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Book review Proceedings of the Symposium on Mining Methods. London, Institution of Mining and Metallurgy, 1974. 160 pp. The Symposium was held from 30th October to 1st November, 1974, and the papers include an interesting range of subjects in coal-mining operations, covering the improvements achieved to date, current practice, and required development for the future. Salamon, M.D.G., and Oravecz, K. 1. Rock Mechanics in Coal Mining. 119 pp. NIM reports Report no. 1822 Stability constants and linear free-energy relations for the platimtm-group metals. (22nd Oct., 1976). Report no. 1852 A revised method for the dissolution of platiniferous materials by the sealed-tube technique. (18th Oct., 1976). Report no. 1828 y-picoline adducts of the nickel, copper, and zinc chelates of 2-thenoyltrifluoroacetone. (26th Nov., 1976) Report no. 1847 A pilot-plant investigation of a kinetic model for flotation.(19th Nov., 1976)

Jan 2, 1977

The Proceedings of the above Symposium have been edited and published by the Symposium Committee. The Symposium was sponsored by the Australian Coal Association, the Joint Coal Board, and the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe. The Symposium was very well attended, with presentations from fourteen countries, including all the major coal-producing countries of the world. The Proceedings are presented in two parts: the Symposium Part and the Workshop Part. The Symposium Part deals basically with the theoretical aspects of outbursts and high-gas emissions in mines, while the Workshop Part is more practically oriented and describes case studies, and the management systems, and drilling technologies used in underground mines.

Jan 1, 1996

Minerals Handbook 1994-95: Statistics and analyses et the world's minerals industry? by P. Crowsons, Basingstoke, Macmillan, 1994 ISBN 0 333 60931 X. £85. Available from Macmillan Direct Ltd., Houndmills, Basingstoke, Hants, RG21 2XS, UK. Review prepared by Theo J. Oosthuizen, Information and Educational Programmes Division, Mintek

Jan 1, 1995

MASSMIN 92 edited by H.W. Glen. Johannesburg, The South African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, 1992. xiii, 485pp. ill. 30 cm. (SAIMM Symposium Series S12). Includes bibliographies. ISBN 1-874832-18-8. R342 (MemberR285; Student Member R218,88. Available in Australia from the AMF Bookshop, 63 Conyngham Street, Glenside, SA 5065 at $A171.00 (approx). This volume is the twelfth in a series of symposia published by The South African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy since 1962. This particular meeting addressed the subject of the underground mining of massive ore bodies.

Jan 1, 1994

Statistical summary of the mineral industry world production, exports and imports 1964-1969 Published by Her Majesty's Stationery Office, London, on behalf of the Institute of Geological Sciences (1971) The Statistical Summary contains a wealth of care fully garnered information on the production, exports and imports of the principal minerals and mineral products throughout the world for the period 1964-1969, and it should therefore be of particular interest to economic geologists and others concerned with marketing and selling minerals. In view of the intractable nature of the source data it is quite an achievement to have published figures for 1969 so expeditiously. On picking up the Summary this reviewer instinctively compared it with the Annual Yearbook published by the United States Department of the Interior. The Yearbooks have been issued annually since 1882, and today each consists of a set of three separate books containing five volumes. Apart from abundant statistics on the domestic and international mineral industries, the Yearbooks are known for their perspicacious reviews and articles on a host of different facets of the world's minerals industry. Physically the Summary is a much slimmer publication than the Yearbook, and it contains no commentary whatsoever other than occasional footnotes. The principal contents are a series of tables showing production, exports and imports of fifty-nine of the world's more important minerals and mineral products. Each table shows the weight of the material produced or traded, by countries, with figures for each of the six years in adjoining columns. In some cases (e.g. diamonds) values in British currency are quoted in addition to weights. Most of the data have been abstracted from national reports and returns, although in some instances estimates are quoted where national sources are silent--as for example the production of platinum in South Africa. One wonders in passing if any useful purpose is served by the continued suppression of this particular figure. The four South African producers must surely be able to estimate each other's production fairly accurately by now, and one imagines that the national export figures can likewise be synthesised. This reviewer has two minor criticisms of an otherwise praiseworthy publication. Firstly it seems an unnecessary anachronism to perpetuate the split between 'Commonwealth' and 'Other' countries-the split can have little practical significance today. Secondly, what is one to make of the statement that the 1966-1969 figures for exports from Rhodesia of chrome ore and copper, to take two examples only, are 'not available'? It seems improbable that no estimates of these figures have been made since the imposition of sanctions, and inevitably one suspects that the figures have been excluded on policy grounds. Hopefully this problem will have been solved when the next Summary is published. M.J.M. South Africa, land of Challenge by Maurice Tyack France Interpresse, 323 pages, price R18-00. Is South Africa God's richest acre? In its mineral wealth it certainly is, but what of the many other complex overlays of emotions, traditions and racial problems? South Africa, Land of Challenge, provides the background. This is reported to be the first comprehensive documentary work of its kind on South Africa. It is a handsome volume measuring 12ft by 9f', is illustrated by at least 600 photographs of South Africa, more than half of which are in colour, and contains 21 original maps and charts. The book covers the full spectrum of South Africa's very existence, its geography, pre-history, its customs, countryside, natural resources and its cities. The more controversial categories are thoroughly discussed, the people, their policies and politics. Mr Tyack is eminently qualified to write on South Africa, being the author of over 20 books on other African countries and having spent more than three years of research, in the field, in South African archives and also in various libraries and museums, in preparation for this book. The book claims to be free of any party political bias and appears to be an honest attempt at a factual survey. However, a work of this magnitude will undoubtedly leave an impression on the reader and the tone of this book is decidedly patriotic. This is a useful reference work on South Africa that most South Africans will be proud to own. J.P.H. Ergonomics and physical environmental factors This publication by I.L.O. of a symposium in Rome in September 1968 has much useful information for the mining industry in regard to the health and productivity of its labour force. The first subject dealt with is mechanical vibrations. From this section it is clear that men who drive, for many hours each day, vehicles which vibrate in the 6 Hz range are subject to serious physiological and psychological effects. The former may show as changes to the vertebral column (which has a resonance in the 4-5 Hz range). The circulatory system is adversely effected by values in the 6-10 Hz range and the vision is impaired at between 40-100 Hz. Less definite knowledge exists of the effects of vibration on the hand-arm system from mechanical drills etc, although Raynauds disease of the blood vessels of the hand and degenerative diseases of the elbow and shoulder joints occur in men using drills which vibrate, respectively, in the higher and low frequency ranges. Industrial noise is extremely well dealt with and the latest knowledge is summarized. Clear information is given on the relationship between time of exposure to

Darwin Conference, 1984. Parkville (Australia), The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, 1984. $AI5,00 (surface mail). Reviewer: H.A. Simonsen The theme of the Darwin Conference was 'The Mineral Potential of Northern Australia and Changing Concepts of Development', and the fifty papers that were presented commemorate the 'coming of age' of the Northern Territory of Australia. Rockbursts and seismicity in mines, edited by N.c. Gay and E.H. Wainwright. Johannesburg, The South African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, Symposium Series no. 6, 1984.363 pp. R75,OOexcl. GST, £50, OS$65. Reviewer: E. T. Brown Black sands, by lan Morley. St Lucia (Australia), University of Queensland Press, 1981. Reviewer: P.W.J. van Rensburg Gravity concentration technology, by R.O. Burt assisted by Chris Mills. London, Elsevier Science Publishers, 1984. Volume 5 in the series Developments in Mineral Processing. Reviewer: D.A. Viljoen

Jan 1, 1985

The wage structure of graduate White men in 1979, by Adri Kruger, Pretoria, Human Sciences Research Council, 1979.76 pp. R5,00. (Reviewer: D. G. Malan) Financial Times mining international yearbook, edited by WilIiam G. Nightingale. London, Longman, 1980. 750 pp. £24 by surface, £34 by air. (Reviewer: J. D. Austin) Techniques in mineral exploration, by J. H. Reedman. Barking (U.K.), Applied Science Publishers, 1979. 533 pp. $90. (Reviewer: D. L. Kyle) Practical geostatistics, by Isobel Clark. Barking (U.K.), Applied Science Publishers, 1979. 129 pp. £13,75. (Reviewer: D. G. Krige) Uranium: The balance of supply and demand 1978- 1990, by the Uranium Institute. London, Mining Journal Books, 1979. 61 pp. £8,50 by surface,,£9,25 by airmail. (Reviewer: D. J. Crowe) Wear and abrasion in industry The South African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy and the Institution of Metallurgists (South African Branch) is to hold a colloquium on the topic of wear and abrasion of metals in February 1981. Steel rolling The International Conference on Steel Rolling sponsored by The Iron and Steel Institute of Japan will be held in Tokyo, Japan, from 29th September to 4th October, 1980.

Jan 1, 1980

Bowen, R., and Gunatilaka, A. Copper, its Geology and economics. London, Applied Science Publishers, 1977. Miller, D. S. Internal flow systems. (Volume 4 in the BHRA Fluid Engineering Series). 1978. 288 pp. £21,50. MACH 80 The Machine Tool Trades Association of Great Britain (M.T.T.A.) announce that MACH 80 - The International Machine Tool Exhibition - will take place from Tuesday, 22nd April, to Friday, 2nd May, 1980, at the National Exhibition Centre, Birmingham.

Jan 1, 1979

Alexander Sutulov. Mineria Ghilena 1545-1975 (Mining in Chile 1545-1975). Santiago, Centre of Investigation of Mining and Metallurgy, 260 pp. (In Spanish). G. B. Rothenburg. Speciality steels. D.S.A., Noyes Data Corp., 1977. 270 pp. Witbank Middelburg Branch A General Meeting was held at the Wit bank Golf Club on 20th April, 1977, at 17h30. Treatment of waste water An International Research Symposium on New Processes of Waste Water Treatment and Recovery is to be held in London from 6th to 8th September, 1977. It NIM reports Report no. 1708 An examination of the suitability of various reducing agents for the production of ferrochromium. (27th Feb., 1975; re-issued May 1977). Report no. 1724 The preparation and reduction of chrornite pellets containing a reducing agent. (14th Apr., 1975; re-issued Mar. 1977). Report no. 1854 The interaction of pyrite, oxygen, and xanthate. (8th Mar., 1977). Report no. 1876 The ultrasonic determination of the mud level in a thickener and the resin level in an ion-exchange column. (6th May, 1977). Report no. 1878 The electrochemical dissolution of galena in aqueous solutions. (5th May, 1977). Report no. 1881 n-Octylaniline, a new extractant for noble metals.(28th Mar., 1977). Report no. 1883 The determination of iron, chromium, titanium, and tungsten by X-ray-fluorescence spectrometry. (31st Mar., 1977). Report no. 1889 Entropy relations in the formation of complexes of silver (1), mercury (II), and cadmium (II) with llwnodentate liyaruls. (5th May, 1977). Mechanics of granular materials A conference on the above subject is to be held in London on 8th and 9th September, 1977, under the auspices of the Institute of Mathematics and Its Applications.

Jan 1, 1977

Book Reviews M. J. Jones(ed.). Geological, mining and metallurgical sampling London, The Institution of Mining and Metallurgy, 1974. 268 pp. £8. Spooner, J., et al. (eds.). 1974 miningannual review, London, The Mining Journal Limited, June 1974. 506 pp. £14,25 (including annual subscription to Mining Journal and Mining Magazine). J. H. Quilliam et al. (eds.). The ventilation of South African ~old mines. Johannesburg, Mine Ventilation Society of South Africa, 1974. 488 pp. RI0,00. The Hans Merensky Foundation As announced in a recent brochure, the 25-year-old Hans Merensky Trust has been converted to The Hans Merensky Foundation, its main objective being 'to promote and assist in the development of the resources of the Republic of South Africa and neighbouring territories articularly such natural resources as soil, water, minerals, flora and fauna-and to promote the health and welfare of the inhabitants; more specifically by research, experiment and demonstration and through the correlation and application of scientific knowledge'. Applications for S.A.I.M.M. membership and transfer Please note that new application and transfer forms have been issued.

Jan 11, 1974

Edward J. Stephenson. Extractive metallurgy. Recent advances. Park Ridge (New Jersey), Noyes Data Corporation. James L. McCall and P. M. French (eds.). Interpretive techniques for microstructural analysis. 1977. Institution of Mining and Metallurgy. Prospecting in areas of glaciated terrain. London, the Institution, 1977. £16 ($D.S. 30). NIM reports Report no. 1928 A liquid-nitrogen monitor for lithium-drifted germanium detectors. (21st Nov., 1977). Report no. 1931 The equilibrium between the slag and the metal in the production of low-carbon ferromanganese. (14th Nov., 1977). Report no. 1934 The spectrometric analysis of chromium-bearing materials with particular reference to ferrochromium slags and chromite ores. (30th Nov., 1977). Report no. 1935 The construction and testing of a small mixer-settler for use in the laboratory. (30th Nov., 1977). Report no. 1933 The determination of trace elements by thin-film X-rayfluorescence spectrometry, and its application to zirconium. (30th Nov. 1977). Report no. 1942 The accuracy of assays for platinum -group metals and gold. (30th Nov., 1977). Courses on geostatistics In view of the continuing demand, the University of Leeds will offer two further courses on geostatistics in 1978, each covering ten working days (3rd to 14th April, and 3rd to 14th July).

Jan 1, 1978

Introduction to high temperature oxidation of metals, by N. Birks and G. H. Meier, London, Edward Arnold, 1983. 19S pp. R30,25. Reviewers: M. B. Cortie and G. G. Garrett Seam gas drainage with particular reference to the working seam, edited by A. J. Hargraves. Woollongong, The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy. 370 pp. $A30. Reviewer: C. J. Fauconnier New books Solvent extraction Part I, by G. M. Ritcey and A. Ashbrook. Amsterdam, Elsevier, 1983. Elektronishche Steuerungen und Mikroprozessoren im Bergbau. Sicherheit und Zuverlassigkeit Environmental impact control. Philosophical and procedural guidelines for the planning professions Mineral processing and extractive metallurgy. Reagents in the minerals industry.

Jan 1, 1984

By A. K. Biswas

Reviewer: R. H. Eric This edition is organized in twenty-three chapters, and contains exactly 500 pages including three appendices and an index. The first and second editions were published in 1976 and 1980 respectively, and both contained nineteen chapters. The second edition brought the operating data and process descriptions up to date. The third edition covers comprehensively the changes that have taken place in the primary copper industry over the past two decades. For example, reverberatory furnaces now make up only a third of the major primary smelting furnaces, compared with about three-quarters in the 1970s. Control of air and water pollution and recycling are given much more emphasis, along with novel and emerging technologies.

Jan 1, 1995

By Herbert Clark Hoover, Lou Henry Hoover

IN the last book I have explained the methods of delimiting- the meers along each kind of vein, and the duties of mine officials. In this book1 I will in like manner explain the principles of underground mining and the art of surveying. First then, I will proceed to deal with those matters which pertain to the former heading, since both the subject and methodical arrangement require it. And so I will describe first of all the digging of shafts, tunnels, and drifts on venae profundae; next I will discuss the good indications shown by canales2, by the materials which are dug out, and by the rocks ; then I will speak of the tools by which veins and rocks are broken down and excavated ; the method by which fire shatters the hard veins ; and further, of the machines with which water is drawn from the shafts and air is forced into deep shafts and long tunnels, for digging is impeded by the inrush of the former or the failure of the latter ; next I will deal with the two kinds of shafts, and with the making of them and of tunnels ; and finally, I will describe the method of mining venae dilatatae, venae cumulatae, and stringers.

Jan 1, 1950

By Herbert Clark Hoover, Lou Henry Hoover

DIGGING of veins I have written of, and the timbering of shafts, tunnels, drifts, and other excavations, and the art of surveying. I will now speak first of all, of the iron tools with which veins and rocks are broken, then of the buckets into which the lumps of earth, rock, metal, and other excavated materials are thrown, in order that they may be drawn, conveyed, or carried out. Also, I will speak of the water vessels and drains, then of the machines of different kinds,1 and lastly of the maladies of miners. And while all these matters are being described accurately, many methods of work will be explained. There are certain iron tools which the miners designate by names of their own, and besides these, there are wedges, iron blocks, iron plates, hammers, crowbars, pikes, picks, hoes, and shovels. Of those which are especially referred to as " iron tools " there are four varieties, which are different from one another in length or thickness, but not in shape, for the upper end of all of them is broad and square, so that it can be struck by the

Jan 1, 1950

By Herbert Clark Hoover, Lou Henry Hoover

SINCE the Sixth Book has described the iron tools, the vessels and the machines used in mink, this Book will describe the methods of assaying1 ores; because it is desirable to first test them in order that the material mined may be advantageously smelted, or that the dross may be purged away and the metal made pure. Although writers have mentioned such tests, yet none of them have set down the directions for performing them, wherefore it is no wonder that those who come later have written nothing on the subject. By tests of this kind miners can determine with certainty whether ores contain any metal in them or not ; or if it has already been indicated that the ore contains one or more metals, the tests show whether it is much or little ; the miners also ascertain by such tests the method by which the metal can be separated from that part of the ore devoid of it ; and further, by these tests, they determine that part in which there is much metal from that part in which there is little. Unless these tests have been carefully applied before the metals are melted out, the ore cannot be smelted without great loss to the owners, for the parts which do not easily melt in the fire carry the metals off with them or consume them. In the last case, they pass off with the fumes ; in the other case they are mixed with the slag and furnace accretions, and in such event the owners lose the labour which they have spent in preparing the furnaces and the crucibles, and further, it is necessary for them to incur fresh expenditure for fluxes and other things. Metals, when they have been melted out, are usually assayed in order that we may ascertain what pro- portion of silver is in a centumpondium of copper or lead, or what quantity of gold is in one libra of silver ; and, on the other hand, what proportion of copper or lead is contained in a centumpondium of silver, or what quantity of silver is contained in one libra of gold. And from this we can calculate whether it will be worth while to separate the precious metals from the base metals, or not. Further, a test of this kind shows whether coins are good or are debased ; and readily detects silver, if the coiners have mixed more than is lawful with the gold ; or copper, if the coiners have alloyed with the gold or silver more of it than is allowable. I will explain all these methods with the utmost care that I can.

Jan 1, 1950

By Herbert Clark Hoover, Lou Henry Hoover

QUESTIONS of assaying were explained in the last Book, and I have now come to a greater task, that is, to the description of how we extract the metals. First of all I will explain the method of preparing the ore1 ; for since Nature usually creates metals in an impure state, mixed with earth, stones, and solidified juices, it is necessary to separate most of these impurities from the ores as far as can be, before they are smelted, and therefore I will now describe the methods by which the ores are sorted, broken with hammers, burnt, crushed with stamps, ground into powder, sifted, washed, roasted, and calcineda.

Jan 1, 1950

By Herbert Clark Hoover, Lou Henry Hoover

QUESTIONS as to the methods of smelting ores and of obtaining metals I discussed in Book IX. Following this, I should explain in what manner the precious metals are parted from the base metals, or on the other hand the base metals from the precious'. Frequently two metals, occasionally more than two, are melted out of one ore, because in nature generally there is some amount of gold in silver and in copper, and some silver in gold, copper, lead, and iron ; likewise some copper in gold, silver, lead, id iron, and some lead in silver ; and lastly, some iron in copper2. But I will begin with gold. Gold is parted from silver, or likewise the latter from the former, whether it be mixed by nature or by art, by means of aqua valens3, and by powders which consist of almost the same things as this aqua. In order to preserve the sequence, I will first speak of the ingredients of which this aqua is made, then of the method of making it, then of the manner in which gold is parted from silver or silver from gold. Almost all these ingredients contain vitriol or alum, which, by themselves, but much more when joined with saltpetre, are powerful to part silver from gold. As to the other things that are added to them, they cannot individually by their own strength and nature separate those metals, but joined they are very powerful. Since there are many combinations, I will set out a few. In the first, the use of which is common and general, there is one libra of vitriol and as much salt, added to a third of a libra of spring water. The second contains two librae of vitriol, one of salt-petre, and as much spring or river water by weight as will pass away whilst the vitriol is being reduced to powder by the fire. The third consists of four librae of vitriol, two and a half librae of saltpetre, half a libra of alum, and one and a half librae of spring water. The fourth consists of two librae of vitriol, as many librae of saltpetre, one quarter of a libra of alum, and three-quarters of a Mbra of spring water. The fifth is composed of one libra of saltpetre,

Jan 1, 1950

By Herbert Clark Hoover, Lou Henry Hoover

DIFFERENT methods of parting gold from silver, and, on the other hand, silver from gold, were discussed in the last book; also the separation of copper from the latter and further, of lead from gold as well as from silver ; and, lastly, the methods for refining the two precious metals. Now I will speak of the methods by which silver must be separated from copper, and likewise from iron.1 The officina, or the building necessary for the purposes and use of those who separate silver from copper, is constructed in this manner. First, four long walls are built, of which the first, which is parallel with the bank of a stream, and the second, are both two hundred and sixty-four feet long. The second, however, stops at one hundred and fifty-one feet, and after, as it were, a break for a length of twenty-four feet, it continues again until it is of a length equal to the first wall. The third wall is one hundred and twenty feet long, starting at a point opposite the sixty-seventh foot of the other walls, and reaching to their one hundred and eighty-sixth foot.

Jan 1, 1950

By Herbert Clark Hoover, Lou Henry Hoover

PREVIOUSLY I have dealt with the methods of separating silver from copper. There now remains the portion which treats of solidified juices ; and whereas they might be considered as alien to things metallic, nevertheless, the reasons why they should not be separated from it I have explained in the second book. Solidified juices are either prepared from waters in which nature or art has infused them, or they are produced from the liquid juices themselves, or from stony minerals. Sagacious people, at first observing the waters of some lakes to be naturally full of juices which thickened on being dried up by the heat of the sun and thus became solidified juices, drew such waters into other places, or diverted them into low-lying places adjoining hills, so that the heat of the sun should likewise cause them to condense. Subsequently, because they observed that in this wise the solidified juices could be made only in summer, and then not in all countries, but only in hot and temperate regions in which it seldom rains in summer, they boiled them in vessels over a fire until they began to thicken. In this manner, at all times of the year, in all regions, even the coldest, solidified juices could be obtained from solutions of such juices, whether made by nature or by art. Afterward, when they saw juices drip from some roasted stones, they cooked these in pots in order to obtain solidified juices in this wise also. It is worth the trouble to learn the pro- portions and the methods by which these are made. I will therefore began with salt, which is made from water either salty by nature, or by the labour of man, or else from a solution of salt, or from lye, likewise salty. Water which is salty by nature, is condensed and converted into salt in salt-pits by the heat of the sun, or else by the heat of a fire in pans or pts or trenches. That which is made salty by art, is also condensed by fire and changed into salt. There should be as many salt-pits dug as the circumstance of the place permits, but there should not be more made than can be used, although we ought to make as much salt as we can sell. The depth of salt-pits should be moderate, and the bottom should be level, so that all the water is evaporated from the salt by the heat of the sun. The salt-pits should first be encrusted with salt, so that they may not suck up the water. The method of pouring or leading sea-water into salt-pits is very old, and is still in use in many places. The method is not less old, but less common, to pour well-water into salt-pits, as was done in Babylon, for which Pliny is the authority, and in Cappadocia, where they used not only well-water, but also spring-water. In all hot countries salt-water and lake-water are conducted, poured or carried into salt-pits, and, being dried by the heat of the sun, are converted into

Jan 1, 1950