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Open pit operators have found the dropball crane a great aid in cutting costs and hazards of secondary breakage. But a common problem in using the unit has been with the shock absorbing connection from the cable to the dropball itself. Blair Limestone Div. of Jones & Laughlin Steel Corp. has come up with a new connector to solve this problem and to save the time usually lost in frequent replacement of the cable slings, chains, or old tires hitherto used at this point. J&L personnel solved the problem by combining three ideas from other dropball crane owners. Their unit consists of two long U-bolts running through a heavy spring originally made for use on a vibrating screen. Heavy duty swivels attached to the bent ends of the U-bolts provide attachment points for the crane cable and the special chain to the dropball. Connection at the dropball is by an eyelet welded directly into the mass of steel, and a special alloy chain is connected to this with a clevis.

Nov 1, 1955

By Robert C. Mackenzie

EXAMINATION by the differential thermal analysis technique of a large number of samples of soil and other clays from various parts of the world has demonstrated that the occurrence of cold-precipitated hydrated ferric oxide (the identification of which in soil clays has previously been reported5) is not confined to any limited locality; e.g., it has been found in varying amounts in clays from Britain, France, South Africa, and Mexico. The conditions necessary for its formation have not yet been elucidated in spite of the number of samples examined, and, since this mineral is so easily prepared in the laboratory, it has been considered that a study of its constitu¬tion and of the conditions under which it could be prepared might. lead to a better understanding of the factors involved. These experiments form the subject of this short paper, and while they do not supply a definite answer to the mode of formation of this mineral in nature, they may, it is hoped, add something to our knowledge in this direction. EXPERIMENTAL WORK Materials Employed The a-Fe2O3.H2O (goethite) and B-Fe2O3.H2O (Weiser and Milligan") were obtained from the Department of Geology, University of Aberdeen, and Rothamsted Experimental Station, respectively. The beta material had been prepared by the method described by Fernelius.1 y-Fe2O3.H2O (lepidocrocite) was prepared at the Macaulay Institute for Soil Research by the method of van Schuylenborgh.6 The method employed for preparation of the cold-precipitated hydrated ferric oxide* was as follows: 1: 1 NH4OH was added (moderately fast with rapid stirring) to a solution of 5 grams FeC13.6H2O in 250 ml distilled water at room temperature (ca. 15°C) until red litmus turned blue, and then 2 to 3 drops in excess. The resultant precipitate was filtered off on a Buchner funnel and washed free from Cl- with distilled water. Previous experiments having shown that drying over P2O5 at room temperature or drying at 105°C in the oven did not significantly affect the thermogram,5 samples were nor-

Jan 1, 1952

By G. R. Mansfield

THE third year of Government exploration for potash by the U. S. Geological Survey and the U. S. Bureau of Mines under the authorization of the act approved June 25, 1926 (Public 424-69th Cong.) is drawing to a close. The results thus far obtained are thought to be sufficiently interesting and satisfactory to justify the presentation of a brief pre¬liminary account of the work. REVIEW OF EARLIER EXPLORATION The general geologic similarity of the Permian basin of Texas and New Mexico to the potash field of Germany had long ago suggested the possibility of the presence of potash salts somewhere in that basin, but petroleum exploration was then making little headway there and the necessary data could not be obtained. The discovery by Udden in 1912 of potash in brine from the Spur well in Dickens County, Texas, was the first direct evidence of its presence. In 1915-17 the U. S. Geological Survey drilled a test well with standard tools at Cliffside near Amarillo, but failed to find potash. Nevertheless, an observer has been kept in the field, at first in cooperation with the Texas Bureau of Economic Geology but since 1922 by the Survey alone, to secure data and samples from oil and gas tests. Since the discovery of oil in Reagan County in 1923 exploration by drilling has been rapidly extended to many parts of western Texas and southeastern New Mexico. The identification of the potash-bearing mineral polyhalite was first announced by the Geological Survey in June, 1921, the material having come from cuttings from the Bryant well in Midland County and the Burns well in Dawson County, Texas. Successive discoveries and announcements of similar purport aroused widespread interest in potash exploration, which culminated in the action by Congress already noted.

Jan 1, 1929

By Guy Crane

I. INTRODUCTION THE geology of the Tintic mining district, fully treated, would occupy an elaborate monograph. This less comprehensive paper is devoted primarily to the occurrence and origin of the orebodies of the district, while space is given to those phases of the general geology only which seem necessary to a proper setting of such a discussion. The first geological report on the Tintic district to be issued was that by Tower and Smith, published in 1899, in the form of a paper in Part III of the Nineteenth Annual Report of the U. S. Geological Survey, and also as Folio No. 65, Geologic Atlas of the United States. About four years ago a second investigation was begun by Waldemar Lindgren and G. F. Loughlin, of the U. S. Geological Survey. With the exception of a paper on the oxidized zinc ores of the Tintic district by Mr. Loughlin, the results of their work are still unpublished. The writer's acquaintance with the district began in the fall, of 1913, and has extended over a period of about two years.

Jan 10, 1915

(Members are urged to send in for this column any notes of interest concerning themselves or their fellow-members) The following is a partial list of members and guests who called at Institute headquarters during the period Mar. 10, 1917, to Apr. 10, 1917. George S. Blair, Pittsburgh, Pa. E. P. Mathewson, Toronto, Canada. H. M. Boylston, Cambridge, Mass. T. Poole Maynard, Atlanta, Ga. F. J. Brule, Toronto, Canada. . W. J. Mead, Madison, Wis. M. B. Cohen, Miami, Ariz.. D. G. Miller, Denver, Colo. W. M. Corse, Buffalo, N. Y. P. N. Moore, St. Louis, Mo. F. G. Cottrell, Washington, D. C. R. H. Morris, Ansted, W. Va. E. C. Cross, Cleveland, 0. W. J. Morrison, Toronto, Canada. Nelson Dickerman, San Francisco, Cal. M. F. Ortin, Petrograd, Russia. F. N. Flynn, Chuquicamata, Chile. G. W. Paymal, New York, N. Y. F. L. Garrison, Philadelphia, Pa. Edward H. Perry, Boston, Mass. J. S. Grasty, Charlottesville, Va. 0. G. Petersen, Somerset, Ky. H. D. Hibbard, Plainfield, N. J. H. C. Price, Bartlesville, Okla. H. L. Hollis, Chicago, 111. C. A. Richardson, Toronto, Canada. F. H. Jackson, Marysvale, Utah. Hallet R. Robbins, Vancouver, B. C., Can. W. Strickler Jones, Silver City, N. M. A. H. Rogers, Boston, Mass. E. B. Kirby, St. Louis, Mo. H. G. Smith, Princepulca, Nic. J. M. Lovejoy, Electra, Tex. Edwin G. Steele, Van Horn, Tex. A. F. Lucas, Washington, D. C. 'S. A. Taylor, Pittsburgh, Pa. Edwin Ludlow, Lansford, Pa. A. P. Thompson, Salt Lake City, Utah, E. Francis McCrossin, Birmingham, Ala. Milton A. Allen is now engaged in the New York office of Messrs. Arthur L. Pearse & Co. Percy E. Barbour, managing editor of the Engineering & Mining Journal, has been appointed, by Governor Whitman, Deputy Superintendent of Police of the State of New York.

Jan 6, 1917

By R. A. Conkling

DORSET HAGER, Tulsa, Okla. Recently we have, been doing a little work along the same lines Mr. Conkling has outlined iii his paper. I am not prepared to say that Mr. Conkling is not correct but our results do not agree with his. I think it is a question of difference in correlation and interpretation of the well records. Our cross-section of the Cushing pool does not agree with that of Mr. Conkling and we find instead of the beds thickening in the syncline, there is a tendency to thicken on top of the anticline. We took the north dome of the Cushing field, and are now trying to get all the records. It will probably be another month before we have all the data complete but our results at present do o not agree with those of Mr. Conkling at all.

Jan 4, 1917

By W. E. Keck, Paul Jasberg

THE flotative properties of the principal minerals in Michigan's potential iron ores have been investigated to develop methods of beneficiation for the ores. One of these minerals, magnetite, is of considerable importance as a source of iron. Study of its flotation was similar to that of hematite1, another iron mineral in these potential ores. The present research consisted essentially of: (1) a survey of the literature on magnetite flotation, (2) the preparation of pure magnetite, (3) the development of laboratory procedure and (4) flotation experimentation. Literature on Magnetite Flotation.-For the purpose of this discussion, the results of previous work on the flotation of magnetite can be summarized as follows. The mineral has been floated with pine oil2, and it has also been separated from synthetic mixtures with silicates by the use of the same reagent2. Magnetite and apatite in iron-ore slimes have been separated by flotation of apatite with sodium palmitate3. These data were utilized in the present investigation. Preparation of Magnetite.-The pure mineral was prepared from the magnetic-separator concentrate of an iron ore (obtained from the Witherbee- Sherman Corporation, Port Henry, N. Y.). This concentrate was slowly comminuted with laboratory rolls and pulverizer to pass 65-mesh and was then tabled several times. Tabling yielded a relatively coarse magnetite concentrate, tailing and slimes. The two latter materials were rejected insofar as the present work is concerned, and treatment of the magnetite (table concentrate) was continued by separating it into -65 + 200 and -200-mesh sizes. Separation of the sizes was made by first dry screening and then wet screening. The -200-mesh material was rejected to eliminate possible introduction of error into flotation This paper describes a part of a general investigation into the flotation of Michigan's potential iron ores. A comprehensive discussion of the status of these ores and of the reasons for research on their Rotation beneficiation is available in mimeographed form on application to the Michigan allege of Mining and Technology, Houghton, Michigan. Manuscript received at the office of the Institute Nov. 12, 1936. Printfed without author's corrections. Subject to revision.

Jan 1, 1937

CONTENTS DAVIS, CARL R., WILLEY, J. L., and EWING, S. E. T.-Recent Developments in the Fine Grinding and Treatment of Witwatersrand Ores. Discussed by Charles E. Locke, H. W. Hardinge, H. N. Spicer, G. M. Brown, Justice F. Grugan, R. C. Canby 1 WEINIG, A. J., and BOWEN, MAX W.-Determination of Dissolved Oxygen in Cyanide Solutions. Discussed by A. L. Blomfield, M. F. Dycus, A. W. Bull.... 4 LEPSOE, ROBERT.-Precipitation Efficiency of Zinc Dust in Cyanide Process. Discussed by G. M. Brown, Charles E. Locke 5 Recent Developments in the Fine Grinding and Treatment of Witwatersrand Ores Discussion of the paper of CARL R. DAVIS, J. L. WILLEY, S. E. T. EWING, presented at the New York Meeting, February, 1925, and issued as Paper No. 1386-B, with MINING AND METALLURGY, December, 1924. CHARLES E. LOCKE, Cambridge, Mass.-In this country, we have come to think that we should use smaller size of feed in our ball-mills. I will admit that a ball-mill is not comparable to a tube-mill, as conditions may not be the same, but there we have an unusual demonstration of the advantage of a coarser feed. Further investigation along this line is going to lead to some valuable results. The authors have overcome the difficulty of this coarse feed by taking out what I would call the difficult lumps, It is not clear from the paper whether many of these difficult lumps' may not be 'reduced portions of their grinding media. H. W. HARDINGE, New York, N. Y.-The idea is not exactly new because in 1911 they used the miner to reduce the finer material. We proceeded three or four years using many tons, about 15 tons. or nearly the same proportion of ore to grinding medium. Another thing to be taken into account is the hardness of the ore being ground. In South Africa, the transportation costs must be, taken into account. They are also making progress in the method of using tube-mills and ball-mills instead of stamps. Experiments are to be conducted with 10-ft. diameter mills there, with the object of increasing the mass action and agitation which, as has been demonstrated under different circumstances, increases the overall efficiency.

Jan 6, 1925

The following paper, submitted by the Russian petroleum authorities, was secured through the courtesy of G. V. Ackerman, Vice President of Amtorg Trading Corporation, and N. V. Vannikoff, Representative in the U.S.A. of the United Oil and Gas Industries of the U.S.S.R. It gives an excellent view of the Russian petroleum industry as seen through Russian eyes. Noteworthy is the tremendous area over which the Russians are searching for petroleum, for this paper refers to such far-flung areas as the Arctic Tamir Peninsula, Kamchatka and Sakhalin on the Pacific, Lake Baikal in Central Siberia, the great new discovery at Neftadag in the plains of West Turkestan, and the oil of the Ferghana oasis, where the derricks look out over to the mosques of Kokand. Of interest also is the new pipe line to supply the industrial centers of Ukraine grouped around the great hydroelectric plant built at Dneprotroy on the falls of the Dnieper. The technical achievements have been noteworthy and we must pause to consider the scope of the undertakings being carried forward. Russia is at the worst a good second to the United States in petroleum reserves and for a long time to come will be a most important factor in the petroleum markets of the world. Her story should be of interest to everyone in the industry. The First Five Year Plan The first Five Year Plan, covering the period 1928-29 to 1932, accomplished the task of transforming the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics from an agricultural, backward land into a powerful independent industrial country, with an advanced technological foundation of its own for finally achieving the social reconstruction of the entire national economy. Along with the gigantic forward 'strides in industry and transportation, radical changes took place in agriculture. The creation of more than 5000 great state farms and of more than 200,000 collective farms serviced by a widespread network of machine-tractor stations has brought the U.S.S.R. to the fore as the largest agricultural country in the world. Imports of tractors and other agricultural machinery in the initial years of the Five Year Plan and the intensive output of this equipment by the great plants of the U.S.S.R. in the latter years of the plan have brought about the mechanization of agriculture in the Soviet Union. This year 250,000 tractors and 30,000 combines will operate in the fields

Jan 1, 1934

By G. L. Schroeder

Investigations were conducted at two underground locations, foreman's room and 5702 area, of the Kermac Nuclear Fuels Corp. uranium mining installation, Ambrosia Lake, New Mexico. The rock environment is stratified sandstone. Pressures were varied from minus 0.4 an Hg to plus 3.8 cm Hg with respect to barometric pressure, and were maintained for periods ranging from several hours to 21 days. One cm Hg overpressure (-1.5% of normal barometric pressure) produced a 20-fold decrease in Rn flux into the foreman's room as compared to the Rn flux observed during dilution ventilation. The 5702 area experienced a 5-fold decrease in Rn flux for a similar overpressure. During 21 days of continuous 1 cm Hg overpressure in the 5702 area this reduced Rn flux was maintained. The smaller reduction in flux for the 5702 area results in part from the proximity of the foreman's room to a non-pressured area and the presence of an impermeable shale lens overlying the ceiling of the 5702 area. A 0.4 cm Hg underpressure of the 5702 area increased the Rn flux into the area by 3-fold over the non-pressured value. A barometric pressure influence on Rn flux into the mine and on air Rn concentrations in non-pressurd areas of the mine was measured. A falling barometric pressure causes an increase in the flux of interstitial gas into the mine; a rising barometric pressure decreases this flux. These effects are not seen in overpressured mine areas. Radon concentrations in rock interstices show, during overpressure, decreases of all locations monitored except in the immediate vicinity of the shale lens above the 5702 area ceiling. These reductions are the result of air flowing from the mine into the rock interstices under the influence of the pressure gradient induced by the overpressure. The relative humidity of the 5702 area was reduced after 2 days of 1 cm Hg overpressure from a pre-overpressure value of 96% to 81%. The control of harmful or noisesome gases which emanate into underground mining areas from surrounding rocks is often a costly necessity. In uranium (U) mines this problem is presented by the high interstitial concentrations of radon-222 (Rn), a radioactive noble gas of 3.82-day half-period, formed in the decay scheme of U238, and the relative ease with which this noble gas diffuses from its parent rock into the interstices of the rock and then to a working area. Long-term exposure to moderate concentrations of Rn (3000 µµc per 1) and its short-lived alpha-ray emitting daughter products, RaA (Po218) and RaC (po214), has been found to result in an increased incidence of bronchial carcinomaa2 The acceptable limit of Rn daughter products in a mine atmosphere is presently set at a concentration of short-lived radon daughters which would be in equilibrium with 100 ppc of Rn per 1 of air. Ventilation of mines is conventionally accomplished by continuously diluting the mine air with fresh air brought in by fan or natural convection from above ground surface. The diluted air is allowed to vent freely to the atmosphere. This process does nothing to retard the rate at which gases (including Rn) diffuse into the mine from surrounding rock. It merely reduces the concentrations of these gases within the mine. It is suggested that in a sufficiently permeable rock environment a slight pressurization of the mine air may induce air flow from the mine into the interstices of rock surrounding the mine. The convective flow of comparatively fresh air will reduce the concentration and the concentration gradient of undesirable gases in the rock interstices adjacent to the mine. Radon will diffuse counter-current to this convective flow at a rate proportional to its concentration gradient. In time, a steady state of convection and counter diffusion will be established. The Rn flux into the mine will never be reduced to zero, and will only asymptotically approach zero as the overpressure (and hence the convective velocity of purging air) approaches infinity. During 1963 and 1964, an investigation into the effect which such applied pressures have upon the Rn characteristics of a mine atmosphere was conducted at the Kermac Nuclear Fuels Corp. uranium mines, Ambrosia Lake (near Grants), New Mexico.

Jan 1, 1967

By L. D. Lash, J. R. Ross

Discovery of scandium in the Vitro solvent extraction plant for uranium led to commercial recovery of the byproduct. Micro amounts of scandium were extracted with uranium by dodecyl phosphoric acid, but failed to follow ura-niuminto the hydrochloric acid strip solution and were eventually concentrated in the organic extractant. A fluoride strip system was developed to recover scandium from the solvent in concentrated form. High purity scandium oxide was then prepared in multi-pound lots by chemical separation techniques. The plant recovery operation, final product purification, and analytical procedures are described. Scandium is a pseudo-rare earth which is truly rare and expensive. It has special properties which may make it desirable even at the present price of $2750 per lb. Recently the price was lowered from $5000 per Ib which had prevailed since 1952, and it is anticipated that usage will be stimulated because of the lowered price. This metallic element is distributed widely in trace amounts in the rocks of the earth's crust. In addition to micro-amounts found in most uranium ores, concentrations of 50 to 100 ppm have been found in Colorado ferberite ore, lateritic nickel ore, heavy sandstone from Utah, Wyoming, and New Mexico, and various zircon sands and monazites from the western part of the U. S. Scandium has been found as an essential constituent of very few minerals, the most important being thortveitite, a scandium silicate. At the present time, this mineral commands a price more than twice that of gold. Chemically, scandium is in group 3A of the periodic table. It is closely associated with yttrium and the rare earths which it strongly resembles in its reactions. It has a valence of three and will form an insoluble hydroxide, fluoride, or oxalate under proper conditions, similar to the rare earths. Eight years before its discovery, scandium was predicted by Mendeleef who ascribed his eka-boron with properties nearly identical to the actual properties of scandium. Its position as the element with Atomic No. 21 and Atomic Weight 44.96 places it between calcium and titanium in Period 4 of the chart. The successful commercial application of scandium must depend on unique properties to justify use of this high cost substance. Greater consumption would allow additional price reductions, but scan- dium will remain a relatively high-priced commodity because of its inherent scarcity. Research reportedly has been oriented toward use of scandium as an agent to achieve high-temperature, low-density alloys with magnesium and tantalum.' Also, the U.S. Air Force sponsored a project for production of research amounts of pure scandium metal.' The oxide has been used experimentally in electronics, ceramics, and metallurgy. The various aspects of scandium are well covered in recent publications.s-5 CONCENTRATE RECOVERY Small amounts of scandium exist in uranium ores and are dissolved during an acid leach yielding up to 0.001 gpl Sc2O9. When Vitro converted their uranium plant from phosphate precipitation to solvent extraction: scandium was found to follow the uranium into the dodecyl phosphoric acid solvent (DDPA). However, scandium did not strip with uranium from the DDPA in hydrochloric acid, but remained in the solvent. Therefore, a concentration of scandium built up in the organic phase. Residues from the solvent were spectrographed by the U.S. Bureau of Mines and found to contain scandium. As a result of this discovery, provisions were made in the plant for recovery of scandium-bearing concentrates. Solvent extraction of uranium was added to a conventional acid leach process in a typical installation? The ore was crushed and ground, and then leached with dilute sulfuric acid. Addition of an oxidant such as sodium chlorate insured conversion of uranium minerals to a soluble form. At this point, the slurry was chemically reduced by a sulfide, such as sodium hydrosulfide, to remove substances such as ferric iron and molybdenum which were partially extracted by the solvent. The solids-liquid separation was accomplished by a four-stage counter cur rent decantation (CCD) thickener circuit. The uranium was extracted from pregnant liquor with 0.1M DDPA in kerosene and stripped with ION

Jan 1, 1961

By H. C. Theuerer

GeC14 may be purified by extraction with HCI and chlorine. The process is as effective for the removal of AsCI:, as the more cumbersome distillation methods usually used for this purpose. GERMANIUM for semiconductor use contains impurities at levels no higher than a few parts in ten million. Material of this quality is obtained from highly purified GeC1, by hydrolysis to the oxide and reduction of the oxide in hydrogen. When purifying GeCl,, AsC1, is the most difficult impurity to remove. This is usually accomplished by multiple distillation procedures.1-3 AsC1, may also be removed from GeC1, by extraction with HC1.1-4 Reducing the arsenic to low concentrations is not practicable, however, because of the large number of extractions needed. This paper discusses a new method for the removal of arsenic from GeC1, by extraction with HC1 and chlorine. The method is rapid, leads to little loss of germanium and is at least as efficient as the distillation procedures currently being used. Theory of Extraction Procedures In the simple extraction of GeC1, with HC1, the following reaction occurs ASCl8G8C1 D AsCl3rc1 at equilibrium CA/Cn= K, where K is the distribution coefficient, and C, and C,, are the molar concentrations of AsC13 in HC1 and GeCl,, respectively. The materials balance equation for this reaction is VACA + vncn = VnC,, where V, and Vn are the volumes of HC1 and GeCl4, respectively, and C, is the initial concentration of AsC13 in GeC1,. From this it can be shown that for multiple extractions where C,, is the concentration of AsC13 in GeC14 after n extractions, and r is the ratio of V, to V,,. It is assumed that r is maintained constant, that equilibrium is established during each extraction, and that K is independent of the AsCl3 concentration. By saturating the system with chlorine, the following reaction occurs in the aqueous phase AsCl3 + 4H2O + Cl2 D H5AsO4 + 5HC1 at equilibrium K' = ------------ ai - a4 h2u - aet2 where a is the activity of the various components. The effect of this reaction is to reduce the concentration of the AsC1, in the aqueous layer and, therefore, to promote further extraction of this component from the GeC1, layer. If the arsenic acid remains entirely in the aqueous phase, the net effect of this reaction is to promote the removal of arsenic from the GeC11. The materials balance equation for extraction with HC1 and chlorine with the foregoing reaction is, then, VaCC + VACA + VACn = VnCo where C,. is the molar concentration of H3AsO, in the HC1. With the added assumptions that the activities of AsC13 and H8ASO4 in the aqueous phase are equal to their molar concentrations, it can be shown that for n extractions Cn/Cu = (1/rkK + rK + 1) n where k - K1 a4h2o - acl2/aoncl. It can be seen by comparing Eqs. 1 and 2 that if k is large, the removal of AsC1, by HC1 extraction will be greatly improved by the addition of chlorine. Dilution of the HCI used in the extraction with chlorine would also favor the separation. This, however, would increase the loss of GeCl,, which is undesirable. Experimental Procedure Germanium prepared from oxide of semiconductor purity is n-type with resistivities greater than one ohm-cm. The resistivity is controlled by the donor concentration, which is —lo-: mol pct. Germanium prepared from material with added arsenic will have lower resistivity commensurate with the arsenic concentration. With such material, at arsenic concentrations above 10-1 mol pct the resistivity is controlled by the added arsenic, and effects due to other impurities initially in the oxide are negligible. In this investigation GeO, of semiconductor purity was converted to GeCl,, and -0.01 mol pct As was added. This material was used for the extraction experiments and the purification attained determined by a comparison of the resistivity data for samples of germanium prepared from the initial and purified GeC1,. A method for calculating the arsenic concentration from the resistivity data is discussed later. The details of the experimental procedures used are as follows: Two hundred and thirty cu cm GeC1, were prepared by the solution of GeO, in HC1, followed by

Jan 1, 1957

COLORADO SCHOOL OF MINES On February 21, 1918, the students of the Colorado School of Mines who are members or have applied for membership in the Institute re-organized the "Scientific Society of The Colorado School of Mines,? which has for its .purpose the study and discussion of mining problems. Its meetings will be held on the first and third Wednesdays of each month, in Guggenheim Hall. Following are the officers R. W. GIBSON, President, W. A. CONLEY, Vice-president, F. L. SERVISS, Sec'y.-Treas. At present there are 62 members, seven of whom are Faculty members. F. L. SERVISS, Secretary.

Jan 5, 1918

By D. E. Wolfson, D. A. Reynolds, F. W. Smith

IN 1948 the U. S. Bureau of Mines began a three- phase program to evaluate the extent and quality of U. S. coking coal: 1) a factual appraisal of known recoverable reserves in beds of mineable thickness, 2) a study of preparation characteristics, and 3) a study of carbonization properties. A previous paper presented the methods used in assessing reserves.' Although this investigation is only partly completed, data on coking properties of the Pittsburgh district coals are now available. The results are presented in this article. When coals are selected for manufacture of metallurgical coke more factors must be considered than for any other major use, as no basic industry requires coal of such high quality and uniformity. This is particularly true in the Pittsburgh district, where blast furnace practice is based on use of cokes from high quality coals. Although it is true that inferior coals are carbonized in other industrial areas, both here and abroad, the Pittsburgh coals are the best economically obtainable in the required tonnages, even though they are not the most desirable for metallurgical use.

Jan 3, 1957

By Henry J. Joesting

During the past year and a half, the Territorial Department of Mines in Alaska has conducted a modest experimental program for the purpose of determining the extent to which magnetic and resistivity methods can be used in interior Alaska in connection with prospecting, mining and geological studies. Since little information is available concerning previous work,l,2 and since conditions differ considerably from those in most other regions, it was considered advisable to make a general study of the possibilities and limitations of the two methods, rather than a detailed study of any single problem. Problems One of the most serious handicaps to prospecting and geological study in interior Alaska, especially in the mature regions, is a cover of unconsolidated deposits ranging in thickness from a few feet to several hundred feet. These deposits, some of which are permanently frozen, consist of silt with varying proportions of vegetation and windblown material in the valleys and of residual deposits on the hills.3'4 The problems treated here are caused by the existence of this overburden: I. Location of buried placers. 2. Determination of depth and areal distribution of permanently frozen and of thawed unconsolidated deposits. 3. Location of water-bearing beds under unconsolidated deposits. Instruments and Methods Magnetic and direct-current resistivity methods were used because they are relatively simple, rapid and inexpensive and because generally they are well suited to the study of the problems indicated. The instruments used were a vertical Schmidt-type magnetometer and a direct-current resistivity instrument similar to those used by the Geophysical Branch of the U. S. Geological Survey. For placer surveys with the magnetometer, a sensitivity of about 25 gammas per scale division was found suitable. For resistivity studies of frozen and thawed overburden and of underground water, the Lee partitioning method6 was found to be most generally suitable. In the Lee method a central potential electrode is placed midway between the two potential electrodes of the Wenner four-electrode configuration.7 Nonpolarizable electrodes were made from unglazed porcelain pots about 10 cm. high and 5 cm. in diameter. In order to retard evaporation of the electrolyte the sides of the pots were glazed, inside and out, with clear Duco lacquer. For resistivity work in cold weather, a nonfreezing electrolyte consisting of equal parts of ethylene glycol and a saturated water solution of copper sulphate proved satisfactory. Stainless steel rods of 3/4-in. diameter made excellent current electrodes because their bright finish enabled good ground contacts to be made.

Jan 1, 1946

By Henry J. Joesting

During the past year and a half, the Territorial Department of Mines in Alaska has conducted a modest experimental program for the purpose of determining the extent to which magnetic and resistivity methods can be used in interior Alaska in connection with prospecting, mining and geological studies. Since little information is available concerning previous work,l,2 and since conditions differ considerably from those in most other regions, it was considered advisable to make a general study of the possibilities and limitations of the two methods, rather than a detailed study of any single problem. Problems One of the most serious handicaps to prospecting and geological study in interior Alaska, especially in the mature regions, is a cover of unconsolidated deposits ranging in thickness from a few feet to several hundred feet. These deposits, some of which are permanently frozen, consist of silt with varying proportions of vegetation and windblown material in the valleys and of residual deposits on the hills.3'4 The problems treated here are caused by the existence of this overburden: I. Location of buried placers. 2. Determination of depth and areal distribution of permanently frozen and of thawed unconsolidated deposits. 3. Location of water-bearing beds under unconsolidated deposits. Instruments and Methods Magnetic and direct-current resistivity methods were used because they are relatively simple, rapid and inexpensive and because generally they are well suited to the study of the problems indicated. The instruments used were a vertical Schmidt-type magnetometer and a direct-current resistivity instrument similar to those used by the Geophysical Branch of the U. S. Geological Survey. For placer surveys with the magnetometer, a sensitivity of about 25 gammas per scale division was found suitable. For resistivity studies of frozen and thawed overburden and of underground water, the Lee partitioning method6 was found to be most generally suitable. In the Lee method a central potential electrode is placed midway between the two potential electrodes of the Wenner four-electrode configuration.7 Nonpolarizable electrodes were made from unglazed porcelain pots about 10 cm. high and 5 cm. in diameter. In order to retard evaporation of the electrolyte the sides of the pots were glazed, inside and out, with clear Duco lacquer. For resistivity work in cold weather, a nonfreezing electrolyte consisting of equal parts of ethylene glycol and a saturated water solution of copper sulphate proved satisfactory. Stainless steel rods of 3/4-in. diameter made excellent current electrodes because their bright finish enabled good ground contacts to be made.

Jan 1, 1946

By Henry R. Joesting

DURING the past year and a half, the Territorial Department of Mines in Alaska has conducted a modest experimental program for the purpose of determining the extent to which magnetic and resistivity methods can be used in interior Alaska in connection with prospecting, mining and geological studies. Since little information is available concerning previous work,1,2 and since conditions differ considerably from those in most other regions, it was considered advisable to make a general study of the possibilities and limitations of the two methods, rather than a detailed study of any single problem. PROBLEMS One of the most serious handicaps to prospecting and geological study in interior Alaska, especially in the mature regions, is a cover of unconsolidated deposits ranging in thickness from a few feet to several hundred feet. These deposits, some of which are permanently frozen, consist of silt with varying proportions of vegetation and windblown material in the valleys and of residual deposits on the hills.3,4 The problems treated here are caused by the existence of this overburden: I. Location of buried placers. 2. Determination of depth and areal distribution of permanently frozen and of thawed unconsolidated deposits. 3. Location of water-bearing beds under unconsolidated deposits. INSTRUMENTS AND METHODS Magnetic and direct-current resistivity methods were used because they are relatively simple, rapid and inexpensive and because generally they are well suited to the study of the problems indicated. The instruments used were a vertical Schmidt-type magnetometer and a direct-current resistivity instrument similar to those used by the Geophysical Branch of the U. S. Geological Survey.5 For placer surveys with the magnetometer, a sensitivity of about 25 gammas per scale division was found suitable. For resistivity studies of frozen and thawed overburden and of underground water, the Lee partitioning method6 was found to be most generally suitable. In the Lee method a central potential electrode is placed midway between the two potential electrodes of the Wenner four-electrode configuration.7 Nonpolarizable electrodes were made from unglazed porcelain pots about 10 cm. high and 5 cm. in diameter. In order to retard evaporation of the electrolyte the sides of the pots were glazed, inside and out, with clear Duco lacquer. For resistivity work in cold weather, a nonfreezing electrolyte consisting of equal parts of ethylene glycol and a saturated water solution of copper sulphate proved satisfactory. Stainless steel rods of 3/4-in. diameter made excellent current electrodes because their bright finish enabled good ground contacts to be made.

Jan 1, 1941

THERE is at least one concrete indication that Soviet Russia's two most important iron ore producing centers are seriously depleted. While keeping in mind Russia's penchant for reverse propaganda, one piece of evidence indicates that Magnitugorsk in the southern Urals and Krivoi Rog in the Ukraine have been mined to a point where lower grade ores are being recovered. An article in Pravda, Soviet newspaper, by I. P. Bardin. a Russian metallurgist, says that ore presently mined must undergo an expensive enriching cycle before it can be used in blast furnaces. Com- pounding Russian metallurgical troubles is the low quality of coking coals. High ash and sulphur content typifies the coal Badin talks about. Coal from the Ukraine, Eastern Siberia, Kazakhstan, and the Far East requires extensive treatment before it can be used, according to the article in Pravda.

Jan 7, 1953

New York Meets first Wednesday after first Tuesday of each month. DAVID H. BROWNE, Chairman. PERCY E. BARBOUR, Vice-Chairman. A. D. BEERS, Secretary, 55 Wall St., New York, N. Y. C. A. BOHN, Treasurer. Boston Meets first Monday of each winter month. W. E. C. EUSTIS, Chairman. - R. L. AGASSIZ, Vice-Chairman E. E. BUGBEE, Secretary-Treasurer, Mass. Inst. of Technology, Boston, Mass. ALBERT SAUVEUR, H. L. SMYTH. Columbia Holds four sessions during year. Annual meeting in September or October. STANLY A. EASTON, Chairman. FREDERIC KEFFER, Vice-Chairman. LYNDON K. ARMSTRONG, Secretary-Treasurer, P. O. Drawer 2154, Spokane, Wash. D. C. LIVINGSTON. FRANK A. ROSS.

Jan 12, 1916

By H. B. Menardi

THE history, geology, ore deposits and current mining operations of the Huitzuco district have been described by C. W. Vaupell1 and the current mill operations by David Segura.2 This paper completes the story of Huitzuco with a description of the reduction of the flotation concentrates. The predominant ore mineral in the Huitzuco deposit is livingstonite, a rare, mercury-antimony sulphide (HgS.2Sb2S3). Other associated minerals include cinnabar, stibnite and elemental sulphur. The gangue is largely limestone and gypsum. Former operators mined a selected grade of ore, from which the mercury was recovered by an expensive, inefficient operation. A consid-erable tonnage of rejects and fills, carrying mercury and antimony, was left in the mine. In order to recover both mercury and antimony from these fills and also from newly developed ore, a combination method has been developed, by means of which the livingstonite is concentrated by flotation and the flotation concentrates subsequently reduced to metallic mercury and antimony. An essential part of the flotation treatment, as developed by Segura, is the use of copper sulphate as an activating agent. A typical analysis of concentrates now being produced at the property is as follows: Hg, 7.73 per cent; Sb, 26.40; Fe, 1.20; S, 29.68; CaO, 11.50; MgO, 7.25; Si02, 1.63; A1203, 0.65.

Jan 1, 1939