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By Donald H. McLaughlin, Reno H. Sales

ADAPTATION to mining needs of the rich store of geologic knowledge concerning mineral deposits and the application of principles of the science to specific problems in the finding, development and stoping of particular ore bodies are the major tasks of the mining geologist. On him to an increasing degree is placed responsibility for estimation of ore and appraisal of mineralized ground, for explicit guidance of exploration and development, and for reliable advice with regard to the many geologic conditions that influence mining operations. In the long continued and steady efforts to meet these requirements, a special skill in close observation, recording, and quantitative interpretation has been developed, particularly by geologists on staffs of mining companies, which in many districts has proved to be effective, not only for technical ends, but also for advancement of scientific understanding. The foundations for mining geologic work were laid in most districts of the West by investigations of the United States Geological Survey. For years they have provided a reliable basis for geologic thought with regard to ore deposits, and later studies have enriched and supplemented rather than superseded them. In very few districts have the geologic relations stated in the earlier papers needed serious modification or revision, in spite of new evidence subsequently made available in abundance by mining exposures. Indeed, one of the chief satisfactions derived from success in mining geologic work is the assurance that it gives of the correctness bf the major concepts of the science of ore formation, established to so large an extent by the leaders of this notable group among whom Lindgren has been so eminent a figure. The geologists of the Survey have given and are continuing to give the service which can properly be expected of the Federal government. Their work, however, though of the greatest value in establishing the broad geological setting,

Jan 1, 1933

By W. Luyken, E. Bierbrauer

A number of articles have been published, notably those by R. S. Handy, R. T. Hancock and A. P. Watt in Engineering and Mining Journal, dealing with the calculations involved in ore dressing. These publications demonstrate both the importance of the subject and the lack of success in developing a generally recognized method for comparing enrichment effects. Considering that we may wish to compare enrichment results on similar or dissimilar ores, that we may desire to make the comparison on the basis of either the absolute or the economical efficiency, and that the number of factors upon which the result depends is large, the question arises whether it is possible to set up a positive method for such calculations. In the following pages it is our aim to show that a sure, complete and successful way to overcome existing difficulties has been found. Graphical Analysis of Ore-dressing Processes The following is from Truscott's Text Book of Ore Dressing (London, 1923): x = assay of ore treated (feed). y = assay value of the concentrate. 2 = assay value of the tailing. a = weight of feed. 6 = weight of concentrate. c = weight of tailing. C = fractional concentration = = . a y - z K = ratio of concentration = 1/c a/b = y-z/x-z 2 B = fractional recovery = 9 = C y/x (3) 100R = percentage recovery. Copt. = theoretically best concentration. 100 — Copt = waste in the feed.

Jan 1, 1930

By Sherwin Kelly

The prime objective of geophysical exploration is to promote the economical and rapid dis-covery of mineral or oil deposits of commercial value. To a few this concept as applied in min-ing may signify the direct discovery of ore-bodies, but to the geophysical engineer this latter Idea is one of the most insidious and detrimental misapprehensions which he has to combat. The destruction of this annoying obstacle to the progress of geophysical exploration reveals the kernel of truth behind it, that the exploration geophysicist has for the better part of two decades been concerned primarily with the discovery of mineral formations favorable to the occur-rence of commercial ore. There is a very real distinction here, since geophysical methods are capable of discovering certain mineral formations such as sulphide bodies or quartz veins, but are totally incompetent to predict whether or not they constitute ore; that is. whether or not they contain minerals of economic value in the amounts requisite to repay extraction. The art of geophysical exploration is now, however, rapidly outgrowing these early limita-tions. The rate of this growth will in large measure depend on the recognition by the mining industry of the fact that geophysics can play a role far wider and more important than it usual-ly does now, in guiding the future exploration and development of mineral deposits. It is my own firm conviction that as time marches on we will see the methods of applied geophysics turned more and more to the delineation of both minor and major structural features. The outlining of such features having a bearing on the probable loci of mineral deposition will be of inestimable value in guiding the development of a mining district. It is in this field that there will In-evitably occur a meeting and overlapping of the activities of the exploration geophysicists and

Jan 1, 1940

By F. S. Jr. Norcross

MANGANESE has long been considered one of the United States' most important strategic raw materials. Its indispensabil-ity in steel manufacture makes it vital to the nation's industrial life. Coupled with this indispensability is the fact that domes-tic producers have not been able as yet to supply more than a small part of the nation's manganese needs; consequently the United States has had to depend upon such distant foreign sources as the U.S.S.R., British India, the African Gold Coast and Brazil for the major portion of its ore. The great bulk of the mineral is con-sumed in the form of ferromanganese, an alloy that averages 8o per cent manganese and 20 per cent mainly iron and carbon. Manganese is used as a deoxidizer and desulphurizer in steel manufacture. By combination with the residual oxygen and sulphur of the bath, it helps to produce a clean, sound metal. Approximately 14 lb. of manganese, it is estimated, is used in making one ton of steel. For standard-grade ferromanganese, the ore should have a minimum of about 48 per cent Mn and preferably more. Beneficiation methods have not yet been developed for making the immense low-grade deposits in the United States salable at prevail-ing prices.

Jan 1, 1940

By F. S. Jr. Norcross

MANGANESE has long been considered one of the United States' most important strategic raw materials. Its indispensabil-ity in steel manufacture makes it vital to the nation's industrial life. Coupled with this indispensability is the fact that domes-tic producers have not been able as yet to supply more than a small part of the nation's manganese needs; consequently the United States has had to depend upon such distant foreign sources as the U.S.S.R., British India, the African Gold Coast and Brazil for the major portion of its ore. The great bulk of the mineral is con-sumed in the form of ferromanganese, an alloy that averages 8o per cent manganese and 20 per cent mainly iron and carbon. Manganese is used as a deoxidizer and desulphurizer in steel manufacture. By combination with the residual oxygen and sulphur of the bath, it helps to produce a clean, sound metal. Approximately 14 lb. of manganese, it is estimated, is used in making one ton of steel. For standard-grade ferromanganese, the ore should have a minimum of about 48 per cent Mn and preferably more. Beneficiation methods have not yet been developed for making the immense low-grade deposits in the United States salable at prevail-ing prices.

Jan 1, 1940

By Milo W. Krejci

The plant and quarries of the Inland Portland Cement Co. are located at Metaline Palls, Wash., about 128 miles north of Spokane, on the Pend Oreille river, and within 10 miles of the Canadian border. The plant is one of a chain of cement plants controlled by the Lehigh Portland Cement Co., of Allentown, Pa. Work on this plant was commenced in June, 1910, and was completed in April, 1911, but on account of some delays in the construction of the power plant, the works were not put into operation until August, 1911. Since then it has been in continuous operation and has furnished the Inland Empire with a high grade of cement. Fig. 1 is a view and Fig. 2 is a plan of the works. Water Power Development.—The source of the water supply for the hydro-electric plant of the Inland Portland Cement Co. is Sullivan lake, a body of water approximately 5.5 miles long and' 0.5 mile wide, situated in the Kaniksu Forest Reserve. A wooden crib dam was installed so as to raise the elevation of the lake 25 ft., and the additional storage capacity was taken up by the diversion of Sullivan creek into the lake by means of a wooden flume, 0.25 mile long, 6 by 8 ft. in cross-section, and a ditch 1,200 ft. long. The water from the lake follows the natural water course to an intermediate storage reservoir, which was created by the construction of an earthen dam. This pond was used in connection with the saw mill which was installed at this point. Besides the earth dam, there was also built a crib, at the point shown in the sketch map, Fig. 3. This crib dam is 35 ft. high. From this point the excess water follows the natural course of Sullivan creek to the Pend Oreille river. The water is taken from this intermediage storage by means of a 6 by 8 ft. wooden flume approximately 13,000 ft. long. This flume is built up on the side hill, piling being driven most of the way on

Jan 1, 1914

By Carle Hayward

SULPHUR has long been one of the banes of the steel manufacturer and often no effort and expense have been spared in order to reduce it to a small per cent. in the finished product. This condition is clue to a general conviction that in many cases where steels have failed in service, sulphur has been the cause. But there has been a growing feeling in recent years that the verdict against sulphur has been unnecessarily severe. In cases of segregation it was present in augmented amounts along with other impurities, but it had not caused the segregation. High sulphur in pig iron is caused by poor furnace conditions and the sulphur is merely one indication of an iron that has not been properly reduced. No amount of subsequent treatment under oxidizing conditions in the open-hearth furnace can remedy the defects, although the per cent. of sulphur may be considerably reduced. In other words, the causes of bad steel can frequently be traced back to bad pig iron, and sulphur is merely one indication that the pig iron is bad. The writer recently visited a steel plant where a mass of evidence had been accumulated which substantiated this fact, and the superintendent was .emphatic in stating that high sulphur was not harmful provided the steel was not otherwise poor due to insufficient reduction in the blast furnace. The presence of a moderate amount of sulphur is desirable from the standpoint of the man who machines the steel. The low-sulphur material drags and the production of a smooth surface is very difficult. A slight increase in sulphur enables the machinist to produce a smooth surface without difficulty. Since, therefore, such large quantities of steel are subjected to machining, it becomes highly important that the sulphur controversy should be settled, and if its presence is proved to be harmless the ban on it should be lifted.

Jan 10, 1916

By Paul Billingsley

CERTAIN adequately developed mining districts give complete three-dimensional patterns of ore bodies as clusters rising from roots in basement rocks with details controlled by structure of cover rooks. Examples are Goodsprings, Tintic, Bisbee, Leadville, Hedley, Eureka, Ely and Goldfield. In these and others the controlling structures in both basement and cover rock are elements of the neighboring regional structure and have been produced by rock movements in harmony with continental adjustments, which are usually steep tear faults in basement and thrust crumples in cover. Invariably the structures and movements in the districts have long geologic history and result from intersecting or superimposed deformations of different ages. Salt Lake districts show intersecting Uinta and Cordilleran elements; Colorado dis-tricts show intersecting pre-Cambrian and Tertiary elements, and Bisbee shows Tertiary superimposed on final Paleozoic folding. Thus the position of districts has been determined by the patterns of North American orogenic belts, which make cross-roads in Rocky Mountains and blocks of superimposed deformation in Sierra Nevada, northwest Coast and Canadian Coast Ranges. Essential function of repeated deforma-tion is to strengthen rock, as from shale to slate to schist to gneiss, and thus make it competent to carry channels to depth with or without addition of intrusives. The essence of a mining district is the presence of such competent rocks with long-lived, deep, penetrating breaks reopened to permit passage of heat and associated products from depths to surface. It is suggested that melts such as magmas; metamorphism up to and including granitization; alteration, such as orthoclase-quartz or quartz-sericite or garnet, and also mineralization, may all be by-products of such heat escape along channels made by tectonic forces at specific foci.

Jan 1, 1939

By W. H. Adams

Virginia, a store-house of metals, is more and more a surprise to the present generation. With her enormous available mineral wealth, worked upon steadily for over a century, exploited SUEciently to demonstrate beyond question costs and values, reported upon by our most eminent scientists, written up by thoroughly earnest correspondents, we yet find her little understood by capitalists or practical men, and until very lately overlooked by the advanceguard of pioneers in metallurgy, whose restless energy conquered the wilderness of Northern Michigan years ago, and has written a new and startling history for almost impenetrable Western territories. The world is learning through the mouths of giant furnaces lately put in blast at Lowmoor, Goshen, and Roanoke, more of this wondcrful State. It is becoming plain that nearer home, amid all the surroundings of civilization, under an equable climate and with the advantage of a minimum cost for fuel and labor, there are stores of mineral, varied in character and deposited over a wide area, which exceed all ordinary calcnlations. Principal among these minerals, iron ores have been, and will probably continue to be, the leading product and the source of greatest revenue. My attention has been called during the past year to one particular section of the iron-belt, where for forty years charcoal-furnaces were successfully operated, the ores being mined in open pits, as can so frequently be seen from the Connecticut line southward into Georgia. There is, however, a significant peculiarity in the character of these deposits of Louisa county warranting special mention, as it is thought that nowhere on the earth's surface, within so moderate a distance of tidewater, can their like be fouad. Probably half a million tons of lump and wash-material have been taken from pits

Jan 1, 1884

By Morris Steinberg, John Wulff, Robert Kamm

IN powder metallurgy it has often been observed that shrinkage may occur in one direction and growth in another during sintering. Even in long-time sintering experiments the rate of shrinkage may be different in different parts of the compact. In the fabrication of some parts requiring a constant permeability it is even questionable in some cases whether pressing from one direction should be attempted. These observations require for their interpretation a more detailed study of green or pressed density than has heretofore been available. Usually average density measurements of the whole compact are made and in some cases carefully cut sections are measured. A different approach to the problem was first mentioned by Rakowski1 and also used by Balshin.2 Balshin's diagram is reproduced in Fig r and schematically shows the result of pressing three layers of metal powder with fine intervening layers of graphite. The retarding effect of the die walls and a qualitative example of the density distribution is evident. More quantitative information about the distribution of density within a cold-pressed powder compact would be useful in showing the variation in density in compacts as influenced by the type of powder, shape of die, lubrication during the process, and other variables. Furthermore, information about the cracking of cold-pressed compacts may be obtained from an analysis of the stress distribution within a powder compact, and some information about the stress distribution can be obtained in turn from the density and strain distributions. A more detailed report on some of the present experiments appears in reference 3. PRESENT INVESTIGATION In order to ascertain the density gradients in cold-pressed metal powders, a deformable lead grid within the powder was employed. After pressing in cylindrical dies the ejected compact was radiographed, giving a pattern of the deformed grid. From the radiograph density and deformation from point to point is readily measured. From the radiograph strain distribution and stress trajectories were also determined. The latter also permits the determination of the coefficient of friction at the die wall. This technique indicates that the densest part of a compact pressed from one side is at the top outer circumference and the least dense region at the bottom circumference near the stationary plunger. For some heights of compacts the density at the axis is such that the lower density is at the top rather than at the bottom. So irregular a density distribution is due primarily to die-wall friction. As the ratio of diameter to height of compact is increased the die walls play a correspond¬ingly smaller role. More uniform density

Jan 1, 1947

By W. A. Sheaffer

Electric furnace installation and tough-pitch copper-casting operation at Canadian Copper Refiners Ltd. are described. General layout, power supply and control, refractories, induction pour hearth, casting equipment, metal temperature control, and oxygen-content control are discussed. E LECTRIC furnace at Canadian Copper Refiners Ltd. was put into operation in August 1949. The installation was designed primarily to melt electrolytic copper cathodes and to produce vertically cast tough-pitch shapes. To meet emergencies during reverberatory furnace shut-downs, provision was made for casting horizontal tough-pitch wire bars. Due to the ease with which metal temperatures, melting rates, oxygen content, and casting hours can be altered to suit production demands, the electric furnace has met the requirements admirably. General Layout The plant has been described by H. S. McKnight' and by J. H. Schloen and E. M. Elkin.2 Since these papers were written, the electric furnace has been installed in a 140 ft extension of the original casting building. The extension, 264 ft in width, is divided into one 24 ft and four 60 ft bays, each a continuation of similar bays in the older building. Fig. l, a partial floor plan of the extension, shows the location of major equipment. Power Supply and Control Power for the electric furnace and its auxiliary equipment is delivered by Quebec Hydro over two 12 kv three-phase, 60 cycle pole lines. One line is in use, while the second serves as an emergency standby. Connections for the electric furnace from these lines, which also feed the refinery power house, are made to a substation on Canadian Copper Refiners Ltd. property. Connections between this substation and the furnace transformer room are in underground conduit. The are-furnace transformer, 550 v auxiliary-equipment transformer, and 12 kv switchgear are in the transformer room near the furnace. Stepdown from 12 kv to are-furnace voltages is done by a 7500 kva oil-immersed water-cooled three-phase 60 cycle transformer. This unusually high kva rating is available because the arc furnace and transformer were adapted from a steel-melting unit. Secondary voltages are available in 16 steps between 251 and 95 v (across phases). A four-position tap changer, operated from the furnace switchboard is connected to taps yielding 199, 164.5, 127, and 115 v, respectively. The transformer primary feeder is equipped with a General Electric Magne-Blast circuit breaker. The pour hearth, casting wheel, bosh conveyor, and other auxiliary equipment are fed by a 12 kv to 550 v, 750 kva three-phase 60 cycle transformer. Graphite electrodes, 14 in., with tapered nipples are held in the are-furnace electrode arms with steel wedges. The arms, fed from the transformer secondary busbars by flexible cable bundles, are actuated by winch cables. Direct-current motors operating the winches are supplied by a 250 v motor-generator set. Power input to the furnace is controlled from the furnace switchboard. The board has the usual combination of remote controls for the 12 kv breaker and transformer tap changer, meters, overload relays, automatic and manual electrode motion controls, switchgear, etc. When power is on the furnace, automatic electrode feed is used; the power draw on a given voltage tap then is governed by current-limiting rheostats. The rheostats work through a Westinghouse bal-lanced-beam control circuit which, in turn, operates reversing contactors in the winch motor circuits. Arc Furnace The arc furnace is a standard-type NT Pittsburgh 'Lectromelt with inside shell diameter 12 ft 3¾ in. By hydraulic-lift cylinders, the furnace can be tilted forward to 39 ½ ° and backward to 5" from horizontal. A roof-swing cylinder is also installed but not used. Fig. 2 shows refractory-lining details. With the lining as shown, operating life between repairs is 6 to 9 months of two-shift casting operation. Charge slot, skim door, and roof refractories then are replaced completely, and any necessary repairs made to side walls. Bottom life is longer and the original under courses are still in service, while the top course was replaced in October 1951. The launder is lined with high chrome-magnesite trough brick backed by fireclay and insulating brick. The trough is covered with fireclay brick and asbestos sheet. At intervals, openings 12x6 in. are left in the permanent covering. These are covered with

Jan 1, 1956

By Charles H. Snow

The engineer has often to penetrate difficult or unknown regions. Mineral, irrigation, boundary and railway problems frequently necessitate journeys through, or long residence in, localities whence sustenance cannot be drawn. The selection and conveyance of provisions, outfit and implements thus become a matter of the first importance. Scientific skill, even of the highest order, is powerless unless supported by the proper appliances and foods. The advance of civilization favors the engineer, in that it is constantly enlarging his facilities and thus reducing his difficulties. Notwithstanding this fact, many are yet brought face to face with the problems considered in this paper. Distinction must be made between parties which are to be in constant or even occasional touch with a base of supplies, and those which will be for a long time dependent on their original outfit. Again, the requirements of a party on the march are different from those of a fixed camp. The district, season, cliinate, size and personnel of party also influence the character of the outfit. A party that is to be detached from its base of supplies for some time requires a greater variety of food than if it is to be gone for a short time. Much less in proportion need be taken where the journey is not long, so that privation is confined to a limited period. The ability to establish a fixed camp permits a larger outfit than would be possible if the camp mere to be moved from day to day. Transportation, climatic and other conditions are thus so varied that lists prepared for one work could hardly be applied to any other without some modification. Lists that have proved successful in some instances may, however, serve as bases to be added to, or otherwise altered, for the case in hand. The mistake usually made is in providing too large an outfit. Every emergency cannot be provided for; so that it is well to take, not what may be needed, but what cannot be spared.

Jan 1, 1900

By Frank C. Appleyard

Gypsum, the dihydrate form of calcium sulfate, has a history of usefulness to man dating back several thousand years, and a worldwide industry has been built on the mining and processing of this versatile industrial mineral. However, anhydrite, the other principal calcium sulfate mineral has very limited use, so much so that separate statistics for it are not always kept, but are usually included with those for gypsum. Although often found in close association, the two minerals have important chemical differences in that anhydrite is the anhydrous form of calcium sulfate (CaSO,) whereas gypsum is the dihydrate (CAS0;2H20). These two molecules of combined water result in significant differences in hardness, density, and solubility of the two minerals. However, of most importance is the difference in thermal properties wherein gypsum, upon the application of a modest amount of heat, can be converted to the hemihydrate of calcium sulfate (CaS0;Vi H,O) or plaster of paris, an intermediate product upon which is based over 90% of the value of all calcium sulfate end products. Anhydrite, on the other hand, is inert at these temperatures and its uses have been limited to only those few cases where calcium sulfate in the anhydrous form may have an advantage. The earliest known use of gypsum plaster dates back some 5000 years to the time of the Pharaohs of Egypt who had discovered that gypsum rock, when exposed to fire, broke down into a powder which when mixed with water would form a putty that could be "plastered" on a rough mud brick or stone wall to make a smooth finish. It was used down through the centuries in a limited way for ornamental purposes, but did not achieve wide acceptance because of its quick (25 to 30 min) setting or hardening time which made it difficult to use. The first real understanding of gypsum chemistry was developed in France about 1755, and the gradual growth of its present utilization dates from that time. In the United States, the first utilization of gypsum was to grind it to a fine material for use as a soil conditioner at about the time of the Revolutionary War, and the term "land plaster" for ground gypsum has remained in use. Another cementituous material-lime or calcium oxide-had become the usual plastering material, but by about 1870 a method for retarding the set of gypsum plaster was discovered and it has today almost completely replaced lime as a plastering material. In recent years, gypsum products sold in the United States have reached a total valuation of approximately $500 million per year as illustrated in [Table 1].

Jan 1, 1975

By Harold W. Aldrich, Walter G. Scott

The leaching process of the Inspiration Consolidated Copper Co. is based upon the solubility of oxidized copper in sulfuric acid and the solubility of sulfide copper, largely in the form of chalcocite, in ferric sulfate solution. This necessitates the carrying of a rather large amount of iron in solution. The ferric sulfate is regenerated from ferrous sulfate by the oxygen given off at the anode during electrolytic precipitation of the copper. In September, 1924, excavation was started at Inspiration, Arizona, for the construction of a plant to treat 7500 tons of ore per day. When the plant was begun, the fact developed that by a minor change in the height of the overflow on the leaching tanks, 9000 tons could be charged into each tank and treated satisfactorily. This determined the maximum capacity of the plant as 9000 tons per day. The first ore was charged in October, 1926, and there are now available the records of five complete years of operation; namely, 1927 to 1931, inclusive. The original estimate of copper content of the ore to be mined for this plant was 1.19 per cent, of which 0.77 per cent was as oxide and 0.42 per cent as sulfide. From the metallurgical results obtained at the 35-ton pilot plant, it was estimated that a 90.0 per cent extraction of the oxide copper and a 75.0 per cent extraction of the sulfide copper could be made. It was estimated that the tailing would carry 0.182 per cent total copper, resulting in a

Jan 1, 1934

By Clinton M. Ball

Magnetic iron-ore is found in many localities throughout this and other countries, in large bodies and in convenient proximity to other materials required for its conversion into iron and steel; and these bodies of ore would have great commercial value on account of their nearness to consuming markets if they were generally suitable in their natural state for use in the larger operations of steel-making. In the manufacture of iron and steel it has been found, however, that not all ores are equally valuable as sources of raw material for the finished products of furnace, forge and foundry; and, as is now well understood, this is because of the intrusion, in the process of formation of the ore-bodies, of substances which can enter into deleterious combinations with the iron itself, or form compounds associated with the iron oxide which will hinder, if they do not altogether prevent, the production therefrom of the higher grades of finished metal. It is only since the development of the modern method of steel-making by the Bessemer process that the art of the chemist has been called to a critical study of the nature and effect produced by the presence of these pernicious substances in the furnace while the iron is undergoing reduction to the metallic state. Phosphorus and sulphur are the most common and obnoxious elements, and the admixture of one or the other, or both of these, in small percentages and varying proportions, will greatly modify the final results of manufacture. It so happens that generally, although not always, these hurtful elements are found in compounds in the ore which are not magnetic, and this circumstance has led to the expenditure of much ingenuity and money over a long period of time, in attempts to utilize the attractive power of magnets to separate the magnetic oxide of iron out of its crushed ores and from sands, in

Jan 1, 1896

By R. E. Zimmerman

ALTHOUGH flotation of coal is considered relatively new in the United States by coal-preparation engineers, actually it has been practiced to some extent for the past 30 years, It is practiced much more widely in Europe than in the United States. Commercial plants are operating in nearly all major coal-producing countries of the world. A froth flotation plant has been operating since 1930 at the Champion No, 1 preparation plant of the Pittsburgh Coal Co. Unfortunately the term flotation is widely used in the United States by coal-preparation engineers to designate dense medium processes of coal cleaning. As used here, flotation means those processes for cleaning fine sizes of coal in which the coal is collected in a froth or matte at or near the surface of a pulp. The refuse particles remain in the pulp. Two distinct types of flotation are practiced: froth flotation and agglomeration. FORMS OF FLOTATION The theory of the principles of flotation and of the physicochemical foundations surrounding this process has become a complex and scientific field and coal-preparation engineers contemplating use of flotation processes would do well to study the works of Gaudin, 2, 5 Taggart, 3 Zimmerman, 4 Wark, 6 Ralston, 7 Petersen. 8 Bulk Oil Flotation.-In this process the separation of mineral from gangue is accomplished by virtue of the fact that minerals of metallic lustre, as sulphides, or hydrocarbons, as coal and graphite, are wetted preferentially by oil in the presence of water and consequently pass into the interface between oil and water; while gangue or rock is wetted by water and remains in the medium. Beginning in 1860 with Haynes and later between 1897 and 1907, at least 25 patents were granted for bulk oil flotation. Large quantities of oil are required, generally 3 to 25 per cent by weight of feed, and recovery of such oil is a major problem. The Elmore process 3 (1901 and 1902) is an example of a bulk oil process, The Trent process (1902-25) has been used for the cleaning of coal on a commercial scale, According to E. W, Davidson 9 there were five such plants operating in the United States by 1925. They have since been abandoned.

Jan 1, 1950

By Irwin Roman

Numerous results and formulas have been published for analyzing seismic records, but most of them apply only to large-scale phenomena such as are encountered in studying earthquakes. In a few cases,' formulas have been published for some of the simpler structures. In the present paper, an attempt will be made to analyze several types of structures without using methods more advanced than those of a first course in calculus. In tracing a disturbance through a medium, it is almost always possible to base the analysis on Fermat's Principle of Extreme Time, which states that waves of displacement travel between points in such a manner as to make the time of travel an extremum with respect to all neighboring paths. In the simpler cases, comprising most of those used in optics or geophysical prospecting, this time is a minimum and the principle is often referred to as the Principle of Least Time. Within a homogeneous medium, having a uniform speed of transmission of the disturbance in all directions and throughout the medium, the paths are straight and are refracted at the interfaces in accordance with the Snell law of refraction, which states that the ratio of the sine of the angle, made by the ray with the normal to the interface, to the speed of transmission is the same on both sides of the interface. Thus, in any medium composed of homogeneous sections, this same ratio has a constant value at all points. In particular, if all interfaces are horizontal, it is apparent that the angles of incidence are the angles made by the ray with the vertical direction. Furthermore, the incident ray, the refracted ray and the normal to the interface are all in the same plane at each refraction,

Jan 1, 1934

By Charles Morgan

AN increased demand for brown iron ore in the Birmingham district during the past 18 months has caused renewed activity both in prospecting and mining these ores. In recent years the production in Alabama has ranged from 41,559 tons in 1932 to 639,351 tons in 1928. During the last 9 years about 83 per cent of the total brown ore produced in the United States has come from Alabama (Tables 1 and 2). PROSPECTING Two methods of prospecting are used in this district: (1) test pits, (2) churn-drilling. Usually there is certain quite definite information on an area to be prospected; some of the indications are float ore suck as small gravel or small and large boulders known as "dornicks” scattered over the surface, and ore exposed by erosion in gulleys and ravines, which have cut or eroded through the overburden. Often these natural erosions furnish an indication of the thickness of the ore and to some extent of the area of the ore body. Deposits of brown ore are very irregular both in thickness and extent. Deposits are often lens-shaped or long narrow leads, some of which may be parallel and separated from one another by sand, clay or gravel. The bottom-the footwall-is also very irregular. This footwall is usually lime clay-disintegrated limestone, locally called "white horse," which usually is found at a depth of 6 in. to 20 ft. overlying the limestone. At some places sand and gravel is found under the ore instead of clay. No ore is found under the lime clay, although often the ore has sunk or slumped and is found in the upper portion of this clay, as at some of the Sloss workings at Russellville. The origin of these ores has been discussed by Major E. C. Eckel and Dr. E. F. Burchard in U. S. Geological Survey Bulletin 400, and recently the latter has done further work on ores in the Russellville district, of which reports undoubtedly will be published.

Jan 1, 1937

By Arthur F. Taggart

A general awakening of interest among mill men concerning the mechanical efficiencies of their crushing machines is evident from a perusal of the recent files of mining publications. Considering the large part of the power bill which must be debited to the crushing department, such interest is natural. When, however, the articles on the subject are read, the only statement upon which the writers agree is that fine grinding consumes a large amount of power, and that the machine which, from a concentration standpoint, offends as a slime producer is, for that reason, a serious offender in wasting power. When the mill man attempts to find a method for measuring the power wasted, or to compare the efficiency of one machine with that of another for the same work, he is confronted with a choice of methods which lead to conflicting results. There are two reasons why the work of crushing is not more generally understood. In the first place, experimental data are difficult to obtain; and in the second place, before these data can be put in general form certain assumptions must be made. A difference in these assumptions by different investigators has led to conflicting conclusions. This conflict has resulted in the proposal of two laws. The first of these is the so-called Rittinger's law, which is variously stated as follows: "The work of crushing is proportional to the reduction in diameter."—R. H. Richards: Ore Dressing, p. 304 (1903). "The work required to crush rock is very nearly proportional to the reciprocals of the diameters crushed to."—A. Del Mar: Engineering and Mining Journal, vol. xciv, No. 24, p. 1129 (Dec. 14, 1912). "The work done in crushing is proportional to the surface exposed by the operation, or better expressed for this purpose, the work done on a given mass of rock is proportional to the reciprocal of the diameter of the final product, assuming that all the mass has been reduced to one exact size, which is only theoretically possible."— A. 0. Gates: Engineering and Mining Journal, vol. xcv, No. 21, p. 1039 (May 24, 1913). ' ' " Of this law as variously stated above H. Stadler says (Grading Analyses and Their Application, Author's Reply to Discussion, Transactions of the Institution of Mining and Metallurgy, vol. xx, p. 426 [1910-111):

Jan 1, 1915

By Charles Barrett

THE experiments reported in this paper have been fruitful in disclosing the mechanism of the deformation of iron in compression. They have established the nature of "deformation bands," "etch bands," or "X-bands," that have been a recognized but little understood feature in the structure of cold-worked metals since the early days of metal-lography, and have shown the role of the bands in the development of preferred orientations by cold-working. The work has also shown the relation of the orientation of individual grains to the preferred orientation of the aggregate. Some of the methods previously used in the determination of the indices of slip planes and slip directions are shown to be untrustworthy in the presence of deformation bands. The conclusion is reached that many slip planes and slip directions must operate during each stage in the compression of a single crystal, and that theories failing to take account of this require revision. In conducting the experiments a method f compression has been used by which extreme reductions can easily be reached, even to the limit set by the metal's capacity to deform with-out fracture. The work is a portion of a research program on the plastic properties of iron and steel. It is being used as a foundation for studies of orienta-tions resulting from recrystallization and is being extended to other metals and other types of deformation.

Jan 1, 1938