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By John Griffen

THE distinguishing principle of the Tromp process is the use of a medium in the bath which is not stable, i.e., the solids will settle and the density of the medium increases with depth. A medium of uniform density can most easily be effected by agitation or by means which increase the viscosity of the medium. Either of these works against the sharpness of separation of coal from its impurities. The Tromp process grinds the medium solids to relative coarseness, allows them to settle downward in the bath without hindrance, and introduces horizontal currents of medium at intermediate levels between top and bottom of the bath. This prevents any accumulation of particles denser than the upper layer of the medium from which the clean coal is conveyed away or an accumulation of particles lighter than the bottom layer or medium whence the refuse is removed. In a relatively shallow bath making a two-product separation, the intermediate horizontal currents sweep these intermediate gravity materials away to be discharged with the refuse removed by the conveyor. Such a system provides a number of advantages. The gravity of separation can be changed simply by changing the density of the medium without changing particle size of medium solids or other conditions, as would be necessary with a system requiring uniform or stable density throughout the bath. Some installations in Europe separate at 1.40 sp gr on one shift, producing a superclean coal, and on the next shift reclean refuse from dry cleaning units and effect a separation at 1.80 sp gr. Medium solids may be much coarser in size consist, which reduces the viscosity of the medium and promotes its fluidity and in turn the sharpness of separation. Coarser medium solids with a more rapid settling rate are much more easily recoverable from the dilute medium rinsed from the products. The Tromp process is not limited to the use of medium solids having magnetic properties. Instal-

Jan 1, 1953

By B. B. Zavoico

There were no radical changes in the petroleum situation in the Russian Soviet Union during the 1926 to 1927 operating year. The developments of the previous year were continued, but the major undertakings were far from being completed. The pipe lines from Baku to Batum and from Grozny to Touapse, and the large refineries on the Black Sea are delayed in their completion by the insufficient authorizations; until their completion the changes in the general situation will be necessarily of a halfway nature. The marketing situation was subject to much controversy during the past year and, though certain statements are quite true, the bulk of the criticism against the petroleum industry hardly deserves mention. The home market in Russia is steadily growing, with the per capita kerosene consumption already exceeding the prewar figure and fuel oil consumption obviously gaining. The foreign trade is making rapid and well-grounded success, but continues to suffer from low world quotations. There is no apparent sacrifice of home consumers in favor of export trade. The production of all Russian fields increased by 13,750,000 bbl. as compared with the 1925 to 1926 operating year, and next year's program anticipates a further increase of 9,720,000 bbl. (Table 1). The increased and improved refining facilities will make the real gain in production in the next year even larger than these figures indicate.

Jan 1, 1928

By John Griffen

THE distinguishing principle of the Tromp process is the use of a medium in the bath which is not stable, i.e., the solids will settle and the density of the medium increases with depth. A medium of uniform density can most easily be effected by agitation or by means which increase the viscosity of the medium. Either of these works against the sharpness of separation of coal from its impurities. The Tromp process grinds the medium solids to relative coarseness, allows them to settle downward in the bath without hindrance, and introduces horizontal currents of medium at intermediate levels between top and bottom of the bath. This prevents any accumulation of particles denser than the upper layer of the medium from which the clean coal is conveyed away or an accumulation of particles lighter than the bottom layer or medium whence the refuse is removed. In a relatively shallow bath making a two-product separation, the intermediate horizontal currents sweep these intermediate gravity materials away to be discharged with the refuse removed by the conveyor. Such a system provides a number of advantages. The gravity of separation can be changed simply by changing the density of the medium without changing particle size of medium solids or other conditions, as would be necessary with a system requiring uniform or stable density throughout the bath. Some installations in Europe separate at 1.40 sp gr on one shift, producing a superclean coal, and on the next shift reclean refuse from dry cleaning units and effect a separation at 1.80 sp gr. Medium solids may be much coarser in size consist, which reduces the viscosity of the medium and promotes its fluidity and in turn the sharpness of separation. Coarser medium solids with a more rapid settling rate are much more easily recoverable from the dilute medium rinsed from the products. The Tromp process is not limited to the use of medium solids having magnetic properties. Instal-

Jan 1, 1953

By Herman Poole

When finely divided ferrous sulphide, FeS, is roasted at a moderate, carefully-regulated temperature, the iron and sulphur are oxidized, the first products being probably ferrous oxide and sulphurous acid. In the presence of oxygen of the air the ferrous oxide soon becomes ferric oxide, and, in the presence of oxygen and the ferric oxide, the sulphurous acid oxidizes to sulphuric acid. These facts are well known, having been established by Plattner many years ago. As a further reaction, some of the sulphuric acid parts with a portion of its oxygen to oxidize more ferrous oxide to ferric oxide, and a portion of it escapes uncombined, or else unites with the iron oxides to form sulphates. Ferrous sulphate is usually soon oxidized to ferric sulphate, and if the heat becomes sufficient, this is then decomposed into sulphuric acid and ferric oxide. As a result of these reactions a mass of more or less pure ferric oxide is formed which is generally made porous by the escaping gases and, if rabbled properly, practically all the sulphur is expelled. If ferric sulphide or ordinary pyrites, FeS2, is roasted, a portion of the sulphur sublimes and usually burns to form sulphurous or sulphuric acid, although at times and under favorable conditions, some of the sulphur is driven off uncombined, and can be collected as such. Under ordinary methods of roasting, however, only a small portion escapes combustion. By the combustion of the sulphur an increase of heat is developed and, as a consequence, the reactions mentioned take place more rapidly and actively,—more sulphuric acid is formed and the oxidation is more complete—nearly all the iron being left as ferric oxide with practically no sulphate or ferrous oxide. When the iron sulphide is in lumps the roasting proceeds generally as with fines, but with some changes due to mass. The

Jan 1, 1906

By C. E. Cannon, R. C. Craze

This paper discusses the results of a study of reservoir pressures in the Gulf Coast area of Texas and Louisiana, showing the general relation of the reservoir pressure to its subsea depth, as well as excessive reservoir pressures that have been encountered. The latter are particularly important in mud-control work, and the data show why it is necessary to use muds having a relatively high density in many of the deeper wells drilled in this area. Only a comparatively few of the wells drilled in the Gulf Coast that have encountered excessive pressures are discussed, but as far as is known those omitted fall within the range of pressure observed by the writers. Measurement of Pressures The following methods were used to determine the values of the original pressures: 1. Estimation of original pressure from subsequent pressure behavior of fields. This method is not precise, and was used only in a few of the older fields in which better methods of obtaining original pressures were not available. Only normal pressures were determined by this method. 2. Measurement of shut-in pressures soon after completion of the first producing well. With one exception, all pressures measured by this method were normal, this well having a pressure slightly higher than normal. 3. Measurements of pressure in connection with drill-stem tests. 4. Estimates from the maximum hydrostatic head of mud that failed to prevent flow from the high-pressure formations into the hole. This method is not exact, tending generally to indicate low pressures. Normal Pressures All pressure measurements available are plotted in Fig. 1, with original pressure at the water-oil contact as abscissa and subsea depth as ordinate. All producing fields fall close to the solid line, which passes through the origin and has a slope of 0.465 lb. per sq. in. per ft. By way of compari-

Jan 1, 1938

By T. Leser, A. W. Jenike

The problems of caving and underground subsidence can be considered as the failure of a highly compacted rock and its subsequent flow in the form of broken rock. The problem is complex because the propagation of failure and flow have to be considered simultaneously; the yield strength of the virgin rock and the broken rock are different; and, while under certain conditions it is sufficient to consider the virgin rock as homogeneous, the density and the yield function of broken rock are both pressure and time dependent. A study of the failure and flow of solids with a pressure dependent yield function has been published recently by Jenike.' In this paper the density of the broken rock is assumed to be only time dependent and the consequences are examined in the case of one-dimensional vertical subsidence into an initial cavity. The following describes an attempt to develop a tool which, in combination with other tools, may lead to mathematical solutions of real problems of caving and subsidence. STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM An underground cavity of horizontal cross section 4 = 1 and height 6 is assumed to exist at some depth below the surface. At the time t = 0 rock above the cavity fails and completely fills out the cavity with expanded broken material. With passing time the broken rock consolidates and subsidence proceeds continuously upuard in a vertical shaft. The phenomenon is one-dimensional (see Fig. 1). The problem consists of finding the displacement and the velocity with which the frlmt of the subsidence (wave front) moves upward as a function of the time and of the rock properties. DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS CONTROLLING THE PHENOMENON With the assumptions that the broken rock is a continuum and that the subsidence occurs continuously, we can apply the one-dimensional differential equation of contitiuity (conservation of mass) and the equation of preservation of momentum The latter equation is replaced by an assumed relation based on experience, which takes care of the

Jan 1, 1962

By Elliott J. Roberts

In spite of the fact that the percentage of true colloids in an ore grind is very small,' these pulps exhibit many of the properties of true colloidal suspensions. A quartz particle, appreciably finer than 10 microns in diameter, has a settling rate so low that at a dilution of 5:l or over, the capacity of a settling tank to settle such particles would be uneconomical if the individual particle rate prevailed. However, by grouping the finer particles into aggregates or flocs, the settling rate can be increased to an economical value. The colloidal chemistry of pulp thickening is thus chiefly concerned with particles having diameters of between 1 and 10 microns, although particles as coarse as 40 microns in diameter are more or less involved. These particles must be associated in such a manner that they settle at an economical rate and give a clear, supernatant liquid or overflow. The treatment of the subject may be divided into three phases, cach phase having a more or less different colloidal aspect. The first phase is the problem of getting the pulp or suspension into the proper condition of flocculence; the second is the behavior of the flocculent pulp in its initial and intermediate stages of settling; the third is the behavior of the flocs in the find period of settling or thickening stage. Let us look first into the methods and mechanism of obtaining the flocs and then consider their behavior and properties. Flocculation Colloids are merely ordinary substances reduced to a very small particle size, the upper limit being placed by definition at 1 micron (0.001 mm.) diameter by the soil chemists and at from 0.2 to 0.1 micron by various other colloid chemists. The lower limit is reached only when the particles approach molecular dimensions. The term L'colloid" should not necessarily imply lack of crystallinity. Particles as small as 0.01 to 0.02 micron give perfect X-ray patterns, while with 0.005 micron particles the bands on the powder photograph are merely broaderled and diffused.2

Jan 1, 1935

By Alan D. Smith

Mine roof fall characteristics of 250 falls in 5 different room-and-pillar coal mines, located in Pike, Martin, and Floyd counties, were investigated to determine the relationship of selected parameters associated with roof failure and the assumed condition of the mine roof before failure. The selected parameters used in the study included: presence of cracks and water before the occurrence of fall, sloughing of coal ribs, floor heave condition, type of roof support (resin or mechanical anchor bolts), distance to coal face, and time of occurrence of fall after initial coal extraction. In addition, research hypotheses, utilizing multiple linear regression techniques, were generated to test the relationship among the selected parameters and mine roof condition. The results indicated that the vast majority of falls portrayed some presence of water before the actual fall, occurred in less than 30 weeks after initial coal excavation, located usually greater than 30 meters from nearest coal face, gave evidence of cracks in mine roof before occurrence of fall, generally portrayed a good roof condition before the fall, showed presence of sloughing of coal ribs, and gave no occurrence of floor heave before occurrence of fall. In terms of the characteristics of the original support systems in the mine roof falls studied, most roofs were either supported by mechanical-anchor bolts or resin or full-column bolts; very rarely did the roof appear to fail if supported by posts or cribs. A detail inspection of the hypothesis and model comparison results gave supporting evidence that the condition of the roof is not dependent on the usual indicators of potential failure, such as presence of cracks and moisture. In fact, in most cases of mine roof failure, the immediate roof condition was rated as good or better, which gives little or no indication of pending failure and collapse. Hence, a combination of factors that are not easily accessible to measurement, are the dominant factors in the determination of roof fall-potential areas.

Jan 1, 1984

Jan 1, 1969

By AIME AIME

This section contains announcements of general interest to the members of the Institute, but not always of sufficient permanent value to warrant republication in the volumes of the Transactions.

Sep 1, 1906

By Thomas J. Almy

The Ontario croppings were struck July 19th, 1872, by Herman Budden, who, together with his partners, at once began to prospect their claim. Within five weeks their development work enabled them to sell it for $30,000 to R. C. Chambers, who represented the

Jan 1, 1888

By R. A. Pasternak, B. Evans

In an ultrahigh-vacuum study of the sorption of nitrogen by niobium* resistivity data for this metal have been obtained as function of temperature and of low nitrogen concentrations. The ultrahigh-vacuum system in which base pressures of about 5 x l0-10

Jan 1, 1965

By R. K. Bowden

In an effort to gain a better understanding of shale joint behaviour, normal-only and shear creep tests were performed on artificially prepared shale joints. Pre- and post-test surfaces were examined for changes in morphology. This paper discusses both of these programs and the results derived from them.

Jan 1, 1984

By J. J. Bodmer

THE four different modes, more or less practiced for subdividing slag (that is, producing slag sand), are the following : 1. Crushing the slag from the lump in Blake's crusher, by edge runners or other suitable means. 2. Blowing water, steam, cold or hot air, into the stream of viscous slag whilst it runs from the furnace. So treated, the slag takes

Jan 1, 1874

By James R. Stuart

AS the available remaining properties of iron ore reserves on the Mesabi Range are opened up for mining, the various properties located under lake beds are brought nearer an active status. The actual physical problems involved in stripping these properties do not act as a deterrent so much as the legal and political problems that are encountered.

Jan 9, 1951

By Harlowe Hardinge, R. C. Ferguson

Laboratory and plant data covering 12 different operations show that lower than "standard" ball mill speeds increase grinding efficiency. In the case of high pulp-level mills, the gain is so great that the increase in capital cost of the larger lower speed mill will pay for itself in less than a year's time.

Jan 11, 1950

By David M. Hopstock, Jose M. Pastrana

The magnetic susceptibilities of samples of natural and artificial hematite and natural goethite were measured by the Faraday method as functions of temperature, magnetizing field strength and particle size. All samples showed weak ferromagnetism, which accounted for large variations in susceptibility with field strength and particle size. Three probable sources of the weak ferromagnetism were identified.

Jan 1, 1978

By W. A. Backofen, R. L. Fleischer

AN effect of orientation on the creep behavior of aluminum at 4.2 OK has been observed. Stress relaxation was measured in a hard-type tensile device after stopping the drive. From the spring constant of the device the load-time record could be converted to strain as a function of time. The strain sensitivity was 2-10-=, and the usual creep time of 1 min normally allowed a stress drop of about 25 g per sq mm. Further details of the apparatus and sample preparation appear elsewhere.' It should be noted that neither stress nor strain were constant, so that quantitative comparison with current creep theories will not be made. Shear strain (y) as a function of time (t) was consistent with logarithmic behavior: y = A In t, where A is a constant. In some cases t was made as large as lo3 sec. In the results the quantity A divided by t (the resolved shear stress, which is the driving force for creep) is plotted as a function of strain prior to creep. The quantity A/t is thought to indicate qualitatively the ease with which dislocations can move during creep. In Fig. 1 are drawn tensile stress-strain curves and A/T-strain measurements for single crystals of three orientations: l(a) and l(b) for the maximum resolved shear-stress orientation, l(c) for an orientation 2 deg from [211], and l(d) for a [111] stress axis. The following observations were made: 1) At low strains the A/t values are nearly the same for the three orientations. 2) As strains increase, A/t drops most rapidly for [Ill.] and less rapidly for [211], while for the maximum shear-stress orientation it is constant during easy glide and drops abruptly at the termination of easy glide. 3) In stage 11, A/t values are again approximately the same for the three orientations. These observations are regarded as evidence that 1) the initiation of slip produces obstacles of essentially the same effectiveness for all of these orientations, while 2) the rate at which slip obstacles are produced before stage I1 is fully developed is strongly controlled by the amount of slip on more than one system. This second statement is consis-

Jan 1, 1961

By J. H. Curran

In this paper, a numerical model for determining the stress and displacement fields around a crack of arbitrary geometry in a linear elastic medium is described. Accuracy and computational speed were the main considerations in selecting the numerical method and Propagation criteria used to model the growing crack. Some results regarding the stresses and displacements around a two-dimensional crack of arbitrary geometry are discussed.

Jan 1, 1984

(Under this heading will be published notes sent to the Secretary of the Institute by members or other persons introduced by members.) No. 528.-Mechanical engineer, member and technical graduate, with broad experience in shopwork, the economical handling and processing of materials and in plant design construction and maintenance and with good experience in mechanical engineering problems, as occurring at mines, available about Feb. 1 for a connection having sufficient work of this

Jan 2, 1919