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By S. S. Hsieh, J. R. Lehr

Bench scale beneficiation studies were made on Idaho dolomitic phosphate rock using the TVA carbonate flotation process. The process used diphosphonic acid as a phosphate mineral depressant and fatty acid as a carbonate mineral collector. Silica was subsequently rejected as float using an amine collector, with phosphate product recovered as the sink fraction. Two samples of prepared flotation feed from commercial operation were used. One contained 21% P205 and 3.2% MgO. The other contained 26% P205 and 1.8% MgO. The results indicate that concentrates containing 31% to 33% P205 and 1% or less MgO can be obtained, with about 80% P205 recovery.

Jan 1, 1986

By Joseph R. Hatch

When compared to average shale composition, average coal is enriched in sulfur and selenium, has similar amounts of arsenic, beryllium, lead, antimony and molybdenum, and is depleted in at least 26 other elements. Within a coalfield, or region, some coals are enriched (10X average shale) in silver, arsenic, cadmium, cobalt, germanium, molybdenum, nickel, lead, selenium, uranium, and zinc. Important factors controlling element distributions in coal include geochemical conditions (primarily pH) in the peat swamp, composition and depositional environment of coal roof rocks, thermal maturity (rank), nature and intensity of any epigenetic mineralization, composition of ground waters that come in contact with the coal, and degree of weathering.

Jan 1, 1983

By E. T. Stephenson

Wert and Marx1 pointed out that a straight-line relationship exists between the activation energy of a relaxation process and the temperature at which the maximum relaxation occurs. The data available at the time indicated that this relationship held for a number of Snoek peaks, several grain boundary peaks, and pair relaxation in a brass. Theoretical justification for the observed relationship was found in the following equation, which Wert and Marx derived from the theory of interstitial atomic diffusion coefficients:' where AH is activation energy, R is the gas constant, T is the internal friction peak temperature, v is the interstitial atomic frequency, f is the frequency of the applied stress, S is entropy of activation. More accurate internal-friction data on interstitial diffusion in bcc metals have become available since Wert and Marx's paper. Table I gives activation energies calculated by several authors from a combination of elastic aftereffect data and the peak temperatures at several frequencies of measurement. (In the case of Fe-C and Fe-N, the referenced authors5'7'8'10 also used high-temperature diffusion data.) However, diffusion experiments at 150°C and above1'-13—rather than anelastic techniques—were used to determine the activation energy of hydrogen diffusion in Fe-H. In order to plot this recent data as a AH vs T graph we calculated the peak temperatures of the systems listed in Table I (with the exception of Fe-C, Fe-N, and Fe-H) by using published values3'' of AH and Do. These calculated peak temperatures varied by only a few degrees from experimentally determined peak temperatures. The calculated values were felt to represent the better average. A number of investigators have found the peak temperatures in Fe-C and Fe-N to be 38 to 40°C and 20° to 24°C, respectively. The values of 39" and 22°C (312° and 295°K in Table I) were determined by carefully executed experiments.6'8 The hydrogen peak temperature has been measured at 1 cps,12 20 cps,14 and 35,000 cps.15 All hydrogen peak temperatures were adjusted to 1 cps for Table I using AH = 3000 cal per mole. As Fig. 1 shows, the data of Table I fit a straight line at least as well as the earlier data used by Wert and Marx. Linear-regression analysis was applied to the data in Table I. The Fe-H data was omitted because the activation energy has not been experimentally determined in the temperature range of the peak. The analysis yields the equation: with a standard error of 860 cal per mole. The agreement of the data in Table I with the Wert-Marx equation is excellent. Strict application of Eq. [I] forces the linear regression analysis through the origin. In this case, the analysis gives a slope of 62.1 cal per mole per deg, and a standard error of *890 cal per mole. With this value, it follows from internal-friction theory that Hence, Do varies by only 30 pct among these bcc-interstitial systems. Thus, a concept suggested originally by Wert and Marx1 is confirmed by recently published data. The

Jan 1, 1965

By A. J. Opinsky

MANY investigators, in their discussions, have reasoned that the ductile-brittle transition in iron could be explained by the intrusion of cleavage into the normal slip process. The purpose of this note is to apply the laws of critical normal stress for cleavage and critical shear stress for slip to explain the orientation and temperature dependence of the ductile-brittle transition in body-centered cubic metals. It will be found that within a certain temperature range, single crystals tested in tension will cleave or slip, depending on their orientation. Some data recently appearing in the literature will be analyzed from this standpoint. For a single crystal with [uvw] parallel to the tensile axis, the resolved shear stress on the slip

Jan 1, 1954

By Lawrence W. Teufel

An anelastic strain recovery technique is presented as a method of determining the directions and ratio of the maximum and minimum horizontal in-situ stresses from oriented cores from deep wells. Predictions of hydraulic fracture azimuth inferred from principal stress directions determined from both elastic and time-dependent (anelastic) strain relaxation measurements of volcanic tuff are consistent with the observed orientations of hydraulic fractures produced in simulation and mineback experiments, underground at the Nevada Test Site. In addition, anelastic strain recovery measurements on oriented cores of shale and sandstone from well depths of about 1680 meters show consistent relaxation directions of the principal horizontal strains and have enabled a prediction of the principal horizontal stress directions and hydraulic fracture azimuth.

Jan 1, 1982

By Paul H. Lu

This report by the Bureau of Mines, U.S. Department of the Interior, presents several practical and inexpensive types of rock mechanics instrumentation for ground control around longwall panels. Application of these critical parameters, determined by this instrumentation, to the design and modification of rational longwall-mining systems is also discussed. In order to design or select an optimum mine structure or system, realistic and precise values of the design parameters must be determined in operating mines by measuring (1) existing ground stresses, (2) mining induced load transfer, and (3) strata movements as well as deformation moduli and rock strengths. Based on these parameters, rational and realistic criteria for mine design can be established by conducting case studies. It was found that several basic design parameters can be easily measured or determined in situ with simple, inexpensive, and practical instruments such as hydraulic borehole pressure cells, automatic recording convergence meters, automatic recording multiple-anchor-point extensometers, and hydraulic pressure recorders.

Jan 1, 1982

By C. C. Hawes

SILICA is the main impurity in iron ore. It is intimately associated with the iron oxide, sometimes free but more often in the combined state, as a mineral silicate. Its separation and purification sometimes present difficult problems to the analyst. In the absence of any definite knowledge to the contrary, orthosilicic acid. H4SiO4, is supposed to be the only silicic acid made, all other forms, such as metasilicic acid, H2SiO3, representing different degrees of its dehydration. These acids are exceedingly weak but form the most stable compounds found in nature. They are known as the silicate minerals and are formed by the combination of the different metallic oxides

Jan 1, 1936

E. R. Buckley, Flat River, Mo. (communication to the Secretary*) :—Some statements in the paper of Mr. Keyes relative to the nature and formation of the Ozark lead- and zinc-deposits seen1 to me erroneous and misleading, and I respectfully present the following criticisms, placing Mr. Keyes's original statements in quotations. Referring to the Ozark dome: (p. 192.) "It is a region that has been repeatedly upraised and planed off, until in the middle portion the oldest known rocks only are exposed." Does he mean that the St. Francois mountains, which have always been considered as lying on the eastern flank of the Ozark dome, are the middle of the dome ? Or does he mean that the Cambrian rocks of the generally-accepted middle are the oldest known rocks ? Certainly not the latter, and if the former, his idea of the middle of the dome is not in accord with that of others who are familiar with the region. (p. 203.) "... the ore-deposits are definitely associated with, or localized by, geologic structures of some kind that produce in effect basins in which the underground waters are impounded, or their flow retarded." This statement does not appear to be altogether consistent with the facts, since the ore bodies of the Joplin district, as the rule, occur in those parts of the Mississippian formation which have a tendency to accel erate the flow of ground-water rather than retard it. I migh name the open, brecciated ground near Joplin, Webb City, and Oronogo as especially noteworthy illustrations. The ore-bodies, everywhere, occur in positions where there must have been a free and copious circulation of dilute lead- and zinc-solutions in the presence of reducing constituents. The inequalities in the distribution of the ore-deposits are

Jan 1, 1910

By S. H. Chauvenet

Jan 1, 1882

By E. C. Houston

The phosphate ores mined in middle Tennessee typically consist of granular rock phosphate particles disseminated in a clayey matrix. In the TVA plant near Columbia, Tenn., the phosphate ore is mined, made into a slurry with the addition of a small amount of sodium hydroxide as dispersant, and treated in a hydroseparator to remove minus 10 micron material. The hydro-separator underflow, comprising a rough concentrate, is transported by pipeline to the plant; the hydro-separator overflow, comprising a tailing, is flocculated by addition of calcium sulphate and is discharged to settling ponds at a rate of about 1400 gpm. Sedimentation in the ponds produces a clarified effluent, which may be recycled for use as process water or discharged to surface drainage. This method of tailing treatment is not entirely satisfactory since poor sedimentation characteristics of the tailing result in poor ultimate utilization of pond storage volume.

Jan 1, 1949

By John A. Emery

The Pea Ridge iron ore deposit near Sullivan, Missouri, is a dike-like mass of magnetite enclosed in Precambrian porphyries. The ore body tops at the Precambrian surface at a depth of 1300 feet below the present surface and extends to an unknown depth. It dips nearly vertically, intersecting the dip and strike of the enclosing porphyries at an extremely sharp angle. Faulting, both pre- and post-ore, appears to be of minor consequence, and present knowledge indicates that no preferred structural conditions existed prior to emplacement. The ore body is composed of magnetite with specular hematite, quartz, apatite, and pyrite occurring as accessory primary minerals. Specular hematite in appreciable quantities occurs on parts of the cap and the footwall of the ore body. Fresh porphyry breccia is enclosed in the magnetite along the hanging wall and in the western portion of the ore body. Hanging-wall quartz-amphibole and footwall quartz-hematite occur as replacements of certain porphyries. Further alteration has caused sericitization of parts of these zones. The ore deposit is interpreted as having been formed essentially by a single injection of a magmatic differentiate with hydrothermal end phases forming the quartz-amphibole and quartz-hematite portions of the deposit.

Jan 1, 1968

By AIME AIME

PRESIDENT BASSETT'S gavel called the Annual Business Meeting to order shortly after 10 a. m. on Tuesday. On motion of Eugene McAuliffe, reading of the minutes was dispensed with and Mr. Bassett read his annual report of the year's activities as follows : During the year I have visited eighteen of the twenty- seven sections, making an average of GG 2/3 per cent. The invitation to come again has always been extended, but in only one case have I been able to visit the same section twice. Chicago entertained the president twice during 1930. Mrs. Bassett accompanied me on visits to ten sections. Everywhere we have found the most cordial hospitality and a gratifying enthusiasm for the Institute. If anyone had fault to find with the management or felt dissatisfied with what was being done, it was carefully concealed. I am happy to report to you an agreeable, helpful and progressive spirit in each of the sections visited.

Jan 1, 1931

By Edgar F. Cruft

INTRODUCTION It is sometimes said that "mines are made, and not found." I rather doubt that the exploration geologist would be overly sympathetic to that statement, and, of course, like most one-liners it is only partly true. Access to different financial markets are important at the mineral prospect stage. The modern mine financier has a much more complex, and interesting, job than the financiers of an earlier era, for example, the Canadian financiers of the 40's and 50's who had one simple set of options; i.e. float a company, promote it, and sell an equity stock issue, and then promote it some more. QUALITIES OF A FINANCIER Because technical people are seldom taught financing in their basic training, and because they are usually not involved in it until at quite a senior level in their careers, the whole field often acquires a certain mystique. The engineering professions have too often believed financing is the province of the accountant or financial executive and just as we in the technical world are often too quick to bristle if the latter try to tread on our domain, the opposite can just as easily be true. Unfortunately, this is another example of a compartmentalized individual, and that is one thing the successful financier cannot be. However, to be a successful financier one does not need extensive training or experience in accounting or finance. In fact it can sometimes be a disadvantage to get too buried in working only from the standpoint of discounted cash-flow analyses, ROI's, etc. It must be stressed, however, that one had better know how these analyses are made, and be knowledgeable in understanding a balance sheet, and have a good understanding of financial terminology. The difference between a simple project-type debt financing with a commercial bank and a more inventive and creative financial package comes from an intuition and an experience relating to risk-reward factors. The most important element is "common-sense", based on knowledge and experience. The goal is structure a financial package that fits the project, and in so doing it is important to recognize that it must fit within the limitations of the group supplying the money. I find insensitivity to recognize these constraints the most common mistake made in the field. Put yourself in the other person's place and understand his sources of funds and financing limitations. The engineer has an advantage in financing, as he or she has (or should have) a better idea than anyone of the value of the product, be it the mine, prospect, or company i.e. the intangible or potential worth which cannot be put on a pro-forma. He also knows, or should know, the risks involved. Two projects might look the same on paper, but a good financier must have a sense of when to take whatever deal he can get, and when to hold out based on his evaluation of future developments. It is essential to have a good sense of commodity values and trends, trends affecting the general economy (money supply, interest rates, effects of energy costs, etc.), and political considerations. He must also have a good understanding of the science and art of taxation as deals can often be financed using the government as a silent and unwitting partner by proper use of the tax laws. WHEN TO SEEK FINANCE The first critical decision to make in financing a mineral prospect is "when". At the exploration level, when it is only a dream in the geologist's eye, the alternatives are more limited than when it is a fully-engineered project. The "when" decision depends on how much in internal funds the company has to play with, and how desirable it is to invite financial participation to spread the risk. Assuming that decision is not taken out of lack of money, no one can categorically say when to do it. There is

Jan 1, 1985

By S. H. Chauvenet

HARRISBURG is situated on the Pennsylvania Railroad, one hundred and five miles from Philadelphia, two hundred and forty-eight miles from Pittsburgh, and ninety miles from Baltimore, and has running through it the Pennsylvania, Northern Central, Philadelphia and Reading, and Cumberland Valley Railroads, and the Pennsylvania Canal. Surrounded by a thickly settled farming country, from which to draw native labor, within easy distance of anthracite and bituminous coal, with ores and limestone near at hand, and with the Susquehanna River as a never-failing water supply, Harrisburg has advantages for manufacturing which warrant the investment of the capital that has already been made, and has a future as a manufacturing city second only to Pittsburgh and Philadelphia. THE PENNSYLVANIA STEEL COMPANY, L. S. BENT, SUPERINTENDENT. The works of this company, the largest in Harrisburg, lie between the Pennsylvania and the Philadelphia and Reading Railroads, on. the Pennsylvania Canal, and are essentially devoted to the manufacture of Bessemer steel rails. Capital stock, $2,000,000; invested in business, $5,000,000; wages per month, $80,000; employs 2000 men; capacity, 100,000 tons of rails per year, which is being increased to 130,000 tons. The plant, as it now stands, comprises five Bessemer converters, two 7-ton and three 8-ton converters, two 15-ton open-hearth furnaces in operation, and two 30-ton open-hearth furnaces in course of construction, one blooming mill, one rail mill, seven steam hammers, two blast furnaces in operation, two blast furnaces in course of construction, foundry, pattern $hop, machine shop, blacksmith shop, and frog shop, and merchant mill in course of construction. Bessemer No. 1 was built in 1865, with two 7-ton converters, 2 spiegel cupolas, 3 feet diameter, and 3 iron cupolas 6' 6" diameter,

Jan 1, 1882

By M. H. HARRINOTON

THE Transactions of the Institute afford abundant evidence of the general recognition by mining engineers of the importance of a safety-lamp which will not only give warning of the presence of fire-damp, but will also indicate the proportion in which it is present.' Mining-men are only too familiar with the frequent and sudden changes that constantly occur at the working-face of a gaseous mine. Nothing illustrates more forcibly the pregnant condition of the strata enfolding the seam and the seam itself, than the fact that a circulation of perhaps 150,000 cu. ft. of air may contain 2 or even 3 per cent. of marsh-gas, representing a volume of from 3,000 to 4,000 cu. ft. of this gas pouring-out each minute from the natural strata into the mine-workings. It would, indeed, be strange if this great outflow of gas were always constant, and it creates no surprise that such earth-breathings, as they may be called, are spasmodic and irregular in their wane and flow. There are other causes that act to vary the gaseous condition of mine-air. Gas has a tendency, often very manifest in mine-workings and airways, to stratify and, at times, to travel long distances in veins or streams. It is common to catch and lose the gas in the lamp when making a test. At times two lamps, held side by side in an air current, will indicate different gaseous conditions of the passing air. When testing for gas, the lamp may suddenly fill with flame, in a mine-chamber, where a moment before a careful test showed the presence of but 1 per cent. of gas. It is sometimes remarked that there is little need of detecting a smaller percentage of gas than is revealed by the common

Jan 1, 1906

By ERJIINICI FERRARIS

1. HISTORICAL REVIEW AND INTRODUCTION. THE development of the mining industry in Sardinia dates from the application of the minim law of 1859, which, following the example of the French mining law of 1810, declared prospecting to be free, and suppressed the liens which had previously attached the mine to surface ownership. The first ore-dressing plants were installed by German engineers upon the classic models of the Harz and of Freiberg; but in 1880 Sardinia commenced to open a new path in that industry, utilizing the refuse from the mining of rich, selected minerals, of poor deposits, and of mixed ores. The first experiments were attempts to adapt the existing apparatus to local conditions, but progress was rapid, as was demonstrated already in 1887 by the calamine-dressing-mill of Monteponi, which exhibited a large plant designed in accordance with the experience gained, and constructed entirely in the machine-shops of the country, after new models and designs.1 This example was followed two years later by the Société Malfidano, with a large plant of the same sort, and with the reconstruction of the old-fashioned-dressing-mill, built in 1880 by the Austro-Belgian Company. In 1900, almost all the mines of Sardinia had adopted the new designs, and the island contained 32 concentrating-works, employing 2,000 h.p. and 1,924 workmen. Since that time, there have been added a large dressing-mill for blende at Gennamari, and two for calamine, at San Giovanni and at Masua, while the establishments at other mines have been enlarged and perfected. For the treatment of intimately mixed ores, a large establishment has been built upon the new

Jan 5, 1908

By Frank R. Milliken

SCOPE THIS paper is a running commentary on metallurgical problems and developments, stressing ilmenite flotation, since the start of operations five years ago, at the mill of National Lead Company, Titanium Division, Maclntyre Development, Tahawus, New York. [ ] GENERAL In early 1941, when, world conditions threatened to cut off the supply of ilmenite (obtained largely from India) to this country, the National Lead Company started to develop and bring into production their Maclntyre Development. This operation supplied the bulk of the ilmenite used during the war period for the manufacture of the much needed titanium pigments. Maclntyre Development is at Tahawus, New York, on the headwaters of the Hudson River in the center of the scenic Adirondack Mountains. A general description of the operation was given in the Adirondack Issue of Mining and Metallurgy for November 1943. Operating tonnages and production have increased since 1943, however. Nearly 10,000 tons of ore and waste is broken and loaded daily in the open-pit mine. About half of this tonnage is ore, from which is produced nearly 800 tons of ilmenite concentrate and 1600 tons of magnetite concentrate daily. ORE-TYPES From an ore-dressing standpoint, there are five rather distinct ore types and two waste-rock types in the mine. The ore types are shown in Table 1. The anorthosite waste is a coarse-grained white rock, largely labradorite feldspar. The gabbro waste is generally finer grained, and contains, in addition to feldspar, 35 to 75 pct iron silicates such as hornblende, pyroxene, garnet and biotite. A minor mineral mineralogically, but important metallurgically, is apatite. A few calcite

Jan 1, 1947

By J. Paone, S. Tandanand

This paper studies the behavior of rock at the initial state of crater formation resulting from stresses created under a drill bit. The purpose of this study is to determine which mechanical properties of rock are important in rock fragmentation by drilling. Although a definite relation between the drilling strength and relevant mechanical properties has not been established, maximum yield strength or hardness of rock is apparently a parameter of drillability of rock. The strengths of rock were considered from the Mohr-Coulomb criterion from which the surface of failure was constructed. The results from previous triaxial tests on Solenhofen limestone were adopted in establishing a limit of failure. Inelastic behavior of Solenhofen limestone was observed under a low velocity impact of a hemispherical bit and under static indentation with a similar bit. Permanent set at low applied loads in the indented area was measured with an interferometric technique. A quantitative determination of strengths of the rock was made under static indentation. The maximum yield strength estimated from the average stress over the contact area for plastic deformation was used as the crushing strength of rock under a drill bit. Much research has been done on energy requirements and mechanisms of energy dissipation to perfect rock fragmentation by a drilling process. But more needs to be done. More needs to be known about the mechanisms of energy dissipation or failure criteria of rocks in the drilling process in order to evaluate the efficiency of energy requirements in specific rock fragmentation. This paper examines some published studies on rock failure and energy dissipation and presents some findings in that phase of research concerned with rock fragmentation by drilling. This work is specifically concerned with rock behavior at an early stage of failure induced by a concentrated load. Consideration is limited to the primary phase of the crater formation under drill bit, i.e., before chipping takes place. Failure Phenomena of Rocks: Failure of rocks can be classified into two types, fracture and plastic flow. Both involve separation of material to form new surfaces with complete or partial loss of cohesion. Fracture is further classified as extension (or cleavage) fracture and shear fracture. Extension fracture involves separation in a plane without shear stress component, while shear fracture involves slippage along a plane as a result of combined stresses. Then, shear fracture inclines to the axes of the principal stresses. Plastic flow occurs under combined stresses, especially at high confining pressure and temperature, and denotes macroscopically irrecoverable deformation of rocks. Flow mechanisms have been classified as in-tergranular failure, intragranular gliding, and re-crystallization of mineral constituents.6 Failure phenomena in rocks are complicated because they include fractures and plastic flow as well as a friction process developed intrinsically as the internal stresses increase. All can occur in one rupture process, depending on the varying stress conditions. Both fracture and plastic flow are encountered in rock drilling. Rock failure under a drill bit as observed in drop tests simulating a single blow of a percussion drill, consists of two types, crushing and chipping. Crushing is considered as a separation of material particles by many fractures resulting from the application of high compressive stresses exceeding the strength of rock at the contact area. Chipping results from subsurface fractures extended to the face surface; this phase is preceded by crushing or surface deformation. The state of stress under the drill bit and the strength of rock create and control these two types of failure. The state of stress under the bit and in the vicinity of the contact area depend on the bit configuration and the magnitude of applied force. The strength of rock, characterized by its ability to resist penetration, depends on its composition and structure. However, the term "strength" quantitatively defined, is still ambiguous and may or may not correspond to the tensile, compressive and shear strength obtained from simple tests. Rock Failure Criterion: Rocks are weak in tension, their tensile strength being many times less than their compressive strength. This characteristic excludes

Jan 1, 1967

By W. B. Price

AT the New York meeting of the American Institute of Mining and Metallurgical Engineers held in February, 1926, W. H. Bassett and J. C. Bradley presented a paper entitled "Exudations on Copper Castings."' The purpose of the present paper, as the title suggests, is to call attention to somewhat similar phenomena which the authors have encountered in brass and bronze. From a study of the examples given, a more-or-less speculative theory of "inverse segregation" is advanced. Protuberances on Admiralty Brass In the rolling mill of the Scovill Manufacturing Co., there have been found quite commonly bars of certain alloys which had a sort of shaggy roughness on the surface due to slight metallic protuberances. No special attention was paid to these until some bars were found on which these protuberances were heavy enough at the bottom of the bars to produce a blistered appearance. A sample of the protuberances was milled off the surface of the bar illustrated (Fig. la) and upon analysis was found to contain 66.66 per cent. copper, 4.02 per cent. tin and 0.03 per cent. lead, whereas the average composition of the bar was 70.21 per cent. copper, 1.21 per cent. tin, and 0.01 per cent. lead. A sample of the shaggy-rough protuberances at the very top of a bar was also analyzed and was found to contain 2.45 per cent. tin, indicating that it was probably of the same origin as the blistered areas. These results were not entirely unexpected for previous analyses of this alloy had revealed that the surface was richer in tin than the rest of the bar. This, of course, is contrary to what we would expect from a consideration of the equilibrium diagram and has been called "inverse segregation." Fig. 16 is a cross-section of a bar through the protuberances on the surface. It reveals that there is a decidedly different structure through the raised areas and seems to indicate that the bar originally solidified

Jan 1, 1927

By Charles G. Maier

SCIENCE beginning in rational observation came of age, when its devotees first began to measure and count. It has been said that the most striking aspect, of science today is its growing abstraction, and its preoccupation with mathematical symbolism. Technology with specific and concrete objectives in the satisfaction of human wants, cannot conceivably achieve the abstract unification that science seeks, but .the utility of the' scientist's method has been too well proved to require bolstering. Metallurgy is in its scientific infancy.

Jan 1, 1931