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By Charles Shamel

I FEAR most of the Institute members are already weary of the perennial controversy about the apex law. I feel that way about it myself now, though I have been guilty of considerable contribution to the discussion in the past. The discussion does not seem to perceptibly influence previously held views and I would not again break into print on the subject but for the urgent invitation of the Chairman of our, Law Committee. This energetic and able member has firmly determined to secure a revision of the mining law and among other things to eliminate the so-called apex provision from the U. S. mining statutes. He is, however, fair about it and has invited me to make "the strongest possible argument in its favor." I am suspicious that he is acting on the psychological principle that it is usually easier to convince an audience against a cause vigorously but unsuccessfully defended than against one wholly mute. Nevertheless, I realize that personally he wishes me no harm, much as he hates the apex law, and so am willing that the Institute have whatever benefit may accrue from my taking up again the unpopular side of the discussion. I say this because the attitude of a large part of our "articulate" membership seems irreconcilably hostile; their minds are made up; favorable consideration is foreclosed; and they become impatient and even sarcastic at any attempt to elucidate a favorable view of the apex law. The exact question for discussion at the present time is not whether on abstract, or any other considerations, the apex law is the best possible rule, but the very different proposition whether, after nearly 50 years of statutory life and much longer as a practically universal miners' custom, it is now just and expedient to repeal the apex law.

Jan 4, 1914

By E. Teghtsoonian, A. R. Causey

THE fact that the surface plays an important role in the plastic deformation of a single crystal has been demonstrated by several investigators. The surface conditions have been altered using oxide films,1'2 alloyed metal layers,3, 4 deposited metal films,' and polycrystalline layers.677° The resulting effects on the initiation and subsequent plastic deformation have been investigated extensively except for the case of a single crystal surrounded by a polycrystalline layer of the same material. The purpose of this paper is to describe an investigation of the effect of a polycrystalline surface layer on the yield stress, the critical resolved shear stress, and the work-hardening slope of tin single crystals. The tin single crystals used in this study were grown from the melt using material having an initial purity of approximately 99.999 + pet with lead and iron the major impurities. Fig. 1 shows the orientation of the (110)[001] slip system with respect to the crystal surfaces. The crystals had a 1/4 by 1/4 in. cross section and a gage length of 2 in. The polycrystalline surface layer was produced by abrading the single-crystal specimens with emery paper. Fig. 2 shows the broken Debye rings obtained from the deformed surface. The thickness of the layer was controlled by the number of passes on different grades of paper and was determined by electropolishing in dilute HC1, until the grains produced by the abrasion had all been removed. Metal-lographic examination showed that the grain size varied with depth, increasing from 10 µ right at the surface to 40 µ in the interior of the layer. The yield stress, critical resolved shear stress,

Jan 1, 1965

By Rodney G. Ravenscroft

Leasing is not a new phenomenon. Experts have identified its origins as early as biblical times. It is a method of finance that has grown rapidly and is now used in most countries, including those of South East Asia, South America, the Middle East and even the People's Republic of China. Internationally, the leasing world divides fairly easily into two groups and this is determined, by and large, according to whether a country has Anglo-Saxon origins or not. Most of the Anglo-Saxon countries have seen tax-oriented leasing become a sophisticated means of financing the acquisition of large and costly items of equipment and large projects. Countries such as France, Spain and Japan have a highly developed leasing industry but it is not tax-oriented. This paper will not address leasing of this kind. LEASING - THE CONCEPT Wide acceptance of leasing as an alternative for financing capital equipment has grown with the recognition by the users of equipment that it is use and not ownership that generates profits. Whilst this seems obvious, memories of repossession of assets during the Depression and attitudes towards leasing as "last resort financing" have raised strong philosophical resistance that has only recently begun to be overturned. A financial lease is a commitment by way of contract between a user of equipment (lessee) and a financial owner (lessor) under which the lessee makes a series of payments in return for use of the equipment. The lessee is acquiring economic value associated with ownership but not ownership of the equipment itself - that remains with the lessor. A lease is a method of financing the use of an asset; other methods finance the assets themselves. It is the taxation aspects that then become important. The lessee is giving up some or all of the taxation benefits of ownership such as depreciation and investment tax credits. The lessor claims these benefits, as he is entitled to do as owner, and takes them into consideration when determining the level of lease payments that are necessary to generate his required rate of return. These lease payments are, of course, lower than they would have been without those taxation benefits. The lease payments themselves are fully tax deductible. This is tax shelter leasing. The lessor is acquiring taxation deductions that are applied fully and immediately against his other taxable income so as to reduce the amount of tax he is to pay to the revenue authorities. It is this concept that makes financial leasing work. Governments provide incentives by way of tax concessions to encourage capital investment. Governments presume that prudent capital investment will offer employment opportunities, generate sales and streamline economic activity. These, in turn, will lead to the collection of government revenue. It makes no difference at all whether these incentives are claimed by a commercial or industrial owner/user or by a financial owner who makes equipment available for use by industry. Rather, the issue is to ensure that if an incentive is available, it is used so as to achieve its desired results. No greater or lesser incentive is available for leasing and leasing does not misuse the taxation aspects of equipment ownership. The critical issue is whether the full value

Jan 1, 1985

Mine Taxation On Monday morning, Sept. 22, a session on- Mine Taxation was held in cooperation with the Internal Revenue Dept., U. S. Treasury, Mr. R. C. Allen presiding. This was followed by two adjourned sessions, at which Mr. R. C. Allen and Mr. A.D. Brokaw presided. The following paper was presented: Federal Taxation of Mines. By L. C. Graton. (Presented by the author; dis¬cussed by R. V. Norris, W. O. Hotchkiss, W. P. Beldon, Paul Armitage, R. C. Allen, E. F. Brown, William Belly, A. D. Brokaw, F. W. Sperr, C. H. Benedict, E. P. Griffitts, W. E. Forsythe, and the author). Coal and Gas The first session on Coal and Gas was held on Monday morning, Sept. 22; the second, on the afternoon of the same day. Mr. Curl Scholz presided at both sessions. The following papers were presented: Research on the Coal-mining Industry. By E. A. Holbrook. (Presented by the author.) Some Factors that Affect the Washability of a Coal. By Thomas Fraser and H. F. Yancey. (Presented by the author.) A Use Classification of Coal. By George H. Ashley. (Presented by title.) Distribution of Anthracite. By A; S. Learoyd. (Presented by title.) Height of the Gas Cap in the Safety Lamp. By C. M. Young. (Presented by the author.) Engineering Features of Modern Large Coal Mines in Illinois and Indiana. By C. A. Herbert and C. M. Young. (Presented by the authors.) Gas-producer Practice. By G. S. Brooks and C. C. Nitchie. (Presented by the authors.) Testing of Coals for Byproduct Coking and Gas Manufacture. By Horace C. Porter. (Presented by the author.) Coals of Ohio and their Limitations for Byproduct Coke. By Wilber. Stout. (Presented by the author.) Outdoor Substations in Connection with Coal-mining Installations. By H. W. Young. (Presented by the author.)

Jan 11, 1919

By Arthur Redfield

IN ESTIMATING the unmined petroleum reserves of Central America, it is not feasible to employ the methods that have been worked out in the oil fields of the United States. No producing wells have been brought in and no drilling sections have been made public. It is accordingly necessary to fall back on a crude "barrels per square mile" estimate. The method chosen is a comparison of the structure of the foreign field of unknown reserves with that of some supposedly analogous North American field of which the reserves have been estimated. This method makes no pretense at scientific accuracy; bit furnishes a working basis for an estimate. The areal geology of Central America is illustrated in the map prepared by Sapper and more recently in the geologic map of North America accompanying U. S. Geological Survey Professional Paper No. 71, "Index to the stratigraphy of North America." Disregarding for the present the Arrow Quaternary coastal plains and alluvial deposits of the river valleys, three chief zones may be distinguished. These are: A zone of late eruptive and effusive rocks; a zone of highly folded pre-Cambrian(?) or early Paleozoic crystalline schists and slates, considerably intruded by pre-Tertiary plutonic rocks; and a zone of more or less folded sediments, chiefly of Cretaceous or Tertiary age. The zone of late eruptive and effusive rocks of Central America begins in southeastern Chiapas, Mexico,. and extends, with increasing breadth, across southern Guatemala, across practically the whole of El Salvador, and across southern Honduras to the valley of Rio Goascorán, where the igneous zone attains a width of about 100 mi. (160 km:) East of the Goascorán Valley late eruptives and effusives play a subordinate part, being confined largely to the Departments of Valle and Choluteca. Dikes and sills of igneous rocks intrude the sedimentary formations of central and northern Honduras.

Jan 7, 1922

By W. M. Robertson

The formation of grain boundary grooves on surfaces of poly crystalline samples of cobalt and iron immersed in liquid lead has been studied. The grooves form by volume diffusion of the solutes cobalt and iron in the liquid. The diffusion coefficients of the solutes in liquid lead are derived from the measured rate of grooving. The diffusion coefficients are described by the relation D = Do exp (-Q/RT), with, for cobalt, Do = 4.6 x 10-4 sq cm per sec and Q = 5300 ± 800 cal per mole, and for iron, DO = 4.9 x 10-3 sq cm per sec and Q = 10,500 ± 1500 cal per mole. LIQUID metal-solid metal interactions occur at solid-liquid interfaces. Interfacial energy provides a driving force to change the morphology of the interface. Mullins1,2 has derived expressions for the kinetics of interface morphology changes driven by capillarity. These expressions can be applied to an isothermal system of a solid in equilibrium with a liquid saturated with the solid. Surface profile changes can occur by volume diffusion of the solute in the liquid, by volume self-diffusion in the solid, and by interfacial diffusion at the liquid-solid interface. A groove will form at the intersection of a grain boundary with a solid-liquid interface, reducing the total interfacial free energy of the system. The solid-liquid interfacial energy ? must be greater than half the grain boundary energy of the solid ?6 for Mullins' calculations to apply. If ? is less than ?b/2, then the liquid penetrates the boundaries, separating the grains rather than forming grooves. Boundary penetration did not occur in the work described here. where CO is the equilibrium volume concentration of the solid in the liquid, Dv the volume diffusion coefficient of the solid in the liquid, ? the interfacial free energy of the solid-liquid interface, O the atomic volume of the solid crystal, k Boltzmann's constant and T the absolute temperature. Eqs. [1] and [2 ] also apply to grooving by volume self-diffusion in the solid,1 with CoODv = D Self, where DSelf is the volume self-diffusion coefficient of the solid. For a grooving mechanism of interfacial diffusion at the solid-liquid interface, the groove width is given by2 where CS is the interfacial concentration of the diffusing species, and DS is the interfacial diffusion coefficient. Eqs. [1] and [3] can be used to determine the mechanism of groove growth. A t1/3 dependence of the growth indicates volume diffusion and t1/4 indicates interfacial diffusion. In some cases, volume diffusion and interfacial diffusion both can contribute substantially to the grooving process, causing the time dependence to be intermediate between t 1/3 and t1/4.3 For these cases, the relative contributions of the two processes can be separated.4 However, in many cases, one process will be dominant, and the data can be analyzed on the basis of Eq. [1] or Eq. [3] alone. The time dependences for volume diffusion in a liquid and volume self-diffusion in a solid are the same. However, the self-diffusion contribution of the solid is usually negligible compared to volume diffusion in the liquid. After the grooving mechanism has been determined, Eq. [1] or Eq. [3 ] yields the kinetic parameter A or B. The kinetic parameter can be used to calculate values for the unknown quantities in the product CD?. Usually C is known or can be estimated. If ? is known, then D can be calculated. In a measurement of grain boundary grooving of copper in liquid lead,' the time dependence indicated volume diffusion in the liquid. The quantities Co, Dv, and ? were obtained from the literature, giving excellent agreement between the observed values of A and the values calculated from Eq. [2 ].5 In a study of the grooving of several refractory metals in liquid tin and liquid silver, A1len6 educed that grooves formed by volume diffusion in the liquid. In a study of nickel in a nickel sulfide melt, Steidel, Li, and spencer7 found volume diffusion grooving kinetics. Both Dv and ? were unknown, so they could not obtain either one separately, though they did obtain a reasonable value for the temperature dependence of the product Dv ?. Several methods have been used to obtain surface profiles. It can be done by sectioning through the interface7 or by chemically removing the liquid from the solid surface after solidification of the liquid.6 However, if the liquid dewets the solid on removing the solid from the melt, then the interface can be observed directly. This method was used previously' and was utilized also in the present study. EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE Lead of 99.999 pct purity was obtained from American Smelting and Refining Co. Cobalt sheet was obtained from Sherritt-Gordon Mines, Ltd., with a nominal purity of 99.9 pct, the principal impurities being nickel, iron, copper, carbon, and sulfur. The sheet was

Jan 1, 1969

By P. L. De Bruyn

The adsorption density of dodecylammonium ions at the quartz-solution interface has been Theadsorptiondensitydetermined as a function of collector concentration and pH. A ten thoushasbeenandfold range of amine salt concentration was covered at neutral pH. Experimental results show that over a thousandfold concentration range at neutral pH, the adsorption density (I) is proportional to the square root of collector concentration. Except at high concentrations, I increases with increases with increasing pH, but in general this effect is surprisingly small. . , . . A critical pH curve has been established for the flotation of quartz with dodecylammonium acetate. The conditions along the flotation curve are correlated with the adsorption measurements. THE behavior of collectors at the mineral-solution interfaces is usually explained in terms of an ionic adsorption process. Through the distribution of collector ions between the solid surface and the- co-existing solution phase the mineral is believed to acquire a water-repellent surface coating. Quantitative adsorption studies have been made on simple flotation systems1-4 only within the last few years. Such investigations were made possible by the adoption of the radiotracer method of analysis. As a consequence of these studies a new parameter has been added to aid the understanding of the flotation process. The research investigation to be discussed in this paper was undertaken to obtain a better understanding of the behavior of a cationic-type collector. This objective was approached through the determination of the distribution of dodecylammonium acetate between the quartz-solution interface and the solution as a function of the collector salt concentration and pH. To bring this investigation to focus on the more practical aspect of flotation research, an attempt was also made to correlate the adsorption results with actual flotation tests. Quartz: A —100 mesh ground crystalline quartz was infrasized; the products of the third and fourth cones were mixed together and reserved for experimental purposes. This stock material was cleaned by leaching in boiling concentrated HC1. After leaching the quartz was rinsed with distilled water until the filtrate showed no trace of chloride ian. It was then washed several times and dried. The qwrtz had a specific surface of 1400 cma per g as deterhined by the krypton gas adsorption method. Collector: The distribution of dodecylammonium acetate between the quartz surface and the solution phase was determined by the radiotracer method of analysis with carbon 14 as the tracer element. The radioactive amine salt with C" synthesized into the hydrocarbon chain5 was supplied by Armour and Co. The tracer element was located adjacent to the polar group. The radioactive salt as received had a specific activity of about 0.14 mc per g. When desired, dilution of this activity was effected by addition of non-radioactive dodecylammonium acetate also supplied by Armour and Co. ........ All other inorganic reagents used in this research were of reagent grade. Conductivity water was used for making up all solutions. Adsorption Tests: Two different experimental methods were used. In the first, to be designated as the agitation method, a weighed amount of quartz and a measured volume of amine salt solution were agitated in a 100-ml or 50-ml glass-stoppered pyrex graduated cylinder. The cylinder was filled with solution up to the stopper, since erratic results were obtained when an air space was left over the suspension. Time of agitation varied from 1 to 2 hr. Preliminary tests at different agitation times showed that the amount adsorbed remained constant for all agitation times exceeding 1/2 hr. After this conditioning period, the solids were separated from the solution by filtration through a Buechner fritted-disk funnel. The solution was re-circulated 10 times or more to allow the fused silica disk to come to equilibrium with it. Determinations of the amount of amine adsorbed on the frit itself indicated that this amount was less than 10 pct by weight of the amine acetate abstracted by 10 g of quartz. The funnel with quartz covered by a thin layer of solution was then centrifuged for approximately 5 min, at which time the moisture content of the solids was reduced to about 5 pct by weight. The wet quartz was blown into a tared beaker, re-weighed and allowed to dry at room temperature. A final weighing was then made to determine the moisture content. The second experimental method, similar to the procedure adopted by Gaudinand Bloecher,' will be referred to as the column method. Two liters of solution were passed through a bed of quartz contained in a Buechner funnel attached to a pyrex separatory funnel by means of a ball and socket joint. Preliminary tests showed that increasing the volume of solution above 2 liters does not give a measurable increase in adsorption. From 4 to 4 1/2 hr were required for 2 liters of solution to pass through the column. The moisture content of the quartz was again reduced to a minimum by centrifuging. A slightly modified column apparatus was used for experimenting with alkaline amine solutions. The same basic unit was used, but the underflow from the Buechner funnel was again fed into a Separafory

Jan 1, 1956

By H. De Cizancourt

France.—Pechelbronn remains about the only producing field, 41 per cent of the 1937 output of 496,525 bbl. being mined by shaft and 59 per cent produced from pumping wells. At present Gabian has only a very small production. During 1937 there was no private undertaking for petroleum research. Only the Office National des Combustibles Liquides has done any drilling, unsuccessfully, at Pezenas and Frangy-Chilly. Algeria.—No new research has been made and Tliouanet, a small acreage pool that has been declining for several years, gave only 2193 bbl. in 1937. Morocco.—The SociCt6 Chhrifienne des Petroles continues active work. First tests of production made on the Jurassic structures of the Tselfat and Bou Draa must be mentioned for 1937. In connection with these tests, which have yielded 16,495 bbl., 14 new wells have been located

Jan 1, 1938

By Leo Horvitz

PETROLEUM and natural gas are composed principally of the saturated hydrocarbons ranging from methane, the lightest, to nonvolatile liquids and solids containing approximately thirty-five carbon atoms. A technique for locating buried accumulations of these hydrocarbons before drilling obviously requires that some of the hydrocarbons leave the deposit and migrate toward the surface of the earth where they may be detected in their original form. Earliest attempts to link near surface hydrocarbons to petroleum at depth were apparently made by Laubmeyer1 in Germany and by Sokolov2 in Russia. These investigators collected samples of soil air from boreholes one to two meters deep and analyzed them for traces of hydrocarbons. They found that soil air over producing areas is richer in these constituents than is soil air over barren areas.

Jan 12, 1954

In accordance with the requirements of our By-Laws I beg leave to submit herewith the report of the Library Committee for the year 1915. The activity shown by the sale of the institute publications during the year continues satisfactory, although not as large as last year. The total sales amount to $6,666.81, distributed as follows: Sale of Transactions...:: :. $4,585.42 Sale of Special Editions 553.17 Sale of Pamphlets and Bulletins 2,028.22 It should-be borne in mind that the sale of special editions was only begun last year,, and most of the members who did not have the special editions immediately bought them for their libraries. This year only a little less than half of the same number have been disposed of, and it is more than probable that from now-on the number will be considerably lessened.

Jan 2, 1916

By W. R. Ingalls

THE MAJOR use of spelter has always been for the coating of iron and steel products, the process of coating being known as "galvanizing" and the products themselves as "galvanized," except for a couple of years during the war, when the consumption for brass making became superior, in the United States at least, owing to military demands. Since 1919, however, the consumption of spelter for galvanizing has regained the premier position, but not with such a long lead over brass making as previous to the war. The last development is ascribable to two main reasons, viz., an increased demand for brass in new industries, especially automobile manufacturing; and a diminished use of spelter per unit of iron and steel galvanized. MAJOR IMPORTANCE OF SUBJECT The last mentioned matter has already been the subject of some discussion and of some literature. The galvanizers have been charged with deliberately thinning their zinc coatings, with the consequence of producing inferior goods and thereby jeopardizing the whole galvanizing business. Zinc producers have been concerned about this, out of consideration of both the less use of zinc per unit of iron and steel and the fear that, the number of units produced may be curtailed. It has been argued, among other things, that the present policy of American galvanizers would impair their ability to compete in foreign markets with British galvanizers, who have been represented as making a superior product.

Jan 7, 1923

By Lee W. Abramson

INTRODUCTION The design of rock support for underground nuclear waste repositories requires consideration of special construction and operation requirements, and of the adverse environmental conditions in which some of the support is placed. While repository layouts resemble mines, design, construction and operation are subject to quality assurance and public scrutiny similar to what is experienced for nuclear power plants. Exploration, design, construction and operation go through phases of review and licensing by government agencies as repositories evolve. This paper discusses (1) the various stages of repository development; (2) the environment that supports must be de signed for; (3) the environmental effects on support materials; and (4) alternative types of repository rock support. Much of the information presented in this paper was derived from work conducted for Basalt Waste Isolation Project. Most of the information, however, would apply to other hard rock repositories. REPOSITORY DEVELOPMENT AND THE NEED FOR ROCK SUPPORT Repository development can be characterized by five general stages: exploration and design, excavation, waste emplacement, re trievability period, and backfilling. It is helpful to understand these phases of development to see where and when rock supports are required and how the design is verified. The description that follows is simplified. Details have been omitted, and future plans may not conform to this scenario.

Jan 1, 1984

By R. Schuhmann, J. Th. Overbeek, P. L. De Bruyn

W. E. Ewers (Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research organization, Melbourne, Australia)— Any attempt to elucidate further the meaning of the contact angle, particularly if it deals with the magnitudes of those mysterious quantities rsa and YRL, is certain to receive attention from those interested in the fundamentals of flotation. It is imperative, therefore, that attention should be drawn to a serious defect in the treatment by de Bruyn, Overbeek, and Schuhmann. Their Eq. 5 dy = — ld/u — Th2odiH2n states correctly the relationship between the change in surface free energy dy, the surface excesses Tx and Th2o of the components x and H2O and the changes du, and dph2o in the chemical potentials of these components. This equation applies for constant pressure and con- stant temperature and for the interface of the solid in contact with the solution of X. The relation remains valid when 1.1 is defined so that TH2O becomes zero and the equation becomes dr = — r:dur [17] From this equation de Bruyn et al. correctly concluded that increased adsorption of the collector at the liquid solid interface would reduce the interfacial energy ysl. Their second conclusion, however, that an increase in the contact angle, corresponding to a greater decrease in rsa than in rsL can be attributed to greater adsorption of X at the solid-air interface than at the solid-liquid interface is quite unjustified. The portion of the solid surface from which the collector solution has been displaced by air must be considered in terms of the equilibria between the gaseous phase and the surface. If the pressure and temperature

Jan 1, 1955

By C. S. Herzig

Some time ago, in Mexico, our signal-bells in a 700-foot shaft caused us considerable annoyance by continually getting out of order, each time so delaying our hoisting operations that we naturally desired to remedy this evil. There were two mays open: either to patch up the old bell, which was of the ordinary pattern, every time it failed to work, or else to devise some new arrangement.. On consultation with our foreman we designed a signal-device which, during the number of months I watched its operation, worked satisfactorily, without once getting out of order. We sought to produce a simple device, in which no greater pull on the lever would be necessary from one level than from another; to counterbalance independently the weight of the pendant bell-rope, so that there would be no direct weight on the working-parts of the bell itself, and likewise to arrange it so as to necessitate only a light pull on the lever in signaling; and, finally, to make some sort of trip-arrangement, so that whenever the signaling-lever underground passed through a certain arc the signal would be given in the engine-room. By this means we wished to obviate the ill effects of sudden heavy pulls and rough usage in general, such as all signaling

Jan 1, 1901

Seventy-one delegates, representing 74 organizations with a membership in excess of 105,000, attended a conference of technical societies, in Chicago, Apr. 23-25. It was called by Engineering Council, and unanimously adopted a resolution urging Congress to establish a Department of Public Works. This would include the services and bureaus having to do chiefly, with matters of engineering and architecture. Among the bureaus, services, and activities, which logically belong to a Department of Public Works, are the following: Bureau of Public Roads; the United States Reclamation Service; the Alaskan Engineering Commission; the Construction Division of U. S. Army; a Bureau of River, Harbor and Canal work, including such functions as are now exercised by the Mississippi River Commission and the California Debris Commission; a Bureau of Architecture; a Bureau of Surveys, including the Coast and Geodetic Survey; a Bureau of Mines; the Geological Survey; the Forest Service, at least until the same is divorced from the supervision of water powers and road building; and the Bureau of Standards. Later, the following resolutions were unanimously adopted: RESOLVED, That this conference be known as the Engineers, Architects, and Constructors Conference on National Public Works; that it continue in existence until dissolved by its own action and that its officers and committees be empowered to further the organization and development of a National Department of Public Works. RESOLVED, That for the purpose of furthering the passage of a bill for the creation of a National Department of Public Works there be set tip by this Conference an Executive Committee, a Committee on Text of Bill, and a Campaign Committee. The Executive Committee shall have the power to create a Finance Committee and other committees and to add to its own membership or to that of its committees.

Jan 6, 1919

By G. H. Cady, L. C. McCabe, D. R. Mitchell

While running certain float-and-sink tests, unit coal calorific values were determined for gravity fractions of a series of Illinois coals from several districts in the southern part of the state. When these values were plotted against specific gravity what appear to be characteristic curves of somewhat different shape were obtained for each district represented. This in itself seems noteworthy. The shape of the curves seems to indicate that the lightest fraction of the coal, which inspection shows to be largely vitrain, suffers the least deterioration in storage. It was also observed that on dilution curves established with dry ash and B.t.u. values the fractions of 1.35, 1.40 and 1.50 sp. gr., which constitute the greater weight per cent of a given coal sample, fall more frequently on a straight dilution line than do the lighter or heavier fractions of the same sample. In most instances there is a marked steepening between the 1.35 and the fraction of lighter gravity. In general the curve increases in steepness between the fractions of 1.50 and 1.70 specific gravity. The variations in the unit coal-specific gravity curves as well as those observed in dilution curves which appear to be pertinent to this problem are: (I) variation in coal substance with change in specific gravity, (2) variation in kind and quantity of mineral matter with the specific gravity of the fraction, (3) factors of analytical procedure which tend to introduce error in analysis, particularly in high-ash and high-sulfur fractions. DISCUSSION (A. C. Callen presiding) E. Stansfield, ? Edmonton, A1ta.-—The necessity of avoiding oxidation in grinding and in drying should be emphasized. My assumptions as to pure coal coincide with t,he author's but most of my curves are nearly straight lines. The low sulfur content

Jan 1, 1934

By Thomas L. Kesler

Present Raw Materials The lithium industry has had exceptional growth since publication of the last edition of this volume, and the present scale of mining and consumption of raw materials is a great many times that of 1949. The materials of present economic importance consist of four pegmatite minerals and lithium-bearing brine. Spodumene, a lithium pyroxene, occurs in greatest abundance, and is the chief source. It has the formula LiAlSi2O6 and theoretically may contain 8.03 pct Li2O, but in the more important deposits the content is 6.5 to 7.5 pct. The hardness is 6.5, the specific gravity 3.1 to 3.2, and the color mostly pale green to white although deep green, lilac, and yellow varieties exist. The crystals are prisms with strongly developed longitudinal cleavages, and crushing characteristically produces lath-shaped particles. Giant crystals up to 47 ft long are known, but in most occurrences the predominant size range is 0.5 to 12 in. long and 0.1 to 2 in. wide. Hypogene* alteration has formed lithia-bearing sericite and coarser muscovite and rarely eucryptite, while supergene* alteration yields kaolinite and hydrous mica. Lepidolite, of second importance, is a mica of varying composition approximating K2Li3-A14Si7O21(OH,F)3. It has lamellate cleavage, book structure, and a specific gravity of 2.8 to 3. The books range in size from microscopic to a diameter of several inches. The color is mostly violet, but other colors include pink, gray, yellow, and white. Most commercial lepidolite contains 3 to 4 pct Li20 and chemically is in the higher grade range of a series of lithium micas that includes polylithionite, zinnwaldite, and protolithionite. In this series, the content of Li2O is exceptionally as high as 7 pct. Petalite and amblygonite are also of economic importance, but are used in smaller amounts. Petalite has the formula LiA1Si4O10 and is white, gray, or pink. The hardness is 6, the specific gravity 2.4, the cleavage in two planes 114° apart, and the Li2O content commonly 3 to 4.7 pct with a maximum of 4.88. Amblygonite has the formula LiA1FPO4 in which OH may substitute for F to form montebrasite. It is white and has polysynthetic twinning in two directions at 90°. Amblygonite superficially resembles potash feldspar, but has a bluish or grayish tint unlike the cream or salmon tint of the feldspar.[t] The hardness is 6 and the specific gravity 3 to 3.1, and the content of Li2O is the highest among lithium minerals that occur in significant quantity, ranging mostly from 7.5 to 9 pct with a maximum of 10.2. The brine of Searles Lake in California30 has been a commercial source of lithium since 1938. See Chap. 7, p. 108. The "lake" is a saline evaporite deposit, and the exposed part has an area of 12 sq mi. To an average depth of 71 ft, this part of the deposit consists of crystalline salts with 50 pct interstitial voids. The voids are filled with brine that contains mainly sodium and potassium compounds, but the brine also contains 0.015 pct Li2O, which is recovered as dilithium sodium phosphate containing 21 pct Li20. This deposit overlies a

Jan 1, 1960

Now producing 35,000 tpd of coal from a deposit whose estimated reserves total 1.1 billion t, the Navajo mine of Utah International Inc. near Farmington, N. M., is the largest open-pit coal operation in the US. The history of this mine began in 1953 when, foreseeing the growing need for electrical power in the southwest, Utah International obtained a prospecting permit from the Navajo tribe. The lease, now covering 31,000 acres of the 12-million acre New Mexico-Utah-Arizona Navajo Indian reservation, was entered in 1957; in the next 3 years, Utah International negotiated with the State of New Mexico for water rights on the San Juan River, and finalized an agreement with the Arizona Public Service Co. to provide coal for the proposed Four Corners power-generating plant near Farmington.

Jan 10, 1974

By David Cole

The appearance of the Wilfley table in 1897 marked an epoch in the art of concentration of ores. The table has merited and received an almost unprecedented measure of public approval, lasting through its whole patent life. It has been very little improved in itself, or improved upon by competitors. The new machines bidding for popular favor have been of the Wilfley family, but without ability to do markedly better work than the parent machine, or to do more work except by the use of superimposed decks, the latter having obvious disadvantages. During the past three years there has been developed at Morenci a new type or arrangement of riffles applicable to the Wilfley type of concentrating table which corrects many of the objectionable features or limitations of the older system and obviates most of the difficulties encountered with it, particularly when handling ores having a low ratio of concentration. The new type is known as the Butchart1 riffle system, and its general arrangement is shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The old system accomplished stratification satisfactorily but has

Jan 1, 1915

By Robert E. Ennis

This somewhat misnomered "continuous" face section is, in most mines today, still far from perfect continuity. Achieving uninterrupted flow of coal from the mining machine to the outside has been a long sought for goal. Clearly, the largest problem to be solved in continuous mining today is one of increasing the cutting time of the miner. Full machine utilization can never be achieved with the new high capacity miners as long as their performance is tied to that of the shuttle car. A recent development has proven, however, that truly continuous mining and haulage is possible. The Bell & Zoller Coal Co. working with the Research and Development Department of Hewitt-Robins Inc. developed and perfected a new mining system which offers advantages in terms of increased productivity at reduced mining costs and enhances the safety of personnel at the face. This new system involves the use of two pieces of equipment that form an unbroken link between the mining machine and the mine belt haulage system. These pieces are a Mobile Bridge Conveyor and an Extensible Panel Conveyor.

Jan 4, 1965