Search Documents

By Oscar M. Wicken

The mineral magnesite (MgCO3) if pure would consist of 47.7 pct MgO and 52.3 pct CO2. It is one of the calcite group of rhombohedral carbonates which includes calcite (CaCO3), siderite (FeCO3), rhodocrosite (MnCO3), and smithsonite (ZnCO3) among others. The members of this group enter into a wide range of substitutional solid solutions, whose range is still imperfectly known.* MgCO3 and FeCO3 appear to form a complete series of which breunnerite (ferroan magnesite) is a well known variety. Because of the considerable difference in size of the Ca and Mg ions, there is only a limited range in substitution in the MgCO3-CaCO3 series. (Dolomite, not strictly a member of the calcite group, may be regarded as an ordered structure developed when Ca: Mg is approximately 1:1.) The practical consequence of these relationships is that the lime carbonates (calcite and dolomite) are commonly present in magnesite deposits chiefly as mechanical mixtures. Magnesite may be either crystalline or "amorphous" (cryptocrystalline). The crystalline form has a hardness of 3.5 to 4.0. The color may range from white to black through shades of yellow, blue, red or gray. It is rarely found pure but generally contains variable amounts of iron, lime, and silicate minerals. Color cannot be used as an index of purity except under specific local conditions in a single quarry. In a given quarry an experienced man may be able roughly to grade magnesite by intuitively assessing such features as crystallinity and color. Crystalline magnesite occurs in larger deposits, but the cryptocrystalline variety is more common. The latter is fine-grained and compact and shows no cleavage; often it is descriptively called "bone magnesite." The fracture is usually conchoidal, and hardness is 3.5 to 5.0. It is normally white, but sometimes it is light yellow to orange or buff because of included impurities. In addition to lime and iron, which may be present in small amounts, silica may be present as inclusions of serpentine, quartz, chalcedony, or other minerals. In general, commercial deposits of "amorphous" magnesite have lesser amounts of accessory minerals than does crystalline magnesite. The specific gravity of "amorphous" magnesite is 2.90 to 3.0. Pure, crystalline magnesite has a specific gravity of 3.02, but iron carbonate, commonly present, raises the specific gravity to somewhat higher values. Magnesite dissociates, when sufficiently heated, into magnesia (MgO) and carbon dioxide. Either simultaneously or upon further heating the magnesia develops a crystalline structure identical with that of the natural mineral, periclase, which occurs sparingly in nature but not normally in workable deposits. Brucite is another magnesium mineral capable of being directly reduced to magnesia by heat alone. Brucite (Mg(OH)2) has been mined for the production of various grades of magnesia. It theoretically contains 69.1 pct MgO and 30.9 pct H2O. It may be white, but is generally blue or green with a gray cast. It has a translucent appearance. The mineral is soft (hardness, 2.5), and has a specific gravity of about 2.4. Nomenclature of Products The word "magnesite" literally refers to the natural mineral, but common usage has applied it plus a prefatory word to two other

Jan 1, 1960

By W. E. Hubbard

The Panhandle area of northwest Texas embraces the northern portion of the Permian Basin of Texas as well as a considerable portion of the western part of the Anadarko Basin of Oklahoma. For the purpose of this report it will include in addition to the 20 counties of the Panhandle proper the two tiers of counties lying to the south, a total area of about 32,000 square miles. Crossing the Texas Panhandle diagonally from northwest to southeast is the Amarillo Arch, related to which is all of the production discovered to date. Oil Production Up to Jan. 1, 1930, the Panhandle has produced about 125,000,000 bbl. of oil. The peak yearly production occurred in 1927, during which period 49,000,000 bbl. were produced. In 1928 the production fell to 25,000,000 bbl., but in 1929, on account of important discoveries in Gray County, the total increased to 31,000,000 bbl. To date Hutchinson County has produced 64 per cent. of the total. Table 1 shows the total yearly production by counties. The present production of the Panhandle is 100,500 bbl. from 1745 wells or an average of 57.6 bbl. per well compared to a production on Jan. 1, 1929, of 59,748 bbl. from 1468 wells or an average of 40.7 bbl. per well. The peak production of the year occurred during the week

Jan 1, 1930

By A. Karim, T. G. Langdon, C. Y. Cheng, J. E. Dorn

The effect of changes in temperature and stress on the creep behavior of Fe-4 pct Si was investigated over the temperature range from 650° to 1175K Over the temperature range of 799° to 110l°K, the shear strain rate, ?', obeys the relationship: where K is a constant, 7 the applied shear stress, G the shear modulus, g the free activation energy for diflusion, R the gas constant, and T the absolute temperature. The results strongly suggest that the creep in this alloy is controlled by a dislocation climb mechanism. In a recent investigation, Ishida, Cheng, and Dorn1 observed that the apparent activation energy for creep of a! Fe from 480" to 775°K corresponded to that for self-diffusion. Over the magnetic transformation range (775" to 1045"K), the apparent activation energy for creep increased steeply with increasing temperature in agreement with the known decrease in the free activation energy for self-diffusion. Passing through the Curie temperature, the apparent activation energy decreased abruptly following which it then increased mildly as the temperature further increased. Inasmuch as the apparent activation energy for creep of a! Fe below the Curie transformation range of temperatures appeared to decrease with increasing values of the stress, the data were analyzed in terms of a model based on the nonconservative motion of jogged screw dislocations. But since the observed creep rate was much higher than that which could be accounted for on the basis of usual models, the authors found it necessary to assume that pipe diffusion became significant over the lower temperature range. Furthermore, the abnormally high activation energy for creep above the Curie temperature was attributed to grain boundary migration which became prevalent in this temperature range. It was thought that a number of the interesting issues that arose in the creep of a Fe might be resolved by investigating the creep of Fe-4 pct Si alloy: This alloy has about the same Curie range and therefore should give creep results that closely parallel those for a Fe and in this way provide comparable data for analysis of creep mechanisms. Furthermore, it can be annealed at higher temperatures which could provide some stabilization against grain boundary migration. In addition, it might serve to illustrate the possible effects of short-range ordering on creep.

Jan 1, 1969

Jan 1, 1944

By F. P. Dewey

Recent discussions have furnished to the members of the Institute much information concerning aluminum and its applications. The present paper will be devoted almost entirely to the description of a process by which the metal is produced in the form of alloys. The characters which especially distinguish the Heroult process consist in electrolyzing a mass of molten alumina (Al2O3), and at the same time alloying the separated aluminum with a heavy metal, the heat necessary for the fusion of both the alumina and the alloying metal being supplied by the direct passage through the molten Al2 0, of an electric current of high amperage and low voltage. The process has been in active operation at Neuhausen in Switzerland for about two years. It is also in active operation at Froges in southern France. Both these locations were selected for this purpose on account of the presence of large and desirable water-powers. The apparatus consists of a carbon containing-vessel, which may be a single crucible for small operations, or may be built up of slabs or blocks of carbon for large and industrial operations. When built up of slabs or blocks, the whole is surrounded by an iron casing. In the earlier crucibles this iron casing was cast around the carbon, in order to secure close electrical contact. This, however, has been found unnecessary; and in the later crucibles the casings consist of plates bolted together, while pulverized carbon is packed between the carbon blocks and the iron. Electric conductors are united direct to this iron casing, and the current passes from this through the carbon lining to the interior of the crucible. By this

Jan 1, 1890

[YEAR of ELECTION 1913. FRANK DAWSON ADAMS Montreal, Canada. 1921. WILLIAM CUTHBERT BLACKETT Sacriston, Durham, England. 1923. GELABIO CAETANI Rome, Italy. 1920. HENRY STURGIS DRINKER Merion Station, Pa. 1921. FERDINAND FOCH Paris, France. 1922. FEDERICO GIOLITTI Torino, Italy. 1906. SIR ROBERT A. HADFIELD London, England. 1921. FRANK WILLIAM HARBORD London, England. 1917. HERBERT HOOVER Washington, D, C. 1905. HENRI LECHATELIER Paris, France. 1921. C. MCDERMm London, England. 1913. EZEQUIEL ORDONEZ Mexico City, Mexico, 1909. ALEXANDRE POURCEL Paris, France. 1911. ROBERT H. RICHARDS Cambridge, Mass. 1891. DR. ING. H. C. EMIL SCHROEDTER Mehlem a Rhein, Germany.]

Jan 1, 1928

By Alvin Kaufrnan

This chapter will deal with the policy issues relating to mineral land disposal. The first portion of the chapter will discuss in general terms the legal systems utilized in disposing of mineral rights and the major problems encountered; the second section will comprise an analysis of the policy alternatives with emphasis on the pricing aspects. In this section, we are not attempting to provide a legal text, but simply to outline very briefly and sketchily the details of the systems. More detailed information can be obtained by contacting the appropriate governmental agency for specific information. Mining laws throughout the world are based on two major legal groupings: English Common Law and the Civil Law. These basic systems are often modified by Islamic Law and by negotiated -mixtures of these. Under English Common Law, which is embraced by the United States, Canada, and many of the members of the British Commonwealth of Nations, individuals can hold property and can extract minerals from it. The owner can dispose of minerals as he sees fit, either through contract, deed, or whatever other system is appropriate. CIVIL LAW Under Civil Law (also known as Regalian Law), mineral ownership is normally placed in the state, regardless of who owns the surface. This legal system applies in most European countries and their former colonies. It is derived from Roman law. The mineral deposits, thus, are worked under concessions. Most countries use a negotiated concession system and sometimes a combination of negotiation and competitive leasing. The negotiated system has advantages as well as disadvantages for both government and industry. In a system where the government administratively determines who is to get what, the concessions are normally large. Frequently they range up to several millions of acres and involve a considerable investment on the part of the concessionaire. There is no duplication of effort on the part of producers to obtain information, since a single concessionaire controls a given area. Consequently, less money is spent in toto because several prospective operators are not required to seek the same information. The system also has the advantage to the industry of permitting the concessionaire to select and retain the best producting area. Thus, major developmental expenditures are made on the production unit only, with a resulting reduction in the risk factor. The large initial size of the concession also minimizes the possibility of expending a large bonus payment for a barren property. The major governmental advantage of a concession is its flexibility in accomplishing other national objectives. For example, a lease could be negotiated at less than fair market value, but requiring substantial de-

Jan 1, 1976

Jan 1, 1945

By C. W. Clark, J. H. Schloen

Two papers have been written previously concerning operations at the Montreal East plant of Canadian Copper Refiners Limited. The first one,' written in 1932, described silver-refinery operations at the time for producing silver and gold bullion from tankhouse anode slimes; the second,2 published in 1933, consisted of a description of the entire plant. Since publication of these papers the refinery has become the world's largest producer of refined selenium. The first selenium was produced in August 1934. Tellurium production on a commercial scale followed in October 1935. This paper will deal with selenium and tellurium production and also with present operations in the silver refinery. Blister cakes from Hudson Bay Mining and Smelting Co., Flin Flon, Manitoba, and commercial anodes from Noranda Mines Limited, Noranda, Quebec, are refined at Montreal East. Both these bullions have unusually high gold, selenium and tellurium content. The average assay of raw slimes produced from domestic and Noranda anodes is about 40 per cent Cu, 3600 oz. per ton Ag, 800 oz. per ton Au, 22 per cent Se and 3.7 per cent Te. Early Silver-refinery Operations From the start of operations in 1931 until July 1934, the raw slimes were oxidize-roasted at 700" I?. in a Nichols-Herreshoff furnace, acid-leached with tankhouse discarded foul electrolyte (20 per cent H²SO), filtered and charged directly to the doré furnace for refining to doré meta1. This is the customary method for treating tankhouse anode slimes but was not suitable at the Montreal East plant because of the high selenium and tellurium content of our slimes. In the acid-leaching process about 50 per cent of the selenium and tellurium in the roasted slimes was dissolved in the electrolyte. These elements were recovered with the copper as a sludge in a small electrolytic

Jan 1, 1943

By Roscoe Bell

An economic appraisal of the western phosphate industrial potentials made between 1945 and 1948 revealed possibilities for a considerable expansion in the production of high analysis phosphate fertilizer. The most significant facts are: (1) a rapidly increasing and a much larger potential market which might be reached from the western deposits, (2) the existence of large undeveloped deposits of phosphate rock, (3) potential energy from sulphuric acid, coal, or hydroelectric power in the general vicinity of the deposits. The challenge to the mining and metallurgical engineering profession is in the economical development of phosphate mines and in improving processes for utilization of the western ores and the recovery of byproducts to make the expanded western industry satisfactorily compete with the industry in the East and South in meeting the fertilizer needs of the Midwest and Far West.

Jan 4, 1950

By T. M. Anderson

From the start of production in 1915 until 1948, underground block caving operations accounted for all of the ore production of Inspiration Consolidated Copper Co. Open pit development work began in 1947, and ore production from the open pit commenced in March 1948. Thus began the transition from underground to open pit mining which continued until August 1954. Since then, open pit mining has accounted for all ore production which presently averages 105,000 tons of ore and 75,000 tons of waste rock each week. Open pit mining operations at Inspiration is carried on in two separate pits-the Live Oak Pit and the Thornton Pit. The Live Oak Pit covers an area of approximately 1500x3000 ft and the Thornton Pit, 2500x2000 ft. The geographic centers of the two pits are 4000 ft apart and, at their nearest point, the surface slopes are 500 ft apart.

Jan 1, 1961

H. A. SCHWARTZ, ? Indianapolis, Inc. (written discussion§).-Re-ferring to the very interesting paper on the graphitization of white cast iron, the writer desires to present certain facts and conclusions, entirely, in harmony with those of the authors but which may he not without interest as furnishing additional evidence upon the same subject. The graphitization of white cast iron, being the basis of malleable

Jan 10, 1919

By C. H. Wayman, D. W. Fuerstenau

THE gas phase is one of the indispensible ingredients in flotation operations. Flotation depends on the collision of an air bubble and a mineral particle in a pulp and their ability to remain in contact long enough for adherence to take place. Before it is possible to understand the mechanics of air bubble-mineral particle encounter, it is necessary to learn more about the nature of bubbles themselves before collision with a mineral particle has taken place. To date, little work has been done on air bubbles in flotation systems. In 1945 Fahrenwald1 presented a study of the role of frothers on air bubbles and on aeration in flotation, and recently Wark and Sutherland2 discussed the work of Rosenberg3 in relation to flotation. The research reported in this present article was undertaken to investigate systematically the effect of bubble size and the concentration of certain reagents on the terminal velocity, shape, path, and drag coefficient of single bubbles in distilled water. Most of the work is concerned with the effect of a-terpineol on bubble motion in water, but studies were made with potassium chloride, potassium hydroxide, potassium ethyl xanthate, and potassium amyl xanthate.

Jan 6, 1958

By T. Guilford Smith

In presenting the subject of " Armored Turrets for Coast Defense " to this Institute, I am indebted to the Gruson Ironworks, a company incorporated under the laws of the State of New York, for valuable information, model and plans, by which I hope to make clear the construction and peculiar merits of this class of gun-protection. I wish it understood, however, that this is not an undeveloped and untried inventor's ideal, but an advanced and fully perfected system, which has long since passed the experimental stage and has been adopted by most of the foreign governments, after years of extensive experimenting and the expenditure of millions of dollars. The present seems an appropriate time to present the matter to the scientific public, since, for the first time, it is possible to produce these turrets in this country, of American material, and made by American workmen, owing to an agreement entered into between the Gruson Iron-works and the Fried. Krupp Grusonwerk, of Magdeburg-Buckau, Germany, where they have hitherto alone been manufactured. Although its full development and present perfection have been attained at the German works, it may be of historic interest to state that the first idea of using a rotating protected platform for large guns originated with Mr. Theo. Ruggles Timby, a native of the State of New York, who filed a caveat in 1843 for a " metallic revolving fort, to be used on land or water, and to be revolved by propelling engines located within the same and acting upon suitable mechanism." This was followed in 1862 by the issuance to Mr. Timby of two patents (No. 35,846 and No. 36,593) covering the ideas described in his caveat of 1843. The first practical application of this system was made on the " Monitor," of Civil War fame, Mr. Timby receiving $10,000 for two

Jan 1, 1901

By David Sinclair, Philip B. Bucky

THE dimensions and shapes of mine structures may at present be determined by (1) field experience, (2) structural calculations, and (3) barodynamic tests.§ None of these, however, provide information as to the stresses, their direction and distribution in a mine structure. For the design of pillars, the placing of openings relative to working places such as gangways, haulage levels, etc., this information is desirable. Photoelastic methods provide this and, while relatively new, their application in all engineering fields is assuming increasing importance. This paper, therefore, will present the method with a few applications to mining, and with sufficient reference for further study by the reader. PART I THE PHOTOELASTIC METHOD The photoelastic method of stress measurement determines the stress distribution in a two-dimensional model by optical means. It makes use of the fact that when a piece of isotropic transparent material, such as glass, celluloid, or Bakelite, is stressed and viewed in polarized** light a picture is seen which indicates by its color bands of light, or fringes, the magnitude of the stresses, their direction and their distribution. GENERAL EXPLANATION The stress at any point 0 in a structure (Fig. 1), may be resolved into two components, P and Q, each a pure tension or compression, at right angles to each other, called principal stresses.1 To fully identify the stress, the values of P and Q and their directions or angle [0] must be known.

Jan 1, 1940

By M. B. Mirza, F. D. Wright

Models of photoelastic material were made to simulate a mine roof that had cracked over the edge of the pillars and at the center of the span. Models were restrained from moving laterally outward so they acted as flat arches. Uniform loading was approximated by loading the models along the bottom at eight points spaced equally along the span. It was found that for models with depth to span ratios of 1:3 to 1:6, the maximum stress at the top of the center crack could be calculated directly by the following formula: Elastic stresses in mine roofs composed of sedimentary beds are usually computed by assuming that the immediate roof bed acts as a fully restrained beam uniformly loaded by its own weight and by overlying strata. Very little work has been done to analyze stresses in roof beds or beams which contain vertical (normal to the span) or nearly vertical cracks. Yet every mining engineer has walked safely under roofs that show such cracks. As far back as 1933, Bucky' made model studies of the effect of vertical cracks on the behavior of horizontal strata. He did not make any analysis of the stresses but did show that a cracked beam will stand safely under certain conditions, and also showed that a beam restrained at the ends can crack over the supports and in the middle without collapsing as long as the ends of the beam are not free to move laterally outward. The beam, or rather, part of the beam, acts like a flat arch and supports itself by pushing outward at its supports. In 1941 Evans2 treated analytically the problem of a beam cracked along so many planes perpendicular to the axis of the beam that no tensile stress can operate. He named this type of beam a "voussoir-beam" by analogy to the voussoir-arch. In 1962 ~a~cocks~ modified Evans's solution by including the effect of the shear stress component of the resultant force at the abutment. This paper gives the results of a photoelastic study of the stresses in a beam containing vertical cracks in the center of the span and over the supports. A

Jan 1, 1963

By F. M. Doyle-Garner, A. J. Monhemius

Hydrolytic stripping is the process whereby metal ions in a loaded solvent extractant are hydrolyzed by water, typically at 130°C to 200°C (265°F to 392°F). Equilibrium hydrolytic stripping tests were done on Versatic 10 solutions containing various metals, singly and in mixtures. Single solutions of Fe, Ni, Cu, Mg, and Mn precipitated [a]Fe2O3 Ni(OH)2 Cu2O + CuO, Mg(OH)2 and [?]Mn203 respectively, during hydrolytic stripping. Several mixtures containing iron precipitated magnetic spinel ferrites, MFe204. No other combinations formed mixed oxides. It is proposed that the mechanisms for hydrolysis and precipitation of iron in loaded Versatic solutions are similar to those for iron hydrolysis in aqueous solutions. Magnetic interactions between mixed carboxylate complexes are thought to be responsible for the homogenous nucleation of magnetic mixed oxides in preference to single oxides.

Jan 1, 1986

By Richard S. Culver

In spite of the widespread interest in rock bolt research, relatively little is known about the critical region surrounding the bolt anchor. In analyzing the stress distribution around an opening resulting from rock bolt support, it is commonly assumed that the bolt is fixed at a point far enough from the surface so that the anchor does not influence the performance of the bolt. Furthermore, a bolt anchor is assumed to per- form satisfactorily if it will hold the design load with a minimum amount of load relaxation, commonly called bleedoff. From the standpoint of the design engineer both of these assumptions are reasonable, but they ignore the fact that the extremely high stresses in the region of the anchor are capable of generating fractures in the rock. Lang1 estimated the bearing stresses for a slot and wedge anchor on a one-inch-diameter bolt to be as high as 125,000 psi. This paper describes a more thorough analysis of the magnitude of the stresses around the anchor and the nature of the potential fractures that might result. It should be emphasized that there are two types of anchor-associated fracturing which may occur. The more common form, particularly in soft rock, is severe localized crushing of the rock in the immediate vicinity of the anchor, which makes securing the anchor difficult and causes bleed- off. It is also possible to develop larger single fractures which propagate out from the anchor, affecting the strength of the entire rock mass. The formation of these larger fractures is of primary concern in this paper. In addition to estimating the contact stresses and pullout load for slot and wedge bolt anchors, Lang carried out an important study of rock bolt interaction which served as a basis for the experimental phase of this investigation. In the first phase of his tests, a plate of photoelastic plastic was compressed by a row of piano wire bolts, simulating the interaction of bolt stress fields to form a zone of uniform compression (Fig 1). To show the supporting effect of this beam, hr carried out another test series

Jan 1, 1968

The Committee on Valuation of the American Electric Railway Association, has had compiled a "Bibliography on Valuation of Public Utilities." The work was done by the library force of the American Society of Civil Engineers, and brings up to Dec. 23, 1915; a bibliography issued by the American Society of Civil Engineers on May 15, 1912. The Bibliography has been printed -and issued by the American Electric Railway Association, 8 West 40th Street, New York, N. Y., and may be obtained from its Secretary on the payment of 50 c. References are arranged under the following headings: General, Electric Light and Power, Gas Works, Mining, Railroads, Steam Power, Street and Inter-urban Railways, Telegraph and Telephone., Water Power, Water Works. References are given to the principal technical publications, to various works on the question, of valuation, to rules and regulations of Commissions and other official bodies, and to the proceedings of various societies. Undoubtedly the compilation is the most comprehensive that has yet been published.

Jan 7, 1916

By Albert Sauveur

(New York Meeting, February, 1913.) IT is delightful to read a technical paper like that of J. E. Johnson, The Effect of High Carbon on the Quality of Charcoal-Iron, presented in October, 1912, at the Cleveland meeting of the American Institute of Mining Engineers.1 The clear, simple, and straightforward manner in which he describes his experiments and results makes you feel as if you had been, so to speak, at his elbow during the course of his investigations, while his method of procedure is so rational that you can fairly anticipate each step in the logical sequence of the tests performed. The following notes suggested by Mr. Johnson's paper are presented here in the hope that they may help, if only a mite, towards the final solution of a problem of considerable scientific and industrial importance.

Jan 3, 1913