Search Documents

At its meeting on February 21, 1933, the Board of Directors passed the following resolution defining and expressing the policy of the Institute with respect to official participation or action in controversial matters: WHEREAS, the Board of Directors at its last meeting passed the following resolution : "The Board of Directors, having been appealed to by several Local Sections for advice concerning the attitude and policy of the Institute relating to the endorsement of candidates for public office, the following statement of policy is formulated: "Whereas, the American Institute of Miming and Metallurgical Engineers is organized for purely professional and scientific purposes, and whereas diversity of opinion among its members on partisan or political questions is inevitable, it is the ex- pressed policy of the Institute to refrain from official participation or action in political and semi-political matters."

Jan 1, 1946

By Henry F. Collins

The following notes on the cheap milling of a soft lowgrade ore-body in the State of Chiapas, Mexico, may be of interest. The ore-body in question was worked, not by itself, but incidentally in connection with a large extraction of concentrating-ore; and one 10-stamp battery of a 30-stamp mill used for re-crushing tailings, and provided with copper-plates, was set aside for the treatment of this particular ore, of which, during a period of 17 months, 10,274 tons, of 2240 lbs. each, were handled. Description.—The ore-body collsisted of that portion of a mass of decomposed garnet-rock of igneous origin, which, near its contact with another igneous mass, composed chiefly of the mineral wollastonite in a nearly pure state, had been permeated by solutions, depositing irregularly, throughout it, quartz, chal-

Jan 1, 1902

By George M. Schwartz, Ian L. Reid

The Soudan mine in the Vermilion district of northeastern Minnesota is the oldest iron mine in the state. It has shipped ore every year since 1884 and still contributes a yearly quota of high grade lump ore. No comprehensive report on the Vermilion iron-bearing district has appeared since Clements' monograph,' but Gruner' discussed the possible origin of the ores in 1926, 1930, and 1932, and recently Reid and Hustad have added data on mining and geology." For many years geologists of the Oliver Iron Mining Div., U. S. Steel Corp., have kept up to date a series of plans and vertical sections of the Soudan mine. In connection with mine operation considerable diamond drilling has been done, and this, together with the mine openings, has permitted a reasonably accurate picture of the structure of the orebodies and wall rocks.

Jan 3, 1955

October Meeting of the Institute.-Invitations have been sent to the members of the following societies through the respective Secretaries to attend the October meeting of the Institute and the Dinner which will be given on the evening of Oct. 17 : American Society for Testing Materials, American Iron and Steel Institute, American Society of Mechanical Engineers, American Society. of Civil Engineers, American Institute of Electrical Engineers, . American Foundry men's Association. Members of these Societies have also been invited to contribute to the discussion of the various papers to be presented at the meeting, a revised list of which appears in the notes of the Iron and Steel Committee on p. vi. Many individuals of national and international prominence have also been invited to contribute discussions of these papers, and the response to these invitations has been extremely encouraging.

Jan 9, 1913

By William M. Courtis

While assaying some copper carbonate ore from the Frazer claims, Similakameen, B. C., I noticed that on parting the gold button a deep orange solution was formed. The button gave off pink bands in the nitric acid, which became deep orange at a short distance from it; and as it traveled over the surface of the porcelain dish, it left a deep orange track behind. As the button brightened in the cupel, it appeared to have a bronze color; but I have since found that when amarillium is in large excess of the gold, the button is a very dark gray. The button parted easily. To the orange solution I added a salt (NaCl) solution, shook in a silver testbottle, and filtered. With H2S I obtained a precipitate, which I supposed due to platinum. However, on further tests, it did

Jan 1, 1903

The first practical and successful use of a laser-beam guidance system for a tunnel machine drilling to a remote target has been achieved at the Bureau of Reclamation's Navajo Indian Irrigation Project near Farmington, N. Mex. Using such a guidance system, the Hughes Tool Co.'s "Betti I" drilled a 10,000-ft long tunnel in eight months and 18 days to within 5/8-in, of established line and grade. The electronic system which guided the "Betti I" features a gas laser whose beam is aimed at two light-sensitive targets on the boring machine. From these targets, the operator of the machine receives electric signals on a read-out panel which tell him the machine's precise location within the tunnel. The operator can then make any adjustments necessary to maintain line and grade while drilling ahead.

Jan 6, 1966

AT the Non-ferrous Metallurgy session on Wednes-day afternoon, R. M. Roosevelt, vice-president of the Eagle-Picher Lead Co., presided. The paper "Sug-gested Improvements for Smelting Copper in the Rever-beratory Furnace," by G. L. Oldright and F. W. Schroeder, was presented by. Mr. Oldright. It was brought out that lessening of dusting of the charge would increase the life of the arch at present operating temperatures, but will not allow much higher tempera-tures to be used unless dusting can be entirely elim-inated. The best opportunity for improving rever-beratory practice lies in the use of still higher tempera-tures but this requires the development of refractories superior to those now used. There was an interesting discussion of the facts brought out. The paper. on the "Formation and Decomposition of Zinc Ferrite," by

Jan 3, 1928

By Kenneth N. Weaver

Portland cement can be made from relatively abundant industrial minerals and rocks, and this may explain why cement producers placed little emphasis on geology during the early days of the industry. After World War II, however, the industry began to recognize the need for geological exploration, and some of the larger companies began to build a permanent geological staff. This development had its roots in the following factors: Rapid expansion of the industry; closing of many cement plants due to inadequate raw materials; necessity for upgrading the quality of portland cement; and the increasingly large capital investment required to build new cement plants, which in turn, required a higher degree of accuracy in reserve calculations. Whereas the geologist's function during the active expansion of capacity was primarily in exploration, one of his major functions today is the development of existing reserves.

Jan 1, 1965

By Michael D. Loy

While the coal industry in general has been slow in accepting automation, the last few years have seen a myriad of products developed by the private sector. These packages run the full gamut from sophisticated geological information systems to line entry discounted cash flow analyses. This paper is an attempt to unravel the confusion that may exist about mining software. Discussions will highlight major differences between software products (such as block vs. grid models, prefeasibility programs vs. Monte Carlo analyses), briefly discuss known vendors, list known package features and touch on hardware requirements. The paper also focuses on the costs of automation (both software and hardware), possible trade-offs, advantages to in-house systems (vs. timesharing), a recommended review/selection process (including suggested RFP format), a test case procedure, when to bring in a consultant, and staffing considerations.

Jan 1, 1983

By Stuart Buckley

THE application of hydrocarbon equilibrium data to various problems encountered in refining and in natural gasoline recovery is an old and well established practice. Both generalized data and data on specific hydro-carbon systems have been made available by a number of investigators. More recently such data have been applied to the relations governing the separation of oil and gas both in the reservoir and at the surface. Most of the applications to production problems, however, have been based upon examinations of surface samples of oil and gas. This paper describes a technique that has been used satisfactorily in a number of cases to calculate directly from the hydrocarbon analysis of and auxiliary laboratory data on a subsurface sample of the reservoir fluid the behavior of the oil and gas during the various stages of separation at the surface incident to production.

Jan 1, 1938

By W. E. Horst

During the past few years of operation at Kings Mountain, N. C., full-scale flotation has generally yielded poorer metallurgical results than those obtained in the laboratory or pilot plant. After 2 min in each size of Denver flotation machine in the spodumene rougher circuit, pilot recovery (41.7 pct) was almost three times that of the plant (13.6 pet) and about twice that of the laboratory (21.0 pet). Pilot and commercial plant data are based on continuous operation, and laboratory results on batch testing of rougher performance. The ore is a pegmatite containing spodumene, feldspar, quartz, mica, and amphibolite. Data were accumulated to evaluate the scale-up relationships between laboratory, pilot plant, and plant flotation cells. Flotation rate constants and dimensional analysis were used to define the relationship existing between flotation behavior and scale of operation.

Jan 11, 1958

By Eugene Guccione

Fear of inflation is one important reason for the rebirth of interest in the stock market, and natural resources are the best investment in an era of rapid inflation.

Jan 6, 1976

By AIME

VERSATILITY is perhaps the outstanding characteristic of the subject of this sketch. He is author, golf-player, musician, public speaker, philatelist, German scholar, and has been a school teacher; but these are incidental. Oliver Ralston's professional forte might be described as beneficiating solid minerals and he has dealt in an important way with practically all of them. To this work he has brought a fertile mind stimulated by keen imagination but kept on the track by a sense of economic balance. An indication of his versatility is evidenced by his career with the Bureau of Mines, which he first joined in 1912, when the Bureau was just one year old. Except for two excursions into industry-Hooker Electro Chemical Co. (1917-20) and United Verde Copper Co. (1928 to 1935)-his entire professional career has been with the Bureau.

Jan 1, 1946

By G. A. REINHA

GEO. F. COMSTOCK,* Niagara Falls, N. Y. (written discussion?).-On studying this paper it has occurred to the writer that possibly it was the drilling of the test cores that produced the strains which affected in-juriously the authors' unrested bars. They found that the machining had only a slight effect, but did they also investigate the effect of the drilling by trying rest applied to the bloom sections before the cores were drilled from then? The writer has heard of a similar effect of rest after machining on test bars from castings, and it would seem more reasonable that the ductility was increased because the rests relieved strains pro-duced in chilling the test cores from the blooms, than because of any peculiar combination of solidification and rolling strains in the blooms which did not exist in smaller billets.

Jan 11, 1919

Columbia University, School of Mines, New York, N. Y. For many years the School of Mines published a Quarterly containing many valuable papers on mining, geology and kindred subjects, but the publication has been discontinued for several years and copies are no longer available for general distribution Papers by members of the staff are now sent to the various scientific societies, and only longer works are published by the Columbia University Press Publications of the Columbia University Press deal almost wholly with subjects other than geology and mining but one may be mentioned: Regulating an industry, by A. H. Stockder. An account of the experience of the Germans in attempting to regulate the Rhenish-Westphalian Coal Syndicate in 1893 to 1899; $2.50. For a list of publications, address the Columbia University Press at the above address.

Jan 1, 1933

BULLETIN 177. The decline and ultimate production of oil wells with notes on the valuation of oil properties, by C. H.- Beal. 1919. 84 pp., 4pls., 80 figs. BULLETIN 179. Abstracts of current decisions on mines and mining, reported from September to December, 1918, by J. W. Thompson. 1919. 166 pp. TECHNICAL PAPER 214. Motor gasoline; properties, laboratory methods of testing, and practical specifications, by E. W. Dean. 1919. 33 pp., 2 figs. TECHNICAL PAPER 219. Combustion and flue-gas analysis, by U. S. Fuel Administration. 1919. 12 pp., 5 figs. TECHNICAL PAPER 223. Cost-keeping for small metal mines, by J. C. Pickering. 1919. 46 pp. Only a limited supply of these publications is available for free distribution. Publications should be ordered by number and title. Applications should be addressed to the Director of the Bureau of Mines, Washington, D. C.

Jan 7, 1919

By Cecil Hagen

All of the production for Ecuador during 1940 came from the Santa Elena Peninsula, Province of Guayas; the major portion coming from the Ancon field, which is controlled mostly by Anglo-Ecuadorian Oilfields, Ltd. A small amount was produced from the shallow pumpers and pozos, or oil pits, at Cautivo-Achallan, Carolina, Santa Paula, Concepcion, El Tambo and Mina Tigre. Considerable exploration was carried on in the country during 1940 and numerous concessions were in force, as shown by the accompanyiag map. Anglo-Saxon continued its exploratory work in the Oriente by surface geological methods and some geophysical surveys. It is understood that this concern did considerable airplane mapping. International Petroleum, on its large concessions between the Andes and Pacific Coast, did considerable surface work as well as some geophysical. No exploratory test wells were drilled by either of these

Jan 1, 1941

By Cecil Hagen

All of the production for Ecuador during 1940 came from the Santa Elena Peninsula, Province of Guayas; the major portion coming from the Ancon field, which is controlled mostly by Anglo-Ecuadorian Oilfields, Ltd. A small amount was produced from the shallow pumpers and pozos, or oil pits, at Cautivo-Achallan, Carolina, Santa Paula, Concepcion, El Tambo and Mina Tigre. Considerable exploration was carried on in the country during 1940 and numerous concessions were in force, as shown by the accompanyiag map. Anglo-Saxon continued its exploratory work in the Oriente by surface geological methods and some geophysical surveys. It is understood that this concern did considerable airplane mapping. International Petroleum, on its large concessions between the Andes and Pacific Coast, did considerable surface work as well as some geophysical. No exploratory test wells were drilled by either of these

Jan 1, 1941

By Edwin Chance

EDWARD H. Coxe, Knoxville, Tenn. (communication to the Secretary*).-Mr. Chance has omitted to mention one very important use for the chemist in connection with the preparation of coal, and that is in connection with coal washing. Efficient coal washing, and especially of the finer sizes, can be accomplished only under the supervision of a chemist, as the proper regulation of the washer can only be had by frequent sampling and analysis of the raw and washed product and the refuse, say at least semi-weekly; and only in this way can a check be kept on the quality of the product and the amount of good coal wasted in the refuse. In large operations, frequently enough coal can be saved from going to the refuse pile to more than pay the salary of the chemist.

Jan 12, 1916

By F. Milton Lewis, Edward S. Frohling

The information which is required for' a preliminary feasibility study and the additional information which is required for the final feasibility study on a new mineral deposit are discussed. The preliminary feasibility study is made from very little information and at a minimum cost to the owner. However, the outline for the preliminary report is similar to the one used in the final report. In this manuscript, it is assumed that the results from the preliminary study are favorable and the owner authorizes a final feasibility study by an outside engineering company. The type of organization for completing this final feasibility study is described. The final reports includes all information and data relative to this new mineral deposit. This information is presented so that it may be understood by financial people as well as by technical people.

Jan 1, 1978