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By F. W. Robinson

THE temperature coefficient of electrical resistance of pure metals is high and therefore the resistance increases rapidly with rising temperature. In 1871, Siemens suggested the use of this property as an accurate means of temperature determination. Owing to practical difficulties, particularly the contamination of the metal and consequent permanent change in its resistance and its resistance-temperature relation, this method fell into disrepute as a practical standard until revived later by Callendar and Griffiths, and subsequently by Holborn and Wien, all of whom showed that the earlier difficulties were not inherent in the method but incident to the mode of protection of the resistance coils. Following .the work of these investigators, the problem of temperature measurement by this means has been the subject of careful study and has now assumed an importance second only in practical adoption to the thermo-electric method. It is generally recognized, both here and in Europe, that the standard temperature scale should be the thermodynamic as it permits the evaluation of high temperatures on the basis of the radiation laws of Stefan and Bolzmann, of Rayleigh, and of Wien and Planck, on a scale consistent with that obtained by means of the gas thermometer at low temperatures. Lord Kelvin showed that only. a very small correction, amounting to about +0.7° at 1000° C.-almost within the limits of experimental errors-is necessary to adjust the constant-volume nitrogen thermometer to the ideal thermodynamic scale.

Jan 9, 1919

By Wilbur Nelson

THE year 1923 has been a dull period in oil development in Kentucky and Tennessee, with the exception of the Kettle Creek area along the Tennessee-Kentucky line, in Clinton and Cumberland Counties, Kentucky, and Clay County, Tennessee. The price of oil during the year has been so low that wildcatters have shown little interest in drilling. At the beginning of the year, light oil sold for $2.31 per barrel and medium oil for $2.06 per barrel. Prices increased to the highest point for the year in February, when light oil brought $2.86 per barrel and medium oil, $2.61. In April, prices had declined 35 c. while in May an additional decline of 25 c. went into effect. During June, prices declined 20 c. per barrel; during July, 45 c. per barrel; remained stationary during August and September, and dropped during November and December to the low price of $1.36 per barrel for light and $1.21 for medium oil. At present, an increase of 29 c. has brought the price of light oil up to $1.55, and indications are that the price will continue to increase during the coming months. It can readily be seen that during 1923 the price of oil was such as to prevent any drilling except that necessary to hold leases and to maintain production enough to take care of overhead expenses.

Jan 3, 1924

By I. Iwasaki, P. L. De Bruyn

Electrical double-layer properties of the silver sulfide-solution interface in different electrolytes and the influence the properties exert on the adsorption of dodecylammonium acetate (DAA) were studied using an electrochemical titration technique. The flotation behavior of silver sulfide was observed using DAA as collector and the results were correlated with adsorption measurements. Silver and sulfide ions were identified as the potential determining ions and their adsorption densities were measured as functions of the pAg and of the ionic strength at two different pH values. The point-of-zero-charge (PZC) was observed to be at pAg 10.2, the value being independent of pH and of the nature and concentration of the electrolyte used. The surface charge of silver sulfide in these electrolytes was positive for pAg values less than 10.2 and was negative for pAg values greater than 10.2. The adsorption of amine on silver sulfide surfaces at pH 4.7 was found to be strongly dependent on the pAg. A shift in the PZC towards a lower pAg due to the adsorption of amine indicated a specific affinity of dodecylammonium ion towards silver sulfide surfaces. At pH 9.2 a strong adsorption of the undissociated amine molecule was indicated. The PZC shift towards a higher pAg and the adsorption of the amine was virtually independent of the interfacial electrical conditions.

Jan 1, 1972

By L. L. Brundred

The major portion of the production of the Gulf Coast area, represented by South Texas and South Louisiana, comes from the flanks of well-defined salt domes. This oil, containing an excellent lubricating stock, ranges from 17° to 28° Be. gravity. Some lighter oil is encountered but the life of such fields is, in general, an open question. In fact, there are few light-gravity fields which have proved of much value. In all of the fields water encroachment, or, more properly, water produced with the oil, is a vital factor. After the first head of high-pressure gas is removed, ever-increasing percentages of water appear, and naturally the life of the wells is materially affected thereby. The sands are, as a rule, extremely fine, very soft, and must be carefully excluded from the hole by the use of fine screen to prevent sanding up. All sands are tipped at such extreme angles as to make coring essential for the location of water strata, oil-bearing sands and important shale. beds. Even with modern coring, the correlation of logs is a difficult problem. Due to the fact that the bulk of the oil is refined for its lubricating properties, little attention has been paid to losses by evaporation in the field. This is largely influenced by the fact that the major companies have set a price schedule, showing but two grades, "A" and "B." The average oil company, therefore, does not attempt to use the gas-lift but relies primarily on the air-lift and then only on wells considered to be particularly adapted to its use, namely those capable of producing large quantities of fluid and yet not having sufficient "kick" to flow. Furthermore, as the gas contained in the reservoirs is mostly ricthane such gas being very quickly vaporized and produced in large quantity in the early life of the fields, there is little gas left after the first flush flowing period of the wells. In fact, it is very generally conceded that gas is a precarious fuel to depend on in any of the coastal fields. This situation largely accounts for the fact that air, as the lifting medium, is almost universally used. In the average field, wells are drilled on the flanks of the domes in close proximity to one another, largely on account of the extreme dips of the formation and "town lot" leases, and space to set up machinery and

Jan 1, 1928

By Mark C. Malamphy

MAJOR JUAREZ TAVORA, who recently accepted the post of Minister of Agriculture in Brazil, has reorganized his department. Not least among those sub: divisions of the "Ministerio" which underwent radical changes in the general reform was the Serviqo Geologico e Mineralogico do Brasil. This well- known organization was declared extinct, and in its place was created a new cleparttnent ' termed "Departamento Nacional cle Producqao Mineral," which immediately took over all the work of the olcl Servico Geologico ill addition to certain new duties. Dr. .. Domingos Fleury- da Rocha, former head of the School of Mines of Ouro Preto, was called to Xio to assume the newly created post of Director General of the department of Mineral Production. His department will have live divisions :

Jan 1, 1934

By R. Henry Norton

The State of Oregon, although admitted into the Union February 14, 1859, is to-day, so far as any practical knowledge of its mineral resources is concerned, almost terra incognita, as compared with the other Western States and Territories. This is partly to be accounted for by the class of emigrants who first settled in the country ; they seem to have been, as they still are, a pastoral community, to whom the terms " mines " 'and " mining " are synonymous with bankruptcy and disaster, and who discourage all attempts to develop the mineral resources of the State. This statement is emphasized by the fact that Oregon has no State Geolo-

Jan 1, 1891

By Thomas Connolly

The Homestake Mine is situated in the northern portion of the Black Hills of South Dakota in a series of steeply dipping and highly folded Precambrian Rocks. The ore bodies are localized along plunging anticlinal and synclinal folds which are locally called "ledges." The gold bearing ore is confined mainly in the Homestake formation which is an iron-magnesium carbonate series of rocks. The individual ore bodies are pipe or lense-shaped zones which plunge 30º to 75º from the horizontal. These ore bodies range from 10 to 100 feet wide and 50 to 400 feet along the strike. Gold values are erratically distributed in a gangue consisting of cummingtonite schist, sideroplesite schist, quartz, pyrrhotite, arsenopyrite, chlorite schist and ankerite. Usually the ore bodies dip at 70° to 80º and often have folded shapes like "fish hooks" or "troughs." Ore grades must be determined by extensive sampling and all mining is based on assay control.

Jan 3, 1974

By Frank Ittner

In this section it is proposed to discuss operating methods considered good practice under the various field conditions commonly encountered. Efficient field direction and types of equipment needed to meet transportation problems are considered only to the extent that the desire to produce the best possible records must sometimes give way to the factor of cost. As in all engineering projects, alternative possible methods of operation must be considered in the light of relative costs as well as of the quality of results obtained, Cost may be in the background of much that is done in the field operations, but only the effect on record quality will be considered here. Record quality at a particular shot point may vary with the various factors of spread character (relative positions of geophones and shot point), shot-hole depth, formations opposite position of shot, size of charge, the effect of repeat shots, surface geology and culture in the immediate vicinity of the geophones, recorder instrument characteristics, particularly filter.

Jan 1, 1940

By Frank Ittner

In this section it is proposed to discuss operating methods considered good practice under the various field conditions commonly encountered. Efficient field direction and types of equipment needed to meet transportation problems are considered only to the extent that the desire to produce the best possible records must sometimes give way to the factor of cost. As in all engineering projects, alternative possible methods of operation must be considered in the light of relative costs as well as of the quality of results obtained, Cost may be in the background of much that is done in the field operations, but only the effect on record quality will be considered here. Record quality at a particular shot point may vary with the various factors of spread character (relative positions of geophones and shot point), shot-hole depth, formations opposite position of shot, size of charge, the effect of repeat shots, surface geology and culture in the immediate vicinity of the geophones, recorder instrument characteristics, particularly filter.

Jan 1, 1940

By F. E. Jaumot, R. L. Smith

Self-diffusion in zinc at temperatures below 200°C has been studied using both single crystal and polycrystal samples. Anomalous results were obtained for single crystal samples, the data indicating that in some cases grain boundary diffusion predominated. These anomalous results are presumed to be due to low angle lineage boundaries in the single crystals. When volume diffusion occurred in either single or polycrystal samples, the values for the diffusion coefficient were as much as several orders of magnitude larger than would be expected from high temperature data. ONSIDERABLE work has been done on self-^-*diffusion at temperatures in the neighborhood of two thirds of the melting temperature (in OK) and higher, but very little has been done at lower temperatures. This is particularly true of self-diffusion in single crystals. This paper reports work on self-diffusion in zinc at temperatures below 200 °C where both polycrystalline and single crystal samples have been used. The measurements were made using both the sectioning and absorption techniques. The experiments on diffusion at low temperatures were initiated primarily for three reasons: to obtain data from single crystal diffusion covering a wide range of temperatures, to obtain values of the activation energy for grain boundary diffusion, and to obtain, if possible, a lower limit to the temperatures at which the absorption technique may be used. It is possible to determine whether volume or grain boundary diffusion predominates at low temperatures by analyzing the manner in which the concentration of the diffusing atoms varies with the depth of penetration. The analysis is possible only for the sectioning technique. For volume diffusion and for the boundary conditions of the present experiment, the curve of the logarithm of the concentration, C, vs the square of the penetration depth, x, is a straight line with the slope proportional to — 1/D. If grain boundary diffusion predominates, Fisher' has shown that a curve of In C vs the first power of the penetration depth should be a straight line. This linear dependence of concentration on depth has been observed experimentally by several investigators. (See, for example, refs. 3 and 4.) Following Fisher's analysis, the grain boundary diffusion coefficient can be written as where 8 is the grain boundary width, D, is the volume diffusion coefficient at the temperature involved, t is the time of diffusion, C is the concentration of diffusing material, and x is the depth of penetration. A more general analysis employing the same model as Fisher's but with fewer assumptions has been given by Whipple.' In contrast to Fisher's analysis the more general analysis of Whipple does not always yield a straight line relation between In C and x. Recently Turnbull and Hoffman have discussed both analyses and have applied the Fisher-Whipple model to a more refined dislocation model of the grain boundary. They have also discussed the possibility of a large effect of grain boundary direction on diffusion. In the case of the absorption technique, for which results are also given, one simply gets a value for the diffusion coefficient with no indication of the predominating mechanism. Experimental Techniques Single crystals of 99.99+ pct Zn were grown using a modified Bridgman method. Polycrystal samples were prepared in three grain sizes (small, about 4 mm2; medium, about 9 mm'; and large, about 25 mmz) by quenching, air cooling, and furnace cooling. The grains of the polycrystalline samples tended to be columnar, with some preferred texture such that the c-axis was inclined at about 20" to 25" from the normal to the diffusion face, particularly in the medium and large grain size samples. The samples were cut from the rod, polished, and heavily etched, and faces cut accurately parallel using a jeweler's lathe. They were again etched to remove the lathe smear and annealed for 3 hr at 250" to 300°C. After annealing, they were etched, examined, and the orientation determined by Laue back reflection photographs. They were then electroplated with Zn. The plated surfaces were examined for uniformity; nonuniform coatings were removed by etching and the samples replated without additional preparation. For the diffusion anneals, the samples were placed in pairs, with active faces together, in evacuated Pyrex tubes. Constant temperature baths were used, and the variation in temperature did not exceed ±l°C, Diffusion runs were made at l00°,

Jan 1, 1957

By K. G. Davis, P. Fryzuk

WEINBERG,' in an investigation of solute distributions along unidirectionally solidified rods of dilute silver in tin alloys, concluded that, for rods of 2 mm diameter or larger, a very high degree of convective mixing takes place in the melt ahead of the advancing interface. Suggested causes for this mixing were (1) thermal convection, (2) convective currents set up by changes in fluid density associated with concentration gradients, and (3) currents set up by changes in volume during freezing. Evidence was presented that causes (2) and (3) were not primarily responsible for solute mixing. Further, convective mixing took place in horizontal rods with temperature gradients as low as 6°C per cm, putting doubt on the importance of thermal convection. In the present work, convective mixing is examined in melts with known initial solute distributions. The absence of a moving solid-liquid interface eliminates convection caused by volume changes on solidification. In the first experiment, three silica tubes 2 mm in diameter and approximately 20 cm long were filled with an alloy of 100 ppm Ag in tin (99.999 pct purity), placed adjacent to one another in a horizontal furnace, and solidified from one end at 1 cm per hr. A110, a Y emitter, was used as tracer. A few centimeters at the start of the rod were left un-melted, to determine the initial concentration Go. After solidification was complete, one sample was removed. The hot furnace was then brought back to

Jan 1, 1965

By R. F. Sheldon

The discovery of the Carlin deposit was the result of discriminating geologic research and prospecting devoted to the objective of finding a gold deposit that could be mined by open pit methods. By the late 1950s, Newmont Mining Corp. was becoming increasingly concerned about the trend of rapidly rising underground mining costs unless bulk mining methods could be applied. The desirability of finding an open-pittable gold deposit was apparent. The attention of Newmont geologists was directed to Nevada by the publication of two papers: "Paleozoic rocks in North-central Nevada" (1958) and "Alinements of Mining Districts in North-central Nevada" (1960), both authored or co-authored by Ralph J. Roberts of the United States Geological Survey. John Livermore, geologist of Newmont Exploration Ltd., attended a talk given by Roberts in Ely, Nevada in the summer of 1961. These papers and the address by Roberts gave details concerning the Roberts Mountain overthrust, a 483 km (300-mile) long, shallowdipping fault which pushed clastic and volcanic rocks of early and middle Paleozoic age eastward over younger marine formations. Subsequent uplift and doming with consequent erosion had locally removed the upper plate strata exposing windows of lower plate carbonate rocks. Roberts noted that the principal mineral deposits of the region, including gold, were associated with these windows which exhibited a preferred alinement. In the summer and fall of 1961 Newmont's exploration geologists John Livermore and J. Alan Coope began a systematic examination of gold occurrences associated with these windows, aided by further discussion with geologists of the US Geological Survey. Attention was directed to the Lynn and Carlin windows, particularly to those formations lying immediately above and below the Roberts Mountain fault. It was appreciated at the time that many of the gold occurrences in the region were unusual in that no colours were obtained even when panning high grade samples. A large number of rock samples were collected and analysed using fire assaying procedures, and background values for gold were established. This systematic rock sampling resulted in the identification of a distinct area of anomalous gold values, and a block of claims was staked in late October, 1961. These claims, plus an adjoining optioned 32.4 ha (80 acres) of ground, cover the main area of the present Carlin gold mine. Prior to snowfall that winter, one of the bulldozed assessment pits required to establish a claim's discovery exposed 24 m (80 ft) of mineralization assaying 0.007 kg/t (0.22 oz per st) gold. In the spring of 1962 a program of trenching, sampling, and geological mapping followed by rotary drilling was underway. Other properties in the area were acquired. The generally undistinguished nature of the dolomitic siltstones and silty dolomitic limestones hosting the micron-sized gold particles, coupled with the lack of visually associated guide minerals, made identification of the gold bearing areas very difficult. The entire drill column had to be assayed to ensure that values were not overlooked, as very often sections that might be assumed to be waste turned out to be high grade. On September 10, 1962 a high grade intersection of 24 m (80 ft) assaying over 0.03 kg/t (1 oz per st) gold was encountered in the third hole drilled. An expanded program of both rotary and diamond drilling led to the further delineation of the ore body. By December 1963, the exploration program had established an initial reserve of 10 Mt (11 million st) grading 0.01 kg/t (0.32 oz per st) gold. A 1.8 kt/d (2,000 stpd) processing plant was constructed and the first gold bullion was poured in May, 1965, just two years and eight months after the discovery hole was drilled. REFERENCES Roberts, R.J., Holz, P.E., Gilluly, J., and Ferguson, H.G., 1958, "Paleozoic Rocks in North-central Nevada," Bulletin American Association of Petroleum Geologists, Vol. 42, No. 12. Roberts, R.J., 1960, "Alinements of Mining Districts in North-central Nevada," Professional Paper 400-B, US Geological Survey, Article 9.

Jan 1, 1985

To the American Institute of Mining Engineers: The committee appointed at the February meeting upon Railway Resistances would respectfully report: That one person has been constantly employed in calculating the results of the data taken prior to March 1st, 1876. Also to complete the data taken upon the Lake Shore and Michigan Southern Railway, a diagram was taken upon a through freight train from Cleveland to Chicago, and one from Chicago to Cleveland. So that now we have diagrams from Buffalo to Chicago and return, which, when fully worked up, will give results of the utmost importance in determining the cost of transportation of freight. These data will be of much importance in determining the proper methods of equating grades and curves, which is so essential in the location of new lines. The calculations show that instead of our attempting to formulate results from data obtained on one road, it will be best for the interests of transportation to enlarge the scope of our inquiries, and to extend the experiments so as to include all of the more probable causes which affect the cost of transportation. Were the details of railway equipment constructed alike, much work, which is now necessary, would be saved. It is not uncommon to find upon the same road 10 to 30 different patterns of something in construction to subserve the same purpose, which more or less modifies the friction of the cars. Take the majority of our trunk lines, with this diversity of construction, together with the varying conditions of track and manner of operating, and it will be at once seen that the labor and time to do the work and arrive at correct conclusions will occupy from two to three years. The results already attained in the short time in which they have been carried on, wholly by private enterprise, simply show what may be expected when the aid necessary is given to render them of the highest value to the great industries of the country. That the information may be general and of the greatest importance to our railway interests, the committee deem it advisable to secure, so

By George Otis Smith

That an oil-land law is the most needed item in the proposed program of mineral-land legislation follows from the fact that Congress has never enacted a law really applicable to petroleum and natural gas. The action of Congress in 1897 in authorizing entry of oil lands under the placer law, enacted 27 years before for the mining of gold in surface gravels, was plainly only makeshift legislation. Naturally the provisions of this placer law with its requirement of discovery as a prerequisite to location are nothing less than absurd when applied to petroleum deposits hundreds or thousands of feet beneath the surface. Other reasons which render oil-land legislation an urgent necessity arise first from the large acreage of lands believed to be valuable for their deposits of oil and gas and therefore withdrawn by Executive order from all entry pending the enactment of . an appropriate law for their disposition—a withdrawal that has been specially ratified by Congress in the case of one State, Utah—and second from the exceptional importance of this resource to the nation, the large industrial worth of petroleum, and indeed its paramount value to the navy, not being suspected 17 years ago when Congress last legislated upon this subject. Mineral land of this type is also well adapted to serve for purposes of illustration in discussing the general principles that demand recognition in legislative reform. Most of the issues involved in the consideration of oil-land legislation are clean-cut, and essential differences of opinion will be seen to be based upon radical divergence in economic theory rather than upon conflicting views concerning unimportant details. For the last five years or more the geologists of the Federal Survey have discussed this subject and prepared memorandums and reports on the various bills introduced in Congress. Most of the provisions suggested in the present outline have been under consideration at one time or another during that period, and many of the statements which follow can be said to represent the consensus of opinion among those of us who, both in the field and in the office, have given special attention to the public oil lands.

Jan 1, 1915

By AIME AIME

EVER since Henry Bessemer, nearly 100 years ago, developed the steelmaking process that bears his name, occasional variation has been noted in the quality of steel made in the acid converter, owing largely to the difficulty of stopping the ? refining-which takes only ten to twelve minutes -at precisely the right moment. Principally as the result of this, the amount of Bessemer steel made in the United States gradually declined over the years until it is now about 7 per cent of the total.

Jan 1, 1943

A. H. Bromly, Zihuatanejo, Guerrero, Mexico (communication to the Secretary*):—The following criticism of what "is offered as a summary which may be found useful by mining engineers," is not dictated by any captious spirit, but in the intereet of historical and scientific accuracy. The States of Queretaro and Oaxaca have produced sufficient silver to warrant more extended notice. Referring to Pachuca, State of Hidalgo, the eomewhat loose and inexact statement is made that "the ore-depdsit is an andesite, intermixed with quartz-veins, rich from the surface." A better description mould be,—the ore-deposits consist of quartz-veins in andesite. It is notable that many of the rich shoots worked in recent days did not come to surface. In consequence, Pachuca is often quoted by the ill-informed as a camp in which values improve with depth, the truth being that the veins carry shoots, or clavos, some of which were exposed at surface and some not. The name of " electric plow," applied to the mechanical stirrer of recent use, is certainly not to be recommended. The stirrer, or agitator, consists essentially of a traversing gang-plow, operated by power through shafting; drums, and wire-rope. The fact that in certain plants the motive-power used is electricity does not make it an electric plow. Such a name suggests a machine of which the motor is an essential and integral part; which is not so in this case. A lathe in a factory driven by water-power is not called a hydraulic lathe. My experience agrees with Dr. Raymond's note as to azulapue, which in some districts is also applied to blue copper carbonate. The El Oro, Esperanza, and Mexico mines should be allocated to the State of Mexico; the Dos Estrellas being in Michoacan, as stated. The El Oro quartz certainly does not appeal to me

Jan 1, 1910

By R. J. Mellen

IN a chloridizing roasting and cyanidation plant treating a manganese-silver ore, certain experiments pointed out the way to an improvement in roasting conditions by a change in the degree of crushing. The following short article is simply a description of the various changes that were necessary throughout the plant and of the results obtained. There is nothing unusual in these changes but they are of some interest in that they constitute a good many of the alterations usually resorted to in increasing production. In the beginning, the changes were brought about by an experiment that was not successful, but which clearly pointed to means of improving the operation, and is an example of the fact that often experimental work may result in failure and still be of value in arriving at correct fundamentals. This experiment also shows how far a metallurgist can get out of line in his deductions, particularly in a field with which he is not thoroughly familiar. The ore at the plant of Compania Minera Kildun y Anexas is crushed through a 13-in. gyratory, a 3-ft. standard Symons cone crusher and a set of 16 by 42in. rolls, the latter in closed circuit with two Tyler 400-mesh screens. The crushed ore is then conveyed to two fine-ore bins. These provide storage and feed for two 6 by 90-ft. kiln roasters, which discharge directly to coolers. The coolers in turn discharge to a 6 by 12-ft. ball mill, where the ore is ground for cyanidation. Laboratory and pilot-plant tests previous to the mill construction had indicated that minus ¼ -in. crushing was satisfactory for roasting, although results did not vary greatly with some coarser or considerably finer crushing. The plant was designed for a capacity of 300 tons per day on this basis. After a few months operation, the initial operating problems were overcome and the anticipated milling rate was reached but the results being obtained were not really good. The plant seemingly did not have much excess capacity in any department but the roasting operation was the most critically limiting factor both as to tonnage and the results obtained. If this could be improved there seemed some possibility of improving the total tonnage rate to some extent. Segregation of the calcine into various screen sizes showed that the coarser sizes ,were not giving the expected recoveries. In all of the laboratory and pilot-plant testing, any limiting conditions as to the percentage of salt used, temperatures, feed rates, etc., had affected the fine material more than it had the coarse, and even in making laboratory tests at this time the mill conditions could not be exactly duplicated. Further laboratory testing indicated that a segregation of the crushed ore into a coarse and fine product for roasting might result in some improvement in roast-

Jan 1, 1945

By J. W. Still

CIRCULAR steel sets have proved to be more economical for supporting slusher drifts in the block-caving mining used by the Miami Copper Co., at Miami, Ariz. The first steel sets were installed in July 1950, and up to July 1, 1951, about 474 sets (approximately 1896 ft of drift) were placed; the bulk of this work was done in the latter six months. All of the places selected for the steel were in heavy ground. Based on this experience the following definite conclusions can be drawn:

Jan 11, 1951

Most lead-zinc mines worldwide have moved to further mechanized techniques to boost productivity, improve safety, and lower costs. The mining session, chaired by S. C. Fall, NL. Industries, and C. J. Beattie, Callahan Mining Co., reviewed mining methods at five operations in the US, Australia, Peru, and Japan. Where massive sulfide-type and irregular ore bodies are encountered, resourceful operators have modified and varied the mining method with the localized ore zones. In all cases, mechanization of operations has registered gains in productivity.

Jan 11, 1977

By V. D. O’Leary

The Anaconda Co. has two economic uses for the drainage water from its underground mines in the district of Butte, Mont. One is the precipitation of copper, which the company has been accomplishing at the Leonard precipitating plant for many years, and the other is the leaching of the Berkeley pit discard, where millions of tons of leach material have accumulated. The acidic mine drainage water is an ideal leaching medium for the latter purpose, but the solids and colloidal material suspended in the water must be removed before it can be applied to the low-grade Berkeley leach dump. For this reason, it is important for Anaconda to have an efficient means of cleaning mine drainage. Such a means has been found and tested at one mine and is now to be incorporated in a new central pumping station the company is planning at the 3900-ft level of the Kelley mine. This plant is to be activated in early 1967 and will replace the antiquated four-lift High Ore mine pumping plant which was designed and installed before tailing backfill was adopted. The new plant will feature eight pumps with a total capacity of 8000 gpm in a single lift against a total dynamic head of 4100 ft. For the most efficient and economical operation of the plant it is imperative that all possible mud be removed from the drainage water before pumping.

Jan 9, 1966