Search Documents

By G. A. Vissac

The only fine coal washer with proved automatic controls, the feldspar jig is capable of good efficiencies even at low separating gravities, handles a variety of products, and treats 150 tph and over. IN continental Europe the feldspar jig is used almost exclusively for cleaning the fine sizes of coal; it operates with an artificial bed, made up generally of pieces of feldspar or of any other hard and heavy rock with good cleavages. A primitive form of this machine requiring close supervision was used in this country years ago, but output was small. The modern machines are generally air-pulsated Baum-type jigs, with capacities up to 150 tph, and treat sizes from % in. to 0, usually previously dedusted or deslimed. These jigs are equipped with very accurate and sensitive automatic controls insuring satisfactory operation even at low separating gravity and with feeds irregular in quality and quantity. This paper will deal more particularly with coal cleaning separation, but the technical studies apply equally to all minerals. Theory of the Feldspar Jig To understand fully the operation of the feldspar jig and to appreciate its potential value, it is necessary to measure and analyze the motion of small particles of various specific gravities, falling in various media, under various conditions. As no practical formulas were available for that purpose, the writer has developed new theories and established new sets of formulas, which cannot be demonstrated here. They are applicable to all minerals and to many problems of coal or mineral concentration. These formulas do not pretend to absolute accuracy, but results, tested by comparison with experimentally recorded data, are sufficient for practical purposes, as they give definite indications of trends, relative values, and order of magnitude of the many factors involved. For pulsating motions no earlier formulas are available. In the case of continuous currents or motions, such formulas as Rittinger's, Allen's, or Stokes', over a hundred years old, apply only to special shapes and sizes of particles, involve factors and coefficients difficult to measure or appreciate, and deal only with free motions. They are of little use in solving practical problems. Units used with the formulas presented here are in the CGS system. Lateral friction and suction have been taken into account according- to methods currently used in aerodynamics, and only hindered motion is dealt with. As the feldspar jig is primarily intended to create a fluid bed condition, the mixture of fluids and solids obtained is homogeneous, and the apparent specific gravity of the separating medium is calculated accordingly. For instance, if 20 pct of the volume is coal and shale, with an average of 1.60 sp gr, in a liquid of 1.10 sp gr, the actual specific gravity of the separating fluid is 0.80 x 1.1 + 0.20 X 1.6 = 1.20. The fundamental equations are as follows: The general motion of a particle falling in a medium of specific gravity equal to u, hindered motion. is dv/dt = g/Ls [ L (s-u) - u/g v2 [1] g = 981 cm per sec, acceleration of gravity, and L = thickness of the particle of specific gravity (s) and velocity (v). The initial acceleration dv/dt = g (1-u/s ) [2] is a function of the specific gravity of the particle, only for a given medium, and independent of its dimensions—an ideal separating condition. The terminal velocity Vt = gxL- (s-u)/u, [3] for a given value of u, is a function of s and L. Two particles, L, s, and L2 s2, are said to be equivalent if they have the same terminal velocity, and accordingly L1/L2=s2-u/s1-u. [4] Two such particles cannot be separated by continuous currents, in any concentrating device. Because the initial accelerated motion, which provides for efficient separation, is followed by a constant velocity, which has a limiting effect, it is essen-

Jan 1, 1956

By R. DiBella, H. Biloni, G. F. Bolling

A study of the detailed relationship between solidification substructure and microsegregation in dilute tin alloys has been continued. New observations reveal that depressions form at the solid-liquid interface not only as an initial form of segregation but throughout the range of increasing constitutional supercooling. In order to show the importance of this node formation it proves convenient to make two simplifications. Although substructure changes continuously as constitutional- supercooling increases,&apos; the following discrete stages may be used for discussion: 1) the planar solid-liquid interface; 2) ordered nodes, or depressions at the interface;&apos; 3) two-dimensional or elongated cells;3 4) regular or hexagonal cells;4 5) distorted cells, or hexagonal cells with branches;4 6) dendrites. It is also convenient to ignore observations made near grain boundaries which interact with the cellular substructure.2-4 And, it should be clearly pointed out that all singular depressions at the solid-liquid interface will be called nodes. Heretofore, the term "node" has been used without clear justification to describe both the truly isolated depression and the junction of cell walls appearing in a later stage of segregation. This usage is continued because it seems proved by the observations. Standard systematic growth of tin crystals was undertaken over a broad range of constitutional supercooling using various added solutes. Except for one or two chance observations, this research failed to reveal any appreciable range of growth conditions over which a disordered array of isolated nodes exists. Even though &apos;some finite range of random instability must exist, it is now concluded that stage one passes very rapidly to stage two. Next, after confirming that stage two passes to stage three by the elongation of isolated nodes: a reexamina-tion of stages three, four, and five followed. Standard metallography showed that pockets of higher solute concentration (for ko < 1) became more numerous in cell walls the more severe the growth conditions. These high-concentration regions must arise from depressions; however, in stage three their segregation is not distinguishable from the segregation of the nodes which join cell walls together. It seems, therefore, that the presence of nodes is causal in the formation of new cell walls, and that the mechanism by which stage three passes to stage four is initiated by nodes. If a similar reasoning is followed, the separation of stage four from stage five appears to be just a convenience that has arisen from the decanted interface observations made in the past. The present observations again show that more severe growth conditions relate directly to an increase in the number of nodes in the hexagonal cell walls. These nodes apparently serve as the origin for lines of segregation extending within the body of a cell, and can thus be assumed to represent the earliest form of branching,* as shown here in Fig. 1. The examination of stage six involved decanted-interface structures as in Fig. 2, which are similar to those considered by Rutter and Chalmers,5 Plaskett and winegard,6 and Hellawell and Herbert,7 and where distinct protrusions are each surrounded by a depressed boundary. The corresponding microsegregation behind the interface, but not far enough behind to allow a smearing of the segregation because of diffusion,4 is shown in Fig. 3. Both the shape of the decanted interface and the segregation pattern behind it

Jan 1, 1968

By James A. Lewis

It is the purpose of this paper to show the importance of sand characteristics, when combined with other physical data, in evaluating production obtained by secondary recovery operations, and to indicate the benefits to be gained from the application of these principles to primary production. Introduction During the past 10 years there has been a growing interest within the industry regarding the movement of fluids through oil reservoirs. A number of research projects have been directed toward the development of the physical laws governing this movement. In the period 1933 to the present, correlations between laboratory analysis of cores, reservoir fluids and well performance have been established and have been applied to successful secondary water-flooding recovery operations; and to the completion, production, reconditioning and evaluation of wells in new fields. The application of these data to water-flooding, either natural or artificial, is comparatively new, but the principlcs involved were set forth in 1880 by John F. Carll,1 who said: The flooding of an oil district is generally viewed as a great calamity, yet it may be questioned whether a larger amount of oil cannot be drawn from the rocks in that way than by any other, for it is certain that all the oil can-not be drawn from the reservoir without admission of something to take its place. If one company owned all of the wells drawing upon a pool, and had accurate records of the depth and characteristics of the oil producing stratum in each well, it is quite possible that some system might be devised by which water could be let down through certain shafts, and thus the rocks be completely voided of oil and left full of water. As it is, however, no systematized plan of action can be adopted. The careless handling of one well. by which water is let down to the oil rock, may spoil several others belonging to different parties. A clashing of interests at once arises and is likely to result in disaster to the whole district. In judging of the probable effects of the intro-duction of water into any particular oil district several things are to be considered. (1st) The time of flooding—whether early in the progress of development, while yet a large percentage of oil remains unexhausted or at a later period after the supply has suffered from long continued depletion. (2nd) The structure of the rock—whether regular and homogeneous throughout, or composed of fine sand inter. bedding connected and irregular layers of gravel, sometimes lying near the top and at others near the bottom. (3rd) The shape of the area being flooded. (4th) The position of the point at which water is admitted. in relation to the location of the surrounding wells still pumping oil. (5th) The height (which governs the pressure) of the column of water obtaining admittance. (6th) The duration of the water supply. Although we may take exception to part of Carll&apos;s reasoning, particularly " and thus the rocks be completely voided of oil and left full of water," we must give him credit for pointing out the increased effectiveness of water encroachment in displacing oil from a sand and for his recording six of the present seven considerations necessary for evaluation of production of oil by water

Jan 1, 1942

By James A. Lewis

It is the purpose of this paper to show the importance of sand characteristics, when combined with other physical data, in evaluating production obtained by secondary recovery operations, and to indicate the benefits to be gained from the application of these principles to primary production. Introduction During the past 10 years there has been a growing interest within the industry regarding the movement of fluids through oil reservoirs. A number of research projects have been directed toward the development of the physical laws governing this movement. In the period 1933 to the present, correlations between laboratory analysis of cores, reservoir fluids and well performance have been established and have been applied to successful secondary water-flooding recovery operations; and to the completion, production, reconditioning and evaluation of wells in new fields. The application of these data to water-flooding, either natural or artificial, is comparatively new, but the principlcs involved were set forth in 1880 by John F. Carll,1 who said: The flooding of an oil district is generally viewed as a great calamity, yet it may be questioned whether a larger amount of oil cannot be drawn from the rocks in that way than by any other, for it is certain that all the oil can-not be drawn from the reservoir without admission of something to take its place. If one company owned all of the wells drawing upon a pool, and had accurate records of the depth and characteristics of the oil producing stratum in each well, it is quite possible that some system might be devised by which water could be let down through certain shafts, and thus the rocks be completely voided of oil and left full of water. As it is, however, no systematized plan of action can be adopted. The careless handling of one well. by which water is let down to the oil rock, may spoil several others belonging to different parties. A clashing of interests at once arises and is likely to result in disaster to the whole district. In judging of the probable effects of the intro-duction of water into any particular oil district several things are to be considered. (1st) The time of flooding—whether early in the progress of development, while yet a large percentage of oil remains unexhausted or at a later period after the supply has suffered from long continued depletion. (2nd) The structure of the rock—whether regular and homogeneous throughout, or composed of fine sand inter. bedding connected and irregular layers of gravel, sometimes lying near the top and at others near the bottom. (3rd) The shape of the area being flooded. (4th) The position of the point at which water is admitted. in relation to the location of the surrounding wells still pumping oil. (5th) The height (which governs the pressure) of the column of water obtaining admittance. (6th) The duration of the water supply. Although we may take exception to part of Carll&apos;s reasoning, particularly " and thus the rocks be completely voided of oil and left full of water," we must give him credit for pointing out the increased effectiveness of water encroachment in displacing oil from a sand and for his recording six of the present seven considerations necessary for evaluation of production of oil by water

Jan 1, 1942

By F. E. Streigert, J. H. Mallery, A. H. Geisler

The existing data on precipitation in Cu-Be alloys have been reconciled with some new data to present a more complete and rational analysis of the atomic rearrangements involved in the process. Two different coherent precipitates were proposed. Each is responsible for a type of diffuse X-ray diffraction effect. THE nature of the atomic rearrangement involved in the precipitation of the compound y-Cu-Be from supersaturated solid solutions of the copper-base alloys has been the subject of two extensive investigations.&apos;-" he precipitate in this alloy system has a rather simple structure; at equilibrium it has a body-centered cubic unit cell with copper atoms on the corner sites and beryllium atoms on the center site. While a simple mechanism would be expected to obtain for the precipitation process, those which have been proposed do not adequately explain all of the reported data. The purpose of the present report is to rationalize some of the previous observations and to contribute new data on the subject obtained by the usual techniques of structure analyses. The Cu-Be system of alloys represents one of the most extensively investigated precipitation systems, so a detailed review of the pertinent literature on structure is in order. Striations: Since one of the important features of the mechanism—the habit plane—is determined by microscopic examination, microstructural features that have been observed should be considered at this time in order to assess their role in the precipitation process in Cu-Be alloys. One of the most prominent features appears as regularly oriented markings or stripings (ripples or striations) across the crystals on a suitably polished and etched sample of the aged alloy. These have been observed and interpreted by many workers. Masing and Dah14 observed striations in both the a and /3 phases of a 2.5 pct Be alloy, and attributed them to the beginning of the precipitation of very fine y crystals along favored planes of the a matrix and to the local decomposition of the £ crystals into a plus y. These markings were apparent in both the a and /3 phases of the micrographs given by Smith5 for a 2.75 pct Be alloy, while Moore" detected them in the a matrix phase using polarized light. Desch7 attributed the markings to fine precipitate particles lined up on a family of matrix planes like Masing and Dahl had done, and he identified the planes as those of the (111) family, the slip planes of the matrix. The striations were presumably the structure which Northcott- eferred to as "martensitic." He found that this structure was present in samples that had been aged under widely different conditions with hardness values ranging from 160 to 400 VHN. Later Guinier and Jacquet&apos; also found striations in both the a matrix and secondary /3 phase. Their analyses showed that the striations were along (110) planes of the matrix phase, apparently in contradiction of the results of Desch. They found that the striations were developed during aging on the surface of a specimen that had been polished prior to aging.&apos; On this basis they concluded that the striations represented mechanical deformation by slip along (110) planes of the matrix resulting from precipitation stresses.&apos;" Similar but fainter striations were observed in the same manner on an A1-Cu alloy sample, in which the change in volume was much less than for Cu-Be alloys and

Jan 1, 1953

By John M. Hancock

IN beginning my remarks, may I make it entirely clear that since January 4, 1947, I have not been a member of the United States Delegation to-the United Nations Atomic Energy Commission I am speaking, therefore, in purely a personal capacity. Because of the interest of the engineering profession with reference to uranium, and because of the title assigned me for this talk, I am going to assume that you know what the United States Plan is for the control of atomic energy. At best, in the limited time, I could only summarize, at the risk of giving undue emphasis to the items mentioned, and at the risk of omitting many important parts of what seems so far to be a complete and well-rounded Plan for meeting the problem. I will aim to comment upon those aspects of the Plan that continue as problems and involve apparent, or obvious, misunderstandings and contrary views The control of atomic energy represents not only a problem but a challenge-both faced by- all the peoples of the world It involves a new approach to the problems of the kinds that arise between nations, problems that have not ever been solved even by international treaties in their efforts to outlaw weapons of war. These efforts range from the Kellogg-Briand treaty to outlaw war, and its obvious failure to prevent World War II, to the interdiction by the Pope of the use of the crossbow in the days of the Crusades. All previous plans have been failures-that makes

Jan 1, 1947

By O. B. Hopkins

The total production of oil in Peru in 1940 was 12,127,135 bbl., or about 10 per cent less than in 1939. Most of the reduction can be attributed to the fact that the export market under war conditions is much restricted and naturally is more than ordinarily competitive. Development and Exploration in Older Areas As evidenced by Table I, almost all production continued to come from the three established fields in coastal northwestern Peru. Zorritos Field.—Exploration in this small field, which was purchased by the Peruvian Government in 1939, continued with that in near-by areas in the adjoining National Reserve. Several wells were drilled, regarding which details are not as yet available. It is estimated that the production rate for a total of some 45 old and 15 new wells approximated zoo bbl. per day, or about 3 bbl. per well per day. Lobitos Fields.—The Lobitos area produced 2,435,504 bbl.; about 10 per cent less than the amount for 1939. La Brea-Pari9zas.—This property of International Petroleum Co. continued to account for nearly 80 per cent of Peru&apos;s production. During the year, drilling was stepped up to 139 wells, as compared with 73 wells completed in the previous year; 123 were producers and aggregated a total of 287,867 ft. Of this total, more than 85 per cent was drilled by rotary tools, which are steadily displacing other equipment. Although most of these wells were drilled in the proved or semiproved areas, eight

Jan 1, 1941

C. W. GOODALE,* Butte, Mont.-I notice Mr. Newton refers very briefly to the carbonate ores of manganese, rhodochrosite, but he does not go into any special description of the treatment of that material. In some of the veins in Butte, Mont., there is a large amount of rhodo-chrosite, and a large tonnage of that material has been shipped to the East for making ferromanganese. At the works of the Anaconda company at Great Falls they treated several thousand tons of this manganese ore, running about 37 to 38 per cent. manganese, in electric furnaces, giving a product of about 78 per cent. of manganese. But just at that time the demand for ferromanganese from the West was discontinued and the material, about 1000 tons of 78 per cent. manganese, is on hand at the works at Great Falls. With the higher-grade manganese ore, running, we will say, 37 or 38 per cent., there are large bodies of ore perhaps 20 or 25 per cent., but containing too much silica to be valuable in their present condition. Some efforts have been made for water concentration of that material, but owing to. there being only a difference of about 1 in the specific gravity of the quartz gangue and the manganese mineral, water concentration has offered some difficulties, I have been told, however, that some very satisfactory experiments have been made with magnetic concentration of this material. I think it is a new idea that this manganese ore can be treated successfully by magnetic concentration.

Jan 4, 1919

By John D. Ridge, Robert C. Barwick

The amount of lead in concentrates that moved in international trade in 1952 was only 16 pct of the world mine production of lead and was less than 27 pct of the total of lead in concentrates and lead metal that traveled from one country to another. Because almost all lead is derived from galena, lead concentrates are high grade, with a theoretical maximum of 86 pct lead, and can be shipped as such without transporting a considerable weight of waste material. It would not be surprising, therefore, to find the large share of lead in international trade moves in concentrates (Rule 5). This is not, as has just been mentioned, actually the case. There is more than one explanation for the situation. Lead smelting is not a particularly difficult process and is one for which smelting equipment can readily be made of the best size for the tonnage to be handled. Another factor that encourages local smelting is the effort of many mining countries to see that a maximum of profit from their raw materials remains in the home country. Still another factor is the newness of large scale lead mining in two of the three largest exporters of lead in concentrates. In these countries, South West Africa and French Morocco, there has not yet been time to erect enough smelting capacity to process all of the concentrate output. Even in these countries, however, it will not be long, if present trends continue and plans are fulfilled, before most or all of the lead mined is domestically smelted.

Sep 1, 1955

By Ralph Arnold

IN OPENING the symposium under the auspices of the Petroleum and Gas Committee of the American Institute of Mining and Metallurgical Engineers, I wish to call to your attention the following, among other subjects, which it is hoped may receive proper attention: 1. The recording of as accurate an appraisal of the oil possibilities of the various countries as is possible, with information as to the immediate availability of their supply. 2. The development of further support for the move-ment to bring about active cooperation among Ameri-can oil companies in their foreign exploration and development work. 3. The furtherance of the efforts of the industry in securing governmental assistance in foreign oil develop-ment: (a) along the lines of a modification of our domestic oil policy, so that we can go to foreign coun-tries and consistently ask fair treatment as to royalties and bonuses; (b) by a closer cooperation between the State and Commerce Departments and the oil industry. 4. The calling of attention to the unjustifiably drastic action of the price-fixing group of the oil industry during the last year or so, with the hope that it will use gentler methods in the future. None of these subjects are new, and some of them have been discussed before various organizations for years. Our justification for again bringing them forward is the hope that by everlastingly harping on them the industry, the Government, and the people who shape the destinies of this country may some time, some how, realize their importance and take effective constructive action.

Jan 6, 1922

By O. B. Hopkins

The total production of oil in Peru in 1940 was 12,127,135 bbl., or about 10 per cent less than in 1939. Most of the reduction can be attributed to the fact that the export market under war conditions is much restricted and naturally is more than ordinarily competitive. Development and Exploration in Older Areas As evidenced by Table I, almost all production continued to come from the three established fields in coastal northwestern Peru. Zorritos Field.—Exploration in this small field, which was purchased by the Peruvian Government in 1939, continued with that in near-by areas in the adjoining National Reserve. Several wells were drilled, regarding which details are not as yet available. It is estimated that the production rate for a total of some 45 old and 15 new wells approximated zoo bbl. per day, or about 3 bbl. per well per day. Lobitos Fields.—The Lobitos area produced 2,435,504 bbl.; about 10 per cent less than the amount for 1939. La Brea-Pari9zas.—This property of International Petroleum Co. continued to account for nearly 80 per cent of Peru&apos;s production. During the year, drilling was stepped up to 139 wells, as compared with 73 wells completed in the previous year; 123 were producers and aggregated a total of 287,867 ft. Of this total, more than 85 per cent was drilled by rotary tools, which are steadily displacing other equipment. Although most of these wells were drilled in the proved or semiproved areas, eight

Jan 1, 1941

By Robert Richards

Introduction. WALTER RENTON INGALLS recently gave a very interesting talk before the student mining society of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. In it he showed the present status of mining as he sees it. In the talk he explained that, while discoveries of great mining districts are still possible, they are being made less and less often; that the great mining companies, although there are large numbers of mines offered for sale, are finding it less and less possible to find new mines that are up to the standard of richness that they wish for purchase. The natural conclusion is that better, cheaper, and more efficient methods of mining, concentrating, and smelting are needed if the lower-grade mines are to be worked at a profit. This is true also if the high-grade mines are to yield their greatest profit. This paper deals only with the concentrating or ore-dressing problem, and gives some thoughts which point towards greater profit. In a paper on The Development of Hindered-Settling Apparatus the writer showed that there were two main lines of work that would lead to greater saving, lower tailing assay, and, therefore, greater profit. The first is the recrushing of middling or tailing products for the saving of the contained values. This is well understood and largely carried out in existing mills. The second is the saving of fine free mineral at the first opportunity. This is a matter less well understood in the mills, and to dwell upon this the present paper is written.

Jan 9, 1913

By I. Iwasaki

In the flotation of iron ores and nonmetallic ores desliming is the key to a successful operation; the technology of flotation of well-deslimed ores has become fairly well established. When finely disseminated ores are ground to liberation, however, conventional desliming of the fully dispersed pulp results in an excessive loss of valuable constituents. Selective flocculation of iron oxides followed by removal of dispersed siliceous slimes is a new development and is one of the most promising approaches to the treatment of finely disseminated, oxidized iron ores, available in vast quantities both here and abroad (1,2,3). To apply selective flocculation to the variety of refractory iron ores or to cope with the fluctuations in an individual ore and the make-up water, the factors governing this technique must be clearly formulated. For the removal of siliceous and clayey slimes from oxidized iron ores by selective flocculation, the optimum conditions are extremely sensitive to the mineralogical characteristics of the ore, the type and the amount of soluble salts in pulp solutions, and the mesh-of-grind. Certain starches appear to function better than others (4, 5). Selection of the proper reagents and their judicious use is important not only for their efficient utilization but also for minimizing the adverse effects they might exert on the flocculation and flotation steps, and the pollution the effluents might cause when discharged, either intentionally or accidentally, into lakes and streams. In the present article some of the major factors that influence the selective flocculation of iron ores are summarized.

Jan 1, 1979

By H. A. Kursell

IN pre-war days, the mining industry of Russia occupied in the industrial life of the Empire a place of ever increasing importance. The peak of produc-tion was reached in 1913 and 1914, the years of greatest prosperity, and a rapid growth of the mineral industry seemed assured, especially as regards base-metal mining. Exceptions were the gold production, for which a gradual decline was anticipated, and the platinum out-put which was expected to remain steady. A greater productivity of labor, corresponding to better working facilities was noticeable, and the economic status of the working classes was constantly improving. The tremendous strain on Russia&apos;s economic life caused by the World War did not materially alter the prospects of the mineral industry and the fundamental changes began only with the revolution in the spring of 1917. Their scope and character are illustrated by the figures in Table 1 which compare, for the parts of the Russian Empire under Soviet (R. S. F. S. R.) control, the average mineral production of 1913 and 1914 with that of 1920, 1921 and 1922, as supplied by bolshevik sources.1The latter three years in Russia&apos;s history were characterized by the firm establishment in power of the Communist party as a new ruling caste. Silver, lead, zinc, tin, nickel, tungsten, barite, etc., were either produced in negligible quantities, or not at all. However, before the revolution the development of several argentiferous lead-zinc deposits in western Siberia had reached a stage which seemed to assure an appreciable output of the white metals for the near future.

Jan 7, 1923

By F. A. Forward, J. Halpern

A new process is described for extracting uranium from ores containing sulphidic minerals, which comprises treating an aqueous pulp of the ore with air or oxygen at elevated temperatures and pressures. The acid required to dissolve the uranium is generated during the leach through oxidation of the sulphides. The chemistry of the process is discussed and laboratory results are presented to illustrate the operation of the method and the variables which control it. With most ores, leaching at a temperature of 130°C and an oxygen partial pressure of 10 psi provides uranium extractions of 90 to 95 pct in 4 to 6 hr. The acidity and level of dissolved impurities in the leach liquor can be kept fairly low. The method is characterized by a number of advantageous features including low reagent cost, short retention times, and high recoveries. RECENTLY there have been developed several processes for extracting metal values from ores by pressure leaching techniques;&apos; -&apos; an example is the carbonate leaching process for uranium ores which has been studied in this laboratory.&apos; Leaching is carried out under oxygen pressure to ensure oxidation of the uranium to hexavalent compounds which are soluble in carbonate solutions. During the course of investigations relating to this process, it was observed that sulphide minerals, such as pyrite, usually were oxidized under the conditions of the leach treatment resulting in the formation of iron hydroxides and sodium sulphate, i.e. 2 FeS= + 7Vz O2 + 8 Na,CO3 + 7 H,,O -* 2 Fe(OH)3 + 4 Na2SO4 + 8 NaHCO.,. [1]

Jan 1, 1956

By A. M. Ross

DEURING the past year the uranium milling industry has seen the installation and initial operation of solvent extraction circuits in the Climax Uranium Co. mill at Grand Junction, Colo.; the Kerr-McGee Oil Industries mill at Shiprock, N. M.; and the AEC pilot plant at Grand Junction, operated by National Lead Co. Inc. The Vitro Uranium Co. mill in Salt Lake City is converting to solvent extraction, and the new Union Carbide Nuclear Co. mill to be constructed at Rifle, Colo., will also employ this method. Solvent extraction circuits will be incorporated in two mills now under construction -the Texas Zinc Minerals Co. mill at Mexican Hat, Utah, and the Gunnison Mining Co. mill at Gunnison, Colo. In Canada the expansion of the Eldorado mill at Port Radium includes installation of a solvent extraction circuit. Solvent Extraction Process: In simplest terms, the organic solvent is mixed with leach liquor and then the organic and aqueous phases are allowed to separate. By this contact the solvent selectively extracts uranium from the liquor, leaving a raffinate, or barren leach liquor, which may be discarded. The pregnant solvent is stripped of its uranium by con- tact with a stripping solution, such as aqueous sodium carbonate, which has a greater affinity for uranium than the solvent does. The barren solvent from the stripping step is available for further leach liquor extraction, and the pregnant stripping solution, which usually contains 30 to 60 g U3O8 per liter, is ready for precipitation of a final product, or uranium concentrate.

Jan 9, 1957

By W. C. McClain

In the design of underground excavations, rock mechanics considerations are nearly always based on an elastic behavior of rock. Most rocks do exhibit a certain amount of elasticity, and the application of principles and concepts of elasticity to rock mechanics problems has been largely responsible for progress in the field over the past 10 or 15 years. NO doubt the theory of elasticity will remain the most useful analytical tool available for both the design of underground openings and the interpretation of phenomenological data. Dr. Cook&apos;s analysis of rock behavior based on energy considerations represents a significant new approach to mining rock mechanics problems. Although the foundations of this analysis are somewhat broader and more general than elastic analysis, the development and applications are grounded almost entirely in the theory of elasticity. It has long been known1,2 that all rocks, even granites and dense limestones, exhibit nonlinear time-dependent strain properties to a greater or lesser degree. Creep strain (that is, deformation under constant stress) in salt, potash, and trona can be several orders of magnitude greater than instantaneous elastic strain. Design of underground workings in these materials must incorporate provisions for these strains and must therefore go considerably beyond elastic analysis. Some of the principles of underground design in highly plastic materials will be discussed in this paper. Since all rocks, especially when highly fractured, exhibit a certain amount of creep-type strain, these concepts should be at least recognized in any rock mechanics problem. The discussion will be illustrated largely, but not entirely, by examples drawn from

Jan 1, 1967

Oceanographers are tooling up. Back of the build-up is Navy defense work and private business. Business is dipping toes in the ocean gingerly and not sure whether the motivation is based on logic or intuition. The problem is that new business opportunities in the oceans could explode rather than evolve. The question is when. At stake for earthlings are food supplies, mineral resources, oil and gas, weather forecasting, navigational systems, shore erosion control and sewage disposal, as primary targets. "Twenty years ago, offshore oil seemed a remote possibility for economic exploitation but today it is a reality. It became a reality largely because of the development of practical ocean seismic equipment and drilling platforms. Today the oil industry is looking at submerged-type drilling rigs. Mineral exploration in the sea is more expensive than on land now primarily because familiar land tools are being modified for sub- marine work." These were the ideas expressed by C. G. Welling of Lockheed Missiles & Space Co., at one of the many meetings that have taken place so far this year on development of marine resources. Welling&apos;s views indicate the rationale of companies that have already invested in the sea. Many companies, including those in mining, have observers who caution, "go slow." The continental shelfs and even the deep ocean floor represent to the mineral industries the age-old, enigmatic confrontation-is this the time to move? To no other industry, except Defense, are the results of correct timing so vital.

Jan 8, 1967

By R. C. Allen

ABOUT four years ago the writer proposed a revision of the correlation of the Huronian formations in Michigan, and noted the bearing of the question on the correlations of the Huronian rocks in Wisconsin and Minnesota.1 Dr. C. K. Leith opposed this revision and argued for the retention of the correlations of the United States Geological Survey, published in 1911,2 for which he and Dr. Van Hise were mainly responsible. As late as June, 1917, Harder and Johnson, following Leith, thought it "premature to change radically a correlation based on years of careful field work."3 The work of Wolff on the Mesabi and Cuyuna Ranges, of Hotchkiss on the Gogebic Range (unpublished), and of the writer and assistants on the Michigan ranges, together with data developed by exploratory and mining operations, has introduced so many pew facts not recognized in the scheme of the U. S. Geological Survey that the correlations of 1911 must be considered, in some important respects, obsolete. Indeed new data are accumulating so rapidly that any classification, which for the moment may seem best to explain the facts, is almost immediately modified or refined by further observations. The problem of Huronian correlations is difficult, but interesting and important. With the aid of fossils, stratigraphers of the post-Algonkian formations have been able to show that slight disconformities may separate strata of vastly different ages, and that within physically conformable strata may be concealed a hiatus of great magnitude. In the non-fossiliferous Huronian group, minor physical breaks in the strata are

Jan 9, 1919

By Frederic P. Dewey

The improvement in leaching introduced by the Russell process has stimulated the development of processes for refining lixiviation-sulphides. In the early days several processes for dealing with the sulphides were proposed, and some of them were tried more or less ; but the business finally settled down to sending the sulphides to the smelters, although this was known to be both troublesome and expensive. In 1891 Mr. C. A. Stetefeldt* introduced at the Marsac mill, Park City, Utah, an unpatented process, built up out of the general fund of information available. It consisted in matting the sulphides, grinding, roasting, grinding again, and dissolving the copper out in diluted sulphuric acid, then melting the silver and crystallizing the bluestone. It did not yield fine bullion, hence the bullion had to be refined as well as parted; besides, there was some loss. This process was thoroughly tried at the Marsac refinery and then a year&apos;s run was made, the net result of which was that it did not prove sufficiently better than the sending of the sulphides to the smelters to warrant its substitution for that practice. In 1893 the Dewey-Walter Refining Company undertook the refining of the Daly sulphides in the Marsac refinery by the sulphuric acid process, upon which two United States patents ? have been issued to the writer. Naturally, difficulties were encountered in starting a new process, and most of 1893 was taken up in getting it into smooth working order; but in 1894 a run was started, in which all the regular sulphides produced by the

Jan 1, 1897