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(Members are urged to send in for this column any notes of interest concerning themselves or their fellow-members.) Members and guests who called at Institute headquarters during the period July 10, 1916 to August 1, 1916: W. A. Barnes, San Francisco, Cal. W. J. Mead, Madison, Wis. W. L. Bell, Davenport, Fla. Charles Mentzel, San Pedro, N. M. James P. Clarke, Jr., Little Rock, Ark. H. H. Miller, New York, N. Y. R. A. Carhart, Mitchell, S. D. W. E. Pomeroy, El Paso, Tex. G. M. Colvocoresses, Humboldt, Ariz. M. K. Rodgers, Los Angeles, Cal W. E. Defty, Phoenix, Ariz. S. C. Rodgers, Guanajuato, Mex. Carl F. Dietz, Worcester, Mass. John M. Baker and Hamilton W. Baker have resigned as general manager and mine superintendent respectively of the Baker Mines Co., of Oregon. After Aug. 1, their address will be 43 Emerson St., Denver, Colo.

Jan 9, 1916

Today's largest producer of domestic beryllium oxide, Mineral Concentrates & Chemical Co., Inc., has recently disclosed the basic outline of its unique process of beneficiating beryllium ores to high purity BeO. This process, known as the Mincon process, is a thermic-flotation scheme which has reportedly resulted in a recovery ratio exceeding 90% and in allowing up-grading of beryllium concentrates to as high as 33%. Mincon borrowed a step from the iron ore industry by introducing a pelletizing and sintering stage in their flow sheet at the company's mill at Loveland, Colo. This mill, now operating at full-capacity with three-shifts a day, is still undergoing some minor changes and adjustments in the equipment and chemical reagents.

Jan 10, 1961

By William E. Ford, Edward Salisbury Dana

Twin crystals are those in which one or more parts regularly arranged are in reverse position with reference to the other part or parts. They often appear externally to consist of two or more crystals symmetrically united, and sometimes have the form of a cross or star. They also exhibit the composition in the reversed arrangement of part of the feces, in the striae of the surface, and in re-entering angles; in certain cases the compound structure can only be surely detected by an examination in polarized light. The above figures (Figs. 384-386) are examples of typical kinds of twin crystals, and many others are given on the pages following.

Jan 1, 1922

By David A. Summers, Clark R. Barker, Marian Mazurkiewicz

In May 1975 the U.S. Bureau of Mines contracted with the University of Missouri-Rolla, Rock Mechanics and Explosives Research Center to develop a Hydrominer modification to a longwall shearer unit, wherein the rotating pick-laced drums and connecting gear drives are replaced by a water jet cutting ahead.1 The concept of the water jet cutting head is based on using the high localized energy of the water jets to isolate a slice of coal by cutting a slot under, at the back of, and at the top of the web. The plow blade of the head then advances into the cut and wedges the coal cantilever over onto the conveyor (Fig. 1).

Jan 4, 1978

Jan 1, 1892

By R. W. Callen, W. A. Hockings

This paper describes a computer program which calculates material balances for complex steady-state material flow circuits encountered in mineral processing. The program determines mass flows in the various process streams of a flowsheet from multicomponent analytical data obtained from samples of the streams. The program, Metallurgical Balance System (MBS), has been used extensively in treating Pilot plant test data, in production evaluation and control, and in plant design. The program performs well even on ill-conditioned data. Input to the program is easily accomplished by unskilled personnel and the output appears in well-formatted tables.

Jan 1, 1981

By B. T., Colley

AS always when metallurgical operations are conducted within or close to agricultural and stock-raising regions, the question of damage due to fume and smoke presented itself when the Cerro de Pasco Copper Corporation's new smelter commenced to operate in La Oroya in 1922, For more than twenty years the Corporation had operated its old plant close to Cerro de Pasco without encountering difficulties from smoke claims, owing to the fact that it was in an open plain where more or less constant air currents carried and dissipated the smoke over large areas, affording ample dilution. But Oroya is in a deep canyon formed by four contributing valleys up and down which the smoke travels for long distances in a more or less concentrated form. Though the altitude of Oroya is more than 12,000 ft., and the surrounding country rises to much greater elevations, nevertheless there exists there a large and important stock-raising industry and also a considerable development in agriculture, consisting of the cultivation of potatoes, barley, etc.

Jan 1, 1945

By Philip D. Wilson

FEAST and famine-or, chronologically, famine and feast-have characterized the aluminum supply program during 1943. Fortunately for the war effort the famine phase is over and aluminum production is now in the happy position of being abundantly able to supply all the requirements of the armed services plus a monthly surplus which is building up a substantial stock pile as a reserve against any contingencies. But the present condition of oversupply cannot be attributed to the super-efficiency of the aluminum production program which was designed to take care of the over-all requirements of the war with little or no margin of safety. The present more than comfortable situation is due primarily to the fact that the armed services generally have not consumed anything approaching the amount of aluminum which their requirement estimates indicated.

Jan 1, 1944

By H. Xi-Lum

Three rapid cold bonding production methods wing sponge iron powder as a binder for low temperature pellets have been successfully developed. These methods differ from ordinary bonding by the elimination of salt and other catalyzers, equipment corrosion and environmental pollution. Experiments show that these pellets have good metallurgical properties. A semi-industrial test has proven the laboratory results, with the continuous and stable production of metallic pellets. These methods replace traditional high temperature firing of oxidized pellets for direct reduction. As a result, the plant for oxidized pellets can be saved and substituted for grate in the grate-kiln system. Thus, 20% of the investment could be saved, and production cost may also be decreased because the production of cold bonding pellets does not need additional space.

Jan 1, 1984

A. A. Almstrom is mill superintendent for Barrue Mines, Barraute, Quebec. Frank A. Ayer, vice president of Copper Range Co., who has been in charge of the development and bringing into production of White Pine orebody in northern Michigan, has resigned. E. G. Bailey and H. S. Mudd were made honorary members of the American Society of Civil Engineers. Lee Bilheimer, graduate of Missouri School of Mines, has been employed as assistant mine captain at the Edwards, N. Y., div. of the St. Joseph Lead Co. Douglas C. Blackwell, recently graduated from the South Dakota School of Mines, is now with the Oliver Iron Mining Co. of Duluth, Minn. Joseph F. Brown has joined the Grand Junction Exploration Branch of the United States Atomic Energy Commission as a geologist.

Jan 1, 1952

By George B. Clark

More economical methods of rock disintegration are needed for mining and for rapid excavation. Two major systems are drill and blast and mechanical excavation, including tunnel-boring machines. Current drill and blast methods are cyclic and there- fore limited in speed of operation. Boring machines are limited to moderately hard rock due to bearing and cutter wear. The recent development of ANFO, which has reduced blasting costs markedly, was largely fortuitous because of the method of manufacturing AN prills. New slurries and fluid explosives are easy to load and have high energy-pressure characteristics.

Jan 1, 1971

By James H. Neisz, Gregory P. White

This paper discusses the development of surface coal mine planning programs for a microcomputer. A set of seven programs which were originally written for a large mainframe computer are described. The problems encountered in converting these programs to a micro with 52K of available core storage are discussed. A program for economic evaluation which is currently running on the micro is described and plans to convert other programs to the micro are detailed. In addition, we explain the microcornputer system we have assembled and give the rationale for each component. Problems we have encountered with this system are described for the benefit of others who may follow our path.

Jan 1, 1983

By L. A. Adorjan

The tensile strength of agglomerate models due to capillary forces has been determined by computation of the exact surface profiles. Graphs showing tensile strength as a function of moisture content and contact angle me given for spheres in cubic arrangement. Another model of cones attached to cube faces, in cubic packing, provides a better representation of angular particle agglomerates. An algebraic formula approximating tensile strength as dependent on surface tension, particle size, moisture content, contact and cone angles was developed. The phenomenon of "capillary evaporation" due to high negative capillary pressures is explained and its influence on tensile strength of agglomerates is evaluated.

Jan 1, 1977

By J. D. Miller, R. L. Atwood

The structure, properties, and composition of commercial chelating-type copper extractants are examined. Characterization of these extractants was accomplished using organic separation techniques and analytical tools such as NMR and infrared spectroscopy. Results indicate that only the trans isomer of the diphenylhydroxyoxime (LIX 64N) is capable of copper chelation. The effects of structural modification of the extractants on the extraction and stripping reactions are discussed.

Jan 1, 1974

By J. A. Corbyn

An analysts of mining investment from the point of view of financial optimization is presented. The method uses differential equations to describe financial performance rather than the more usual method of modeling mine accounts from year to year. The analysis shows there is a optimum mine life that can be easily determined if certain simplifications are made. Tables are given to facilitate computation of the optimum life.

Jan 1, 1985

By Robert L. Thoms, Joseph D. Martinez

The development of Gulf Coast salt domes thus far, although enormously successful and productive, has proceeded in an unscheduled fashion governed by events rather than by a comprehensive plan. Motivation for the sequential progress of exploitation has included mineral discoveries, inventions, technological improvements, new needs, and a dynamic economy. Although it is too late to implement a plan for the entire cycle of exploitation of this resource, it would seem advisable to introduce now a system concept for further development. Viewed from this perspective, general determinative parameters should include economic, environmental, logistical, technical, and resource considerations, and more fundamentally, basic societal goals. Experience gained from planning in the Gulf Coast should provide guidelines for use elsewhere in the world.

Jan 1, 1981

By Donald Towse

Geothermal energy can substitute for and compete with other fuels, but until now it has been used only in special situations where it costs much less than alternate fuels. Geothermal heat is expected to be developed where it can: (1) compete with alternate fuels, (2) replace scarce fuels, (3) be more environmentally acceptable, or (4) is especially adapted to local needs. Economic problems in development include the often high capital costs of wells and gathering systems and the long lead-times required for electric generating plants. The large investment and long payout times for large industrial uses adversely affect the economics.

Jan 1, 1977

By W. E. Crandall

The No. 4 shaft and hoist at Hecla Mining Co.'s Star mine have been in operation for seven months, and as development of new mining areas proceeds in the lower portions of the mine, the system is being depended upon more extensively for personnel and material handling requirements. The hoist plant is handling full payloads, at rated speeds, over a vertical distance of 5650 ft. One of the special features of this hoist is its precision braking control under all hoisting conditions. Tests indicate that emergency stops can be made with safe deceleration rates and minimum rope and conveyance oscillation.

Jan 1, 1971

By P. Somasundaran, D. W. Fuerstenau

Adsorption isotherms for dodecyl sulfonate on alumina were determined at 45°C and 25°C and the data was used for calculating the partial molar heat and entropy of adsorbed ions under various concentrations. Changes in OH and AS observed at certain concentrations agree with the postulate of interaction of surfactant ions to form two-dimensional aggregates at the solid-liquid interface. Values of the total OH and AS for the aggregation process calculated using the Clausius-Clapeyron equation is used to interpret the interactions of surfactant ions with each other as well as with the solvent molecules.

Jan 1, 1973

By J. H. Johns, G. R. Stephan

The Climax mine has a history of dealing with ground control problems caused by major stress concentrations in the orebody. These stress concentrations, called weight, can arise in a variety of ways. The general effects of depth, rock type, and mining method give rise to weight problems, but local geologic features and daily cave line management can have even greater effects. Over the years a number of techniques have been developed for identifying weight problems in advance and for cow with them. These techniques all help us to amid interrupting the pace of cave advance and minimize the loss of production.

Jan 1, 1984