Search Documents

By T. R. Wright

IN few mining regions in the world are the ores so varied and complex as in the Andes of central Peru. Consequently, in few localities is one company engaged in so many and such diverse metallurgical operations as the Cerro de Pasco Copper Corp. Concurrent with the mining of complex lead-zinc ores in Peru, and the consequent expansion of the Corporation's metallurgical activities, a department of metallurgical research was established in 1927 at La Orova. Facilities were provided for research in ore dressing, hydronivtallurgy pyrometallurgy, electrometallurgy, and analytical chemistry. In addition to laboratories. various pilot plants were built, including a concentrator, leaching plant, "by-product" smelter, and electrolytic refineries. These pilot plants are not diminutive units; they are designed and equipped as semicommercial plants for operation on a continuous 24-hour basis thus assuring the duplication of pilot plant results in actual practice. In general, the sequence in the development of metallurgical operations hasbeen as follows: (1) investigations in the laboratory to determine the most effective and economical method of treatment; (2) continuation of the research project on a pilot-plant scale when the evaluation of the laboratory

Jan 1, 1945

By Carle R. Hayward

LEAD ore smelting plants have been operating in general at reduced capacities and secondary lead has assumed relatively more importance during the last year. Present smelting practice results in a large amount of dross, often over 25 per -cent, from blast-furnace lead. This is usually treated at a fairly high temperature in a reverberatory furnace to remove part of the lead and produce a matte-speiss product which is shipped to a copper plant. Few smelters are satisfied with this 'treatment. The fume losses are high and the matte-speiss contains considerable lead. It would seem that a fruitful field for research was open here.

Jan 1, 1934

THE progress in lead smelting practice in the United States during 1930 has been along previously defined lines. Since most of the material treated is high-grade concentrate relatively high in zinc, practically all the plants have been forced to adopt double sintering. This generally results in there being' no matte fall, and most of the copper in the charge is recovered in the furnace dross. The furnace dross is . smelted with. scrap iron and flux .in small reverberatories, giving a shipping matte or speiss high in copper and low in lead. Details of this reverberatory. furnace practice vary at the different plants. There is a decided tendency toward moreintensive filtration of blast- furnace and sinter fume. Bag capacity has been in- creased by using higher pressures and more frequent shaking.

Jan 1, 1931

By F. A., King

THE problem of the proper size and capacity of the open-hearth furnace has been a predominant issue ever since its inception some sixty years ago. The original furnaces, built in 1868 at Landore, England, were only to 3 to 4 tons capacity, and from' this there has been a steadily increasing and almost uniform rate of expansion until furnaces producing 300 tons are in successful operation today. At the end of the first half of this 60-year period, or about the year 1900, 50-ton furnaces we're common. Up to this time the problems of expansion had been largely those relating to suficient capital and the engineering development of larger units. But as 75, 100-ton and larger furnaces were proposed apprehension grew and other questions assumed leading consideration.

Jan 1, 1928

By T. Carl Shelton

The coal industry of the United States in 1967 had reasons to be both exuberant and concerned about its present and future role in the economy of the country. Continuing a momentum that began in the early 1960's, the industry has moved ahead in providing competitive customized products to strengthen its long-term domestic and foreign commitments, and has maintained with steady progress its position as a major supplier of energy. On the other hand, the industry must overcome air- water pollution and conservation-reclamation problems that have been identified by 1967 legislation. Throughout the year, the industry was characterized as "progressive," "healthy" and "dynamic." To have been termed a "growth industry" in 1967, is an accolade the coal industry can accept with pride. Culminating its efforts throughout the decade, the industry has emerged with a competitive image that is representative of its future strength.

Jan 2, 1968

By D. W. Brunton

THE maps of our large mines are usually prepared with the greatest care; and it is somewhat singular that, in comparison with the great amount of time and money spent in surveying and platting, so little actual use is made of them. Almost the only purpose for which a completed survey-map is afterwards consulted, is the determination of the relative position of the different workings to each other, and to the boundary-lines of the property. After the completion of such a map, it should be made the beginning of another, and in most cases a far more important, undertaking, namely, its utilization as -a starting-point for a complete inventory of the company's underground possessions. The ordinary mine-survey map, being nothing but a record of what has been done, is, in one sense, only ancient history. To increase its value, such additions should be made as will render it a complete statement of the amount and value of ore in sight at any particular time, and a guide for future develop¬ments. Comparatively little extra labor is involved in this undertaking, since the larger and most expensive part of the work has already been completed when the mine has been surveyed and mapped. The necessary additions consist in working out, and platting on the maps, the geology of the mine as exposed in the workings, in such a manner that the geological survey may be of daily use in the development and operation of the mine. The first step towards the production of a geological map consists in tracing individual level-sheets from the general or composite map. The area to be included, outside of the property in question, will depend very much on local conditions; but, for geological, legal and commercial reasons, it should be extended as far as reasonably practicable. The scale to be

Sep 1, 1905

By RICHARD MAIZE

IN this critical period of our history, the coal industry of the nation, faced with many obstacles, performed its work safely during the first ten months of 1943. Thousands of the younger mine workers were inducted into the armed forces of our country and in many instances their jobs have been filled by others without much if any experience and training. This situation alone would seem to be sufficient to interfere with the safe and orderly operation of the industry but the Government's demand for a substantial increase in coal tonnage over that produced in normal times introduced a hazard which always accompanies speed, regardless of the skill of the worker.

Jan 1, 1944

By Eugene McAuliffe

MANAGEMENT and control of any body of workmen can be effected through various - well-known methods ' though many managers hold certain personal theories of control that range from an absolute dictatorship to what might be called the principle of laissez faire, or the "let alone" method. Managements of many mines, factories, smelters and refineries have been compelled in recent years to accept certain restrictions in hours of labor as well as in methods employed, imposed either by federal or state laws, or by labor agreements. Broadly speaking, regulations of the above character were brought on the industry by managers who failed to recognize fully the rights of their employees to proper sanitary, safe, and compensatory working conditions, as well as working hours that were proper and just. As an example of poor management and worse psychology, we have only to hark back to the days when many bituminous coal operators maintained an inadequate number of pit cars for the number of miners or loaders employed, or if the pit cars were available, the haulage facilities

Jan 1, 1934

By AIME AIME

TWO papers, "Calcium, Strontium, and Barium Metals," by Charles Hardy and Paul M. Tyler, and "The Mining of Gems and Ornamental Stones by American Indians," by Sydney H. Ball, were presented before the Rare Minerals and Metals group at its session Tuesday afternoon in the Auditorium. Donald M. Liddell, chairman, presided. Mr. Tyler summarized the first paper, outlining the uses, history, occurrence, manufacture, production and trade, markets and prices of the three metals. In discussion, in response to the chairman's query on "what are they doing in Russia with calcium, strontium, and barium," Guy C. Riddell replied that nothing is being done on a production basis. The great rare metals plant in Moscow is active, however, on other elements. "They are making radium chloride, uranium oxide, vanadium, cadmium, tungsten, molybdenum, selenium, antimony compounds; and mercury, nickel and arsenic are under production at interior plants. The rare metals plant is busily conducting research on beryllium, rhenium, lithium, bismuth, strontium and zirconium. These are the main rare metal activities. Much hard-alloy work. for cutting and facing, is under way:

Jan 1, 1933

By George S. Rice

GROUND movement from mining, whether it be for coal, metal, industrial minerals, or .oil, will always present many difficult problems. These are especially serious when valuable surface improvements may be badly damaged. The mine itself, if mining methods are not suitable to the formation, is subject to heavy falls of the main roof in the working places; and with certain structural conditions the movements may cause in coal mines disastrous bumps and outbursts of gas, and in deep metal mines rock bursts. In open-cut work rock and earth slides may result. Absolute prevention of ground movement from mining is impossible unless large pillars are left unmined,

Jan 1, 1937

By Jerome Strauss

IN his review of developments in 1943, Gilbert Seil, Chairman of this Committee on Reduction of the Ferroalloy Ores, tabulated the consumption of the alloying metals in relation to the steel production of that year. In the year just closed the approximate tonnage was of the same order, differing only to a minor degree or suffering some correction with more precise figuses available, as indicated in the following estimates: Consumption Metals in Tons Steel 92,000,000* Manganese 700,000 Silicon 200,000 Chromium 200,000 Nickel 75,000 Molybdenum 20,000 Tungsten 8,000 Vanadium 1,700 Titanium 1.600 Boron 10 `Production figure. The technologic studies instituted during 1942 and carried forward with such great vigor during 1943 continued into 1944 although in some instances were brought to a close either by completion of the specific development

Jan 1, 1945

By Arthur Notman

THE mineral industries in this country have now had about a year of national planning. Al. though the period is short, the volume of activity and legislation designed to make that planning effective has been nothing short of enormous. Those who have been privileged to see and study a few of the codes to regulate our mineral industry, such as those for oil, coal, steel, and copper, are driven to the conclusion that nothing was really known about the proper way to conduct those industries in this country prior to June, 1933; or if anything was known, nobody in actual practice made use of that knowledge. And yet those industries, in days gone by, helped to make this country the most prosperous in the world, and to maintain a standard of living even today higher than that of any other country. Without wishing to assume any first-hand knowledge of the Russian standard of living, I must confess that the evidence seems to indicate that even with dictatorial authority, national planning encounters unexpected difficulties. Perhaps what really wants

Jan 1, 1935

By W. B. Clark

IN OPERATING the Alpha mine of the Consolidated Coppermines Corp., Kimberly, Nev., it was necessary to pump out approximately 1200 gallons of waiter per minute to prevent the mine being flooded. There were three levels in the mine at which water accumulated and from which it was pumped, the 1200, 1400 and the 1800- ft. levels. At each, the pumping equipment was installed in duplicate so that if for any reason one unit was out of commission the other would be available to prevent flooding. The two centrifugal pumps at the 1200-ft. level were 600 hp. each; at the 1400-ft. level, 100 hp. each; and at the 1800-ft. level, 300 hp. each.

Jan 1, 1933

By F. G. BREYER

ZINC metallurgists continue to follow with keen interest reports of successful results from the continuous retort plants at Palmerton, Pa., and Meadowbrook. W. Va. The new process had already demonstrated its ability to reduce the lead content of the metal and to effect savings in labor and fuel. The past year has shown that the retorts themselves can he built to last long enough so that the retort cost per ton of metal is lower than in past practice with small horizontal re- torts. A number of the latest type of retorts are reported to have been in continuous operation for over 18 months without a failure and are said to be still in good condition. This seems a complete answer to the last question which remained before continuous zinc smelting could he pronounced commercially practicable.

Jan 1, 1932

By E. J. KENNEDY

THE 142D MEETING of the Institute is rapidly shaping up with splendid prospects of a strong technical program and the lighter side of this annual occasion amply provided for. The date is February 20 to 23. The technical sessions will be held in the Engineering Societies building; the smoker-dinner, the informal dance, and the annual reception and dinner, at the Commodore Hotel, Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday respectively. The news to date on the technical side is as follows: Mining Methods-Subsidence The Mining Methods Committee has prepared an interesting program which will be divided into two sessions to be held early in the week. At the first there will be papers on mining methods and development, including a description of the "Sinking and Equipment of No. 2 Shaft at Minas de Matahambre," by Dudley D. Homer and R. H. Cromwell. They describe in considerable detail the equipment used and the practice followed in sinking this important shaft, giving detailed costs and performance figures. Hoist¬ing ?arrangements and mining practice at the "Red Ore Mines of the Woodward Iron Co. at Bessemer, Ala.," are described by Tenny C. DeSollar, superintendent of mines, in a second paper. At this session of the Mining Methods Committee, H. M. Roche and R. E. Crockett, of the Committee on Eastern Magnetite Mining and Milling Methods, will present their paper, "Iron Ore Mining at the Scrub Oak Mine." This mine is in the highlands of New Jersey about 40 miles west of New York City. Prof. Robert K. Warner of Yale University will present a paper on "The Selection of a Mining System," which should have an interesting discussion. Pierre R. Hines, of Portland, Ore., will present, with stereopticon slides, his paper on "The Owyhee Tunnels, U. S. Reclamation Project, Owyhee, Oregon," describing one of the recent irrigation undertakings.

Jan 1, 1933

By Harry H. Power

WORK of the Committee on Education of the Petroleum Division has been under way for approximately-one year. Although some progress has been made, further activities of the Committee are necessary in order to discuss mutual problems more thoroughly by a unified group interested primarily in this field of specialization.

Jan 1, 1944

By S. F. Shaw

IT IS generally recognized that the natural gas absorbed in petroleum plays the leading r6le in moving the oil through the sands to the well and supplies the energy that delivers the oil to the surface when the wells are flowing. It is the purpose of this paper to note the amount of oil that could be lifted by this gas if 100 per cent. efficiency were obtained and the efficiencies actually obtained in the use of this gas. An article in MINING AND METALLURGY,' stated that in a Wyoming field, with a pressure of 300 lb. per sq. in., there would be absorbed 65 cu. ft. of gas per barrel, or 1.55 cu. ft. per gal. of oil. The writer does not know if data have been obtained, by experiment, for pressures beyond those indicated in this article, therefore, for the purpose of illustration, he has projected this curve to obtain figures for pressures greater than 300 lb., although probably experiment will show that the extended line is not quite correct.

Jan 1, 1926

By AIME AIME

EVEN the weather man joined in a friendly conspiracy to make the fall meeting of the Industrial Minerals Division at Rolla, Mo., Oct. 23-25. the splendid surges that it was. Following weeks of rain, the foliage of the Ozarks was still green, merely enlivened here and there by splashes of autumn coloring. In contrast to the tranquil beauty of the School of Mines campus under smiling Indian summer skies, the pace of the meeting was lively. Registration was larger than at any previous meeting and included an unusual number of prominent names and delegates from all over the country. From 125 to 150 were present throughout the three technical sessions, at the Thursday evening smoker, and also at the banquet on Friday; when students trooped in to the technical sessions the audience was augmented occasionally to over 200.

Jan 1, 1941

By R. S. Dean

PROCESSES for the direct production of iron and steel from ores are hardy perennials, and new processes and revivals of old ones are continually being brought to the attention of the investing public if not to the attention of metallurgists. Direct production of iron and steel is so simple that it offers a fertile field for the promoter. Unfortunately in this way direct processes have acquired a bad name, not always deserved, with conservative capitalists and metallurgists. Direct processes cannot, except in special instances, be looked upon as a substitute for any single operation in present iron and steel practice but must be considered, as one link in an entirely new chain of metallurgical process from ore to finished steel. Thus it is, in my opinion, inadvisable to consider the use of sponge-iron processes as a means of treating ore of ordinary blast-furnace grade to produce open-hearth feed. In time I think it will be found equally inadvisable to smelt iron-ore concentrates in the blast furnace.

Jan 1, 1935

By AIME AIME

AN unusual interest in the question of orienting the young college man in the mineral industry was shown in a well-attended session* of the Engineering Education Committee on Monday afternoon. About seventy-five employers and educators of mining engineers were present and took part in the discussions.

Jan 1, 1929