Search Documents

By Peter J. Huck, Madan M. Singh

IIT Research Institute has investigated the potential of high pressure water jets for rapid rock excavation. During this study, an attempt was made to correlate the extent of breakage effected to the mechanical properties of rocks. Six rock types were used in these experiments and nine properties were determined for each rock variety. A regression equation using the two most significant rock properties and one jet parameter (pressure) was established. Although tests were conducted to specific pressures of 35, no minimum in the specific energy consumption was noted.

Jan 1, 1971

By Henry M. Howe

I NOW call your attention to two directions in which very important progress may be confidently hoped for—pyrometry and the heat-treatment of steel. We already find in the market more than one pyrometer which, in spite of serious defects, may lie used advantageously for determining and controlling the temperature of many of our metallurgical processes. It is to be hoped, and with much confidence, that by the rapid extension of the use of such instruments, the economy and efficiency of these processes may undergo an increase which, in the aggregate, will be of the greatest importance. In this connection, the lucid paper of Prof. Roberts-Austen," and the learned bulletin of Mr. Barus, are most welcome. But much remains to be done in the way of devising pyrometers suitable for manufacturing purposes. While some of the present pyrometers are most convenient and accurate in the laboratory, serious difficulties attend the use, in factories, of those which I have

Jan 1, 1895

By O. B. Harden

In working out the geological structure of a complicated district, where the problems are difficult to solve by the ordinary methods in use, a model, upon which all the geological and topographical data may be put, will be found of great value, bringing, as it does, all the facts in their proper relationship at once under the eye. In the teaching of structural geology, also, a model is of great value, since the student can thus have before him, in miniature, a representation of the rocks, as he would see them in place. Topographical models may often be useful in suits at law for damages in railroad accidents, or for trespass against mining companies, etc., in order

Jan 1, 1882

No. 275. Chemist, assayer, and precipitate smelter, also an experienced shift man; both for a cyanide plant in Peru. Salary £30 Sterling per month; two years' contract and all traveling and living expenses. No. 276. Metallurgist; experienced in reducing tungsten ores and preparing metallic tungsten and tungsten alloys. No. 277. Draftsman and transitman for coal mine work in Middle West. Salary $125 per month. No. 278. Metallurgical engineer familiar with microscopic work and experienced in making microscopic photographs; with some experience in heat treating of alloy steels. No. 279. The Trench Warfare Section of the Ordnance Department desires to get in touch with young men over draft age, or in deferred draft classification, who are physically sound, who can. become candidates for commissions; earning capacity of at least $1700 a year. Must have good character, some business experience, university training, and some technical skill. Application should be made to Captain Hudson Millar, 1800 Virginia Avenue, Washington, D. C,. Three original letters of recommendation from American citizens must be furnished. An appli-

Jan 3, 1918

By Donald N. H. Chi, Henry E. Perlee

Accident cost data bases for all mining sectors covering the period 1975 through 1980 have been created on the PDP-11/70 and VAX-11/780 computers at the Bureau of Mines Pittsburgh Research Center. The total expected costs of the following tangible elements are computed: (a) loss in personal income; (b) compensation of wages from State, Federal, and union funds for disabling injuries; (c) benefits for injuries resulting in death or permanent disability; (d) medical treatment and hospital care; (e) investigation of a fatal accident; and (f) production loss due to accidents involving fatalities or amputation injuries. Each cost record computed contains a reference to the original record in the Health and Safety Analysis Center (HSAC) accident files to permit concurrent analysis. The intended applications include examinations of annual trends in mine accident statistics on the basis of economic loss. This provides an additional perspective on mine accidents. Various examples of the use of these data bases are presented.

Jan 1, 1983

By Haydn H. Murray

Although alumina constitutes about 15% of the earth's crust, it is expensive to separate and purify for the production of aluminum with the exception of the alumina in bauxite. The United States has a variety of nonbazurite resources that could substitute for bauxite, including high alumina clays, alunite, dawsonite in oil shale, anorthosite, and nepheline venite. Each of these resources is discussed from the standpoint of geology, geography, processing, and potential recovery. Potential byproducts include alica from clays, potash and sulfuric acid from alunite, soda ash from dawsonite, and soda ash and potash from anorthosite and nepheline syenite.

Jan 1, 1983

By Richard W. Lodge

The following work, performed by Mr. W. A. Tucker, of the class of 1893, in the mining department of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, seems to me to be worthy of publication. I believe it has always been considered that the presence of arsenic especially interferes with the extraction of gold by the cyanide method. Mr. Tucker's work, although made on a laboratory scale, certainly seems to disprove this view, and to show that even with a very large percentage of arsenic present in the ore, a high extraction may be obtained without an excessive consumption of potassic cyanide. The ore from which the concentrates were obtained was a gray argillaceous schist. and slate, with stringers and veins of quartz running through it. It carried free gold and about 12 per cent. of sulphides. The ore was crushed with stamps; the free gold was collected in the ordinary way on silver-amalgamated copper plates; and the sulphides, which consisted chiefly of arsenopyrite and pyrite, with very small amounts of galena and chalcopyrite, were concentrated and collected by means of a Frue vanner. A carefully-taken sample gave: Gold,........6.17 ounces per ton. Arsenic,.......30.6 per cent. The latter figure would correspond to about 66.5 per cent,. of arsenopyrite in the concentrates. The work to be done was outlined as follows: 1. Sizing the concentrates; 2. Assaying the different sizings; 3. Treating these different sizings with ECy of different degrees of strength for different periods of time.

Jan 1, 1896

By D. H. Yardley

GEOCHEMICAL investigation of trace elements in surface materials was begun near Ely, Minn., in 1953 along the basal contact of Duluth gabbro with Giants Range granite (Fig. 1). This article presents data on the distribution of copper and nickel in till and in stream sediments in the area and proposes an explanation for the types of distribution found. The Duluth gabbro, one of the world's largest basic intrusives, intrudes rocks which range in age from Keewatin to middle Keweenawan. Within the test area the gabbro is in contact with granite except for short sections where it is in contact with remnants of iron formation. Sulfide mineralization occurs within the gabbro, near and parallel to the basal contact for a distance of several miles. Schwartz and Davidson1 have described the geologic setting of the mineralization.

Jan 7, 1958

Diffusion in Solid Metals. BY ROBERT F MEHL (Institute of Metals Division Lecture Tech Pub 726 in Metals Tech, Aug , also Trans, vol 122 22,500 words ) Diffusion in solid metals constitutes one of the important fundamental phenomena in metallurgical behavior Apart from its obvious importance in processes such as chromizing, carburizing, nitriding and calorizing, it plays an important part in the processes of homogenization, age-hardening, and transformations in steel, its scientific importance is no less great Diffusion may occur within a grain, along a grain boundary, or upon a surface, though the exact and even the relative values of these separate processes are known for only a very few cases The requirement of solid solution formation presents the possibility of identifying solid solution phases by a study of diffusion layers Some distortion accompanies diffusion, leading to little¬ understood grain-size changes Distortion assists diffusion though usually it dis¬appears before diffusion has become extensive In a binary system the rate of diffusion is the more rapid in the lower melting metal Many of the published data are too qualitative to permit sound scientific conclusions Age-hardening data may be treated as diffusion data and rates of reaction in steel could profitably be studied from this point of view Studies on diffusion are of great importance to the develop-

Jan 1, 1937

By R. M. Brick

A PREVIOUS publication 1§ has described the effect of quenching stresses on the lattice parameter values of high-purity aluminum-copper alloys particularly with reference to the solution and precipitation of CuAl2. A similar study has been made of the aluminum-rich aluminum-mag-nesium alloys. Attention has been directed in the present investigation to the magnitude of the quenching stresses as affected by the specimen size and shape, the number of solute atoms and the quenching rate. The effect of cooling stresses in causing plastic deformation or cracking has been considered in relation to the physical properties of the alloy. On reheating alloys in the two-phase field, the time required for pre-cipitation to occur has been observed in connection with the degree of supersaturation, the rate of diffusion of the solute atoms as a function of the comparative atomic radii, degree of strain, temperature of reheating and grain size. A few qualitative comparisons on the relative effect of these factors have been drawn between the aluminum-copper alloys and the aluminum-magnesium alloys.

Jan 1, 1935

By Gilbert H. Cady

HE application of geology to problems arising A in coal mining engineering and coal preparation has, in general, been somewhat remote, or the geological problems have involved such simple forms of geological knowledge that the attention of specialists in this field has not been commonly thought necessary. Furthermore, the geology of coal beds and coal mining has received but scant attention in our educational system, even in mining education; so that coal mining engineers have become somewhat conditioned against geological thinking. Geologists, on the other hand, have commonly failed to realize that there are geological aspects to coal mining and coal preparation problems. A further reason why geology receives so little consideration in coal mining undertakings in this country lies in the fact that our coal supplies are, or have been thought to be, almost unlimited, have been easily accessible, and very cheaply mined. Conditions have been changing within recent years. Failures can be less easily endured. Great inroads have been made on our bonanza deposits of easily mined coal and the increasing cost of coal and the increasing difficulty of finding it in easily accessible and large quantities places greater and greater importance on accurate information and good technique in exploration. It seems probable, therefore, that the opinions and aid of geologists will be more commonly sought than in the past in the exploration for coal and in the development and operation of coal mines, and analyses of mining conditions, preparation, and utilization.

Jan 1, 1951

By Gilbert H. Cady

HE application of geology to problems arising A in coal mining engineering and coal preparation has, in general, been somewhat remote, or the geological problems have involved such simple forms of geological knowledge that the attention of specialists in this field has not been commonly thought necessary. Furthermore, the geology of coal beds and coal mining has received but scant attention in our educational system, even in mining education; so that coal mining engineers have become somewhat conditioned against geological thinking. Geologists, on the other hand, have commonly failed to realize that there are geological aspects to coal mining and coal preparation problems. A further reason why geology receives so little consideration in coal mining undertakings in this country lies in the fact that our coal supplies are, or have been thought to be, almost unlimited, have been easily accessible, and very cheaply mined. Conditions have been changing within recent years. Failures can be less easily endured. Great inroads have been made on our bonanza deposits of easily mined coal and the increasing cost of coal and the increasing difficulty of finding it in easily accessible and large quantities places greater and greater importance on accurate information and good technique in exploration. It seems probable, therefore, that the opinions and aid of geologists will be more commonly sought than in the past in the exploration for coal and in the development and operation of coal mines, and analyses of mining conditions, preparation, and utilization.

Jan 1, 1951

By W. C. Lacy

The last crop of graduates from our colleges and universities who sought employment in the mineral industries found that they needed to hustle to find a job. There was no longer a list of waiting employers to choose from. Some of them became discouraged and drifted into other fields; many are still looking for employment. Word has gotten around that there are no jobs available in the mineral industries, and enrollment in the various colleges of mines and mineral industries has started to drop. Even established professional men are finding themselves suddenly out of work because of unstable metal prices and rising costs. All these people-students beginning to search for a career, young engineers not yet established-face the same problem: "What is the future of the mineral industries, and what type of training will best qualify the scientist or engineer for this changing field?" This question was posed to a number of leaders in different phases of the industry. Their comments are summarized as a guide to those considering a career in the finding, extraction, or beneficiation of mineral products.

Jan 1, 1960

By J. L. Wright

When management is confronted with the risk of constructing a waste disposal well, these are some of the questions which may arise. Should the company expand the present waste treatment plant? More lagoons will cut into valuable acreage which might be needed later, and yet the pollution engineer says he can guarantee results. On the other hand, does the formation being used for those successful disposal wells off to the west extend over far enough to be used for the company's own well? Will the formation be thick enough? Will it be too deep? Will it be porous and permeable enough? Apart from needing to make a profit on the products made at the plant, plant officials must sometimes act under pressure to comply with pollution standards. The manager must build the cost of the pollution control system into the price of the products made by the company.

Jan 1, 1970

By Jack M. Jodrey, Neil D. Donnell, O&apos

Bituminous sands of the Lower Cretaceous McMurray Formation in northern Alberta constitute the ore for the surface mining operation at Syncrude Canada Ltd. These sediments represent a complex succession of fluvial, estuarine and marine depositional environments. Grade prediction is realized through a combination of geological interpretation, computer modeling, and reference to past mining experience. Accurate forecasts of feed grade permit reliable predictions of volumes for removal to meet budgeted synthetic crude oil production. This planning facilitates efficient allocation of mining equipment and resources. The feed grade to the Extraction Plant is monitored at various points along the delivery system.

Jan 1, 1985

By Robert Maddin

crystal prior to, polishing in order to eliminate coring. This treatment may be accomplished by wrapping the single crystal tightly in very thin, dead soft, brass foil and annealing in the presence of air for 20 hr at 800°C. Since the wrapping encircles the sptcimen three to four times, only a very slight amount of oxidation occurs on the specimen surface. On unwrapping one of these cylindrical single crystals. in. in diam by ro in. long (72.75 pct cu, 27.23 pct Zn, 0.01 pct P11, 0.01 pct re), mall light-gray depnrrits in the form of circular arcs werenoted on the part nf the foil which had been in contact with the single crystal, Fig r. (By superim- approximatetl). These deposits, which, from their color, suggest the appearance of sublimated zinc, were found to coincide roughly with a set of octahedral planes nearly perpendicular to the rod axis. The pattern shorn in the figure held no relation to the profle of the sample since the markin~s on the crystal More annealing werc attributed to traces of cube planes. It seems very likely that the deposits were formed by sutllimation of zinc diffusing from octahrdral planes since diffusian would Eogically take place along planes of maximum atomic spacing. However, it is difficult to understand why a continuous sublimation of zinc should occur from a single crystat in contact with a wrapping roil OF the same composition, and why diffusion would take place along specific octahedral planes and in a regular pattern.

Jan 1, 1949

By Charles W. Schwartz, Subash Kolluru

INTRODUCTION Creep of rock in situ, like most rock mass behavior, will be largely governed by the behavior of the natural discontinuities -- bedding planes, faults, and joints, in particular, Several past studies have investigated various aspects of the time-dependent deformation of rock discontinuities; examples include Amadei and Curran (1980), Engelder and Scholz (1976), Johnson (1975), Kaiser and Morgenstern (1979), Solberg et al. (1978), and Wawersik (1974). These studies have provided much insight into the general phenomenon, but they have also produced some inconsistent conclusions and left many unanswered questions. This paper will attempt to shed some light on one of these questions: What is the influence of stress level on the creep of unfilled rock joints? The discussion will follow a two-part approach to the problem: (1) laboratory creep experiments on small scale jointed specimens, (2) a simple theoretical mechanism to explain, at least in qualitative terms, some of the results from the experimental program. EXPERIMENTAL PROGRAM Uniaxial creep tests were conducted on intact and jointed samples of a specially formulated gypsum plaster "synthetic rock." Synthetic rock materials have several advantages over natural rock for long-term creep testing: (a) higher creep rates, (b) lower strength and therefore lower loading requirements, (c) simpler specimen preparation, and (d) more controlled and consistent properties. Gypsum based plasters have been used previously in studies of short-term strength and deformability of jointed samples (Patton, 1966; Einstein and Hirschfeld, 1973). Furthermore, Williams and Elizzi (1977) demonstrated that natural gypsum, at least, creeps in a manner similar to that of most other creep-susceptible natural rocks.

Jan 1, 1982

By D. E. Wolfson, D. A. Reynolds, F. W. Smith

IN 1948 the U. S. Bureau of Mines began a three- phase program to evaluate the extent and quality of U. S. coking coal: 1) a factual appraisal of known recoverable reserves in beds of mineable thickness, 2) a study of preparation characteristics, and 3) a study of carbonization properties. A previous paper presented the methods used in assessing reserves.' Although this investigation is only partly completed, data on coking properties of the Pittsburgh district coals are now available. The results are presented in this article. When coals are selected for manufacture of metallurgical coke more factors must be considered than for any other major use, as no basic industry requires coal of such high quality and uniformity. This is particularly true in the Pittsburgh district, where blast furnace practice is based on use of cokes from high quality coals. Although it is true that inferior coals are carbonized in other industrial areas, both here and abroad, the Pittsburgh coals are the best economically obtainable in the required tonnages, even though they are not the most desirable for metallurgical use.

Jan 3, 1957

By Iichiro Omori

THE Mabuki process, a Japanese hearth process for the treatment of matte, uses the same princi-ple as the Bessemer steel process. The only difference between the two is that in the Mabuki proc-ess a hearth furnace, not a converter, is used. Though the hearth is not as good as the converter, the first cost is very low and the capacity is compara-tively small; so the process is most suitable for smelters FIG. 1.-PLAN AND SECTION OF HEARTH. having a small production. To construct the hearth, an excavation, 6 ft. in each dimension, is made in the ground and a drainage channel is dug at the bottom. Then all side walls are faced with stone or slag brick and the cavity is filled with fireclay or brasque, except the hearth at the top.

Jan 9, 1922

By Jacob T. Wainwright

The object of this paper is to describe some efforts and observations by the writer relating to this subject. Althongh the usual type of' blast-furnace is a most efficient device for smelting and melting purposes, it is not suitable for utilizing the cheaper grades of fuel, such as coal-slack and certain gaseous fuels. This problem not only involves the consideration of the furnace as a suitable apparatus, but also embraces the consideration of the chemical and calorific properties of the proposed fuel. In the hearth of the ordinary blast-furnace an extremely high temperature is maintained. This extreme temperature is due to the complete combustion of the fuel in the hearth, and before the gases reach the zone of fusion their temperature is reduced, by the absorption of carbon, 2300 degrees Fat). In a smelting-furnace, the maintenance of this extreme temperature at the hearth becomes useless when it can be reduced without

Jan 1, 1889