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By A. L. Blomfield, M. J. Trott

ThE Golden Cycle Mining and Reduction Co. operates its custom mill at Colorado Springs on Cripple Creek ores exclusively. These ores are straight sulfo-tellurides, with practically no base metals such as Pb, CU, Zn, As, or Sb. Upon entering the mill, the ore all passes through the sampler to storage bins, where beds of 5000 tons each are made to insure uniformity in roasting. Classification of ORes For efficiency, it has been found advisable to separate the ores into two classes according to their lime content. Other constituents have their effect, such as alumina and magnesia, but, speaking generally, these are roughly proportional to the lime, which, as CaO, is used as the indicator. Class A contains not more than 2 per cent. CaO and comprises about 66 per cent. of the ore treated. Class B contains over 2 per cent. CaO, and comprises 34 per cent. of the ore treated. Typical analyses of both classes are as follows: Class A a B Insol.......................... 86.70 75.90 Al2O3........................:.. 2.30 3.40 Fe.............................. 3.26 3.48 CaO............................. 1.57 5.12 S............................... 1.79 1.80 MgO........................... 0.21 1.08 Ignition loss..................... 3.20 6.50 99.03 97.28 The beds of each class of ore are made as large as possible with the available ore as it comes in, to avoid changing from one bed to the other any oftener than necessary. Each roaster will handle 50 per cent. more of class A ore than of class B, with practically the same results. This necessitates changing the rate of feed for each new bed and tends toward a poor roast and loss of tonnage at each change.

Jan 1, 1919

By L. D. Godshall

A great deal has been written of late regarding the loss of silver in assaying; very discordant results have been published by different writers, and much uncertainty exists concerning even approximate losses in a careful determination of silver, as represented by a fire-assay. In the present paper it has been the aim of the writer to determine as accurately as possible the losses sustained by silver, under certain specified conditions, during the process of cupellation. Such losses are well known to be due to absorption by the cupel and volatilization. The conditions, however, which govern these losses are not believed by the writer to be so well understood. The most important of these are : 1. The effect of variable quantities of silver used. 2. The temperature of cupellation. 3. The character and quantity of impurities in the lead button. 4. The weight of the lead button. 5. The nature of the cupel. The following experiments were made for the purpose of demonstrating, as nearly as possible, the total loss of silver in cupellation under the most favorable conditions to be obtained in commercial assaying. Chemically pure silver and pure lead were taken. The latter was obtained from test-lead, first melted into a bar, from which pieces of the desired weight were cut and accurately weighed. The experiments recorded in this paper were planned by the writer, but executed throughout by Mr. J. N. Walker, whose ability as an accurate, careful and painstaking assayer is too well known and recognized throughout the West to require any further endorsement from me.

Jan 1, 1897

By Franklin Moeller

Considering the really short time that has elapsed since hydro-metallurgical processes of extracting copper from ores have been extensively developed, and the large scale on which this method is practised at Ajo, the successful operation of the plant must excite the admiration of every visitor. The application of the mechanical unloader to the purpose for which it is employed at Ajo is but an extension of the use for which it was originally designed, some 20 years ago, for unloading iron-ore vessels at the lower lake ports. At a time when the maximum output of a single machine, with men shoveling the ore into buckets, did not exceed 40 tons per hour, G. H. Hulett invented and constructed a mechanical unloader with a bucket of 10-ton capacity. This machine was of the steam hydrauIic type, and it is still in operation after nearly 20 years of service. Several more machines of the same type were built, but the difficulties of power transmission, and the rapid development of electrical machinery, soon led to the adoption of electrically operated machines, and practically all of the later installations have been thus equipped. This electrically operated unloader has proved so well fitted for the work that the design of the lake boats has been practically revolutionized, with special view to the ease and rapidity of unloading. It is now possible to unload a 12,000-ton vessel with four machines in a little over 2 hr. This has necessitated an increase in the capacity of the machine, and the largest yet built handles an average load of 17 tons, with a possible maximum of 20 to 21 tons. The Ajo excavator is somewhat simpler in design than the iron-ore unloader, in that it is not provided with a larry. In the unloader, the iron ore, picked up by the bucket, is delivered to a larry or transfer car which runs in the lower chord of the bridge; the larry then delivers the ore either into railroad cars, standing on several parallel tracks, or into the stock pile, thereby saving the time that would be required for the bucket to make the trip. At Ajo, the bucket delivers the tailing

Jan 1, 1920

By F. P. Dewey

The subject of this paper does not embrace the consideration of ways and means for the increase of analytical accuracy, or the question what could or should be attained in that direction. I desire simply to call attention to the degree of accuracy exhibited in actual every-day practice. In estimating this, little weight will be given to the evidence afforded by the agreement of duplicate or multiple determinations by the same chemist; for I am convinced that such agreement is a delusion and a snare. Nor will special importance be attached to the agreement of two or even three analyses in special cases, or to the agreement between two methods practiced by the same analyst. I propose to compare the results obtained by several chemists, working upon the same sample and by various methods, in order to exhibit, as I have said, the actual condition of practice. The available material for illustrating this phase of the question is unfortunately scanty; but something has been done; and I hope, by calling attention to some of the work in this line, to stimulate further work in the same direction by inducing others to prepare suitable samples and submit them to various chemists who are competent and willing to make the necessary determinations, and fully describe the methods they employ. I draw most of my illustrations from the Transactions of the Institute, the Proceedings of the Association of Official Agricultural Chemists, and from personal experience. Manganese in Steel.—In May, 1881, Mr. William Kent presented a paper to the Institute entitled " Manganese Deter-

Jan 1, 1897

By Charles A. Ashburner

At the Philadelphia meeting of the Institute, held in February, 1881,I had the honor of reading a paper on "A New Method of Mapping the Anthracite Coal Fields of Pennsylvania."* At that time the State appropriation for the Second Geological Survey had just expired, and, as a new appropriation was not assured, no detailed plan had been adopted by Professor Lesley, State Geologist, for the practical examination of the mines, and the solution of the geological structure of special localities, or the representation in sections, vertical and columnar, of the general structure of the coal basins and coal beds. I had merely proposed a plan of mapping, as the material for the construction of maps was most available, and it was at that time uncertain what money the Survey would have to enable it to extend the surface and underground explorations, in order to make the examinations complete. After a continuation of the Survey was authorized until January, 1884, by the legislature, in May, 1881, the Anthracite Survey was regularly organized, and a plan adopted for a systematic and exhaustive geological and mine examination of the region. This plan provided for such work, other than that of mapping, as was necessary for a complete and practical geological and mining survey of a coal field. To do any geological work, of however general a character, it was absolutely. necessary that the members of the Survey Corps should obtain unrestricted access to all the mining records of the operators, which have been made with great care and accuracy and at an enormous expense during the past thirty years and more. The unanimous and generous support of the individual and corporate coal operators, of the plan of carrying on the Survey, was promptly assured, on condition that the results should be of such a character as to render them of practical utility to the property-owners and those directly interested. It was hoped

Jan 1, 1883

By T. A. Rickard

RICO, in the southwestern corner of Colorado, is one of the productive mining centers of the San Juan region, so-called because its waters drain into the river of that name, which is tributary to the Colorado. The San Juan region includes the counties of Ouray, Hinsdale, San Miguel, Dolores, San Juan and Montezuma. It is traversed by a network of picturesque mountain ranges on whose lofty summits there rests perpetual snow. The region is peculiarly rugged, and, in the early days of its development, tested to the full the hardihood of the adventurers who first explored its can ions 111 search for gold and silver. A prospecting party, guided by Jim Baker, scout and trapper, penetrated in 1861 this part of the territory of Kansas. At that time the country was in the possession of the Ute Indians. In October, 1873, by the Brunot treaty, they ceded to the United States Government the richest mineral-bearing portion of their

Jan 1, 1897

By A. A. Blow

The productive area of the Leadville mining district immediately adjoining the city of Leadville, which, by its wonderful richness, has attracted the attention of the mining world for the past twelve years, may, with a few exceptions, he considered as divided into seven local mining centers, separated one from another by the topographical features of the country, and designated by common consent as Fryer Hill, Yankee Hill, Breece Hill, Rock Mill, Printer-Boy Hill, Iron Hill, and Carbonate Hill. Of these seven distinot mining localities, or groups of mines, the central one, Iron Hill, is the one of greatest importance and interest. It was the scene of the earliest discovery of carbonates, as far back as 1875, and since that time has always maintained its position

Jan 1, 1890

By Persifor Frazer

At a time when all those interested in the iron trade are carefully scanning the horizon for new sources of the raw material, a few words concerning a field, which though not new, has not been hitherto fruitful of statistical information, may be deemed appropriate at this meeting. The district alluded to is the belt of the Middle James River, or in other words, that portion of the ferriferous belts of Virginia lying between Josua Falls and the little settlement of Norwood, in the counties of Amherst and Nelson, and on the left bank of the James River. This region shows unmistakable signs of developing a very considerable market for iron ores and for iron in the future, as well as a tempting appearance of possible productiveness in the former. It, is extremely hazardous to deal in generalizations as to the productiveness or non-productiveness of these measures without a more thorough development than has yet been attained. It is true that they probably constitute an horizon whence comes a part of the marvellous mineral wealth of the northern peninsula of Michigan. But

Jan 1, 1883

By Frank Clemes Smith

The study of the so-called refractory gold-ores of the Potsdam sandstone, ores which are probably of wider occurrence and of much greater economic importance in the Black Hills than is generally supposed, has led the writer to formulate in the present paper some of the results obtained in the course of a special examination of these particular ores, conducted at the State School of Mines at Rapid City, So. Dak. Various circumstances have interrupted the work, and it will easily be seen that relatively little has yet been accomplished; but it is hoped that this little may be of sufficient interest to justify a later supplement. Tellurium, discovered by Muller von Reichenstein in 1781, is generally classed as a very rare metal; it is further mentioned by one of our late writers as " of comparatively little importance," and as obtained from its ores by a " complicated process.'' Concerning its rarity, we have some trustworthy evidence below. Its commercial importance, particularly in connection with electrical appliances, has been passed upon by Mr. Edison ; * and it is certain that, in some metallurgical processes for the treatment of gold- and silver-ores, it may be saved as a byproduct at a relatively reasonable expense. The importance of tellurium as a mineralizing agent is emphasized by the remarks of one of our leading metallurgists,jwho, in his own practice and by a wide series of experiments, has found its occurrence to be much more general than has been supposed. Recently the same writer has discussed the occurrence of tellurides and oxidized tellurium compounds in the gold-ores of Cripple Creek, Colo., and in those of the Black

Jan 1, 1897

By B. Sadtler

The oldest producing district of Park county, and in fact one of the oldest producing gold-districts of the State, is situated on the head-waters of the Platte and tributary streams. Geo-

Jan 1, 1897

By S. B. Christy

The fact that many millions of gold have been extracted by the cyanide process, during the last five or six years, from South African tailings which could not be profitably worked by any other method previously tried upon them, lends a peculiar practical interest to this branch' of metallurgy. Numerous writers have recently made valuable contributions on the process without exhausting the many complexities of the subject. Among the first American writers on the subject in its modern aspect were two former students of the University of California, Mr. Louis Janin, Jr., and Mr. Charles Butters. Young Janin was one of the first to enter this field, and performed much useful experimental work in the early stages of the history of the process. At about the same time, Mr. Charles Butters, who had left California to erect chlorination works for the Robinson mine at Johannesburg, became interested in the cyanide process, and, after getting the chlorination plant in working order, put up, for working the tailings from the Robinson mine, a cyanide plant which achieved the first large-scale success ever made with this process. The papers which Charles Butters, together with John E. Clennell and Edgar Smart, have contributed on the chemistry of the process, were among the first to give any adequate idea of its nature.* Another important contribution to the literature of the subject is the paper of Dr. A. Scheidell, published in 1894 as a " Bulletin of the California State Mining Bureau." This contains an admirable summary of the state of the art at the time of its publication.

Jan 1, 1897

By John Trefny

Although mining is currently one of the smallest academic units on the Colorado School of Mines(CSM) campus, it is alive and well, with nearly 100 undergraduate and graduate students. For many years, Mines has had undergraduate and graduate programs in hard-rock mining. The school has recently transferred its physical mineral processing activities to the Mining Department. The program has also expanded to include tunneling, underground construction and industrial minerals. There are current discussions about increased research activities on cement and other construction materials. The Mining Department also teaches its share of what is called the “distributed core” courses with curricular requirements common to related programs, as well as mining safety and health, in conjunction with our continuing education department.

Jan 1, 2002

By C. Geier

Our national interests are best served by having well-trained first responders available for rapid response to emergency situations in underground mines. However, recent mine disasters have indicated that focused training on hazard recognition, decision making, leadership, and incident command center protocols needs to be incorporated into a comprehensive training plan for all personnel involved in a mine rescue. Currently, there are very few training opportunities for the mining professionals responsible for making the crucial decisions needed during a mine emergency. With recent technical advances, it is now feasible to use a computer-based simulator to train mine rescue personnel for mine emergencies in their mine or any other mine at a convenient location without interrupting normal mining operations. This simulated environment teaches underground search and rescue procedures, communications, and decision making based on real-time information and hazard recognition. Since 2010, the Colorado School of Mines (CSM) has offered computer simulated mine rescue training using an incident command center (ICC) directed towards enhancing decision making and communication skills. To support this training, CSM partnered with Rite Solutions, Inc. to modify, enhance, and create simulation software for mine rescue applications. The focus of this partnership is to modify existing simulation technology to address the unique nature of underground rescue operations, make it applicable to any underground operation, create generic scenarios, and develop customized computer simulations, including scenarios, for specific sites. Need The CSM mine rescue computer simulator helps mine rescue teams train for mine disasters where they would be deployed for the rescue and recovery of a mine. It provides additional, readily accessible opportunities to train without affecting mining operations. While the simulator lacks the physical demands of a rescue situation, it is very effective for teaching mine rescue procedures as rescuers seamlessly walk through the process and work out issues before going underground. The mine rescue simulator also introduces students to coordination through an ICC which stresses the use of effective communication and hones decision making skills. Most of the mine rescue teams participating in this study had never trained with an ICC controlling the actions of the mine rescue team making this an extremely valuable training opportunity. In addition, the mine rescue computer simulator allows instructors to modify mine rescue scenarios and tailor the scenarios to each team?s individual needs resulting in a more versatile training experience. The goal is to ensure that all teams receive the maximum benefit from each training session.

Feb 27, 2013

By Paul R. Smith

The Colorado School of Mines Research Institute (CSMRI) was founded in 1949 to fill mining industry and government needs for minerals research and development. The operations of scores of mines, mills, and plants around the world are based on the results of work done by the Research Institute. Among other things, the Research Institute conducts studies in geology, mine planning, mineralogy, size reduction, minerals processing, and hydrometallurgical techniques in extractive metallurgy. Many CSMRI projects also involve energy and environmental considerations. What follows is a summary of some of the studies in which the Research Institute has been and is currently involved, as well as some comments on trends and developments in the industry.

Jan 2, 1982

By Halagowder Devaraj, Mostafa Sheykhnazari, Veer P. Bhavanandan

"A sensitive colorimetric assay for detecting mucins and glycoproteins rich in 0-glycosidically linked saccharides is reported. The method combines the susceptibility of N-acetylgalactosamine terminating 0-glyco idically linked saccharides to P-elimination with the Morgan-Elson reaction for N-acetylhexosamines with free reducing ends. All mucin and mucin-type glycoproteins but none of the serum-type glycoproteins tested resulted in characteristic color production. All mucins tested gave linear responses in the range 5 to 200 ""g and the assay was also adapted to the microscale involving the use of 96-well microtiter plates. The microassay in which the volumes of samples and reagents are scaled down 2.5-fold was particularly useful in monitoring of mucins, in the presence of other glycoconjugates, in large numbers of samples obtained during fractionation procedures. Cesium chloride, cesium bromide, potassium thiocyanate, and various detergents do not interfere with the colorimetric determination. Guanidine hydrochloride, cesium triftuoroacetate, and B-mercap- . toethanol decreased color by 30 to 45%; however, the interference was not serious to prevent the use of the method for detection of mucins in their presence. The use of the method for the specific detection of mucin during fractionation by gel filtration and density gradient centrifugation of cystic fibrosis sputum samples is demonstrated. Mucins are an important class of biomacromolecules whose structure-function relationship is poorly understood (1,2). The investigations of mucins are hampered by difficulties in purifying these very large size molecules which appear to avidly bind other components of the mucus (3,4). One of the problems during purification is the specific detection of mucins. For example, during the various purification steps, the fractions containing mucins are typically detected by assaying for neutral sugars (hexoses) (5,6), for sialic acids (7), or for periodate oxidizable saccharide units (8). However, these methods are not entirely satisfactory because neutral sugars, sialic acids, and periodate-oxidizable saccharides are also components of other glycoconjugates. In addition, the neutral sugar and sialic acid measurements are also subject to interference from high levels of proteins and nucleic acids."

Jan 1, 1990

Most analysts determining tungsten trioxide in low grade samples are aware that colorimetric procedures do not possess the inherent disadvantages of gravimetric methods operating on milligram quantities of tungsten trioxide. Apart from the inaccuracies associated with weighing four or five milligrams of ignited oxide in a platinum crucible of about 30 gm. weight with a large surface area to absorb moisture, using a 5 gm. charge on samples less than about 0·15 per cent tungsten trioxide, it is extremely difficult toget complete or pure precipitation of tungsten with cinchonine, cinchonine plus alpha benzoin oxime, rhodamine B or any other of the commonly used precipitants. Table 2', No. 8, illustrates the low results obtained by gravimetric as opposed to colorimetric procedures. In addition the colorimetric determination requires only a small portion of the time consumed by gravimetric practices and the increased accuracy obtainable in low ranges together with the saving in time made it highly desirable to develop a colorimetric method suitable for King Island ores.The most commonly used colorimetric method is that introduced by Feigl and Krumholz (1932), since modified by various investigators (Grimaldi and North, 1943; Sandell, 1946; Westwood and Mayer, 1947; Gentry and Sherrington, 1948; Freund, Wright and Brookshier, 1951; Grouthamel and Johnson, 1954; and others). Stannous chloride is used to reduce tungsten followed by colour development with a thiocyanate, usually sodium, potassium or ammonium.Other reducing agents have been proposed (Emery and Curtis, 1948), but only in recent years have the conditions governing maximum colour development been fully estab...

Jan 1, 1958

By Edgar A. Manker

"Today's market for columbium has only developed in the last two decades, and in this sense it is ""newer"" than molybdenum, vanadium and most other steel alloying elements. In this short period, it has assumed a very important role in steel alloying and in superalloys. From a few hundred thousand pounds of columbium in 1960, consumption has grown to nearly 30 million pounds per year, with a market value approaching two hundred million dollars.To assess the outlook for columbium, we will first consider the historical development of consumption and supply, particularly noting that all of today's major mines were developed during the last two decades. From current production, we will attempt to reasonably project the future. This future may well include new producers, particularly some producing columbium as a co-product with tantalum.The growth of current applications, and emerging new applications, will be considered with regard to future consumption and in relation to future trends in pricing.IntroductionThe nineteenth century was a busy time for the discovery and naming of new elements. Among those discovered were columbium in 1801 and niobium in 1844. Although it was later shown that columbium and niobium are the same element, the two names are still used today. Niobium has been pronounced the ""official"" name by the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry, but columbium is still widely used in commercial practice, and we have chosen to use columbium in this paper."

Jan 1, 1981

By Aram Grigoryan

This paper addresses historical aspects and construction sequencing of the subway complex under Columbus Circle in Manhattan; the structural elements of the rehabilitation and new construction; and the challenges associated with design and construction. PB is providing engineering services to New York City Transit (NYCT) for the rehabilitation of the 59th Street/Columbus Circle Station Complex that services over 150,000 customers daily. The project involves structural repairs, modifications and new construction requiring underpinning and temporary supports, custom framing details, and construction staging procedures to meet stringent limitations within the operating transit station and around the Columbus Circle street intersections.

Jan 1, 2008

By F. L. Wolf, G. E. Alderson

The reclaiming of nietallics from slag and sweepings is of vital interest to every brass-foundry man, but the first cost and interest on the investment often make it prohibitive for the small foundry to enjoy the benefits of a complete concentrating unit. However, the cost of such an installation and the cost of operation are often exaggerated to such an extent that foundries dispose of their copper-bearing refuse at a great loss. This paper gives the actual costs and the returns obtained in the reclaiming plant used at the Ohio Brass Co. This plant is divided into two sections—the preliminary treatment and concentrating departments. In the former occur the screening, crushing, and hand-picking operations whereby rnost of the non-valuable and heavy metallic constituents are removed. The concentrating equipment consists of an elevator, bins, jigs, ball-mill, arid table. Preliminary Treatment The preliminary treatment varies, depending on whether the material is slag, foundry-floor sweepings, or brass casting-floor sweepings. Material of the first class is produced from the operation of six Steele-Harvey and six Schwartz furnaces; the second class represents sweepings from an average of thirty-five. molding floors per day: and the last is collected around the sprue cutters and knockout bench. Treatment of Slag The slag, analyzing 30 to 40 per cent. copper, is passed over a 3-mesh yard screen (Tyler standard mesh) stretched on an inclined rectangular frame supported by adjustable legs and equipped with a hopper which directs the undersize into a barrow. The fine product, running about 20 per cent. copper and representing 20 to 25 per cent. of the total slag, goes direct to a storage bin for concentrator frrd. The oversize is charged into a No. 2 Hill cinder crusher, which takes 175 to 200 11,. to a charge and crushes two charges per hour through 'a No. 4 riddle. It

Jan 1, 1921

Column Bioleaching of a Low-Grade Nickel-Bearing Sulfide Ore Yellow Mountain Deposit belonging to GobiMin Inc is located in the Chinese Tianshan and Altay orogenic belts, Hami, Xinjiang Province, NW China. Indicated Mineral Resources of its reserve are estimated at 12 million tonnes averaging 0.40 per cent nickel. Mineralogical examination and chemical analysis indicated that the Yellow Mountain ore is a type of high Fe, low Mg and low Ni sulfide ore: the main sulfide minerals are ~8.0 per cent pyrrhotite (Fe1-xS), ~1.0 per cent pentlandite ((Fe, Ni)9S8), ~0.6 per cent chalcopyrite (CuFeS2), ~0.5 per cent pyrite (FeS2), and ~0.2 per cent violarite((Fe, Ni)3S4); the main gangue minerals are ~48 per cent olivine, ~28 per cent antigorite, ~3 per cent chlorite, ~2 per cent talc, ~2 per cent tremolite, and~1.5 per cent magnetite; the chemical analysis of the ore sample are Ni 0.40 per cent, Co 0.016 per cent, Cu 0.24 per cent, Fe 12.4 per cent, S 5.6 per cent, MgO 9.6 per cent, CaO 1.80 per cent, SiO2 48.5 per cent and Al2O3 10.3 per cent. Preliminary results of the shake flask test showed that pyrrhotite is easily leached and the high concentration of ferric iron would hamper the growth of bacteria which will bring a negative impact on the bioleaching conversely. This work aims to set up a method to prevent the negative impact of the ferric ion on the bioleaching of the ore. Two method were combined to prevent the negative impact of the ferric ion, they are adaptation of the mixed bacteria to iron ion and bleeding the off-solution periodically to control the levels of iron ion (depending on the tolerance of the microorganisms to the ferric ion) in the leaching solution. Using a mixed mesophiles composed of Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans, Acidithiobacillus thiooxidans and Leptospirillum ferrooxidans under room temperature, a nickel recovery of 93 per cent and a cobalt recovery of 85 per cent were achieved in 280 days column bioleaching process with an average nickel concentration in the leaching solution of 2.6 g/L. The results showed that the negative effect of the ferric ion can be successfully controlled and the nickel can be bioleached successfully from theYellow Mountain ore.

Sep 13, 2010