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By Charles Morgan

AN increased demand for brown iron ore in the Birmingham district during the past 18 months has caused renewed activity both in prospecting and mining these ores. In recent years the production in Alabama has ranged from 41,559 tons in 1932 to 639,351 tons in 1928. During the last 9 years about 83 per cent of the total brown ore produced in the United States has come from Alabama (Tables 1 and 2).

Jan 1, 1937

By M. Lastra, A. Cruz, J. Menacho

The use of phosphates was studied as a way of purifying acidic copper leach solutions for direct electrowinning. The addition of 2.5 gpl phosphorus to plant solutions originally containing 6.25 gpl Fe (III) at pH 2 0 reduced the iron concentration by one half. Under identical conditions, but without phosphorous additions, the iron concentration was reduced by less than 1 gpl. Any residual phosphorous had no undesirable impact on electrowinning. The concentration ratio of Fe (III) to phosphorous which provides maximum iron elimination was determined. Higher ratios bring about a redissolution of the iron precipitate. Several ways of controlling iron with phosphates are discussed. These take advantages of more rapid and complete iron precipitation at lower pH levels.

Jan 1, 1980

Electro-mechanical actuator, self-protected for mechanical and electrical overload, is developed by RACO. Tubular housing consists of squirrel cage motor with hollow rotor shaft and inner threads in the rotor. Features stroke distance of 2-72 in. and wide range of trust (20 lb-10 tons). (100) Agglomeration systems, offered by Ferro-Tech, incorporate pelletizing, briquetting and extrusion systems to agglomerate materials too fine to convey, load or feed to a process. Equipment includes disc and drum pelletizers, briquetter presses, compactors, extruders, pugmills and mixers, dryers, coolers, feeders and conveyors. (101)

Jan 9, 1973

By A. M. Gaudin

THE large increase in the use of selective flotation as contrasted with the collective flotation of a few years ago has focussed attention on the desirability of achieving accurate control of the pH of mill circuits. Although it is well-known that alkaline circuits result in dropping pyrite and that acid circuits conversely float it, but drop the gangue, there is little that is known, beyond question, ass to the action of the acidity or alkalinity of the circuits. A complete answer is not available at present but experiments -are now in progress at the University of Utah, whose aim is to find out what the effect is on recovery of a change in hydrogen-ion concentration and how this change is brought about. Broadly speaking, a change in hydrogen-ion concen¬tration seems to affect either the mineral surface, as was suggested by A. W. Fahrenwald in his paper "Surface Reactions in Flotation"1 (TRANS. 70, 647) or the attachment of the collecting agent on the mineral surface.

Jan 1, 1929

By C. R. Pelley

Abstract-This paper describes the analytical characteristics of Western subbituminous coal and the manner in which these characteristics apply to their use in a utility-sized steam generator. It compares these characteristics with those of typical Midwestern coal and Eastern bituminous coal. The paper also reviews in detail the design considerations that must receive attention when various blends of these three coals, or any combinations thereof, are planned to be used. This research paper describes variations in analytical and utilization characteristics when coals from different origins are blended in order to achieve a predetermined sulfur content for the purpose of predicting sulfur oxides emissions as they affect environmental regulations and the resulting alterations in utilization characteristics such blending would cause, and how such blends of coal would affect a utility-sized steam generator.

Jan 1, 1978

By Alan E. Gallie

SHERRITT Gordon Co. was formed in 1927 to exploit a copper zinc orebody located in the bush 90 miles north of The Pas, Manitoba. The mine went into production in 1931, operated for a year and a half, and closed because of the low price of copper. Reopened in 1937, it operated continuously until mined out in 1951, producing 8.5 million tons of ore. From 1937 on Sherritt Gordon conducted an energetic prospecting program throughout northern Manitoba, giving particular attention to the belt of favorable greenstone rocks north of the Churchill River. From 1937 to 1941 a number of gold showings were located but nothing of economic value was found.

Jan 3, 1957

By F. S. Sinnatt

THIS paper is the outcome of an extended investigation carried out in association with Dr. L. Slater. The inquiry had been continued in various directions and a number of results are quoted from an investigation recently completed by S. H. Jenkins. In projecting the work some five years ago, the author had in view a general attack on the problem of the spontaneous combustion of coal from an angle that had received little attention. The basic idea was to obtain a "slow motion study" of the active combustion of coal. This included an examination of the conditions prevailing in a mass of coal at the moment when active combustion ceases. It was thought that, if the factors governing the extinction of combustion in coal could be definitely established, it might offer an explanation of the manner in which the spontaneous combustion of coal originates. The inquiry arose from a detailed study of the properties of fusain that the author began in 1918. Fusain seemed to possess characteristics quite distinct from the coal with which it was associated, for if it were collected into a heap and one portion were heated by a small flame the combustion would traverse the whole mass. This combustion was not accompanied by smoke and passed slowly through the heap of material. Later, it was found that coals, including anthracites, would behave in a similar manner provided they were in the form of powder and that the particles were smaller than a certain size. The limiting size of particles is a definite characteristic of the coals investigated. In view of the fact that fusain exists with coal in a state that enables it to undergo this particular form of combustion, it must be assumed, sometimes, to playa definite part in the spontaneous combustion of coal in the goaf (waste).

Jan 3, 1925

By Jouko O. Kallioinen

The control of zinc flotation at Outokumpu Oy's Pyhasalmi and Vihanti mines is described. At Pyhäsalmi the zinc flotation circuit is partially open. Zinc and other metal assays of pulp flows are measured and direct assay control of concentrates in various flotation steps is adopted. Assay control is carried out by adjusting flotation air and pulp levels. Optimization with copper sulphate ensures high Zn- recovery and minimum copper sulphate consumption. A froth depth monitor is used to measure froth quality. At Vihanti the zinc flotation takes place in closed circuit. The most important control loop is the Zn-assay control of rougher concentrate by adjusting flotation air. The quality of froth is measured indirectly and thus copper sulphate consumption is altered. The circulating load is controlled also by flotation air in the three cleaning steps. The comparison of the control strategies shows that a more sophisticated control is adopted at Pyhäsalmi because the selective flotation of this massive sulphide ore is considered to be difficult. The control strategy includes numerous tests performed by the computer and control algorithms developed for the case. The control targets of the two zinc flotations described are also different: At Pyhäsalmi Zn-assay control of final concentrate including copper sulphate optimizing, at Vihanti the control of circulating load and Zn-assay of rougher concentrate.

Jan 1, 1984

FRIENDS of the late Charles F. Rand presented in 1930 a sum of money from which. the income is available to support various phases of the work of the Institute in which Mr. Rand was so deeply interested. At present the fund amounts to $10,000. The specific terms of the deed of gift are as follows: "The fund collected to establish a memorial to the late Charles F. Rand shall be placed in the custody of the Board of Directors of the American Institute of Mining and Metallurgical Engineers, to be set up as a trust to be known as the `Charles F. Rand Foundation', the income of which shall each year be applied to a distinct purpose to be decided upon in that year by vote of the Board of Directors. This purpose shall be such as to promote the general welfare of the Institute and to constitute a permanent memorial of the usefulness of Mr. Rand, who for many years gave unstintingly of his time and talents in its service.

Jan 1, 1952

By R. J. Charles

PREVIOUS study' of simple impact systems indicated that energy required for fracture and size reduction of brittle materials is greatly dependent on the type of loading that is employed. In this regard it was postulated that fracture and size reduction of a brittle specimen might be accomplished by a high velocity impact at an energy level at which a low velocity impact would leave the specimen relatively undamaged. The finite time required to propagate energy away from the point of loading of an impacted object to other parts of the object and to its supports may permit a concentration of energy at the point of impact if the rate of loading is high. Localizing of energy at the point of impact could quickly initiate fractures that would propagate through the impacted material along with the traveling stress waves. As the cracks form, the initially absorbed strain energy would be released and portions of it travel ahead of the wack tips as stress waves. These secondary stress waves, combined with the initial stress waves derived from the impact, would produce high localized strain conditions in front of the fracture zone. The fracture zone would propagate and the specimen shatter. High rates of loading are brought about by short impact times, in turn obtained by employing high velocity projectiles that are of small mass compared to the impacted object. In the case of a low velocity impact, at an energy level equal to that of a high velocity impact that causes fracture, loading rate would be relatively

Jan 1, 1957

(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

By E. S. Leaver

THE purpose of this paper is to describe, in a general way, gold-dredg-ing operations in California, with particular reference to unusual features, including types of deposits and recent attempts to improve the recovery of the gold. DREDGING AREAS The gold-bearing formations that traversed the western slope of the Sierra Nevadas for a north and south distance of some 300 miles furnished the immediate source of the gold found in most of the placer deposits of California.. Erosion through a long period carried the gold, together with various forms of partly disintegrated material, to lower elevations and formed placer deposits. Through the classifying action of water in motion, the coarser gold and heavier material of various kinds were deposited relatively near the source; consequently, in' the higher moun-tain country, old river channels were worked feverishly during the early California gold-rush days because of their high gold content. With the working out of these known high-grade channels, and from the knowledge thus obtained of prehistoric stream beds, drift mining was started and flourished until about 1890. Even today many drift mines are operating with the objective of opening other old Tertiary river channels that have been covered by volcanic flows.

Jan 1, 1937

By S. G. Lasky

Abraham Lincoln is reputed to have said that if you want to chart a course to some destination, you have to know where you are starting from. In this instance we have to define our starting point in a double manner: 1) What was the theoretical basis of the Paley predictions? 2) What actually did the Commission predict, so that we can see how the predictions have worked out up to now as a basis for considering how they may have to be changed.

Jan 3, 1960

By K. D. Eigenbrod

A case history is presented of a landslide that occurred adjacent to a highway in the valley of the North Saskatchewan River, about 12 miles upstream of Edmonton, Alberta. The slide took place in the late fall of 1965 following excavations associated with highway improvements that deepened the slope and cut it back to 20º. The slide occurred in the Upper Cretaceous Edmonton Formation. Till covers the bedrock at the location. The bedrock consists of interbedded mudstone, claystone, and sandstone with layers of bentonite and coal. The field investigation consisted of a series of pits at the toe of the slide and seven boreholes around it. Undisturbed samples were taken with a Pitcher Sampler and piezometers were installed at various depths in the section. The slide had taken place on a horizontal bentonitic clay layer and it crossed softened mudstone in the back slope. Three piezometric levels were detected but no water pressures were found along the horizontal portion of the slip surface because it was in contact with a free-draining coal layer. Borehole evidence revealed that the bentonitic clay layer was sheared in place beyond the confines of the slide zone. Although this slide was a first-time occurrence, it was part of a much larger slide block that moved presumably when the valley was being formed. Laboratory tests were carried out to determine the shear strength parameters of the bentonitic clay and the back slope material. These parameters together with the observed water pressure distribution in the slide area gave a factor of safety of 1.01 in a non-circular limiting equilibrium analysis. The case history is particularly instructive in indicating the care that must be taken to obtain representative information for stability analysis when geological and groundwater conditions are non-uniform. The origin of the sheared clay is discussed.

Jan 1, 1972

By J. E. Strongman

This paper describes a system dynamics model of the international copper system. The development of the model is described regarding the questions it was designed to address, model boundary, major sectors and actors, the availability of data, the copper life cycle, and major supply and demand dynamics. A base forecast is presented describing future supply, demand, capacity, prices, trade flows, scrap flows and capital expenditures from 1976-1990 for the major producing and consuming market economy blocs.

Jan 1, 1977

By W. C. J. van Rensburg

Exploration of unconventional mineral resources is stimulated by uncertainties about the cost and security of conventional resource sup- plies. Costs of the latter are likely to increase as a result of inflation, higher energy costs declining productivity, a lack of sufficient investment in politically volatile areas, or through cartel-like action. Exploration of unconventional resources is likely to be delayed by these same factors, insufficient research and development facilities, and a decline in capital formation. World economic growth is likely to be slow, so there will be more emphasis on material conservation. Therefore, the incentive to explore for unconventional resources may be reduced.

Jan 1, 1983

By Robert L. Braun, Arthur E. Lewis

A contained nuclear explosion is proposed to produce a chimney of broken ore well below the water table. After the chimney is filled with water and reaches hydrostatic equilibrium, oxygen, under pressure, is introduced near the bottom of the mass of broken rock. The increase in solubility of oxygen at high hydrostatic pressure is sufficient to initiate the oxidation of the primary sulfides, chalcopyrite and pyrite. The oxidation and dissolution of these sulfides produces enough heat to increase the temperature of the ore and water in the chimney as much as 100° to 150°C. The rate of dissolution of chalcopyrite exposed to oxygen-saturated solutions becomes so rapid under these conditions that the rate of copper extraction becomes limited by the accessibility of chalcopyrite to the solutions. Means of solution control and distribution of oxygen in the chimney have been examined in some detail. A calculational model utilizing experimentally determined solubility rates is utilized to estimate the temperature rise in the chimney and the rate of copper recovery as a function of initial temperature, sulfide content of ore, and size of ore particles. It is concluded that the high pressure and high temperature obtainable in a large ore mass broken by nuclear explosives promise the rapid and economic recovery of minerals not considered soluble by conventional in-situ leaching methods. The method should be broadly applicable to the kinds of deep deposits that must be depended on for future production and with minimum disruption of the environment.

Jan 1, 1974

By E. P. Pfleider

THE history of fundamental research in mining is not one of which the profession can be particularly proud. It has been one of the slowest industries in applying the fundamental sciences to the solution of many of its more difficult problems. True, many of the processes are not adaptable to laboratory techniques, and much of the work must, of necessity, be done in the field. It is for this reason that the mining executive seldom has been conscious of the value of research on a laboratory scale on problems pertaining strictly to mining. Most of them, however, fostered much testing in the allied fields of ore dressing and metallurgy.

Jan 7, 1951

By Joseph Hartshorne

The nature if this process and the general course of its development have already been described by me in two papers read before the Institute.* Since the latter paper mas read, in February, 1898, the development at Kladno has been almost altogether in the direction of using metal direct from the blast-furnace. This has now been the regular practice for about a year. The molten metal is brought from the furnace in ladles, without the intervention of any mixing- or accumulating-reservoir. The plant remains practically the same as originally described by me,† except that the primary furnace has been enlarged as much as was permitted by the existing conditions. This was done primarily in order to increase the capacity of the

Jan 1, 1901

By W. C. Lacy

THE Cuajone porphyry copper deposit is the northernmost of a group of three deposits in southern Peru controlled by the Southern Peru Copper Corp.-Toquepala, Quelleveco, and Cuajone- all within a 20-mile belt. Although small pockets of high-grade copper oxide ores were worked in the Cuajone area in the 19th century, it was not until 1939 that its potentialities as a disseminated deposit were recognized by O. C. Schmedeman. An exploratory drilling program was begun in December 1942 and continued until early 1945. The program was revived in November 1952 and completed early in 1954. Early exploration was by diamond drilling. Later exploration was predominantly churn drilling, with diamond drilling used only for wildcat holes.

Jan 1, 1958