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CRUSHING and concentration flow-sheets of western mills have become greatly simplified and more or less standardized of recent years with the introduction of modern grinding methods and flotation. Improvement has not stopped, however, and advancement is continually being made in crushing and milling practice. A case in point, where remarkable improvements in efficiency have resulted from comparatively minor changes in the flow-sheet, is in the New Cornelia mill of the Calumet and Arizona Mining Co. at Ajo, Ariz. This mill, completed in 1924 for the concentration ,of the sulfide ores of the New Cornelia mine, was originally designed for a 5000-ton capacity. Before recent changes and additions were made the five 1000-ton units were handling 6500 to 7000 tons per day, giving a flotation feed of approximately 14 per

Jan 1, 1930

By M. B. Truehaft

Expectations for coal in the early to mid-1970s prompted the government and industry to pursue research and development programs to increase underground and surface mining coal Productivity and net coal recovery. Several programs concerned advanced surface mining methods for thin seam coal recovery. Three such programs, along with related areas of interest, presented in this paper are: extended depth augering for trench-strip applications; high recovery auger heads for enhanced recovery; and variable wall mining in low cover longwalls. Conceptual development is examined, prototype testing is discussed, and potential operations are considered.

Jan 1, 1985

By Victor Rudenno

Feasibility studies for mining projects traditionally involve in their final stages a lengthy process of repetitive trial and error discounting, in calculating the discounted cash flow rate of return resulting from the respective yearly after-tax cash flows. Also, probability analysis and sensitivity analysis (in particular) require extensive additional calculations with each change of any project parameter . These inefficient repetitive procedures have two unacceptable results: 1. they are not flexible enough to allow ready analysis of dependent parameters , and 2. they require resort to high-capacity centralised computing facilities with their inherent impersonality, rather than a convenient and available desk calculator - a factor of particular importance to top mining management. Such problems can be overcome if the mining project can be represented by a reasonable straightforward mathematical economic model. The most flexible and appropriate model has been found to be one in which a maximum and minimum value for each of n parameters are supplied to a program which determines a large number of systematic combinations of parameter events and then statistically analyses them to determine the resulting coefficients of the model. In this paper the authors discuss the selection of the most appropriate type of model and outline the steps followed in its development and application.

Jan 1, 1977

By R. C. Buehl, J. P. Riott, E. P. Shoub

PILOT-PLANT tests have demonstrated that it is possible to produce low-sulphur sponge iron (0.03 to 0.05 per cent sulphur) as a continuous process in an internally fired rotary kiln from iron ore or mill scale; a solid carbonaceous reducing agent; and dolomite to control the sulphur content. The proportion of dolomite employed is small, so that it does not add materially to the cost of the sponge iron. The entire operation is carried out at temperatures well below the melting point of iron, so that the product is discharged in granular form. Compared with other methods for the production of sponge iron, the rotary-kiln method has the advantage of simplicity and low cost of equipment and; in addition, requires little labor for the operation of the process. The pilot-plant equipment used for this work was sufficiently large to demonstrate that the production of low-sulphur sponge iron in rotary kilns is feasible and that the costs are not excessive for applications in which sponge iron has distinct advantages over competing materials. This report constitutes a part of a program by the Bureau of Mines under a special Congressional appropriation for studying gaseous and solid fuel reduction of iron ores. Numerous articles on various phases of these investigations have appeared in Bureau of Mines publications or technical journals. Other articles are being prepared and will be published in the near future. The present program, which is under the supervision of Dr. R. S. Dean, Assistant Director of the Bureau of Mines, was initiated in .1942. However, a considerable portion of the work was a continuation of previous research performed by the Bureau. Previous investigators1-4 utilizing the rotary kiln for the production of sponge iron did not develop a suitable method for controlling the sulphur content. A review of the literature shows that the sulphur content in the product usually exceeded 0.2 -per cent unless reducing agents with very low sulphur contents were employed. This high sulphur value made the product generally undesirable for use as melting stock in electric or open-hearth furnaces. The production of sponge iron in an internally fired rotary kiln has been described in detail in Bureau of Mines Bulletin 2702; consequently, this article will be confined mostly to new features of the process-that is, means for controlling the sulphur content of the sponge iron. Suitable raw materials include iron ores or mill scale; coal or coke for reducing them, and sized dolomite (-20+100-mesh) as the sulphur-controlling agent. A mixture of the raw materials in granular form is fed into the elevated end of the kiln, which is fired axially from the lower or discharge end. In the reducing zone, which is approximately one third the length of the kiln measured from the dis-

Jan 1, 1946

By J. E. Worthington, W. H. Spence, I. T. Kiff

Gold was discovered at the Haile mine in Lancaster County, South Carolina, in 1827 or 1828, and since that time the mine has been worked intermittently by both open-pit and underground methods until its forced closure in 1942 by World War II. Production figures are incomplete, especially for the early years, but the total gold produced is estimated to have been greater than 200,000 oz. Thus, the Haile mine has been the most productive gold mine in the eastern United States. The upper, residually enriched ores were relatively rich, but the bulk of the production has come from the mining of lower grade ores. General Geology The Haile mine is located in late Precambrian or early Paleozoic rocks of the Carolina slate belt at the edge of the Atlantic Coastal Plain [(Fig. 1)]. The metamorphic grade is lower greenschist facies and the rocks have been folded into a sequence of northeast-trending isoclinal folds. The gold is associated with siliceous, pyritic, and kaolinized felsic pyroclastic and tuffaceous rocks in an interbedded volcanic and volcanoclastic sequence of felsic to mafic tuffaceous rocks and argillaceous sediments [(Fig. 2)]. The ore bodies occur in two northeast trending zones approximately 500 m apart; each zone is 30-70 m wide and 600 m or more in length, with possible extensions to the east beneath the Coastal Plain sediments. Mineralogy. Gold in the Haile mine is always associated with siliceous and/or pyritic ores. The gold occurs in at least three states: As native gold as originally deposited; as residual gold derived from the breakdown of pyrite; and as gold included in pyrite. Major associated minerals in addition to quartz and pyrite are kaolinite, sericite, and iron oxides. Minor molybdenite, arsenopyrite, pyrrhotite, copper sulfides, sphalerite, rutile, and topaz are also present. Petrology. The gold-bearing ore zones vary from highly siliceous rocks to pyritic massive sulfide lenses. This variation is most easily seen today along strike from the Haile pit to the Red Hill pit. Ore grade material still exposed in the wall of the Haile pit consists of a highly siliceous and very thinly bedded rock containing minor pyrite. Along strike, the character of the mineralization changes to pyritic massive sulfide lenses occurring interbedded with siliceous horizons at the Red Hill pit. The siliceous rocks vary from the thinly-bedded material as just described from the Haile pit to silicified fragmental-appearing rocks to totally recrystallized cherty rocks lacking any recognizable primary features. Scattered, apparently at random, throughout the very thinly-bedded and very fine-grained ore face of the Haile pit are seemingly anomalous silica-rich clasts or concretions up to 5 cm in diameter which will be discussed later in this paper. Alteration. One of the most striking features of the Haile deposit is the alteration mineral assemblage which is intimately associated with the siliceous and pyritic ores. This altered material has been intersected in drill core at depths greatly exceeding the modern weathering profile and is, therefore, of hydrothermal origin rather than from supergene processes. This "sericite," actually a fine-grained mixture of sericite, kaolinite, and quartz, can be shown to stratigraphically underlie the gold- quartz-pyrite zone, and is well exposed in the open pit just southeast of the Haile and Bumalo pits. Relict textures indicate that this highly altered material was originally a felsic ash flow. Other similar alteration zones have been found in outcrop and drill core underlying the remaining ore bodies. Thus each of the mineralized zones consists of two parts: A siliceous and/or pyritic gold-bearing ore zone which is stratigraphically underlain by a zone of high alumina minerals, in this case sericite and kaolinite along with variable amounts of quartz. A green chrome mica, presumably fuchsite, is present in trace amounts in the high alumina zone. Genesis An adequate model to explain the origin and distribution of the gold deposits in the Carolina slate belt is presently lacking. Worthington and Kiff1 suggested a volcanogenic origin for certain gold deposits in the North Carolina slate belt from the waning exhalations of felsic volcanic piles. They also pointed out that such an origin has similarities to many epithermal precious metal deposits located in more recent volcanic piles in the western United States. A further key to the understanding of the genesis of the gold mineralization at the Haile mine is the close association of the mineralization in siliceous and sulfidic horizons to the genetically related and stratigraphically underlying high alumina alteration. Such high-alumina alteration is common around felsic volcanic centers in the Carolina slate belt and the mineralogy as seen today consists of some combination of kaolinite, sericite, pyrophyllite, kyanite, andalusite or sillimanite depending on the local prevailing grade of metamorphism. Accompanying the high-alumina alteration are large quantities of pyrite and iron-oxide minerals as well as characteristic minor accessory minerals often including base metal sulfides, fluorine-bearing minerals (topaz, fluorite, apatite), titanium-bearing minerals (ilmenite, rutile),

Jan 1, 1981

By D. W. Fuerstenau

This paper presents the results of an investigation of the stability of the mass flow rates and average pellet size in the different streams of an industrial-scale balling circuit. The variables in this study include water content, drum speed, and fresh feed rate. It was found that both the mass flow rates and pellet diameter are greatly disturbed when a change, positive or negative, in any of the variables takes place. For most of these disturbances to be damped down, a period of 1 hr or so is required. When a disturbance in the feed rate was made, the transient period extended to more than 1% hr (the duration of the experiment). It was observed that there is an interaction between the drum speed and moisture needed for producing an acceptable green ball product. The moisture content of the product pellets was found to be a function of the pellet size, with the larger pellets retaining a higher moisture content

Jan 1, 1983

By D. R. Miller

The use of fully grouted cables for ground reinforcement in underground mining is becoming widespread. Reinforcement design for this application has tended to be empirical although some two- dimensional design techniques have been developed. This paper describes a technique based on a model of the behaviour of cables placed across planes moving in shear. The model is three- dimensional and includes a simple model of the 'dowel' effect which arises from the bending of the cables. The model determines the shear resistance developed at a particular shear displacement assuming joint friction and cable parameters. Using data for twin 15.2mm dim. steel strand cables, and a concept of reinforcement efficiency, the application of the model to design wall support in open stopes is demonstrated. The examples consider the cases where major planar structures are known in location and orientation and where, as is more common is open stope development, mapping has indicated that a distribution of potential shear failure structures may be present. The actual location and orientation of potential shear planes is not known. These two cases highlight the underdesign of reinforcement that may arise if the distribution of orientation of potential shear planes is not considered.

Jan 1, 1984

REGULATIONS (proposed) for the location, drill-ing, casing, protection, operation, plugging and filling, and abandonment of natural gas and petroleum wells; having for their objectives. the protec-tion of life and property by prevention of intrusions of oil and gas into workable coal beds, and the conserva-tion of oil and gas resources in territory not underlain with workable coal beds. ARTICLE I Definitions Section 1.-For the purpose of these regulations (proposed), definitions are as follows: Well.-A bore-hole drilled for the purpose of developing natural gas or petroleum, or a bore-hole producing natural gas or petroleum. Well Operator.-Any person, persons, firm, partnership, corporation, company or association that proposes to, or does drill, operate, or abandon a well as herein defined. Coal Operator.-Any person, persons, firm, partnership, corporation, company or association that proposes to, or does operate, a coal mine in territory known or reputed to be underlain with oil or gas-bearing strata. State Mining Department.-The duly constituted authorities of a state having jurisdiction over coal-mining operations. Plat.-A map, drawing, or print made in accordance with the pro-visions of these regulations (proposed). Casing.-The pipe greater than 3 in. in diameter commonly used in wells drilled for natural gas and petroleum. Oil and Gas.-Synonyms, respectively, for petroleum and natural gas. Cement.-Hydraulic cement properly nixed with water only. Workable Coal Bed.-A coal bed in which, in the united judgment of the coal operator, the well operator and the State Mining Department, protection for life or property will be required when wells are drilled through it.

Jan 7, 1927

BEFORE me is a colored mining-claim map of the productive portion of the Robinson Mining district-sometimes called the Ruth-Kimberly area-that lies a few miles west of Ely, Nevada. It covers an area of 20 sq mi and at the end of 1954 had produced just under 2,000,000 tons of copper and about 2,000,000 oz of gold as a by-product. The three principal colors on the map and the meaning of each are: Red -Property of the Nevada Mines Division of Kennecott Copper Corporation, formerly known as the Nevada Consolidated Copper Company. Yellow -Property of the Consolidated Coppermines Corporation. Green --Consolidated Coppermines property under lease to Nevada Mines. The striking feature of the map is the crazy-quilt intermingling of the colors and the tendency of property lines to intersect ore bodies. For example, the westerly one-fourth of Nevada Mines' Copper Flat pit, source of most of the ore,up to date, is in Coppermines property. Nearly half of Nevada Mines' Veteran pit is on leased claims; and Nevada's new Deep Ruth shaft is on a right of way on ground originally owned by Coppermines. On the other hand, the original Ruth underground mine and the new Kimbley pit are on Nevada Mines property; and the Morris and Brooks opencut mines, the most important of Cop-

Jan 1, 1957

By John J. McKetta. Jr., Louis B. Lesem, George H. Fancher

The proration of oil produced in the field frequently is based partially or entirely upon the gas-oil ratio of wells. The measurement of the gas-oil ratio is one of the more important field tests in regulatory and pro-ration work, and the test always should be conducted according to standardized methods and procedure. Obviously, the gas-oil ratio and the volume of gas produced by a well depend upon many factors but should be independent of the method of measurement and of the devices used to measure gas and oil. Consequently, the volume of gas accompanying a barrel of oil produced by a well may be measured by any reliable and accurate device or instrument. Frequently either a critical flow prover or an orifice well tester is used for this purpose, and for a particular well the same rate of flow of gas should be obtained regardless of whether a critical flow prover or an orifice well tester is employed in the test. In Texas, when using either instrument, either Capacity Table 1 or 5' is employed in making the necessary computations. If the tables are used, a discrepancy always is found whenever the two instruments are compared by extrapolation to the same conditions of flow. Clearly, Tables 1 and 5 must be at fault in some respects. The orifice well tester and the Bureau of Mines type of critical flow prover are essentially the same instrument; both devices utilize a square-edged orifice 1/8 in. in di-ameter as the primary element, and both freely discharge gas to the atmosphere. Tables for the orifice well tester' have been published in the ranges of 0 to 15 in, of water and 0 to 40 in. of mercury (Hg) differential in pressure. Coefficients for the critical flow prover have been published for differentials in pressure greater than 75 psia. An extrapolation of either differs from the other set of data as much as 18 per cent at some points. No immediately obvious reasons for the discrepancy was found, and data available from the literature were insufficient to effect reconciliation. Consequently, a series of experiments was performed to check the available data and to determine discharge coefficients for the two devices in an overlapping range of differential pressure. The correlating equation used in preparation of tables such as Tables 1 and 5' is the so-called hydraulic equation, Q = C1 vh .....(1) The tables cover orifice sizes from 1/8 through 1 1/4 in. A second set of tables, for use with greater differentials in pressure, apply only to the 3/4, 1, and 1 1/4-in. orifice plates over a pressure range of 0 to 40 in. of Hg. The correlating equation used in preparation of the tables is Q = C2 vH(29.32 + 0.3H)/G . (2) Each of these equations is valid only for the range to which it has been applied, and neither equation is valid for extrapolation. Theoretical equations for flow through an orifice are based upon assumptions of fractionless flow and an emergent jet the size of the orifice. A multiplier, C,, called the discharge coefficient, is inserted into the theoretical expression to compensate for both frictional losses and the contraction of the jet experienced in the plane of the orifice. Buckingham3 shows that C, should vary with the ratio of upstream to downstream pressure for flow of a compressible fluid at any average linear velocity through the orifice less than the velocity of sound. Work published by the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics4 indicates that the variation continues into the so-called critical flow region until the vena contracta coincides with the plane of the orifice. The NACA work, however, does not indicate a leveling off of the coefficient. The work of the Bureau of Mines5 for the critical flow prover was based on differential pressures greater than 75 psi and indicates that the discharge coefficient, Cd, is constant in this region at a value of about 0.86.

Jan 1, 1958

By P. L. De Bruyn, R. J. Charles

The transfer of kinetic energy of translation into other forms of energy by impact is a fundamental process in most crushing and grinding operations. During and after the impact process the original source energy may be accounted for in any of the following possible forms: 1) Kinetic energy of translation of both the impacted and impacting objects. 2) Kinetic energy of vibration of the components of the impact system. 3) Potential energy as strain energy of the components of the system or in the form of residual stresses. 4) Heat generated by internal friction during plastic deformation or during damping of elastic waves. 5) New surface energy of fractured materials. At any instant during the impact process only the strain energy of the components of the system can contribute directly to the brittle fracture process. If fracture is the desired result, as in comminution, it would seem advantageous to choose or arrange the conditions of impact so that a maximum amount of the original kinetic energy could be converted to strain energy at some moment during a single impact. The present work deals with determination of these desirable conditions for a simple case of impact and application of the principles involved to general cases of impact.

Jan 1, 1956

IT will be recalled that the first professor of metallurgy in the United States, appointed in 1855, never really gave any instruction in metallurgy and gradually turned into a professor of mineralogy. Metallurgy was included with mining in the early curricula, two students who took the B.S. in mining engineering from the Polytechnic College of Pennsylvania in 1863 wrote their graduation theses on the metallurgy of copper and zinc, respectively. Even after Columbia School of Mines established, in 1868, a separate curriculum leading to the Ph.B. degree in metallurgy, very few students elected it,* preferring to take the mining degree, since they received in its curriculum nearly all the metallurgical instruction they would have in the metallurgical curriculum. For many years a large proportion of the men who attained prominence in metallurgical enterprises had taken mining rather than metallurgical degrees. METALLURGY Clifton Sorby's study of thin sections of rocks under the micro- scope, beginning in 1850, and its subsequent development by Zirkel and others, had made microscopic petrography a recognized department of, geological research as early as 1873. It was inevitable that the idea of studying polished metal surfaces under the microscope by reflected instead of transmitted light would occur to investigators. Sorby himself did it in 1864, and Adolph Martens and Floris Osmond may be especially named ', among the many European workers who, by the late eighties, had so developed the necessary techniques that they were able to photograph polished metal surfaces at magnifications as high

Jan 1, 1941

By A. S. Nowick, W. A. Goering

INspite of considerable interest in the kinetics of ordering of the alloy Cu3Au there is no direct information available on the activation energy for atom movements in this alloy, such as that obtainable by radioactive tracer-diffusion studies or by internal friction measurements. Accordingly, this alloy was examined to find out whether it displays an internal friction peak resulting from stress-induced ordering, similar to that studied extensively in other alloy systems.1-3 Measurements of the internal friction as a function of temperature were made in a torsion pendulum similar to that described by Ké.8 Wire specimens 0.032 in. diam and 11 in. long were used. The wire, obtained in the cold-drawn condition,* was annealed at 900C in a quartz tube to obtain a large grained sample, and then mounted in the torsion pendulum furnace. Internal friction is reported here as the lag angle, 4, which is equal to the logarithmic decrement divided by .ir. Fig. 1 shows the internal friction at three frequencies (the frequency given for each curve is the value measured at the peak). The data for these curves were obtained on cooling one specimen from 460C to just above the critical temperature for long-range ordering, which is about 390C for this alloy. In this way, the internal friction is measured under conditions where the alloy is in the disordered condition throughout the run. The curves obtained at frequencies of 2.15 and 1.29 cps show peaks in the range of measurement. The corresponding peak for the 0.78-cps curve is estimated, from the shift of this curve relative to the others, to be located slightly below the critical temperature (at 385C). The fact that the peak can be observed above the critical temperature is good evidence for the belief that it is a stress-induced ordering phenomenon similar to that which is observed in other disordered alloys. The fact that the peaks in Fig. 1 are not the same

Jan 1, 1959

By David Reger

LITTLE new oil was found in West Virginia, during 1923, but there were important discoveries of gas. Most of the large oil producers have contented themselves with pumping old wells or in drilling only enough new wells in defined territory to maintain a fairly constant production, the attitude being that no, profit is made in producing high-grade oil at a low price and that an eventual loss is sustained by draining the reserves of a limited commodity that, at some more favorable time, will be of much value. The representative of one large company said: "We have done nothing but pump old wells during 1923 and we have made no plans for 1924." Careful attention to producing wells has been the rule, there having been few abandonments; the belief is prevalent that small wells will eventually become profitable under more favorable marketing conditions. In natural gas, the opposite point of view prevails. Because of the vast capabilities of the state for producing gas, its output being ahead of all others, great systems of transportation and distribution into the markets of four adjoining states have been built and a demand has been created that no present, or apparently potential, production can satisfy. This demand has become so great that large distributing companies not only discourage new applications for service but advise old customers to install coal furnaces for auxiliary fuel; some have requested public-service commissions to grant higher 'rates against large industrial consumers than those allowed for domestic heating. The response to this known market has been a rapid increase in price, both at the well mouth and at the door of the ultimate consumer, and the industry has become so stable that the only uncertainty, or hazard, appears to be the question of the presence of gas in fair quantity in a given territory under consideration. Several oil companies have now forsaken their policy of selling gas, wells outright when drilled and ;have organized gas departments to drill for gas and to dispose of the daily output by meter to distributing corporations. With such companies and with other producers whose interest is chiefly gas, the year has been busy and profitable. Some new territory of apparently large value has been proved and deeper producing sands in old fields have been tapped.

Jan 3, 1924

By James A. Barr, R. B. Burt, I. S. Tillotson

DISCUSSION Howard Howie (Knoxville, Term.)—The authors are to be congratulated on the presentation of a paper containing so much valuable information on the pipeline transportation of phosphate, as there is very little literature on the subject. The writer is especially interested in the paper, as he conceived the arrangement of the Akin and Godwin plants and was in charge of the design work and the engineering incident to their construction. The Akin and other phosphate deposits in the Tennessee phosphate area lie on beds of limestone that are very irregular. The limestone beds, after the phosphate matrix has been removed, are similar in appearance to land severely eroded by the action of water and denuded of top soil. Depressions in the limestone, called cutters, are irregular in depth with vertical or overhanging walls, having the general appearance of cracks in dried clay. They change abruptly in direction, width, and depth, and vary on the Akin tract from 1 to 25 ft in depth and from 1 to 50 ft in width. Pinnacles of limestone commonly occur in the cutters which appear, when exposed, like small clifflike islands in a river. Limestone floats also occur. The phosphate matrix fills the cutters and covers the uncuttered areas, the thickness of the cover varying continually and sometimes rather abruptly. It occurs generally as stratifications of phosphate rock and clay of varying thickness. The phosphate rock in the matrix varies in hardness and in percents of silica, lime, iron oxides, and fluorine, and the clay varies in toughness. In some places the deposit consists of narrow strata of rock almost devoid of clay streaks. In other nearby locations the clay will predominate. When it is excavated, the phosphate rock breaks into thin irregular lumps, locally known as plate rock. Limestone lumps are also excavated with the matrix. Akin plate rock is generally much softer than that occurring in other deposits in the area. Because of the above described physical and chemical variations of the excavated material, the resultant slurry varies in size distribution, specific gravity, and percent of slimes. When the rock is soft or when there is an increase of clay, the slime fraction is greatly increased as it passes through pumps and pipelines, resulting in reduced pipe friction. It is obvious that the longer the pipeline the greater the reduction of coarse fractions into fines, causing a decrease in pipe friction that cannot be accurately evaluated. The matrix is mined with a dragline that drops it into a hopper with a grid composed of 9-in. parallel bar spacings located above the hammer mill. The matrix on, and passing through the grid, is subject to the action of powerful sprays which wash it down to the hammer mill, together with any limestone lumps that are not removed before passing through the grid. The hammer mill reduces the feed to lumps of plate rock and clay, most of which will pass through the 8-in. pump suction. The mixture discharges into a pool containing the pump suction pipe. Water from a hydraulic nozzle moves the mixture to the pump suction intake. The pump, driven by a variable speed motor, is the same size as the pumps mentioned on p. 279. Provision is made to remove any lumps that lodge in a bend in the suction pipe in a manner similar to that used in the Florida phosphate fields. The hammer mill and pump units are mounted on wide steel skids so that they can be moved as the mining operation progresses. The discharge from the pump flows through an abrasion-resistant spiral welded steel pipe 8 1/4 in. actual inside diam, 8 in. nominal diam, for a maximum distance of 2200 ft, which is the limiting pumping distance for one pump. This pipeline, referred to hereafter as pipeline A, discharges into a ball mill without balls, which in turn discharges into a rotary screen attached to it that separates the slurried matrix into 11/4-in. oversize and undersize fractions. The oversize is returned to the mill for further reduction; the undersize is pumped to a Dorrco washer and then flows into a hydroseparator 160 ft in diam. In spite of the size reduction in the hammer mill and the blunging and washing of the slurry in its passage through the pump, pipeline, mill, and washer, the discharge to the hydroseparator frequently contains mud balls almost perfectly spherical. Sometimes the discharge from the 16,000-ft pipeline at Godwin contains mud balls the size of bird shot and smaller. This pipeline will be referred to subsequently as line B. Liquid caustic is added to the slurry at the Akin plant before its passage through the hydro-separator, which decreases the size of particles in the overflow by dispersion. In passing through pumps 1, 2, and 3 and pipeline B, the slime fraction in the underflow is increased by abrasion and blunging and also by continuing dispersive action of the caustic. The matrix for use in the experimental tests referred to on p. 279 was obtained from three small surface openings on the Akin tract that were made previous to the purchase of the tract by the Authority. Matrix used in the 2 and 4-in. experimental pipeline tests was taken from the three openings and proportioned to obtain a sufficient quantity that would be fairly representative of the average in the Akin deposits. Prospecting samples of matrix had been obtained from drill holes which showed no small variation in physical and chemical properties. Some of the physical variation is evident from the size distribution of solids in samples taken during the tests covering line B flows so thoroughly made by the Authority under the direction of Mr. Burt, see Table V, p. 280. Hydraulic gradients for a pipe of 8-in. diam were derived from the 2 and 4-in. pipeline tests using the so-called representative matrix as above described, and plotted on the profile of pipeline B. Gradients of other materials in slurry form passing through pipelines that bore some similiarity to the Akin matrix slurry were also plotted. After a study had been made of the hydraulic gradients plotted on the profile and the varying slurry flow that would probably occur during actual operation, three pumps were ordered, referred to as No. 1, 2, and 3 on p. 279. No. 1 and 2 pumps were installed and the third kept in reserve should the operation of 1 and 2 pumps prove satisfactory, since installation of the third pump would require an attendant, as well as the laying of 5400 ft of pipe to supply it with seal-water from the Akin plant. Subsequently, it was found desirable to install the third pump to maintain capacity when the slime fraction was low and the coarse fractions were large. Reference to Fig. 6 will show that the flow in B line goes upgrade in three locations. At the outlet at Godwin, the slurry flows between two 45" bends for an approximate distance of 18 ft to rise above the ground a sufficient height to discharge into a launder feeding the first classifier. This condition requires extra energy, which is taken care of by keeping the hydraulic gradient a sufficient distance above the high points. Although there are rather heavy upgrades in the line, the choking condition that might occur at the

Jan 1, 1953

By J. A. Barr, R. B. Burt, I. S. Tillotson

DISCUSSION Howard Howie (Knoxville, Term.)—The authors are to be congratulated on the presentation of a paper containing so much valuable information on the pipeline transportation of phosphate, as there is very little literature on the subject. The writer is especially interested in the paper, as he conceived the arrangement of the Akin and Godwin plants and was in charge of the design work and the engineering incident to their construction. The Akin and other phosphate deposits in the Tennessee phosphate area lie on beds of limestone that are very irregular. The limestone beds, after the phosphate matrix has been removed, are similar in appearance to land severely eroded by the action of water and denuded of top soil. Depressions in the limestone, called cutters, are irregular in depth with vertical or overhanging walls, having the general appearance of cracks in dried clay. They change abruptly in direction, width, and depth, and vary on the Akin tract from 1 to 25 ft in depth and from 1 to 50 ft in width. Pinnacles of limestone commonly occur in the cutters which appear, when exposed, like small clifflike islands in a river. Limestone floats also occur. The phosphate matrix fills the cutters and covers the uncuttered areas, the thickness of the cover varying continually and sometimes rather abruptly. It occurs generally as stratifications of phosphate rock and clay of varying thickness. The phosphate rock in the matrix varies in hardness and in percents of silica, lime, iron oxides, and fluorine, and the clay varies in toughness. In some places the deposit consists of narrow strata of rock almost devoid of clay streaks. In other nearby locations the clay will predominate. When it is excavated, the phosphate rock breaks into thin irregular lumps, locally known as plate rock. Limestone lumps are also excavated with the matrix. Akin plate rock is generally much softer than that occurring in other deposits in the area. Because of the above described physical and chemical variations of the excavated material, the resultant slurry varies in size distribution, specific gravity, and percent of slimes. When the rock is soft or when there is an increase of clay, the slime fraction is greatly increased as it passes through pumps and pipelines, resulting in reduced pipe friction. It is obvious that the longer the pipeline the greater the reduction of coarse fractions into fines, causing a decrease in pipe friction that cannot be accurately evaluated. The matrix is mined with a dragline that drops it into a hopper with a grid composed of 9-in. parallel bar spacings located above the hammer mill. The matrix on, and passing through the grid, is subject to the action of powerful sprays which wash it down to the hammer mill, together with any limestone lumps that are not removed before passing through the grid. The hammer mill reduces the feed to lumps of plate rock and clay, most of which will pass through the 8-in. pump suction. The mixture discharges into a pool containing the pump suction pipe. Water from a hydraulic nozzle moves the mixture to the pump suction intake. The pump, driven by a variable speed motor, is the same size as the pumps mentioned on p. 279. Provision is made to remove any lumps that lodge in a bend in the suction pipe in a manner similar to that used in the Florida phosphate fields. The hammer mill and pump units are mounted on wide steel skids so that they can be moved as the mining operation progresses. The discharge from the pump flows through an abrasion-resistant spiral welded steel pipe 81/4 in. actual inside diam, 8 in. nominal diam, for a maximum distance of 2200 ft, which is the limiting pumping distance for one pump. This pipeline, referred to hereafter as pipeline A, discharges into a ball mill without balls, which in turn discharges into a rotary screen attached to it that separates the slurried matrix into 11/4-in. oversize and undersize fractions. The oversize is returned to the mill for further reduction; the undersize is pumped to a Dorrco washer and then flows into a hydroseparator 160 ft in diam. In spite of the size reduction in the hammer mill and the blunging and washing of the slurry in its passage through the pump, pipeline, mill, and washer, the discharge to the hydroseparator frequently contains mud balls almost perfectly spherical. Sometimes the discharge from the 16,000-ft pipeline at Godwin contains mud balls the size of bird shot and smaller. This pipeline will be referred to subsequently as line B. Liquid caustic is added to the slurry at the Akin plant before its passage through the hydro-separator, which decreases the size of particles in the overflow by dispersion. In passing through pumps 1, 2, and 3 and pipeline B, the slime fraction in the underflow is increased by abrasion and blunging and also by continuing dispersive action of the caustic. The matrix for use in the experimental tests referred to on p. 279 was obtained from three small surface openings on the Akin tract that were made previous to the purchase of the tract by the Authority. Matrix used in the 2 and 4-in. experimental pipeline tests was taken from the three openings and proportioned to obtain a sufficient quantity that would be fairly representative of the average in the Akin deposits. Prospecting samples of matrix had been obtained from drill holes which showed no small variation in physical and chemical properties. Some of the physical variation is evident from the size distribution of solids in samples taken during the tests covering line B flows so thoroughly made by the Authority und'er the direction of Mr. Burt, see Table V, p. 280. Hydraulic gradients for a pipe of 8-in. diam were derived from the 2 and 4-in. pipeline tests using the so-called representative matrix as above described, and plotted on the profile of pipeline B. Gradients of other materials in slurry form passing through pipelines that bore some similiarity to the Akin matrix slurry were also plotted. After a study had been made of the hydraulic gradients plotted on the profile and the varying slurry flow that would probably occur during actual operation, three pumps were ordered, referred to as No. 1, 2, and 3 on p. 279. No. 1 and 2 pumps were installed and the third kept in reserve should the operation of 1 and 2 pumps prove satisfactory, since installation of the third pump would require an attendant, as well as the laying of 5400 ft of pipe to supply it with seal-water from the Akin plant. Subsequently, it was found desirable to install the third pump to maintain capacity when the slime fraction was low and the coarse fractions were large. Reference to Fig. 6 will show that the flow in B line goes upgrade in three locations. At the outlet at Godwin, the slurry flows between two 45" bends for an approximate distance of 18 ft to rise above the ground a sufficient height to discharge into a launder feeding the first classifier. This condition requires extra energy, which is taken care of by keeping the hydraulic gradient a sufficient distance above the high points. Although there are rather heavy upgrades in the line, the choking condition that might occur at the

Jan 1, 1953

By R. B. Burt, J. A. Barr, I. S. Tillotson

DISCUSSION Howard Howie (Knoxville, Term.)—The authors are to be congratulated on the presentation of a paper containing so much valuable information on the pipeline transportation of phosphate, as there is very little literature on the subject. The writer is especially interested in the paper, as he conceived the arrangement of the Akin and Godwin plants and was in charge of the design work and the engineering incident to their construction. The Akin and other phosphate deposits in the Tennessee phosphate area lie on beds of limestone that are very irregular. The limestone beds, after the phosphate matrix has been removed, are similar in appearance to land severely eroded by the action of water and denuded of top soil. Depressions in the limestone, called cutters, are irregular in depth with vertical or overhanging walls, having the general appearance of cracks in dried clay. They change abruptly in direction, width, and depth, and vary on the Akin tract from 1 to 25 ft in depth and from 1 to 50 ft in width. Pinnacles of limestone commonly occur in the cutters which appear, when exposed, like small clifflike islands in a river. Limestone floats also occur. The phosphate matrix fills the cutters and covers the uncuttered areas, the thickness of the cover varying continually and sometimes rather abruptly. It occurs generally as stratifications of phosphate rock and clay of varying thickness. The phosphate rock in the matrix varies in hardness and in percents of silica, lime, iron oxides, and fluorine, and the clay varies in toughness. In some places the deposit consists of narrow strata of rock almost devoid of clay streaks. In other nearby locations the clay will predominate. When it is excavated, the phosphate rock breaks into thin irregular lumps, locally known as plate rock. Limestone lumps are also excavated with the matrix. Akin plate rock is generally much softer than that occurring in other deposits in the area. Because of the above described physical and chemical variations of the excavated material, the resultant slurry varies in size distribution, specific gravity, and percent of slimes. When the rock is soft or when there is an increase of clay, the slime fraction is greatly increased as it passes through pumps and pipelines, resulting in reduced pipe friction. It is obvious that the longer the pipeline the greater the reduction of coarse fractions into fines, causing a decrease in pipe friction that cannot be accurately evaluated. The matrix is mined with a dragline that drops it into a hopper with a grid composed of 9-in. parallel bar spacings located above the hammer mill. The matrix on, and passing through the grid, is subject to the action of powerful sprays which wash it down to the hammer mill, together with any limestone lumps that are not removed before passing through the grid. The hammer mill reduces the feed to lumps of plate rock and clay, most of which will pass through the 8-in. pump suction. The mixture discharges into a pool containing the pump suction pipe. Water from a hydraulic nozzle moves the mixture to the pump suction intake. The pump, driven by a variable speed motor, is the same size as the pumps mentioned on p. 279. Provision is made to remove any lumps that lodge in a bend in the suction pipe in a manner similar to that used in the Florida phosphate fields. The hammer mill and pump units are mounted on wide steel skids so that they can be moved as the mining operation progresses. The discharge from the pump flows through an abrasion-resistant spiral welded steel pipe 81/4 in. actual inside diam, 8 in. nominal diam, for a maximum distance of 2200 ft, which is the limiting pumping distance for one pump. This pipeline, referred to hereafter as pipeline A, discharges into a ball mill without balls, which in turn discharges into a rotary screen attached to it that separates the slurried matrix into 11/4-in. oversize and undersize fractions. The oversize is returned to the mill for further reduction; the undersize is pumped to a Dorrco washer and then flows into a hydroseparator 160 ft in diam. In spite of the size reduction in the hammer mill and the blunging and washing of the slurry in its passage through the pump, pipeline, mill, and washer, the discharge to the hydroseparator frequently contains mud balls almost perfectly spherical. Sometimes the discharge from the 16,000-ft pipeline at Godwin contains mud balls the size of bird shot and smaller. This pipeline will be referred to subsequently as line B. Liquid caustic is added to the slurry at the Akin plant before its passage through the hydro-separator, which decreases the size of particles in the overflow by dispersion. In passing through pumps 1, 2, and 3 and pipeline B, the slime fraction in the underflow is increased by abrasion and blunging and also by continuing dispersive action of the caustic. The matrix for use in the experimental tests referred to on p. 279 was obtained from three small surface openings on the Akin tract that were made previous to the purchase of the tract by the Authority. Matrix used in the 2 and 4-in. experimental pipeline tests was taken from the three openings and proportioned to obtain a sufficient quantity that would be fairly representative of the average in the Akin deposits. Prospecting samples of matrix had been obtained from drill holes which showed no small variation in physical and chemical properties. Some of the physical variation is evident from the size distribution of solids in samples taken during the tests covering line B flows so thoroughly made by the Authority und'er the direction of Mr. Burt, see Table V, p. 280. Hydraulic gradients for a pipe of 8-in. diam were derived from the 2 and 4-in. pipeline tests using the so-called representative matrix as above described, and plotted on the profile of pipeline B. Gradients of other materials in slurry form passing through pipelines that bore some similiarity to the Akin matrix slurry were also plotted. After a study had been made of the hydraulic gradients plotted on the profile and the varying slurry flow that would probably occur during actual operation, three pumps were ordered, referred to as No. 1, 2, and 3 on p. 279. No. 1 and 2 pumps were installed and the third kept in reserve should the operation of 1 and 2 pumps prove satisfactory, since installation of the third pump would require an attendant, as well as the laying of 5400 ft of pipe to supply it with seal-water from the Akin plant. Subsequently, it was found desirable to install the third pump to maintain capacity when the slime fraction was low and the coarse fractions were large. Reference to Fig. 6 will show that the flow in B line goes upgrade in three locations. At the outlet at Godwin, the slurry flows between two 45" bends for an approximate distance of 18 ft to rise above the ground a sufficient height to discharge into a launder feeding the first classifier. This condition requires extra energy, which is taken care of by keeping the hydraulic gradient a sufficient distance above the high points. Although there are rather heavy upgrades in the line, the choking condition that might occur at the

Jan 1, 1953

By R. B. Burt, James A. Barr, I. S. Tillotson

DISCUSSION Howard Howie (Knoxville, Term.)—The authors are to be congratulated on the presentation of a paper containing so much valuable information on the pipeline transportation of phosphate, as there is very little literature on the subject. The writer is especially interested in the paper, as he conceived the arrangement of the Akin and Godwin plants and was in charge of the design work and the engineering incident to their construction. The Akin and other phosphate deposits in the Tennessee phosphate area lie on beds of limestone that are very irregular. The limestone beds, after the phosphate matrix has been removed, are similar in appearance to land severely eroded by the action of water and denuded of top soil. Depressions in the limestone, called cutters, are irregular in depth with vertical or overhanging walls, having the general appearance of cracks in dried clay. They change abruptly in direction, width, and depth, and vary on the Akin tract from 1 to 25 ft in depth and from 1 to 50 ft in width. Pinnacles of limestone commonly occur in the cutters which appear, when exposed, like small clifflike islands in a river. Limestone floats also occur. The phosphate matrix fills the cutters and covers the uncuttered areas, the thickness of the cover varying continually and sometimes rather abruptly. It occurs generally as stratifications of phosphate rock and clay of varying thickness. The phosphate rock in the matrix varies in hardness and in percents of silica, lime, iron oxides, and fluorine, and the clay varies in toughness. In some places the deposit consists of narrow strata of rock almost devoid of clay streaks. In other nearby locations the clay will predominate. When it is excavated, the phosphate rock breaks into thin irregular lumps, locally known as plate rock. Limestone lumps are also excavated with the matrix. Akin plate rock is generally much softer than that occurring in other deposits in the area. Because of the above described physical and chemical variations of the excavated material, the resultant slurry varies in size distribution, specific gravity, and percent of slimes. When the rock is soft or when there is an increase of clay, the slime fraction is greatly increased as it passes through pumps and pipelines, resulting in reduced pipe friction. It is obvious that the longer the pipeline the greater the reduction of coarse fractions into fines, causing a decrease in pipe friction that cannot be accurately evaluated. The matrix is mined with a dragline that drops it into a hopper with a grid composed of 9-in. parallel bar spacings located above the hammer mill. The matrix on, and passing through the grid, is subject to the action of powerful sprays which wash it down to the hammer mill, together with any limestone lumps that are not removed before passing through the grid. The hammer mill reduces the feed to lumps of plate rock and clay, most of which will pass through the 8-in. pump suction. The mixture discharges into a pool containing the pump suction pipe. Water from a hydraulic nozzle moves the mixture to the pump suction intake. The pump, driven by a variable speed motor, is the same size as the pumps mentioned on p. 279. Provision is made to remove any lumps that lodge in a bend in the suction pipe in a manner similar to that used in the Florida phosphate fields. The hammer mill and pump units are mounted on wide steel skids so that they can be moved as the mining operation progresses. The discharge from the pump flows through an abrasion-resistant spiral welded steel pipe 8 1/4 in. actual inside diam, 8 in. nominal diam, for a maximum distance of 2200 ft, which is the limiting pumping distance for one pump. This pipeline, referred to hereafter as pipeline A, discharges into a ball mill without balls, which in turn discharges into a rotary screen attached to it that separates the slurried matrix into 11/4-in. oversize and undersize fractions. The oversize is returned to the mill for further reduction; the undersize is pumped to a Dorrco washer and then flows into a hydroseparator 160 ft in diam. In spite of the size reduction in the hammer mill and the blunging and washing of the slurry in its passage through the pump, pipeline, mill, and washer, the discharge to the hydroseparator frequently contains mud balls almost perfectly spherical. Sometimes the discharge from the 16,000-ft pipeline at Godwin contains mud balls the size of bird shot and smaller. This pipeline will be referred to subsequently as line B. Liquid caustic is added to the slurry at the Akin plant before its passage through the hydro-separator, which decreases the size of particles in the overflow by dispersion. In passing through pumps 1, 2, and 3 and pipeline B, the slime fraction in the underflow is increased by abrasion and blunging and also by continuing dispersive action of the caustic. The matrix for use in the experimental tests referred to on p. 279 was obtained from three small surface openings on the Akin tract that were made previous to the purchase of the tract by the Authority. Matrix used in the 2 and 4-in. experimental pipeline tests was taken from the three openings and proportioned to obtain a sufficient quantity that would be fairly representative of the average in the Akin deposits. Prospecting samples of matrix had been obtained from drill holes which showed no small variation in physical and chemical properties. Some of the physical variation is evident from the size distribution of solids in samples taken during the tests covering line B flows so thoroughly made by the Authority under the direction of Mr. Burt, see Table V, p. 280. Hydraulic gradients for a pipe of 8-in. diam were derived from the 2 and 4-in. pipeline tests using the so-called representative matrix as above described, and plotted on the profile of pipeline B. Gradients of other materials in slurry form passing through pipelines that bore some similiarity to the Akin matrix slurry were also plotted. After a study had been made of the hydraulic gradients plotted on the profile and the varying slurry flow that would probably occur during actual operation, three pumps were ordered, referred to as No. 1, 2, and 3 on p. 279. No. 1 and 2 pumps were installed and the third kept in reserve should the operation of 1 and 2 pumps prove satisfactory, since installation of the third pump would require an attendant, as well as the laying of 5400 ft of pipe to supply it with seal-water from the Akin plant. Subsequently, it was found desirable to install the third pump to maintain capacity when the slime fraction was low and the coarse fractions were large. Reference to Fig. 6 will show that the flow in B line goes upgrade in three locations. At the outlet at Godwin, the slurry flows between two 45" bends for an approximate distance of 18 ft to rise above the ground a sufficient height to discharge into a launder feeding the first classifier. This condition requires extra energy, which is taken care of by keeping the hydraulic gradient a sufficient distance above the high points. Although there are rather heavy upgrades in the line, the choking condition that might occur at the

Jan 1, 1953

By C. A. Stetefeldt

The purpose of this paper is to convince the managers of silvermills that their customary reports in regard to the percentage of silver saved are far from the truth. It may be unpleasant for them to have the proofs of this fact brought before the public, and for this rezson the author refrains from giving the names of the mines and mills from which the statistics here recorded were obtained. It may be asked: What is gained by informing the stockholders of our silver-mines that they receive incorrect reports? Will this increase their dividends or lessen their assessments? In the first place, it is always better to publish honest facts than fiction. In the second place, many superintendents believe in the correctness of their reports, and have no idea how much they deceive themselves. Finally, the knowledge that hitherto unexpected losses of silver take place may lead to the adoption of methods by which these losses are greatly reduced. These remarks refer also to smelting-works. The present paper, however, is concerned exclusively with amalgamation and lixiviation. The first and most important error is found in the inaccuracy of the commercial assay; the second in the incorrect sampling of tailings in amalgamation. Further, mills not doing custom-work, but reducing exclusively ores from mines to which the mills belong, are in the habit of weighing the ore only approximately and without making moisture-tests. Thus, a correct basis for calculating the actual percentage of silver extracted is lacking. The superintendent, then, finds it convenient to report the apparent extraction, i.e., the extraction indicated by comparing the value of the roasted ore, minus soluble salts, with the value of the tailings. How many errors are thereby committed it is not necessary to point out.

Jan 1, 1895

Jan 1, 1893