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J. B. Cohen (AVCO Mfg. Co.)-The model presented by the authors is only one of several possible mechanisms for low-temperature aging. It is true that the motion of dislocations to the copper atoms, followed by diffusion along the dislocation lines, is one such mechanism. However, the details of such a process which would :result in copper-rich platelets on (100) planes in the f.c.c. matrix are not clear. Furthermore, there is at least one other mechanism that may be used to e.xplain the authors' results, so that the data do not clearly favor the Turnbull model. The zones may form by "normal" diffusion. The diffusion constants would be higher at room temperature than extrapolated data would suggest due to vacancies trapped in the specimens in the quench. The diffusivity would then be multiplied by the ratio of the number of vacancies present at the solution temperature to that present at room temperature. These vacancies could remain in the alloy specimen for long times at room temerature, due to interaction with the copper atoms. ' The activation energy for diffusion is smaller than that for bulk diffusion at elevated temperatures for it is only that for the motion of vacancies existing after the quench; after these are used up, the aging process effectively ceases. It is somewhat questionable if the laws governing transformation kinetics can be directly applied to changes in elastic moduli, especially in the case of aging where the structure and the composition of the zones may be changing during aging, If such laws are assumed, it is possible to explain the exponential factor of % with this vacancy model. It is probable that the structure of the zones and the matrix match only on (100) planes. Certainly the precipitates that form in this system after various aging treatments show orientation relationships similar to those of the zones. Strains on the edges of the zone may set up fields which do not allow the zone to grow in an edgewise manner. The exponent in the growth of a thin plate in a direction perpendicular to its face would be %. It may also be that copper atoms are attracted to dislocations. If this is the rate-controllin factor in the growth process Ifthisthen an exponent of % or % may arise. The writer would like to know if the authors have tried plotting l/a; proportional to as might be expected for "dislocation drainage." R. H. Doremus (General Electric Research Laboratory)—An important new method for following the growth of Guinier-Preston zones is presented in this paper, and I wish to congratulate the authors on their experiments. Their interpretation of the results, however, is doubtful in certain respects. To determine the exponent m in Eq. [4] the authors plotted -log at against t to various powers (their Fig. 6). The initial value of frequency used for these plots was found by extrapolating the data to zero time. In Fig. A the data from their Fig. 2 are plotted against a linear, rather than logarithmic, time scale. To obtain graphs similar to their Fig. 6 for these data one must use an initial frequency of about 52720; such a plot for m = % is shown in Fig. B. The straight line in Fig. B fits the data in an intermediate range only. The curve drawn in Fig. A was mapped from this line; comparison of

Jan 1, 1960

By Ralph H. Sweetser

AT the end of 1943 the charcoal pig iron capacity of the United States was at the lowest point in over 1110 years, with only one strictly charcoal blast furnace in operation, and all others permanently out of blast except one in Tennessee d reported to he running on part charcoal and part coke. Such a decrease in production has taken place in spite of the O.P A.'s high-premium price on charcoal pig iron of +34 per ton f.o.b. furnace in Michigan. Depletion of the hardwood supply within fifty mlles or inure of the blast furnace is the reason why; the deplorable lack of reforesting is the cause.

Jan 1, 1944

By Walter R. Hibbard, Harold Margolin

DURING preliminary tests on the aging of a Cu-plus 5 pct Ag alloy,' a specimen which had been overaged 24 hr at 550°C was annealed in a nitrogen-hydrogen atmosphere first for 2 hr and then for an additional 28 hr at 600°C. After each anneal the specimen was cooled to room temperature in about ½ hr and X-ray photograms were made. The first film, Fig. la, revealed two sets of copper-base lines, one intense and corresponding to the parameter at 550°C, the other fainter and shifted away from the beam, corresponding to the larger parameter at 600°C (see arrows). The 30-hr film, Fig. lb, revealed the same two sets of copper-base lines with a reversal of intensity. In neither case do the copper lines form a broad band which would be indicative of a range of compositions. This phenomenon is thus a "discontinuous" type of solution. A similar phenomenon was observed in a Ag-rich Cu-Ag alloy.' Finlay and Hibbard9 have suggested that directional rather than random solution of precipitate occurs in some alloys. Conceivably, for Cu-Ag alloys, the matrix-transition-precipitate precipitation sequence is reversible for the re-solution of the precipitate caused by rapidly raising the annealing temperature of an overaged specimen. A copper-base transition structure supersaturated with solute might be formed around the precipitate as it dissolves, thus obviating the necessity for a gradually changing solute composition of the matrix. The solute atoms then might be transferred rapidly and locally from the transition to the matrix phase in the proper amount and at the proper location to obtain directly the new ex- panded solid solution. The theory implies a minimum of diEusion of solute in the matrix (i.e., no significant range of matrix composition) and possibly suggests that the composition of the transition structure will vary with the conditions of re-solution. A transition copper phase found in aged Cu-Ag alloys1 might fulfill this function. Evidence regarding this suggestion could be obtained in Cu-Ag alloys by overaging a specimen until no trace of the expanded copper lattice is present and then subjecting the specimen to a retrogression treatment. Re-appearance of the transition copper phase would confirm the theory. Additional details could be secured by varying both aging and retrogression temperatures. References 'H. Margolin and W. R. Hibbard, Jr.: Effect of Ternary Additions on the Age Hardening of a Copper-Silver Alloy. Trans. AIME (1951) 191, p. 174; Journal of Metals (Feb. 1951) TP 3002E. 2 W. Ageew, M. Hansen, and G. Sachs: Decomposition and Changes in Properties of Super-saturated Silver-Copper Alloys. Ztsch. Physik (1930) 66, p. 350. 3W. L. Finlay and W. R. Hibbard, Jr.: Some Effects of Applied Stresses on Precipitation Phenomena. Trans. AIME (1949) 180, p. 255; Metals Technology (Sept.

Jan 1, 1952

WE vote this month without knowledge of either major presidential candidates' position on mineral problems. Too long have we kept our own counsel, turned our backs on the public. Certainly we must formulate policies upon which we may unite in industry council, but implementation of these by legislative bodies requires popular understanding, if not support. The earth and its resources are the province of the miner and the farmer but beyond this, and the basic need of the economy for both, the similarity ends. In this election year the disparity between the poll strength of these two fundamental callings is apparent. While both candidates have found it essential to incorporate a farm plank in their platforms, mining has been neglected as not being a basic issue. If this gives the mining fraternity the advantage of voting objectively, it also leaves the general public in the dark as to the attitude of the candidate on a basic issue. It is an issue on which depends the future of the nation, but, unfortunately, the public is not aware of its own vital stake in mining. Thus election time brings with it a fresh example of the evils of automatic lawn sprinkling-a long standing peeve of ours. Back in the days of the hand-held sprinkling hose in the intimacy of the twilight the mining man had the opportunity to unburden himself on the problems of mining to his neighbor who might be a doctor, lawyer, or accountant. With the encroachment of mechanized sprinkling, yet another forum for the indoctrination of the layman into the significance of mining has disappeared. Familiarizing your neighbors with mining in the lawn sprinkling societies of yesteryear was the individual's contribution to public relations for mining. The corporations can use educational advertising in popular magazines as is practiced by such companies as Kennecott. The AIME can play an important part by providing career guidance information on the mineral industries. We offer the suggestion to the American Min¬ing Congress, that the splendid exhibitions of mining machinery featured in alternate years for metal and coal mining, respectively, might be opened to the general public one night during the week of the show. Newspaper publicity would add greatly to the public's interest in such an opportunity. Power for the public is considered a vote-getter and no candidate has neglected to make his stand on this subject. Is the price of the kilowatt in the home of greater importance to the voter than the price of the metal durable goods which he purchases every year? Not really, but the voter thinks so. Mining has as much sales appeal as 'potatoes or kilowatts if presented in the proper way. We suggest that a little hand lawn sprinkling by the right people in the right places would produce an abundance of publicity which would give Mr. and Mrs. American something new to expect from their representatives-a vigilance over the flowering of their mining industry.

Jan 1, 1952

By A. E. Back

A method is described in which particulate iron, as distinguished from high purity iron powders used in powder metallurgy, is a precipitant for copper contained in dilute solutions. A new precipitation apparatus utilizes particulate iron precipitants to recover copper more efficiently than is possible in a conventional launder precipitation plant. In the search for lower cost methods of recovering copper from mine water, the use of sponge iron or particulate iron (as distinguished from iron powder used in powder metallurgy) as precipitants in place of tin cans, detinned scrap iron, or scrap iron is an intriguing possibility. The relatively faster copper precipitation rate obtained with particulate iron as compared to scrap iron promises economic and processing advantages when, and if, particulate iron becomes competitive cost-wise with available scrap iron. Kennecott has developed a precipitation cone,' see Fig. 1, utilizing various particulate iron precipitants and has demonstrated the process successfully in a prototype at a flow rate of approximately 1000 gal of solution per min. Essentially complete precipitation of copper is obtained, the cone overflow solution is clear and contains no particulate copper, and the iron factor is more favorable than in a conventional launder plant. Initially, sponge iron produced at the Ray Mines Div. Kennecott Copper Corp. for use in a Leach-Precipitation-Flotation process was used in exploratory tests to develop a suitable apparatus to take advantage of the rapid precipitation rate and efficient iron utilization for the recovery of copper from dilute solutions. Here it was demonstrated that, when sponge iron was added to a launder, the particles of iron collected in the bottom of the launder and tended to cement together. This resulted in incomplete precipitation of the copper and inefficient utilization of the iron. Next, sponge iron was suspended in glass columns to study the dynamics of the precipitation reaction. Again it was observed that the particles tended to cement together at low solution flow rates, while at higher flow rates large amounts of the precipitant overflowed the column, resulting in loss of precipitant and an inefficient process. Next, the precipitant was suspended in an inverted cone in a rising column of solution. Dynamic suspension of the solids was maintained at relatively rapid solution flow rates with instantaneous and complete precipitation of copper and with improved iron utilization. The first tests were conducted on a batch basis and it was determined that a dynamically suspended bed of precipitant was necessary for satisfactory operation. More than 99% of the metallic iron could be converted to metallic copper by careful control of the residence time in the cone and copper precipitation was essentially complete, even when the available iron precipitant was almost depleted. Several cones were built, ranging in capacity from 1 to 200 gal of feed solution per min, and finally, a prototype cone was constructed which was 20-ft high

Jan 1, 1968

By John K. Hammes

INTRODUCTION From the point of view of the consumer, the cost of mineral commodities might be viewed as the total price industry pays for mine output. Similarly, the mining company engaged in the ongoing business of finding, developing and operating new mines is concerned very much today with the distribution of all the revenue paid for mine output and not just with its direct or controllable cash costs. In other words, what will the labor force, the supplier of energy, explosives, and reagents, and the supplier of government services, management, capital, and the ore reserves receive for their contribution to production? A significant amount might be categorized as what economic theory classifies as economic rent. Mining companies are finding it increasingly difficult to negotiate concession or work contracts to develop ore reserves in lesser developed countries, just as they find themselves accused of taking excess profits in their own countries. The principal difficulty in reaching mutually satisfactory agreements in many cases is the difficulty in establishing an acceptable distribution of income, in particular the distribution of economic rent. (See Chapter 7). Further, it is logical that the decisions and policies of the interested parties be they government or industry should be and will be influenced by their competitive position relative to determining the distribution of economic rent. The raising of finance for a mining project today may be inhibited by too biased an extraction of economic rent by entities other than the risk takers, the mining companies. ECONOMIC RENT A British economist (Ricardo D. McGraw-Hill, 1955) first proposed the concept of economic rent (See Drechsler, H.D. earlier in this Chapter.) Ricardo pointed out that no rent would be paid until land became scarce. Ricardo also stressed the distinction that the price of farm produce was not higher because of the rent paid on farm land but that the rent or price of more fertile farm land was higher because the price of produce is higher. This led to the concept that economic rent is not a cost and that it is therefore not price determining, but is itself price determined. Economic rent may be viewed as a cost if cost is equated with the concept of payment or distribution of income to any factor used in production. However, if it is a criterion that a payment must be made to the supplier of the factor of production, then economic rent is not truly a cost because it is not necessarily distributed or "paid" to the supplier. Consider the commodity A which occurs in three grades: Al, A2, and A3. Any grade may be used as a substitute for another grade in all of the industrial uses of A. However, in industries X and Y the different grades have different productivities. Table 1 shows the relative productivities of each grade in industries X and Y, and in all other industries [~]. [ ]

Jan 1, 1985

By N. A. D. Parlee, N. M. El Tayeb

Fe-V alloys with small percentages of vanadium show no deviations from Sieverts' Law up to P~, = 1 atm in the 1600º to 1750ºC region. At somewhat under 8 pct V and up to at least 20pct V, at 1604" and 1661 °C, nitrogen absorption follows Sieverts' Law at low Pn2 values, but deviates from this law beyond critical values of pn2, due to formation of a nitrzde phase of approximately VN composition. The behavior below these solubility limits can be described at all temperatures by the equations: RAO and parlee1 suggested that the nitrogen absorption curve for liquid iron alloys takes the general form shown in Fig. 1 when an alloy nitride precipitate is formed. They showed that the precipitation of 6 titanium nitride from liquid Fe-Ti alloys follows this general scheme and dealt with the general theory involved. Recently, Evans and Pehlke2 reported their research on the precipitation of aluminum nitride from liquid Fe-A1 alloys. Fountain and Chipman's recent paper3 on the precipitation of boron nitride from solid solution contains a fine example of the analogous behavior which they have been studying in the solid state. Researches on the absorption of nitrogen by liquid Fe-V alloys have been described by various authors.1,4-7 Most of this work has been confined to fairly low vanadium concentrations and rather high temperatures because of difficulties variously described as, formation of surface scums, bridging, and so forth. This behavior and the rough thermo- dynamic calculations made by chipman,8 over eleven years ago, indicated that excessively high vanadium concentrations should not be required for vanadium nitride precipitation. It seemed desirable to look for and study this precipitation in order to fill out the thermodynamically interesting nitrogen absorption data on these alloys. EXPERIMENTAL METHOD The general method used was essentially the same as employed by Rao and parlee,1 in which a Sieverts type of apparatus was used and the precipitation of the nitride detected by the "break-point" in the Sieverts' Law line, and by the visual observation of the formation of the new phase on the surface of the melt. There were, however, a few differences in apparatus and technique as described below. The oil manometer used by Rao and parlee' to measure low partial pressures of nitrogen was not employed. The present authors sought to avoid as much as possible the exposure of the liquid alloy to low total pressures of gas during the 6 to 10 hr long runs because of the heavy iron evaporation-loss errors involved. This was achieved, partly by keeping evacuation times to a minimum with fast pumping but largely by the use of two burettes, one for argon and one for nitrogen, and using them to equilibrate the alloy with mixtures of argon and nitrogen rather than nitrogen alone. Each run involved a careful sequence of operations. After melting, de-

Jan 1, 1963

By W. D. Lowry

As most of the industrial activity of Oregon is centered in the Portland area, the foundries there consume the bulk of the foundry sand produced in Oregon. Although a number of the larger towns scattered throughout the state have gray-iron foundries, the sand used by most of them is of local origin: The yearly consumption of foundry sand of all types for the past few war years in Oregon is estimated to have been approximately 40,000 tons valued at about $285,000, of which an estimated 18,000 tons was shipped in from the Ottawa, Ill., district for use largely by the steel foundries. Until 1945 much of the silica sand consumed by the steel foundries in the Pacific Northwest, approximately 50,000 tons in 1944, came from Ottawa, Ill. and surrounding regions. Although some silica sand was shipped in from Belgium in the past, none is known to have been imported in recent years. Early in 1945, a very promising high-grade silica sand being produced near Eugene, Oregon, was introduced, and all but two of the Portland steel foundries are using this new sand. Until a few years ago, the search for good local (Oregon) foundry sands was carried on largely by the foundry supply houses. Recently the Oregon Department of Geology and Mineral Industries has investigated a number of deposits and has carried on and fostered research on the most promising deposit near Eugene, about 120 miles south of Portland. High-grade silica foundry sand from this deposit is now being marketed in Oregon, Washington, and British Columbia. The Eugene sand is one of the very few outstanding western steel-foundry sands. Field investigations by the Oregon Department show that there are relatively few deposits of sand in Oregon suitable for foundry use. A knowledge of the geology of the state makes this readily understandable. The only major primary sources of the quartz present in sandstones in Oregon are the intrusive masses of granite, granodiorite, and quartz diorite of late Jurassic or early Cretaceous age found in the Siskiyou Mountains of southwestetn Oregon, a part of the old Klamath Mountain highland, and in the Blue Mountains of northeastern Oregon. Transportation militates against the development of any possible deposits of foundry sand found east of the Cascade Mountains in central and eastern Oregon because few railroads traverse that area. East of the Cascades, which separate western from eastern Oregon, many of the older sediments of Paleozoic and Mesozoic age have either been metamorphosed or contain much volcanic eruptive material, and even if some of the Mesozoic sediments are highly quartzose in places, they are in relatively inaccessible areas. All the Tertiary sediments there are of continental origin and contain much ash and other volcanic debris, for there was great volcanic activity during much of that period. In western Oregon much the same is true of the Paleozoic and Mesozoic rocks

Jan 1, 1947

By Leonard Larson

Before direct or wet smelting of copper concentrate was adopted at the McGill smelter, in November 1932, actual furnace smelting tests had indicated the possibility of smelting between 400 and 500 dry tons of wet concentrate per furnace day. Under calcine smelting practice, solid charge up to 116; tons per furnace day had been smelted. It was realized that in order to smelt wet tonnage in equivalent amount per furnace day, a higher combustion rate and higher temperatures would be necessary within the furnace. The reverberatory furnace considered in the following history of wet-smelting developments is a unit rz7 ft. long and 28 ft. 8 in. wide, inside dimensions (Fig. I). This furnace was in operation through all the years from 1934 to date. During 1933, the first complete year of direct or wet smelting, the plant was on a curtailed copper-production basis and the available concentrate tonnage to be smelted was limited. The average coal-firing rate in the reverberatory for that year was 124 tons per furnace day. This rate was lower than the average for years immediately preceding under calcine smelting practice. With this coal-firing rate, an average of 391 tons of new metal-bearing material (N.M.B.M.) was smelted per furnace day. The following year, 1934, the coal-firing rate was increased to 139 tons and the smelting rate increased to 448 tons N.M.B.M. per fur- nace day. In succeeding years production required that either more tonnage be smelted in the one furnace or an additional furnace be placed in operation. With this situation confronting the smelting department, it was determined to continue the program of increasing the coal-firing rate and also to intensify the temperature in the smelting zone of the furnace. In order to accoinplish this, various improvements were made to aid combustion within the furnace. The burners were enlarged, increased primary air was supplied to the burners, and changes were made in the furnace to enlarge and streamline the outlet, thus increasing the furnace draft. The coal-firing rate was increased yearly until 1937 when the firing rate averaged 210 tons per furnace day. Thereafter the firing rate fluctuated according to character of charge and production requirements. In general, however, with the same character of charge the smelting rate increased in almost direct proportion to the increases in firing rate. Table I shows the average coal-firing rate, smelting rate, and other pertinent data for the direct-smelting years of 1933 to 1939 inclusive, the first fivc months of 1940 and May 1940. These figures show that the water evaporated in the waste-heat boilers was in almost direct proportion to the coal-firing rate. In making comparisons in the table, it should be borne in mind that the figures, except for May 1940, are yearly averages. Because of changes in character of charge or operating conditions, records for individual days or even months

Jan 1, 1944

By James H. Hance

Discussion of the paper of JAMES H. HANCE, presented at the New York meeting, .February, 1916, and printed in Bulletin No. 110, February, 1916, pp. 299 to 326. FREDERIC P. DEWEY, Washington, D. C. (communication to the Secretary*).-I wish to congratulate Professor Hance and to thank him for his extremely valuable addition to the fund of data upon this subject. It presents clearly conclusive and incontrovertible proof of the unreliability of drill samples of this class of metal for determining the value of such bullion. I am afraid, however, that his hope that some one in the mint service might continue such an investigation upon a more elaborate and exhaustive scale is, for the present at least, doomed to disappointment. As a practical matter, the mint service is not now particularly interested in segregation in crude bullion. So much trouble and friction arose, -both in the original purchase and in the transfer from one institution to another, in handling segregated bullion, that it became necessary to adopt drastic measures and now it is seldom attempted to determine the value of such bullion in the service. When bullion known or even suspected of being segregated is presented for purchase, it is at once strongly refined in the pot and the disturbing elements so far removed that concordant assays may certainly be obtained from the dip samples and a reasonably fair agreement obtained from drill samples. The mint service prefers that the owner should refine his bullion himself, but if he does not we will do it at his expense and return the slag to him when desired. Much work has been done in the mint service trying to arrive at the value of deposits of segregated bullion without strong refining. It was no unusual thing for such deposits to be melted three times at the purchasing office and to have 30 to 40 assays on the metal made before buying it. Yet when shipped to a mint it was found necessary to melt two or three times more and to make 15 to 25 assays before the mint would accept the bar, and there were considerable differences between the valuations of the two offices. In what was undoubtedly the worst case ever investigated, the purchasing office melted the deposit, 953 oz., three times, with a loss of 105.5 oz., and made 46 assays; the mint melted three times, with a loss of 6.6 oz., and made 28 assays. The mint allowed the purchasing office 1.178 oz. of fine gold more than the purchasing office claimed, while an extensive investigation of the mint samples by the Bureau, in which over 100 independent assays were made in various service laboratories, indicated that the metal carried 0.7 to 0.9 oz. more of fine gold than the mint allowed. Preliminary assays on the original metal

Jan 5, 1916

By S. R. B. Cooke, H. S. Choi, I. Iwasaki

Oleic acid is the chief ingredient of fatty acids used as collectors in nonsulfide flotation. With a few notable exceptions, the various quantities of saturated and other unsaturated acids comprising the remainder are usually unspecified. There have been occasional investigations to determine the collecting ability of these other acids and their effect on collection with oleic acid, but much remains to be done in this field. Hukki and Vartiainen, on the basis of tests using palmitic, oleic, and linoleic acids and an impure linolenic acid, concluded: "The collecting power of fatty acids used in flotation increases with increasing unsaturation of the hydrocarbon chain." ' Their work was concerned mainly with the response of ilmenite to the foregoing collectors, although tests were also made with magnetite, pyrite, hematite, and rutile. Cooke and Nummela, employing an almost identical technical procedure to evaluate flotation of hematite, magnetite, and goethite with various fatty acids, including oleic, linoleic, and linolenic acids of the highest purity obtainable, found: "The effectiveness of 18-carbon unsaturated fatty acids, as collectors for hematite, decreases with increase in the number of non-conjugated double bonds." 2 Vn the foregoing investigations, collector efficacy was measured on the basis of reagent addition in moles per liter. Sources of fatty acids which may be used as collectors are legion, but provided the oleic acid content is high enough, cost is normally the determining factor. Usually this restricts severely the purity of the collector in terms of its oleic acid content. Within the past year or so users of crude oleic acid have become somewhat more discriminating, apparently realizing that some of the organic acid impurities may exert deleterious effects upon certain separations. Marine fish oils have been used as collecting agents, particularly in the earlier days of froth flotation. Currently their use is restricted in this field to relatively minor applications, although they are cheap sources of fatty acids. In an effort to increase the range of uses for fish oils, the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service has awarded contracts to study these materials as sources of new products suitable for commercial development. Funds for these investigations were provided by the Saltonstall-Ken-nedy Act of 1954. One such contract was awarded to the University of Minnesota School of Mines and Metallurgy for the purpose of investigating the use of fish oil fatty acids and their derivatives in ore flotation. Besides the esters of various saturated aliphatic acids and of palmitoleic and oleic acids, fish oil also contains esters of monoethenoid and polyethenoid acids with 20, 22, and 2 carbon atoms. The basic purpose of the investigation was to determine whether the longer-chained unsaturated acids possess collective properties superior to those of the C,, monoethenoid oleic acid, the C16 monoethenoid palmitoleic acid, or the saturated C,, stearic acid and its shorter chain homologues; whether highly unsaturated acids have merit as collectors; whether rela-

Jan 1, 1960

By E. R. Borcherdt

Methods and equipment are subject to study in the Butte district at all times in order that advantage may be taken of any new developments that might serve to increase efficiency and lower costs. Detailed time studies of each operation involved in the entire mining process have been of invaluable assistance in analyzing the individual operation for possible improvement. In other words, the fact that a practice has been in vogue for many years does not exempt it from change provided an easier and cheaper method can be found. Exploration Ore occurs in the Butte district in such manner that structures must be drifted on, no matter how small or unimportant they appear when intersected by a crosscut. Parallel structures also add to the crosscut requirements. This prospecting work, which formerly was done entirely by drifting and crosscutting, is now being supplemented by diamond drilling, to aid in greatly decreasing the amount of waste. In long-shot prospecting, or in second or third class prospecting, where the chances of developing commercial ore are not very great, diamond drilling is of particular value. In prospecting where chances of encountering commercial ore are certain or where crosscuts can be used later for haulage or ventilation, drilling obviously is not applicable. Improvement in drilling machines and bits has contributed greatly to the present success of diamond drilling. For many Years square-set filled stoping was the principal mining method used in the Butte district. Later timbered and untimbered rill stopes were used, also some horizontal cut-and-fill stoping where both Ore and walls were particularly strong. Because of the amount of timber required for square-set stoping, and the relatively low production per stope unit, experiments with horizontal cut-and-fill stopes were begun in Ore bodies of which many had fairly weak walls. It was felt that increase in the speed of the stoping operation, followed closely by filling, to avoid weight being produced by permitting ore and walls to remain insufficiently supported over comparatively long periods, would maintain the walls and backs in safe condition without the use of timber and without ore dilution from wall slough. Cycles of drilling, scraping ore, and filling were devised, which have materially increased stope production and decreased timber consumption, so that both stope labor and supply costs were lowered appreciably without materially affecting grade control. In the larger mines of the district, where wide veins favor this stoping method, half of the total production is now being mined by horizontal cut-and-fill stopes (Fig. I). The increase of the filling rate demanded by the increased stoping rate was the greatest obstacle encountered in the accelerated stoping operations. Finally this problem was solved by replacing the time-honored method of transferring filling waste by small cars, which were hoisted or lowered in the auxiliary shaft, by a transfer

Jan 1, 1943

By E. R. Borcherdt

Methods and equipment are subject to study in the Butte district at all times in order that advantage may be taken of any new developments that might serve to increase efficiency and lower costs. Detailed time studies of each operation involved in the entire mining process have been of invaluable assistance in analyzing the individual operation for possible improvement. In other words, the fact that a practice has been in vogue for many years does not exempt it from change provided an easier and cheaper method can be found. Exploration Ore occurs in the Butte district in such manner that structures must be drifted on, no matter how small or unimportant they appear when intersected by a crosscut. Parallel structures also add to the crosscut requirements. This prospecting work, which formerly was done entirely by drifting and crosscutting, is now being supplemented by diamond drilling, to aid in greatly decreasing the amount of waste. In long-shot prospecting, or in second or third class prospecting, where the chances of developing commercial ore are not very great, diamond drilling is of particular value. In prospecting where chances of encountering commercial ore are certain or where crosscuts can be used later for haulage or ventilation, drilling obviously is not applicable. Improvement in drilling machines and bits has contributed greatly to the present success of diamond drilling. For many Years square-set filled stoping was the principal mining method used in the Butte district. Later timbered and untimbered rill stopes were used, also some horizontal cut-and-fill stoping where both Ore and walls were particularly strong. Because of the amount of timber required for square-set stoping, and the relatively low production per stope unit, experiments with horizontal cut-and-fill stopes were begun in Ore bodies of which many had fairly weak walls. It was felt that increase in the speed of the stoping operation, followed closely by filling, to avoid weight being produced by permitting ore and walls to remain insufficiently supported over comparatively long periods, would maintain the walls and backs in safe condition without the use of timber and without ore dilution from wall slough. Cycles of drilling, scraping ore, and filling were devised, which have materially increased stope production and decreased timber consumption, so that both stope labor and supply costs were lowered appreciably without materially affecting grade control. In the larger mines of the district, where wide veins favor this stoping method, half of the total production is now being mined by horizontal cut-and-fill stopes (Fig. I). The increase of the filling rate demanded by the increased stoping rate was the greatest obstacle encountered in the accelerated stoping operations. Finally this problem was solved by replacing the time-honored method of transferring filling waste by small cars, which were hoisted or lowered in the auxiliary shaft, by a transfer

Jan 1, 1943

By William K. Antle

The successful application of ther mo compression lead bonding to semicondtctor or thin-film electronic devices depends on the establishment of the associated parameters. The quality of a thermocompression bond is primarily related to the process temperature and bonding force. A technique using the coelyicient of friction is presented that both reduces the time necessary for determining optimum parameter values and increases the accuracy of the results. Modern theories of the friction process are used to develop mathernatical expressions for shear and tensile bond strengths in terms of friction measurements. A further application of the pararneter-deterlnination technique concerns the measurement of surface contamination that may affect thermocompression bonding. In spite of the extensive use of thermocompression bonding, adequate methods for determining the bonding parameters have not been utilized. The quality of the weld depends on the temperature, force, and time used. There is a definite value or range of values for each parameter which assures an optimum weld. The process now generally used to obtain these values is to make several weld samples at each parametric setting, determine the mean pull strength, and relate the maximum consistent strength to optimum weld conditions. This could involve a very large number of test samples if a thorough search of each parameter were made. Experience and prior knowledge can reduce this number somewhat by limiting the investigation to a range known to contain the correct value, but the time and effort involved are still objectionable. The problems associated with thermocompression bonding of interconnecting leads to semiconductor or thin-film devices can be alleviated by the application of a new technique for establishing the process parameters. Obtaining the correct temperature, force, and duration to assure an optimum bond is accomplished by a simple measurement of the coefficient of friction. This approach increases the accuracy of parameter determination and greatly reduces the time necessary to complete the process. The approach made can be better understood by analyzing the principles of adhesion and friction on which thermocompression bonding depends. When two flat polished surfaces are placed together, the area of actual contact is much less than the apparent area determined by the over-all dimensions of the surface. This is because the microscopic surface is covered with projections which prevent uniform contact. Careful measurements of the electrical resistance across the contacting surfaces indicate the actual area may only be 1100,000 of the apparent area.' Because the actual contact area is small, extremely high pressure results from moderate force. This will produce deformation and plastic flow at contact points of the microscopic projections. The process will terminate in the creation of a large number of minute welds formed at extreme pressure and cold-worked to strong, hard bonds. Load removal will generally result in fracture of most of these microbonds because of the residual elastic stresses, unless the materials are soft. Friction between metals is due to the formation and

Jan 1, 1967

By E. R. Borcherdt

METHODS and equipment are subject to study in the Butte district at all times in order that advantage may be taken of any new developments that might serve to increase efficiency and lower costs. Detailed time studies of each operation involved in the entire mining process have been of invaluable assistance in analyzing the individual operation for possible improvement. In other words, the fact that a practice has been in vogue for many years does not exempt it from change provided an easier and cheaper method can be found. EXPLORATION Ore occurs in the Butte district in such manner that structures must be drifted on, no matter how small or unimportant they appear when intersected by a crosscut. Parallel structures also add to the crosscut requirements. This prospecting work, which formerly was done entirely by drifting and crosscutting, is now being supplemented by diamond drilling, to aid in greatly decreasing the amount of waste. In long-shot prospecting, or in second or third class prospecting, where the chances of developing commercial ore are not very great, diamond drilling is of particular value. In prospecting where chances of encountering commercial ore are certain or where crosscuts can be used later for haulage or ventilation, drilling obviously is not applicable. Improvement in drilling machines and bits has contributed greatly to the present success of diamond drilling. STOPING For many years square-set filled stoping was the principal mining method used in the Butte district. Later timbered and untimbered rill stopes were used, also some horizontal cut-and-fill stoping where both ore and walls were particularly strong. Because of the amount of timber required for square-set stoping, and the relatively low production per stope unit, experiments with horizontal cut-and-fill stopes were begun in ore bodies of which many had fairly weak walls. It was felt that increase in the speed of the stoping operation, followed closely by filling, to avoid weight being produced by permitting ore and walls to remain insufficiently supported over comparatively long periods, would maintain the walls and backs in safe condition without the use of timber and without ore dilution from wall slough. Cycles of drilling, scraping ore, and filling were devised, which have materially increased stope production and decreased timber consumption, so that both stope labor and supply costs were lowered appreciably without materially affecting grade control. In the larger mines of the district, where wide veins favor this stoping method, half of the total production is now being mined by horizontal cut-and-fill stopes (Fig. I). The increase of the filling rate demanded by the increased stoping rate was the greatest obstacle encountered in the accelerated stoping operations. Finally this problem was solved by replacing the time-honored method of transferring filling waste by small cars, which were hoisted or lowered in the auxiliary shaft, by a transfer

Jan 1, 1941

By Henry J. Sandri

ACQUISITION JUSTIFICATION There are many reasons why companies consider acquisitions as a means to expand their operations. Some wish to reduce the impact of business cycles on their businesses. Others seek firms within the same industry for expansion and increased market share. Still others diversify in order to avoid takeovers. Whatever the reasons or justification, an evaluation of an acquisition candidate should be systematic and thorough. To many financial managers the concept of a systematic acquisition evaluation indicates the need for a regular set of evaluation criteria. While these are available from numerous sources, one basic parameter frequently overlooked is the application of these criteria to an industry which is different from the acquirer. This becomes particularly important when evaluating firms within the mineral industry. The mineral industry is significantly different from other industries to require different valuing techniques. • This paper will present a number of reasons why an acquisition candidate in the mineral industry should be evaluated differently from other acquisitions, including by other mineral firms. Additionally, this paper will review the most appropriate means of valuing a mineral firm. • Firms considering the acquisition of a mineral firm should understand the nature of the industry before ever making a tender offer. Some of the general considerations include the following: • Level of Capital Intensity: In the mid-1980's the start up cost for a gold mine has been between 20-200 million dollars and 500-1,500 million dollars for a bauxite operation. • Global Nature of Competition: Except for certain industrial minerals, most minerals and metals are traded worldwide and many on national exchanges, such as COMEX. • Start-Up Time: Many mining operations in developed and developing countries have long lead times, 7 to 10 years in some cases, prior to the start-up of production. • Long Term Nature of Investment: For most mineral operations payback usually occurs at least 7 years after production has started. Additionally, many mining operations will continue producing for 80-100 years. • High Level of Risk: The number of factors that a mining firm cannot control such as grade, volume, world supply and demand, plus the long payback periods tend to classify mineral firms at a higher than average risk compared to other investments. • Cyclical Nature: The mineral industry is cyclical in nature, experiencing long troughs and explosive peaks, thus making timing a critical issue. • Labor Intensive: Even with the large capital requirements needed to operate a mine, most mines are labor intensive in proportion to their capital equipment. • Location: Obviously, the nature of this industry requires operators to work in difficult locations, frequently far from civilized localities, in poor weather conditions and without proper supply and distribution infrastructure. One of the most important considerations is an understanding of asset replacement and asset value. Unlike manufacturing concerns, firms in the mineral industry are working toward the elimination, through depletion, of their asset base. Product flexibility is not available to a mining operation. A mineral firm basically has two options as its resource base is depleted: 1) replace the asset with new production, or 2) deplete the asset and close down operation, as in the South African gold mining model referred to later in this paper. An understanding of the

Jan 1, 1985

By W. A. Backofen, G. Mayer

Single crystals of iron, copper, and a Cu-7 wt pct A1 alloy were pulled through conical dies to simulate the constraint in a polycrystalline aggregate undergoing axisymmetric reduction. With Taylor-type hardening, dependence of the drawing stress, od, on the Taylor orientation factor, M, is predictable from the polycrystal stress-strain curve; in particular, for a power-law relationship, it should follow that d log od/d log M = (1 + n). A first-order agreement with analysis was found in the data from iron. For copper, the implied n from the observed d log od/d l°g M was -0, while for Cu-7Al it was negative. The trend was in the direction of random polycrystal behavior. Thus the idea of hardening only in response to the amount of prior slip loses validity as stacking fault energy (SFE) is lowered. Two possible explanations have been suggested: as stacking fault ribbons are widened, barriers from dislocation reactions become increasingly effective in dispersing slip and reducing the orientation dependence of the total glide strain dm that appears in alternatively, or conjointly, the polyslip shear stress, 7, acquires an orientation dependence of a kind which has the same leveling effect on M. The problem of relating the strain hardening of polycrystalline material to that of an isolated single crystal is still largely unsolved. In a new experimental approach from recent work, single crystals of different orientations have been deformed under the constraints found in an aggregate while measuring their deformation resistance. Procedures have involved drawing cylindrical crystals through conical dies1 and compressing slab-shaped crystals in plane strain.2'3 Predictions for the outcome of such experiments were made first by Taylor~ and later, in more general form, by Bishop and Hill.5'6 Taylor's example was the axisymmetric extension of an fcc crystal slipping on the usual {111}(110) systems or, equivalently, a bcc crystal undergoing 'kestricted" slip on {110}(111). In his solution, the deformation work supplied was equated to that dissipated internally in slip on all active systems. With o the single applied tensile stress, dc the resulting axial strain, and dyT the total glide strain on systems operating at resolved shear stress, 7: The orientation dependence of M was found by minimizing dyT for each orientation while activating five independent systems, Fig. l(a).? The Bishop and Hill analysis, based on a principle of maximum work, leads to essentially the same conclusion; the need for at least five active systems is recognized in the finding that either six or eight are actually brought into operation. The mean value from the entire stereo-graphic triangle in either case is M - 3.06. More recently, Hutchinson8 made a Taylor-type analysis for pencil glide in a bcc structure, from which piehlerg prepared Fig. l(b) as the counterpart in Fig. l(a); here M = 2.75. The obvious weakness in such analyses is the indifference to slip-system interactions. A condition of what might be termed "independent"

Jan 1, 1969

By J. F. Gallie

From the standpoint of exploration and new discoveries, South Arkansas had a discouraging year in 1944. In January there were 73 untested drilling blocks, and 60 additions were made during the year. Of the total, 65 were condemned by dry holes on or adjacent to them, while 5 proved productive. The latter resulted in the discovery of the Salem Church, Calhoun Wilks, and Strong fields, and the extension of the Village field to the southeast. The year ended with 63 untested blocks, 41 of which were scheduled for tests to the Smackover lime, the state's deepest oil-producing formation. Geophysical activity in 1944 totaled 164 crew weeks, of which 110 were seismic, 43 gravity, and 11 radioactive (Fig. I), in contrast with 674 crew weeks reported for 1943, of, which 563 were seismic and in gravity, Five seismograph and two gravity crews were engaged in exploration in South Arkansas during January 1944. but only two seismograph crews were working there at the end of the year. In addition, exploratory core drills were used for a total of 38 weeks during the year. The year's few discoveries, none of which is considered as having added appreciably to state reserves, were the meager results obtained in the drilling of 62 wildcat wells 2000 ft. or deeper. Of this total (a detail of which appears in Table 2), 42 were drilled to the Smack-over lime or below, The average depth of the 62 wells was 5384 ft., as compared with 4992 ft. in the preceding year, while the average depth of the 42 wildcats in the lime was 5913 ft. in 1944. Fig. 2 has been prepared to show all , wells penetrating to the Reynolds oölitic lime. The 1944 dry holes are circled lightly, while discoveries are heavily circled and shown as producers. Smackover lime fields, producing from the Reynolds oolitic lime member, are indicated in black, and the locations of dry wildcat wells drilled prior to 1944 are also shown. Table 3 provides a listing of all Smackover lime wells drilled through the end of 1944. Production for the year was slightly more than in 1943, totaling 29,282,747 bbl., as compared with 27,521,943 bbl. for the preceding year. The increase was 1,760,804 bbl., or 6.4 per cent, bringing production to a peak exceeded only in the 1923 to 1928 period of flush production from the older shallow fields, principally Smackover. The increase was largely attributable to additional development in the Dorcheat-Macedonia, Atlanta, Fouke, Stephens-Smart, Haynesville, and Village fields, little production deriving from 1944 discoveries. These six fields accounted for loo of the 122 field wells drilled during the year. Annual and cumulative production for the producing life of the state are presented graphically in Fig. 3. Fig. 6 has been prepared by the author to show the producing ages and present known productive limits of all fields in South Arkansas. Production data, as usual, are assembled in Table 2, and provide a further breakdown of producing formations in the individual fields.

Jan 1, 1945

By W. R. Foster, J. M. McMillen, A. S. Odeh

The complete equations of average linear momentum balance for a single-phase fluid in an incompreisible, homogeneous, porous medium are derived. The derivation begins with Euler's equation of motion for a continuum and uses an integral transform recently developed by Slattery. 7 For steady flow of a compressible, Newtonian fluid, the usual equations of motion result. For transient flow, the space-time description of the pressure is determined in the lowest approximation by the telegrapher's equation. From the analysis a new phenomenological coefficient results which connects the viscous traction to the deriv ative of the linear momentum density. The magnitude of this coefficient determines the velocity of sound through the pore structure in this approximation to the pressure field. INTRODUCTION The modification of Darcy's law of momentum balance for steady, single-phase flow through porous media has been discussed for many years. The first modification was suggested by Forcheimerl who added terms of higher order in the velocity. These can be expected to appear because the underlying microscopic equations of momentum balance are themselves nonlinear in the point velocity field. The Reynolds tensor pvv, which represents the convective flux of momentum density, appears in the momentum balance equation. Only in rectilinear flow (parallel stream lines) does the divergence of this tensor vanish. Since the steady flow stream lines in most porous media are not parallel, nonlinear dependence of the pressure gradient on the velocity should naturally appear. This nonlinearity has nothing to do with turbulence in the ordinary sense of random fluctuations in the pressure and velocity fields. It arises simply because the stream lines converge and diverge, even for steady flows. Klinkenberg2 demonstrated that the permeability coefficient in Darcy's law depends on the absolute pressure or, alternatively, on the density field. However, because he neglected inertial terms of the Forcheimer type, his correction coefficient could not be represented by a constant but tended toward a constant as the velocity decreased. Forcheimer's and Klinkenberg's modifications can be combined in a rigorous way to account for both inertia and slip during steady flow. This will be shown in a future paper. The transient change of pressure in porous media has been described by the diffusion equation.3 This form results from eliminating the velocity and density fields from a combination of the equations of motion in the form of Darcy's law, the continuity equation and an equation of state. Fatt4 suggested that the cause of deviations from the prediction of the diffusion equation for pressure transients lies not in the choice of Darcy's law as the equation of motion but on the existence of dead-end pores which might invalidate the averaged equation of continuity. On the other hand, Oroveanu and Pascal5 noted chat the time derivative of the momentum density must be included in the equations of motion since this measures the local rate of change of momentum density. Their differential equation for pressure is the telegrapher's equation (neglecting gravity). However, their form of this equation predicts that the speed of pressure propagation through the pore structure is the same as that through the bulk fluid. M. K. Hubbert6 attempted a derivation of Darcy's law by volume averaging the Navier-Stokes equations. Since these equations represent momentum balance at a point within an open set of points containing the fluid itself, Hubbert's volume averaging cannot lead to tenns involving transfer of momentum between the fluid and the walls of the pores. Once these viscous tractions are lost by choosing a control volume containing only fluid, they cannot

By AIME AIME

CHARLES A. CHASE, manager of the Shenandoah-Dives Syndicate, operating the Shenandoah Mines in southwestern Colorado, reviewed the current work at that property at a recent meeting of the Colorado Section, in Denver. This operation is a new one, having been in effect only two years, but the properties that were consolidated by Mr. Chase had had certain production in earlier years, since when they had: been inactive. These properties are located. in the high mountains of the San Juan section in Colorado, and although they had had a substantial production of ores of good grade in the upper levels, the project as a whole involved the bold undertaking of driving through the mountain, starting on the Mayflower claim on the Arrastre Gulch side and passing through the Mayflower, Slide, Terrible, North Star, Dives and Shenandoah No. 3 claims. This is a distance of over 8,000 ft. which is known to be mineralized, and the main operating tunnel was started at an elevation of approximately 11,000 ft. The main exploration work has already extended in nearly 4,200 ft. and the present mining production of nearly 550 tons daily is being secured while the main exploration work is being continued. The main heading is now within the North Star claim and the plan of operations involves continuing ahead for a few hundred feet and then starting an upraise which will he 2,200 ft. high and which will connect with the old workings of the North Star mine. The plan of ruining then will he to drive levels along the vein in both, directions to daylight and retreat downward, taking out all the ore and abandoning, the workings after the ore is removed. In this way one level after another progressing downward will be abandoned. The raise will be of two compartments, one of which will carry the 8-ton skip and the other the counterweight and manway. So far the ore has been broken over an average width of more than 11 ft., with an output of 39 tons per machine shift.

Jan 1, 1932