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By L. T. Hiaains

EVEN before the surrender of Germany, a gradual reduction in output of many of the small mining iseswises in the different countries of South America had occurred. Part of this was due to restricted purchases of strategic mineral supplies, and part to economic conditions. Inflationary tendencies have keen increasing since the war started; out in the past three years they have become serious. The difficulty in obtaining supplies, and labor troubles, has also combined to reduce production in many circumstances. British Guiana The Cuyuni Goldfields, Ltd., operating he Aleck Hill mine, is increasing their yanked mill to 500 tons. This appears be one of the few important new developments in South America during recent years. Brazil The big Volta Redonda steel plant was sported as being ready to start operations. Argentina Political troubles have restricted activities during the past year, and fuel short. ges have been so acute that surplus corn as burned in some instances. Practically all the tungsten producers ther closed down entirely or reduced

Jan 1, 1946

By S. Ito, Y. Watanabe

In the long range production planning at the Matsumine mine, a management target is to maintain a desired production rate and to keep fluctuations in copper and zinc grades within given allowable limits. A simulation model was developed to find, on a trial and error basis, how feasible and practical the target may be under certain constraints on the underground mining sequence. A number of simulation runs have been made to obtain the most suitable production rate for the long term. In this paper, an outline of the simulation model is described.

Jan 1, 1976

By Edwin Dudley Martin

DURING the past twelve years the iron and steel industry has made a major advance through the development of the continuous wide strip rolling mill. So far-reaching have been the results that not only has a better product been sold at a lower price but this improvement in quality has permitted manufacturers of products using steel to make important savings in the cost of fabrication. The net result has been a better product at lower cost to the consumer without reduction in either employment or of wages paid within the industry. That is why the iron and steel industry is proud of its attainment. Being a basic industry of strategic importance, such an advance in technology has had its effects on our internal economy, our standard of living, and our industrial power as a nation in both peace and wartime.

Jan 1, 1939

By J. C. Bowling

The services provided by consulting engineers to the mineral process industry are briefly described. The organization of a multi-discipline consulting firm is outlined. Finally, the role of a consulting engineering firm is amplified by a description of its activities in the design and construction of a mineral process plant from inception to start-up.

Jan 1, 1978

By C. D. Locker

COMMON salt is mentioned in the most ancient writings as an impor-tant article of diet. It is fairly certain that it was used by men and animals long before the dawn of civilization. Its presence in natural springs has often been the determining factor in colonization; wars have been fought for possession of salt deposits; trade routes have been estab-lished expressly for the purpose of traffic in salt. Naturally this led men into adventures and discoveries that altered history and advanced civilization. In the early days the uses for salt were few and the methods of manu-facture were crude and the purity low when compared to salt of the pres-ent day. Then the salt came largely from springs, shallow wells or the ocean, while today deep wells must be drilled to the natural brines or beds of rock -salt and spacious shafts sunk so that the ancient deposits may be made to yield their supply of stored mineral.

Jan 1, 1936

By Wilbur Nelson

IN 1839,1 Gerard, Troost, the first, State Geologist of Tennessee, reported the occurrence of zinc ores in East Tennessee, in connection with the iron ores at Embreeville; in 1844,2 he refers to the zinc deposits of East Tennessee, especially the apparently rich deposits occurring, in Jefferson and Claiborne Counties, while his ninth annual report is a ,description of the zinc deposits of Jefferson County and a description of the most improved processes by which zinc is extracted from its ores. Although. Tennessee has long known of the occurrence of its zinc deposits and has recognized their value, only during the last few years have these ores been successfully worked. As far as can be learned, prior to the systematic development of the Mascot district in 1911, no large-scale or successful operation of any of the zinc deposits was carried on. But in that year, after several companies had made considerable progress in developing the Mascot area and had proved. a relatively extensive body of low-grade sulfide ore, the American Zinc Co. entered the field. It introduced modern methods of prospecting and mining the ore and from the first was successful. Too great credit cannot be given this company for its pioneer work in a previously unimportant field. Throughout the history of its operations, the American Zinc Co. has confined its efforts to underground mining of the sulfide ore, sphalerite. This company has found that successful results in zinc mining in East Tennessee can be achieved only by expending large sums in prospecting and blocking out bodies of pay ore in sufficient magnitude for large-scale operations. At Mascot are located the mines of the American Zinc Co. of Tennessee, the mines being situated along the Southern Railway in the Holston River Valley, Knox County, about 13 miles northeast of Knoxville. Considerable mining and prospecting had been done by several companies prior to the acquisition of this property by the, American Zinc Co. Previous to 1900 only open pits, which were worked for oxidized ores, were operated. and the production was small. In 1900 the

Jan 10, 1924

By Michael Tenenbaum

RECENT researches on the reduction of iron ores have stimulated interest in the effect of increased pressures within the iron blast furnace. From a physicochemical viewpoint, it seems logical to suppose that the increased pressure would increase the rate of reduction of the iron ore within the furnace. This increased reaction velocity would in turn be reflected in an increase in the output of the blast furnace. Any sub-stantial effect of elevated blast-furnace pressures should accordingly be of both technical and economic interest to the operator. It is doubtful whether it is possible to increase the pressure in the stack of the blast furnace beyond two or three atmospheres without incurring severe mechanical difficulties. The benefits to be procured by elevations in pressure must therefore be restricted to pressures below two, or at the most, three atmospheres. Within this range it would seem both economically and mechanically feasible to modify the present design of the upper portion of the blast furnace to accommodate these more stringent operating conditions. This investigation was undertaken to study the effect of moderate pressures on the rate of reduction of iron ore with hydrogen. The use of carbon monoxide is contemplated for later work. Although any results that are obtained in the laboratory cannot be interpreted directly in terms of large-scale commercial operations, it is possible, through such an investigation, to ascertain the order of magnitude of the effects of higher pressure. A more quantitative conception of the effects that would result from the use of increased pressures in the modern blast furnace is needed.

Jan 1, 1939

By James M. Hodge

The Cumberland Gap extension of the Louisville and Nashville railroad, recently completed from Cumberland Gap to Norton, 71 miles, connects at the latter point with the Norfolk and Western, making a direct through line from Louisville to Norfolk. The whole of this connecting link skirts the southern boundary of the southwest Virginia coal region, but for the first 57 miles of its course it is separated from the coal by a mountain range (Cumberland mountain and its extension, Stone mountain), which bars entrance to the field from that direction, excepting at Pennington Gap, where access may he had to a small area only, which has not yet developed any very satisfactory coal. The railroad passes through the range at Big Stone Gap, and for the last 14 miles of its course to Norton is in direct contact with that part of the coal region known as the Big Stone Gap coal-field. By this road a western and southwestern outlet from the field is secured; the Clinch valley extension of the Norfolk and Western railroad gives exit eastward from Norton, and the South Atlantic and Ohio railroad, built through Big Stone Gap simultaneously with the L. & N. R. R., delivers the coal to points south and southeast. Besides these lines already built, an early connection with the East Tennessee, Virginia and Georgia railroad, via its Rogersville branch, is probable, and connections with the railroads of eastern Kentucky are projected. The Charleston, Cincinnati and Chicago railroad has already done some grading on one of the latter, but the rugged country intervening will prevent its construction till the demand for it becomes urgent. The coal-field embraces in Virginia about 120 square miles, to which should be added some 30 square miles in Kentucky, also tributary to Big Stone Gap, the whole of it underlaid by coal, probably of workable thickness, and much of it by two or more such beds. The determination of the boundaries of the field, however (except on the south, where Stone mountain forms a natural limit beyond which only a small, isolated tract of coal is found), is involved in much

Jan 1, 1893

By E. P. Pfleider, O. Rellensmann

For many years mine surveyors and exploration engineers have sought an accurate means of transferring meridian underground by using the gyro-compass. These efforts have generally failed, either because they were inaccurate or because the size and cost of the unit were prohibitive. During the past ten years, however, great strides have been made. Autonetics in California has developed a comparatively light-weight (100-lb) gyro-theodolite, and the Institute for Mine Surveying at Clausthal Mining Academy in Germany has developed an instrument that is accurate to within 20" to 30" of arc. Concurrently, Minneapolis-Honeywell has produced an astounding gyro, the size of a salt shaker, that weighs less than 0.5 lb and compares favorably in performance with the 50-lb gyros of conventional design. This unit, designed for missile guidance, should be adaptable for surveying small boreholes. Given the proper interest and approach from the engineering fraternity, excellent gyrocompasses could probably be available for accurate underground survey work at nominal cost within the next three years. Principles of the Gyro-Compass: The gyrocompass, used for 50 years as a navigational instrument in ships and aircraft, senses the turning axis of the earth and points out true polar north. It does this by employing the earth's rotation, the force of gravity, and the precession characteristics of a gyro. For further details the reader is referred to several excellent publications'"3 covering the principles and application of the gyroscope. The heart of the gyro-compass is the gyroscope, or rapidly spinning wheel, which rigidly maintains its angular orientation in inertial space. Free gyros employ universal joints to allow the wheel axle to maintain its rigid spatial orientation independent of base motion disturbances. Free gyros are independent of the earth's turning and are not north-seeking. Only as they might be initially oriented parallel to the earth's turning axis could any north indication be obtained. In practice, the free gyro tends to drift off its set position and lose its accuracy. The Sperry-Sun Well Surveying Co. instrument (5M in O. D.) is of this free gyro type. It is counterbalanced, however, against the rotational effects of the earth, so that orientation of the spinning axis will be maintained throughout the survey.

Jan 1, 1960

By Bension Varon

Systematic projections of mineral supply, demand and prices are an integral part of the mineral sector planning process. As such, their primary value is not as prophecies but as devices for imposing discipline on thinking about the future and as means of ensuring consistency in policy decisions. Both the present and the broad outline of the future as presently discernable affect projections on specific minerals. The present world mineral situation reflects most prominantly the recent commodity cycle while our view of the future is largely shaped by perceptions and attitudes of policy-makers and the public over larger issues. Mineral commodities are of considerable importance to various countries. This in itself dictates a strong interest in systematic projection activities, the need for which is heightened by the volatility of certain basic variables affecting mineral demand in the world. It is useful for presentation purposes to discuss the various techniques suited for projecting mineral trends under three principal headings, viz., econometric modeling, systems analysis and technological forecasting. In addition, two specialized variants, input-output analysis and resource base modeling, are discussed. In each case, a brief description of the approach and some indication of its application to projections of mineral commodities are provided.

Jan 1, 1977

By L. L. Davis

Current research by the US Bureau of Mines to develop technology for improving efficiency and productivity in metal/nonmetal mines is described. The research program addresses a wide variety of problems associated with each of the major categories of mining: underground mining, surface mining, m situ mining, and premining investigations. An overview of the Bureau's research activities is given with emphasis on underground mining. In particular, two innovative and promising concepts currently under development are described: a unique shaft sinking system that uses an impact hammer for rock fragmentation, and a low-profile portable crusher for underground hard-rock applications.

Jan 1, 1982

By A. P. Herring, M. Hoover, D. W. Fuerstenau

The dissolution of nickel, copper, and cobalt from five different samples of well-characterized deep sea manganese nodules was measured as a function of temperature, pH, leaching time, and particle size. Nickel, copper, and cobalt extraction each respond to these variables in a different manner. The results of this investigation indicate that copper and nickel can be selectively dissolved from iron and manganese at moderately low pH, provided the reaction is given sufficient time. A high dissolution of cobalt with dilute sulfuric acid can only be achieved from nodules that have a low iron content (<5%). The most probable rate-controlling step for copper and cobalt dissolution is diffusion through the pores of the nodules, and for nickel dissolution chemical reaction appears to be rate-controlling.

Jan 1, 1974

By J. W. Harden

AT our meeting in October last we saw in operation at Pittsburgh, the comparatively modern process of the utilization of small coal by washing, by an arrangement similar to that of Berard or Morrison. The small coal washed was that of an old pile, the refuse of the mining of the Pittsburgh bed, and which had long lain uncared for. Value was thereby restored to it when it was converted into a very good coke. This circumstance led to comments on the mountains of broken coal lying wasted, and in its present condition worse than useless, in the neighborhood of the mines of the Wyoming Valley, though they are not confined to that district. Some things were said condemning the course which produced it, some were left unsaid. Of a system that destroys one-half the coal-bed in producing the other half there can, however, be but one opinion. Schemes have been suggested for the utilization of present accumulations which, if successfully applied, would in so Far be beneficial. More than ordinary attention is now being given to the same subject in England ; a Mr. Barker has invented a means by which he amalgamates the "dust," too fine to burn in ordinary grates, with a composition he calls "diamond cement," producing blocks of coal said to resist water, both hot and cold, and which a smart blow will only break to pieces, not cause to crumble. But any scheme less than the one which will prevent the wasting of coal, which still goes on, though that involves the aban- donment of the breaker, will only be one of expediency; and the latter can only be done by the aid of the consumer. But the wasting of coal is not alone with the breaker; much is made in the mine. The cause is not far to seek ; the remedy is with capitalist and owner. Owners and consumers then are alike interested, and they have it in their power, in the one case, to mitigate, in the other, almost entirely to remove the cause of the evil. Of consumers there is one in every

By M. C. Flemings, R. Mehrabian, G. E. Nereo

Analytic expressions were developed and applied in two preuious papers to predict effects of solidification variables on macrosegvegation. In this paper, experiments are reported to test the analyses quantitatively and qualitatively. Good quantitative agreement is obtained between predicted and measured compositions for the following types of segregation (all experiments were on laboratory-size ingots of Al-4.5 pct Cu alloy): (a) inuerse segregation, (b) composition distribution in ingots solidified with unidirectional heat and fluid flow, (c) simulated centerline segregation, and (d) segregation resulting fro, change in solidification cross section. In addition, qualitative agreement of prediction of theory with experiment is obtained for (a) segregation resulting from sudden change in heat extraction during solidification, (b) centerline segregation in a bidirectionally solidified ingot, and (c) under-riser positive segregation. IN two previous papers,&apos;&apos;2 it was shown that a variety of apparently different types of macrosegregation result from the same basic mechanism. This mechanism is the flow of solute -rich liquid to feed solidification and thermal contractions. Analytic expressions were derived and examples given of their application to predict macrosegregation. Calculations were for Al-4.5 pct Cu alloy. In this paper, we describe a series of experiments designed to test results of the foregoing calculations. All experiments were on laboratory-size ingots (weighing 10 lb or less), of A1-4.5 pct Cu alloy, nominal composition. APPARATUS AND PROCEDURE A typical mold and chilling arrangement used for unidirectional solidification is shown in Fig. 1. Before casting, this assembly was placed in an electrically heated air furnace, and heated to 680" to 700°C. When the plaster reached the desired temperature (usually 1 to 2 hr after the furnace temperature), the mold was filled through a funnel extending from the outside of the furnace into the cavity. The assembly, with liquid, was held for several minutes to allow convection to subside. The coolant, either air or water (depending on the desired solidification rate), was turned on and the ingot solidified. With the four sides and top insulated, heat removal for solidification was through the bottom surface, resulting in a fully columnar structure. Design of the casting cavity was varied, as discussed below, to produce desired macrosegregation effects. However, for castings solidified with unidirectional heat flow, the top was always open to the furnace atmosphere and temperature. The bottom sur- face rested on a chill through which the heat was extracted, and all other surfaces were insulated with plaster. In one case to be discussed, the mold design was changed to obtain bidirectional solidification. In this case, two vertical chills were used (on two faces of the mold) and the bottom was insulated. In a last case discussed, that dealing with under-riser segregation, experiments were conducted in bottom-chilled sand molds at ambient temperature. Except for this one case, all experiments were conducted in the electrically heated air furnace as described above. In many ingots, thermocouples were used to obtain continuous records of solidification. In all cases, these were chromel-alumel couples with output continuously monitored on a twelve-channel recorder. Where thermocouples were employed, these were embedded in the refractory mold walls during mold-making so their heads extended to the vertical centerline. Six to nine couples were employed, placed at intervals from the chill. METAL-MEL TING PROCEDURE Aim analysis was A1-4.5 pct Cu; alloy was prepared from high-purity aluminum (99.9 pct Al) and A1-Cu master alloy (50 pctOFHC Copper, 50 pct high-purity Al). The A1-4.5 pct Cu alloy was cast in 5- to 7-lb ingots for subsequent remelting for the macrosegregation experiments. Melting for ingot casting was as follows. After preheating the melting crucible for an hour or more, the charge was melted and superheated to a temperature of 690" to 720°C. After stirring, the melt was degassed with chlorine for 10 min. After stirring again for 1 min, a gas sample, under reduced pressure, was taken. When the sample was gas-free, the crucible

Jan 1, 1969

By Charles M. Behre

Under the caption "fault," geologists intend to include all mass movements of solid rocks over adjacent rock masses. When these are studied long after their origin, however, circumstances make it possible to recognize as "fault" only formations showing clear evidence of actual movement of one side with respect to the other. Necessarily the chief evidence consists of the offset of a vein, bed, or other key structure. Planes of movement parallel to the bedding, or nearly so, are recognized with difficulty or are overlooked and hence many important faults are wholly unrecorded. Indeed, among standard American references on structural geology, one alone emphasizes the importance of bedding-plane movements and that one only briefly1. For some time the writer, cognizant of this difficulty, has paid special attention to such movements, both as observed in the field and as recorded in the literature. It is believed that enough data are now at hand to justify a short discussion. Its purposes are fivefold. It is desired first to briefly classify and describe at least the more common kinds of bedding-plane faults, and second, to examine the causes and manner of their formation, at least in instances where the subject has not yet been well covered by other investigators. Third, certain by-products of bedding-plane movements are of such conspicuous importance to the economic geologist and mining engineer as to merit mention. Fourth, concrete illustrations should be placed before the reader in order to lend reality and to furnish a basis of comparison with his experience; such illustrations will necessarily be scattered through the text of this paper. They are only in part from the writer&apos;s own field observations. The fifth and prime objective of this paper is to direct attention to the great importance of movements on the bedding planes, in the hope that the recognition of such movements and their significance may simplify mining problems.

Jan 1, 1937

By Fred C. Bond

The process of comminution by grinding is properly classified as an art, rather than as a science. Like most other operations concerned in ore dressing, or in the treatment of nonmetallic minerals, the mathematical relationships of rock breaking are still obscure, and much disputed. If some basic formula exists, comparable for instance to E = RI in electricity, it has not yet been placed in common use. The absence of such a comprehensive mathematical background undoubtedly is the cause of many inefficient designs and installations, as well as of much poorly oriented experimental work. On the other hand, the mathematical immaturity of the process constitutes an opportunity for a real contribution on the part of those who enjoy mental pioneering. Some of the statements made in any such exploratory work may be little more than opinions, and it is to be expected that some will later be proved untrue; but such an evolutionary development is necessary if we are ever to arrive at the fundamental laws, the discovery of which can change the empirical art into a mathematically exact science. The most significant principle of comminution that we possess is probably Rittinger&apos;s law, which states that the work done in crushing or grinding is proportional to the area of the new surface produced. There is an alternative theory, known as Kick&apos;s law, which formerly was preferred to Rittinger&apos;s but which now is rather discredited. According to Kick, the work done in comminution is proportional to the volume, or weight, of the pieces broken, or to the cube of their diameters, while according to Rittinger it is proportional to the square of the diameters. Careful determinations of size distribution below the limit of sieve sizes1 indicate strongly that under ordinary grinding conditions the amount of new surface area produced is directly proportional to the net power input. Changes in the size ratio between the balls and the particles cause important differences in the proportion of the product that passes a given mesh size, but do not affect the total amount of new surface area; they merely change the distribution of the surface among mesh sizes. The principle of constant surface area is the logical result of Rittinger&apos;s law, and it may well have an important bearing on the comminution theories of the future. Formula for Ball Wear Grinding tests have been made in the Allis-Chalmers laboratory for more than 9 years, using a standard charge of mixed balls of different sizes; and a continuous record has been kept of the rates of wear of each size. These results have been combined and plotted in various ways in order to discover the relationship that exists

Jan 1, 1943

By Fred C. Bond

The process of comminution by grinding is properly classified as an art, rather than as a science. Like most other operations concerned in ore dressing, or in the treatment of nonmetallic minerals, the mathematical relationships of rock breaking are still obscure, and much disputed. If some basic formula exists, comparable for instance to E = RI in electricity, it has not yet been placed in common use. The absence of such a comprehensive mathematical background undoubtedly is the cause of many inefficient designs and installations, as well as of much poorly oriented experimental work. On the other hand, the mathematical immaturity of the process constitutes an opportunity for a real contribution on the part of those who enjoy mental pioneering. Some of the statements made in any such exploratory work may be little more than opinions, and it is to be expected that some will later be proved untrue; but such an evolutionary development is necessary if we are ever to arrive at the fundamental laws, the discovery of which can change the empirical art into a mathematically exact science. The most significant principle of comminution that we possess is probably Rittinger&apos;s law, which states that the work done in crushing or grinding is proportional to the area of the new surface produced. There is an alternative theory, known as Kick&apos;s law, which formerly was preferred to Rittinger&apos;s but which now is rather discredited. According to Kick, the work done in comminution is proportional to the volume, or weight, of the pieces broken, or to the cube of their diameters, while according to Rittinger it is proportional to the square of the diameters. Careful determinations of size distribution below the limit of sieve sizes1 indicate strongly that under ordinary grinding conditions the amount of new surface area produced is directly proportional to the net power input. Changes in the size ratio between the balls and the particles cause important differences in the proportion of the product that passes a given mesh size, but do not affect the total amount of new surface area; they merely change the distribution of the surface among mesh sizes. The principle of constant surface area is the logical result of Rittinger&apos;s law, and it may well have an important bearing on the comminution theories of the future. Formula for Ball Wear Grinding tests have been made in the Allis-Chalmers laboratory for more than 9 years, using a standard charge of mixed balls of different sizes; and a continuous record has been kept of the rates of wear of each size. These results have been combined and plotted in various ways in order to discover the relationship that exists

Jan 1, 1943

By Arthur Taggart

INTRODUCTION THE flotation process for the concentration of ores is a method by means of which one or more of the minerals in the ore (usually the valuable ones) are picked up by means of a liquid film and floated at the surface of .a mass of fluid pulp. Here they are separated from the other minerals, which remain immersed in the body of the pulp. In general, the minerals which are floated are sulphides of metallic luster, but some other minerals of metallic luster such as graphite and some sulphides with adamantine luster, such as sphalerite and cinnabar, are amenable to treatment by the process. The importance of flotation lie&apos;s in the fact that it is primarily a "slimes process" by means of which the particles of valuable mineral, too fine for efficient gravity concentration, are saved with a high percentage of recovery. Recoveries in the mills treating low-grade copper sulphide ores have been advanced 10 to 20 per cent. by the installation of the process and similar increased savings have been accomplished by the same means in mills treating sulphide ores of zinc and lead. When finely ground ore containing sulphides mixed with a siliceous or earthy gangue is brought gently onto the surface of a body of water, in a direction forming an acute angle with the surface of the water, a considerable portion of the sulphide constituent of the ore floats on the surface of the liquid, while the gangue sinks. This is the so-called film flotation, exemplified by the Wood and Macquisten processes. When gas bubbles are introduced into a fluid pulp composed of finely ground ore and water, to which has been added (1) a small amount of certain oils, or (2) a small amount of certain acids or acid salts, or (3) a small amount of certain alkalis or alkaline salts, or (4) a small amount of a mixture of oil with acid or alkali, the sulphide particles in the ore are brought to the surface on the gas bubbles. These collect in a froth

Jan 8, 1916

By Samuel Frantz

THE purpose of this paper is to relate briefly the development of magnetic separation and its extension from the separation of iron into its present use in the nonmetallic field, to suggest possible future exten-sions of its field of usefulness and its possible cooperation with other separating methods. The engineering design of separating machines, and statistics as to the number of machines in operation, types, their location and production are outside the scope of this paper. Specific data will be given, however, on certain selected applications. A large part of human endeavor consists in separating one thing from another; the good from the bad, the desired from the undesired. In fact, a philosopher might plausibly claim that separating things into categories and choosing between them is the object of thought itself. In dealing with matter, separation is nowhere more inherently necessary to attain our objects than in mining and metallurgy. Both our desire and our ability to make separations are results of the physical differences between things. Gross separations such as removing ore from worthless rock or coal from slate are usually made visually and depend upon form and color, which are physical properties. When the desired and the undesired things are intimately mixed, however, it becomes impractical to select visually even if the individual particles are readily recognizable to the eye, and some automatic way of making the particles separate themselves on the basis of their own inherent differences in physical properties must be resorted to. Some of the physical properties which have been used as a basis of separation are: color, shape, hardness, size, density, elasticity, surface properties (surface tension in contact with liquids, etc.), electrical conductivity, dielectric constant, and magnetic susceptibility. Differences in these properties are used in the following methods of separation: color sorting, sifting, settlement in air and in liquids, floatsink methods, flotation, electrostatic and magnetic separation.

Jan 1, 1932

By J. B. Morrow, D. H. Davis

THERE are two general approaches to the problem of increasing profits from an operation. One is to lower expense; the other is to raise income. Mechanical preparation of coal may be used for either purpose but a prudent consideration of many details must precede any decision lest the results be negative instead of positive. It is quite possible that any net gain will result from a combination of the two. Since mechanically prepared coal invariably is a better product qualitatively than a hand-picked coal from the same mine, it is a reason¬able expectation that the customer will be willing to increase the pro¬ducer&apos;s income by paying a higher price. Or there may be the possibility that a combination of mechanical mining plus mechanical cleaning will give a lower over-all production cost for the coal in the railroad car. More likely, there will be found a combination of these two factors. From the customer&apos;s point of view, the competitive delivered cost per B.t.u. considered in relation to such incidental factors as dust nuisance, handling properties, ash disposal, and ash fusibility determines what he will pay. In a bulk tonnage product such as coal, freight is a very considerable part of the delivered fuel cost, and obviously freight paid on incombustible ash has no economic attractions.

Jan 1, 1943