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By William B. Plank

THERE are 19 pct fewer undergraduate and graduate mineral engineering students enrolled in the ECPD accredited schools of the United States this year than there were a year ago. The figures are: 8727 this year and 10,674 last year. The entire engineering group in both countries numbers 171,070, as compared with 184,547 last year and 252,250 in 1947-48, the peak year. This is a decrease of 7.3 pct since last year, less than half as much as the decrease in the mineral engineering group. These figures on engineering enrollment for the current year, 195.1-52, in colleges of the United States and Canada were prepared jointly by the U. S. Office of Education and the American Society for Engineering Education. The seriousness of the situation is shown. by the reported demand for 60,000 to 90,000 engineers this year for civilian and defense industries and only 35,800 will graduate next June. Many of the 1952 graduates are subject to Selective Service, having been granted deferments while in college, and ac- [ ]

Jan 1, 1952

By Richard N. Grigsby

INTRODUCTION The Chord property was acquired in 1975 from Roy Chord, an early prospector and miner of the area. He had staked numerous claims on the southern flank of the Black Hills in the early 19501s, and by the late 50’s, many small open pit and underground mines had been or were in operation. By the mid 1960's small tonnages of high-grade oxidized uranium ore had been mined from the property. Starting in 1975, Union Carbide conducted a series of exploration programs to determine the remaining economic potential. The previously mined areas were re-examined in order to define additional oxidized mineralization. Meanwhile, a wide-spaced drilling program was initiated to determine the potential for deeper unoxidized deposits. Through the exploration program of 1979, measured minable reserves in excess of two million pounds of contained uranium had been discovered. GEOLOGY The Edgemont District is located on the southern end of the Black Hills Uplift. A succession of pre-Cambrian to Cretaceous Formations is exposed within the core and across the flanks. The uranium host is the lower Cretaceous Inyan Kara Group which is divided into two formations, the Lakota and Fall River Formations (Figure 1). The basal Lakota Formation rests unconformably on the Jurassic Morrison Formation and consists of fluvial channel sandstones

Jan 1, 1983

By P. Barnes

(Read at the Amenia Meeting, October, 1877.) THE subdivisions of this account are numbered 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, and 33, in the general series of construction accounts, and give the details of cost of the various items of the work, as noted below: Accounts 32 and 33 -relate to hand-tools and to heaters, and, being quite small in total amount, are omitted in this statement.

Jan 1, 1878

By William P. Blake

A recent paper by Prof. George P. Merrill, Curator of the Department of Geology of the U. S. National Museum, Wash-

Jan 1, 1897

By T. H. Aldrich

This paper is intended only to give a preliminary account of experiments made, and conclusions reached, concerning the treatment of certain refractory low-grade gold-ores, the profitable reduction of which may furnish a useful guide to the solution of similar mining and metallurgical problems, not only in the gold-bearing belt of the Southern United States, but perhaps in other regions also. It must be regarded as simply a " report of progress," preceding a more elaborate and conclusive report of regular practice. The mines of the Hillabee Gold Mining Co. are located upon what is generally known locally as Hog Mountain, on the northern edge of Tallapoosa county, Ala., about 15 miles from Goodwater and 14 miles from Alexander City, stations on the Central of Georgia railway. Gold has been known since 1839 to exist on this property, where it was discovered in that year by a man named Johnston. The property was worked for placer-gold by the old miners, and there are now the remains of four attempts to operate it by stamp-mill and plate-amalgamation. The present owners purchasid it in 1896, and since that time they have experimented at frequent intervals, in order to devise a process that would satisfactorily recover the gold. In 1903 regular operations were begun. Geologically, the mountain consists of an intrusion of what has been pronounced true granite in altered sedimentary slates. The cooling of the granite produced shrinkage-cracks, which have become veins. There is considerable question as to the period of the slate formation; but it is undoubtedly, in my opinion, of Carboniferous age. The veins, about 50 in number, strike N. 60° to 80° E.; dip approximately 65' from the horizontal; vary from a few inches to 25 ft. (being in gen-

Jan 1, 1909

By John H. Smith

Because of increased pressure from federal and state regulatory agencies, most acid flows will require some sort of treatment prior to being discharged to receiving streams. In many industries, the volumes of liquors are large and their acid content varied. Development of a waste treatment process minimizing equipment cost and utilizing land efficiently is mandatory. Methods of acid neutralization with lime have been known for years, however, the volume and characteristics of the resultant precipitated solids can create a disposal problem. Also, when standard lime treatment is used, the settling characteristic of the precipitated solids is normally slow. In some instances, the necessity of added dissolved solids removal, such as iron, needing aeration, add to the problem of concentrating neutralized solids.

Jan 12, 1972

By F. A. Harvey

DURING the last few years, there has been a constant tendency toward increasingly high temperatures in many lines of industry. The necessity for increased production of coke gave a 16-hr. coking period where we used to have 24 or even 30-hr. periods. Mechanical stokers have increased the temperatures in boiler furnaces. The use of a chain-grate stoker with coke-breeze fuel necessitates a low arch in the furnace and temperatures run much higher than firebrick were formerly called upon to stand. These higher temperatures have necessitated more rigid tests and the separation of even high-grade firebrick into separate classes. More severe tests mean higher temperatures and closer control, and this, in turn, means better pyrometer tubes. Platinum couples do not have a very long life when used at temperatures exceeding, say, 1200° C., but the proper selection of a high-grade brick to be used in a-boiler setting will save the cost of several couples; and with freight rates continually increasing it becomes increasingly important to know where brick may be bought, nearest the job, that will prove satisfactory. Couples that will stand continuous use at higher temperatures, of tungsten, molybdenum, or other metal, will doubtless be forthcoming as soon as the need becomes sufficiently urgent. There are on the market several tubes that are entirely satisfactory for temperatures up to 1300° C., if properly protected from heat shock. The Semet-Solvay Co. makes a practice, however, of testing silica and clay firebricks at 1450° C. for 72 hr., and so far we have been unable to find a tube that- is entirely satisfactory for this purpose. A graphic record of the temperature during the entire test is extremely desirable and hence we have been trying out anything that gave promise of success. Several years ago we were using insulating tubes, made purely for electrical work, of vitrified porcelain. These tubes stood up under any temperature we were able to reach and were apparently impervious to gases. When this stock gave out, due to mechanical breakage, we tried other insulation tubes only to have them melt down like glass. Marquardt Masse tubes were tried next under a statement from the distributors

Jan 9, 1919

Jan 1, 1966

Jan 1, 1970

By R. V. Horrigan

High purity ZrC14 (25 to 200 ppm of metallic impurities) can be readily prepared in simple apparatus by thermal decomposition of alkali chlorozirconate fused salts at 500° to 600°C and at atmospheric pressure. Suggested phase diagrams for the systems NaCI-ZrC14 and KCI-ZrCI, are presented. ALKALI chlorozirconate compositions — anhydrous fused mixtures of ZrCl4, NaC1, and KC1— are manufactured commercially and are used by the magnesium industry to introduce zirconium into magnesium alloys. Zirconium refines the grain size and improves the physical properties of many important magnesium alloys. In the course of working with chlorozirconate compositions of high ZrCl4 content, it was noticed that these salts decomposed progressively itwaswith increasing temperature to yield considerable amounts of a ZrCl4 sublimate of high purity together with a solid chlorozirconate residue. Further research led to: 1—improvements in the

Jan 1, 1956

By Granville S. Borden

THE program for income tax legislation presented here proposes some diminution in the current tax burden on mineral producers but it will, if enacted, eventually increase the potential and current Government revenue from the mineral industry.

Jan 6, 1951

By Horace Pops, J. F. Libsch

THE discovery of SAP alloys (sintered aluminum powders) by lrmannl has stimulated investigations in other alloy systems.23 Not only do such alloys have good room-temperature properties, but they maintain high strength after prolonged service at elevated temperatures. In addition, they show high structural stability, including unusually high recrystallization temperatures. These characteristics are secured by dispersion hardening. For this investigation, Zn-ZnO alloys were selected. Practically, the fact that commercially pure zinc recrystallizes near room temperature prohibits strengthening and hardening by cold deformation and therefore limits the application of zinc where mechanical strength is important. Similarly, the poor

Jan 1, 1961

Jan 1, 1969

By C. S. Smith, Chih-Chung Wang

D. Turnbull—In the opinion of the writer the most interesting result described in this paper is that the distribution of tin with respect to solidification temperature has several fairly well-defined maxima. It appears that each peak may be associated with a catalytic impurity of some rather specific composition. Recently we have obtained some additional evidence in favor of this viewpoint in experiments on the supercooling of lead droplets coated with different surface films. The distribution of lead droplets, ostensibly coated with lead sulphate, with respect to solidification temperature exhibited two distinct and reproducible maxima, one at 20" supercooling and the other at 47". On the other hand, when the droplets were ostensibly coated with halide films, no solidification was perceptible until the aggregate was supercooled more than 55". Upon further cooling a single well-defined peak centering at 60" supercooling was observed. Since the particle size distribution was the same in these two sets of experiments it appears that the most reasonable interpretation of the results is that the sulphate surface film or its reaction products with lead are much more effective in catalyzing the nucleation of lead crystals than are lead halide films. C. S. Smith (authors' reply)—Dr. Turnbull's experiments with lead drops coated with various surface films are most interesting. However, before drawing conclusions from the cooling curves described in the paper as to the existence of a few nucleus types effective at a few different temperatures, one must consider the state of subdivision of the liquid metal. In the A1-Sn alloy used, the tin was not in uniform droplets but tended to collect in three distinct shapes—in long interconnecting prisms along grain edges, in somewhat elongated interdendritic branching pools. and in isolated droplets. A single nucleus will solidify only the metal in contact with it, and the heat evolved will be proportional to the connected volume. A uniform distribution of nuclei of random effectiveness in such an alloy will cause peaks on the specific heat curve on cooling, which correspond to the volume distribution of tin and tell nothing about the nucleus type. In any real alloy both effects will be combined, and it seems impossible at present to distinguish between them. M. B. Bever—The thesis of this interesting paper is supported by a combination of positive and negative evidence. The authors have shown that under certain conditions a liquid phase may undercool, if it is dispersed in a thoroughly discontinuous manner throughout a solid matrix. They also found that undercooling

Jan 1, 1951

By Eugene A. Alexandrov

The Minister of Geology of the Soviet Union P.Ya. Antropov, recently visited China and claims that this country occupies one of the foremost places in the world in reserves of tin, tungsten, molybdenum, antimony, iron ore, coal, and phosphates. Occurrences of economic value of chromite, nickel, gold, beryllium, tantalum, niobium, rare earths, and asbestos have also been reported. MINERAL RESOURCES Coal: The inferred reserves of coal are estimated at at 1,500 billion tons. A considerable part of the coal reserves is represented by coking coal, 80% of which is bituminous. Thicknesses of coal seams range up to 150 ft in the principal deposits located in northern and northeastern China. The total output of coal in 1958, 270 million tons, was produced by an army of 20 million people mainly in small mines operated by the agricultural communes. Modern hydraulic mining is applied besides primitive, obsolete methods and equipment

Jan 3, 1960

By Dean F. Winchester, C. D. Johnson

The so-called Rocky Mountain region is here made to include Colorado, Idaho, Montana, northern New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming, an area of great distances and relatively sparse population. Conditions of distance, transportation and markets have had their retarding influence on devolopment and production but the increase in facilities and markets in recent years has provided additional incentive for more thorough search for new productive areas and the more complete development of the known fields. The low prices of crude during the past year have offset, to a certain extent, the desire for increased production and much of the effort has been directed therefore to outlining new areas rather than to attempts to increase production from known fields and thereby add to the already sufficient supply above ground. During the year just closed the Rocky Mountain region has seen consistent efforts to outline new areas and these efforts have been reasonably successful. In this area a very large part of the land is government property, and by cooperation between the government, the private owner and the company it has been possible to carry on development in a scientific manner, providing for the maximum recovery of valuable products at least cost and at times when prices were best. Due to the fact that in the Rocky Mountain region costs of exploration and development are relatively high because of natural circumstances, it has been the policy of operators to drill test wells only on structures where they controlled a large proportion of the land. Even community lease programs have been effected in certain areas, thus obviating the necessity of offset drilling and the attendant uneconomical and even wasteful production. Oil production in the Rocky Mountain states has shown a slight increase during the year, the average daily production for November being 78,124 bbl. as against an average in January of 76,681 bbl. The total production during the first 11 months of the year, according to the U. S. Burcau of Mines, was as follows:

Jan 1, 1929

By Guy R. Johnson

Like many other similar plants the ore-washer of the Longdale Iron Company has been a growth of years. In its principal features there is probably nothing new, as the type is that of the well-known " log-washer." Some of its minor details may, however, be of interest to those members who have to deal with the washing of large quantities of brown iron-ores, the principal gangue of which is clay. * Until 1883, the ore at Longdale, being of unusual purity, needed no washing, and was charged to the furnaces as it came from the mines—both lump and fine—the only attempt at cleaning being the' picking over a screen of 1½-inch iron bars, 3½ inches from center to center, set in the top of the bins through which the cars for the furnaces were loaded." In 1883 it was no longer possible to win the ore by open cuts, and regular underground work became necessary. It was very

Jan 1, 1895

By L. C. Binon

Exploration budgets are commonly determined by rules of thumb, such as a percentage of earnings or other fiscal measure. An appropriate exploration budget is the amount needed to achieve company goals. It can be determined by discounting the income expected from achieved goals. Budgets for individual projects are determined in a similar manner except that risk of failure is included in the computation.

Jan 1, 1984

By F. J. Tuck

The Hayden mill of the Ray Mines Division, Kennecott Copper Corporation, is now equipped with two 9 by 12-ft. rod mills having a daily capacity of 6000 tons of coarse-crushing plant product from the mine. These two mills crush a ¾-in. product to approximately 19 per cent on 14 mesh, with only one pass through the mills. Each rod mill has taken the place of four sets of 42-in. Garfield rolls with their attendant screens, and is making a product for the fine-grinding department comparable to that formerly made by rolls in closed circuit with screens. The rod mills are lined with wave-type liners of white iron, varying in thickness from 2 to 3 in. The shell and end liners last approximately 600 to 700 days. Manganese-steel lifter bars, 3? in. thick, are used, spaced about 11 in. apart, and they give a life of 350 to 450 days. Fig. 1 shows the general design and thickness of the wave-type liners and lifter bars; 1½-in. liner bolts are used to fasten the lifter bars to the shell. The shell liners are held in place by the tapered lifter bars. A ¾-in. wood backing is used between the shell and the liners. The rod-mill scoop has removable manganese-steel lips, which last 250 to 300 days. The scoop proper has shown some wear in spots, and these spots have been protected by rubber bolted over them. Water and milk of lime are added to the elevator feeding the mill, but not enough water to cause a pounding of the rods against the shell. Roughly, the water added amounts to 25 to 33 per cent of the ore. Additional water is added to the mill discharge to facilitate distribution to the classifier bowls in the fine-grinding department. Rods are charged to the mill once every four days, the mill being down about 20 min. for this purpose. Other delays are negligible, and usually are due to a loose liner bolt or possibly power trouble. However, these occasions are extremely rare. In charging the mill, a crane is used

Jan 1, 1939

By F. J. Tuck

The Hayden mill of the Ray Mines Division, Kennecott Copper Corporation, is now equipped with two 9 by 12-ft. rod mills having a daily capacity of 6000 tons of coarse-crushing plant product from the mine. These two mills crush a ¾-in. product to approximately 19 per cent on 14 mesh, with only one pass through the mills. Each rod mill has taken the place of four sets of 42-in. Garfield rolls with their attendant screens, and is making a product for the fine-grinding department comparable to that formerly made by rolls in closed circuit with screens. The rod mills are lined with wave-type liners of white iron, varying in thickness from 2 to 3 in. The shell and end liners last approximately 600 to 700 days. Manganese-steel lifter bars, 3? in. thick, are used, spaced about 11 in. apart, and they give a life of 350 to 450 days. Fig. 1 shows the general design and thickness of the wave-type liners and lifter bars; 1½-in. liner bolts are used to fasten the lifter bars to the shell. The shell liners are held in place by the tapered lifter bars. A ¾-in. wood backing is used between the shell and the liners. The rod-mill scoop has removable manganese-steel lips, which last 250 to 300 days. The scoop proper has shown some wear in spots, and these spots have been protected by rubber bolted over them. Water and milk of lime are added to the elevator feeding the mill, but not enough water to cause a pounding of the rods against the shell. Roughly, the water added amounts to 25 to 33 per cent of the ore. Additional water is added to the mill discharge to facilitate distribution to the classifier bowls in the fine-grinding department. Rods are charged to the mill once every four days, the mill being down about 20 min. for this purpose. Other delays are negligible, and usually are due to a loose liner bolt or possibly power trouble. However, these occasions are extremely rare. In charging the mill, a crane is used

Jan 1, 1939