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By Lyman Moore

This Bureau of Mines report describes 2nd evaluates iron ore resources in California and Nevada and analyzes the California and Japanese iron ore markets in which these resources will be used. The competitive position of California-Nevada ores, in these markets, was estimated by comparing regional iron ore prices, production costs, and transportation costs with those of foreign suppliers. Resources were determined to be sufficient to produce the equivalent of 585 million tons of 64-percent iron pellets at a price of less than $15 per ton delivered at California ports. Much higher tonnage could be produced at higher prices. Iron ore requirement of the California iron and steel industry will increase to an estimated 15.9 million tons by the year 2000. A study of the iron ore production potential of California-Nevada deposits and of out-of- State sources indicated that this ore requirement can be supplied most economically by California-Nevada ores. Iron ore import requirements of the Japanese iron and steel industry will increase to an estimated 150.0 million tons by the year 2000. A study of price trends in this market indicated that very little California-Nevada iron ore will be sold in Japan after 1973 when existing sales contracts expire. Iron ore-exports might be economically possible if ore could be transported from California to Japan at ballast rates as backhaul on existing petroleum shipping.

Jan 1, 1971

ABSTRACTFor the binary system copper-lead two relationsEquation 1andEquation 2have been derived for the activities of copper and lead at compositions and absolute temperatures within the liquid region of the phase diagram.These relations give, with greater accuracy than is given by previously published relations, the activity-composition temperature variations for all regions of the phase diagram of interest to metallurgists.These relations are essentially simple forms of the Margules equations but with linear temperature dependence applied to their coefficients. This has been done in such a manner that a phase diagram obtained from these relations agrees well with the data available for this system. The methods of obtaining the relations and constructing a phase diagram from them are both given in detail. The enthalpies and entropies of mixing are compared with those derived by other methods.

Jan 1, 1971

By L. K. Eigenbrod

Throughout the mining industry, pneumoconiosis is one of the most severe occupational health problems being faced. The goal of completely eliminating pneumoconiosis as an occupational health hazard was underscored by the Federal Government with its enactment of Public Law 91-173 (Federal Coal Mine Health and Safety Act of 1969). Under this law, permissible dust level standards will be placed at 2 mg/m3 in mine atmospheres by December 30, 1972. The mining industry is thus faced with the tremendous technical challenge of achieving this level. Two basic questions can be raised with regard to this legislation. First, does a maximum dust concentration of 2 mg/m3 prevent the occurrence of pneumoconiosis? Secondly, can this dust standard be achieved using presently available methods and equipment? A precise answer to the first question has not yet been developed by the medical profession. Studies are continuing on the origin, prevention, and therapy of pneumoconiosis, and permissible dust levels could become even lower as medical evidence accumulates. The mining industry has addressed itself to the problems of dust con-tro1 for many years as related to personnel health, explosive mixtures, visibility, and machinery damage. Dust control methods being employed involve

Jan 1, 1971

By I. Weir-Jones

I. Introduction The experimental work described in this paper was carried out during 1967 and 1968 in an inclined reinforced concrete adit which had been driven during 1965 and 1966 to provide primary access for a new gypsum mine. The new mine was situated near the village of Sherburn-in-Elmet in central Yorkshire in an area of extensive post-glacial plains of deltaic and lacustrine origin. These plains cover a large area of this part of Yorkshire extending inland from the coast for a distance of about 35 miles. The gypsum deposit at Sherburn dates from Permian times and it is considered" to have been associated with the western-most edges of the ancient Zechstein Sea which was also responsible for the formation of the extensive evaporite deposits in north-east Yorkshire. The gypsum deposit, which varies in thickness from 10 to 15 feet, is extremely pure and it occurs quite close to the surface; in the Sherburn area the overburden is only 120 feet thick. The proximity of the deposit to the surface, however, tends to give a somewhat false idea of the magnitude of the problems associated with its extraction. These problems were all related to the nature of the overlying strata. As has already been mentioned, the surface deposits are post-glacial and they consist of an extremely large number of thin layers of varved clays, fine silts and sands extending down to a depth of 75 feet. From the bottom of the post-glacial deposits to the seam, a distance of about 45 feet, the strata consists of a succession of marls, weak sandstones, and siltstones, which although they are inherently incompetent materials, are appreciably stronger

Jan 1, 1971

By F. F. Aplan

For the past year, MBD has been engaged in a lively discussion on a name change for the Division. To complicate things, more than one name change has been proposed! There has been much discussion on the subject, as anyone who has attended the Annual MBD Business Meeting or read [jE] knows. The position of many of our members is well known. There is, however, one group that has not been heard from. These are the future members-the present students and those even younger who are yet to elect our profession. As one who has traversed the academic-industrial interface several times, I think I am qualified to speak for this group. Before going further I think it wise to state unequivocally that our Division should adequately represent our profession. The whole profession is just too small to chop into a plethora of pieces: "I'm not a mineral processing engineer, I'm an ore dresser-well, actually, I specialize in comminution, specifically in grinding, mostly in autogeneous grinding-primary autogeneous grinding that is-and my 'thing' is really iron ores, taconites, mind you!" Enough to confuse even those that keep the faith, and certainly we can't build a profession on such narrow pieces. Either an employer can hire a professional who knows the entire profession or he can't. As more and more companies search out opportunities in the mining and metallurgical fields and as environmental considerations bring into question even our technically well proven processes and procedures, there is a greater need than ever be- fore for a well-rounded mineral processing engineer well versed in all of the process possibilities. What is needed is one who can take an ore-or municipal trash for that matter-and produce there from a valuable product by the most appropriate means. It doesn't really matter if this is done physically, chemically or thermally.

Jan 1, 1971

By Georg Petersen

El Perú es un país rico en diversidad de metales empleados en los campos de la minería, metalurgia, orfebrería y artesanía durante los tiempos pre-históricos. Dichos metales son: oro (objetos laminados por martilleo, repujados, pulidos, vaciados, soldados y dorados), plata (objetos trabajados de la misma manera que los de oro), cobre (objetos en diversas formas, como son discos, recipientes, herramientas y armas, en muchos casos dorados y/o plateados) y el azogue (cinabrio usado preferentemente para pintar las caras de los guerreros, las máscaras de los fardos funerarios y las caras de las mujeres nobles, costumbre que se generalizó a principios de la época colonial). De otro lado, existen otros cuatro metales que se emplearon en cantidades pequeñas como: fierro, platino, plomo, estaño.

Nov 1, 1970

By Eberhard Rother

El presente trabajo describe el trabajo de perforación y disparo realizado en la mina de Toquepala. Debido a la configuración del depósito, el yacimiento de Toquepala debe ser trabajado por tajadas verticales. El espaciamiento entre taladros varía por diversos factores como la naturaleza de la roca, la configuración del terreno (cresta y talud de los niveles) y las condiciones de operación. En ese sentido, los taladros son cargados diariamente, exceptuando solamente los huecos húmedos con agua. Por ello, se debe analizar el carguío de taladros con explosivo, disparos primarios, perforación y los disparos secundarios.

Nov 1, 1970

By Pedro Miranda

El planeamiento de minas a cielo abierto es una operación compleja donde intervienen varios factores que deben ser aplicados con optimización para así obtener la mayor producción a menor costo. En ese sentido, el presente texto señala los factores que intervienen en el planeamiento de minas de Toquepala tales como: la ley mínima de explotación, ley mínima de explotación, talud, relación de desbroce y respecto a los controles de minado están: el control de minado por tonelajes, control de material extraído, control de tonelajes extraídos por categorías, control de almacenamiento, transporte, voladura y el control de las reservas disparadas.

Nov 1, 1970

By Wolfang Ladewg

Desde enero hasta agosto de 1965 se probó un prototipo del telémetro electro-óptico EOS de VES Carl Zeiss JENA, a través de las mediciones en unos 70 días. En ese sentido, el objetivo del presente texto es determinar la exactitud de medición, así corno la constante de adición y el alcance del EOS. Para ello, se midieron distancias geodésicos a base estandard en los campos de ensayo geodésicos de Potsdarn y en una red de ensayo determinada trigonométricarnente. La medición de las distancias se realizó en tres días, empleándose un reflector de siete prismas con sus correspondientes cuñas adicionales. Mientras que en los campos de ensayo geodésicos se midieron 19 distancias entre O, 1 y 7,5 km. Las mediciones se efectuaron en un espacio de tres meses en total con diferentes números de series

Nov 1, 1970

By Simon Strauss

El presente trabajo señala los factores que influyen en el precio de los ocho metales no ferrosos como el aluminio, cobre, estaño, molibdeno, níquel, plata, plomo y zinc en el Perú. En el caso de metales como el zinc, el precio varía a fines de la II Guerra Mundial, mientras que en el caso del aluminio, dado que existen bastantes depósitos de este, no existe escasez en la oferta. En el caso del molibdeno, debido a que los elementos de ferro-aleación tienden hasta cierto punto a ser sustituibles el uno por el otro, los precios juegan un rol importante en la determinación de la capacidad del mercado. Entre los otros elementos de ferro-aleación con los cuales debe competir el molibdeno se encuentran el tungsteno, el níquel y el vanadio. En el caso del plomo, la expansión de su demanda no se limita a su precio, sino a su desarrollo tecnológico. El níquel es un metal en cuya oferta hubo relativa escasez y en su demanda ha ocurrido un importante aumento en el consumo. El precio del estaño es hoy más de tres veces mayor a lo que fue durante la Segunda Guerra Mundial, y finalmente en el caso de la plata, que es el metal más caro, su mercado industrial es el más pequeño en tonelaje; pero no en valor.

Sep 1, 1970

By Carlos Loret de Mola

"El presente artículo describe una de las minas subterráneas de sal más antiguas denominada Wieliczka. Wieliczka es una pequeña villa que se encuentra a menos de 13 Kms. de Cracovia, la anterior capital de Poloniay el centro más antiguo de comercio europeo. La mina fue descubierta hace 1000 años aproximadamente. y su formación geológica consiste en grandes masas de sal gema de enormes dimensiones, cuyas labores mineras realizadas en los últimos mil años tienen más de 200 Kms. de galerías y cerca de 9'000,000 de metros cúbicos de cámaras excavadas. Fue excavada a mano y sin explosivos y se ha conservado a través de los siglos casi intactas."

Sep 1, 1970

By Enrique Folcini

El presente texto señala el proceso de la industria siderúrgica en América Latina y el contexto económico en que se desarrolló. La industria siderúrgica se impulsó a partir de la última I guerra mundial, y desde 1950 ha cuadruplicado su producción, a pesar de que el producto bruto de los países apenas alcanzó a duplicarse. Para los próximos años, se espera que la producción mundial tenga una leve desaceleración a causa de la parcial sobrecapacidad de producción existente en los países más desarrollados; de form que contribuirá el conocido fenómeno de la decreciente elasticidad de los consumos siderúrgicos a sus mayores niveles de ingresos.

Sep 1, 1970

By Joseph Cervik, J. H. Perkins

The Bureau of Mines has conducted desorption work on fine coal particles at near atmospheric pressure. An apparatus has been developed that uses a capacitance manometer to measure desorption of methane from coal particles up to 2 inches in diameter and pressures up to 1,000 psi. This will make it possible to duplicate the desorption process as it occurs in its natural under- ground environment.

Aug 1, 1970

By W. M. Merritts, Charles Findlay, Stephen Krickovic

Methane emission rates were studied in a Pittsburgh coalbed mine in northern West Virginia. A fullface boring-type continuous miner, equipped with a methane monitor, was used in the development of a set of eight main headings, one side of which was near old workings; the other side abutted virgin coal. Two air splits ventilated the section. Air volumes and methane percentages were recorded, and time studies of the miner were made during five consecutive operating days, during which a complete cycle of mining the headings and one line of related breakthroughs was accomplished. Methane emission rates increased significantly as mining progressed from the side near old mine workings toward the virgin area, and generally increased with coal extract ion. Mining in the heading immediately adjacent to virgin coal was interrupted quite frequently, owing to excessive methane concentrations at the face, despite adequate air volumes and acceptable methane concentrations in the immediate return airway.

Aug 1, 1970

By C. Fiore, A. Kok, W. C. Coningsby

Quarrying is a comparatively simple process which is open to certain economic pitfalls, One of these is the appropriate size of the equipment needed to meet demand.

Jul 1, 1970

By Gerhard Bischoff

El presente trabajo compara las contribuciones potenciales de las diferentes fuentes de energía primaria, es decir; petróleo, gas natural, carbón de piedra, lignito, fuerza hidráulica y minerales susceptibles a fisión nuclear, con el total de las existencias disponibles en el futuro.

Jul 1, 1970

By R. L. Rough, W. K. Overbey

The Bureau of Mines obtained samples of oil - reservoir rock from wells in Ohio , Pennsylvania , and West Virginia as part of an investigation of the susceptibility of petroleum reservoirs to secondary - recovery techniques . Illustrations and tables showing the geographic and stratigraphic sequence of the cored reservoirs and 40 tables of detailed lithologic descriptions of the reservoirs are presented . Information relevant to geologic surroundings , oilfield history , coring and well logging operations , and reservoir core analyses are referenced throughout the report .

Jun 1, 1970

By Luis Lizárraga

El presente texto señala la perforación diamantina como el método más adecuado y rápido para la exploración de minas. Este sistema permite tener un testigo del terreno atravezado del suelo y aunque es el más caro, es el único que provee de un núcleo continuo. En este núcleo o testigo se puede estudiar de forma objetiva la estructura, consistencia y naturaleza química de las rocas atravezadas, en especial de la roca encajonante adyacente al depósito mineral. Entre sus principales aplicaciones tenemos: la exploración y desarrollo de depósitos minerales, la explotación de depósitos en los cuales se requiere perforaciones a profundidades en las que los métodos de percusión resultan no aplicables, así como su aplicación en la industria del petróleo.

May 1, 1970

By Zuhair Mikdashi

El presente texto analiza comparativamente las industrias exportadoras minerales a través de las condiciones de la oferta, condiciones de la demanda, los productores y la estructura del mercado, precios, las tentativas gubernamentales por influenciar el mercado internacional del fierro y las disposiciones internacionales para organizar el mercado mundial de fierro y su relación con la OPEC.

Mar 1, 1970

By A. W. S. Schumann

G. H. HENDERSON INTRODUCTION It is a pleasure to have read Mr Schuman's wide ranging and highly informative paper and also to congratulate him. Before proceeding to give views on the use and preservation of coal in South Africa, it is perhaps apposite to look at the South African scene on the world canvas. Mr Schuman's figures in his Table I are highly revealing. The Table shows expected consumption, export and import demand in the year 1980 by the continents of the world. The Republic of South Africa is shown as one of only four exporting countries at that date, although in the interim, Australia has become an exporter and will continue to grow as an exporter of coal. Huge fields have been proved in recent years. There is reason to think that for some years, coal and its economical uses have been under-estimated. The importation of oil carries a constant question mark and the exciting possibilities expressed in the uses of Dranium a decade ago for power generation, appear to have met with some setback. Present indications are that breederreactors will be delayed until about 1990. The capital cost of such reactors, too, is enormous. By 1980 it has been estimated that 20 per cent of the energy required by the leading ten nations of the world will come from nuclear power, but 80 per cent would then remain for fossil fuels and hydro generation. COAL DEMAND AND USAGE It is of interest to record that coal production in all the countries of Europe has declined markedly in the last 25 years. This is due to competition from oil, gas and nuclear power and also for sociological reasons; but there are signs that efforts will be made to resuscitate, at least in some measure, the mining of coking coals for which there is a strong and growing demand. Possibly all hard coal now mined in Germany has coking properties and that country is self-sufficient in this commodity. Germany might perhaps consider selling coking coal to her neighbours and importing additional coal for power-raising purposes. It has been frequently stated in American publications that the coal reserves of the D.S.A. are sufficient for 1 000 years. What that means, I do not know, but it is at least an indication that America has huge reserves of coal. Domestic and export demand in the U.S.A. in 1968 exceeded production for the first time. In 1969, the United States' output amounted to some 556 million tons, an increase of less than 2 per cent on the previous year. The output achieved fell short of demand, domestic and export, by more than 7 000 000 tons. This has caused and is continuing to cause anxiety in the U.S.A. In many countries young men for a number of reasons, largely environmental and social, are not coming forward in sufficient numbers for mining requirements and the same pattern has revealed itself in the Republic. This is, indeed, alarming because mining men in large numbers will be required to meet the estimated tonnage requirements set out in the following Table: It is difficult to visualise the replacement of these coal requirements either by oil or by nuclear fuels. The coal must be mined and men are required for the purpose. Unless a greater section of the population is allowed to participate in the more responsible aspects of mining, there is a serious likelihood that demand will not be matched by output. In addition to local demand, a lively export trade is possible. Exports are dependent on the future capacity of the South African Railways and Harbours and on Government policy. An export figure of 10000000 tons per year during the decade can be visualised and this figure would raise total estimated sales production to a figure of over 100 000 000 tons in 1980. At this point, it is necessary to examine the desirability or otherwise of exporting coal. How much coal

Jan 11, 1970