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By H. L. Sauder, J. L. Newman, C. Waddell

An instrument capable of measuring subsurface flow rates is described. The instrument is self-contained and may be run on piano wire line. It detects flow by means of an impeller suspended between two torsion wires. The force of the well fluid striking the impeller causes the impeller to rotate, exerting a torsional force to the wires. This force is determined by recording the angle of rotation of the impeller on film using a battery-driven, clock-controlled camera. The impeller is sensitive to flow in either direction and the same instrument can be used to measure injection as well as production rates. Changes in direction of flow, such as might be caused by thief zones, are measurable and are indicated by a reversal of the direction of rotation of the impeller. Adjustment of the sensitivity of the instrument to measure a wide range of flow rates is accomplished by the use of different size torsion wires. An umbrella-type fluid trap, which contacts the casing or wellbore, diverts the flow through the flow tube. The fluid trap remains closed while rurrning in the hole and can be opened at any point in the well. The instrument with the trap closed is 1 3/4 in. OD and may be run through 2 in. tubing. Successful flow profiles have been made on wells with flow rates ranging from 60 BID to 4,000 B/D at surface pressure up to 4,500 psi. The instrument is designed for high-pressure and high-temperature operations. INTRODUCTION The need for an instrument that will measure flow rates in a wellbore is as old as reservoir engineering itself. A number of such devices have been designed within the past few years. Some of these have been described in the literature1,2,3,4,5,6 One of these devices1. a hot-wire anemometer type, made many successful jobs in dry gas producing areas. Difficulty was encountered when this flowmeter was used in wells producing liquids and development work was initiated to overcome this difficulty. The present flowmeter is the result of this work and provides an instrument with a wider range of application in the industry. Consider- able development work has been done on the tool involving many changes in the mechanics of recording the flow readings, however, the basic principle of flow detection has remained the same since its inception. PRINCIPLE OF OPERATION The basic principle of operation of the flowmeter is the utilization of a portion of the kinetic energy of flowing well fluid to impart a rotational force to an impeller suspended between two torsion wires. This impeller, Fig. 1, is a screw-type propeller with the blades having a pitch angle of 40. As the well fluid passes through the instrument it strikes the impeller. The resulting force rotates the impeller and twist\ the torsion wires to a balance point at which the torque imparted to the wires balances the force required for the impeller to deflect the well fluid. The impeller is symmetrical and a change in direction of the flow results in a reversal of the direction in which the impeller is deflected. Thus the direction of the flow as well as its velocity is indicated. A dial is attached to the impeller by means of a hollow tube through which the upper torsion wire extends. The angular position of the impeller is recorded by photographing the dial at frequent intervals. In any given set of torsion wires the modulus of shear and polar moment of inertia remain constant and the deflection varies directly with the applied torque. The deflection imparted to the torsion wires also varies as the square of the fluid velocity. Further, the velocities represented by any two given deflections hear the following relationships: and Where V = velocity of flow stream and O ;= deflection. This is the basic relationship which is used to calculate the relative velocities represented by a given set of deflections where the velocity represented by any one of the deflection readings is a known quantity. For a given torque, the deflection of the torsion wire varies inversely as the fourth power of the wire diameter. Wire sizes ranging from ,005 in. in diameter to .022 in. in diameter can be used. The range of

Jan 1, 1957

Sulfuric Acid and Phosphate Industries at Anaconda Reduction Works. BY E L LARISON (Contribution 70-Preprint 4400 words) In 1915 a 135-ton chamber sulfuric acid plant was built at the Anaconda Reduction Works to supply acid for leaching sand tailing Sulfur dioxide was obtained by roasting copper table concentrate Soon after, the flotation process, using acid as a reagent, together with development of a leaching and electrolytic process for zinc recovery, necessitated building a second acid unit of 50 tons' per day capacity, completed in 1917 Within a few months the zinc process was so improved as to consume no added acid Mean¬while research work was in progress on production of phosphate fertilizers using sulfuric acid and Idaho phosphate rock In 1920 a pilot plant was put into operation which treated 50 tons per day of phosphate rock to produce treble superphosphate containing 45 per cent available P205 In 1922 the original plant and process for leaching of sand tailing were abandoned in favor of a combination leaching and flota¬tion process In 1923 the sand leaching plant was remodeled into a treble super¬phosphate plant designed to treat 160 tons per day of phosphate rock. In 1924 the copper flotation process was put on alkaline circuit and acid, has not since been used as a reagent Practically all the acid produced is now used for making phos¬phate products In 1931 the use of copper concentrate as a source of sulfur dioxide was abandoned and an iron concentrate, floated from the copper concentrator tail¬ing, substituted

Jan 1, 1935

By Walter S. Weeks

In this paper the effect of natural ventilation pressures is considered a part of the mine resistance and it is shown that their effect on the mine resistance is not the same as the total natural ventilation pressure of the shafts if the mine has several levels. It is shown that increasing the fan pressure causes the division of the air to approach the condition that would obtain if there were no natural ventilation pressure present. It is shown that if an appreciable difference in pressure is maintained between the beginning and end of a group of splits, the value of the integrated effect of the natural ventilation pressures on the individual splits does not change substantially with moderate changes of this pressure. A method is outlined for determining the resistance factor of the mine and the value of the effect of natural ventilation with the fan operating; also a method for determining this factor when circulation is caused by natural ventilation alone. Natural Ventilation Pressure Natural ventilation pressure (N.V.P.) is caused by the difference in weight of the air in two similar columns between two horizontal planes, and the difference in weight is caused principally by the difference in temperature of the two columns. The fan pressure causes some variation in density, but, since it is usually small and affects both columns, its effect is relatively unimportant. It has been suggested that "N.V.P." be called "stack effect"; but, since the term N.V.P. was used in a previous Institute paper,' applied in exactly the same manner, the term will be used. Frictional Resistance The frictional resistance to flow in a mine without natural ventilation may be expressed as RQ2 where R is a constant for a given air density and Q is the rate of flow. This frictional resistance plus the effect of velocity changes will be called the F pressure (F.P.) and a curve of F.P. against Q, the F characteristic of the mine. If a pressure is applied to a mine by a fan, the air flow so adjusts itself that the drop in pressure through any path from entrance to exit of mine, due to frictional resistances and velocity changes, is the same as that in any other path. The mine resistance varies as the square of the quantity. The air distribution without N.V.P. will be called "normal." Natural Ventilation Present When N.V.P. is irregularly distributed in a mine, it is more convenient in analysis to consider the N.V.P. as a part of the duct resistance. If it is so considered the resistance no longer varies as the square of the quantity, and if N.V.P. exists between levels the distribution of the air is no longer normal. The total N.V.P. of the mine is the pressure caused by the full length of the shafts. If a mine has several levels, N.V.P. exists

Jan 1, 1946

By A. M. Guadin

Direct quantitative comparison of the results of concentrating operations on different ores is frequently desired but almost impossible to obtain if comparison has to be made by means of two quantities for each ore, as must be done at present. This paper represents the outgrowth of attempts to arrive at a single-number quantitative measure of the segregation between minerals or metals as the result of concentrating operations. The usual practice in estimating the effectiveness of concentrating operations, particularly those of ore dressing, has been to determine the recovery of the metal or mineral of interest and the grade of the concentrate. The difficulty in quantifying the effectiveness of concentration by the usual criteria may be illustrated by a few examples. Consider, for instance, two lead ores which yield by flotation the same recovery of lead, say 92 per cent., and the same grade of concentrate, say 60 per cent. Pb. If a substantial difference in the grade of the feed had existed, say if one ore contained 5 per cent. Pb and the other 10 per cent., it is clear that the concentrating operation was more effective in the case of the lower grade ore. It is difficult, however, in the light of these data to state how much more effective was the concentration of the lower grade ore. Consider again two lead ores containing 5 and 10 per cent. Pb and yielding concentrates containing 60 and 72 per cent. Pb respectively, with recoveries of 93 and 92 per cent. respectively; it is well-nigh impossiblc to tell from these figures which results represent the best separation of the minerals. It may be noted that in the usual method of estimating the effectiveness of the segregation of mineral values, no consideration is given to the rejection of the unwanted substances from the concentrate, except in the very indirect manner in which it enters into the grade of the concentrate. Consideration of the rejection of gangue from the concentrate, adequately weighted with recovery of the desired mineral in the concentrate, should supply an adequate criterion of concentration effectiveness.

Jan 1, 1930

By F. L. Grammer

In these day, when anthracite is less extensively used as a blastifurnace fuel than it was a generation ago, and managers endeavor to maintain regular and known ore-mixtures, the " freezing " of tuyeres, cinder-notch or iron-notch is infrequeut; and, consequently, the oil-burner or " kerosene blowpipe "* is seldom employed; and furnace-foremen have, to a considerable degree, forgotten their former cunning and persistency in the use of the drill and sledge. Still, in starting new or abandoned plants with untrained labor, and in running some of our large 100-ft. furnaces, slips, resulting in very cold furnaces, may occur, even under experienced managers. During my superintendence of the Cleveland, O., blast-furnaces, such a misfortune, owing to a dearth of trustworthy foremen, was experienced; and our electrician, Mr. Thomas Martin, proposed to open the tuyeres and cinder-notch by means of the heat of the electric arc. We have heard that the surface-cracks or marks developed in rolling heavy plates have been closed by electric welding, as by a soldering-iron, and also that an electric burner has been employed at some German blast-furnaces; but the experiment was quite novel to us; and I think it constituted one of the first, if not the very first, successful application of this device, for the purpose named, in the United States. †

Jan 1, 1902

By John G. Hall

The unstable metal market during 1949, with resulting lower metal prices, has focused every mine operator's attention on the problem of reducing operating costs. Improvement in mining methods, use of modern mechanical mining equipment, and increasing the efficiency of the labor force are the tools with which we will have to work. Careful planning is necessary to coordinate all phases so that no one phase is overdone. A mine may become over-mechanized if, for instance, capital charges against new equipment exceed the savings in labor costs, or where a large enough tonnage is not produced. The cooperation of labor is essential to any mechanization program. There have been too many instances where mechanization and improvements have done nothing more than make up for a decrease in labor efficiency, thus bringing the production of labor back to its old standard. The operator has gained little and labor has gained only a "softer job." In any mechanization program there are gains to be had by both the operator and labor. By the efficient application of modern equipment and improved mining methods the operator should gain by decreased costs, and labor may profit by receiving a share of these decreased costs.

Jan 8, 1950

By Fuad S. Maayeh, Robert J. Evans, Paul M. Yavorsky

A description and capabilities of the Mine Roof Simulator at the Pittsburgh Mining Technology Center is illustrated for testing longwall roof support equipment. This unique Mine Roof Simulator has the capacity to exert 3 million lbs. of compressive force vertically and 1.6 million lbs. of force horizontally to simulate loads on hydraulic supports typically found in longwall mining. The supports that undergo testing are instrumented with strain gauges and photoelastic coatings such that critically strained areas become readily apparent. These critically strained areas are redesigned or retrofitted with appropriate reinforcement and retested. A data base will be accumulated from several support designs that will lead to an optimized design that will have the potential to reduce downtime by malfunctions of supports and thus increase productivity. A typical test procedure and analysis is given for a two leg 350 ton shield along with a description for placement of strain gauges, displacement gauges, and hydraulic pressure monitors for critical sites.

Jan 1, 1982

By A. P. Herring, S. F. Ravitz

Manganese dioxide reacts with sulfur dioxide solution in the absence of oxygen to form manganous ion and dithionate ion, together with a small amount of sulfate ion. The effects of SO, concentration, hydrogen ion concentration, stirring speed, and temperature on the rate of the reaction were studied. If it is assumed that undissociated SO2 molecules react rapidly with MnO, at active surface sites and that bisulfite ions react slowly, an equation can be derived that satisfactorily represents the observed reaction rates. For solutions in which the reaction with undissociated SO2 predominates, reaction rates and activation energies estimated from diffusion theory agree well with those found experimentally. Manganese dioxide dissolves readily in aqueous solutions of sulfur dioxide. The nature of the dissolution reaction was first investigated by Gay-Lussac and welter1 in 1819; they identified a new oxysulfur radical, the dithionate ion, S2O6, as one of the reaction products. Since then, the reaction has become a standard method of preparing dithionates in the laboratory and one of the more promising methods of leaching manganese from low-grade ores. In the "dithionate process" developed by the U.S. Bureau of Mines2,3, manganese-dioxide ore is suspended in a solution of calcium dithionate and leached with gas containing sulfur dioxide. The manganese is dissolved and the sulfur dioxide is oxidized according to the reactions:

Jan 1, 1965

By Albert Burch

The theory of the present law with reference to lode locations contemplates the existence upon the surface of mineral-bearing veins which have clearly marked boundaries, and which can be so readily traced that a locator may immediately mark the boundaries of his 600 by 1,500 ft. claim in such a way that the vein will 'pass through both of its end-lines. It also supposes that, having discovered such a mineral-bearing vein, the locator will at once post a notice upon such discovery, mark the boundaries of his location in such a manner that they can be readily traced, and from that time forward have absolute title to the ground embraced within such boundaries, as against every person except the United States. For initiating title to placer ground, the law presupposes the discovery of a valuable mineral deposit; but not necessarily in place, as in the case of lode claims; and the location must be made to conform "as nearly as may be" to the legal subdivisions of the United States public land survey. When the placer law was extended to include the acquisition of title to oil lands, no exception was made as to the necessity for the discovery of valuable mineral in advance of location! Practice under the Present Law Nature did not make all veins clearly defined and readily traceable upon the surface; nor did she, in all cases, leave upon the surface which overlies important ore bodies such outcrops as would in them-selyes be considered valuable; and the citizen of the United States has in the past endeavored to steer his course between the mandates of the law and the limitations of nature. Until quite recently, it has been possible to obtain a patent for any-

Jan 1, 1915

By Joseph J. Yancik

In Moscow, the delegation received a briefing on the Soviet coal industry from First Deputy Minister Vladimir Fedanov. A similar briefing was given to us on the Donets coal basin by Deputy Minister S. Saratikyanz of the Ukrainian Coal Ministry. Lengthy technical discussions were held with the mines staff and research personnel at the institutes we visited. In addition, we had detailed discussions with key staff members of two combinats; Donetskugol and Tulaugol. In all these meetings, principal topics were matters of safety related to hazards associated with face mechanization, coal transport, methane gas control measures, gas outbursts, coal and rock outbursts, fire fighting and control, explosion suppression and control measures, and other related hazard factors. There was also much discussion on miner training, miners' attitudes toward safety and accident prevention practices, and preparation and enforcement of safety rules and regulations. It would be helpful to briefly review Soviet coal production statistics for comparison purposes with the U.S., and for the purpose of referencing some of the delegation findings mentioned in this report. For an excellent, comprehensive picture of Soviet coal production and other related fuel statistics, the reader is referred to Strishkov's, et d. report.1 Strishkov's estimates agree with the numbers given us by Coal Ministry officials except in clean coal tonnage. The figures of 604 million mt of clean coal out of a total production of 655 tons raw coal in 1972 is much higher than Strishkov's estimate of 375 million mt clean coal.

Jan 7, 1974

IN international affairs, the great event of June was the meeting of representative bankers at Paris -for consideration of the arrangement of a large loan to Germany. The conference dissolved in futility. Following this abortive conference, the delegates to the parley at the Hague assembled there on June 15. America is not represented at the Hague, any more than at Genoa. The British view the conference seriously and have Leslie Urquhart, the highest authority on Russia, attending in an official capacity. The Irish had their election and voted by strong majority in favor of the treaty with Great Britain, which was happy, but the general situation in Ireland is miserable. In China there were spectacular military and political events. Economically, Japan was in trouble. Conditions are becoming better in India, although no yet settled. Egypt has troubles still. Australia has a better chance for welfare, following the overthrow of its labor govern-ment early in April last. In Europe it is hard to discern any improvement except in Great Britain. Business in Great Britain has been slowly widening. The future of Great Britain, which is chiefly an in-dustrial country, depends on finding employment for its, 1,750,000 idle men. Personalities figured largely in June. Lenin's health was represented as having failed so that the govern-ment of Russia has had to be-turned over to a trium-virate. All of this has been denied. It is clear that some. mighty events are transpiring there. The assassination of Doctor Rathenau in Germany is probably also an occurrence of portent. The murder of Field Marshal Wilson, in London, tended to in-crease anger in England against the Irish. In the United. States the attention of Congress was concentrated on the soldier bonus, the tariff bill and the subsidy for shipping. All of these projects are economically bad and are of the same nature, viz., the allotment of a bounty to some classes of people, without consideration to the general national interest and welfare.

Jan 7, 1922

By Ernest F. Burchard

MOST of the iron ore smelted in Alabama blast furnaces is mined within Alabama, although deposits in the neighboring States of Georgia and Tennessee may be drawn upon when occasion requires. Of the four commercial kinds of iron ore, the anhydrous ferric oxide, hematite (Fe2O3) ; the hydrous ferric oxide, mostly the type commonly known as limonite (2 Fe2O33H2O) ; the carbonate, siderite (FeCO3) ; and the magnetic oxide, magnetite (Fe:3O4) ; the first two are found in abundance in Alabama, the third in less than commercial quantities, and the fourth only rarely. Both the hematite and the hydroxide are found in somewhat different forms according to their geologic environment. The Red Mountain hematite, of Silurian age, that crops out in well¬defined beds for 1.50 miles northeast-southwest and 40 miles northwest-southeast is the predominant source of ore. Only a small part of this area carries ore of commercial value; Birmingham and Gadsden are now the only centers of production. The ore is of sedimentary origin, probably altered from vast deposits of greensand mixed with calcareous, fossiliferous. marine debris. Other types of hematite not vet mined commercially are in metamorphosed rocks-red ore in slates in Columbiana Mountain and specular hematite (gray ore) in quartzite in the Talladega Hills.

Jan 1, 1938

By Torres S. Ricardo, Encina M. Víctor, Segura O. Claudio

INTRODUCTION This paper is a conceptual resume of engineering studies that have been evaluated by the Mine Department related to production planning over the next twenty-five years. These studies have been required principally because: a) The Rio Blanco Mine, property of CODELCO- CHILE, Andina Division, faces an operational problem due to heavy snowfall in winter which enters the surface subsidence area of the cave; later melts and filters into the broken ore creating a product that is difficult to transfer through the orepasses. The phenomenon is especially serious during the spring and has been increasing over the years. This element that complicates extraction will be controlled with the procedures proposed or others that may be determined in the future. b) The mine will increase production in 1985 by 40% . LOCATION The deposit is located in the central region of the Andes Cordillera, at an altitude of approximately 3,600 m above sea level, 50 km to the northeast of Santiago. The main camp is Saladillo (at 1,300 meters above sea level) located 30 km from the mine. Due to its location, the mine is subject to heavy snow storms during the year. On many occasions the road from Saladillo to the mine is closed because of storms and avalanches. For this reason the company has self-sufficient civil facilities near the mine to cover the needs and welfare of the working force. These housing facilities are connected to the mine by underground passages. For the same weather related reason the primary and secondary crushers, and the entire concentrator complex are located underground. GEOLOGIC CHARACTERISTICS Geology Based on the geologic model developed for the Rio Blanco deposit and comparing it with standard models pertaining to copper porphyries, it can be concluded that this deposit is part of the apical sector of a mega deposit and therefore the projections of the Xio Blanco cop per mine are very favorable, both in lateral area and depth. In order to confirm and evaluate these geo- logic features, an extensive drilling program was started at the Rio Blanco deposit. Diamond drill holes were drilled to depth as well as in the areas named "La Americana", "Don Luis" and "Elguin". The area explored by the drill program is 3 km long in a north-south direction and 1.5 km wide in an east-west direction. In some sections the drilling in depth reached the 2,300 m elevation mark. The lowermost level in the mine is at elevation 3,070 m. These new studies have permitted the recognition of the following lithologic units: Andesite Andesite Breccia Granodiorites, Rio Blanco and Cascada Granodiorite Breccia Quartzmonzonite Porphyry Monzodiorites and Latites Tourmaline Breccia Dacite Pipe and Rhyolite marginal ring. The mineralogical study permits the definition of three stages of hypogene and hydroterma1 alteration of importance with a time-altered sequence. These stages correspond to a late hydrothermal stage. The kinds of alteration that have been recognized are: Potasic Alteration Propylitic Alteration

Jan 1, 1981

By J. Intrater, E. S. Machlin

In a study of grain boundary sliding in superpure Copper (99.999 pct),&apos; bicrystals of a specific shape were used, Fig. 1. That shape was adopted in order to minimize the deformation of grains on both sides of the boundary due to clamping. Another requirement was to obtain bicrystals with a rnicroscopically straight boundary, Fig. 2. Single crystals of predetermined orientation (growth axis parallel to <310>) were grown in a graphite mold from seed crystals. The apparatus for growing single crystals consisted of a vacuum system, argon purification train, vycor tube (in which a graphite mold was placed), a carriage for the induction coi1,and a Lepel (7-1/2 KW) high-frequency converter. The graphite mold was heated by induction and the charge in turn was heated by conduction. The induction coil was moved by means of a motor at a speed of 1 1/2 in. per hr. Single crystals of two different orientations were grown from the melt in one-half of a split graphite mold, Fig. 3(a). Two such crystals were then placed in contact with each other in another split mold, Fig. 3(b) using tapered inserts. The pair of crystals was then remelted starting 2 in. from the top to insure that the whole top portion of the crystals was maintained molten. By moving the induction coil

Jan 1, 1960

By R. A. Cunningham, A. S. Murray

If a dense fluid such as mud or water is used for circulation, the formation drilled is influenced by a hydrostatic pressure. This pressure depends on hole depth arid drilling fluid density. Laboratory tests indicute that drilling rates in many forri~ations are decreased with increased pressure,—in some cases as much as 90 per cent. A comparison between laboratory and field tests indicates that drilling fluid head affects drilling rates in the field approximately the, same as in the laboratory. Drillirrg rates of many formations are increased by reducing drilling fluid head. INTRODUCTION For many years it has been noted that field and laboratory drilling rate tests did not agree even when the formations tested were the same. For instance, tests of some shales by the Hughes Tool Co. laboratory indicated drilling rates approximately 20 to 30 ft/hour, whereas in the ground this shale would drill only 3 to 5 ft/hour. A possible reason for this discrepancy is the effect of the high pressure which the drilling fluid exerts against the formation at the bottom of the hole. Consider a small element of rock (Fig. II that is to be removed by a rock bit. If the hole is filled with mud or water. the upper surface of the rock element is subjected to a pressure which depends on hole depth and fluid density. The mass of earth around this rock element presses against the circumferential surface and the lower surface. Because of the probability of shearing stresses between the rock element and the surrounding rock, this element is not under true hydrostatic stress. However, as a first approximation for test purposes the rock element was assumed to he under hydrostatic stress. The effect of hydrostatic pressure on some physical properties of rock has been studied.1,2,3 These tests show that the "differential" compres-sive stress:&apos;: necessary to cause rup- ture in rock cylinders is greater when tested under high hydrostatic pressure than when tested under atmospheric conditions. These tests were made with pressures greater than 20,000 psi which is in excess of those normally encountered in oil well drilling. Similar tests were made by the Bureau of Reclamation&apos; using pressures equivalent to those encountered in oil well drilling. Again the "differential" compressive stress necessary to produce failure increased with increasing hydrostatic pressure. These tests indicated that drilling rates would probably decrease. Correlation between these tests and drilling tests was not practical. The purpose of this work is to study the effect of mud column pressure on drilling rate, assuming that the material drilled is in a state of hydrostatic strcss. This problem was initially investigated in the laboratory using variable bit loads and confining pressure;. Confirmation of laboratory results was obtained in the field from a series of carefully controlled drilling tests. Because of the necessity of testing many different types of formations. only results from representative formations will be presented here.

Jan 1, 1956

By J. S. Miller

THIS paper describes the method of mining a steeply pitching anthracite seam on a heavy pitch in the Orchard vein in No. 1 Tunnel of the Lehigh Coal and Navigation Co. The Orchard vein in the Nesquehoning district has a thickness of about 15 ft. on the level of the gangway, which is sufficient thickness for the gangway to be driven full width in coal. Above the gangway, the vein becomes thinner and near the surface is about 8 ft. thick. The coal is of good hard quality and carries a fairly good roof. The pitch of the vein is between 65° and 70°. Usually the breast-and-pillar method has been employed in the mining of the steeply pitching veins in this section. This method produced good results as far as the mining of the breast was concerned but the recovery of the pillar was difficult as to full extraction and expensive as regards costs. To recover these pillars after the breasts were driven, three methods were commonly employed; they were known as the pillar-breast method, pillar-skipping method, and pillar-chute method. The pillar-breast method consisted in putting a battery in one corner of the pillar (Fig. 1), coupling the manways A and B of the two adjacent breasts for two or three lengths ahead of the working face of the pillar being cut, and working the pillar as a breast. This method was used by the more skilled miners of the earlier days but has practically been abandoned. A slight variation of this method is used to some extent. In this case, the pillars are left wider than ordinarily and of sufficient width for the full-width breast to be driven in and a small pillar left on each side of the pillar breast between it and the regular breasts. With the completion of the "pillar breast," the ribs are drilled full of holes, loaded, and fired.

Jan 3, 1925

By W. O. Hotchkiss

IN CONSIDERING the question of mining methods the possible rate of production deserves much more attention than it often receives. Hoover&apos;s theorem that, in order to show the greatest profit, an orebody should be worked out in the shortest practicable time, should be better known. The author recently&apos; obtained detailed statements of costs from iron-mine superintendents of the Lake Superior district. In discussing these, the effect of rate of mining on cost of production was considered and detailed estimates were made. The methods by which these estimates were made and the way in which they were presented are here described to illustrate the importance of this factor in mining operations. The saving due to lower costs is not the only factor that should be considered. The greater profit per ton is of much importance but of equal importance are the greater profit per ton that will be made on a greater number of tons per year, and the fact that the total profit will be received in a shorter; period. This last makes a great difference in the present value of a property, by shortening the period of discount on future profits. Another item of importance to those operating a number of mines is that the tonnage needed to supply the market can be obtained most profitably by operating the smallest number of mines that will supply the amount required when each is worked to maximum capacity. In the Lake Superior iron district there are many grades of ore, and the requirements for each are known. If the demand for a certain grade can be supplied from mines now operating, the development and mining of a new orebody of the same grade must result in lower rates of production and lower profits to all mines producing this grade. If a company is mining the same grade of ore from three mines when it can supply its needs by operating only two, by operating only two it can obtain the greatest profit. Royalty rates, lease terms, and other considerations modify this general statement, but if all three properties

Jan 5, 1922

By Thomas T. Read

Readjustment of the industrial world to a peace basis after more than 4 years of war will involve many fundamental and far-reaching changes that cannot as yet be clearly foreseen or definitely provided for. Such problems may be subdivided, in the vocabulary of war, into those involving material and those centering about personnel. Of the two, the latter group is the more difficult and obscure, as the factors involved are less clearly understood and the methods to be followed are not yet tested and standardized. When it is said that the market is weak, stocks large, and demand light, every business man understands clearly what is meant and what course he should adopt to adjust himself, so far as possible, to such conditions. But when it is said that the rapid spread of Bolshevism in Europe is a danger to industrial organization in this country, it is difficult to have any assured sense that all that the statement may mean is clearly understood or that the means to be followed to meet such a situation are definitely known. Since Bolshevism is primarily a mental phenomenon and since the rupture it brings about in industrial organization should be prevented, if possible, it is my purpose to restrict this discussion of the activities of the Committee on Industrial Organization to some of its mental aspects, as the chairmen of the sub-committees, from their special knowledge of their own fields, can best set forth recent progress in the lines with which they are especially concerned. The first requisites of success in industrial organization, as in the biological organism of which it is the social counterpart, are unity of purpose and coordinated activity. Typical good and bad examples of this&apos; are the relative parts that the United States and Russia have played in the great war. These two factors are primarily mental, and it is not difficult to view the mental aspects of all problems of industrial organization as the most important ones. Unless we can attain unity of purpose and coordinated activity in industry, the provision of comfortable homes at reasonable rent, the assurance of steady work at good wages, the elimination of industrial accidents, and provision against want in old age or in case of disability will have brought us no nearer to our real goal.

Jan 1, 1919

By H. C. Kenny

THE annealing or softening temperature of cold-worked copper is appreciably increased by almost unbelievably small amounts of silver. As indicated by some data in this paper, the softening temperature of high-conductivity, tough-pitch copper may be increased from 200° to 350° C. by the addition of only 15 oz. per ton (0.052 per cent) of that element. Because it has this higher annealing temperature as compared with the silver-free metal, silver-bearing copper finds considerable use in industry. For example, when hard-rolled copper is used in operations that involve soldering or tinning, silver-bearing copper insures against loss of strength, whereas silver-free copper becomes "dead soft." Yet-though several investigators, beginning with Caesar and Gerner1 in 1916, have shown that small amounts of silver do definitely raise the softening temperature of copper-data are lacking on the problem: What is the specific influence of different amounts of silver on this tem-perature? It was to help in filling this gap in the knowledge of what might be termed "alloy coppers" that the data given herein were obtained. The softening of cold-worked copper depends, of course, on a number of factors, of which the composition of the material is only one. Other highly important factors are the degree to which the material is cold-worked and the time it-is held at the annealing temperature. The method of cold working and the grain size of the metal produced are also signifi-cant. All these variables were taken into account in the investigation reported here, and the influence of silver on the electrical conductivity and on the working was also considered.

Jan 1, 1934

By R. R. Wilson

THE Cassidy Colliery operated by the Granby Consolidated Mining, Smelting & Power Co., Ltd., is situated about 9 miles in a southerly direction from the city of Nanaimo on Vancouver Island. The coal seam worked, which is called the Douglas bed, outcrops in the western part of the property, clipping easteyrl, and is opened by a slope 7 by 14 ft. in the clear, and is timbered by 12 to 14-in. framed sets of timber, 4 ft. center to center. A separate manway provides for a traveling road and at the same time forms an intake airway. The general average of the dip of the seam at Cassidy is 18°, and varies in thickness from 1 to 25 ft., averaging about 8 ft. The main slopes follow straight down the dip a distance of 4545 ft. At the bottom of the main slope two rock tunnels were driven a distance of 1500 ft. to the south, cutting through a fault, and opening up an area in the same seam which is known as No. 7 South Section. The coal is found in this section at a vertical depth of 1560 ft., and is very soft and friable. The immediate roof is a strong, sandy shale overlain by massive sandstone while the floor is a light-colored shale, hard when freshly exposed. It does not soften materially oil exposure. In the folding of the coal measures a great thrust caused a movement along the coal seam as indicated by the slickensided nature of the coal. The floor has buckled and this has rolled and squeezed the coal-so that with rare exceptions it shows no normal bedding but curved slip planes, which frequently start at right angles to the floor, curving upward and then in the direction of the dip. As such planes are slickensided it is probable that there is a coating of clay which is more or less impervious to gas.

Jan 1, 1927