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By P. W. Guild

DURING 1956 the application of geology and related scientific disciplines to the search for new mineral deposits went forward on an ever widening front. Spurred on by record-breaking consumption of many of the established commodities and new uses for minerals and metals that were hardly known a few years ago, the profession is figuratively leaving no stone unturned in the effort to insure that adequate raw material supplies will be avail- able for the future. More money was spent and more people were engaged along more lines of research than ever before. A huge project to map much of the Canadian Shield area by photogeologic methods stands at one extreme; application of isotope ratios to ore finding stands at the other; between them the more traditional techniques are being increasingly refined. In the Fiftieth Anniversary volume of Economic Geology, published late in 1955, Alan Bateman sketches the development of fundamental concepts as recorded in the pages of the journal over the first five decades. An additional 24 review articles cover individual aspects of the field and constitute a base for further advances.

Jan 2, 1957

By J. R. Eickmeier

By R. G. Clay, C. F. Seaman

THE mines of The Tennessee Copper Co. are in the Ducktown Basin, in southeastern Tennessee. The ore is a heavy sulphide consisting principally of chalcopyrite, pyrite and pyrrhotite and in places running as high as 05 per cent sulphur and iron. Operating mines are the Burra Burra and Eureka. Development of the Boyd ore body was started in 1940. Late in 1939 the decision was made to change from fuse and cap to all electric blasting and at the same time electric cap lamps were installed to replace carbide. These changes were made to improve the safety and working conditions in the mines. Both the Bureau of Mines and explosives manufacturers recommended electric blasting as a safety measure. Until that time, electric blasting had been used only for shaft sinking and in places where it was absolutely essential for safety. Very few men had had experience in this type of blasting, as the places where it was required were those that also required direct supervision. It was necessary for the mining staff to work out methods, procedure, and equipment to he used. In this they were ably assisted by representatives of the explosives manufacturers. Many mistakes were made and it is the purpose of this paper to describe the original plan and installation, show the major difficulties encountered, the remedies applied, and present the practices now being followed. Comparison of costs of the two methods will also be discussed. About six months were required to make the change and eliminate fuse and cap blasting entirely. The first electric blasting stations were installed in November 1939 and the last fuse was taken underground in May 1940. A very unusual condition forced the use of fuse for a short time in one heading after May, but that will be discussed later. ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT AND INSTALLATION A power line is generally recommended as a source of current where permanent blasting stations are used. The plan worked out for electric blasting was to tap 220-volt alternating-current lines when they were available and use 250-volt direct current from the trolley wire at all other places. A blasting machine would he available at each shaft for places where there were no regular blasting stations and could he used if a regular station should fail. The equipment decided on was No. 16 duplex reinforced lamp cord for lines to within about 50 ft. of the working place and No. 20 lead wire from that point to the shots. An open double-pole, double-throw switch with slate base was put in the circuit, so connected that the down position would close the line to the shots and the up position would connect it to the line from the power contactor. This switch was located in the circuit as close to the blast as was safe (should the shots explode when it was placed in the shooting

Jan 1, 1942

By Thomas M. Chance

All gravity methods for the separation of ore from gangue, or of slate and other refuse from coal, are based upon differences in the falling velocities, in some fluid medium such as air or water, of the materials to be separated. As all materials falling in a vacuum have the same velocity, independent of the size, shape, weight or specific gravity of their individual particles, it would be more accurate to describe the operation of these methods as depending upon the retardation of falling velocities effected by the resistance of a fluid medium, this retardation being greater for small or light particles than for large or heavy particles. This generalization is true also of those appliances utilizing centrifugal force to replace or to supplement the action of gravity. The separation of materials of different specific gravities by means of a fluid having a specific gravity greater than that of the lighter particles and less than that of the heavier particles has not been applied commercially, or on a large scale, to the separation of ores or to the washing of coal, the method being limited to laboratory experimental work or to laboratory determinations for the purpose of checking up the work of jigs, classifiers, and other types of concentrating appliances. A solution of zinc chloride has thus come into general use in the laboratory to separate coal, bony coal, and slate, both to check up the work of coal-washing plants and for the purpose of making tests preliminary to the designing of coal-washing plants. The use of a heavy solution of some chemical in water has often been proposed for making such separations, especially in connection with the washing or preparation of coal. Practically insuperable difficulties, however, have prevented the commercial development of any such process, the difficulties being both physical and financial. The cost of the chemical used to make high-gravity solutions is usually prohibitive, and the freeing of the coal from all traces of the chemical is found to be practically impossible. Such solutions inevitably penetrate the individual lumps and particles of coal, transfusing into the pores and saturating the joint-planes, and very large quantities of wash water

Jan 1, 1918

By F. O. Garrabrant, F. S. McNicholas, Robert Henderson, R. U. King

Several years ago, it was decided to experiment with the use of high-pressure water to bring in finger hangups and reduce the amount of secondary blasting necessary. It was argued that the velocity effect of the high-pressure water would bring down hangups without unduly wetting the ore. Water under a head of about 550 ft. was installed in certain slusher drifts. Ordinary ¾ in. water hose, with a nozzle opening of % in., was used, and water was impinged on the fines under a hangup. Results were excellent. About half the total number of hangups were brought in with high-pressure water without blasting and the cost of this part of the slushing operation was reduced about 50 per cent. Operations were speeded up, dust counts and safety hazards were reduced, and a more desirable working place was secured. The additional water added to the ore was under one per cent and caused no inconvenience in slushing, haulage, or crushing operations. Usually the ore would absorb all of the water, so that none of it would enter the loading drifts. The entire mine, developed by slusher drifts, is being equipped with high-pressure water. Heating Mine by Compressor Cooling Water Several years ago, the problem of heating certain sections of the mine during freezing weather became important. It was calculated that there was sufficient heat in the compressor cooling water to heat the incoming ventilating air current to above freezing, if such heat could be transferred from the water to the air. All schemes of radiation from pipe were rejected as too cumbersome, costly and impractical. It was thought that by spraying the heated water from the compressor cooling system into the incoming air, a satisfactory heat exchange could be accomplished. The only objection was that the sprayed water would freeze and might fill the air-intake drift. However, when water at about 75° to 80°F. was sprayed at the rate of 200 gal. per minute through a bank of sprays into the incoming and freezing air current, this air was thereby heated to above freezing; and although some ice was built up in the air drift, the amount was not objectionable. Occasionally the built-up ice was picked down into the outgoing water stream, which removed it. The entire south and westerly parts of the mine were prevented from freezing. Concreting for Hangups Considerable trouble was experienced in securing hangups of fine ore in slusher fingers that needed repairing. Regular methods of timbering were unsatisfactory. Now, a slab of concrete is poured over the top of the muck by Pumperete machine, almost filling a finger, which gives a satisfactory slab to work under for making the needed repairs. Derailers Some trouble has been caused by motor-men not observing safety lights and

Jan 1, 1946

By D. B. Jugle, J. B. Darby, O. J. Kleppa

A systematic study has been made of the kinetics of solution under steady state, dynamic conditions of titanium, vanadium, chromium, iron, cobalt, and nickel in liquid aluminum. It was found that the temperature dependence of the solution rate obeyed an Arrhenius-type rate equation, and that at a given temperature the rate of solution of the various solutes correlates quantitatively with the equilibrium solubility of the solute in liquid aluminum. These results are consistent with a mechanism where the rate-controlling step is the diffusion of solute atoms through a liquid boundary layer. THE present study was initially started in order to explore the feasibility of liquid-metal solution calorimetry for transition metals and alloys. Previous work1 in this field employing liquid tin as a solvent at temperatures in the 500' to 600' range had indicated that the rates of solution of most transition metals in tin are very low. Under such conditions effective solution calorimetry is difficult. The objective of the present investigation was two-fold: a) To obtain, as far as possible, quantitative data on the rates of solution of a series of transition elements in liquid aluminum. b) To explore whether liquid aluminum might be a suitable solvent for liquid-metal calorimetry. In the course of this work a comprehensive set of data was obtained on the steady state rates of solution of transition metals in a common liquid-metal solvent. The results are consistent with the boundary layer model, which assumes that the rate-controlling step consists of diffusion of solute atoms through a viscous liquid layer. EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE A vacuum-tight stainless steel vessel was surrounded by a resistance furnace, as shown in Fig. 1. In all experiments the temperature of the liquid solvent was controlled to 2.5' by means of a Micromax controller. A high-vacuum manifold connected to the vessel maintained a vacuum of 1 x 105 mm of Hg or better. The vacuum vessel was equipped with a charging section isolated from the working chamber by a vacuum-tight gate valve. This arrangement allowed the specimen holder to be removed or inserted into the apparatus without removal of the liquid metal bath. The specimen holder was suspended from a closed end stainless steel tube, which also served as the thermocouple protection tube. The portion of the tube that was below the solvent level was surrounded by an alumina protection tube to isolate it from the liquid metal bath. The stainless steel tube was connected through a rotary vacuum seal and a gear train to a fractional horsepower motor. For most experiments the tube was rotated at a constant

Jan 1, 1963

Jan 1, 1925

By M. L. White, J. L. Shafer, C. L. Caenepeel

Often an in situ leach is the only practical economic method for copper recovery from small low grade oxide deposits. The decision to develop a copper property by an in situ blast and leach is strongly dependent on ore grade, tonnage, hydrology, and the copper extraction and acid consumption rates. The inherent leachability of the ore will in part determine the desired amount of fracturing of the ore deposit by the blast in order to obtain a copper extraction rate that is economical. For the last several years Occidental Research Corp. (ORC), has undertaken a modest effort to address the question of how to best identify and determine the information necessary to predict and control the operation of an in situ leach for the economic recovery of copper.

Jan 2, 1979

Jan 1, 1955

By W. O. Hotchkiss

DURING the summer of 1927, the Department of Terrestrial Magnetism of the Carnegie Institution of Washington joined with the Michigan College of Mining and Technology in conducting a series of earth-resistivity measurements in the Michigan copper country. The geological structure in this section is quite varied and fairly well known. The purpose of the investigation was to discover the correlation between the variations in electrical resistivity of large masses of soil and rock in place and the geological structure below the surface. The work done may be roughly divided into two parts: (1) Measurement and study of the variations in resistivity with depth, or with volume, to establish such general relations as exist between the two: and (2) the determination of the specific resistivity of various formations in order to make available more fundamental data which may aid in the interpretation of the results of the former type of measurement. A report by Mr. Rooney, which gives in detail the measurements made and the results obtained, forms the basis for this article. MEASUREMENT AND STUDY OF VARIATIONS IN RESISTIVITY The possibility of applying data from measurements of the physical properties of earth material to the 'study of the geological structure has long been recognized, and a number of methods for determining the position and character of concealed rock strata by means of seismic, gravitation, magnetic and electrical measurements made on the surface are being used with varying degrees of success. One physical property which varies widely for different materials, and hence affords an opportunity for distinguishing between them, is their electrical resistance. Locations were selected where the geological structures were well known and where the depths to the water level and bed rock had been determined by drilling. The problem was to determine the value of measurements of resistivity and its variations as indications of the geological structure below the surface.

Jan 1, 1928

By J. W. Cuthbertson, R. A. Cresswell

THE constitution of Cu-rich alloys with 1.5 to 13.5 pct Sn and 0.25 to 3.0 pct Be and the precipitation-hardening characteristics of alloys with 1.5 to 13.5 pct Sn and 0.25 to 1.0 pct Be have been examined. The hardness and tensile strength of the alloys examined increase markedly after solution treatment at 700°C followed by heat treatment at temperatures between 200" and 450°C. By a combination of cold work and heat treatment, hardness values similar to those exhibited by commercial Be-Cu alloys containing 2.25 pct Be can be obtained with ternary alloys containing 9 pct Sn and 0.75 pct Be and containing 10 pct Sn and 0.5 pct Be. Marked hardening effects occur with alloys containing even less beryllium. By heat treatment alone, a hardness value of 310 diamond pyramid hardness can be obtained from an alloy containing 10 pct Sn and 0.75 pct Be. Preliminary tensile tests have shown that an ultimate tensile strength of 110,000 psi with an elongation of 23 pct is obtainable by precipitation hardening an alloy with 8 pct Sn and 0.75 pct Be. The precipitation-hardening process has been followed microscopically for certain alloys and the inference is that, while the initial hardening effect is probably explained by the precipitation of the ß phase of the Cu-Be system, further hardening, proceeding at a much slower rate, also occurs, apparently as a result of precipitation of phases of the Cu-Sn system, particularly precipitation of the 6 phase at temperatures below 350". The presence of the e phase of the Cu-Sn system in certain alloys at temperatures below 350°C has been confirmed. Tin-bronzes are widely used in engineering applications where a combination of high strength and good resistance to corrosion is wanted. The maximum strength is induced in these alloys by cold working, and it would be an advantage for many purposes if high strength could be achieved alternatively by an age-hardening process. While Cu-Sn alloys have a good fatigue resistance they can be surpassed in this respect by Cu-Be, but the use of the latter alloy is limited by its high cost. If, by adding beryllium to tin-bronze, the properties of the respective binary alloys could to some extent be combined, a most attractive alloy should result. As pointed out by Raynor,¹ beryllium is on the borderline of the zone of favorable size factors for copper, and the solid solubility of beryllium in copper is consequently much more restricted than if the size factor were strongly favorable. The size factor is sufficiently favorable, however, to permit an increase in solid solubility with rise in temperature, and there is thus a composition range in which CU- Be alloys are susceptible to hardening by precipitation heat treatment. Although the a phase of the Cu-Sn system is similarly susceptible to precipitation treatment, the time necessary to establish equilibrium in commercial alloys of this type is usually so great that age hardening becomes impracticable. The addition of beryllium to Cu-Sn alloys would appear to offer a means of conferring on the latter useful age-hardening properties. Masing and Dahl² and others have, in fact, shown that the addition of beryllium to Cu-Sn a solid solutions renders these alloys susceptible to precipitation hardening and after such hardening confers on them an encouraging improvement in physical properties. If this improvement could be achieved by the addition of substantially smaller amounts of beryllium than are customarily found in binary Cu-Be alloys, the ternary alloys should possess economic advantages which might make them more attractive than the binary alloy for some applications. Binary Systems Copper-Tin: The constitution of these alloys is now reasonably well known and is summarized in the equilibrium diagram published by Raynor.³ The following observations, due to Raynor,¹ on the structure of those phases of the Cu-Sn system that are likely to be found in the ternary alloy system will facilitate the subsequent discussion on the examination of that system. The ß phase is an electron compound at the electron-atom ratio 3:2 and has a body-centered cubic crystal structure. This phase is stable only down to 586°C, at which temperature it decomposes eutectoidally into the a and y phases. The y phase has a structure that is also based on the cubic system. This phase is stable down to 520°C, at which temperature it decomposes eutectoidally into the a and d phases. The d phase is an electron compound (Cu³¹Sn8) which has a crystal structure analogous to that of 7 brass. This phase is stable from 590" to 350°C; on prolonged annealing at the latter temperature it breaks down into a mixture of the a and E phases. The e phase is an electron compound (Cu³Sn) having the electron-atom ratio 7:4. Its structure may be regarded as a superlattice based on the close-packed hexagonal system. This phase is stable from 676°C to room temperature. The primary solid solubility of tin in copper increases to a maximum of 15.8 pct as the temperature falls from that of the peritectic reaction to 586°C. The solid solubility remains constant from 586" to 520°C. At lower temperatures the solubility decreases progressively. Below 350°C the fall in solubility is pronounced and is associated with the precipitation of the e phase. This precipitation is very sluggish and does not normally occur under service conditions. Copper-Beryllium: The Cu-Be system has been investigated by Borchers' and others. Raynor5 summarized the present state of information on it.

Jan 1, 1952

By T&apos Kê, ing-sui

INTRODUCTION ACCORDING to the classical theory of elasticity, the elastic portion of the stress-strain curve is represented by a straight line. Such a representation implies that there is a linear relationship between strain and stress and also that strain is a single-valued function of stress and vice versa. Actually, such a one-to-one correspondence between strain and stress does not exist in real metals. A well-known example is the elastic after-effect on unloading. Another familiar example is damping or internal friction, that is, the dissipation of energy attending vibration. In an extensive review of such phenomena, Zener1,2 has proposed the term "anelasticity" to denote that property of a solid in virtue of which strain is not a unique function of stress in the non-plastic region. The phenomena arising from anelasticity are called anelastic effects. The measurements on inelastic effects are, important in many fields of metals technology. Thus, in precise instruments such as watch springs, difficulties often arise from the slight dimensional changes after fabrication. The internal friction or damping capacity of metals is often an important factor in deciding whether they are appropriate for instruments in which there are accompanying vibrations.' However, for metal scientists, the study of anelastic effects furnishes a powerful tool for understanding many properties of metals in terms of their microstructures or atomic interactions. In order to utilize the anelastic measurements to their fullest extent for acquiring such information, the experimental studies of anelasticity must be interpreted by appropriate mathematical analysis. For a great many problems, however, the necessary information often can be obtained by general qualitative arguments. From the definition of anelasticity, any physical changes occurring in a specimen as a result of the applied stress will cause anelastic effects if such physical changes are accompanied by a delayed change of elastic strain. Under these circumstances, we have the condition that strain lags behind the stress. We may mention the stress-induced transportation phenomena as examples. These include the stress-induced thermal diffusion," the stress-induced diffusion of particles,8-12. and the stress-induced viscous slip along the microelements in metals.12-15 The differential equations describing the microscopic mechanism in these phenomena lead to relations in which stress is linear with respect to strain (and/or their derivatives). Thus if we can - demonstrate that the superposition principle is valid under the circumstances in which the anelastic effects are observed, we would expect in. the macroscopic relation a linear relationship between stress and strain and their derivatives. This report is to describe a number of anelastic effects observed in alpha-iron, and an attempt is made to derive valuable information from a critical study of these

Jan 1, 1948

By C. T. Bischoff

This paper describes the results of testing with colorimetric methods, using "dithizone", soil samples taken over various known copper and zinc deposits covered by glacial till. Variation in results is shown for different depths and types of overburden as well as grade and type of deposit. Limiting factors for the practical application of this work are discussed. The method has proved successful for copper and zinc deposits under clay and fine sand with depths up to at least 30 ft but fails in coarse sand and gravel unless depths are very shallow. Swamps require penetration to the underlying subsoil for sample material. DURING the past few years geochemical testing for traces of heavy metals in water, soil, rock, and vegetation has aroused increasing interest. Various techniques for field and laboratory determinations have been described in the literature, as have some of the results of application. However, little information has been published regarding application to glacial terrain. Over 90 pct of the Canadian Shield is overburdened, resulting in high costs for mineral exploration once the outcropping ore deposits have been found. This has been largely responsible for the widespread application of mining geophysics in Canada, permitting concentration of effort on area or zones considered most favorable. However, geophysical interpretation has its limitations, since at least 90 pct of the structures indicated thereby contain no valuable minerals. A more direct approach is therefore highly desirable. If underlying base metal mineralization can be detected by sampling soil or vegetation at moderate cost this should prove of great help in locating new discoveries or extending known ones. A large proportion of Canadian ore deposits contain appreciable copper or zinc, even where these are not the principal economic metals. Consequently the field of application is a broad one. This paper deals with investigations along these lines with particular emphasis on soil sampling. The problems involved from the start were: 1—Which types of glacial soil, if any, would best lend themselves to testing, and conversely which types might be considered relatively hopeless? 2—Through what depths of overburden could significant mineralization be detected? 3—What sampling techniques would prove economically applicable? This included minimum depth of sample and maximum spacing that could be allowed.

Jan 1, 1955

By Renato G. Bautista, Gary A. Beetner, Anthony L. Frey

The flow of material in a pump mixer-settler extractor was studied photographically and visually by injecting dye into the equipment and following its advance through the various sections of the equipment. Volumetric measure of the flow was obtained from analysis of the photographs. The organic portion of the settling chamber, the fluid surrounding the pump mixer, and the pump mixer itself were found to be operating in plug flow. The aqueous portion of the settling chamber was found to be partially mixed. Significant dynamic effect was noted due to density changes in the feed streams. The quantitative and qualitative observations made of the flow within a single stage should be of value in predicting the flow patterns in all similar equipment, including opaque and liquid metal solvent extraction systems.

Jan 1, 1973

By F. C. Stanford

The work of an engineer is to direct natural forces so that the: bring about the results that he wishes to secure. Heretofore he ha concerned himself chiefly with physical forces and inanimate objects until he has secured a truly marvelous degree of control over them The great problem of the present age is to secure a like degree of know1 edge and control of the human factor. Progress has already been made along this line, but it is only a beginning. Wilhelm Ostwald says tha scientific knowledge enables a man to be a true prophet; but it must be remembered that a good many people do not seem to be able to main tain a high average in prophecy. In short, 'the average of knowledge is not equal to the average needs of the present time, but continually fails to keep pace with it. It has been aptly said that the really essentia need of the period is for more brains; if we only had sufficient knowledg and sagacity we could not only solve all difficulties, but prevent then from arising. This generalization holds good for an industrial organization. Th most vital need of the management is for more brains. The logica course for an engineer in charge of an industrial organization is, therefore to direct whatever forces may be at his command toward the development training, and guiding of all the brains in his organization. This is easie said than done, for it involves the carrying on toward two objective: the maximum of productive work, and the development of the individual who perform it. This is essentially like the rebuilding and enlarging of plant, keeping it in full operation the while. On the other hand, if th aim is merely for maximum production from an organization, withou offering opportunity for development, the final outcome will necessari be like that of a plant that is driven at full capacity without stoppin for repairs or improvements; it eventually becomes so run down th either a complete rebuilding is necessary or else it has to be abandone

Jan 1, 1918

By Fred R. Harris

INTRODUCTION MacMillan Tungsten is located in northwestern Canada on the border of Yukon and Northwest Territories at a latitude of 63º17' and altitude of 1800 m above sea level. The deposit lies within the Selwyn Mountains 10 km from the Canol Road. It is 660 km by road from Whitehorse, Yukon, and 1325 km by air from Vancouver, British Columbia. MacMil lan Tungsten is a contact metasomatic deposit in gently dipping Lower Paleozoic limestone and limestone breccia adjacent to a Cretaceous quartz monzonite stock. Four tabular tungsten skarn horizons contain total geological reserves of 30 million tons grading 0.9% WO3. DISCOVERY AND HISTORY J.F. Allan, a former AMAX geologist, located mineral claims in September, 1962, to cover the source of scheelite-bearing skarn float found in the headwaters of Cirque Lake Valley. Exploration work on the property conducted mainly between 1968 and 1973, includes geological mapping, 10,500 m of diamond drilling in 73 holes, and 735 m of underground exploration. Mil 1 tests were carried out on a 300 ton bulk sample obtained underground. Preliminary feasibility studies, collection of weather data and a variety of environment studies have been carried out since 1973. Although no production date has been set MacMillan Tungsten will undoubtedly be a major tungsten producer.

Jan 1, 1976

By F. W. Jessen, R. W. Durie

The dissolution of salt in the development of salt cavities is controlled by free-convection boundary layer flow along the salt surfaces. It is the purpose of this paper to expand upon results published previously, and primarily to illustrate the influence of surface features on the boundary layer and hence the dissolution process in the development of underground salt cavities. General dissolution equations are presented that apply to a surface inclined to the vertical. A salt surface inclined so as to be overlain by water is dissolved by boundary layer flow, while an inverted surface is dissolved by a combination of boundary layer and cellular flow. Detailed investigation of the boundary layer was limited to laminar free-convection flow. Truly laminar free-convection boundary layer flow may be encountered only in laboratory solution cavities, but the boundary layer will control dissolution even where cavity dimensions are such that free-convection turbulence will occur. The factors found to significantly affect the laminar boundary layer will affect dissolution with a turbulent boundary layer. INTRODUCTION Underground salt cavities have been used extensively for the storage of LPG products, and the use of these cavities is expanding each year. The increasing requirements for such cavities suggest the need for a better understanding of the mechanisms involved, for the purpose of the control of cavity geometry and the most effective use of the injected water. A previous paper outlined a quantitative approach to the determination of salt dissolution rates in the laminar free-convection dissolution of salt. It is the purpose of this paper to expand upon the results previously published and to point out significant factors in the application of these results to the dissolution of field cavities. The dissolution of salt in laboratory scale cavities is controlled by the free-convection boundary layer, which is the region of flow along the salt surface caused by the difference in buoyancy forces resulting from the salt dissolution. The transfer of salt into solution at the salt face causes an increase in salinity, and hence a greater density, in the water at the salt surface. The region of higher density tends to fall through the lighter, less saline water and a flowing boundary layer is the result. The water remains stationary at the contact with the salt surface,l so the resulting velocity profile is such that the influence of gravity is opposed by a viscous shear force at the salt surface. For salt to be transferred into solution from a solid surface to a boundary layer of fluid, it must diffuse through a stationary film of water at the salt contact. According to Fick's first law, the rate of mass transfer by diffusion is the product of the diffusion coefficient and the concentration gradient, with diffusion transfer in the direction of decreasing salinity. Once the salt has passed into the boundary layer, it will be transferred by a combination of molecular diffusion and convection. The convection transfer will in turn affect the rate of dissolution by influencing the gradient of the salt concentration at the surface. In the previous investigation by the authors to determine the basic mechanism of the salt dissolution process, an equation was developed that agreed very well with the experimental rates of free-convection salt dissolution from a smooth vertical surface. The technique was taken from the work of Eckert2 in the analogous heat transfer system and will be referred to as the integral method. The rate of salt transfer from a vertical section of height H was found to be:

Jan 1, 1965

Jan 1, 1881

By C. T. Eddy

The refining of native copper in the reverberatory furnace, as practiced in the Lake Superior district of Michigan, is very similar to the reverberatory melting and refining of cathodes, but the presence of arsenic in some of the copper concentrates renders the operation somewhat more difficult. Though the copper occurs as the native metal, which is often excep tionally pure—purer, in fact, than after it has undergone refining—its intimate association with the gangue minerals necessitates the cumbersome reverberatory treatment. The gangue consists chiefly of complex silicates of calcium, magnesium, iron, aluminum and sodium, but in certain ore deposits other minerals are often found, among them the native copper arsenides—mohawkite, whitneyite, algodonite and the like. These latter minerals, when present, because of their relatively high specific gravity (7.5 to 8.5), find their way into the concentrates through the gravity concentration processes employed in the recovery of the copper. When such concentrates are melted, the silicates are removed as slag, but, because of the great affinity of molten copper for arsenic, the arsenides dissolve more or less completely in the copper bath. Because of the stability of the resulting melt, the arsenic is tenaciously held in solution. The influence of arsenic on the properties of copper, especially on its electrical conductivity, is generally recognized. For certain uses it is beneficial, and in many instances its presence in limited amounts is not objectionable, but if the metal is to be used for electrical purposes, the almost complete removal of the arsenic is of prime importance. Considerable research has been done on the subject of the influence of arsenic on the electrical conductivity of copperll but the conclusions presented in the literature dealing with the problem show some disagreement. The methods now in use for the removal of arsenic have not

Jan 1, 1931

By A. R. Anderson

UNTIL recently all discussions directed at justify-ing the use of mechanical-loading equipment and conveyors have referred chiefly to tons per man and cost per ton. But there is another consideration that ? will speed the adoption of mechanical loading in mines even though tons per man on present day stand-ards were not increased nor the cost per ton decreased. With restricted immigration, improved facilities for education in our mining communities, and increased opportunities for recreation, the type of man who can or will throw 20 tons of coal per day over the side of a mine car is disappearing. Whether we will it or not provision must be made to replace muscular effort by mechanical means. Fortunately, indications are that the process will be accompanied by increased output per man and lower production cost, and though the outlook may now be a bit clouded in spots, all should profit by the change. The operator should enjoy a more stable business with more assured profit, the miners should get a better livelihood with less arduous effort and under safer and pleasanter working conditions, and the consumer should gain the assurance of a supply of coal always available at reasonable prices. That sounds like the millennium in the coal business perhaps. Of course, it is not, but there is just enough of that millennium stuff in it to encourage those of us who are working with today's problems of applying loading and conveying equipment to underground opera-tions. If we discern clearly that there can be no back-sliding, and that all will share in whatever advantages accrue, we will carry on more vigorously, and may right-fully expect to have the necessary cooperation of all the elements within the industry. As nature does not seem to have followed a definite plan in the formation of coal deposits it is not likely that any one standard method or type of equipment can be evolved for mining the coal. The method of mining that maybe most advantageously employed with load-ing machines and conveyors depends on the character of the strata overlying the coal as much as anything else.

Jan 4, 1927