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ADVANTAGES OF LIFE MEMBERSHIP The Institute calls the attention of members to the following advantages of obtaining life membership: 1. One payment avoids the trouble of future payments. 2. The interest on $150 is less than the annual dues. 3. Provision is thus made early in life for the less productive years. 4. In case of in increase of clues at any time in the future life members are exempt from increased payments. Excerpt from, By-Laws. Article III. Section 3 Any Member or Associate not in arrears may become, by the payment of one hundred and fifty dollars at one time, a Life Member or Life Associate, and shall not be liable thereafter to pay annual dues. The money thus received shall be invested and only the income thereof used for current expenses of the Institute.

Jan 1, 1916

By F. H. Buttner, E. R. Funk, H. Udin

Gold wires, 5 mil in diam, are found to creep viscously up to approximately 5.5x106 dynes per sq cm around 1300°K. Beyond this point, an additional slip mechanism appears. The average coefficient in the viscous range at these temperatures is 18.9 ± 7x10 12 poises. This observation and other visual observations made during the experiments agree with Herring's predictions. EARLY creep studies by Chalmers on single crystals of tin produced some of the first experimental evidence to suggest that metals deform viscously under very light stresses. That is to say, over a small initial stress range up to 150 g per sq mm, the single crystals of tin elongated at a rate proportional to the stress. The proportionality constant between strain rate and stress is by definition the coefficient of viscosity. Chalmers named this range of proportionality the microcreep range. One of the first theoretical attempts to explain the microcreep phenomenon was given by Kauzman,' who applied Eyring'sQ eneral statistical mechanical theory of shear rates to creep data then available. From the rate theory, he deduced the general hyperbolic sine law for shear rate on the assumption that the distortion of the reaction path due to stress is negligible and that the system is an infinite continuum. In order to fit the available data to the equation, it was necessary to assume that creep occurs by shear of rather large blocks of material, rather than by an atomistic shear process as in diffusion. The size of the shear units was shown to increase with increasing temperatures and lower stress, or lower strain rates. In applying the hyperbolic sine law equation to the microcreep data of tin, it was shown by Kauzman that the unit shear blocks became quite small, which suggested to him that microcreep might be a self-diffusion process. Making this an assumption, Kauz- man reworked the rate theory and arrived at an equation where the shear rate is proportional to the stress. In the form of viscosity coefficient, the equation is: o- _ \LkT V = 2qAlA where u is the stress; S, the shear rate; X, the distance in shear direction moved by flow units relative to one another in the unit process; L, the distance between layers of units of flow; T, the absolute temperature; k, Boltzmann's constant; qAL, a constant proportional to the size of flow units; and kT A, the diffusion coefficient = ------kTe-Q/RT = K X2 h Kauzman applied the expression to molten lead with a fair degree of success, the calculated viscosity being low by a factor of four. For solid lead the result is 5000 times too high. Taking q = 1, and X = dA = L = 21 = nearest neighbor distance, Udin, Shaler and Wulff8 found the equation low by a factor of lo7 for solid copper. On the basis of the discrepancy in lead, Kauzman indicated that microcreep is probably not a simple diffusion process of molecular shear units, but one involving preferential diffusion paths, or even that diffusion in solids does not involve shear at all. Cottrell and Jaswon4 treat the microcreep phenomenon on the basis of slow moving dislocations and apply it to Chalmers' data on tin with fair success. Nabarro Suggested a microcreep model in which mass movement in the direction of pull is effected by the diffusion of holes. The tension on the crystal effectively creates a greater hole concentration at regions near the crystal surfaces perpendicular to

Jan 1, 1953

By William B. Plank

PRESENT enrollment of 182,361 students in the engineering schools of the United States and Canada represents an increase of 6.6 pct over the enrollment in these schools in 1951-52. Thus is brought to a halt the steady decrease in engineering enrollment that began with the close of the 1947-48 academic year, five years ago. The mineral engineering student picture is similarly encouraging. In the United States schools, 9453 students are preparing themselves for positions in the Mineral Industry. This is an increase of 8.3 pct over last year as compared with an increase of 6.6 pct in the total United States engineering enrollment. The rate of recovery for the mineral engineering group is thus more rapid than for the engineers as a whole.

Jan 4, 1953

By P. Dayal, L. S. Darken

THE migration of carbon in austenite under the influence of an electric current has been observed qualitatively several times.14 Lebedev and Guterman5 recently have reported quantitative measurements; their method consisted of welding a low-carbon to a high-carbon wire, passing current, and later estimating the carbon distribution metal-lographically. We believe the method reported in this paper is superior in principle since electrolytic migration and ordinary diffusion are not necessarily coupled as in the weld method; also for the first time the extent of migration is determined by combustion analysis for carbon. A uniform tubular specimen (S.A.E. 1045 or 1095) was mounted as illustrated in the figures. the whole assembly being in an atmosphere of purified nitrogen. Direct current (129 to 226 amp at 0.65 to 1.0 v) served as source both of heat and of potential gradient for carbon migration. The duration of experiment was 7.5 to 12 hr, during which time the temperature was controlled (±10°C) manually. The experimental conditions are indicated in the first five columns of table I. With this experimental arrangement, the temperature initially has a maximum value at the central plane. Also, in this vicinity (by virtue of the symmetry), the carbon entering any volume element is equal in quantity to that leaving; the loss or accumulation of carbon occurs near the electrodes since the carbon moves uniformly near the center and is "frozen" at the cold ends. Hence, providing the time of experiment is not sufficiently long to seriously influence the conditions at the central plane, carbon crosses this plane only under the influence of the electrical potential gradient and not under the influence of temperature or concentration gradient. The amount of carbon which has crossed this plane was determined by combustion analysis of the two halves of the specimen. The results of these analyses are shown in the sixth and seventh columns of table I. It will be noted that substantial amounts of carbon migrated from the anode portion to the cathode portion (except at 920°C, which temperature was too low to exhibit the effect in the allotted time). In spite of precau-tions taken, considerable decarburization occurred as may be seen by comparing cols. 8 and 5. In three cases (indicated by asterisks in table I) the specimen was ground on one side, polished, and examined metallographically before analysis. One specimen was normalized and re-examined. Micrographs of selected areas in specimens 4 and 6 are shown in figs. 1 and 2, respectively. Evidence of carbon migration from the anode toward the cathode is quite apparent. Fig. 2 shows abundant graphite as well as cementite in a region near the cathode. The temperature of this zone is estimated at about 800°C. In fig. 1, particularly in the micrograph on the extreme right (the right side of which is of unaltered carbon content), there is evidence of slight depletion of carbon in the immediate vicinity of the cathode as contrasted to the general increase in carbon of the cathode half of the specimen. Although this may be attributed in part to decarbur-ization, it is believed that it is occasioned also by thermal diffusion—migration (of carbon) from a cool to a hot zone4—a phenomenon superimposed upon the electrical migration. Evidence of carbon migration was visible particu-larly during the course of the high-temperature,

Jan 1, 1951

By K. M. Busen, J. Lindmayer

A heterojunction model is suggested for descrihzng the electronic conditions at oxide -semiconductor interfaces. Detailed study of the silicon oxide-silicon interface shows that the heterojunction model explains many experimental facts; however, it is necessary to assume that a transition layer exists at the interface. It will he demonstrated that ionic contrbution way also he present. Extended low-temperature heating stabilizes the oxide to a charge carrier density in the order of 10' cln-: determined by the heterojuncton model. OXIDIZED semiconductor surfaces are widely used, since they offer technological advantages and "passivate" the surfaces of semiconductor devices. However, it has been recognized that there are always n-type inversion layers formed in the silicon oxide-silicon system, which must be regarded as a definite disadvantage. An added complication is the "instability" of these inversion layers;' the inversion layer appears to vary with the processing and they change at temperatures as low as 100" to 200°C This paper will point out that the inversion layer is a result of the dissimilarity of the contacting materials and therefore must always be present. The dissimilarity is the essence of the heterojunction or electronic model and involves directly the structure of the materials involved. In addition, one finds the contribution from ions; this disturbance, however. can be eliminated for the case of silicon oxide-silicon interface. The strength of the inversion layer or channel will be expressed in terms of the density of elementary charges per square centimeter, N*, maintaining the channel. The next section contains the formulation of the heterojunction model by assuming a contact between two homogeneous materials. This calculation should not imply that silicon oxide is homogeneous; it serves only to point out the general properties of the electronic model. Following the electronic model, the practical case of the silicon oxide-silicon interface will be discussed. I) THE HETEROJUNCTION MODEL Contacting an oxide with a semiconductor, a work-function difference must be accommodated. Fig. 1 represents the oxide and the semiconductor before and after contact. When the contact has been made, one finds that qVi + qV, = A@; i.e., the work-function difference is distributed between the oxide and the semiconductor. Normally, the work-function difference appears on the wide-bandgap material, but in the present case the oxide is thin and far from being a single crystal. Accordingly, a significant fraction of the work-function difference must appear on the semiconductor. The work function of silicon2 is about 4.8 ev, but we shall not assign any particular work function for the oxide as it may vary. However, oxides usually have lower work functions and therefore the potentials must build up in the manner shown in Fig. 1. Such an argument predicts that the inversion layer must be n type, as opposed to the clean surface which is p type. Another important factor to be considered is that the oxide is disorderly and therefore contains many trapping levels. As a result, the charges in the oxide arise primarily from the change in trap occupation, while on the semiconductor side the space charge is composed of mobile free electrons. The consequence of this fact is that a change to another thermal equilibrium will require some time, dictated by the traps in the oxide. The conditions can easily be calculated on the semiconductor side. Assuming an intrinsic semiconductor, Poisson's equation is

Jan 1, 1965

By B. Ehgartner, M. Karmis, C. Haycocks

INTRODUCTION Interaction effects between mining operations developed on different levels of contiguously placed bedded deposits are a major problem in many parts of the United States. Efficient design criteria, derived from careful analysis of field studies as well as theoretical and model analysis, have shown that many problems that may result from seam interaction can be avoided, minimized, or on occasion used with beneficial results. Selection of seam mining sequence is rarely based only on ground control considerations, but rather on factors such as seam ownership, characteristics and accessibility. Therefore all possible mining sequences and methods must be considered in the development of multi-seam design criteria. Increased utilization of the longwall method of mining creates special problems in multi-seam mining due to the inevitability of caving and, therefore, subsidence. Considerable valuable experience has been gained in this direction from British mining operations where interaction problems are extremely common and the longwall method is the primary method used. However, limitations persist in the application of much of this information to U.S. conditions due to variation in layouts between advancing and retreating longwall systems and the inherent difference in the geologic environment. Considerable field data is available for U.S. room and pillar operations, and where successful pillaring operations have been carried out close parallels may be drawn with ground control mechanisms in longwall operations. VARIABLES AFFECTING INTERACTION Analysis of ground control multi-seam problems shows that factors contributing to interaction may be classified into variables that are fixed by the geo- logic environment and those that depend on engineering design. These may be described as follows (Haycocks et al, 1982): Fixed: (i) Depth*, (ii) Innerburden thickness*, (iii) Innerburden physical characteristics*, (iv) Stress field, (v) Seam thickness, (vi) Coal characteristics, (vii) Completed mining operations either above or below the seam to ve mined, and (viii) Age of workings. Mining: (i) Height, (ii) Dimensions and geometry*, (iii) Method*, and (iv) Spatial location of entries* *These variables are regarded as being critical effects. Few attempts have been made to quantify the variables controlling interaction. Dunham's (1978) linear regression analysis, combined with the National Coal Board's MRDE Roadway Monogram, is probably the most noteworthy. This study involved eighteen multi- seam longwall mines in the United Kingdom. The following variables were taken into account: seam depth, pillar width, opening shape, floor and roof conditions, rate of face advance, vertical seam interval, and age and geometry of overlying workings. A multi-linear regression analysis of these variables fitted by appropriate field values developed a prediction equation for lower seam stability. Although the study included many variables, it neglected the nature or geology of the innerburden. The prediction equation was found unreliable, but it did show the significance of geometry as a factor controlling lower seam stability. MINING SEQUENCES Irrespective of the type of mining method selected only four possible mining sequences are possible for two seams. Finlay and Winstanley wrote in 1934. .. "Experience has shown that whether the upper or lower seam was worked first, the subsequent working of the other seam in the same area seriously affected the roads in the seam first worked." Those effects depended upon the four basic mining sequences: 1) The upper seam is mined out prior to mining the underlying seam; i.e., the seams are mined sequentially downward and mining of the underlying seam is not commenced until operations above are completed and have ceased.

Jan 1, 1982

By H. C. Rogers, B. W. Roberts

Vanadium foils and wires, either cold-worked or recrystallized, show a ductile-brittle-ductile fracture sequence with temperature. At about 150°C the hydrogenated vanadium wires are found to be ductile. At room temperature the wires show brittle fracture, and at liquid nitrogen temperature the wires are again ductile, although to a lesser extent than found at 150°C. Hydrogenated cold-rolled vanadium foils have been found to fracture in unusually straight lines along the [100] texture directions. The hydrogen content required to show this [loo] texture fracture is limited to a few atomic percent in range. Hydrogen content above this range causes fracture to occur in random directions. PRELIMINARY experiments with hydrogenated vanadium foils indicated that the embrittling effect of the hydrogen on the vanadium, which was severe at room temperature, was reduced at both lower and higher temperatures. In order to investigate more quantitatively the ductility changes with temperature, vanadium wires were tested in tension at three temperatures. The reduction of area was measured and the fractures examined. Specimen Preparation—The material used was kindly supplied by A. U. Seyboltl in the form of M-in. rod. The nominal analysis was: 99.2 pct V assay, 0.2 pct C, 0.01 pct Si, 0.01 pct Fe, 0.015 pct Ca, 0.02 pct O,, 0.01 pct N2, and 0.003 pct H,. The specimens were 0.035-in. diam wires. These were prepared by cold-swaging the supplied rod to the final diameter without intermediate anneal. They were finished with long-bearing dies. The surface was then given a light polishing with 0 emery paper and degreased in trichlorethylene. An X-ray check indicated that the cold-swaged wire had a fairly strong [110] fiber texture. The wires were then recrystallized in vacuum in continuously pumped quartz tubes at two temperatures to give two different grain sizes. One group of wires was given 45 min at 800°C; another, 60 min at 1000°C. The microstructures in Fig. 1 show the wires after they have been electropolished and elec-troetched in 10 pct HCI. After the 800°C anneal, the vanadium grains had a diameter of 1 to 2p and there appeared to be a tendency to elongation in the longitudinal direction. However, the latter may be an etching effect. After the 1000°C anneal, the grains appeared to be equi-axed, but there was a very large spread in grain size, probably due to some impurity segregation in the wire, Fig. 1, right. The grain diameters varied between the limits of 1 to 150p. The small particles shown particularly clearly in Fig. 1, left, are also visible on the polished surface of all samples before etching and are undoubtedly carbides and nitrides of vanadium. An X-ray check indicated these annealed wires had a strong [110} recrystallization fiber texture. The hydrogenation was carried out in an iron retort with dry hydrogen flowing through it, the retort and contents being heated in a tube furnace with a hydrogen atmosphere. The hydrogenation temperature was approximately 500°C. The hydro-genation times chosen were approximately those which would be just enough to cause the vanadium to be brittle at room temperature and thus allow the greatest chance for ductility to occur at the other two temperatures. Part of the fine grained specimens were hydrogenated for 21/2 min at 490°C. Part of the coarse grained specimens were hydro-genated for 11/2 min at 515°C.

Jan 1, 1957

[PRESIDEST ASD DIRECTOR ................................................... HARVEY S. MUDD 3. .Los Angeles, Calif.]

Jan 1, 1946

By Edwin H. Olson, Morton Smutz, Charles J. Baroch

IN 1949 an orebody containing some 10 billion lb of recoverable rare earth metals was discovered in the Mountain Pass district of San Bernardino County, California.1 The following year Molybdenum Corp. of America purchased a number of claims at the deposit and a mill on the property which had been constructed to process the district's gold ores. Average composition of ore from the San Bernardino deposit is less than 0.1 pct ThO2, 25 to 35 pet calcite, 10 pet rare earth oxides, 15 to 20 pet silica, and 30 to 40 pet barite.2 Rare earth content of the ore analyzes 50.7 pet CeO2, 4.2 pet Pr6O11, 11.7 pet Nd2O3, 1.3 pet Sm2O3, and 34.3 pet La2O3, and others.2

Jan 3, 1959

By P. C. Kapur

An approximate but simple and practical solution to the discretized batch grinding equation has been obtained. The solution is based on a new grind function, a combination of selection and breakage parameters and particle-size distribution of the feed. The grind function, which is readily computed from limited experimental data, has significant implications for analysis of the particle-size reduction processes. Using the practical solution, three ball-mill comminution systems—dry dolomite, wet quartz, and limestone—have been simulated with acceptable precision. The application of the discretized batch-grinding equation1 to routine comminution analysis is frustrated by two principal difficulties. First, the selection and breakage parameters of the grinding equation must be computed separately. This is usually a difficult and uncertain task although, recently, a number of experimentally and computationally efficient strategies have been proposed for determination of these parameters?" Second, for actual computation, the solution to the batch-grinding equation becomes progressively tedious and unwieldly for finer particle-size range.1,2 The purpose of this part of the report is to present an approximate solution to the batch-grinding equation, which is practical in that it seems to overcome the aforementioned obstacles. The solution involves the concepts of a new grind function, a lumped parameter of the selection-breakage functions, and particle-size distribution of the feed, which is readily computed from a limited amount of experimental data.

Jan 1, 1971

By G. L. Oldright

THE development of the reverberatory furnace for smelting copper ores up to 1912 was described by E. P. Mathewson1 with details concerning the great changes in dimensions of the furnace. Hayward2 tabulated similar data, giving developments up to about 1924, in his revision of Hofman's Metallurgy of Copper. DEVELOPMENT OF PRESENT SMELTING PRACTICE Dimensions of Furnace Very great changes were made in the dimensions of the smelting hearths of the furnaces in the period from about 1800 to 1906, the length increasing from about 11 to 116 ft., and the width from 8 to 19 ft. During this time the tonnage smelted increased from about 9 to 250 tons per 24 hr., and the tons of charge smelted per ton of coal increased from 0.77 to 4.3. Dr. Mathewson3 noted no great difference in the "fuel ratio" (i. e., the amount of charge smelted per ton of coal) as the furnace at Anaconda was increased in length by stages from 85 to 116 ft. (The percentage of copper in the slag, however, was lowered from 0.42 to 0.36 per cent. The other components of the slag were not given.) Lump coal fired on grates was the fuel used during this period. The practice in operating the furnaces over such a length of time naturally varied considerably, and there were differences in composition and nature of the charge, yet it may be considered that the improvements made were due largely to increases in the size of the furnace used. Doubt-less some credit should be given to improvements in operating technique, like changes in the methods of firing the lump coal. However, the greater part of the advance was probably due to factors influencing the

Jan 1, 1928

By Stephen Royce

[PAGE Ground Movement Adjacent to a Caving Block in the Climax Molybdenum Mine (TP 2000 by JOHN W. VANDERWILT, Min. Tech., May 1946. Discussion by STEPHEN ROYCE and the Studies of the Design of Shaped Explosive Charges and Their Effect in Breaking Concrete Blocks (TP 2157 by GEORGE B. CLARK, Min. Tech. May 1947. Discussion by PHILIP B. BUCKY, V. H. CLARK, E. D. GARDNER, M. H. HAWKINS, H. L. WALKER, and the author) 2 See TP 2377, Min. Tech., May 1948 for discussion of San Manuel ProsPect (TP 2255 by H. J. STEELE and G. R. RUBLY, Min. Tech., Sept. 1947. Discussion by L. KENNETH WILSON, ELDRED D. WILSON and the authors)] Ground Movement Adjacent to a Caving Block in the Climax Molybdenum Mine STEPHEN ROYCE•-It is interesting to note from B, Fig 2, how closely the subsidence limits approximate to the 60° angle of draw, which is so commonly found to rule in large scale rock subsidence. The tension cracks shown at B are commonly found in the initial stages of subsidence movement and spread like a halo about subsidence limits as movement extends. These tension cracks usually grow into escarpments later on. Apparently from the illustrations and description given, a system of vertical fractures is the predominating weakness in the wall rock at Climax, and therefore both tension cracks and escarpments are prevailingly vertical in attitude. The illustrations in Mr. Vanderwilt's article seem to conform to the general rule that yield by subsidence is heralded by tension cracks which foreshadow the appearance of the subsidence scarps which are both described in the paper and shown in Fig 2. The difference between the B side and the A side of Fig 2 is apparently caused mainly by the vertical fracturing which controls subsidence at Climax as compared to the relatively homogeneous rock formation at A upon which the original figure in Peele's Handbook was based. The draw at B is exactly 60°, while the draw at A is a little flatter. The influence of the vertical fractures explains the difference. The surprising feature is the relatively small deviation from the general 60° draw line, which is about the average of rock subsidence experience. The influence of local fracture systems, faults and bedding in controlling subsidence all the way from extremely low angles of draw to vertical is rather fully discussed in the Peele's Handbook article referred to. The more illustrations of subsidence there are published the better will be our knowledge. The general principles are pretty well established. The wide local differences reflect the effect of local conditions. This paper is a very valuable contribution to the subject, and for the benefit of the mining industry, it is to be hoped that there will be many more such clear and concise presentations. Particularly block caving is apt to be of greatly increasing importance in the future of a mining industry that must meet high labor costs. More examples of block caving from small scale to large scale operations like those at Climax will serve a vital need. JOHN W. VANDERWILT (author's reply)-I would like to thank Mr. Royce for his discussion; however, in his comments the meaning of subsidence, draw and tension cracks is not entirely clear. As used in my discussion of subsidence at Climax, subsidence refers to movements involving appreciable downward displacement. Tension cracks indicate only

Jan 1, 1947

By C. M. Fellman

AVAILABLE data for the first nine months of the Year indicate that accident occurrence in metal mining was well on its way to an all-time low for 1939. However, the relatively rapid pickup in mining production in the fall will be likely to boost both accident occurrence and also accident rates. Results of the National Safety Competition for 1938, the fourteenth of its kind conducted by the U. S. Bureau of Mines, were published in August, 1939. W. W. Adams, statistician of the bureau, states that "with 345 mines and quarries competing, more than in any previous year except 1931, the contest revealed low accident rates at many of the enrolled plants and, which is even more remarkable, it revealed 113 mines and quarries at which no lost- time accidents occurred during the con- test year." The National Safety Competition provides a means whereby mines and quarries may engage in active competition to stimulate their safety programs. Companies in the contest can compare their records with those of similar plants operating elsewhere and thereby determine to what extent their safety programs are successful. The Joseph A. Holmes Safety Association gave over 150 awards for safety performance in the mineral industries in 1939 and a remarkable phase of these awards was the considerable number given to individual miners who had worked fifty or more years without sustaining a lost-time accident.

Jan 1, 1940

By Rossiter W. Raymond

THE most important event in the history of mining in the United States was the discovery of gold in California, which led to the rapid development, not only of a new industry, but of a new empire. The settlement of the Pacific slope was making but slow progress under the inducements of a scanty commerce in furs and hides. The liberal grants offered by the government to agricultural pioneers in Oregon had attracted to the Willamette valley and other favored points in that territory a limited population; but the government of the Mexicans in California was positively unfavorable to enterprise. It is true that gold was known to exist in the country. Rumors of it were current among the trappers, and placers had actually been worked in what is now Los Angeles County ; but the padres of the neighboring mission of San Fernando had discouraged the business as demoralizing to their flocks ; and the existence of the precious metal was not widely known; still less was its distribution north¬ward suspected. The discovery of gold, January 19th, 1848, at Sutter's saw-mill, on the south fork of the American River, afterward famous as Coloma, in Eldorado County, was the beginning of the new epoch. This discovery was made by James Wilson Marshall, a partner in the mill, who observed in the debris washed down by the tail-race a glittering fragment of a mineral unknown to him. Suspecting it to be gold, he sought for further specimens, and obtained, in the course of a few days, several ounces of it. Tests subsequently

Jan 1, 1875

By Rossiter W. Raymond

The most important event in the history of mining in the United States was the discovery of gold in California, which led to the rapid development, not only of a new industry, but of a new empire. The settlement of the Pacific slope was making but slow progress under the inducements of a scanty commerce in furs and hides. The liberal grants offered by the government to agricultural pioneers in Oregon had attracted to the Willamette valley and other favored points in that territory a limited population; hot the government of the Mexicans in California was positively unfavorable to enterprise. It is true that gold was known to exist in the country. Rumors of it were current among the trappers, and placers had actually been worked in what is now Los Angeles County; but the padres of the neighboring mission of San Fernando had discouraged the business as demoralizing to their flocks; and the existence of the precious metal was not widely known; still less was its distribution northward suspected. The discovery of gold, January 19th) 1848, at Sutter's saw-mill, on the south fork of the American River, afterward famous as Coloma, in Eldorado County, was the beginning of the new epoch. This discovery was made by James Wilson Marshall, a partner in the mill, who observed in the debris washed down by the tail-race a glittering fragment of a mineral unknown to him. Suspecting it to be gold, he sought for further specimens, and obtained, in the course of a few days, several ounces of it. Tests subsequently

National Minerals Advisory Council A meeting of the National Minerals Advisory Council on August 3rd in Washington, D. C., indicated the vitally important part that the mining industry is to play in the mobilization program. Director James Boyd of the Bureau of Mines told the Council that the Department of the Interior would review the recommendations of all the Council's commodity committees with regard for mobilization planning in the light of the changed international picture. The Council was requested to reactivate its commodity committees and have them gather all available data on supplies, their sources and availability and present and potential production of the minerals and metals represented on each committee. Data on labor, machinery, transportation, automotive and stationary equipment, power, fuel, lumber, water supply are a few of the important items called for in the reports, which are to be presented at a meeting of the Council on September 1 at Salt Lake City. The material in the reports will become the basis for discussing metal and mineral requirements at that time. Discussion at the meeting bared several $64 questions, probably the most important of which are the following: 1. Which of the war-essential metals and minerals and in what quantities can we reasonably expect to get them from abroad under threat of submarines? 2. How are we going to meet the manpower problem posed by (a) migration of labor from mining to manufacturing since the end of World War II and (b) the draft and the calling up of reservists? Opinion was expressed by industry spokesman at the meeting that the function of complying with mobilization requirements be left to those in the industry itself; that is, those having the "know how." This view contended that any administrating governmental agency should be kept as small and streamlined as possible. There was general sentiment against the reactivation of the wartime Premium Price Plan or other bonus plans as a stimulus to production. The thought was emphasized that what was needed was a change in the basic conditions which have fostered the decline in domestic mining activity in the postwar years. One such condition, long overdue for correction, is the tax structure as it applies to mining enterprises. Many quarters both in industry and in government favor tax relief along the lines suggested in the six tax recommendations by the Council to the Secretary of the Interior last December. The Council adopted a resolution expressing a feeling that the following tax recommendations are still feasible and desirable and will accomplish as much toward increasing exploration for new deposits (thereby subsequently increasing production) as will government loans for exploration: (1) Losses from unprofitable ventures should be allowed corporations, partnerships, or individuals as ordinary deduction against current income. (2) Development costs after discovery should be recognized as operating expenses. (3) Allowance for depletion should be made to the stockholder as well as to the corporation. (4) Income should not be taxed without full allowance for losses of loss years. (5) Adequate allowances for percentage depletion should be made. A discussion of the manpower problem led to the Council's acceptance of a resolution advising that "military authorities should proceed with caution in depriving the mining and metallurgical industry of its manpower." The resolution strongly urged that no personnel "directly engaged in exploration, development, production or supervision (of strategic and critical materials) should be drafted for the armed forces, at least until the anticipated demands upon these producers are clarified." Stockpiles The Munitions Board's "Stockpile Report to the Congress" of July 23, 1950 revealed: (1) The total estimated value of the stockpile objective is $4,051,714,510 at the close of fiscal year 1950. (2) The total value of the stockpile on hand, at the close of fiscal 1950 was $1,556,154,352 or 38.4 pct of the total stockpile objective. An additional $494,948,060 was on order, making a total of 50.6 pct on hand plus the amount on order. (3) Materials obtained for the stockpile by the ECA from January to June 1950 amounted to $13,112,085, while development projects by ECA during this period involved the expenditure of $9,322,000, mainly with counterpart funds. Shortly after the start of the Korean conflict it was felt that Congress ould appropriate greatly increased sums for the purchase of materials for the stockpile. This stimulus to the program may increase the dollar earnings of those European nations that are present or potential contractors in our stockpiling program. Such a development would mean that these nations could add to their gold reserves, thereby stabilizing their respective economies and hastening recovery. This seems to be the picture for the next six months anyway. The "bug" appears when it is realized that the increased threat of total world war actually may retard recovery in Europe as nations on the continent may feel inclined to devote more of their resources to defense programs. Industries Essential to Defense The Department of Commerce in response to a request by the Department of Defense issued on August 3, 1950 a "Tentative List of Essential Activities" as a "guide for calling up for active duty members of the civilian components of the Armed Forces." The list includes the following: Primary Metal Industries. Included herein are establishments engaged in the smelting and refining of ferrous and nonferrous metals from ore, pig, or scrap. Metal Mining. This category includes establishments primarily engaged in mining, developing mines or exploring for metallic minerals (ores). This group includes all ore dressing and beneficiating operations. Anthracite Mining, Bituminous Coal and Lignite Mining, Crude Petroleum and Natural Gas Extraction, Mining and Quarrying of Nonmetallic Minerals, Except Fuels. Challenge to the Mining Industry The source of our country's great strength lies in its capacity to produce. In times of stress such things as national morale and manpower are all-important but without a capable industrial machine we would be helpless. That machine must be fed with minerals and metals in order to generate and maintain momentum sufficient to insure success. Consequences of the lack of adequate supplies of essential metals and minerals to increase and sustain our industrial power are not pleasant to contemplate. It is absolutely imperative that we put forth Herculean effort to guarantee ample supplies of such essential materials as copper, lead, zinc, manganese, antimony, mercury, tungsten, tin, chromite, nickel, cobalt, iron ore and rubber. The mining industry faces a challenge more serious than ever existed before in the history of our country. The industry must be equal to the task.

Jan 9, 1950

YEARS ago, when metal mining was more an adventure than a well-organized business, it was often said (with some color of truth) that unless a mine could stand bad management or mismanagement, it was not much good. Today, the natural excellencies of an ore deposit are merely a challenge to the engineers to exploit it as skillfully, as efficiently, and as profit- ably as possible. A vast amount of competent and imaginative engineering management (which includes economic analysis no less than the technologic arts of mining ore and treating it) has been required to make New Cornelia the smooth-running and successful operation that can be seen at Ajo today. New Cornelia was acquired by the Phelps Dodge Corporation when it absorbed the Calumet and Arizona Mining Company in 1931. Next to Morenci, it doubtless is the corporation's biggest asset. It in no way detracts from the achievement of Phelps Dodge engineers to say that they had an admirable ore deposit to work on. New Cornelia ore, as mined, is relatively low in grade and the deposit is by no means the largest of the Porphyries; but it has these attractive features : (1) It is peculiarly suitable for opencut mining because: (a) The overburden of waste rock lying above the ore deposit was (it has long since disappeared) almost negligible. (b) The deposit is roughly circular in horizontal section, with the horizontal dimensions four to five times as great as the maximum thickness. (Nevertheless, eventually some underground mining may be desirable.)

Jan 1, 1957

One of the newest and most modern surface mining operations in the East is gathering steam at Mapco Inc.'s Martiki mine in anticipation of yielding 2.7 million tons (3 million st) of coal annually.

Jan 10, 1977

By F. S. Knoll

The expanding role of electrostatics as applied to minerals and related fields is covered in this paper. New and existing forms of electrostatic separation are classified into two broad groups: separation of charged particles and separation of neutral particles. The basis for each form of separation is discussed along with particle examples and results obtained.

Jan 1, 1986

By Karl J. Benecke

Though the first patent on a bucket wheel excavator (BWE) was granted in 1881 in the US, this technology was developed in Germany to the high standards of today. However, this development was only possible in parallel with development of shiftable belt conveyors and boom stackers. The combination of these three types of equipment in the open pits of the Federal Republic of Germany has made lignite the cheapest energy source for power generation, despite the low heating value of German lignite on the order of 8500 kJ/kg (3600 Btu/lb) only. Comparing the costs for fuels used in power generating on the basis of their heating value, the relation between lignite, high quality black coal, and imported crude oil is on the order of 1 to 1.5 to 2.5, hence highly in favour of lignite. These cost advantages for lignite in Germany are due mainly to the concentration of lignite mining in a few high-output mines. The largest one, Fortuna mine in the Cologne district, produced a total of 45 million tons of lignite in 1976. That equals the annual fuel need of a 5750 MW power plant running 7000 hours per year at full capacity. Altogether 95.2 million bank m3 equal to 200 million tons of overburden had to be removed to accomplish this lignite output. The largest BWE ever built is working in the Fortuna mine [(Fig. 1)]. At a digging height of 51 m above crawler level, the total vertical reach in relation to the face conveyor level is 98 m by means of its conveying bridge and loading unit. The hourly output is 10 400 bank m3. Its weight in operation is 13 000 tons and its wheel diameter 21.6 m, as high as a seven-story building. Major reasons for the development of BWE technology in Germany were: ? Lignite deposits with moderately consolidated, alluvial-type overburden (gravel, sand, loam, marl, clay, etc.) ? Great overall depth of the deposits, ranging far beyond 100 m, requiring a wide opening of the mine, hence not permitting direct overcasting of overburden. ? Multiple-seam deposits of poor-quality coal divided by reject partings, which demand a perfectly selective digging tool for clean separation. In general, these conditions are almost identical to those prevailing in the lignite deposits of Texas and neighbouring states: The type of overburden suitable for BWE digging, the overall deposit depth ranges down to around 100 m, and finally, the multi-seam occurrence with partings between seams, the latter ranging from just 1 m to a few meters in thickness. Technique As the Texas-type lignite deposits come into focus more and more as a possible fuel source in power plants to replace natural gas and crude oil, the following will deal with the BWE technology for mining a typical Texas lignite deposit under the aspect of producing enough fuel for a 500-MW power plant located at the mine mouth.

Jan 1, 1980