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By S. H. Davis

THE pyrites used in making sulfuric acid in the United States have been largely imported from Spain and Canada, the Spanish imports amounting to nearly 1,000,000 tons per annum in the pre-war period. The greatly increased use of sulfuric acid and the cutting off of these Spanish imports, incident to war conditions, brought about a threatened shortage of sulfur supplies during the war period. The bituminous-coal mines of certain districts have, for many years, furnished a small tonnage of pyrite in the form of coal brasses. A mechanical concentrator at Danville, Ill., for a number of years, has been treating hand-picked lump pyrite and coal from the picking belt and from the mines and a small plant near Gillespie, Ill., for a few months has been recovering pyrite from washery refuse. Many mines throughout Illinois, Indiana, Western Kentucky, Ohio, and Pennsylvania have shipped an occasional car of the hand-cleaned lump pyrite. Only a very small percentage of the available pyrite has been recovered in this way, however, as usually the miners throw such lumps into the gob with slate and other impurities. It has been estimated that the western Indiana coal field could furnish more than 100,000 tons of pyrite per annum. The present production is very small. The possibility of furnishing the domestic trade with pyrites recovered as a byproduct from coal-mining operations appears attractive but there are certain features difficult to overcome. Pyrite, to be used in acid making, must meet with certain requirements as to size and purity. Lump ore for grate burners should be under 3 in. (7.6 cm.) and over 1 in. (2.5 cm.) in diameter. Fines for use in mecnanical roasters should be under quarter mesh. The material should be high in sulfur, free from arsenic and phosphorus, and as low in carbon as possible. The pyrite obtained from coal can be made to meet all the above requirements, but it is difficult to remove all the carbon. The pyrite in coal occurs as bands and nodules of varying thickness and size and of comparative purity, but mixed with this is more or less web sulfur. The web sulfur carries with it admixed coal, which may make the concen-

Jan 8, 1919

By P. Barnes

It may he of interest, and perhaps of inzportance, to the members of the Institute that specific mention should be made in detail of the great value of this method of copying or photographing all kinds of tracings." Several samples are laid upon the table which may serve as illustrations of the results obtained. Some of these show slight imperfections, depending upon the character of the tracing, and upon the length of the exposure to the light, but it may be clearly seen that even a faint copy would be quite available for actual use. The process is believed to be of French origin, and has been used for many years. Special attention seems to have been directed to it recently, and its great value to engineers appears likely to be fully recognized. The manipulations required are of the simplest possible kind, and are entirely within the skill and comprehension of any office boy who can be trusted to copy a letter in an ordinary press. These particulars may be summarized somewhat thus: 1. Provide a flat board as large as the tracing which is to be copied. 2. Lay on this hoard two or three thicknesses of common blanket, or its equivalent, to give a slightly yielding backing for the paper. 3. Lay on the blanket the prepared paper with the sensitive side uppermost. 4. Lay on this paper the tracing, smoothing it out as perfectly as possible so as to insure a perfect contact with the paper. 5. Lay on the tracing a plate of clear glass, which should be heavy enough to press the tracing close down upon the paper. Ordinary plate-glass of 3/8" thickness is quite sufficient. 6. Expose the whole to a clear sunlight, by pushing it out on a shelf from an ordinary window, or in any other convenient way, for six to ten minutes. If a clear skylight only can be had, the exposure must be continued for thirty or forty-five minutes, and under a cloudy sky, sixty to ninety minutes may be needed.

Jan 1, 1879

State of California, Division of Mines, Ferry bldg., San Francisco, Calif. Walter W. Bradley, State Mineralogist. A list of publications available will be sent upon request. Bulletin 77 is a list of publications complete from 1880 to 1917 and contains synopses It is sent free. Bulletin 105, California mineral production and directory of mineral producers for 1930, brings the complete list up to date, sent free on request The Division of Mines issues principally (1) A series of Reports, (2) Bulletins, (3) Preliminary Reports, and (4) maps. The Reports were first issued biennially, later annually, and for the past few years they have taken the form of quarterly reports. The yearly subscription price for the quarterly reports is $1, payable in advance Reports and separate chapters available are Report 2, First Biennial (1892), $1, 14 (1913-1914), Chapter on mines and mineral resources of Colusa, Glenn, Lake, Mann, Napa, Solano, Sonoma, and Yolo counties, 50 cents, 15 (1915?1916), Mines and mineral resources of Butte, Lassen, Modoc, Sutter and Tehama counties, 50 cents, and Mines and mineral resources of Monterey, San Benito, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara and Ventura counties, 65 cents, 16 (1917-1918), Nevada County, 75 cents, Plumas County, 50 cents, Sierra County, 50 cents; 17 (1920), Mining in California during 1920, $1 75, 18 (1922), Mining m California, chapters for Aug , Sept , Oct , Dec , free, 19 (1923), Mining in California, chapters for Jan , Feb , Mar, Sept , free, 20 (1924), Quarterly chapters on mining in California (except July, out of print), 25 cents, 21 (1925), Quarterly chapters containing county reports- Jan (Sarcramento, Monterey, Orange) 25 cents, April (Calaveras, Merced, San Joaquin, Stanislaus, Ventura), 25 cents, July (Del Norte, Humboldt, San Diego) 25 cents, Oct (Siskiyou, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara), 25 cents; 22 (1926), Quarterly county reports: Jan. (Santa Cruz, Trinity), 25 cents, April (Shasta, San Benito, Imperial), 25 cents, July (Mann, Sonoma) and Copper in California, 25 cents, Oct (El Dorado, Inyo) Minarets District, 25 cents, 23 (1927), Quarterly county reports- Jan (Contra Costa), 25 cents, April (Aniador, Solano) Bibliography of clay

Jan 1, 1933

By J. Blodget Britton

IN the Journal of the Franklin Institute for May, 1870, there is published a description of a Colorimeter, together with a modification of the method proposed by Professor Eggertz, for determining combined carbon in iron and steel. An instrument of the kind there described, but of a little higher range, though in other respects not differing materially from the one originally made and used in the Iron-Masters' Laboratory, I now submit to your inspection ; and I propose, also, to make some determinations with it for the purpose of showing how quickly they may be made, and enabling you to form some judgment of what reliance can be placed in the results. Professor Eggertz proposed only a single standard, and the solution to be tested should be diluted to exactly correspond in color with that of the standard, and the per cent. of carbon calculated after carefully noting and making allowance for the measures of water used in diluting. In practice, difficulty was found in bringing the color of the normal solution down to the exact shade of the standard ; also other difficulties were met with in conducting the process, causing delay and interfering with the accuracy of the results. To materially overcome these, and after numerous attempts, an instrument such as is now before you suggested itself to me; and also I concluded to use a larger quantity of metal than directed by Eggertz, and, in addition, to filter the solution from its insoluble matter before making the comparison ; and, more recently, to use an acid of just such strength as would completely dissolve the metal without the application of heat. Experimenting with these changes from the original method I obtained reasonably good results. The instrument, you will observe, consists of a series of tubes, sixteen in number, two and a half inches long, and about half an inch in diameter, standing upright, and securely fastened in a light, portable, walnut-wood frame, but separated one from the other so as to allow just sufficient space between to place for comparison the tube containing the solution to be tested. The tubes are filled with

Jan 1, 1873

By J. O. Nomland

DuRing the year 1939 the program of the California Arabian Standard Oil Co. in eastern Saudi Arabia consisted of drilling wells to increase the production of Dammam Dome. (This structure is also sometimes referred to as Dhahran Dome.) In addition, in other areas of the concession, wildcat wells are being drilled on geologically favorable structures. In the early wells drilled at Dhahran, production was at a depth of 2000 to 2200 ft. Since discovery of the "Arab zone" below 4300 ft., all of the later wells have been drilled to the deeper productive members. At present there are at Dhahran fivc wells in various stages of drilling or completion. In addition, 15 wells previously were drilled to the upper or lower zones. Although some of the early locations are exceptions, in general the spacing of the wells is at 3000 feet. Prospect testing consisted in drilling one well at Abu Hadriya and one at Ma'agala, about 100 miles northwest and 120 miles west of Dhahran. The first had attained a depth of 8655 ft. without encountering the main Darnmam productive zone, while the second was at a depth of 1372 ft. Both of these wildcat wells are on large dome structures. Production.—During the year 3,933,903 bbl. of approximately 35" gravity oil was produced, all from flowing wells. A part of this production was shipped in barges to the refinery at Bahrein. In early May a 40-mile 10-in. pipe line was completed to the deep-water terminal at Ras Tanura. The ceremony of first opening the valve for flow of oil into an ocean tanker was performed by King Abdulaziz Ibn Saud. Since that time tanker shipments have continued, both to Bahrein and to world markets. Only sufficient gas for camp purposes has been produced. Equipment.—A stabilization plant has been completed at Dhahran and plans have been made for a refinery at Ras Tanura. A modern camp is being built including power plant, central air-conditioning plant, radio station, employees' club and housing facilities for both married and single employees. Both the offices and dwellings are being air-conditioned. There is a hospital, with medical staff and nurses, providing facilities for both Saudi Arabs and Americans.

Jan 1, 1940

By Edgar S. Cook

At the close of the Bethlehem Meeting, the writer was experimenting with large fuel-charges, 4000 Ibs. basis, as compared with 2000 Ibs., hot had not made sufficient progress to draw any safe conclusions. Previously me had always used 2000 Ibs. fuel, the ore-burden being proportioned to this as a basis. I could never persuade myself that there was any advantage to be derived from following the more popular method of larger fuel-charges. Our men were accustomed to the old way of filling ; and we did not care to run the risk of the errors likely to follow any alteration in routine work, particulary as I could not, by my course of reasoning, discover ally compensating gain. Nevertheless, after reading Mr. Gordon's discussion of Mr. Birkinbine's paper, '' Operations of Warwick Furnace from August 27th, 1880, to September 1st, 1885" (Transactions, xiv., 833), I determined to test by actual experiment the value of large fuel-charges : the change was made in the week commencing March 28th, 1886, and continued until July 25th, about four months. The fuel and ores remained during the trial the same as had been used before, and have been used since. For the first two weeks, the furnace worked with great regularity, giving excellent results, exceeding those of the two weeks immediately preceding. But for my remembrance that the furnace had on former occasions worked with equal uniformity for longer periods without any apparent reason, I should doubtless have concluded that this improvement was due to the different method of filling and congratulated myself that a means had at last been found to prevent inconvenient "dirt" accumulations. Before abjuring my previous skepticism, however, I resolved to pursue the trial further. The fourth meek developed the peculiar conditions that had prevailed previous to the change; and these continued with more or less frequency during May, June and July. At last, finding no improvement over the smaller charges—no change in fact for better or for worse—I commenced filling the 2000 lbs. fuel-charge in the latter part of July, and have continued it up to present writing, September 4th.

Jan 1, 1887

By P. Pietrokowsky

RECENTLY a comprehensive investigation of the various sigma binary alloys was published by Duwez and Baen.1 It was shown that the following conditions are necessary for the formation of the sigma phase: (1) the difference in atomic diameters of the two alloying metals must not be more than about 8 pct; (2) of the two elements which form sigma, one must exhibit a body-centered cubic structure while the second metal must be face-centered cubic, at least in one of its allotropic forms. In addition, a tetragonal unit cell was proposed and powder patterns of six sigma phases were indexed for d spacings greater than 1.640 kx. Since the indexing, based on tetragonal symmetry, led to only fair agreement, the possibility of sigma being orthorhombic was investigated. Various methods for indexing orthorhombic powder patterns are de- scribed in the literature.' The method used in this investigation was a graphical examination of the differences in values of sin' 9 for the adjacent lines of the powder diffraction pattern. This method led to a complete indexing of the Cr-Co (60-40) pattern. Because of the strong similarity between the various sigma alloys, it was then possible to assign indexes to the patterns of Fe-Cr (50-50), Fe-Cr-Mo (30-30-40), Fe-V (50-50), Co-V (50-50), and Ni-V (50-50). The values of sin' 9 and indexes of the six sigma alloys, together with visually estimated intensities, are presented in table 1. In general, the similitude between the six patterns is quite good. For spacings greater than 1.75 kx a few differences are noticeable. In the Ni-V pattern, no (320) exists and the two strong lines (030) and (031) are separated by only two lines of lower intensity, unlike any of the other sigma patterns. However, very little is known about the Ni-V phase diagram and it is possible that the equal atomic percentage composition in this system lies in a two-phase region. At lower spacings there is a close analogy between the patterns. The planes

Jan 1, 1951

By M. N. Short

It is almost self-evident that the student of geology depends for his education in geology only in small measure upon his own observation. His chief sources of information are lectures and personal instruction from teachers, and the geological literature. Of these, the literature is by far the most important. The total geological knowledge available to the geologist of today is substantially that which is on the printed page, and no more than that. There are many geologists of outstanding rank who during the course of a busy and useful professional career have accumulated valuable geological knowledge. This, however, is never available to the profession, owing to the disinclination of these geologists to write or to the refusal of their employers to allow the results of their work to be published. With the passing of these geologists, their accumulated knowledge is irretrievably lost. In many mining districts the operating companies are not averse to the publication of geological information gathered by their engineering and geological staffs, but for various reasons this information is not published. However, when a public survey geologist goes into the district this information is placed at his disposal and eventually is published. But for the intervention of a disinterested public scientist, this information would have been buried in company files. In the last analysis, the teachers themselves depend largely upon the printed page for the knowledge they pass on to the student. Without geological literature, then, the instruction of geological students would be almost impossible. There is no .question that, as a whole, geologists who are on the public payroll have to their credit far more contributions to literature than have either teachers or professional geologists, whether the latter be independent or in the employ of private corporations. The very fact that geologists are upon the public payroll places them under obligation to make available to the public the results of their endeavors. They must either prepare these results for publication or they must furnish data or otherwise aid their colleagues to publish their results. The success or failure of a public geological survey depends entirely on the

Jan 1, 1935

By Amos L. Beaty

The oil industry can prosper only if crude production is not excessive. This is true for several reasons. In the first place, the marketing branch of the business is so highly competitive that there is little room for profits in it. There are too many service stations, too many middle men or jobbers, too many refiners eager to press their products upon the market. And the battle is between the strong. If any money is being made in oil today it is by small marketers who buy products from the refining companies and sell on guaranteed margins. In the second place, refineries are overbuilt. There is a large surplus refining capacity. If refined stocks were drawn down they could and would be replenished in short time on short notice. This excessive refining capacity is not serious, however, if the supply of crude is limited to trade requirements. True, it may reflect upon the intelligence of the industry, but if there were a shortage of crude for a few years refining capacities would be readjusted. In the meantime no great harm could result from some idle capacity. It requires no computation to see that refiners could not produce surplus stocks of products from a short supply of crude. I have in mind, of course, the increased yields from cracking. Allowance must be made for that. Still, the picture is the same; less crude is required. I think we can have prosperity in the oil business if too much crude is not produced. A proper limit at this point would be felt all the way down the line. It would slow the refiner and slow the marketer inevitably. Once this constant pressure to make more and sell more is off, operations will be normal and there will be some return on investments. Peices in Relation to Production Potential production at this time is very large, and this condition has existed for many months. As a result the price of crude is low. It is below the average cost of production. Nevertheless, if restraints were withdrawn actual production would immediately increase and the situation would become even worse than it is now. Eventually, of course, the

Jan 1, 1932

By Henry P. Ehrlinger

The Alta and St. Louis mines of the Alta Mines, Inc., produce a somewhat oxidized ore with a talc gangue that presents quite a problem in milling. For several years the mill recoveries were relatively low and there seemed to be no cure for this condition even with increasing the various collecting agents and frothers to two or three times of what they should be. The usual alibi of "oxidized ore" was given as the reason for these results and the matter stood there for some time until these investigations were started. Flowsheet As a brief outline of the flowsheet the ore is crushed to minus I in. in a Telsmith jaw crusher and then fed to a 64½ Marcy grate mill. The resulting product from the grate mill is passed over a trommel where the coarse particles (plus 7 mesh) are returned to the grinding circuit through the classifier. The under 7-mesh pulp is passed over two Denver mineral jigs where a high grade concentrate is produced, thence over two Wilfley tables where a table concentrate is produced and about 80 pct of the oxide lead recovered. The tailings from these tables are pumped back to the classifier and after classification the 30 pct pulp density product, which overflows the lip, is passed into a series of 10 Denver economy flotation cells where a lead-copper concentrate is produced. Three products are made and shipped to the smelter termed jig, table and float concentrates. Results with various Reagents In March of this year work was started on the metallurgical problems of the mill and, as is shown in Table I, the results obtained were not too efficient. Tests were run with various reagent combinations that were recommended for ores of this nature but there was no appreciable effect on the recoveries. The grades of the flotation concentrates were reduced by the insoluble picked up and retained by these more powerful collectors and frothers. Results with "Metso" In past work on ores of this type the use of "Metso" had improved gold and lead recoveries, but no effect on the silver and copper recoveries had been noted. To

Jan 1, 1949

By Richard D. Divine

In the Parkes process of extracting precious metals from lead, zinc is added to the molten lead containing gold, silver, copper, and some antimony. These metals, with the exception of antimony, form an alloy with the zinc by reason of their greater affinity for it than for the lead, and this alloy, being lighter than lead, rises to the top, carrying the precious metals with it, whence it can be removed by skimming. These skimmings are further treated for the separation of the zinc therefrom, and the recovery of the precious metals, the zinc being driven off by heat and again used for another operation. In addition to the zinc that combines with the silver, etc., a certain amount is necessary to saturate the lead, and it is therefore necessary to treat the desilverized lead to free it from this residual zinc. TO do this it is heated again in a reverberatory furnace and air or steam is blown through it. This oxidizes the zinc together with a small amount of lead and antimony, leaving the lead free from zinc and antimony, and forming oxides of these metals, which rise to the top and are skimmed off. This process relates to the separation of the metals in these oxides or skimmings. The skimmings are cooled, crushed, and mixed with carbonate of soda and pulverized oil coke. The mixture is heated in a reverberatory furnace on a bath of lead, to about 1,000" C. The metals are reduced by the coke, the lead and antimony go into the lead bath, while the zinc is volatilized and burned to oxide. This impure oxide is at the present time treated at Omaha by the Hall process of electrical precipitation, making a very pure metallic zinc. It can also be very easily refined by the old Schnabel process of using ammonia and carbon dioxide as a solvent. It seems to be in an ideal form for this purpose, and very few changes from the original method are required to obtain the zinc oxide practically C. P., leaving the lead and antimony as residues. There has been considerable difference of opinion regarding the effect

Jan 1, 1915

By S. H. Ash

THE increasing need for the products of our mines, mills, and processing plants, the loss of mine manpower to plants other than those concerned with the mineral industry, and the drafting of our younger men into military service have created an acute situation in many places as to workers and production. This, in turn, has focused attention on the need for conserving manpower by conserving the health and life of our mining people. Health A world-wide tendency is noticeable in the mineral industry toward protecting the health of workmen,-particularly younger workers, as well as older workers who can continue to produce in many places where manpower is lacking. This matter was emphasized at the Geneva Labor Conference for Coal Mines at the Committee's fourth session, held in Geneva, Switzerland, May 7 through 19, 1951. Papers concerning the health of workers were presented at the annual meetings of the mining sections of the National Safety Council, the Coal Mine Inspectors' Institute of America, the American Public Health Association, and other organizations. Safety Conferences Without exception, the attendance at mining-safety conferences in widely separated places throughout the country during the year was the largest to date. What is needed at the safety meetings throughout the country is more-widespread attendance by those who can sell the idea to the workers that they are the focal point in accident prevention and that safety is not going to be achieved alone or even in part by laws, decrees, or commands, but by quiet influence, unconscious suggestion, and personal' guidance. If these are acquired by the workmen, a safe environment and ample, capable supervision supplied by management, accidents will be fewer and less severe. Many safety conferences attempt to develop the foregoing idea by enumerating and describing training programs for supervisors and workers alike. Nothing can replace a course in first aid for all persons employed at any mine or plant as an introductory and basic step to a successful safety program. Even in this, the shoe must fit the foot, rather than applying the order do this or else. In first-aid

Jan 1, 1952

By Charles H. J. Patterson

When coal is deposited on the decks of pneumatic tables, all fine particles clinging to the larger pieces are blown free by the air. Inasmuch as the air retains an appreciable residual velocity after passing through the bed of coal, it is capable of suspending particles of goodly size. This velocity is dissipated gradually and, unless confined, can readily extend beyond the limits of the plant. Today the ideal in the design and operation of pneumatic cleaning plants is not that they be no dustier than the ordinary tipple, but rather that they be as clean as an office or shop. This degree of perfection may not yet have been attained in any commercial plant, but it is not impossible of achievement. Not until recently has the recirculation principle been applied to pneumatic separating plants. In the writer's estimation, it has not yet been proved entirely satisfactory in commercial installations. A serious obstacle lies in the fact that it is practically impossible to provide a truly closed circuit. The air circuits must be interrupted at certain points, if only for the introduction of raw material and for the recovery of the finished product. It is feasible to prevent the escape of polluted air at these points, but this can scarcely be accomplished without admitting additional air into the circuit. These additions of air are cumulative, which necessitates means for emitting to the atmosphere the excess while still carrying its objectionable burden, if provisions are not made for conditioning. If it must be provided at all, conditioning is frequently simpler and more economical if applied to the entire volume of air involved. This procedure eliminates the extra initial cost and operating expense of the closed system. Crane Cheek Experiments The first noteworthy commercial installation of pneumatic equipment was made in 1922, at the Crane Creek plant of the American Coal Co. of Allegheny County, at McComas, W. Va. Six tables for cleaning coal between the limits of and 3 in. comprised the initial installation. Dust was collected by hoods connected by a system of ducts to exhauster fans. In this installation the unit dust burden was small, owing to the removal of fines from the feed by vibrating screens.

Jan 1, 1931

By E. Stansfield

THIS test was described in a privately circulated First Progress Report on Slacking Characteristics of Coal, by A. C. Fieldner and W. A. Selvig, May 1, 1928. The test was described in detail in U. S. Bureau of Mines Report of Investigation 3055, in November, 1930.1 The test, in brief, is conducted as follows: A sample of freshly mined coal consisting of 18 to 25 pieces approximating 1 ¼ cubes, and weighing 500 to 600 grams, is taken for the test. The sample is subjected to a "blank sieving" of carefully regulated degree, on an 8-in. circular sieve with 0.263-in. square openings; and the undersize and oversize weighed. The oversize is placed on a sheet-iron pan and dried for about 24 hr. in an A.S.T.M. air-drying oven maintained at 30° to 35° C. through which a current of warm air is drawn. The sample is then cooled to room temperature and immersed for one hour in water at the same temperature. The water is then drained off, the sample dried for 24 hr. as before, cooled, sieved as before, and the oversize and undersize weighed. The percentage weight of the undersize, is calculated and reported as the first cycle loss. This loss, corrected by subtracting the percentage loss in the blank sieving, is termed the slacking index. The sample may be subjected to further cycles of wetting, draining, air-drying, sieving and weighing. In a letter (August, 1932) W. A. Selvig approved making the blank sieving on a duplicate sample, rather than on the sample used for the test, where sufficient coal was available. This method is now employed in these laboratories. The accelerated weathering test has been employed in the labora-tories of the Research Council of Alberta, at Edmonton, since 1928, but not found entirely satisfactory as repeat determinations with samples taken from the same or adjacent mines frequently showed serious differ-ences. Differences must be expected as the coal may vary in the seam, and the selection of a typical set of lumps approximating 1 ¼ -in. cubes

Jan 1, 1934

By Byron W. Cheever

While engaged in experimenting with the usual methods for estimating phosphorus in iron and steel, it occurred to me that potassium chlorate might be used to oxidize the carbon, and thus avoid the tedious and vexatious evaporations necessary for successfully carrying out the usual methods. After many trials, the following plan was adopted : Take, for analysis, of Bessemer or other low-carbon steels, from 3 to 5 grammes; of crucible steel, 10 grammes; of pig-iron, 1 to 5 grammes, according to the percentage of phosphorus supposed to be present. Of iron, high in phosphorus (1 per cent.), take 1 gramme. Place in a No. 4 evaporating dish the amount of iron or steel decided upon, cover with a funnel which will just fit inside the dish, and then add gradually HNO3, (1.20 specific gravity), using 12 C.C. of acid for each gramme of steel or iron taken. (A larger quantity of acid will be required for small samples.) When the full amount of acid has been added, and the violent action has ceased, place the evaporating dish on a sand-bath, add 10 C.C. HNO3, (1.40 specific gravity), and boil till the bulk of the solution is reduced about onehalf. Then add 10 C.C. HNO3, (1.40 specific gravity), continue the boiling, and add from time to time, during the next 15 minutes, small portions of pulverized KCIO3, till about 2 grammes have been added. (If the solution shows signs of going dry, more strong acid must be added.) This will precipitate the manganese, with some iron. Sometimes it happens that the manganese does not come down readily, and more KCIO3, or further concentration, or both, will be required. The process is not complete till the manganese is precipitated, which may be known by the appearance of a dark, mirror-like deposit on the dish, at the edge of the solution. Boil the solution 5 minutes after the last addition of KCIO3, and then add cautiously (to prevent sudden explosions) 5 C.C. strong HCl. This will dissolve the precipitated manganese and iron. Continue the boiling till the chlorine is all expelled, adding from

Jan 1, 1885

By E. J. Bruderlin

A metallurgical process to be economically successful must be carried on under proper conditions of control and equipment. The question of equipment is always of primary importance. In the distillation process for the recovery of zinc by retorting, the retort is the all-important piece of equipment. Each retort in a working blóck must function as a separate unit. Over-all block efficiency is the result of the ability of the individual retort to withstand the severe conditions of operation for a maximum period of time. Therefore retort manufacture has been an ever present problem with the operator of a zinc-retorting plant. During recent years the zinc-plant operator has been faced with rapid changes in the character of the ores and concentrates. Operating costs have increased as a result of the introduction of the flotation process and the amount of flotation concentrates to be handled. To counteract increasing costs, the operator has found it necessary continually to attempt heavier loading of retorts, until a 45 to 50-lb. charge per cubic foot of retort space has become common practice. Heavy loading has brought about severe firing conditions, which, in turn, have emphasized the necessity for further improving the quality of the retort. Increasing percentages of detrimental impurities in the retort charges have also added to the operator's difficulties. Amarillo Silicon Carbide Retorts At the Amarillo plant of the American Smelting and Refining Co. a retort made of a suitable plastic clay grogged with silicon carbide has been found to best meet the present-day requirements. Retorts of this kind have been in use at Amarillo for 8 years and have shown an average furnace life of approximately 175 calendar days. The Amarillo retort is cylindrical in shape and after burning is approximately 83/4 in, inside diameter by 60 in. over-all length. The wall thickness is 136 in., except for the butt of the retort, which is approximately 2½ in. thick. The retort mud has a shrinkage of 3 per cent, or approximately % in. per foot. The silicon carbide retort after being properly dried weighs about 211 lb. When the retort is fired and ready to go into use the weight decreases to approximately 203 lb.

Jan 1, 1937

By J. W. Fuller

DURING the last 20 years, experimenters have sought to utilize pulverized coal in boiler plants, but refractory and slag troubles have usually overbalanced any, gains in efficiency that were obtained. These troubles were caused largely by lack of knowledge of the proper methods of coal preparation and lack of a furnace design that would be adaptable to pulverized-coal firing. When this information was obtained the results were so much more satisfactory that within the last 5 years approximately, 80,000 boiler hp. have been installed in plants ranging from 1000 to 20,000 boiler hp. rated capacity, which are operating at an average of 174 per cent. of rating. The first commercial installation for burning pulverized coal under boilers was made at the Parsons shops of the M. K. & T. railroad in 1916. Of eight 250-hp. water-tube boilers thus fitted, six were operated continuously for 3 yr., when oil was obtained at such a low price as to warrant its use. Since then, this plant has been operating alternately on pulverized coal and oil, depending on prevailing prices. Recently gas has been discovered within 20 mi. of this plant, so that this fuel may also be used. No change in furnace design was made when changing from pulverized coal to oil or gas firing. One of the principal advantages of this method of firing is its ability to utilize, with maximum efficiency, all kinds of coal, irrespective of quality or physical characteristics. In fact, quite a number of the present pulverized-coal installations were made for the purpose of utilizing coal that could not be marketed or used in any other way. The Pacific, Coast Coal Co., at Black Diamond, Wash., formerly hand fired the boilers, using approximately 125 tons of prepared steam-size coal daily. The Black Diamond steam coal is the best quality of coal for steaming purposes mined in that section of the country, and there is a market for all that can be produced. By installing a pulverizing plant, it was possible to substitute coal of a size and quality that had no commercial value, so that 125 tons daily of the best steam coal formerly used at the mines is now marketed.

Jan 12, 1921

By W. G. Matteson

IN 1915, the State of California passed a law of great scope and importance. This law has been in successful operation for., year and may be briefly described as an act "establishing and creating a department of. the State Mining Bureau for the protection of the natural resources of petroleum and gas from waste and destruction through improper operations in production; providing for the inspection of petroleum and gas wells; requiring all persons operating petroleum and gas wells to make certain reports" and providing the necessary officers and assessments-to carry out the provisions of the act. The statute provides for a separate department of the State Mining Bureau, under the general supervision of the State mineralogist, with a staff composed of a "state oil and gas supervisor" and four deputies. It rules that all petroleum and natural gas wells shall be drilled, operated or abandoned under the supervision of the State supervisor, who shall order such tests or remedial work as seems to him necessary to protect the interests of property owners and the general public. It also provides for a board of arbitration to consider orders given by the supervisor which are not acceptable to the well owner. Section 18 of the, act, which is the provision that is directly related to, this paper, requires "the owner of any well referred to in this act to keep a careful and accurate log of the drilling of such well;" and further requires that this log shall show the character and depth of the formations passed through or encountered in the drilling, particularly the location and depth of the water-bearing strata; the character of the water encountered (so far as ascertained); whether the water was shut off, and, if so, at what point; that it shall show completely the amounts, kinds and size of casing used; the depth at which oil-bearing strata are encountered; the depth and character of the strata, and whether all water was successfully and permanently shut off so as to prevent percolation or penetration into the oil-bearing strata. -

Jan 2, 1917

By C. O. Brawner

The advent of larger drilling, excavation, and milling equipment is resulting in a tremendous increase in the scale and annual tonnage of open pit mining. At the present time, open pits up to 3000 ft. deep, and tailings dams and waste dumps up to 600 ft. high are being planned. One of the major problems that projects of this magnitude create is stability. Stability at open pit mining developments must be assessed for tailings dams, waste dumps, and open pit slopes in overburden soil and in rock. Soil mechanics principles are used to assess the stability for the first three. This science was developed by Dr. Karl Terzaghi in the 1920’s, and since that time the theories and principles have been tested and evaluated. This experience has resulted in the development of sound theoretical concepts, workable sampling and testing techniques, and accurate methods of analysis. Typical problems that can be analyzed include: -bearing capacity of soil under dams and waste dumps. - amount of seepage under and through dams. - stability of slopes and determination of safe slope angles for tailings dams, waste dumps, and open pits. - influence of earthquakes on stability. - influence and cost of different excavation and construction techniques. To assist in comparing engineering experience, an international soil classification system has been developed and used for several decades. In addition, many excellent text books are available outlining soil mechanics principles and techniques. A high degree of technology exists in soil mechanics. This, the mining engineer cannot afford to ignore. If soil mechanics principles had been applied, many major failures involving tailings, tailings dams, or waste dumps, such as those at Aberfan, Mufulira, Luanshya, and El Cobre would not have occurred. Tailings dams are planned in Canada that will be up to 600 ft. high. Construction procedures used in the past have paid little attention to the compaction of the shell material or to the influence of earthquakes on stability. This neglect has led to failures. While failures in low dams may not be too serious, for high dams such failures could have catastrophic results. Another major area of concern is the stability of rock slopes. From the standpoint of long

Jan 1, 1971

By K. C. Gilbart, E. Stansfield

This test was described in a privately circulated First Progress Report on Slacking Characteristics of Coal, by A. C. Fieldner and W. A. Selvig, May 1, 1928. The test was described in detail in U. S. Bureau of Mines Report of Investigation 3055, in November, 1930,1 The test, in brief, is conducted as follows: A sample of freshly mined coal consisting of 18 to 25 pieces approximating 1 1/4 cubes, and weighing 500 to 600 grams, is taken for the test. The sample is subjected to a "blank sieving" of carefully regulated degree, on an 8-in. circular sieve with 0.263-in. square openings, and the undersize and oversize weighed. The oversize is placed on a sheet-iron pan and dried for about 24 hr. in an A.S.T.M. air-drying oven maintained at 30" to 35" C. through which a current of warm air is drawn. The sample is then cooled to room temperature and immersed for one hour in water at the same temperature. The water is then drained off, the sample dried for 24 hr. as before, cooled, sieved as before, and the oversize and undersize weighed. The percentage weight of the undersize is calculated and reported as the first cycle loss. This loss, corrected by subtracting the percentage loss in the blank sieving, is termed the slacking index. The sample may be subjected to further cycles of wetting, draining, air-drying, sieving and weighing. In a letter (August, 1932) W. A. Selvig approved making the blank sieving on a duplicate sample, rather than on the sample used for the test, where sufficient coal was available. This method is now employed in these laboratories. The accelerated weathering test has been employed in the laboratories of the Research Council of Alberta, at Edmonton, since 1928, but not found entirely satisfactory as repeat determinations with samples taken from the same or adjacent mines frequently showed serious differences. Differences must be expected as the coal may vary in the seam, and the selection of a typical set of lumps approximating 1 1/4-in. cubes

Jan 1, 1934