Search Documents

By A. R. Oltrogge

WE have just seen? that resistance is a characteristic of an electric circuit that makes it difficult for current to flow; also, that if, by the application of voltage, we cause a current to flow through a circuit having resistance, heat is generated. This is the principle utilized in the production of heat by electric power in the arc furnace. In order to fully appreciate the problems of the arc-furnace electric circuit, let us examine the characteristics of some of the more commonly used materials that offer resistance to a flow of current and thereby produce heat. Usually the resistance material is a metal or a metal alloy, such as the nichrome ribbon in an electric toaster or the tungsten filament of an ordinary light bulb. These are the materials whose resistance-remains relatively fixed and which therefore permit the flow of a definite amount of current for a given impressed voltage. If we want more current to flow, we must either decrease the resistance or increase the voltage that is causing the current to flow. Such a resistive material has what we call a positive volt-ampere characteristic, which means that in order to get more current we must apply more voltage, and in order to reduce the current we must reduce the voltage. Such a volt-ampere characteristic can be represented by a line plotted on a graph (line B, Fig I).

Jan 1, 1947

By Julius Albert Krug

IN the field of mineral resources, today's problems and those we can reasonably expect in the future are so vast that nothing less than world-wide thinking and world-wide planning will suffice. I can imagine nothing more useful for the Institute to do in celebration of its seventy-fifth anniversary than to hold this conference on world mineral resources. Mineral resources are the basis of any nation's industrial production. Without expanding industrial production, the high standard of living found in the United States could not exist. Without such a standard of living it would be most unlikely that we should have a high level of culture. The hope of the world, as I see it, depends very largely on a general rise in living standards everywhere, and in the general increase of the levels of culture including a sympathetic understanding of the problems of other nations. For this reason, the proper use of the world's remaining mineral resources must be taken into account in any plans to safeguard the peace of the world. Being as exasperatingly human as human beings always seem to be,. we usually wait until almost too late to begin our plans to stave off an impending disaster. We do this as individuals, as components of particular States or Governments, and as citizens of the world. We waited, if not too late, certainly a very long time in getting started on the job of world-wide con-

Jan 1, 1947

By J. B. Evans

Maintaining overall optimum profitability at a mine site necessitates constant reassessment of operating strategies. In essence, each strategy is a particular combination of envisaged capital expenditure, income flow and elapsed time. Selecting a strategy, based on profita¬bility potential requires each contemplated strategy being subjected to discounted cash flow analysis; even with a computer such analysis can be cumbersome. The chapter discusses a 'shortcut' technique which assigns profitability rankings to alternate strategies and iden¬tifies those aspects of a. strategy which impact heavily on profitabil¬ity. This technique can yield quick assessments of sufficient accuracy for many operating strategy decisions. taken on site at on-going mines.

Jan 1, 1978

By John V. Beall

As Mother Nature arranged it, the hottest potential mineral target in the country today, the Stillwater complex had to occur in a spectacular natural setting-the north margin of the Bear Tooth Mountains of Montana. What more appropriate backdrop for the August 17-18 field hearings of Senator Frank E. Moss (D-Utah). His subcommittee, on Minerals. Materials and Fuels, heard 37 witnesses ponder the value of minerals vs esthetics or other uses of federal lands. On August 17, four Army Hueys swept the senatorial party, the press, Forest Service Officers and such distinguished witnesses as Montana Governor Forrest H. Anderson over the Custer-Gallatin National Forests, besting the thin air of 10,000 ft p1us, they set down on Iron Plateau.

Jan 1, 1971

By E. C. Harder

HERBERT K. SCOTT, London, England (communication to the Secretary*).-I am acquainted with the manganese-ore deposits of Russia, India and Brazil, and agree generally with the statements contained in the paper regarding those deposits. The information given by Mr. Harder regarding the Chilean deposits is very welcome. When examining the Caucasian deposits, I endeavored to determine the quantity of ore originally contained in the deposit, and by deduction, the amount remaining for extraction. These calculations were rendered possible by the great extent of the outcrop and the extensive work that had been carried on in the deposit. In making the first estimate, the quantity of manganese ore and associated sterile material in the bed was measured in a large number of

Jan 12, 1916

By J. W. Ristori

During the year 1940, production of crude oil in RiIexico totaled 43,914,000 bbl., or 2,776,000 less than in 1937, the year before expropriation. The 1940 output was I,2000,000 higher than in the previous year. In 1937, Poza Rica production accounted Declines in exports of Panuco crude, fuel oil and gasoline were recorded but these were more than offset by increased exports of 4,000,000 bbl. of Poza Rica crude, which was the approximate amount shipped to Sinclair during 1940 under the terms of the settlement. Over-all exports increased by 1,500,000 bbl. over the preceding year. The outstanding development regarding the destination of Mexican exports in 1940 was the increase of I0,000,000 bbl. in the exports to the United States. Exports to Germany ceased toward the end of '939 and to Italy in the second half of 1940. During the year 1940 the Sinclair interests and the Mexican Government settled their expropriation question. By the terms of the settlement Sinclair is to be compensated by cash payments and oil-purchase contracts. On Dec. I, 1940, Ada Camacho was inaugurated President of Mexico for a term of six years. Among his first acts following his election were: I. A proposal to change the Constitution to restore Supreme Court Judges' terms to life tenure. This has been ratified by both chambers of the Mexican congress and is now before the legislatures of the States of Mexico for ratification. The, taking away of the administration of the railroads from labor and restoration to the State.

Jan 1, 1941

By J. W. Ristori

During the year 1940, production of crude oil in RiIexico totaled 43,914,000 bbl., or 2,776,000 less than in 1937, the year before expropriation. The 1940 output was I,2000,000 higher than in the previous year. In 1937, Poza Rica production accounted Declines in exports of Panuco crude, fuel oil and gasoline were recorded but these were more than offset by increased exports of 4,000,000 bbl. of Poza Rica crude, which was the approximate amount shipped to Sinclair during 1940 under the terms of the settlement. Over-all exports increased by 1,500,000 bbl. over the preceding year. The outstanding development regarding the destination of Mexican exports in 1940 was the increase of I0,000,000 bbl. in the exports to the United States. Exports to Germany ceased toward the end of '939 and to Italy in the second half of 1940. During the year 1940 the Sinclair interests and the Mexican Government settled their expropriation question. By the terms of the settlement Sinclair is to be compensated by cash payments and oil-purchase contracts. On Dec. I, 1940, Ada Camacho was inaugurated President of Mexico for a term of six years. Among his first acts following his election were: I. A proposal to change the Constitution to restore Supreme Court Judges' terms to life tenure. This has been ratified by both chambers of the Mexican congress and is now before the legislatures of the States of Mexico for ratification. The, taking away of the administration of the railroads from labor and restoration to the State.

Jan 1, 1941

By Tuncel M. Yegulalp, Malcolm T. Wane

In general, many problems relating to the exploitation of mineral deposits are probabilistic in nature. This derives from the fact that the geologic universe is inherently random. Probability theory and statistics have been found useful for forecasting the behavior of natural events that occur in the geologic universe. The objective of this paper is to outline the application of the theory of extremes to this forecasting problem. Consider the design of an underground structure or the design of a rock slope. The initial step is the formulation of the various possible structural actions which result from the geometry of the layout. For a given structural model, various intensities of behavior are possible depending upon the load, deformation, and material characteristic spectra, respectively. Of popular interest to mining people is the failure behavior or condition. A necessary feature of the analysis is the rupture strength of the material. Information on the rupture strength is derived from testing either in situ or in the laboratory and the usual outcome is a variation in the test results. This variation is overcome by constructing a frequency distribution of rupture strengths, and then determining a measure of central tendency and variability. The main feature of interest in the analysis is the failure characteristic and its percentage chance of occurrence. Hence, one is naturally led to examine those areas of a distribution curve which are termed the tails. The statistical concepts which can most efficiently handle such areas are contained within extreme value statistics.

Jan 8, 1969

By F. W. McNair

WITHIN the last twenty-five or thirty years the actual operations of the great mining industry have passed almost wholly under the charge of men trained in the technical colleges. It follows that the industry is profoundly influenced for good or ill by the character of the training which the college graduate receives, and the relations existing between the industry and the colleges. This fact seems to be generally recognized, as evidenced, for example, by the existence of a Committee on Technical Education created some two or three years ago by the Mining and Metallurgical Society of America. In 1921 this committee rendered a very able and. extremely well poised reports of technical education as applied to the prospective mining engineer. It deserves the attention of every one interested in the effectiveness of engineering training. That the importance of the relation between the mining industry and the engineering colleges is recog-nized is evidenced also by the mass of criticism, usually adverse, which is proffered to and often hurled at the colleges by those in the industry. The man inn the field sometimes goes so far as to say that engineering educa-tion is hopelessly inefficient and its product worthless, while the college worker sometimes complains that the demands of the industrialist are too numerous and conflicting to be met, and adds that they would' best be ignored. Between these extremes, there seems to be a general consensus of opinion that the training of the would-be engineer can be, and. ought to be, made much better than it now is.

Jan 4, 1923

By R. P. Smith, L. S. Darken

FOR a high-purity iron-carbon alloy, the phases existing at equilibrium at temperatures slightly above the temperature of the metastable eutectoid are austenite and cementite (hyper-eutectoid) or austenite and ferrite (hypo-eutectoid) and those below the eutectoid temperature (carbdn content > 0.02 pct) are ferrite and cementite. Such an alloy, held in a carefully controlled and measured temperature gradient (about 1 cm per deg) which includes the eutectoid temperature, then quenched and examined metallographicall.y, provides a precise measure of the eutectoid temperature. The samples were hollow cylinders approximately 1.3 cm OD, 0.63 cm ID, and 2.5 cm long, which had been carburized to the desired carbon content at 1000°C with an appropriate hydrogen-methane mixture. In order to cool the samples to room temperature with a minimum change of carbon content and absence of cracks they were quenched in a Cerro Bend bath at 480°C, followed by a water quench to room temperature. Three cylinders were suspended in the furnace1 in a purified helium atmosphere, by a closed end, thin wall, silica tube which also served as a thermocouple well. The top and bottom cylinders served only as a means of making the temperature gradient along the center cylinder more uniform. The temperature was determined with a platinum-platinrhodium thermel calibrated by comparison with a thermel certified (* 0.5OC) by the National Bureau of Standards. After holding in the temperature gradient for 24 to 72 hr the samples were quenched in Cerro Bend at 480°C, followed by

Jan 1, 1960

By L. B. Lindemuth

TO those who are in a position to carry the thought to a conclusion, I would like to present a theory of the cause of blisters in ' galvanized sheets. Blisters that are caused from piping and shrinkage cavities will not be considered, because the reason for their formation is entirely obvious. Blisters that periodically occur, with no apparent system of location, number, size or grouping, and then disappear with no apparent change in manufacturing method, are the ones to which this theory would apply. Examination of blisters of the latter type has shown that they contain hydrogen gas at atmospheric pres-sure, and that occasionally traces of oxide or sulfide are found on the inner surface of the blisters. These two characteristics have led to the rather general idea that hydrogen gas generated in pickling, and that iron oxide supposed to be inherent in the ingot and causing weak spots, were, in some manner, responsible for the development of blisters in galvanizing. The theory which I wish to advance is that these blisters are caused by moisture that has penetrated the steel after the annealing operation. This moisture comes from the atmosphere, or from pickling or wash-ing, and when it is suddenly expanded into superheated steam in galvanizing, the increase in volume is so great that it cannot escape with sufficient rapidity through the small opening which it entered as moisture. The pressure so generated forces the sheet apart along those lines of lamination that may be found in practically all flat sections of steel rolled comparatively cold.

Jan 5, 1927

By J. E. Campbell, H. E. Parkinson, Y. P. Chugh

Miner-bolters, which combine mining and bolting functions into a single machine, are being developed by the US Department of Energy to improve production and productivity in coal mining operations. The authors have been studying possible production gains from the use of the Joy automated miner-bolter (AMB) in mine development using the computer simulation model "UGMHS" developed by the Pennsylvania State University. In a recent paper (Chugh, Campbell, and Parkinson, 1979) the authors discussed justification for the development of miner- bolter machines, assumptions and analytical procedures used in computer simulation, cutting, and bolting cycle times for an AMB, and production potential of AMB in four and five entry mine development sections. The effects of available operating time, haulage capacity, bolt installation time, and flush and staggered entry layouts on production potential of AMB were also discussed. In all cases, the production potential of AMB was compared to a full face continuous miner and an independent dual-boom roof bolter operating in a similar mine layout. Present Study In this study, the production potential of the Joy AMB in three and six entry layouts is presented. A three entry mine layout represents development entries in a longwall panel. A six entry layout represents development of main and submain entries in longwall mine development. Flush and staggered entries were considered in both layouts. The assumptions and analytical procedures used in this study were similar to those in the earlier study and are not presented in this paper. Only the results of the studies are presented here.

Jan 1, 1984

By James Fisher

THE copper mines of the Keweenaw Peninsula in northern Michigan have long been of interest in connection with deep earth-temperature measurements. The extraordinary low geothermal gradient of 1° F. in 223.7 ft. announced by Agassiz1 as a result of measurements dating from 1886, although later" stated as in error, served to focus attention on this region as one offering, because of the great depth of the mines, unusual opportunity along this line. Lane,3 Van Orstrand4 and others have made valuable contributions to this study. Fresh opportunities afforded by the constant deepening of the mines, improvements in the accuracy and reliability of temperature-measuring instruments together with increasing knowledge of the heat conductivities and specific heats of the rocks, led the Michigan College of Mining and Technology in cooperation with some of the mining companies to renew work on this problem. It is planned eventually to complete a survey which will make use of the favorable opportunities for deep rock-tempera-ture measurements presented in these mines. This survey should include the determination of a depth-temperature gradient in both conglomerate and amygdaloid mines, and also the variations in temperature at the same depth in different geological formations. The first problem has a direct bearing on the question of providing equipment for necessary ventilation with increased depth. The second may show that a relation exists between the natural rock temperature and the mineral content of the formation.

Jan 1, 1932

By L. L. Wyman

PREVIOUS studies1 by the writer dealing with the embrittlement of copper have been concerned with the behavior of various pure and deoxidized coppers when exposed to an oxidation-reduction cycle, and the consequent evaluation of these materials on the basis of their resist-ance to this action. No attention was devoted to the variations in pene-tration of embrittlement with time, when these copper materials are exposed to a strong reducing gas, such as hydrogen, nor to the variations in oxygen penetration, with time and temperature, into the "pure" coppers. The cause of the embrittlement is the reduction of the oxygen in the copper by the hot reducing gas, so that a consideration of time, tempera-ture, the occurrence of hydrogen and oxygen must be given. For the purpose of differentiating some of "the involved factors, the present work may be divided into two separate series of experiments. The first of these deals with the oxidation of purified coppers under various conditions and then the subjection of these to a standard hydrogen treatment. The second series concerns the reduction, under different conditions, of tough-pitch coppers of several oxygen contents. The resulting data will give the rates of oxidation, and of reduction, for the materials involved. The first series of experiments will reveal how rapidly copper may become oxidized, while the second series will indicate how rapidly embrittlement will penetrate into an oxygen-containing copper when it is exposed to hydrogen at different temperatures.

Jan 1, 1933

Prof. Dr. H. Seger and Mr. E. Cramer, Chemisches Laboratorium fur Thonindustrie, Berlin, Prussia (communication to the President)* : We have learned, with much interest, from the pamphlet sent to us, of the work of Messrs. Hofman and Demond, particularly as we observe from their experiments that these gentlemen recognize the usefulness of the Seger cones, and that this method of determining temperatures in the furnaces of the ceramic industry and in the tests of refractory clays is valued, not only in all parts of Germany, but also in other countries. Permit us to say, with reference to the crucibles employed in tests for refractoriness, that we have used of late, besides the magnesia crucibles, also those made of Zettlitz kaolin, with the addition of alumina, previously calcined, with regard to which we beg to refer to our article in the Thonindustrie-Zeitung of December 9, 1893.

Jan 1, 1895

The Library of the above-named Societies is open from 9 A.M. to 10 P.M. on all week-clays, except holidays, from September 1 to June 30, and from 9 A.M. to 6 P.M. during July and August. The Library contains about .55,000 volumes, including sets of technical periodicals and the publications of scientific and technical societies. Members of the Institute, with few exceptions, are forced to spend a portion of their time in localities isolated from sources of information. To these the Library can render valuable service through correspondence; letters requesting information will receive special attention. The Library is prepared to furnish references and copies of articles on mining and metallurgical subjects; to determine the existence of mining maps, and to furnish general information as to the geology and mineral resources of all countries. All communications should be made as definite as possible so that the information received may be what is desired and not include collateral matter which may not be of interest. The time spent in searching for such collateral matter will be saved, acid the information will be sent more promptly and in more usable shape. The members of the Institute can be of service to the Library by forwarding copies of mining reports, maps privately issued, and similar material, which will be classified, indexed, and made available to other members. Suggestions for additions to the Library, either by purchase or personal solicitation as gifts, will be welcomed. It is hoped that members while in the city will use the Library freely, and assurance is given that most careful service will be rendered to them.

Jan 10, 1915

The Library of the above-named Societies is open from 9 A.M. to 9 P.M. on all week-days, except holidays, from September 1 to June 30, and from 9 A.M. to 6 P.M. during July and August. The Library contains about 55,000 volumes, including sets of technical periodicals and the publications of scientific and technical societies. Members of the Institute, with few exceptions, are forced to spend a portion of their time in localities isolated from sources of information. To these the Library can render valuable service through correspondence; letters requesting information will receive special attention. The Library is prepared to furnish references and copies of articles on mining and metallurgical subjects; to determine the existence of mining-maps, and to furnish general information as to the geology and mineral resources of all countries. All communications should be made as definite as possible so that the information received may be what is desired and not include collateral matter which may not be of interest. The time spent in searching for such collateral matter will be saved, and the information will be sent more promptly and in more usable shape. The members of the Institute can be of service to the Library by forwarding copies of mining-reports, maps privately issued, and similar material, which will be classified, indexed, and made available to other members. Suggestions for additions to the Library, either by purchase or personal solicitation as gifts, will be welcomed. It is hoped that members while in the city will use the Library freely, and assurance is given that most careful service will be rendered to them. .

Jan 11, 1913

The Library of the above-named Societies is open from 9 A.M. to 10 P.M. on all week-days, except holidays, from September 1 to June 30, and from 9 A.M. to 6 P.M. during July and August. The Library contains about 55,000 volumes, including sets of technical periodicals and the publications of scientific and technical societies. Members of the Institute, with few exceptions are forced to spend a portion of their time in localities isolated from sources of information. To these the Library can render valuable service through correspondence; letters requesting information will receive special attention. The Library is prepared to furnish references and copies of articles on mining and metallurgical subjects; to determine the existence of mining maps, and to furnish general information as to the geology and mineral resources of all countries. All communications should be made as definite as possible so that the information received may be what is desired and not include collateral matter which may not be of interest. The time spent in searching for such collateral matter will be saved, and the information will be sent more promptly and in more usable shape. The members of the Institute can be of service to the Library by forwarding copies, of mining reports, maps privately issued, and similar material, which will be classified, indexed, and made available to other members. Suggestions for additions to the Library, either by purchase or personal solicitation as gifts, will be welcomed. It is hoped that members while in the city will use the Library freely, and assurance is given that most careful service will be rendered to them.

Jan 11, 1915

By F. E. Crane, J. Downie

The general application of Darcy's law to natural rocks has already been challenged in the literature.1 The evidence shows that the permeability as calculated from the Darcy equation can be a function of the pressure drop and the salt concentration of the water phase. Most explanations for aberrant behavior involve clays and their properties and have been qualitatively satisfactory.Recently, however, Odeh2 revived the theoretical views of Yuster.3 Since Yuster's concept implies a fundamental error in using Darcy's relationship for two-phase flow, and not merely that conditions may limit its use, Odeh's experimental support arouses considerable interest. However, Odeh's work as presented is thought to to be inadequate. He has omitted important information about his materials and procedures; therefore, acceptance of his conclusions should be withheld. Since a clay effect is possible, Odeh should have been allowed space to present a more detailed account of the rocks which he used and the precautions which he took to avoid confounding the effects of clay and fluid circulation. In addition, it follows from Odeh's discussion that the oil relative permeability should increase as the viscosity ratio increases. Odeh presents data corroborating this deduction. It also follows that the oil relative permeability should decrease as the viscosity ratio of oil to water decreases. However, our results show that a high relative permeability, when once attained by using a viscous oil, may be maintained when that oil is replaced by an oil of much lower viscosity. EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE The results are shown in Fig. 1 and were obtained as follows. Sandstone cores. 3-in. long X l-in, in diameter and which contained clays, were saturated with

The Library of the above-named Societies is open from 9 A.M. to 10 P.M. on all week-days, except holidays, from September 1 to June 30, and from 9 A.M. to 6 P.M. during July and August. The Library contains about 55,000 volumes, including sets of technical periodicals and the publications of scientific and technical societies. Membebs of the Institute, with few exceptions, are forced to spend a portion of their time in localities isolated from sources of information. To these the Library can render valuable service through correspondence; letters requesting information will receive special attention. The Library is prepared to furnish references and copies of articles on mining and metallurgical subjects; to determine the existence of mining-maps, and to furnish general information as to the geology and mineral resources of all countries. All communications should be made as definite as possible so that the information received may be what is desired and not include collateral matter which may not be of interest. The time spent in searching for such collateral matter will be saved, and the information will be sent more promptly and in more usable shape. The members of the Institute can he of service to the Library by forwarding copies of mining-reports, maps privately issued, and. similar material, which will be classified, indexed, and made available to other members. Suggestions for additions to the Library, either by purchase or personal solicitation as gifts, will he welcomed. It is hoped that members while in the city will use the Library freely, and assurance is given that most careful service will be rendered to them.

Jan 4, 1914