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By H. E. James

Much has been said and written about the need to reduce South Africa's dependence on gold. To compensate for the decline in the country's foreign-exchange earnings resulting from the phasing out of gold, which must inevitably occur at some future date, a far higher priority will have to be placed on the mining, beneficiation, and export of the 59 other mineral commodities produced in South Africa. The basic strategy of the mining and metallurgical industries should be to move from the traditional approach of establishing a resource base to the establishment of a market base; to turn from production orientation to market orientation; and to rely less on exploration and economies of scale and more on process innovation and product development. The enthusiasm, entrepreneurial spirit, and commitment of the leaders in the mining and metallurgical industry will clearly be of decisive importance in the establishment of new industries for the beneficiation and export of added-value mineral-based products. The State can make a significant contribution by the provision of a welldeveloped and efficient infrastructure, including rail and harbour facilities, communications and health services, roads, and of electricity and water supplies. In our search for a new development strategy for the beneficiation and export of South Africa's minerals, we need to recognize that no one nation has all the mineralresources that it needs. Commercial and strategic manipulation of mineral supplies should no longer be tolerated. The future of the human species lies in international cooperation and in a greater understanding of the limitations of the world we live in.

Jan 1, 1985

By Joseph M. Kurtak

The Bureau of Mines (Bureau) and the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) conducted a 4-year (1979-1982) mineral assessment study of the Chugach National Forest (CNF), Ak, as part of the Roadless Area Review and Evaluation (RARE II) Program. The USGS remapped the geology and distribution of mineral resources. The Bureau investigated mines, prospects, and mineral occurrences. This report describes the results of Bureau work in the central 790,880 acres of the Forest. Copper, with by-product zinc, silver, and gold, has been the major metal produced from the study area as well as from the entire Chugach National Forest. The majority of the copper deposits are concentrated within basaltic rocks on Knight Island but the major producers are hosted by sedimentary rocks on Latouche Island. Approximately 182.6 million lb of copper, 1.5 million oz of silver, and an unknown but substantial amount of gold were produced during a 30 year period. Currently no mines in the area are producing. Inferred, indicated and measured reserves having mineral development potential total 4.6 million tons, with weighted average grades of 1.6% copper, 0.30 oz silver/ton, and 0.04 oz gold/ton.

Jan 1, 2011

By A. H. A. Robinson

Until quite recently-practically up to the present time-all but an insignificant amount of the copper produced in Canada was shipped abroad in the form of ore, matte, blister, etc., there to undergo the further treatment necessary to bring it to the refined state in which it is required by fabricators of copper. Consequently, Canadian manufacturers were forced to import nearly all the copper required in their business; and a considerable portion of the ultimate value to be derived from a Canadian raw material was lost to the country of its origin. In the early days of Canadian copper mining, when both the production and consumption of copper in Canada were much smaller than now, such a condition of affairs was perhaps economically unavoidable, and, in any case, was not a matte~ of sufficient importance to attract general attention. Later on, however, when there had been large and rapid increases both in the production and consumption of copper in Canada, it formed the basis of much adverse criticism, deserved or not, of producers of Canadian copper-criticism that became intensified during the war and subsequent years. Happily, the chief grounds of complaint have now been removed, and there are today copper refineries in Canada, either operating or under construction, that are capable, in the aggregate, of turning out amounts of refined copper greatly in excess of any indicated Canadian consumption.

Jan 1, 1931

Lead Tariff.--The full House Ways and Means Committee approved H.R. 6089 which will have the effect of reducing the tariff on unwrought lead to 3% ad valorem, with a floor duty of 1.0625 cents per pound, compared with the currently effective rate of 3.5% ad valorem. Consideration is also being given to tariff rates on imports of red lead and litharge from Mexico. A consortium of domestic producers has appealed to the Office of the Special Trade Representative (STR) requesting a return to tariff schedules which were in effect prior to the concessions made effective on January 1. Mexican producers have filed a proposal in favor of lower duties, and the matter now awaits a ruling by the STR. Ferrous Scrap Exports.--After holding public hearings and receiving public comments in May, the Department of Commerce announced that it would not institute formal monitoring of ferrous scrap exports, as requested by the Ferrous Scrap Consumers Coalition. The Department said, however, that it would follow the trend of scrap exports and prices. Ferrous scrap prices are currently low and supplies are reported to be adequate.

Jan 1, 1980

By Scott Turner

The monetary metals , gold and silver , have recently been the object of such general interest that the United States Bureau of Mines has received many inquiries regarding them . Though requests for technologic information have been numerous , they have been exceeded in number by those concerned with economic aspects of these metals . The nature of the latter communications indicates that the public is not generally aware that various Bureau publications are available which deal with the economic situation of gold and silver . For this reason , it is deemed advisable to present a brief résumé of the papers which are obtainable from the Bureau or the Superintendent of Documents , together with the text of three articles recently prepared by the Director , reprints of which are not otherwise available . The Bureau of Mines compiles figures showing mine production of gold and silver , by districts and States , and cooperates with the Bureau of the Mint in determining the total annual output in the United States as a whole . 3 It recently established an annual canvass to determine the consumption of silver in the arts and industries of the United States , and published an economic paper covering such use in 1928 and 1929 , followed by an information circular on silver consumption by industry during the 2 years subsequent . A 4-year record is thus provided for those interested in utilization of silver . The Bureau has also published summarizations of all available data upon world production since 1493 of gold and of silver . It has , furthermore , rendered available a compilation of production- data of silver mines of the world , and an analysis of it , showing the proportions of silver and other metals contained in all the ores from which silver is derived . " All of these papers are concerned solely with putting into readily usable form statistical data and other factual material ; they do not offer theories or express opinions upon controversial questions related to these metals . Three other recent papers concerned with gold and silver are presented below in order to put them in shape for distribution by the United States Bureau of Mines . All three of them are by the Director of the Bureau . It should be noted that these papers do not commit

Jul 1, 1933

By C. G. Maier

The fundamental chemistry of zinc smelting, especially that part dealing with the chemical reduction of the zinc-oxide content of a roasted zinc ore, has been discussed by metallurgists in some detail, but, in the light of present knowledge, unsatisfactorily. A considerable portion of the information available has been qualitative, or quantitative in a sense that could not be interpreted chemically. A number of attempts to elucidate the physical chemistry of zinc oxide reduction have been based upon unsubstantiated and, as is now known, incorrect equilibrium data. To write upon the chemistry of zinc smelting at this time, when electrolytic methods for the production of zinc metal from ore are becoming increasingly widespread, may seem a belated effort. So, for example, C. A. Hansen,3 in the communicated discussion of an article by the author,4 writes as follows:

Jan 1, 1930

Jan 1, 1882

By John A. Davis, David W. Brunton

During the past few years great progress has been made in the United States toward safer, more efficient, and more economical tunneling methods. This advance is partly due, no doubt, to the recent increase in the number of tunnels and adits driven for devel- oping and draining mines and transporting ore. The Bureau of Mines during 1911 and 1912 made a special examination of this phase of mining operations, in connection with an investigation of mining methods and means for preventing accidents. The details especially studied were the provisions for the safety of employees, the kinds of equipment, the methods of driving, and the costs of con- struction. The results and conclusions obtained from that investi- gation are discussed and summarized in this bulletin. Up-to-date information concerning tunneling methods is difficult to obtain. There are few books on the subject; and much of the material they contain, although interesting and of value historically, is now obsolete. The engineering periodicals, it is true, endeavor to keep abreast of the times, and several in nearly every issue present some article bearing upon tunnel work. But the very multiplicity of these articles prevents one from reading them all, and the foreman or superintendent in charge of a tunnel, or the mining engineer designing one, and especially the business man financing the project, has no time for a lengthy search after scattered articles in order to determine the present status of tunnel work. Then, too, knowledge of new methods travels slowly. Valuable inventions and improve- ments in tunneling as well as in all the other industries frequently remain in the notebook of the investigator, or as theses are buried in university libraries, or are published only in journals of small scien- tific societies. New tunneling methods and equipment that are prov- ing safe, efficient, and economical may be totally unknown outside the district in which they originate. This paper, based on a special examination both in the field and in engineering literature, is in- tended to supply data concerning modern and recent tunneling practice in the United States, and to make suggestions that, it is hoped, will result in a saving to the mining industry of energy, capital, and life.

Jan 1, 1916

By Paul C. Hyndman

The U.S. Bureau of Mines inventoried Federal mineral lands in Idaho and classified them in detail, section by section, according to their availability for mineral exploration and development as affected by legal restrictions and agencies' management practices. The Bureau also identified known mineral deposit areas (KMDAs) and areas conducive to oil, gas, and geothermal resources. This information is shown on maps (developed in part by geographic information system technology) that spatially compare the availability for mineral entry of Federal land with these KMDAs to demonstrate the extent and severity of restrictions on mineral entry. Idaho contains 53.1 million acres, 35.7 million (67%) of which is Federal mineral land. About 7 million acres of this land is within KMDAs that host medium-to high-value locatable mineral deposits; 36% of this land is available, 27% is slightly to moderately restricted, and 37% is severely restricted or unavailable. For the leasable minerals, about 1.8 million acres are within KMDAs that host medium-to high-value phosphate deposits, about 5.4 million acres are favorable for oil and gas resources, and 3.9 million acres for geothermal resources. The percentages of land availability are 30%, 45%, and 25% for the phosphate acreage, 38%, 34%, and 28% for the oil and gas acreage, and 43%, 30%, and 27% for the geothermal acreage.

Jan 1, 2012

LOCAL COMMITTEE OF ARRANGEMENTS. Major J. W. Powell, Chairman; F. P. Dewey. Secretary; S. F. Emmons, A. S. Hewitt, J. P- Hilgard, Charles Knap, and F. W. Taylor. THE opening session was held in the hall of the new National Museum, on Tuesday evening, February 21st. President Metcalf introduced General W. T. Sherman, one of the Regents of the Smithsonian Institution, who read the following address: ADDRESS OF GENERAL SHERMAN. MR. PRESIDENT AND GENTLEMEN : I have been invited to meet you here this evening to extend to you the cordial greeting of the regents of the Smithsonian Institution, and to assure you that they are most happy to have it in their power to place at your disposal this beautiful hall, dedicated to science and art. This National Museum is the property of the United States, of which the regents of the Smithsonian are simply the custodians, and the board has delegated to its secretary, Professor Baird, the right to extend its use to the National Academy of Sciences and like kindred societies, among which we are glad to class the Institute of Mining Engineers. It is eminently fit that you should meet here at this, the nation's capital, under a roof partly your own, devoted to natural sciences, and in the shadow of the Smithsonian, founded for the exclusive purpose of collecting and diffusing knowledge among men. Of all the workers employed on earth no single class seem to me more worthy the respect of their fellows than those who seek beneath the surface for the useful minerals and metals which contribute so largely to the wealth and comfort of mankind. In no branch of human industry does intelligence come so immediately in contact with labor. To the mining engineer chemistry, mineralogy, and geology are as reading, writing, and arithmetic to the merchant;

Jan 1, 1882

A unity of viewpoint emerged from the workshop. The concept that transmission is via characteristic modes was a common theme in many of the presentations. Also, the confusion an the meaning of monofilar and bifilar to describe these dominant modes was cleared up. But, there was still a healthy divergence of opinion on what constitutes an optimum system. It was generally agreed that further analytical and experimental work is definitely needed. In particular, it was stressed that independent measurements of the constitutive properties of the electromagnetic environment are needed. Also, there was considerable concern that laboratory measurements of rock samples could lead to misleading results for the effective conductivities. Also, there was a general recognition that over simplified propagation theory should not be used to interpret field data. From a theoratical and practical point of view, it was realized that mode coupling plays a vital role in the transmission channel. One must not only understand which and how many propagation modes are excited by the transmitting antenna, but the conversion of energy from one mode type to another must be accounted for. This conversion can either be done intentionally (by fixed mode convertors) or non intentionally (by random wall roughness). In fact, mode conversion can be quite complicated when various propagation paths exist such as when insulated cables, leaky feeders, grounded rails, coal seams, etc. all convey portions of the electromagnetic energy. However, this state of affairs should be regared as an. opportunity for extended communication coverage in mines rather than a limitation of a desig. procedure based on preconceived notions of the dominant propagation mechanism.

Jan 1, 1978

Anaconda Aluminum Co. began production from a new 60,000-ton-per-year potline at Sebree, KY, which brings the total capacity of the plant to 180,000 tons per year. A strike by workers at Alcan Aluminium Corp. primary aluminum smelters at Arvida, Que., Isle Maligne, Que., and Beauharnois, Que. shut down the plants and the company announced force majeure on part of its ingot supply commitments. Kaiser Aluminum and Chemical Corp. announced plans to increase its price for primary aluminum from 60.0 cents per pound to 63.0 cents per pound effective July 1.

Jan 1, 1979

By Pat McCarran

WHEN this Government was founded, the framers of the Constitution wrote into that instrument a provision that Congress should "coin money and fix the value thereof;" and the Constitution prohibits making anything but "gold and silver" lawful money. So silver is written into our basic law. Shortly after President Washington took office in 1789 the Congress passed the first Mint Act, setting up the U. S. Mint. In that Act, signed by President Washington on April 2, 1792, the weight of the American dollar was fixed, and it was provided how much silver should be contained in a silver dollar and how much gold should be contained in a gold dollar. It was decided that 371 1/4 grains of pure silver was to be the standard dollar of America. That standard with respect to the pure silver content of the dollar has never changed.

Jan 1, 1947

By WL Wagner

This report presents a quality control approach to the derivation of strategies for monitoring a work environment; specifically, the environment in underground mines where diesel-powered equipment and blasting agents are used. The approach is presented as a series of 22 steps called the Monitoring Strategy Development Scheme. The scheme is an orderly method for selecting from a number of options a strategy or tactics to cost effectively meet the requirements of a chosen objective related to the monitoring of breathing zone air quality. The scheme provides a format to quantify many of the factors that influence the selection of on strategy or tactic over another, and to ensure that important considerations are not neglected. The premise that breathing zone air in work environment can be considered to be manufactured product and that, therefore, conventional quality control approaches are applicable, is introduced. Typical approaches to the quality control of manufactured products and how these approaches can be applied to the selection of monitoring strategies are discussed.

Jan 1, 1983

By Willard C. Lacy

A mining operation begins with prospecting and exploration-stages with long periods of investment and high risk of failure. However, success in exploration ultimately determines survival of the mining industry. Prospecting and exploration may discover evidence of a mineral occurrence and outline its size and character, but ore deposits that support mining are "made" through the collective efforts of project geologists, geophysicists, geochemists, metallurgists, engineers, chemists, lawyers, and even politicians (Joralemon, 1975). Some deposits may go through multiple cycles of rejection and recommendation, discovery and development, decline and abandonment, rediscovery and development, etc., as economic, technological, or political conditions change or geologic understanding is improved. Peters (1987, p. 233) graphically illustrates the normal life cycle of a mine and the position of exploration in the cycle (Fig. 4.0.1). During the past fifty years, mineral exploration has evolved from comparing evidence of mineralization of prospects with that of known deposits to a more quantitative science employing many facets of geochemistry, geophysics, multispectral sensing from space, computer data storage, analysis, modeling, and most importantly, a better understanding of ore genesis. This modem approach to exploration began in the late 1940s and continues to develop. Exploration efforts peaked in the 1960s with emphasis upon the search for porphyry copper deposits, Mississippi Valley lead-zinc deposits, and volcanogenic massive sulfide copper-lead-zinc deposits. It peaked again in the middle and late 1980s with emphasis upon micron-size disseminated gold and epithermal and stratiform precious metal deposits.

Jan 1, 2008

Aluminum Production. -By October 1, Aluminum Company of America will restart a 35,000-ton-per-year unit at its aluminum smelter at Rockdale, Tex., restoring that facility to its full capacity of 325,000 tons annually. Primary Ingot Price Increase. -Most U.S. aluminum producers in mid-September were quoting a price of 72 cents per pound for primary aluminum ingot. On September 19, Kaiser Aluminum & Chemical Corp. announced that it would increase the price of primary aluminum ingot 4 cents to 76 cents per pound.

Jan 1, 1980

Antitrust Investigation Dropped. - The Department of Justice announced that it was dropping its 5-year investigation of the aluminum industry. The investigation was over whether the aluminum companies were acting as if they were a shared monopoly. Deep Seabed Mining. - The Department of Commerce's National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has established an Office of Ocean Minerals and Energy which will be responsible for implementing the Deep Seabed Nard Minerals and Energy Act and the Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion Act. It will establish licensing and regulatory programs.

Jan 1, 1980

By IPMI Educational and Scientific Foundation

It is with great pleasure that we announce the availability of this fourth issue of the IPMI Journal, a publication of the International Precious Metals Educational and Scientific Foundation. This digital peer reviewed publication has been created as a vehicle for the sharing of technical information related to the science and technology of precious metals. Since 1976, the International Precious Metals Institute has championed the exchange of information of critical importance to the precious metals scientific and commercial communities through its various communications vehicles. This has included instructional videos, annual conference symposia, special topic committee meetings, regional seminars, and professional and student achievement awards. Due to the breadth of important topics related to all aspects of precious metals, it has been the vision of the IPMI to provide a publication available to the general public that would become a key source of pertinent topics containing high quality publications by experts in their fields of study. Historically, the IPMI has attracted world renowned experts in many fields (including Nobel Laureates Henry Taube, Ei-ishi Negishi, Robert Grubs, Professor Ben Feringa, and David MacMillan) in the dissemination of discoveries, inventions, and industry proven practices. Such information has a total value greater than the sum of its parts as seemingly unrelated innovations from distinct focus areas can be adapted to solve problems. Because of this important characteristic of information exchange, we have decided to create a digital journal, available to the general public, that will not only communicate state of the art discoveries and sound practices, but will also review historical communications from the IPMI’s archives that have value and use even in today’s environment. On behalf of the members and leaders of the IPMI, we hope you will find value in this new publication.

Dec 1, 2022

By Richard E. Chism

Jan 1, 1902

By Scott G. Britton

Mine exploitation is a broad subject whose focus is the technical skills or efforts needed for the extraction of mineral from a known ore body. Mine exploitation can be considered the very core of the mining engineering discipline. It begins at the conclusion of the exploration and development stages of mining and ends when the ore body is exhausted and the mine (or mines)closes and is reclaimed. Section 8 on mine exploitation is comprised of seven chapters: (1) classification of mining methods, (2) mine surveying and mapping, 3) systems engineering, (4) computer methods, (5) labor relations and training, (6) management and administration, and (7) mine closure, sealing, and abandonment. Each chapter focuses its efforts towards providing detailed and useful information for the engineer on basic mine exploitation principles. The information can be applied to a broad range of mining problems without regard to mineral type or mining method.

Jan 1, 2008