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By E. A. Domínguez

La Espingarda kaolin deposit was formed by ?in situ? alteration of volcaniclastic rhyolitic rocks belonging to Jurassic Marifil Formation. Three volcanic lithofacies were identified: porphyric biotitic ignimbrites (PBI), a coarse lithic ignimbrite (ILG), a fluidal intrusive rhyolite (RFI), all kaolinized in different degrees. The alteration covers an ellipsoidal area of ~20,000 m2, with its alteration decreasing downwards and disappearing at 8-12 m from the surface. The length to thickness ratio of alteration is 60:1. An erratic silicification was found as small zones (<3 m2) of quartz stockwork. The mineralogy is kaolinite + quartz + feldspars + Fe-oxyhydroxides ± halloysite ± illite and interstratified I/S, although the relative proportions change in each rock type. Due to coarse grain size and high quartz content, natural kaolin is unsuitable for slip cast ceramics, unless beneficiated. Washed ILG kaolin has the best rheological properties and behavior in casting and drying for its mineralogy, particle size distribution, thin texture and surface activity, as well as a certain fusibility and firing kinetics. PBI and RFI kaolins, due to finer texture, smaller grain size, lower surface activity, and higher halloysite amount, have worse slip viscosity and thixotropy that are due also to soluble salts. For the same reason, they have good casting and drying properties, but their purity brings about higher softening temperatures and water absorption. Several parameters are used to discriminate between hypogene or supergene kaolinite genesis. The hydrothermal genesis is mainly sustained by fluid inclusion temperature (150-180ºC) in quartz veinlets, while weathering is supported by deposit morphology, simple mineralogy, kaolinite stable isotopes (d18O ? 18, 13; dD ? ?59; ?85) and paleoclimatic record. It is concluded that a weathering process formed the main alteration with some participation of steam-heated meteoric waters. Neither the contents of Au, Ag, As, Sb, Hg, nor drill data support the existence of any epithermal gold mineralization at the kaolinite bottom.

Jan 1, 2010

By R Wei, Y Peng, D Seaman

This study addresses a widespread problem confronting the mining industry: the deleterious effect of clay minerals in flotation. This problem is seemingly exacerbated by the presence of iron contamination from grinding media. The interaction of clay minerals and grinding media in copper and gold flotation was investigated in this study. A low-clay ore and a high-clay ore were obtained from Telfer to represent different contents of clay minerals, while stainless steel and mild steel grinding rods were used to produce different grinding chemistry, in particular, iron contamination. Flotation tests on an unsized and sized basis were conducted to reveal how clay minerals and grinding media affect copper and gold flotation. Iron contamination and the oxidation of copper minerals were quantified by ethylene diamine-tetra acetic acid (EDTA) extraction. It is interesting to find that both clay minerals and iron contamination depressed the flotation primarily in fine particles smaller than 33 ¦m, and clay minerals played a dominant role. Although flotation of coarser particles greater than 33 ¦m was less affected by clay minerals and iron contamination, coarser grinding to increase P80 was not an effective way to improve copper and gold flotation for the high-clay ore. This study suggests that to improve copper and gold flotation from clay ores, clay dispersion in conjunction with the minimisation of iron contamination may be required.CITATION:Wei, R, Peng, Y and Seaman, D, 2013. The effect of grinding media on copper and gold flotation in the presence of clay minerals, in Proceedings World Gold 2013 , pp 283-288 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne).

Sep 26, 2013

By Juliana Cecília Costa Ribeiro Vieira

As operações de amostragem de qualquer atividade que necessite de controle de qualidade são fundamentais tanto para fins de garantia da qualidade quanto para efeito comercial dos produtos. Na mineração de ferro não é diferente. Uma amostragem que carregue um vício de 0,20% no teor de Fe (%) pode representar uma perda de faturamento de aproximadamente US$226 mil para cada milhão de toneladas comercializadas aos preços atuais. Para fazer um bom plano de amostragem é necessário conhecer o grau de heterogeneidade ou variação de qualidade (sW) do minério a ser amostrado. Segundo Pierre Maurice Gy, um dos mais renomados especialistas em amostragem de minérios em geral, a forma mais indicada para estimar a sW é o método do variograma. Neste trabalho usamos a metodologia do variograma, com base na Norma Técnica ABNT ISO 3084:2003, para estimar a sW do minério tipo Sinter Feed produzido na Mina de Serra Azul da ArcelorMittal.

Oct 30, 2017

By W. M. Ma, Daniel W. H. Su, K. Centofanti, Yi Luo, W. L. Zhong, Syd S. Peng

9.1 INTRODUCTION There are approximately 70,000 abandoned coal mines nation¬wide, which is about 35 times the number of underground coal mines presently operating. The US Bureau of Mines estimates that there are over 8 million acres of undermined land due to the extraction of coal, metals, and nonmetals. Subsidence has affected more than 2 million acres, and more than 99% of the subsidence is related to underground coal mining. There is reason to believe that some of the remaining 6 million acres of the undermined land have a high potential to subside. The expansion of housing, highways, commercial structures, and other facilities has required the use of many areas that are underlain by abandoned coal mines, and this growth will continue. Many subsidence problems are derived from the collapse of aban¬doned underground coal mines. There are numerous abandoned mine workings in the anthracite fields of northeastern Pennsylva¬nia, in the Appalachian bituminous fields, the Illinois Basin, the Rock Springs, Wyoming area, and other areas of the United States (Gray et al., 1976). Various room and pillar patterns of mining have been used in the dipping anthracite seams and the nearly flat-lying bituminous seams with considerable variation in the per¬centage of coal extracted. The progressive deterioration of pillars, mine floors, and mine roofs after long exposure to air and water may later result in the collapse of strata over the mine entries, the crushing of the remaining coal pillars, or the bearing failure of the mine floor beneath the coal pillars. Subsidence then results as the collapse reaches the ground surface in the form of differential strains, depressions, cracking of the ground, and sinkhole devel¬opment. Subsidence over active longwall mines, which occurs concurrently with mining or is completed within a short period following coal extraction, has been studied extensively over the past decade. On the other hand, subsidence over abandoned coal mines receives little attention by the researchers, mainly because it is difficult to predict and takes place decades after mining has ceased. The techniques of investigating the subsidence events over abandoned coal mines are similar to those employed for active mines except that at the outset, it is necessary to determine whether or not the subsidence events are mining-related (Chugh et al., 1986; Cummings and Singh, 1986; Peng and Hsiung, 1986). This calls for the identification and confirmation of abandoned mine workings under or near the affected surface structures. Gen¬erally old mine maps, if available, are acquired, the surface bore¬holes are drilled for confirmation of the accuracy of the mine maps and determination of the potential for continued subsidence. Sub¬sidence monuments are established and periodic surveys con¬ducted to determine the amount and trends of surface movement in and around the affected surface structures; surface boreholes are used to investigate the integrity of the underground structures (i.e., roof, coal pillars, and floor) by TV camera. They are also used for monitoring the vertical and horizontal movements of the subsur¬face strata by Sondex (FPBX) and inclinometer (PFBI), respec¬tively, for determining the continuity of the subsidence events. Tape extensometers, crackmeters, etc., are used to monitor the development trends of major cracks in the structures or on the ground. These data are used to identify the causes of the subsidence events. Finally, abatement methods are selected to stabilize the structures. It must be noted that most subsidence events over abandoned coal mines are reported after the fact, and investiga¬tions are begun some time after reporting, that the subsequent measured movements are generally much smaller than that at¬tained in the active mines, and that due to lack of knowledge about the damage conditions and the exact location of the abandoned mine workings with respect to the affected surface structures, the precise causes of surface subsidence or surface structural damages are in most cases very difficult to identify. 9.2 TYPES OF SURFACE SUBSIDENCE According to Gray et al. (1977), after examining 354 incidents of subsidence above abandoned mines in the Pittsburgh metropol¬itan area, the subsidence features have a mean diameter (i.e. the average of long and short dimensions) from less than 1 ft to 1600 ft, with 84% less than or equal to 15 ft; the subsidence features have a depth ranging from less than 1 ft to 48 ft, with 89% less than 25 ft; 66% of the subsidence features are deeper than they are broad. Nearly 59% of the subsidence features occur with overbur¬den less than 50 ft thick and 81% less than 100 ft thick. No subsidence features occur with overburden thicker than 450 ft (Fig. 9.1). Occurrence of subsidence incidents varies from imme¬diately to more than 100 years after mining (Fig. 9.2). In analyzing the characteristics of approximately 3000 chim¬ney subsidence features along the Colorado Front Range, Matheson and Eckert-Clift (1986) examined historical aerial photographs on 4- to 14-year intervals between 1937 and 1967 and found that the majority of observable surface subsidence features occurred within 30 to 40 years after mining. According to Gray et al. (1977), the most prevalent subsi¬dence features over abandoned mined land are sinkholes, with depths of more than 3 ft, and troughs or sags, usually less than 3 ft deep. Sinkholes are steep-sided pits, while troughs are shallow depressions much wider in area than sinkholes. A. SINKHOLE SUBSIDENCE A sinkhole is caused by the collapse of a mine roof that works its way upward. If it is not arrested during the process it will eventually reach the surface and emerge as a sinkhole. The process is governed by the thickness and character of the overburden, the width and height of the mine openings. Sinkholes are usually 3 to 20 ft deep and may be 2 to 40 ft in diameter, although most are fewer than 16 ft across (Gray et al., 1977; DuMontelle and Bauer, 1983). Newly formed sinkholes have steep sides with straight or bell-shaped walls. At times, they appear to be conical in profile with the apex upward. If the topsoil collapses, the top portion will widen to form an hour-glass shape. Sinkhole subsidence usually occurs over abandoned mines less than 165 ft deep (Hunt, 1979). Matheson and Eckert-Clift (1986) found that chimney sink¬holes are likely to occur when the ratio of overburden thickness to mining height (h/m) is less than 4 to 5. When h/m is between 5 and 10 to 11, the potential occurrence of chimney sinkholes decreases rapidly. When h/m is more than 10 to 11, less than 10% of the mine openings that collapse will induce sinkholes on the surface.

Jan 1, 1992

By Luttrell. G.

The profitability of coal mining operations is highly dependent on the performance of the coal blending and processing facilities. Many companies have recognized this fact and have instituted optimization programs that require large amounts of coal characterization data, extensive operational information and complex costing models. Unfortunately, this brute force approach to optimization is often overwhelming in terms of time and cost and is generally too inaccurate to be of value in day-to-day field operations. A simpler and more practical approach involves the use of ?micro-price? optimization throughout the coal supply chain. This fundamental concept assigns unit values to each type product (particle or groups of particles) passing through the production units. True optimization occurs whenever all particles with positive worth are recovered and passed to market, while all particles with negative worth are rejected. This paper describes the fundamental workings of the micro-price concept as applied to coal blending and processing operations. Several examples are also included to demonstrate the economic gains that can be realized via the application of this concept.

Feb 23, 2014

By G. R. Lane

My opportunity to serve as President of the prestigious Southern African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy (SAIMM) was made possible by an Anglo American scholarship 39 years ago—a pivotal moment that set me on a career path spanning various roles and start-up ventures in the mining industry. Over the past decade, I have been privileged to broaden my experience by consulting across diverse industries globally. This exposure revealed something profound: what I had previously considered mining-specific challenges are, in fact, universal across many sectors. At its core, a mining operation is a complex system of interconnected activities—from exploration through mining operations like drill and blast, load and haul, to beneficiation, and outbound logistics. My cross-industry work has clearly shown that diverse sectors, such as chocolate manufacturing, tissue paper production, toilet paper converting facilities, labgrown diamonds, or high-tech equipment lifecycle management, all rely on value streams of interconnected activities to transform products. The objective is to maximise throughput while effectively managing performance variability. The primary difference lies solely in the specific technical expertise required for each industry, such as chemical, mining, processing, or metallurgical engineering. Across all these industries, I have observed a consistent pattern, that is, performance is primarily driven by individual efforts, where people react and work diligently as situations unfold in real-time. General managers and their teams often operate tactically, focusing on explaining yesterday’s poor performance rather than proactively setting up operations for success. This often resembles an ‘‘under-7s soccer match’’, with everyone chasing the ball. The common response to issues is to add more ad hoc meetings. This effort-driven organisational behaviour persists regardless of whether operations are greenfield digital manufacturing facilities, advanced digital mines with advanced process control, or operations run on paper and Excel spreadsheets for data acquisition. Paradoxically, more real-time data can lead to increased data noise, greater indecision, and sometimes, lower performance. Despite value streams often operating significantly below capacity, organisations continue to invest heavily in additional equipment or in ‘‘glossy brochure promises’’ of Industry 4.0 digital technology and real-time data solutions, which frequently fail to deliver value. This leads to a critical question: Have we underinvested in our most valuable resource— people? Even Tesla faced this challenge with their underperforming fully automated Model X facility. We must shift our focus to designing the ecosystem, or operating model, of our organisations. This extends beyond the traditional triad of people, process, and technology, and moves beyond simplistic views of change management. Artificial Intelligence (AI) has the potential to add significant value, but it also introduces another layer of complexity into designing the organisation of the future. My full presidential address below at the SAIMM AGM discussed the symptoms of an effort-driven organisation and covered the fundamental building blocks and requirements of an operating model, including recommendations on implementing a people-centric approach.

Oct 2, 2025

By Shadrack Nuamah, Erik Westman, Bright Afum, Jesse Addy

Rock fragmentation is the most critical aspect of hard rock production blasting due to its significant impact on drilling and blasting costs and the economics of subsequent loading, hauling, and crushing operations. This study analyzes current cost trends in the drill and blast operations of an anonymous open pit gold mine and proposes cost-effective drill and blast geometric parameters. The investigation focused on one operational pit with provided design parameters for two shots, shot 1 and shot 2. Existing blast parameters and two additional proposed sets of geometric parameters were evaluated using the Kuz-Ram and Chung and Katsabanis fragmentation models to estimate mean fragment sizes. The results indicated that the proposed blast parameters produced estimated mean fragment sizes within the mine’s desired range (not exceeding 45 cm). Additionally, the explosive energy was utilized efficiently per in-situ material blasted. The proposed parameters increased the estimated total volume of in-situ material fragmented by approximately 14% for both Shot 1 and Shot 2 compared to the current parameters. Furthermore, adopting the proposed blast parameters could lead to significant cost savings. The evaluated total drill and blast cost savings were approximately 11% for Shot 1 and 12% for Shot 2. These savings stem from the increased efficiency and effectiveness of the blast operations, highlighting the potential for substantial economic benefits. This study demonstrates that optimizing blast geometric parameters will allow open-pit mines to achieve desired fragmentation, utilize explosive energy more effectively, and realize considerable cost savings in drill and blast operations.

Jan 21, 2025

By C. G. Dunn, F. W. Daniels, M. J. Bolton

J. P. Nielsen—The data that Dr. Dunn and his associates have been obtaining are welcome checks on the theoretical aspects of grain boundary energies. With reference to the comments on the validity of the inter-facial tension concept, I should like to say that I have been having considerable difficulty myself in untangling the confusion between "interfacial tension" and "interfacial energy." The confusion however resolved itself for me when I learned that "interfacial tension" for solids, or at least crystals, is used with two distinct meanings. One meaning12. &apos; "hat is implied for "interfacial tension" is the work necessary to produce or increase the surface of the solid in question by a unit area, temperature and pressure held constant. This comes from the somewhat surprising but simple fact that surface tension and surface energy in the case of liquids are identical quantities. This synonymity has carried over to crystals, where it should be kept in mind that the tension connotation has meaning only by analogy with liquids and that no real stresses are being referred to. The only reason that there is apparently a set of stresses acting at a grain boundary junction is the optical illusion that liquid interfaces are being observed for the grain boundaries. The other meaning3,14,15 for the term has to do with actual states of stress in the surface of a material as would be measured by a system of forces applied to the surface to equate the surface stress state with that in the body of the crystal. J. B. Hess—Since the authors have proposed that the surface tension concept should be discarded in order to deal with the general case of interface energies in solids, their attention should be called to a recent paper by Gurney." The latter has shown, from a thermodynamic argument, that surface tension is a valid concept in solids. In fact, Gurney has rejected the idea that surface tensions are merely mathematical fiction and, instead, has given an interpretation of their physical reality. Finally, he has concluded that, as long as appreciable atomic migration takes place, specific surface energies and surface tensions must be equivalent in solids as well as in liquids. Accordingly, the authors&apos; eqs 2 and 3 can be written with equal accuracy in terms of interface tensions, simply by replacing each E,! with its numerically and dimension-ally equivalent Interfacial tension ?,,. If the interfacial tensions (or specific energies) are independent of interfacial orientation, as is true in liquids, then the general equations that define the geometry at equilibrium of the common junction of three interfaces reduce to eq 1. However, neglect of the effect of boundary orientation is never completely justified theoretically&apos; in dealing with crystalline solids; hence, use of eq 1 in such cases must always be considered as an approximation, though clearly a reasonable one for many purposes.1,2 At the same time, one should not be surprised that the assumption that interface tensions in solids are free from orientation

Jan 1, 1951

By J. B. Macelwane

GEOPHYSICS differs from geology and physics in many respects. In the first place, geophysics is a complex science embracing the fields of seismology, geomagnetism, geoelectricity, geodesy, meteorology, volcanology, physical oceanography, physical hydrology, tectonophysics and exploration geophysics. Geology is also a complex science and so extensive in its various fields that no one can master them all, and no part of geology deals in any sense with several of these fields of geophysics. In the second place, geophysics makes use of methods and instruments that are derived primarily from the science of physics. Geology, on the other hand, has methods of its own and it draws its borrowed techniques and its instrumental equipment not only from physics but also and perhaps primarily from chemistry and biology. The difference, therefore, between the geophysicist and the geologist lies partly in the phenomena that are observed, partly in the methods and instruments with which each carries on his exploration; but partly also, and perhaps principally, in the habitual attitude of mind and in the background of specialized training with which each approaches the problems presented by this planet of ours. The geologist as such, therefore, is no geophysicist. On the other hand, the physicist is not a geophysicist either. Isolation of each problem in a closed laboratory system under complete control is fundamental to the methods of the physicist. The geophysicist must apply physical instruments and physicomathematical reasoning to the study of physical quantities in their undisturbed natural environment. What, then, is a geophysicist? In the sense that he is a trained expert in all of the geophysical sciences, I do not believe that such a person ever existed. It would be beyond the possibilities of a single lifetime. I think there is confusion in our ideas and in our use of terms. We are not all thinking of the same thing when we say geophysics or geophysicist; yet we seem to talk as though we were. It is as absurd to say that the whole of geophysics belongs to geology because the field of a particular type of geophysicist-the exploration geophysicist -calls for some knowledge of geology as it would be to say that the whole of biology belongs to geology because a particular type of biologist-the paleontologistneeds some knowledge of geology. DEVELOPMENT OF A GEOPHYSICIST Since it is impossible to become an expert in all the fields of geophysics, and since students entering college seldom know the field they will choose as a career, what would we suggest as the best general preparation for work in geophysics, whether as a meteorologist, an oceanographer, a seismologist, a geodesist, a geomagneticist, a volcanologist, a tectonophysicist, a hydrologist, or an exploration geophysicist? We may distinguish five phases in the development of a geophysicist: (I) his mathematical and scientific studies in high school; (2) the general mathematical and scientific

Jan 1, 1941

By Theron Wasson

No major oil-field discoveries were made County; the second in Marion township, in Michigan during the year 1940. Produc- Osceola County. Both are producing from tion for the year was maintained by the Stray sand at about 1350 ft. These discoveries made in 1938 and, as a result, is fields are on structures founci by core test-below the total for 1939. Several extensions ing through the glacial drift. The Six Lakes to old fields have been made, which have field, Montcalm County, discovered in helped to maintain production in the face 1934, is Michigan&apos;s largest gas-producing of rather rapid decline in the fields of the field. it has 195 wells producing from the southwestern part of the state. Important Michigan Stray sandstone and the Upper extensions were made in Overisel, Porter, Marshall sandstone. This field was devel-Sherman, and Adams fields. Important oil oped on a 40-acre spacing plan, and gas fields of the state are shown on the -map, Fig. I. WiI~dcat Drilling Michigan&apos;s production of 19,700,000 bbl. A test in sec. 29, Winterfield township, during 1940 was 3,800,000 bbl. less than Clare County, which is producing oil from the total for 1939, but about one million the Monroe of Devonian age at a depth of greater than 1938. This brings the total 3760 ft., and a well in sec. 31, Lincoln accumulated production for the state to a township, Osceola County, producing from little over 145,000,000 bbl. the Monroe at 3625 it., should be classed as wildcats that are sure to lead to further Active Oil Fields development in I94L The leading producer for the year was the At the end of the year the Gulf Refining Temple field, Clare County, where 29 new Company&apos;s deep test on the Kawkawlin wells were drilled. The Walker field, Kent structure in Monitor township, Bay County, was second, but drilled 183 new County, was preparing to drill deeper after wells in order to gain that position. In the having had a gas blowout from a depth of extension of the Overisel field in Allegan 7775 ft. This test is the most important one County, 115 new producers were drilled. drilling at the end of the year in Michigan, The Adams field, Arenac County, was for should it develop commercial produc- revived by several wells with initial production from deeper beds it will lead to deeper tions of over 1000 bbl. per day from the drilling on many well-known structures Dundee of Devonian age. that have been producing from shallower sands. Active Gas Fields Two important gas fields were discovered Exploration by Taggart Brothers during the year. The A small amount of reflection seismograph first was in Riverside township, Missaukee work was done in Clare, Osceola, and Glad-Win Counties during the year. Exploration Manuscript received at the office of the Institute March 28 1941 by shallow drilling for structural informa- tion on beds below the glacial drift con- 347

Jan 1, 1941

By H. Landsberg

The curriculum presented here is an outgrowth of discussions by the Committee on Geophysics Courses of the A.I.M.E. in previous years. It had to be a compromise between the desires voiced by employers of geophysicists, professional geophysicists and the possibilities at an average college. There one has to face the questions of the available teaching staff, the inertia of administrators and teachers set in their ways, and the red tape involved in modernizing antiquated curricula. It is, of course, not ideal to have colleges and universities lag Io years behind the times. Rather, instead of being prodded by industry, they should be ahead of industrial needs. There should also be a certain amount of leeway for the student in any college curriculum. All these points had to be considered in drawing up a curriculum, which, instead of being narrowly termed "geology" or "geophysics" was rather called "earth science." It gives the student a chance to specialize in one of the various branches represented by teachers on the faculty of The Pennsylvania State College, giving as options Geology (with subdivisions of Mineralogy and Paleontology), Geophysics, Geography, and Meteorology. Table iA represents the option of geophysics in the curriculum that envisages that a student may want to make his career in any of the fields encompassed by the American Geophysical Union or in geoexploration. This is, of course, only the start of an education that in most cases will have to be followed by graduate work for complete professional training. The outlined curriculum is definitely of an engineering type and is identical for all of the four options mentioned for the first two years. Specialization will start in the junior year but even thereafter the branches are kept as closely allied as feasible in order to permit a student to change from one tO the other (e.g., because of a different aspect in the mployment situation) with a minimum of additional work. Table IB shows the geophysics option according to subject matter, indicating the considerable amount of work in the fundamentals of mathematics, physics and chemistry with a liberal number of geology courses, and some engineering. The courses in the field of geophysics are limited—just two lecture courses as a general introduction and one field course, to permit the student a visualization of the correlation between mathematically analyzed physical data and the geological realities. Thesis work is considered essential to teach the student, while he is still in college, some things S. F. Kelly has mentioned as desirable: (I) following of instructions for somewhat independent work; (2) organizing of material, and (3) producing a readable report. This, together with the personal contact with the advising faculty member, will help in forming a student&apos;s personality. The seminar course attempts to get the student into the habit of reading current literature, so that he can keep abreast of the times.

Jan 1, 1946

By H. Landsberg

The curriculum presented here is an outgrowth of discussions by the Committee on Geophysics Courses of the A.I.M.E. in previous years. It had to be a compromise between the desires voiced by employers of geophysicists, professional geophysicists and the possibilities at an average college. There one has to face the questions of the available teaching staff, the inertia of administrators and teachers set in their ways, and the red tape involved in modernizing antiquated curricula. It is, of course, not ideal to have colleges and universities lag Io years behind the times. Rather, instead of being prodded by industry, they should be ahead of industrial needs. There should also be a certain amount of leeway for the student in any college curriculum. All these points had to be considered in drawing up a curriculum, which, instead of being narrowly termed "geology" or "geophysics" was rather called "earth science." It gives the student a chance to specialize in one of the various branches represented by teachers on the faculty of The Pennsylvania State College, giving as options Geology (with subdivisions of Mineralogy and Paleontology), Geophysics, Geography, and Meteorology. Table iA represents the option of geophysics in the curriculum that envisages that a student may want to make his career in any of the fields encompassed by the American Geophysical Union or in geoexploration. This is, of course, only the start of an education that in most cases will have to be followed by graduate work for complete professional training. The outlined curriculum is definitely of an engineering type and is identical for all of the four options mentioned for the first two years. Specialization will start in the junior year but even thereafter the branches are kept as closely allied as feasible in order to permit a student to change from one tO the other (e.g., because of a different aspect in the mployment situation) with a minimum of additional work. Table IB shows the geophysics option according to subject matter, indicating the considerable amount of work in the fundamentals of mathematics, physics and chemistry with a liberal number of geology courses, and some engineering. The courses in the field of geophysics are limited—just two lecture courses as a general introduction and one field course, to permit the student a visualization of the correlation between mathematically analyzed physical data and the geological realities. Thesis work is considered essential to teach the student, while he is still in college, some things S. F. Kelly has mentioned as desirable: (I) following of instructions for somewhat independent work; (2) organizing of material, and (3) producing a readable report. This, together with the personal contact with the advising faculty member, will help in forming a student&apos;s personality. The seminar course attempts to get the student into the habit of reading current literature, so that he can keep abreast of the times.

Jan 1, 1946

Discussion of the paper of E: D. Gardner, presented at the Salt Lake meeting, August, 1914, and printed in Bulletin No. 91, July, 1914, pp. 1467 to 1471. H. V. WINCHELL, Minneapolis, Minn.-There are two questions I should like to ask: First, does the Department still adhere to the decision made in the East Tintic case? Second, does the Department require placer ground to he of such value that, in the opinion of the Forest Service employees, it will pay to work, before admitting the location to be valid? T. C. HOYT,* Ogden, Utah.-With reference to the first question: the Department does not hold to that decision, as it was reconsidered by the Secretary Of the Interior, and the Department is governed by the decision of the Secretary Of the Interior, on those points always. The Department of Agriculture makes no decision as to what constitutes a sufficient discovery. The mineral examiners simply report their findings and Opinions. These are transmitted to the chief of the field division of the General Land Office, who in turn transmits the reports to the Commissioner Of the General Land Office, who decides whether the report raises an issue requiring a hearing. If a hearing is ordered, expert testimony is given on the question of the discovery, as well as the evidence of practical people who operate in the vicinity of the claim in question. As to the extent of placer values considered sufficient to justify a location, my answer will need a little amplification. I couldn&apos;t answer it directly for the reason that sometimes people resort to placer claim location as a means of acquiring land for Other purposes than placer mining, which makes it absolutely necessary that the government give close attention to the question of whether good faith has been shown, as it is the evidences of good faith that largely determine whether a report adverse to a claim shall be made. That is a difficult point to cover sometimes. For instance, in the region I have recently visited there are some 17 miles of a valley, from ¼ to ¾ mile in width, all covered by placer locations. It is valuable stock-grazing land, and is stocked at the present time. It also contains a stand of timber, and is on the watershed of an important stream-important from the fact that it furnishes the water supply to government storage reservoirs, and to pending reclamation and Carey Act projects. In this case the placer claims will not be disturbed as mere locations. They will simply remain there, and there will be no action with reference to them until the claimant asks for patent or, before patent, begins to denude that watershed and remove that timber. Then the government would direct that the mineral experts go on to the ground, examine it, prospect it, and submit their report, with a view to seeing if

Jan 11, 1914

By Theron Wasson

No major oil-field discoveries were made County; the second in Marion township, in Michigan during the year 1940. Produc- Osceola County. Both are producing from tion for the year was maintained by the Stray sand at about 1350 ft. These discoveries made in 1938 and, as a result, is fields are on structures founci by core test-below the total for 1939. Several extensions ing through the glacial drift. The Six Lakes to old fields have been made, which have field, Montcalm County, discovered in helped to maintain production in the face 1934, is Michigan&apos;s largest gas-producing of rather rapid decline in the fields of the field. it has 195 wells producing from the southwestern part of the state. Important Michigan Stray sandstone and the Upper extensions were made in Overisel, Porter, Marshall sandstone. This field was devel-Sherman, and Adams fields. Important oil oped on a 40-acre spacing plan, and gas fields of the state are shown on the -map, Fig. I. WiI~dcat Drilling Michigan&apos;s production of 19,700,000 bbl. A test in sec. 29, Winterfield township, during 1940 was 3,800,000 bbl. less than Clare County, which is producing oil from the total for 1939, but about one million the Monroe of Devonian age at a depth of greater than 1938. This brings the total 3760 ft., and a well in sec. 31, Lincoln accumulated production for the state to a township, Osceola County, producing from little over 145,000,000 bbl. the Monroe at 3625 it., should be classed as wildcats that are sure to lead to further Active Oil Fields development in I94L The leading producer for the year was the At the end of the year the Gulf Refining Temple field, Clare County, where 29 new Company&apos;s deep test on the Kawkawlin wells were drilled. The Walker field, Kent structure in Monitor township, Bay County, was second, but drilled 183 new County, was preparing to drill deeper after wells in order to gain that position. In the having had a gas blowout from a depth of extension of the Overisel field in Allegan 7775 ft. This test is the most important one County, 115 new producers were drilled. drilling at the end of the year in Michigan, The Adams field, Arenac County, was for should it develop commercial produc- revived by several wells with initial production from deeper beds it will lead to deeper tions of over 1000 bbl. per day from the drilling on many well-known structures Dundee of Devonian age. that have been producing from shallower sands. Active Gas Fields Two important gas fields were discovered Exploration by Taggart Brothers during the year. The A small amount of reflection seismograph first was in Riverside township, Missaukee work was done in Clare, Osceola, and Glad-Win Counties during the year. Exploration Manuscript received at the office of the Institute March 28 1941 by shallow drilling for structural informa- tion on beds below the glacial drift con- 347

Jan 1, 1941

By Albert L. Toenges, Theodore R. Jolley

"The development of Alaska depends on the existence of an adequate fuel supply in the Territory. The need to investigate coal deposits was recognized as early as 1911, when the first investigations were conducted in Alaska by engineers of the Bureau of Mines.Conditions existing in the Bering River and Matanuska coal fields, as found by Dr. Robert A. Holmes, former Director of the Bureau of Mines, are described by the Honorable W. L. Fisher, former Secretary of the Interior.4/Following Dr. Holmes' investigation, a party of Bureau of Mines engineers headed by R. Y. Williams visited the Bering River field in 1912 in cooperation with the Navy Department. A detailed examination was made of the Bering River field, and 855 tons of coal were mined from three prospects on Trout Creek. This bulk sample was delivered to the Navy for steaming and other tests. A description of the work of the field party and results of tests of the coal by the Navy Department and the Bureau of Mines has been published.During 1920 to 1922, the comparative steaming properties of Alaska bituminous coal, lignite, and wood were determined by the Bureau of Mines.6/In the early 1920's, the Bureau of Mines established a coal laboratory at Anchorage, where Alaska coals were analyzed. Subsequently, this laboratory was transferred to the Alaska Railroad and was used by the railroad for coal and other tests.Since 1910, the Bureau of Mines has made analyses of coal from Alaska, and the results of these analyses have been published.7/ The coal analyzed was obtained from mines, tipples, delivered lots, and face samples of coal deposits, and these samples were obtained in the field by engineers of the Bureau of Mines and geologists of the U. S. Geological Survey.Because of the shortage of petroleum and petroleum products in Alaska during the war, low-temperature carbonization assays of coals from the Broad Pass, Forty-Mile, Matanuska, and Nenana fields were made by the Bureau of Mines, and the results were published.Coal beds in the Matanuska field contain interbedded impurities in the form of shale, clay, and bone. The coal should be cleaned mechanically to obtain a satisfactory fuel. A coal-preparation study of bituminous coal from the Eska and Evan Jones mines was made by engineers of the Bureau of Mines, and the results were published.9/Coal production in Alaska is less than the requirements, and coal is imported to make up the deficiency. The cost of this imported coal is high. Greater production is necessary to supply coal for Army installations, industry, and homes. At present, there is only one bituminous coal mine (Evan Jones) in Alaska. The output of this mine is used at Fort Richardson, Anchorage, and by the Alaska Railroad. The economic life of this mine is limited (reported to be 3 years), and its closing, because of accidents or exhaustion, will cause great hardship to the inhabitants of Alaska. There is need to develop new, modern mines for the production of bituminous coal in the Matanuska field."

May 1, 1949

By Roger A. Gregg, Barry J. Piearcey

MANY of the nickel-base superalloys developed recently for use in the as-cast condition exhibit a massive "white-etching" constituent1 in the inter-dendritic regions. Commercial alloys in this category are SM 200,* IN 100, INCO 713, and Nicrotung. The appearance of a similar microconstituent in nickel-rich Ni-A1-B alloys has been reported by Schijbel and Stadelmaier. Their investigation revealed that this constituent was the binary eutectic of the terminal nickel-base solid solution and the inter metallic based on Ni3A1. This binary eutectic is degenerate and NhA1 is the major phase. At lower temperatures the eutectic composition lies within the NkA1 phase field and under equilibrium conditions is single-phase NisAl. Taylor and F&apos;loyd3 have shown that in Ni-Al-Cr alloys containing at least 8 at. pct Cr, liquid compositions which solidify by the eutectic reaction in the nickel-rich portion, precipitate nickel-base solid solution and NiAl rather than nickel-base solid solution and NkA1 in the binary Ni-A1 system. Since the nickel-base alloys contain chromium in excess of 8 at. pct and are further alloyed with one or more of the elements titanium, cobalt, molybdenum, or tungsten, it is possible that the eutectic could contain NiAl rather than NisAl. In addition, Benson4 has reported that in low-nickel austenitic high-temperature alloys, which possess Ni/(Al + Ti) atomic-weight ratios <18.0, the Ni (Al, Ti) phase may precipitate from the melt during solidification. Since SM 200 and similar high-temperature materials were developed from alloys which were designed for solution treatment, the appearance of a eutectic would indicate that the limit of solid solubility has been exceeded. The purpose of this note is to confirm that the massive white constituent in the complex nickel-base alloys investigated is based on the binary eutectic Ni + NbAl and that the limit of solid solubility need not be exceeded to produce it, in common with other observations of cast alloys. Successive polishing of a sample of SM 200 showed that, in agreement with Schobel and Stadelmaier, particles of the constituent were spherulitic and in particular were a) situated between cored dendrite arms, Fig. 1, and b) nucleated at the surface of dendrites, Fig. 2. The Ni/(Al + Ti) atomic-weight ratios for the nickel-base alloys which were observed to contain the massive eutectic constituent in the interdendritic regions are 12.1 (Nicrotung), 9.2 (IN loo), 19.5 (INCO 713), and 14.5 (SM 200). However, the results of X-ray analysis of these alloys in the as-cast condition failed to reveal the presence of the Ni (Al, Ti) phase. An electron microanalyzer was therefore employed to analyze the composition of this constituent in SM 200. The results of analyses of representative particles are as follows5: 8.4 at. pct Ti, 8.8 at. pct Co, 5.5 at. pct Cr, 0.9 at. pct W, 12.8 at. pct Al, and 63.6 at. pct Ni. Assuming that

Jan 1, 1964

By M. E. Holuszko

A research program has been carried out at the Mining Department of the University of British Columbia to study the effect of wettability of coal on its handleability and bulk density. The effect of moisture content on the bulk density of coal was found to be more pronounced for hydrophilic coals than for hydrophopbic ones. Altering wettability of coal surface leads to different effects of moisture on bulk density. The samples were studied at different fine fractions content, and it was shown that there was no effect of increased content of fines on the bulk density for hydrophobic coals, while for hydrophilic coals this effect was very significant. It was shown that the moisture content at which the lowest bulk density was reached coincides with the critical moisture content for studied samples, as determined from handleability tests using Durham Cone method. This critical moisture is the moisture content at which a sudden deterioration of coal handleability occurs. Based on the bulk density and handleability tests, the flow theory of moist coal is proposed.

Jan 1, 2006

By Jon C. Volkwein

The U.S. Bureau of Mines investigated a method of using inert gas to prevent the formation of explosive gas mixtures in auger highwall mining of coal. A combination of gasoline and diesel engine exhaust gases was introduced into the auger drill hole using a short section of pipe located at the collar. Gas samples were taken and analyzed on-site with infrared detectors for oxygen, carbon dioxide, methane, and carbon monoxide. Evacuated bottle samples were also taken and analyzed by gas chromatography in the laboratory. These gas results were analyzed for explosibility. Coal samples from various depths were used to obtain the gas content of the coal using the modified direct method. Personal expo- sure to carbon monoxide was also monitored. The highest methane level observed was 9.55%. The levels of inert gas (carbon dioxide and nitrogen) were sufficiently high to prevent any ignition of the methane. Results showed that for all conditions during mining, gas concentrations were nonexplosive. The gas content of the coal was about 0.30 cm3/g. The maximum personal time-weighted average Sample for carbon monoxide was 20 ppm. This system provides a safe, inexpensive, simple method for preventing explosions during auger mining.

Jan 1, 2010

By J. J. Shields

The Bureau of Mines observed two different types of longwall mining; the advancing longwall method and the retreating longwall method at seven bituminous coal mines located in five of the coal producing states. In two mines using the advancing face method, the coal faces were abandoned because of roof failures and poor production. In the other five mines using the retreating method, roof control was good as was production. The success of longwall mining depends on good roof control and good production. The use of self-advancing hydraulic roof supports, such as Westfalia, Dowty, and Wanheim props along with Westfalia coal planers and the Anderton and Eickhoff shearer-loaders have been a factor in recent successes.

Jan 1, 1967

By G Baird, M Seto

A low-cost methodology that allows the determination of in situ stresses using oriented core specimens has been investigated. The technique can be used to determine the stresses during the early stages of a project, even in undeveloped areas of a mine. The research aim was to compare the experimental results estimated by the Acoustic Emission and Deformation Rate Analysis methods with those estimated by conventional Hollow Inclusion cell measurements. The studies have been focused on full stress tensor determination from a single oriented rock core. In all cases the rock core specimens recollected the in situ stresses reasonably well compared with the standard overcoring method.

Jan 1, 2000