natural resources and recycled materials. Utilizing pozzolans or supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs) as mineral admixtures in blended cement or as a substitute for cement in concrete lowers energy costs and CO2 emissions. Although the western U.S. is rich in natural pozzolans, artificial products, particularly fly ash, have greater use as mineral admixtures. Pozzolans and SCMs have many beneficial properties, such as preventing alkali-silica reactivity, a common problem in the western U.S. Barriers exist for mineral admixtures in the cement and concrete industries because of past inconsistencies in quality or availability. New environmental regulations on the primary industries producing artificial mineral admixtures could adversely affect the quality and quantity of these materials in the future.

Jan 1, 2009

By A. Iannacchione

Most legacy drift mines entered the coal reserve from outcrop and developed up-dip. The Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 changed this way of mining, requiring all new mines with acid- or iron-producing coal seams to be designed so as to prevent gravity water discharges from the mine. This Act requires engineered barriers to contain the mine pool. In many cases, mine layout designs focus primarily on the size and hydraulic performance of the un-mined coal barrier between the up-dip mine pool and areas where down-dip surface discharge is possible. In other cases, designs focus on preventing discharges from barriers contained within the strata surrounding the mined coalbed. This paper focuses on a detailed analysis of the factors responsible for preventing mine pool discharges to surface waters. Important factors include: mine layouts, mining methods, hydraulic head and conductivity, and geology. While the exact causes for the successes and failures could not always be determined, reasonable mechanisms are presented.

Feb 23, 2014

By K. A. McDonald

Hibernia de Mexico SA de CV, based in Durango, Durango, Mexico built and put into operation a 700-t/d (770-stpd) agitated cyanide leach plant in Guanacevi, Durango. Plant construction began in March 1993 and operations began in November 1993. Hibernia de Mexico, a wholly owned subsidiary of Hibernia Holdings, Inc., is a privately held Tucson, AZ-based company. The startup procedures described here deal with Mexico's legal, import-export and finance requirements, and labor and security requirements. The 700 t/d (770 stpd) Guanacevi project is located next to the town of Guanacevi. The project is an agitated cyanide leach plant built to process about 2 Mt (2.2 million st) of flotation tailings over its life. The plant is operated by Servicios de Guanacevi, Asociasion en Participacion. It is owned jointly by Hibernia de Mexico and Metalurgica Guanacevi SA de CV. Legal, importation of equipment and financing For a foreign company to operate in the mining industry in Mexico, it must form a Mexican company. A Mexican company presently must be at least 51 % owned by a Mexican entity. The other 49% may be owned by non-Mexicans.

Jan 1, 1994

By J. T. Lapsley, I. I. Cornet, A. E. Flanigan, R. Hultgren, J. E. Dorn

WITH the greatly expanding use of magnesium during the war, it appeared necessary to the War Metallurgy Committee that procedures of heat treating common magnesium casting alloys be investigated systematically. Accordingly, the National Defense Research Committee of the Office of Scientific Research and Development placed a research contract with the University of California, supervised by the War Metallurgy Committee. Research on the solution heat treatment and aging of magnesium alloy AZ92, (formerly ASTM No. 17; also known as Dowmetal C or AM260) which was done under "Restricted" Project NRC-21, in 1942-1943, and reported, in detail in a final report to the OSRD on September 3, 1943, is the basis of this paper, which has been released for publication by the OSRD. American experience with magnesium alloys prior to World War II was limited, although some of these alloys had been in commercial use since 1909. Requirements of the aircraft industry for light alloys made it imperative to understand and utilize the advantageous strength-weight properties of magnesium castings. Magnesium casting alloys are commonly solution heat treated to increase their ultimate tensile strength and ductility; this treatment may be followed by an age hardening at elevated temperatures, which raises the tensile yield strength but diminishes the ductility. In the present investigation, AZ92 was studied to determine the effects on properties of various solution heat treatment and aging schedules. The principles of heat treatment of magnesium alloys are the same as for other non-ferrous alloys. The alloy studied, AZ92, has a nominal composition of 9 pct aluminum, 2 pct zinc, and minor constituents. Fig I shows, by the projection of isothermal sections on the concentration plane, the solubility surface1 of the ternary magnesium-rich solid solutions as determined by X ray analysis. From this figure it may be seen that above approximately 375°C (707°F), AZ92 alloy is a single phase alloy at equilibrium; below this temperature the equilibrium condition is a. two phase alloy. The beta constituent which precipitates from the solid solution exerts a hardening effect. Because the zinc concentration is only 2 pct, and because of its solubility relations, AZ92 resembles a binary alloy of magnesium with aluminum. The solubility curve1 of Fig 2 shows how rapidly the solubility of the beta phase decreases with decreasing temperatures. Unlike many aluminum alloys, magnesium alloys do not age harden at room temperatures; precipitation hardening of AZ92 alloy is performed at about 177°C (350°F). At this temperature about 3 pct aluminum

Jan 1, 1947

By J. B. A. Solar Menéndez, M. A. Martínez Fidalgo, L. A. Alvarez-Santullano

1. ANTECEDENTS This present communication refers to the results of the research project entitled "Training in the correct use of chemical oxygen self rescue apparatus and also an analysis of apparatus autonomy", carried out under the auspices of the Specific Collaboration Agreement signed between the Industry Council of the Principality of Asturias (Spain) and INSALUD (National Silicosis Institute, Spain). The antecedents of this project lie in work undertaken by the National Silicosis Institute aimed at optimising efficiency in the use of chemical oxygen self rescuers through improvements in worker training. To be precise, by means of Agreements drawn up between the above-mentioned parties, a simulator was designed and incorporated as the basis of a training station within the " Fundación Barredo" of the Industry Council of the Principality of Asturias. This has been operative since the year 2001 and, up to the present, 2300 Asturian coal mine workers have been trained there. What prompted this activity was the observation of various errors in the use of the self rescuers, deriving from their innate characteristics, especially with respect to the sensation of discomfort - the high temperature and humidity of the breathed oxygen, resistance and inconvenience - and limited autonomy. It was precisely this insight that, in critical situations, lack of familiarity with the conditions of discomfort likely to be experienced during the evacuation process might lead to rejection of the equipment, with fatal consequences, that has justified the setting up of this training and simulation centre. The centre is able to provide all mine workers with the necessary training, and experience of the characteristic sensations experienced when using such equipment (Fig.. 1).

Jan 1, 2003

By John Brown

As a part of a symposium on the relations of structure to ore deposi-tion, in February 1938, the writer presented some tentative opinions derived from his experience with a number of important lead-zinc replace-ment deposits. These ideas were set forth, as a basis for discussion and a stimulus to further inquiry, in a mimeographed leaflet that read as follows: Intimate acquaintance with a number of lead and zinc deposits in metamorphosed limestones seems to indicate the existence of certain common features from which can be established some general principles governing the localization of ore in this type of formation. It is suspected that these principles can be applied, with modifica-tions, to mineralization in unmetamorphosed limestone. In metamorphosed forma-tions, some observed rules are as follows: 1. Bands or masses of pure limestone are very resistant to replacement by ore solutions, and are likely either to contain no ore or to resist replacement until near the end of mineralization. The reason for this apparently is physical, not chemical, since microscopic data indicate that when ore is deposited by far the greater part of it substitutes for carbonate. The chief factor is believed to be a lack of porosity in massive limestone that has undergone flowage and recrystallization. 2. Masses of intensely siliceous or silicated rock are likewise unfavorable ore receptacles. This seems to be accounted for by two factors: (a) chemical unsuit-ability or resistance to replacement, and (b) physical resistance to small-scale brecci-ation, which might facilitate the opening of effective channelways for solutions. Some low-grade ore may occur, however, and also sporadic fracture fillings. 3. The optimum condition for ore reception appears to be found in bands or areas containing carbonate and silicates (or quartz) intimately mingled in something like equal proportions. In this situation movement is likely to result in mixed flowage and fracture, producing a fine-textured porosity that admits solutions freely and provides access to an abundance of replaceable carbonate. Cleavage cracks in some minerals such as diopside are believed to facilitate the penetration of solutions. 4. Certain minerals or assemblages are regarded as favorable impurities in a lime-stone and others as unfavorable. Original quartz, and subsequently developed diopside, and perhaps garnet, are typical favorable pre-ore gangue; in general rather equidimensional, brittle minerals. Tremolite, biotite, and probably wollastonite, are typical unfavorable pre-ore gangue; in general highly elongated and somewhat flexible minerals likely to develop under strong shearing stresses. 5. Tentative opinion is that the ratio of lime and magnesia in a limestone-is of little or no importance.

Jan 1, 1940

By John S. Brown

As a part of a symposium on the relations of structure to ore deposition, in February 1938, the writer presented some tentative opinions derived from his experience with a number of important lead-zinc replacement deposits. These ideas were set forth, as a basis for discussion and a stimulus to further inquiry, in a mimeographed leaflet that read as follows Intimate acquaintance with a number of lead and zinc deposits in metamorphosed limestones seems to indicate the existence of certain common features from which can be established some general principles governing the localization of ore in this type of formation. It is suspected that these principles can be applied, with modifications, to mineralization in unmetamorphosed limestone. In metamorphosed formations, some observed rules are as follows: 1. Bands or masses of pure limestone are very resistant to replacement by ore solutions, and are likely either to contain no ore or to resist replacement until near the end of mineralization. The reason for this apparently is physical, not chemical, since microscopic data indicate that when ore is deposited by far the greater part of it substitutes for carbonate. The chief factor is believed to be a lack of porosity in massive limestone that has undergone flowage and recrystallization. 2. Masses of intensely siliceous or silicated rock are likewise unfavorable ore receptacles. This seems to be accounted for by two factors: (a) chemical unsuitability or resistance to replacement, and (b) physical resistance to small-scale brecciation, which might facilitate the opening of effective channelways for solutions. Some low-grade ore may occur, however, and also sporadic fracture fillings. 3. The optimum condition for ore reception appears to be found in bands or areas containing carbonate and silicates (or quartz) intimately mingled in something like equal proportions. In this situation movement is likely to result in mixed flowage and fracture, producing a fine-textured porosity that admits solutions freely and provides access to an abundance of replaceable carbonate. Cleavage cracks in some minerals such as diopside are believed to facilitate the penetration of solutions. 4. Certain minerals or assemblages are regarded as favorable impurities in a limestone and others as unfavorable. Original quartz, and subsequently developed diopside, and perhaps garnet, are typical favorable pre-ore gangue; in general rather equidimensional, brittle minerals. Tremolite, biotite, and probably wollastonite, are typical unfavorable pre-ore gangue; in general highly elongated and somewhat flexible minerals likely to develop under strong shearing stresses. 5. Tentative opinion is that the ratio of lime and magnesia in a limestone is of little or no importance.

Jan 1, 1940

By James T. Baxter

Underground mining of limestone is becoming increasingly attractive in Illinois. Most quarries are near rivers on the western and southern borders where competition for land use is intensive. Increasing demands for stone can be met by expanded mining with access by edits in existing quarries and by inclines and shafts at downdip sites. Geologic, hydrologic, and engineering conditions indicate that deep mines in the Ste. Genevieve, St. Louis, Salem, Ullin, and basal Burlington Limestones of Mississippian age and in the Moredock Limestone Member of the Dunleith Formation of Ordovician age are possible, but development will require prudent exploration and planning to ensure that the product will be of good quality.

Jan 1, 1978

By George Holderer

THE relation between man-hours of labor and production may be correlated for any industry, and already it has been widely used in piece-work studies. It is not in general use as yet for recording labor efficiency of an enterprise or an industry. An exception to this is the Cement Institute, which tabulates the man-hours used in each operation and FIG. 1.-LABOR PRODUCTIVITY IN COPPER MINING. thus gets the total man-hours per barrel of cement. The writer knows of one steel company that keeps a complete record of man-hours for every operation from mining the ore to finishing the product. No doubt many others find the information useful, and such a study could be of value to the mineral industries.

Jan 1, 1935

By David M. R. Stone

Underground mining in the gold industry is gaining popularity in Nevada, and with it the use of cemented rockfill is becoming mainstream. Even with today?s high metal prices, however, mining companies are very sensitive to the margins they realize, and are constantly looking for ways to reduce costs or improve efficiencies. Given that the backfill is one of the largest cost centers in underground mining, mines are constantly under pressure to reduce backfill costs. This paper will present an overview of the factors that impact cemented rockfill quality in Nevada mines based on the authors many years of consulting experience. Cemented rockfill quality can be linked directly to binder consumption, hence programs aimed at improving quality generally result in lower binder costs, better performance in the fill (hence less dilution), and improved safety. The paper will conclude with the key elements of a comprehensive program of backfill quality assessments and backfill QA programs. Comparative laboratory and minesite data from a number of operating and proposed mines will be presented.

May 1, 2007

By J. P. Constantinea

The use of fluidized beds for the roasting of zinc sulphide concentrates marked a milestone in the electrolytic production of zinc. Stable operation of a fluidized bed for zinc roasting requires a particle size distribution that minimizes the risk of defluidization and helps control carryover to manageable levels. However, the understanding of the roasting process is limited, and changes in operating conditions mainly rely on intuition, experience, and trial and error. A research program has been initiated at UBC to study the phenomena that influence the particle size distribution of fluidized bed zinc roasters. In preparation for the experimental phase, this paper reviews the current literature on the phenomena that affect the particle size distribution during fluidized bed roasting and other fluidized bed processes.

Jan 1, 2002

By Michael L. Clar

Reclamation of surface mined lands has two basic objectives: (1) the elimination or abatement of undesirable environmental conditions, and (2) the restoration of mined land to its former or more productive uses. This paper addresses some of the planning concepts and site factors that influence the selection of suitable land uses for surface mined lands. Three planning concepts included in the discussion are: (1) mine land planning, (2) comprehensive land use planning, and (3) environmental site planning. The site factors that will influence the selection of an appropriate land use have been grouped into three categories: (1) legal, (2) geographic, and (3) natural. The natural factors are further subdivided into three groupings: geomorphology, soils, and climate.

Jan 1, 1981

By G. L. Barlett, J .. D. Barry

Supernatant media of dust-exposed pulmonary alveolar macrophages (PAMs) were inactive in assays for both Interleukin-1 and fibroblast growth factors (FGF). We have begun to evaluate several factors that may interfere with dust-PAM interactions. To determine the effect of sterilization on the activity of dusts, PAMs were exposed to autoclaved dust, heat-sterilized dust or to dust that had not been heated. Supernatants from the first two groups were inactive in the FGF assay, but supernatant from PAMs exposed to unheated dusts stimulated growth of lung fibroblasts. Recent data have revealed that freshly crushed mineral dusts possess labile free radicals that are absent in dust that has been stored for more than a few days. Suspensions .were prepared of a "stale" sample of anthracite dust 867 and of a freshly ground sample of the same dust. These suspensions were instilled intratracheally into guinea pigs under general anesthesia. Two, five or eight days later, PAMs were collected from the lungs by bronchoalveolar lavage, and the cells were counted. At two and five days after instillation, all lavage suspensions contained 70 to 85% PAMs, of which 5 to 18% contained phagocytized dust particles. On day eight there were again 80-84% PAMs in all suspensions, but in the presence of "fresh'" dust, 48% of PAMs. had phagocytized particles in comparison to 16% in the presence of '"stale'" dust. A similar experiment was performed in short-term cell culture. During 24 hours, >95%. of PAMs phagocytized dust particles, whether or not the dust was "stale" or '"fresh". Our studies are being extended to determine the effect of (1) removing surface oil contaminants by organic extraction and (2) suspending dusts without surfactant.

Jan 1, 1988

By Hamish D. S. Miller

Currently the underground potash mines in Canada extract about 40% of the available ore, leaving the other 60% behind in the form of stabilizing pillars. The presence of water in the overlying formations requires that any disturbance due to mining be such that no water will enter the workings. This paper deals with the factors that influence the stability of the rock surrounding the mine excavations and looks at the effects of these factors when a system of increasing the extraction is considered.

Jan 1, 1983

Mining is a fundamental activity on which modern society and the world's economy are entirely dependent. Mining investors, large and small, invest on an international scale, frequently being active in several countries.   Prior to committing investment to new countries, the prudent investor will consider the risk involved by analysing a number of physical, financial, administrative and political parameters that impact on the potential financial returns it is seeking. This paper considers these risk factors in relationship to New Zealand and six competitor countries. The conclusion is that for reasons largely within the control of our politicians, New Zealand is a high risk country for mining investors.

Jan 1, 1993

By H. C. George

CAREFUL- sampling and good judgment as to probable recoveries are important factors in estimates of ore reserves, based on prospecting drilling results, but other factors are equally as important and may be more misleading and perhaps disastrous if not properly interpreted. Some of these are: 1. The case where no, ore is shown in the "sludgings," when, as a matter of fact, the drill has passed through a thick sheet of ore which has been broken up and washed away into open crevices. In numerous cases, later mining operations have shown that this has happened. This condition may be discovered by shooting the drill .hole at the point where the open crevices occur, but shooting should not be done until after the drill hole is completed, because the resulting shattered formation may salt the drill hole at lower levels. 2. The case where rich cuttings are shown for a thickness of 20 or 30 ft., when ore was encountered in only the first sludging. Owing to soft or loose formation, the ore from the first sludging has salted the lower sludgings. The presence of large pieces of ore and a similar ratio between zinc and iron assays in the lower sludgings frequently indicate this condition. In the lower sludgings, the presence of oxidized ore in unaltered limestone sometimes shows this condition. 3. The case where the drill hole shows a considerable thickness of ore; but owing to the presence of a vertical sheet of ore, perhaps not more than 1 in. thick, at the place where the drill hole is located, the good assays resulting might be misleading. If this condition is suspected, the drilling of several more holes within a distance of 10 or 15, ft. will usually show it.

Jan 1, 1921

By Ned Kuenhold

AN equipment manufacturer swallows a bitter pill when he sees his machinery improperly in- stalled and not used to the full potential. This frequently happens with vibrating screens. Screens can be classified according to the path of vibration imparted to the screen surface. On this basis there are: 1) vertical circle or modified circle throw, 2) horizontal circle or modified circle throw, 3) vertical linear reciprocation, 4) tilted linear reciprocation, and 5) horizontal linear reciprocation. The most versatile vibration for medium to coarse sizing is generally conceded to be the vertical circle produced by an eccentric or unbalanced shaft, but other types of vibration may be more suitable for certain screening operations, particularly in the finer sizes.

Jan 6, 1957