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By Clarence Seyler

THE technical difficulties of cutting thin sections of coal for examination by transmitted light have hitherto restricted the investigation of the important subject of the microstructure of coal to the few possessed of the requisite skill and time. Apart from this, the method fails with anthracites and other coals rich in carbon, owing to the opacity of the material. Occasional use of the method of polishing a surface, with or without etching, has been made, but it was not until Winter1 published an account of his results that attention was seriously directed to the method. In May, 1923, a specimen of dull anthracite came into my hands; I tried Winter's method on it and the presence of megaspores and other vegetable structures became clearly visible. A preliminary notice was published by me;2 but I soon abandoned the use of Schulze's solution having found that a mixture of chromic and sulfuric acids gave far better results. In the meantime Turner and Randall, in America, had independently developed the method of flame etching, as applied to anthracite, with great success. I have spent a year studying the method of chromic etching, which gives excellent results with bituminous coals and cannels, as well as with anthracite. For anthracites, I have used the chromic method and Turner's method of flame etching, whichever was the more convenient or as a check one on the other. The polishing is done, according to metallurgical practice, by the use of a polishing machine and successively finer emery paper, followed by polishing on cloth moistened with a suspension of levigated green oxide of chromium, and a final rubbing on "selvyt" (a cotton velvet polishing cloth) moistened' with alcohol. The polished sample is examined by reflected light with a 2/3 and 1/6 in. objective. Bituminous coals usually show considerable structure, and even anthracites show it faintly in places. The sample is then etched by immersion in a boiling solution made by adding 10 c.c. of concentrated sulfuric acid to 30 c.c of a saturated solution of chromic acid; enough water is then added to dissolve

Jan 3, 1925

By William Campbell

(Cleveland Meeting, October, 1912.) THE structure of iron and steel, though the object of so much study and research for the past 25 years, is by no means thoroughly understood. In the first place, we have three or more distinct iron-carbon thermal diagrams, each with its own supporters, and each representing a theory of the structure and constitution of cast-iron. In the second place, by reason of the fact that austenite, the solid solution of carbon in iron, decomposes in the solid state into ferrite, or pure iron, and cementite (Fe3C), and that quenching from above this transition-range, no matter how rapid, cannot entirely prevent the change and thus preserve the austenite by itself at ordinary temperatures, it happens that under the microscope we find, in addition to the ferrite, Fe3C, and austenite, which the thermal diagram of steel requires, it series of transition-products with distinctive structures, to which have ,been given the names martensite, troostite, sorbite, etc. Now these transition-products, in addition to the solid solution, austenite, have been the source of much controversy, at times very bitter. One side would insist that, say, troostite was an entity, which the other side would deny, pointing out that it must be a transition-mixture, with a particular structure. That austenite was a solid solution of carbon in iron has been denied by one school ; we have been told that Fe24C dissolved both Fe3C and Fe, and thus gave rise to a whole series of quenching-products-all this in spite of the fact that no matter how the thermal diagrams differ in regard to cast-iron, they all agree in regard to the solid solution, austenite, for Fe24C finds no place on the diagram. Thus it happens that while the authorities fight both in regard to the iron-carbon diagram and the structures met with in hard- * Associate Professor of Metallurgy, Columbia University in the City of New York.

Dec 1, 1912

By B. G. Klugh

(New York Meeting, February, 1913.) THE present paper represents a preliminary investigation of the ultimate structure of iron-bearing materials which have been subjected to heat treatment for the purpose of agglormer-ating the fines, or for chemical changes, or for both. Primarily, the object of this inquiry was to determine the relation of the microstructure of each of these materials-to its specific susceptibility to the action in the blast-furnace. It is hoped that this small contribution will serve as a nucleus to a line of research that will throw some light upon the debated questions involved in blast-roasting. Thus far the investigation has been conducted along lines of analogy of known principles, rather than through the applica-tion of any well-defined system of microscopic petrography. This is obviously due to the fact that we are dealing with materials which are the artificial products of a new art, rather than with the natural materials from which the essence of the pure science has been evolved. In the limited tune allowed for this research, it has been conducted upon those materials the chemical content of which allows of their use commercially in the blast-furnace.

Jan 5, 1913

By Joseph B. Umpleby

WHEN the Cushing field flooded the oil market in 1914 and 1915 with a daily output equal to nearly one-third of the world's production, the situation was soon corrected by increased consumption, and the price of crude oil rose from 45 c. per barrel in, February 1915 to $1.10 in December of the same year-the highest price paid in the Mid-Continent field up to that time. The intensive search for oil during the following seven years failed to disclose a single new ,field equal to Cushing, and many observers concluded that the rapidly increasing number of wells contributing to the world's output, each declining roughly 20 per cent. a year, combined with the rapidly increasing con¬sumption of petroleum, made it highly improbable that any field would; be found again sufficiently large to seri¬ously affect the oil market. That seven exceptional fields should then be discovered simultaneously is a remarkable coincidence. Long Beach, Santa Fe Springs, and Powell, each exceeded Cushing in daily output and reached the apex of their production during a year when Burbank, Tonkawa, - Smackover and Huntington Beach each contributed several times the daily output of the average new pool. This unexpected and tremendous flood of flush production could only have the effect of depressing price and greatly adding to stocks throughout the country. It was particularly depressing in the Mid-Continent as the new oil from California proved of attractive refining grade and because of cheap transportation by water easily undersold Oklahoma crude in the eastern markets.

Jan 1, 1924

By Derek H. C. Wilton, David T. W. Evans

"Abstract - The Midas Pond gold prospect, central Newfoundland, is hosted by sheared and altered felsic and mafic pyroclastic rocks of the Tulks Hill volcanics, Victoria Lake Group, and has been trenched and tested by 19 diamond-drill holes. Gold values are sporadic, with the best diamond-drill intersection assaying 7.3 g/t over 0.9 m, and the highest grade channel sample containing 14.7 g/t over 1.15 m. Alteration and mineralization are confined to a 200 m wide brittle-ductile shear zone. This shear zone formed in response to regional D1 deformation, and the shear zone fabric parallels the regional S1 foliation. D2 deformation resulted in broad Z-shaped flexuring of the shear zone. The deformation was probably related to the ca. 396 Ma to 420 Ma Salinic Orogeny.Advanced argillic alteration and an extensive halo of Fe-carbonate and pyrite surround the gold mineralization. Alteration minerals include pyrophyllite, paragonite, quartz, plagioclase, chlorite, fluorite, Fe-carbonate, and pyrite. As such, the alteration seems to reflect combined epithermal (argillic) and mesothermal (carbonate) mineralizing environments. The argillic alteration and fluorite represent a regional hydrothermal effect on the felsic volcanic rocks; whereas, the Fe-carbonate and pyrite represent a mesothermal alteration associated with auriferous quartz veins. The Au, which is spatially associated with pyrite, occurs in three structurally-controlled vein sets. These veins are confined to the contact between a highly deformed breccia (the banded mafic tuff) and structurally overlying, altered felsic tuffaceous rocks. The vein sets include: V1 boudinage veins that parallel the shear-zone fabric (C-shear veins), and V2 and V3 extensional fracture veins which are controlled by an S2 fracture cleavage. V1 veins are the earliest and contain the lowest concentrations of Au. V2 and V3 veins are concentrated within the hinges of the D2 flexures.Pb isotope data for galena separates indicate that the Pb in the vein systems was probably of local derivation. Sulfur, C, and O isotope data for mineral separates are similar to data for typical mesothermal lode gold deposits. Fluid inclusion data suggest the presence of at least three hydrothermal fluid types in the region, viz., (1) an early saline fluid which produced the argillic alteration, (2) a CO2-bearing fluid directly related to the auriferous mineralization, and (3) H2O-NaCl fluids which flowed through the Midas Pond shear zone at a lateral distance from the zone of mineralization. The mineralizing fluids are interpreted to have been CO3 -2-rich types which originated through metamorphic dehydration and decarbonation of mixed island-arc and continental crustal rocks. Gold precipitation resulted from the reaction of these fluids with the Fe-rich breccia unit. Pre-existing and simultaneously crystallizing pyrite served as loci for Au precipitation."

Jan 1, 2000

By Oswald J. Heinrich

IN this paper I shall attempt a description of the successful extraction of coal from this property after it had been on fire for probably fifty years, or more, and after attempts, made at various times, which had still left considerable coal behind. The Richmond coal-field has a well-founded bad reputation, arising from the circumstance that many of its collieries have had to be abandoned, from time to time, if not entirely, on account of fires, caused by spontaneous combustion, to which the character of the coal in this field renders them peculiarly liable. While I fully assent to the opinion that this trouble lies in the nature of the coal, which is highly bituminous, and the seams of which are, moreover, divided by slaty bands, through which, as also in the coal, iron pyrites is more or less disseminated, often in microscopically small particles, I must, nevertheless, declare that many lamentable disasters, causing great loss of life and property, could have been avoided if a suitable system of mining had been pursued in all the collieries. If this could not have been done from the beginning of mining in this section of country (the history of which can be traced back to over one hundred years), at least experience enough existed upon this subject thirty and forty years ago to dictate the avoidance of the dangers to a considerable extent. It is therefore necessary here to refer first, in a few remarks, to the character of the coal deposits, particularly in this immediate neighborhood, the Midlothian being one of the oldest and most extensive mines, and some of its coal being much subjected to spontaneous combustion. I must also refer to the history of former managements to explain more clearly the results which were arrived at. The Midlothian coal-mine property, situated upon the eastern outcrop of the basin, about four miles south from James River, exhibits

Jan 1, 1873

By Oswald J. Heinrich

(with figures on plate V.) THE origin of spontaneous combustion in collieries is, of course, chiefly due to bad system in laying out the pits, unclean workings, insufficient ventilation, and neglect in damming off works after they are exhausted of the main coal. This is particularly indispensable in the Richmond field, because it is difficult and dangerous here, on account of the inferior roof, to remove the last vestiges of coal ; and we are compelled also to retain all the slates and bands, as far as possible, in the pit, to help fill up, although such material is liable to fire. This, however, can be prevented to a great extent, as men¬tioned below. I am satisfied that the only system of working this thick coal is by cross-cutting ( Querbau, ouvrage à travers) or working in benches, as practiced in France (Creusot, Rive de Gier, St. Etienne), in Sile¬sia (Königsgrube), which I have used as far as it is practicable in an old pit, almost torn to pieces by former workings. Modifications may, of course, be needed, even in the same pit, on account of irregu¬larities in the seam. I am also satisfied for economical reasons (on account of the heavy cost for timbering) that pits here ought to be worked upwards, even if it requires a longer period of time to win the coal, and a greater outlay of capital to commence with. The various saddle-shaped "troubles" making natural minor basins in the main basin aid in the execution of this plan. A pit worked once ought to be worked out clean, given up, and dammed off forever. If sections of proper height are assumed, according to the required amount of production for a certain period of time, they ought to be worked out and filled in as much as possible, dammed off, and ulti¬mately allowed to fill up with water, in order to protect the tipper works in future from fire in the gob below. This I consider indispen¬sable, because we may not be able profitably to fill in all the ground. To do so we have to use the waste of the mine, although it is liable to fire in time. In using this stuff, it ought to be surrounded by walls of rock not liable to take fire, laid firmly in clay, the gob being in the middle, and firmly covered and packed with clay on top. In

Jan 1, 1873

By Oswald J. Heinrich

IN the coal review for the United States for 1875, the Engineering and Mining Journal, January 1st, 1876, remarks about the Richmond coal basin " It has contributed but little to the supply of fuel during the year past, notwithstanding the fact that it is the most favorably situated of all our coal-fields, and possesses a fuel of good quality, well adapted to many important uses. An unaccountable lethargy seems to have fallen on all who have touched this field ; and yet, in the future it can scarcely fail to become one of the great sources of coal supply." In most respects indorsing the above remarks, I take occasion to lay before the Institute the following facts in defence of the Rich¬mond basin; and not willing to criticize other mining enterprises in this field, I will make this one remark in general for all of them. While it is true that very little coal has been raised during the year in this field, it is equally true that even the little that has been raised could hardly be sold. When the output of the largest coal districts in the United States decreases, in consequence of the state of the market, it is not to be wondered at that the former small output of this basin dwindled down to almost nothing. But a far deeper¬seated evil, under which this field is suffering, may be discerned from the following remarks, which I hope will show that the latter part of the above remark in the Journal is not altogether fair. As the history of one mine in this district very nearly represents the history of the whole field, I will endeavor to give an account of the development of the Midlothian Mines, ranging amongst the old¬est in the district, partially taken from a report of Col. Wooldridge, in 1841. Coal was mined in this neighborhood as early as 1700, and used (then so-called extensively) in the vicinity in 1775. A

Jan 1, 1876

By L. A. Melis, K. S. Fraser

"This paper describes the development of a milling circuit for the complex Midwest orebody, containing a high-arsenic uranium ore typical of that found in northern Saskatchewan. The results of preliminary bench-scale test work are summarized. Data from a pilot-plant program carried out at the Ontario Research Foundation are provided for the selected mill flowsheet. Also described are waste circuits which have been established to produce effluents of acceptable quality. Pilot-plant testing of sub-aerial tailings deposition is also described. The applicability of manufacturers' equipment for the various circuits in the flowsheet is discussed.IntroductionThe Midwest uranium deposit is in northern Saskatchewan, 700 km north of Saskatoon, near the eastern edge of the Athabasca BasinDevelopment work on the project is directed by Canada Wide Mines Ltd., a subsidiary of Esso Resources Canada Limited. Participants in the project are Esso Resources Canada Limited, Numac Oil and Gas Ltd., Bow Valley Industries Ltd ., Mink Mining Corporation and Midwest Mining Corporation.The deposit consists of a series of flat lenses of massive ore overlain by a halo of lower-grade sandstone ore. The massive ore is formed of pitchblende and nickel arsenides, along with clay, and averages about 10% U and 9% Ni, The principal minerals are pitchblende (UO2-UO3), coffinite (U(SiO4)1-x(OH)4x), gersdorffite (NiAsS), niccolite (NiAs) and rammelsbergite (NiAs2). The sandstone ore, a friable clay-rich sandstone with sooty pitchblende, averages about 0.4% U and 0.6% Ni. Typical expected mill feed analyses are given in Table I.A bench-scale development program ore was carried out during the period from August 1978 to May 1981 in the laboratories of Lakefield Research of Canada Ltd. (Lakefield), (Lakefield, Ontario), the Colorado School of Mines Research Institute (CSMRI), (Golden, Colorado) and, to a lesser extent, the Ontario Research Foundation (ORF), (Mississauga, Ontario) and the Saskatchewan Research Council (SRC), (Saskatoon, Saskatchewan). Direction of the development studies was shared by Canada Wide Mines Ltd. and its metallurgical consultants, A.H. Ross and Associates. Input was received from Envirotech, Enviroclear, Interox America, and Knight and Piesold Ltd."

Jan 1, 1983

By J. Philip Bromberg

Any effectuation of a viable program of air pollution control will' require a basic understanding of the chemistry of atmospheric processes, the fate and migration of SO2, and the ultimate health effects of the sulfur oxides themselves. The migration and ultimate fate of Sop discharged into the atmosphere will be discussed with particular emphasis on the various conflicting views and how these relate to our present emission control regulations. Our present lack of knowledge is a severe detriment, and consideration will be given to those particular areas where future research may best be directed to provide the answers to a number of perplexing questions.

Jan 1, 1976

By W. G. Wahl

The Slave Province, a segment of Archean continental crust, migrated west and north from the northern flank of the Superior protoshield shortly after the Kenoran orogeny. The probable cause of migration, the path it followed and the cause of its coming to rest can be inferred from the Bouguer gravity data. The migration caused an indentation in the edge of the Superior protoshield which precluded the development of the Hudsonian orogenic front under Hudson Bay. As the nickel and asbestos deposits of the Thompson Nickel Belt and the New Quebec Nickel Belt are restricted to this orogenic front, no such deposits would occur under Hudson Bay.

Jan 1, 1973

By Alan Branham

The Mike deposit is a large, low grade, oxide, gold-copper system found at the intersection of two major faults that bound the Carlin Window, Eureka County, Nevada. Disseminated gold occurs within metamorphosed and hydrothermally altered silty limestone (Silurian-Devonian Roberts Mountains Formation), beneath 182 m (600 feet) of barren Tertiary sediments and tuffs. A supergene copper oxide blanket occurs beneath and locally overlaps the lower portion of the gold zone. Decalcification argillization, silicification, and brecciation are superimposed on earlier calcsilicate hornfels and marbles. Altered dikes and sills intrude the gold zone and are locally auriferous.

Jan 1, 1995

By James Johnston

Synopsis.-A description of the working of the mills of this company and the metallurgical practice in vogue, by which a remarkably. complex silver ore, averaging 54 oz. of silver per ton (run-of-mine ore), is treated to give a 95.66 per cent. extraction. The main features of the, processes are: The cyanide amalgamation of the high-grade ore. The cyanide treatment of the low-grade ore, after extremely fine grinding and close classification, in a caustic soda solution. The use of a wet desulphurizing process to break up refractory silver minerals. The substitution of aluminum dust for zinc dust as a precipitant. The recovery and shipment of over 13,000,000 oz. of silver in bullion at. 997 to 999 fine since this metallurgy was inaugurated, about 2.5 years ago. On the completion and successful operation of the mill to treat their . high-grade ore,1 the Nipissing Mining Co., under the general management of R. B. Watson, started a series of investigations of the possible treatment of the low-grade ore by the cyanide process, so that they would be in a position to market only silver bullion. These tests were run in July, 1911, on a large scale, by G. H. Clevenger, on an average mixture of Nipissing ore. The results obtained by a partial amalgamation followed by cyanide treatment gave an extraction varying from 90 to 93 per cent. and were sufficiently encouraging to warrant Charles Butters, the company's Consulting Metallurgist, in recommending that the new low-grade ore mill under contemplation should be a cyanide mill, instead of a concentrator. The cost of such a mill, capable of treating 200 tons per day, to obtain a 90 per cent. extraction at a working cost of $3 per ton of ore treated, was estimated at $250,000.

Jan 1, 1914

Discussion of the paper Of JAMES JOHNSTON, presented at the New York meeting, February, 1914, and printed in Bulletin No. 85, January, 1914, pp. 107 to 133. CHAIRMAN E. GIBBON SPILSBURY.-I would like to call attention to the fact shown in this paper that less than five years or perhaps seven years ago nobody had thought it possible to cyanide with success silver ores. The cyaniding of silver and gold ores was first of all started in Mexico, and gradually extended to this country in the case of the silver ores alone. The average extraction, I think, for the metals in Mexico, in the case of the silver ore, is less than 85 per cent., whereas here, in the case of a very complex ore, carrying a high percentage of sulphur and arsenic, and other objectionable elements, the ore has been treated so as to extract an average of 95 per cent. of the silver contents of the ore. It is really a phenomenal revolution in the metallurgy of silver ores which has been demonstrated and worked out at the Nipissing mines. GEORGE A. PACKARD, Boston, Mass.-I would like to suggest a slight modification, perhaps, of the statement which is made that no one considered cyaniding of silver ores up to five, or perhaps seven years ago, because in 1897, when I was at Mercur, Utah, one mill near there was operating on silver ores. It did not operate very successfully from a commercial standpoint, because they did not have a great deal of ore, but the extraction, I was told, was very satisfactory, and I am quite confident that it was, because, as suggested by the name, Chloride Point, the ores were silver chloride ores, and of course very easily soluble. Some years before that, in 1892, I made some tests myself. I spent three months making tests on more or less complex silver sulphide ores at Virginia City, Mont., and while our tests on the plain sulphide ores, finely ground, were quite successful, on account of the presence of a small amount of copper we did not work out a satisfactory solution of the problem at that time; although since then a cyanide plant has been erected and for at least eight years these ores have been treated by cyaniding at Virginia City, and the mill is still in operation. The period of five to seven years should, therefore, be modified considerably, in justice to the pioneers in the cyanide processes. REGINALD E. HORE, Toronto, Ont., Canada.-I hoped that there would be metallurgists from Cobalt here to present and discuss Mr. Johnston's paper. In their absence a few remarks from me may help to make clearer to you what they have accomplished.

Jan 6, 1914

By G. H. Clevenger

(Continuing the discussion of the paper of James Johnston, presented at the New York meeting, February, 1914, and printed in Bulletin No. 85, January, 1914, pp. 107 to 133.) This paper cannot fail of being of great interest and value to all who are interested in the cyanide process, on account of the important developments which it records. Mr. Johnston is to be commended for the large amount of detail which he gives, and the company and its management for permitting the publication of data of this character, which while of great value to others could well be considered private property. It might be discussed from a number of standpoints: First, as an example of recent practice in mill and cyanide plant construction; second, the mill practice; third, the cyanide practice; and fourth, the new features in cyanide treatment involved. Perhaps a more vivid way of expressing it would be : First, the equipment or tools with which the various operations are carried on, are they the best and most efficient which could have been selected for their respective uses; and, second, is the best use in every case made of these tools? It may be well inquired is the highest possible recovery of silver made at the lowest cost per ounce recovered? For after all, the making of the greatest ultimate profit is inseparably associated with successful metallurgical practice; there must therefore be at all times a careful balance maintained between recovery and cost of obtaining it. I wish to call attention in a very general way to the equipment used and to an anticipation of questions which are bound to arise in this connection. However, the. bulk of my discussion will be confined to the presentation of certain additional data, together with a more or less general discussion showing the line of development which leads up to the present practice and .the applicability of certain features of it to similar problems elsewhere. There are a number of vital points of broad general interest involved in Nipissing low-grade practice upon which metallurgists will by no means be agreed to which I wish to call particular attention in the hope that it will lead to the presentation of data y others of practice in other districts which will' assist in reconciling this divergence of opinion.

Jan 7, 1914

Further discussion of the paper of JAMES JOHNSTON, presented at the New York meeting, February,. 1914, and printed in Bulletin No. 85, January, 1914, pp. 107 to 133. See also Bulletin No. 91, July, 1914, pp. 1473 to 1496. THOMAS CROWE,* Victor, Colo.-The interest manifested of late in the treatment of low-grade ores, together with Mr. Clevenger's discussion of the Mill and Metallurgical Practice of the Nipissing Mining Co., prompts me to acid a few remarks relative to concentration in connection with cyanide treatment of low-grade ores. Mr. Clevenger in this discussion does not condemn concentration in this connection, but, nevertheless, the tone of his remarks would lead one to believe that his conclusions are like those of many others: that concentration is often turned to as a last resort in an attempt to improve or obtain an extraction upon an ore by the recovery and sale of the refractory portion of the ore. This, I will attempt to point out, is not always the case. Concentration in connection with cyanidation often performs an entirely different function, i.e., one of saving fine grinding. Economy being the keynote of successful treatment of low-grade ores, the problem often becomes more commercial than metallurgical, and, as there is generally a definite ratio existing between cost of operation, degree of comminution, and percentage of extraction, the grade of ore under treatment usually imposes a limit upon these factors. With many ores grinding is the most expensive single item in their treatment; therefore, the degree of comminution is very apt to be governed by the allowable cost of operation. With most ores the degree of comminution controls to a great extent the percentage of extraction. So in the treatment of low-grade ore it often becomes necessary to sacrifice extraction, through coarse grinding for the benefit of cost, in order that the greatest ultimate profit may be obtained, and it is under these conditions that it is, possible for concentration to play an important part in overcoming to some extent the effect of mesh. The precious metals occurring in an ore are usually closely associated with the metallic portion of the ore, and as this metallic portion is generally fairly well liberated from the gangue at comparatively coarse meshes, further grinding of the ore is necessary only in order that the metallic portion may be reduced sufficiently fine that the precious metal part of it may be dissolved by cyanide solutions in a reasonable length of time.

Jan 11, 1914

By T Smith, J Hatley

With the increased focus on the need for more uranium mines, this paper presents the design process currently underway for the development of the Millennium deposit in northern Saskatchewan, Canada. This deposit, located 630 - 750 m below surface, will be accessed by two shafts and will be mined by blasthole stoping methods at less than 500 t/d. Mining grade will approximate two per cent U3O8 and mine life is expected to be six to seven years. The project is a joint venture between Cameco, AREVA and JCU. This paper discusses in detail methods used to predict worker radiation exposures, the methods used to monitor the work environment and procedures unique to the uranium industry necessary to minimise worker radiation exposures.

Jan 1, 2008

By Robert Martin

New Millennium ?a new project for an experienced mine building team ?Owns 100% of KeMag(Harris Lake) property ?Owns 80% of LabMag(Howells River) property -20% owned by Naskapi Nations of Kawawachikamah ?All founding directors are mining professionals : Geologists or Mining Engineers ?All have extensive experience in the iron ore industry ?The Project Office is located in Montreal, lead by a team of experienced iron-ore professionals Project Overview Geology & Resources Market Prospects Process & Product Development Development Plan Questions

May 1, 2007

By J. E. Miller

The development of a new means of measuring the relative abrasivity of a slurry came about by necessity in 1967 during a full scale loop test of a 560 H.P. reciprocating pump handling magnetite slurry. In order to evaluate the life of expendable fluid end parts, the question of the amount of attrition in a re-circulated slurry had to be considered. An expected reduction in abrasivity as a result of this attrition would certainly give erroneous data on a parts life test. There- fore, some means of measuring such change in abrasivity became imperative. Several test methods were investigated1 but it was felt that these did not fully represent the wear due to back and forth rubbing action associated with a reciprocating pump. A "rubbing block" device used some years ago to determine the quality of hard facing materials was recalled, along with its shortcomings, in that an attempt was made to suspend a small percentage of abrasive particles in a colloidal viscous "mud". Erratic results were attributed to the fact that it was difficult to maintain a consistent slurry concentration under the metal wear block and the reciprocating speed was not great enough to maintain good agitation.

Jan 1, 1973

"The McArthur River uranium deposit is the single richest uranium ore body developed in the world to date. The ore body’s average grade is 15% U3O8. Proven reserves are in excess of 450 million pounds. The grinding circuit is located underground. The ground ore is pumped to a surface facility where the slurry is thickened and loaded into containers for shipping to the Key Lake mill 78 kilometers to the south.The paper will briefly describe the mining method employed. The underground ore handling and grinding circuit, and surface facilities including slurry load out, wastewater treatment and the freeze plant will be described in detail. The paper will emphasize radiation and safety procedures that are followed to minimize operator exposure to radiation risks.LOCATIONThe McArthur River mine is located 78 kilometres north of the Key Lake mill. It is located at latitude 57’ N in northern Saskatchewan, within the southern boundary of the Athabasca formation. The nearest town is Pinehouse, located 320 kilometres to the south. Access to the mine is by an all weather road and by a private airstrip.HISTORYThe McArthur River Operation is jointly owned by Cameco Corporation (69.805%) and Cogema Resources Inc. (30.195%). Exploration for uranium in the McArthur River area started in 1980 by the Saskatchewan Mining Development Corporation, a predecessor company of Cameco.In 1984, a 12-kilometre long basement conductor was identified at a depth exceeding 500 metres. Systematic exploration drilling of this conductor resulted in the discovery of the P2 North deposit. Subsequent surface drilling programs from 1989 to 1992 delineated a narrow ore zone over a strike length of 1700 meters at a depth of 500 to 600 metres. At this time, geological reserves for the deposit were estimated to be 2.4 million tonnes at a grade of 5.0% U3O8 for a uranium content of 260 million pounds U308"

Jan 1, 2001