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By E. A. Cappelen Smith

FOR distinguished service in the art of hydrometallurgy, the Mining and Metallurgical Society of America presented its gold medal to E. A. Cappelen Smith, at a dinner held in the Hotel Commodore, New York, on Nov.' 10, 1920. Prof. Waldemar Lindgren, president of the society, in giving the medal, said: "By the advancement of the science of hydrometallurgy, by the construction of plants on a scale audacious in their conception, by the successful overcoming of all sorts of difficulties, you have placed your name among those who occupy the very front rank among the hydrometallurgists. In recognition of this distinguished contribution to the science of metallurgy, the Mining and Metallurgical Society of America now awards you its gold medal."

Jan 1, 1920

By Thomas M. Drown

At the meeting of the Istitote in New York, in February, 1880," I described a process of determining sulphur iu metallic allphides, with especial reference to the determination of pyrites in coal. The procem, as then described, is as follows: A solution of sodium hydrate, of 1.25 specific gravity, is saturated with bromine. If an excess of bromiue is used it must be neutralized by the addition of a little more sodium hydrate. The pulverized mineral or coal is moistened with 25 c.e. of this solution autl heated, then hydrochloric acid is added cautiously to just acid reaction. This operation is repeated with another 25 c.c. of the alkaline solution, and again rendered acid. The mixture should be kept hot. The contents of the beaker or dish are then

Jan 1, 1881

By Thomas M. Drown

AT the meeting of the Institute in New York,, in February, 1880,* I described a process of determining sulphur in metallic sulphides, with especial reference to the determination of pyrites in coal. The process, as then described, is as follows : A solution of sodium hydrate, of 1.25 specific gravity, is saturated with bromine. If an excess of bromine is used it must be neutralized by the addition of a :little more sodium hydrate. The pulverized mineral or coal is moistened with 25 c.c. of this solution and heated, then hydrochloric acid is added cautiously to just acid reaction. This operation is repeated with another 25 c.c. of the alkaline solution, and again rendered acid. The mixture should be kept hot. The contents of the beaker or dish are then * Transactions, American Institute of Mining Engineers, vol. viii, p. 569.

Jan 1, 1881

By V. Annamalai, J. B. Hiskey, L. E. Murr

The kinetics of copper cementation on rotating disks of body and tear-top beverage can aluminum alloys were studied as a function of temperature and copper ion concentration. Both alloys followed the two-step kinetic regions, an initially slow rate followed by an enhanced rate. Experimental activation energy determinations (9.04 to 19.62 kJ/mol) indicated that ionic diffusion controlled the reaction mechanism between 20° and 60°C. At low temperatures (< 20°C), the system appeared to be controlled by the presence of an aluminum oxide surface film. The results of this study showed that cementation kinetics for the beverage can aluminum alloys are similar to those for pure aluminum. It was also found that the chemical removal of the oxide layer is less important for the alloys than /or the pure aluminum system. The characteristics of the resultant copper deposits were studied under a scanning electron microscope, and the reaction kinetics seemed to depend strongly on the nature and morphology of the deposits. In addition, maximum rates occurred when the deposit structures were fine feathery dendrites.

Jan 1, 1980

By J. M. Karpinski

The need for standard test methods in the minerals beneficiation industry is growing with the increasing complexity of our processes and the more stringent requirements imposed on the quality and uniformity of our products. Although solutions of our problems have never been easy, they will become increasingly difficult to achieve unless we can develop a reliable and reproducible set of test methods. Historically speaking, our need was greatest for methods of chemical analysis. As these methods developed, they improved our ability to determine the grade of ore and measure the effect of our beneficiation attempts. The entire concept of grade and recovery is only as old as chemical analysis. Then came physical measurements. Each new concept in minerals beneficiation was related to certain properties and required corresponding test methods: specific density for jigging, magnetic susceptibility for magnetic separation, and tumbler strength for pellets. And associated with each process was the need for size determination. Size measurement is probably the first physical test ever conceived, and yet we are still improving on it. Dry sieving was quite acceptable for direct-shipping ores, but we had to go to wet sieving to control pelletizing and flotation. Subsieve analyzers have extended our routine measurements to the subsieve sizes, hut not below a few microns. As we all know, the solution of slimes- beneficiation and pollution-abatement problems is hampered by the lack of reliable and reproducible test methods in the fine-particle size range.

Jan 1, 1971

By B. K. Parekh, W. M. Goldberger

Silicon carbide (Sic), produced by heating rice hulls to elevated temperatures, contains a mixture of beta crystalline silicon carbide whiskers, particles, and unreacted carbon. The silicon carbide whiskers are 0.5 micron in diameter and 50 to 100 microns in length and have been found useful for reinforcing metal and other composite materials. The carbon can be removed by combustion, but this makes separation of the silicon carbide whiskers from particles difficult and a high grade whisker product cannot be made. However, a clean, high grade SiC whisker product can be obtained from the pre-burned converted rice hulls using physical separation processes that are based on differential wetting. Recovery of Sic whiskers from the pre-burned material was found to exceed 90%. A modification of the froth flotation process developed during this study is now being used commercially to separate silicon carbide whiskers and particles and to recover a high grade whisker product.

Jan 1, 1986

By R. V. Whetsel, V. R. Garfias

It is estimated that during 1936 world consumption of petroleum, its products and related fuels reached an all-time peak of 1,757,778,000 bbl., an increase of 143,000,000 bbl. over 1935. As indicated in Table 1, world output of petroleum and related fuels exceeded demand by 92,510,000 bbl. during the year, as compared to an excess output of 88,000,000 bbl. during 1935. Production within the United States exceeded domestic demand by approximately 51,000,-000 bbl. in 1936, as compared to an excess output of 53,000,000 bbl. in the previous year. Outside the United States, production exceeded demand by 41,510,000 bbl. in 1936 and by 35,000,000 bbl. in 1935, indicating that foreign output is making no progress toward curtailment in line with demand. Table 1 also combines excess production in the United States with the favorable balance of exports over imports, showing that stocks in the United States were reduced by 23,400,000 bbl. in 1936, as compared to 22,447,000 bbl. in the previous year. In the rest of the world, excess output over demand combined with the excess of imports over exports from the United States indicates an unfavorable balance of approximately

Jan 1, 1937

By Paul T. Allsman

Passage of the Mining Act of 1866, superseded by the Act of 1872, was the first major entry of the Federal Government into the problems of mining. Such a law was necessary simply to help re- solve a number of disputes in mining. Now, however, a hundred years later, the extent of government involvement in the mineral industry often comes as a shock to the mining engineer who has reached management level. In fact, he has been poorly prepared for an understanding of the role of government in the industry and he becomes frustrated, even hostile. In our political system, private industry is responsible for producing minerals and the Government sees to it that production will be adequate for a peace-time economy and for any emergency. There have been great social and political changes since World War I1 with the result that the Government&apos;s participation in our society has steadily increased. A new dimension in business and government relations has been introduced which should be examined more closely.

Jan 5, 1966

THE following employment items are mode available to AIME members on a nonprofit basis by the Engineering Societies Personnel Service, Inc., operating in cooperation with the Four Founder Societies. Local offices of, the Personnel Service are at 8 W. 40th St., New York 18; 100 Farnsworth Ave., Detroit; 57 Post St., San Francisco; 84 E. Randolph St., Chicago 1. Applicants should address all mail to the proper key numbers in care of the New York office and include 6c in stamps for forwarding and returning application. The applicant agrees, if placed in a position by means of the Service, to pay the placement fee listed by the Service. AIME members may secure a weekly bulletin of positions available for $3.50 a quarter, $12 a year. POSITIONS OPEN Mining Engineer with some engineering training, capable of doing mapping, surveying, exploration, geology and transit work. Location, New York State. Y7333. Mineral Dressing Engineer, B.S. Mining or Chemical Engineering, age to 35. Must have knowledge of flotation. Duties will be in applied research and field evaluation of cationic and anionic flotation agents. Salary, $3500 to $7000 depending on experience. Location, Chicago. R-8971. Geological Draftsman, 25 to 30, with some experience in working with a geologist. Salary, $5100 a year. Location, New York, N. Y. Y7153.

Jan 1, 1952

By C. Y. Chen

Public Law 95-87, the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 (SMCRA), Section 516 (b), requires the underground coal mining operator to "adopt measures consistent with known technology in order to prevent subsidence cawing material damage to the extent technologically and economically feasible, maximize mine stability, and maintain the value and reasonably foreseeable we of such surface lands, except in those instances where the mining technology wed requires planned subsidence in a predictable and controlled manner.. . ." Congress also directed the Secretary of the Interior to promulgate regulations to implement the law. As a result, the control of subsidence from underground coal mining to minimize surface damage has become the mandate of a federal law. This paper discusses the mechanics of subsidence and the effects of subsidence on ground features. This paper also summarizes some measures used to minimize the possibility of damage to structures as a result of subsidence due to underground coal mining.

Jan 1, 1984

By A. Dubnie

Three periods of major activity have led to the development of the present mineral industry in northern Canada. At the turn of the century, placer gold was discovered in the Yukon Territory and production has been continued to the present day. In the late 1920&apos;s and early 1930&apos;s, vigorous aircraft- aided exploration resulted in the discovery and production of radium at Port Radium on the southern shore of Great Bear Lake and of gold at Yellowknife on the north shore of Great Slave Lake. During this period, oil was discovered at Norman Wells. Present mineral production is today largely derived from deposits which have been developed in the 1950&apos;s. Among these are the re-opened deposits of United Keno Hill, uranium deposits at Uranium City, natural gas resources from the Peace River gas area, nickel-copper deposits at Lynn Lake and Rankin Inlet, and the Cassiar Asbestos deposits at McDame Mountain.

Jan 5, 1961

By Charles E. Packard

Many coal producers have been faced recently with the problem of arranging their production facilities to accommodate recent trends in the transportation of their product. Each operator is normally faced with a different problem requiring a system to meet his specific needs. It may be that he would be required to load a seven or eight thousand ton integral train each day which would naturally call for a large storage pile, high loading rate, accomplished in a minimum of time On the other hand, it may be that he is faced with furnishing coal to make up one-half of a unit train that is to be assembled twice a week. Whether the problem is large or small, many considerations must be given to each specific problem to be certain that the proper scheme is applied. The operator actually has several choices as to what type of storage and loading facilities he may consider. The storage pile, for instance, may be open type, conical in shape, kidney-shaped, or long and wedge-shaped. It may also be enclosed by steel or concrete

Jan 8, 1964

A 2-year moratorium on accreditation of curricula bearing new designations has been declared by Engineers&apos; Council for Professional Development at its Executive Committee meeting on July 29, 1952. Reason: a more definitive description of what the contents of a curriculum should include to be appropriately designated as "engineering" is needed. This action was brought on by the Committee of Evaluation of the American Society of Engineering Education which had become perturbed over the extension of the name "engineering" to numerous fringe curricula. The 2-year period will permit time for the Committee on Evaluation to study the question and make a recommendation for further action by ECPD. ECPD action also provided that the following curricula should only be given provisional accreditation for one year upon either inspection or reinspection; such provisional accreditation to be extended annually for not more than two successive years pending the report: Engineering Physics, Engineering Mechanics, Geological Engineering, Geophysical Engineering, and Textile Engineering. There are 22 such curricula now accredited.

Jan 1, 1952

By P. H. G. Durville

ANY metal which contains even a small percentage of aluminum possesses certain peculiarities of appearance and properties which are exhibited both when the metal is melted and after it solidifies. Pure aluminum, or an alloy containing a small proportion of aluminum, can be melted without flux-except for a layer of charcoal-because a film of aluminum oxide and metal forms at the surface of melted aluminum. Although very thin, this film is air-proof, and it prevents the metal underneath from oxidizing. This oxidized film does not move easily on account of its toughness and high surface tension. One very important point in connection with this process of still casting has not been strongly enough stressed, namely, that the same kind of surface film with the same peculiarities forms over the surface of all melted alloys that contain even a small proportion of aluminum. Experienced foundrymen know how desirable it is to cast aluminum under its "skin" or under the surface of the film which tends to remain still. In the case of red copper, when in fusion, the surface shows pure copper only. This is due to the fact that liquid copper constantly absorbs the copper oxide which forms on the surface. By closely examining melting copper the oxide can be seen dissolving in the bath, and going into solution just as pulverized sugar dissolves in water. When copper is cast in the open, either in wire bars or cakes, the surface of metal exposed to the air is covered by a film of black, oxide that cannot be absorbed by the metal.

Jan 1, 1927

By M. D. Voegele, C. Fairhurst

INTRODUCTION A computer study of excavation support loads in tunnels and other excavations in discontinuous rock masses was undertaken with the distinct element method introduced by Cundall (1971). In the distinct element method the rock mass is modeled as a composition of individual blocks of rock defined by the joint planes. Normal and shear deformation laws are ascribed to the joint surfaces; the blocks of rock themselves are considered to be rigid. The particular version of the program utilized in this study ran a mini computer and used inter, active techniques for the input of geometrical data such as joint orientation and spacing and subsequent display of rock mass deformation and other data. Two major aspects of the behavior of excavations in jointed rock masses are examined in this paper: i) the behavior of unsupported excavations in rock masses with varying joint configuration, joint properties and in situ stress fields; and ii) the modification of the behavior of similar excavations when support is provided. In the latter case the excavation behavior was examined through the use of ground reaction curves. THE DISTINCT ELEMENT METHOD The Distinct Element method introduced by Cundall (1971) is a computer based analysis that simulates the behavior of a system of discrete, semi-rigid rock blocks. Block interactions are governed by realistic friction and stiffness laws; each block may undergo unlimited displacement and rotation while progressive failure is modeled.

Jan 1, 1982

By R. H. Richards

In October, 1891,I read a paper before the Institute on a "A HandTelescope for Stadia-Work" (Bans., xx., 732), and promised to report at an early date some results showing the degree of accuracy attained with the instrument. I am now able to report on these results and also on certain improvements that I have made in the target since the first paper was read. I may say that I prefer the title, "Prismatic Stadia-Telescope," to that used in my earlier paper, for while the instrument can be used with perfect satisfaction for short sights up to, say, 300 to 600 feet when held in the hand, it is impossible to read milch longer distances without the use of a tripod, as a steady support for the instrument. Results are here given upon four combinations of prism and telescope. No. 1. A telescope made by Alvan Clark & Sons, 3-inch objective, 28 inches focal length, magnifying 60 diameters, the prism covering half the objective: Feet measured Reading of Distance reduced Reeding of rod pro by tape. the rod. to feet. portional to 100 ft. 127.66 1.1825 100 .92629 211.35 1.9585 100 .92666 326.59 3.0265 100 .92669 484.88 4.4925 100 ,92652 606.91 5.6225 100 .92641 Average,,92651 The value of this prism therefore is .92651 feet on the rod for 100 feet of distance, or 1 foot on the rod corresponds to 107.931 feet of distance. No. 2. A Bardou telescope having a 1-inch objective, magnifying 20 diameters, and a prism covering half the objective:

Jan 1, 1893

By J. Brian Eby

CONTACT metamorphism of coals is any physical or chemical change in the character of a coal directly attributable to heat of surface or intrusive igneous rocks. Coal beds so affected are found in the United States, England, Alaska, Mexico, New Zealand, Greenland, and other countries. Particularly in the United States, there is a wide occurrence of contact altered coals; conspicuous examples are found in Colorado, Utah, New Mexico, Illinois, and North Carolina. During a recent examination of coal beds on Yampa River, in north-western Colorado, the author had an opportunity to make some detailed observations on the contact metamorphism of coals. In this field, coals over an area of 20 sq. mi. have been affected by dikes, sheets, and sills;1 samples of the coals were systematically collected and analyzed,2 with the view of obtaining more specific data on the character of these alterations. The investigation was threefold in purpose: to secure information on the lateral effects of a dike cutting a coal bed, on the range in vertical effects on coal beds overlying sheets or sills, and on the range in the vertical effects on coal beds underlying sheets and sills. Favorable field conditions, such as fresh outcrops and newly dug prospects, made possible many of the field observations and collections. The coals studied in this field belong chiefly to the Mesaverde and Laramie formations. The Mesaverde coals, on the average, are blocky low-rank bituminous coals; the "Laramie coals," which are considerably younger, are of subbituminous rank. The coals of both formations, in the northeastern part of the Yampa field, have been greatly affected by basalt intrusives, yielding all variations of carbonized coal from natural coke to the unaffected material.

Jan 1, 1925

By Arthur W. Sheafer

MR. ECKLEY B. COXE, in his able and interesting paper on " The Preparation of Small Sizes of Anthracite,"* read and discussed at the Glen Summit Meeting, October, 1891, refers to the reputed immense amount of coal contained in the culm-banks, which are the unsightly accompaniment of every mining operation in the anthracite coal-regions. Mr. Coxe thinks the available amount and value greatly exaggerated, giving among his reasons (1) the spoiling of the culm by mixing with other refuse; (2) its deterioration; (3) its destruction by fire ; and (4) frequent failures to realize expectations as to the size of the banks. These points are undoubtedly important factors in determining the advisability of working any individual bank, but they have a varying influence in the several regions, some prevailing more in one than in another. Although the amount of fuel lying waste in these banks is still an uncertain and undetermined quantity, yet no one can visit the Schuylkill region without being impressed with the fact that a considerable amount of culm, too valuable to be left merely to the mercy of the elements, surrounds and encumbers each site of an old or present colliery operation. The rapid increase in the number of washeries, and the demand for leases on old culm-banks, shows that, in the Schuylkill region at least, the question of deterioration doès not play an important part. The proportion of coal to refuse, the relative percentage of the sev-

Jan 1, 1895

By K. Thirumalai

Rock response to heating depends on properties of rock material and varies widely between different rock types. By dissipating energy, surface melting limits rapid heating and fragmentation of rocks achieved by surface heating methods. This study advances a concept of rock fragmentation by rapid internal heating of a localized inner volume of rock. The working of the method to achieve fragmentation of rocks (Charcoal granite and Dresser basalt) having poor response to surface heating is analyzed. Experimental data on elevated temperature rock properties required for the study are presented. Based on the properties of test rocks, a high frequency (50 MHz) dielectric heating method of generating localized internal heating was selected for experimental study. The test rocks were fragmented without melting under localized heating below 600ºC. The heated volume required for fragmentation was observed to be less than 2 percent of the test block volume. A practical application of the method for in situ fragmentation of rocks is suggested.

Jan 1, 1971

By L. Dudley Stamp

On April 1, 1937, Burma, formerly a province of the Indian Empire, was formally separated from India and became an independent unit of the British Commonwealth. In future, therefore, statistics of oil production in India will exclude Burma and those for Burma will be separately published. The last few years have been marked by noteworthy, almost spectacular, developments in the oil fields of Burma and the Punjab. In Burma these developments have been the proving of unexpected extensions of the existing fields and not the discovery of entirely new fields. The new extensions are important not only to Burma in giving a new lease of life to her fields, but also in general as stressing some interesting geological aspects hitherto neglected. Production The production of crude oil in Imperial gallons has been: Burma India 1934 254,760,070 67,265,210 1935 251,338,974 . 71,323,362 1936 265,656,393 69,241,504 1937 (eat.) 270,000,000 70,000,000 The Chindwin Fields.—The small field at Indaw continues to produce steadily about 3,000,000 gal. a year, but no really deep test has yet been successfully carried out and resources are thus not yet fully known. The remote location of the field, inaccessible except by river and situated 22 miles from the Chindwin 270 miles up that river from its junction with the Irrawaddy, has not encouraged active exploitation. The field is worked exclusively by the Indo-Burma Petroleum Co., Ltd. (I.B.P.), using now an automatic gas-lift system, and the company formerly refined the oil at a small refinery at Pantha on the river near by. The chief market was for kerosene in upper Burma. The refinery has now been closed. The oil is stored on the field during the low-water season

Jan 1, 1938