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EARLY this year the Board of Directors announced that, through the generous gift of past-president W. L. Saunders, a gold medal to be awarded for distinguished achievement in mining had been estab-lished. At the December meeting of the Board the medal committee reported that it recommended that the first medal be awarded to David William Brunton for "development and exposition of the principles and prac-tice of ore sampling; for systematic daily mapping of mine geology; for the Brunton mining compass; and for engineering achievements in connection with great tunnels." The formal presentation of the medal will be at the din-ner, on Feb. 16, in connec-tion with the annual meet-ing. Mr. Brunton, like several other prominent Institute members, was born in Can-ada, and came to the United States when he was twenty-four years old. He had then been in civil en-gineering work for three years and after a year more of it, deciding that mining was more attrac-tive he spent two years at the University of Michigan doing advanced work in geology a n d chemistry. His first mining engage-ment was with the Dakota and San Juan Mining Co., at Mineral Point, Ouray County, Colo. That was in June, 1875, and the young engineer had to travel 230 miles by trail from the then nearest railroad station at Pueblo. Having to come out because the company did not get in enough supplies to last through the winter he became metallurgist for the Hunt, Douglas & Stewart Co., at Georgetown, Colo. When the Hunt and Douglas plant proved a success, H. A. Taylor, the father of Mr. Brunton's later partner, Frank M. Taylor, engaged him to build the Clear Creek Reduction Works. Eighteen months later he built the Native Silver Mining Co. mill at Caribou and a year later a mill at Silver Peak, Nev., that was so successful that the principal owner shut it down to freeze out the minority stockholders. The winter of 1879 found him at Leadville where he did engineering work for the Robert E. Lee, Duncan, Wolftone, A. Y. & Minnie, and Dinero mines, eventually becoming manager of the Colonel Sellers. In 1886 he was called in on apex-side-line litigation at Aspen with the result that he went there to develop the mines for economic and legal pur-poses, and later became the manager of three of them. His most notable piece of work there was the driving of

Jan 2, 1927

ONE of the features of the annual meeting was a round table conference on carbon in pig iron, on Feb. 16. This was presided over by R. H. Sweetser, and the discussion, which was so interesting as to require holding an additional session in the after-noon, ranged over such a wide field that only a brief outline of it will be attempted here. The full discus-sion together with the papers will be printed later. The first paper was one on the need for research in foundry pig iron (1648-C) by Richard Moldenke, who pointed out the trend in present practice of attaining low cost in pig iron production by hotter blast, addi-tion of. scrap to the blast furnace, and. the enormous increase in the output per furnace day. He pointed out that remelting processes are oxidizing processes, to some degree at least, and the metal cannot be given the deoxidizing finish which is characteristic of the steel-making process. The trend today is toward specifying total carbon content in foundry pig irons, and since the carbon content depends on a variety of factors, he suggested that the blast-furnace men and the foundry men study the question and agree on a minimum of total carbon for the given silicon ranges. The discussion of this paper was participated in by E. J. Lowry, Robert Jones, T. L. Joseph,. R. H. Sweet-ser, J. G. Ferguson, W. B. Coleman, E. P. Ross and D. J. Demorest and ranged from a comparison of the total carbon used in making a ton of pig iron in charcoal practice versus coke practice to a discussion of the bad effects observable from the use of scrap This paper was followed by one on carbon character-istics of copper-bearing pig iron by W.. B. Coleman. In view of the belief in many foundries that copper-bear-ing pig iron made trouble in the foundry, experiments were made by adding copper in various amounts up to 1 per cent and with the cooperation of the Robesonia Iron Co. a large number of tests were made over a run of foundry iron. The final conclusion was that the ad-dition of less than 1 per cent metallic copper did not seem to alter the physical properties and that a blast furnace using copper-bearing ore can produce pig iron suitable for making small castings, showing low-Brinell hardness test, good transverse and deflection tests, and high-total carbon.

Jan 3, 1927

It is particularly interesting at this time to notice the recommendations of F. L. Bishop, clean of the University of Pittsburgh School of Engineering as to the types of engineers required and the training that should be given each type. Dr. Bishop's recommendations, which follow, are substantially the same as the first two recommendations made by resolution at the National Conference recently held to discuss commercial engineering problems. This provided business training for the engineer arid engineering training for commercial enterprises. Dr. Bishop says: "The first type is that of the man who may be called a technician, who is highly trained in science and mathematics, who possess the instinct of the research man and who can devote his entire time to highly technical research problems, either in the research laboratories which are now rapidly being developed in the large industries, or by applying the results of his research to engineering science. For the training of this type of man, there is needed the best of scientific equipment, the members of the faculty must be those who are intimately interested in research problems, and the student himself must have what is sometimes called a mathematical mind. It is doubtful if this type of nan can be developed in a four-year course under existing conditions. In fact, it is probable that such a man can be developed only M. a school which has a thorough graduate department. "The second type which seems to be demanded by the industries is the man who has a broad general knowledge of engineering subjects and can apply that knowledge in an effective way in present engineering problems. He must have ability to command men, a knowledge of the applications of economic principles to industries, and a broad training in the so-called humanities, since he is the man in contact with men of other types in other fields of human activities. He should not be a research man, his training in mathematics need not be of necessity so extensive as that of the research technician, but his understanding of engineering problems should be extensive. Such a man cannot be trained in the ordinary schools because of the artificial conditions which of necessity exist in academic institutions. He must become familiar with the industries while yet, a student in order that he may understand thoroughly the application of his theoretical courses in school and their application to industries, and also that he may become familiar in the formative period of life with the problems of labor and the human factor in engineering. It is in the development of this type of man, who is to become. the manager and operating head of our large manufacturing industries, that the advantages to be derived from the cooperative system of engineering education are needed."

Jan 9, 1919

By R. M. Stewart

INTRODUCTION Requirements for achieving economic slope stability in open pit mining must not only be met during the operating stages but in all preceding stages of mine development. In many operating mines little or no emphasis was ever placed on evaluating the stability of possible slopes during the exploration and planning stages. The purpose of this discussion is to emphasize the necessary considerations that should be made in all stages of development in order to achieve the safest and most economic pit slopes. The most economic slopes may not always be the safest slopes and it is incumbent upon the mine operators and engineers to achieve an optimal combination of economics and safety. The stability requirements outlined are based on the profit motive and are, therefore, practically oriented. Long-term basic research or theoretical studies are considered important only to the extent that they can be shown to have a definite payoff. Consideration will first be given to the information required for stability analysis, which can be determined during the exploration and evaluation stage, followed by further stability work necessary during the mine planning and layout stage. Particular emphasis is then placed on the operating stage in which blasting, dewatering, artificial stabilization, and slope failure are discussed. Lastly, the importance of a logical and orderly research procedure is stressed. EXPLORATION AND EVALUATION STAGE The purpose of the exploration and evaluation stage in the mining scheme is to find and delineate a potential orebody. Discovery and delineation commonly involve drilling tens and in many cases hundreds of boreholes. These boreholes, which may cost as much as $20.00 per foot of depth for a cored hole, are usually abandoned once drilling is completed. Stability evaluation for a potential open pit should begin at this stage by taking advantage of the existing boreholes. Rock and soil properties, as well as hydrologic parameters, may be obtained from both the borehole and the core. Seismic velocity and neutron probes may be used to log the borehole to obtain elastic moduli data. A borehole dilation jack may also be used to give backup information on the rock and soil elastic parameters. Use of a core orientation system can result in the determination of fault and joint frequency and distribution. Before splitting or otherwise disturbing the fresh core, qualitative evaluation

Jan 1, 1972

NANA Accepts Mining ­ 1974 - Leadership presented mining option to people ­ Community meetings; recognized need for cash economy ­ 1979 - Poll shows consensus in favor of mine development ­ 1980 - Shareholders approve mining; Congress approved land selections

May 1, 2002

Now you know why there is concern about mine illumination. You have some idea about how the human eye works and about the problems of glare, peripheral vision, and accommodation. And you know that lighting in a mine presents special problems because of the dark surroundings and low reflectance. This chapter describes what can be done to improve conditions. This chapter begins with a short discussion about Federal Standards on mine lighting -- what they are and what is being done to carry them out. The chapter then describes different types of lamps that can be used for mine lighting, and discusses their advantages and disadvantages. Finally, the chapter lists some things that you can do personally to improve lighting, or can point out to others so that improvements can be made. The Federal Government is doing its part to improve mine lighting by establishing regulations. Lamp manufacturers are constantly studying new lamps to provide better equipment. And your company will do its part to comply with regulations. Better lights may not be here yet, but they will be soon. But in the end, you are the one who will be using the lights, and you are in the best position to see the improvements. You are also in the best position to see and tell others where further improve¬ments can be made.

Jan 1, 1976

This chapter details the perspective from which collected data have been examined. The first part, intended primarily for lay readers, discusses several topics related to mining as an enterprise. Initially, the organizational functioning of atypical large mine will be described. It is the formal structure above a miner that decides the conditions of his or her work. A second point of concern is the technology itself An underground coal mine is a sociotechnical system, with workers and machines organized in particular ways during production. Third, general conditions and dangers underground will be described in detail. The physical environment of an operation is a powerful factor in the work life of miners. Fourth, a discussion of the process of formal training is given. During this training, a new worker is taught what the organization expects of him or her in the role of safe, productive, coal miner. Next, there are outside organizations that act as significant forces in the workplace. Examples include the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA), State agencies, and the United Mine Workers of America (UMWA). The roles of these entities will also be examined. The second part of this chapter will depict each study site as a concrete setting, so that findings can be interpreted in their proper context. The Organizational and Technical Nature of Mining A coal mine is a complex system. It is defined as all parts of a mining plant's property (both underground and surface) that contribute, under one management, to the extraction or handling of coal [American Geological Institute 1997]. As suggested, many functions that must be carried out at an operation are only indirectly related to coal mining and processing. Even the jobs that are di¬rectly related tend to be numerous and varied [Wallwork 1981]. According to Palowitch [1982], the chief reason for this sophistication is that "after more than two centuries of exploiting our coal resources, today's coal industry finds itself saddled with a horrendous legacy of human impairments and environmental damages which society demands be corrected." Now, the effects of government regulation are evident in every aspect of the mining industry. Any operation, if it is to survive, must be administered with an eye for social efficiency and accountability. Long-range planning is needed to ensure that the mine produces coal in a cost-effective manner. One of the first things that must be considered is location and method of access. To extract coal from an underground mine, a coalbed (or "seam") must be reached from the surface. The term "portal" is generally given to any entrance that provides access to a coal mine. In hilly terrain, such as is found in Appalachia, the coal may "outcrop" on a hillside. This allows direct

Jan 1, 2000

The following is an incomplete list of members and guests who called at Institute headquarters during the period May 10, 1919, to June 10, 1919. Victor C. Alderson, Golden, Colo. E. Fleming L'Engle, Joplin, Mo. H. Foster Bain, Washington, D. C. W. D. Mainwaring, Philadelphia, Pa. J. J. Beeson, Master Engr. Sr. Gr. W. G. Matteson, Fort Worth, Tex. Gunnar Bergstrom, Stockholm, Sweden. C. E. MacDonald, Toronto, Can. Corry T. Brown, Socorro, N. Met. Francis Nicholson, Charlotte, Va. Geo. W. Brymer, Scranton, Pa. Richard A. Parker, Denver, Colo. W. Burns, Santa Fe, N. Mex. S. B. Patteson, Jr., Allentown, Pa. H. C. Carlisle, The Pas, Manitoba, Can. G. W. Ponton, Ottawa, Canada. J. Carson Adkerson, Va. W. H. Reber, Ensign, Dallas, Tex. C. A. Cheney, Madison, Wis. T. C. Roberts, New York City. J. M. Clark, Toronto, Canada W. A. Rukeyser, Ensign, N. F. Corps. John J. Doyle, St. Louis, Mo. W. H. Staver, New York City. H. S. Emlaw, Grand Haven, Mich. D. B. Sterrett, Washington, D. C. E. Francis, Birmingham, Ala. T. V. Smirnoff, Russia. Rudolf Gahl, Denver, Colo. E. C. Templeton, New York City. Emit Gthmann, Baltimore, Md. H. A. Toblemann, Ajo, Ariz. A. B. Hardie, Philadelphia, Pa. Priestley Toulmin, Birmingham, Ala. Clarence M. Haight, Franklin, N. J. M. R. Walker, Baltimore, Md. N. V. Hansell, New York City. H. A. Wheeler, St. Louis, Mo. C. A. Heberlein, Nacosari, Mexico. D. B. Whitaker, Santiago, Cuba. Pierre Hines, Milwaukee, Wis. A. W. G. Wilson, Ottawa, Can. J. S. Hollings, Brymoba, Wales. Oba Wiser, Hanover, N. Mex C. Vey Holman, Maine. Harry J. Wolf, Denver, Colo. H. H. Howry, Denver, Colo. F. H. Wood, Mt. Vernon, N. Y. W. Spencer Hutchinson, Boston, Mass. J. P. Wood, New York, N. Y. W. B. Kunhardt, Reading, Pa. Lawrence Addicks sailed on May 17 for London; lie expects to be absent from this country for several months. Roy H. Allen has accepted a position in the research engineering department of the National Aniline & Chemical Co., Buffalo, N. Y. H. Foster Bain has gone to Shanghai, China, where he expects to remain for some time. Percy J. Bandy has accepted a position with the Cia. Minera del Mirasol S. A., at Cusihuiriachic, Chihuahua, Mexico. J. H. Batcheller is now with the North Midas Copper Co., St. Helena, Alaska.

Jan 7, 1919

By Henry S. Drinker

The Butler Mine property is situated in the vicinity of Pittston, in the Wyoming coal-field of Pennsylvania. The coal has been ' worked out from the fourteen-foot or Baltimore vein for a number of years on part of the tract, the old chambers remaining open as when originally abandoned. This vein outcrops on the Butler prop erty, and is nowhere more than sixty feet below the surface of the ground on the line of the cut-off to be described. Above the four teen-foot vein and about, say midway, between it and the surface of the ground, there is another small vein or rider of coal, about twelve inches in thickness. The rock between the two veins is a carbon aceous slate, about twenty-five feet in thickness. Above the smaller vein is a bed of sandstone, varying in thickness, but generally not less than from eight to ten feet. This sandstone is also carbonaceous, but the proportion of carbon is much less than in the slate below. Both rocks have been analyzed, and before the next Institute meet ing, the writer hopes to be able to furnish the exact proportions. The sandstone is overlaid with debris up to the surface of the ground. Some time during the spring of 1876, it was found that the coal left in the worked-out mine had been set on fire, and that the fire was gradually spreading. Inquiry developed the fact that the fire had originally been started by a woman, who had taken up her abode in an old tunnel leading into the workings. Owing to some delay in the early attempts made to extinguish the fire, it finally gained such headway that no ordinary means were found to be effectual. Finally, Mr. C. F. Conrad, civil and mining engineer, of Pittston, Penna., was called in as consulting engineer. He advised the making of a thorough cut through such portion of the old workings as had not been reached by the fire. It was found by survey that this cut could be limited to a length of about one thousand two hundred feet, as the vein faulted on both sides, and that the greatest depth of the cut would be about sixty feet. Subsequently it was decided to tunnel part of the way, thus saving the deepest portion of the cut. In 1856-7, there occurred a fire in the same mine. Two stone walls in V-shape running from the apex of the V towards the out crop, were built to cot the fire 06 and these walls were carried as far as the vein had at that time been worked. After the walls were finished

Jan 1, 1879

By Albert Sauveur

SOME writers believe that when austenite transforms completely into pearlite on slow cooling through the thermal critical range, such transformation does not imply the formation of any of the so-called transition constituents: martensite, troostite and sorbite. Might it not be claimed with as much justification that when water freezes it does so suddenly, solid ice being obtained without passing through the intermediate stages of ice and water? Obviously, regardless of the speed of solidification, this would be erroneous. Before reaching the completed solid condition, this must of necessity pass through an unbroken series of stages when the system consists of mixtures of water and of ice, the former decreasing and the latter increasing in amount. Are not these "transition" stages in the freezing of water similar to the transition stages occurring in the transformation of austenite into pearlite? To clarify, let us consider in Fig. 1 the mechanism of the transformation of eutectoid steel from its austenitic to its pearlitic condition as it cools slowly through its thermal critical range. It is generally admitted that this transformation is the result of two distinct phenomena: (1) the allotropic change of gamma iron into alpha iron and (2) the crystallizing out of solution of the carbide Fe3C. Whether this crystallizing of Fe3C implies also its formation is immaterial for our purpose. In other words, whether it is the carbon in atomic dispersion which is present in gamma iron or molecules of Fe3C has no bearing upon the matter to be discussed. The transformation of gamma iron into alpha iron cannot take place suddenly. It must of necessity be progressive, regardless of the speed with which it may take place. At A, for instance, there would be present AB gamma iron and BC alpha iron. The distance MN does not refer to falling temperature, but to the passage of time. It may be assumed that the transformation takes place at a constant temperature (the Ar321 point). In a similar way, the crystallization of Fe3C out of the austenite solid solution must be progressive as depicted between M and N. At A there would be present AB gamma iron, BC alpha iron, CD carbon dissolved in gamma and in alpha iron and DE Fe3C. This condition may be described according to individual preference as martensite or troostite. To sum up, can the metal pass from condition

Jan 1, 1931

By Henry N. Toler

Development in the Jackson gas field, Hinds and Rankin counties, for 1935 continued at a slow pace, there being only nine wells drilled on the structure, of which five resulted in gas producers and four in dry holes. There were no wells drilled deep enough during 1935 to test any of the horizons below the producing Selma chalk. There are 113 producing gas wells in the Jackson gas field, with three wells on the southeast edge of the field making some oil with a large quantity of salt water; this oil comes from the same horizon as the gas. The combined open flow of the 113 gas wells is about 4,100,000,000 cu. ft. The proven area of the field is approximately 8000 acres. The production of 10,291,000,000 cu. ft. for 1935 represents the largest yearly pull from the field by almost a billion cubic feet. The total production from the field to date is 45,104,000,-000 cu. ft. It is interesting to note that the rock pressure has dropped from 1010 lb. per sq. in. initial to 943 Ib. at the end of 1935, a decline of only 67 lb. in 6 years. There is a difference of opinion as to the age of the deepest formation tested on the Jackson structure; some people holding that it is Tuscaloosa, others, Trinity, and still others that it is Paleozoic, probably Pottsville. The production of the Amory gas field, Monroe County, continued to decline and the capacity was far under the demand. Originally there were four producing wells in the field with a combined open-flow capacity of approximately 15,000,000 cu. ft. and a rock pressure of 680 lb. per sq. in. At the end of 1935 only two wells were producing with a combined open-flow of less than 1 million cu. ft. and the rock pressure down to 100 lb. or less. No attempt has been made to drill new wells in the immediate field but three wells are being drilled in the county in an effort to secure new supplies of gas. The wildcat operations for 1935, with only 11 wells drilled, were the lowest since 1932, just about one-half the number drilled during 1934. None of the wildcat wells drilled in 1935 resulted in producers and, so far as the writer is aware, did not uncover any large structures. The 11 wells drilled were abandoned or junked at comparatively shallow depths, except the well drilled in George County to 6928 ft. by the United Gas

Jan 1, 1936

By Raymond B. Ladoo

TIIe milling of talc, as is the case with many non-metallic minerals, until recently, has not received adequate technical consideration, for the talc industry has become of importance only within the last decade. At first, talc was used only in the massive form, for foot warmers, griddles, and so on, and milling methods were unnecessary. As the demand for ground talc increased, producers adopted the machinery used in the milling of flour; in fact, many talc mills were rebuilt flour mills. Improvement has been slow, but today several types of grinding and separating machinery are in use; many of them, however, are still inadequate and inefficient. To determine the best methods of milling talc, it is necessary to understand the essential properties a talc must possess to fit it for a particular use. For toilet purposes, whiteness, freedom from lime and grit, fineness of grain, and good "slip" are essential. As a paper filler or coating, the talc must be white, uniform, and fine grained, have a good slip, and be free from grit and iron; freedom from lime is a disputed point. Fibrous talc is supposed to be superior to massive on account of the interlocking of grains in the paper, thus increasing its strength; this point, though, is in doubt. In general, talc for the paper industry need not be of as high quality or as fine grained as that used for toilet purposes. Talc is usually bought by sample, for which reason it is difficult to state the essential properties for use in paint, rubber, roofing, and so on. The adoption of standard screen tests and standard grades by producers is necessary before an accurate basis for manufacturing or selling standards can be established. Off-color talcs might be utilized, as in Germany and Austria, by the establishment of standard grades of colored talcs. The machinery to be used depends on whether the talc is fibrous, foliated, or massive; hard or soft; of uniform or variable grade; pure or impure. In some cases, it is possible to change the mining practice or to utilize different sections of the deposit in order to vary some of these factors, but in many cases these factors are fixed, so the milling must be designed to suit the conditions.

Jan 1, 1922

By O. U. Bradley

The extent of losses, due to evaporation, sediment, and water, in crude oil stored in steel tanks, is a very interesting question, and particularly so at this time, when every reasonable measure should be employed to eliminate all possible losses of this important natural product. Available information on this subject is incomplete; e.g., during the development of the Cushing Field, considerable surplus oil was stored in steel tanks, but from time to time, owing to changes in weather, some losses by evaporation and short storage room on the leases, these tanks were topped out, thus rendering inaccurate any system designed to determine the average rate of evaporation or other losses of the oil over a given period. Furthermore, the losses, as shown by the records at the time, as a result of hasty gages, failed to take into account the temperature and gravity of the oil. Losses may be classified roughly as occurring from evaporation, presence of sediment and water, and leakage. The coefficient of expansion and contraction of crude oil, in relation to temperature conditions, is of material importance; also, the rate of evaporation is dependent upon the gravity of the oil, as the escape of the lighter hydrocarbons in fresh Cushing oil, of from 40 to 42 gravity, on a warm day is considerable, and from available records of temporary storage, it is safe to assume that a loss of 1 to 11/2 per cent. in volume will easily occur in light crude oil of Cushing grade over a period of 6 months, including the summer season. The presence of sediment, water, and other impurities, in the oil will also cause more or less deterioration in quality, particularly when the fresh production is run direct from the gage tanks, or from the wells on the lease to steel storage, as is often the case when an oil field is being rapidly developed. The bad oil will settle to the bottom of the tanks and may be determined by thiefing and running a centrifuge test on the sample. The amount of water in the oil depends entirely on the conditions under which it is produced. Sometimes in large producing wells, with heavy gas pressure, some water may come in with the oil, particularly if the well has been drilled to the top of a water sand. Under these conditions, cut oil is often produced, which, if not settled out, is carried over into the steel tanks. The losses by leakage in steel tanks are difficult to determine, for

Jan 1, 1920

By Nathaniel Arbiter, A. F. Taggart

The chemical reaction occurring in collection of nonmetallic minerals with amine-type collectors was early postulated by students of flotation phenomena to be metathesis between the mineral and the collector, involving exchange between the amine-bearing (aminium) ion and the cation of the mineral, and formation at the mineral surface of an oriented film of the amine salt of the mineral anion. Qualitative evidence of exchange has been obtained on several occasions at Columbia. Thus 1000 C.C. of a solution containing 495 mg of laurylamine hydrochloride was shaken 17 min. with 100 grams of barite and ground in a porcelain mill to pass a 200-mesh screen; the mixture was then set aside for 48 hr. Filtrate therefrom analyzed 476 mg. per liter of laurylamine hydrochloride. There was no substantial loss of chloride ion (78.4 mg. per liter in the original; 74 in the filtrate). No successful analyses were concluded for barium ion. Earlier, confessedly rough work with scheelite indicated a solution gain in Ca++ equivalent to about one-half the aminium ion lost. Real quantitative roof of the exchange, in the form of an established stoichiometric balance, is unknown to the authors. The data of the present paper, however, obtained from experiments designed on the basis of the exchange hypothesis, constitute strong evidence of its truth, and at the same time point the way to economic utilization of the expensive nitrogen-bearing collectors in concentration of the low-priced nonmetallic minerals. The basic postulate underlying the experiments performed was that, if the collecting reaction is of the type R+ + Y- + MX = RX + M+ + Y- where R = aminium ion, Y = the anion of the amine salt, and M and X are, respectively, the cation and anion of the mineral, the reaction should obey qualitatively the implications of the mass-action and solubility-product laws. This is to say that coating and collection should be aided by the addition to the solution of either ion (R+ or X-) of the collector-coating compound, and hindered by the addition of either of the ions M+ or y-. Experimental work comprised determination of (,) the relative solubilities of the laurylammonium salts of a variety of nonmetallic-mineral anions; and (21 the contact angles' of various minerals in solutions containing different concentrations of the postulated controlling ions. Semiquantitative flotation tests were run With barite as checks on the diagnostic character of the contact angles. The amine

Jan 1, 1947

By S. Arthur Krom

Recent experiments indicate that the usual type of concen-trating-table is not only poorly adapted to produce the desired results, but also is based upon an incorrect principle, namely, the use of riffles to perform the work of stratifying the various minerals. We have heard a good deal about riffles for concentratiug-tables; exhaustive experiments have been made to discover the proper form of riffle, or to prove the superiority of this or that form; disputes and patent-litigation have arisen over the matter of riffles, and thus marly have been led to believe that the riffle is the saving-device upon which the process of concentration depends. In the present paper it is proposed to show that the riffle is greatly overrated as to the part it performs in the concentration of minerals, and that, in the near future, it may possibly be eliminated entirely from that process. The experiments in question have shown that the troublesome riffle can be considered of secondary importance at the most, and should be so classed in the construction of a concen-trating-table built upon the right lines. The action of any form of riffle on a concentrating-table is such as to upset and retard the process of settling and stratifying the various minerals on the table-deck. From the deck of a riffled table no concentrates can be delivered until the deck is " bedded," that is, until a suffcient amount of metallic values has been fed to the table to spread over a large portion of the deck, forming a substratum of the heavier minerals. This substratum must be maintained by the feed within quite narrow limits, and directly proportional to the rate of discharge from the table, in order that the bed shall not be lost. On the other hand, the riffles having a very limited carrying-capacity, considerable care must be taken not to overfeed a riffled table, in which case the table proceeds, in mill parlance, to rob itself. As soon as the space between the

Jan 1, 1912

AMERICANIZE THE MINING INDUSTRY Americanization is the snaking of American citizens; men and women controlled by the ideals of American citizenship, which have been built up by this country's heritage and its unceasing struggle for freedom and democracy and opportunity. That means, first of all, a necessary understanding of what those ideals are and what they mean for the newly arrived foreigner. It means that every kind of anti-American propaganda must be stamped out; that racial prejudices and the misunder-standings which lead to unrest and disloyalty and make fruitful soil for anti-American propaganda must be overcome. The foreigner must understand. He must understand what we are trying to do here in America; he must understand something, at least, of the kind of government we have built up in our efforts to, accomplish our particular aims; he must understand how lie can fit into it all, not only to help America, but to help himself-to make it possible for hint to get from this country what he carne here seeking. First of all, he must learn the American language. He must be able to talk with his fellow Americans-those who were born here and those who have recently cone, like himself, but from a different land. The most dramatic, the most crucial demonstration of the urgency of the need of all this is given to us right now. At the time when it is most essential for this country to be solidly American, enemy propagandists are winning an occasional success here because they give their message to men and women and boys and girls who do not understand our language and consequently do not understand us. These foreigners, whom the enemy is trying to make disloyal, are really in our army, the big army that is fighting the war for America. Most of them are not among the soldiers who will fight on the battle front, but they are in the lines back of these soldiers. The worker in the shipyards and in the mines is just as important a soldier in this war as the man in the trenches. That has been said over and over, but it cannot be said too often. It is just as vital for that man in the mine to know why we are at war as it is for the soldier. His employer has just as great a responsibility to the country as has any general, and it is the same responsibility.

Jan 8, 1918

By Michael Chender

Introduction Clearly, many problems confront the minerals industry today. Yet, at the same time, there is too much energy spent bemoaning the negative effects of difficult economic circumstances, low metals prices, and adverse government policies. These are factors that cannot be altered by individual mineral company reactions. In fact, as we look to the future, the only thing we can be certain of is that we will continue to be faced with uncertainty. Thus, an area that demands close scrutiny and that can significantly affect a company's performance in the future is the posture it adopts to deal with uncertainty. This paper looks at how strategies are developing to deal with this issue. It also examines some of the implications that implementing such strategies have for the role of the individual explorationist. Elements of strategy Whether mineral company strategies are based on diversifying or retrenching, on emphasizing primary production or downstream integration, there seems to be increasing agreement that in the current environment strategies must have several features. They need to be information-based - developed out of access to timely and complete data and analysis about proposed directions and competitor activity, rather than simply following a current fashion. They need to be flexible - adaptable in light of changes in the marketplace and an unpredictable industry. And they need to be cost-efficient - making the most of limited resources. Whether a company is looking for gold financing opportunities, acquiring polymetallic prospects, or doing grassroots exploration for diamonds, these three elements are increasingly essential. They not only allow the company to pursue its current goals most expeditiously, but also open it to hearing and using feedback in the most constructive way. The company can then improve or change strategy as it proceeds. And it can be best positioned to take advantage of opportunities as they arise. These elements of strategy place great emphasis on the skills of the individual. The need for critical intelligence and the reduced amount of capital available to manage are making it more obvious that exploration is a "people" business. This is in accordance with a general trend in many sectors of industrialized economies, reflecting the widely discussed shift from smokestack to information-based industries. Increasing the odds There is a direct connection between successfully implementing the approaches to strategy discussed above and encouraging and improving the quality of work of the individual explorationist. To illustrate the importance of this, some commonly quoted figures on the odds of discovery success can be used. These figures are arbitrary but illustrative. Assume that one out of 100 exploration prospects actually turns out to be a promising ore body, and that one out of 1000 becomes a mine. Based on our research, chances are the most of those

Jan 1, 1986

INTRODUCTION Porphyry copper deposits have been reported from the Caribbean area by Pease (1966), Cox, et al. (1973), Guild (1974), Kesler, et al. (1975), and others. This chapter summarizes the most widely known characteristics of those deposits. Only one deposit that conceivably can be classed as a porphyry copper occurrence is in production (Pueblo Viejo, Dominican Republic), but others are known whose tonnage and grade are of economic interest. Deposits in this province may be classified as copper-gold or copper-molybdenum types (Kesler, 1972), but deposits associated with quartz-rich plutons that have high Na2O:K2O and high gold:copper but low molybdenum: copper ratios dominate. Porphyry copper occurrences are reported in the literature from Puerto Rico, Haiti, the Dominican Republic, Jamaica, and Cuba. Only the porphyry copper deposits from Puerto Rico are extensively described in the literature; consequently the Caribbean porphyry copper province in general is not as well documented as the southern Cordilleran orogen. Because past published technical descriptions are incomplete, some data presented here are new to the literature. The Caribbean includes the island arcs between North and South America. Porphyry copper occurrences are known from the Greater Antilles, the generally east-west trending group of islands that lies south of North America. Fig. 48, therefore, only covers the Greater Antilles portion of the Caribbean. Porphyry copper deposits in this area are not described by the Lowell and Guilbert (1970) model in details of metallization (general paucity of molybdenum), alteration (scarcity of orthoclase), or petrography (preponderance of quartz diorite). Therefore, this model should be modified to include deposits associated with quartz-bearing plutons such as those found in the Caribbean. In the Meme deposit on Haiti ore occurs in skarn adjacent to the quartz diorite phase of a composite quartz monzonite-granodio-rite-quartz diorite pluton (Kesler, 1968). This deposit, with a K-Ar 66 m.y. date, is not included in Fig. 48 as a porphyry copper deposit because metallization is restricted largely to the intruded rocks. Although the intrusive rocks at the Meme deposit may contain sulfide near skarn contacts they are otherwise essentially unaltered. Porphyry molybdenum deposits as defined by Clarke (1972) have not been reported in the Caribbean area.

Jan 1, 1978

By S. Fisher Morris

The New River coal-field embraces that portion of the Appalachian coal formation which lies on the waters of the New River, principally in Fayette and Raleigh counties, West Virginia, covering a strip of territory about forty miles in length along the line of the Chesapeake and Ohio Railroad from Quinnimont to Kanawha Falls, where the New River empties into the Kanawha, the railroad following the banks of the river the whole distance. (See map.) Between Kanawha Falls and the Valley of the Ohio lies the great Kanawha region, and these two coal-fields possess a greater variety of coal than can be found in any other portion of the country, enabling them to furnish the best fuels for any of the various demands of manufacture or domestic use, the Kanawha region possessing many varieties of gas, hard splint, and cannel coal, and the New River region bituminous and semi-bitnminous, steam and coking coal. The New River, in its westward course towards the Kanawha, has cut its way entirely through the Sera1 conglomerate or No. XII of the Pennsylvania Reports, the Umbral red shales of No. XI appearing at the foot of the mountains at the eastern end of the region at Quinnimont, one of the upper ledges of the Conglomerate forming the summits; while at the western end, at Kanawha Falls, the top of the Conglomerate is nearly down to the level of the river, a portion of the " Lower Productive Measures" forming the greater portion of the mountains. These mountains rise abruptly from the banks of the river to a height of from 800 to 1200 feet, leaving only here and there narrow strips of bottom land, a few acres in extent; and as the measures consist principally of hard sandstones, shales, and conglomerates lying ill a nearly horizontal position, the mountain-sides are very precipitous, with many long and high cliffs, which, with the great height of the mountains, give the country a very rugged appearance. Along the sides of these mountains fronting on the New River and its many tributaries there are exposed the outcroppings of several veins of bituminous and. semi-bituminous coal, varying in thickness from a few inches to over four feet, five of them being workable, or

Jan 1, 1880

By Harry Verakis, Thomas Lobb

This paper summarizes the course of mine blasting safety, particularly in underground coal mining, in the USA for over a century of mining operations. During the late 1800's and especially in the first decade of the 1900's, a large number of mine explosions occurred in which blasting played a significant role. A contributor to the large number of mine explosions during this time period was the use of black blasting powder to extract coal and other minerals. A review is made of some of the more significant underground coal mine explosions that resulted from blasting operations during this time period up to the present day. The safety measures that were adopted and required by a series of laws as a result of mine explosion disasters in which blasting was one of the factors are examined. The time line of historical improvements in blasting safety and the tremendous reduction in fatalities and injuries over a century is illustrated and discussed. The improvements, which included the elimination of black powder and dynamite and the introduction of safer explosives termed "permissibles" occurred slowly over time and culminated from the occurrence of many coal mine explosion disasters. The blasting accident history over the past decade is discussed to show the great gains made when compared to the first decade of the 1900's. The most recent blasting accident fatality that occurred in October 2006 at a U.S. underground coal mine is also discussed. Although the blasting accident record is significantly improved from over a century ago, continual improvement is needed to reach the goal of zero fatalities.

Jan 1, 2009