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By R. W. Raymond

Jan 1, 1902

By Walter Harvey Weed

(Mexican Meeting, November, 1901.) Among the many causes of that perplexing featurc of mineexploitation, the unequal distribution of the ore, the influence of the country-rock upon the vein-contents has long beer1 accepted as an important factor in certain districts, but the general application of the theory has not been proved. It is now possible to obtain trustworthy data with which to test the theory, and either to confirm or to overthrow this time-honored

Jan 1, 1902

Jan 1, 1902

By Norberto Dominguez

In the year 1820 a commission, assisted by Sr. C. Fernando de Ainada, was appointed by Sr. Jose Ramon Mila de la Roca to report on the condition of the mining region of Parral, in the State of Chihuahua, Mexico, where in recent years the mines of Batopilas have reached an important development under American management. The object of the inquiry was to provide Sr. De la Roca with facts to support a project for reopening mines that two centuries before had produced a large amount of silver. Although this plan failed, many facts of interest in the history of the mines were presented.. Much of the report dealt with questions that had only local application or were restricted to the conditions of labor and equipment in the opening of the nineteenth century. The historical part is presented in the following paragraphs: Abstract of the Report. Notwithstanding the difficulty of forming a just estimate of the system of mines in this mineral group in the valley of Senor Sail Jose del Parral without an examination of each of them, that which we shall say in a general way will suffice to convey an idea of their value and of the urgent necessity of reopening them. If this is undertaken, we believe the results will be of the highest consequence to the Republic, as well as to this immediate locality. The group of the Villa del Parral covers the mineral territory in which the village of that name was located. Its moantains contain large metallic veins, from which, as from the trunk of a tree, depend others much more slender, locally called ,fibras, crossing and interlacing each other in many directions. The first and oldest of these very rich deposits of gold

Jan 1, 1902

By Walter G. Perkins

In the assay of copper-bearing material for gold and silver, the elimination of copper before the final cupellation is of course essential, because any copper left in the lead-button will carry gold into the cupel; and a method which will effectively remove the copper with the smallest amount of manipullation is desirable. The scorification method is often rendered long and tedious by the necessity of repeatedly re-scorifying the button— to say nothing of the risk of losing Au—Ag thereby incurred. An ore carrying, for instance, 10 per cent,. of copper and only 0.1 or 0.2 oz. gold per ton, cannot be scorified with accurate results, because so many portions would have to be taken in order to get enough gold for weighing. On the other hand, the crucible method, with potassic nitrate and nails, would not do at all in such a case, because all the copper would be reduced by the nails, and (if the charge were 0.5 A. T.) this would defeat cupellation, by causing cupel-absorption of gold. In matte-assays, more concentrated value permits the determination of gold from smaller portions, and thus diminishes the difficulty experienced with ores. The method here described has been severely tested, during use for more than a year, and hart never failed hitherto, in the assay of any ore or product to which it has been applied. It is not proposed as perfect for every variety of ore or matte—probably no method would be that; but it is believed that, intelligently used, with the modifications dictated by practice, it will give better results, with less expenditure of time and labor, than any other known to the writer.

Jan 1, 1902

By Walter R. Crane

PAGE I. Apparatus and Methods.......... 406 1. The Magnetic Circuit...........406 2. Apparatus Employed in the Traction-Method...... 406 a. The Coils............409 b. The Pole-Pieces..........409 3. Methods of Testing Fields Produced by Different Pole.Pices.. ..409 c. Testing with a Search.Coil........410 d. Testing with Iron-Filings and Glass Tube.. .. .410 4. General Forma of Pole-Pieces.........411 e. Flat Poles............411 f. Conical Poles........... 411 g. Spherical Poles...........411 h. Chisel-Edged (Chamfered) Poles.......412 II. Magnetic Fields...........412 5. Methods of Testinq for Magnetic Permeability...... 421 i. The Rod-Method..........423 j. Method Employed in These Experiments......424 k. Difference in the Results of the Two Methods..... 425 l. The Traction-Method.........427 m. Effect of Loosening the Charge.......430 n Corrections...........432 6. Theory.............433 o. Effect of Varying Weight on Tractive Force..... 434 p. Effect of Varying Pole-Distance.......436 q. Effect of Varying Magnetization.......436 T. Effect of Varying Size.. .......437 a. Summary,........... 441 III. The Relative Magnetic Permeability of Various Minerals,. 443 The form and strength of magnetic fields have attracted much attention. especially in connection with the designing of dynamo-electric machinery—an art which has been revolution-

Jan 1, 1902

By George Frederick Kunz

Mexico has been famous for its silver-mines ever since the Spanish conquest; but in respect to gems, although many varieties occur, yet only a few have been obtained in any important amount. Considering the extent of country in Mexico and ill the adjoining States of the Central American Republics, and the richness of mineral wealth that must surely exist there, our present knowledge of the occurrence of precious stones is remarkably small. The great prevalence of igneous rocks would lead us to anticipate the future discovery of many localities of gems and ornamental stones, when fuller scientific exploration shall have taken place.* At the present time the only gem-stone that is systematically mined in Mexico is opal, and the only important ornamental stone is tecali, the so-called Mexican onyx. In addition to these may be mentioned the pink garnet, or rosolite, found in one

Jan 1, 1902

By H. Le Chatelier

An evident connection exists between chemical and calorific phenomena: the most important, of our sources of heat, the combustion of coal, is nothing else than a chemical reaction. Not satisfied with this indefinite statement, investigators have attempted to establish a more precise correlation between these two orders of phenomena, and have questioned whether there be not a necessary connection between the possibility of a chemical reaction and the algebraic sign of the quantity of heat which it would call into play (i.e., liberate or absorb). This question possesses the highest interest for metallurgical chemists. But the study of it by experimental methods only could not completely elucidate it. To arrive at a definite solution, it was necessary to appeal to a science much more general than chemistry,—namely, that of energetics, which embraces all the physical sciences. We can place absolute confidence in its conclusions, because they rest upon a proposition which can scarcely be denied, namely, the impossibility of The main facts in the history of the development o‡ this field of Triassic coals have been already set before the Institute in the papers of Mr. Oswald J. Heinrich, a former member of the Institute and the superintendent of the mines at Midlothian. † From these and other references to the field, it appears that coal was known to exist here as early as 1701; for on the 10th of May that year Colonel Byrd reported to the Colonial Council of Virginia the discovery of coal. Coal was mined from 1770 to 1780; but the amount shipped is unknown. It was much used in Richmond at this early date for gratefires. In 1789 shipments were made to northern ports. During the first half of the century just passed, mining operations attained in this field their greatest development, the number and extent of the collieries and the tonnage of coal raised per annum being greater for that period than for any similar period since. The maximum annual output exceeded 100,000 tons, while in two years only since the Civil War has the amount of coal raised exceeded 50,000 tons. This field covers about 150 sq. in. Its outline and the position of the strata in which the coal-outcrops occur are shown on the accompanying map, reproduced from the latest survey by the U. S. Geological Survey. Mining has been carried on along the margins of the area, often in the primitive manner in vogue at the beginning of operations, by means of shafts and slopes, usually too small in cross-section to permit the proper working of the beds. Most of the output has been won from

Jan 1, 1902

By Miguel Bustamente

In 1890 I mas manager of a mining enterprise in the State of Michoacan. The ores were composed principally of iron pyrites (much decomposed), in a quartz matrix, with native gold in very irregular grains. Some portions, however, carried their metallic value in a matrix of calcite arid siderite. The mill in which the ores were treated consisted of two 800-lb. stamps, two amalgamating-plates, four pans, two automatic washers, two Frue vanners, and the necessary accessories for assaying, retorting and refining gold. The plant, originally erected with American capital, and directed by competent Americans, passed in 1890 into the hands of Mexican owners. On taking charge of the business I found on hand a large amount of ore assaying 35 grammes of gold per metric ton (about 1 oz. Troy per ton of 2000 lbs.); but the company was losing money, and was about to abandon the business. Obviously, the difficulty lay in the treatment of the ore. The extraction of gold scarcely reached one-tenth of the assayvalue ; the loss of mercury was considerable; and high freight; charges excluded the alternative of exporting the ores. This situation naturally suggested that amalgamation was not applicable to these ores, and that a more appropriate method must be adopted. The cyanide- and chlorination-methods had been tried already, without practically satisfactory results. For the first few months I employed a combined system, extracting a part of the gold by direct amalgamation, and cyaniding the concentrates. This saved 32 per cent. of the assay-value, but the cost of milling still exceeded the proceeds. Meanwhile I observed

Jan 1, 1902

By R. W. Raymond

Richard Pennefather Rothwell, was born May 1, 1836, at Oxford, Upper Canada (now the province of Ontario). His father, Rev. John Rothwell, was a native of County Meath, Ireland, where the family (originally, no doubt, a Scottish one) still holds large estates, under a grant from William and Mary. John Rothwell was graduated at Trinity College, Dublin, and became a clergyman of the Established Church. He married Elizabeth Garnett, of Athearn Castle, Ireland, and subsequently came to Canada. It is said that he was a man of liberal views combined with sterling piety, an enthusiastic sportsman and yachtsman, and a pastor who refused for many years to accept any remuneration from his parishioners. After preliminary education, the subject of this sketch entered Trinity College, Toronto, with the intention of studying law; but a year later he resolved to become a civil engineer, and entered the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute at Troy, N. Y., where he was graduated, with high standing, as civil engineer, in 1858. He then went to Paris, and entered the Imperial School of Mines, where, by reason of the proficiency he had already acquired in civil engineering, he was able to finish in two years and a half the full three-year course, and to take the degree of Engineer of Mines. In 1861 he took the "practical courses" in mining and ore-dressing at the Mining Academy of Freiberg, Saxony. After traveling in Italy, etc., he went in 1862 to London, where, for the purpose of familiarizing himself with business methods, he entered the offices of W. T. Henley, a manufacturer of wire

Jan 1, 1902

By R. W. Raymond

Samson Jordan was born at Geneva, Switzerland, June 23, 1831. At the age of 20 years he entered the Ecole Centrale des Arts et Manufactures, at Paris, from which he was graduated with high honors in 1854. After some months of service with the Compagnie du Chemin de Fer du Nord, he was employed (upon the recommendation of his former instructor, Prof. Burat, who had recognized his remarkable ability) at the mines of Portes, belonging to the Société de l'Elairage au Gaz et des Hauts Fourneaux, etc., of Marseilles, and subsequently to construct the St. Louis iron blast-furnaces of that Co. After finishing this work, he remained at Marseilles as a member of the directory of the Co., particularly connected with the development of its mines. In 1862 he became the general advisory engineer of the Co., and still later (1873) its general manager (Administratet~r), a position which he retained until his death, February 24, 1900. He became subsequently Administrateur of other important French industrial enterprises, including those of the Compagnie des Naut Fourneaux, Forges et Aciéries de Denain et Anzin, and the Compagnie Banco-Belge des Mines de Somorrostro ; and he was also, at various times, President of the Société technique du Gaz, Vice-President of the Comité des Forges de France, mepber of the Council of the Société d'Encouragement pour l'Industrie nationale. In all these positions, it is the unanimous testimony of his colleagues that he was no mere ornamental figurehead, but a profoundly wise, practical and industrious laborer and adviser, both patient and keen in the mastery of details, yet at the same time competent to apprehend the wider bear-

Jan 1, 1902

By E. Nelson Fell

As this plant is the first ever erected in British Columbia for the treatment of tailings by the cyanide process, and as the ores of this, mine are of a character not unusual among gold-ores of this Province, it is probable that a description of the principal features of the plant, and of the methods employcd in its operation, may be interesting. These works were designed after a careful study of the process, in a small experimental plant, for a period of six months. During this period ten percolation-tests on charges of tailings of 1100 lbs. each, eight percolation-tests on similar charges of concentrates, and twenty-six tests 011 concentrates in a revolving barrel, were made, besides laboratory-experiments. The ore consists of a quartz gangue, containing a little lime and variable quantities of the sulphidcs of iron, lead and zinc. The following figures, giving the analyses of the ore before milling, and of the tailings after milling, which constituted the material to be cyanided, are based on the daily samples taken during February and March, 1901.

Jan 1, 1902

Jan 1, 1902

By T. A. Rickard

The presentation to the Institute, eight years ago, of the paper of Pogepny on " The Geilesis of Ore-Deposits " has borne fruit in much fresh investigation, as is evidenced, for example, by the group of very valuable papers, by distirlguished members of the United States Geological Survey, read at the Washing-

Jan 1, 1902

By William P. Blake

IN southern Arizona and in Mexico the word caliche is in general use to denote a calcareous formation of considerable thickness and volume found a few inches, or a few feet, beneath the surface-soil, upon the broad, dry, gravelly plains and mesas. In western South America the same name is applied to the beds of crude soda-niter (Chili saltpeter). While these deposits of South America and of Arizona are totally different in composition, and have nothing in common, except that both occur in layers in the strata near the surface, it is probable that an explanation of the origin of the calcareous beds may equally apply to the accumulation of sodaniter and other deposits of easily soluble minerals. But the name, taken from the Latin, Calx, is more appropriate to the calcareous beds than to those of niter. Caliche has a wide distribution in the arid regions of Arizona and Mexico. It is usually hidden from view by a slight covering of soil; but it is easily found by digging, and is often revealed by a flow of water during heavy rains. It is practically a continuous sheet, from three to fifteen feet thick, of earthy limestone or travertine, through which the smaller plant-roots find their way with difficulty. The presence of this comparatively impervious layer of cemented earth may account for the absence of trees, or of the larger shrubs, over wide areas. The shrubs which gain a foothold are those whose roots do not extend far downwards, and which do not require much water, such as Larrea Mexicana and the [Cactaceoe]. If trees are planted, it is necessary to break up the caliche by blasting, or at least to crack the upper layers. The top of the caliche is more dense and solid than the lower portions. The surface of this top crust, or layer, is comparatively smooth, though undulating, while the lower portions, under the crust, are irregular, cavern-

Jan 1, 1902

By J. B. Woodworth

Under the above title it is desired to bring to the attention of assayers a short-cut method which has been perfected by Mr. A. S. Warren, of Buffalo, and the writer; has been used several years at three " Lake copper " refineries in occasional alternation with the regular " combination," or a wet and fire," assay; and has proved more rapid, and rather more accurate than the latter on all refined copper—namely, the direct cupellation of the silver chloride (+gold) precipitate, without scorification. No claim of priority is made for this direct method, as it has suggested itself to many others, and was mentioned by Mr. Warren in the symposium of assayers' results brought together in 1895 by the Secretary," after the plan and suggestions of Dr. A. R. Ledoux.† Lately, this important subject of assaying copper-materials seems to have been re-opened for discussion. The shortening of time by 'the direct method is so considerable (nearly 20 minutes on a batch)—to say nothing of the saving

Jan 1, 1902

By S. F. Emmons

IT was said by many who discussed Professor Posepny's admirable paper on the " Genesis of Ore-Deposits," read at the Chicago meeting of the Institute, in 1893, that its most valuable feature was the clear distinction which it drew between the influence upon ore-deposits of the "vadose " circulation of waters descending directly from the surface, and that of the deep underground circulation of waters generally coming from the depths, and assumed by the author to be ascending through more or less open spaces under the influence of heat. A little later the effect of the oxidizing action of the vadose circulation upon ore-deposits was ably and exhaustively treated by Prof. R. A. F. Penrose, in a paper on " The Superficial Alteration of Ore-Deposits "f-the only one, so far as I know, which has been exclusively devoted to this important subject. My own first detailed study of ore-deposits was made at Leadville, in 1880, at a time when almost the only minerals visible in those deposits were in oxidized forms. That this form was the result of the alteration of earlier sulphides by surface-waters had to be proved at the time by induction or analogy, the general correctness of which was, however, abundantly confirmed by subsequent developments. Thus I was early impressed with the importance of distinguishing, in the study of an ore-deposit, the alteration-products, resulting from the action of oxidizing waters descending from the present surface, from the earlier-formed sulphides; and, assuming that the latter were primary or original, I called the former secondary. I also went so far as to say$ with regard to oxidized ores passing into sulphides in depth "So generally is this accepted as a rule in ore-deposits that it would require special demonstration to prove beyond a doubt that the native metals or their

Jan 1, 1902

By H. M. Howe

It has seemed to the writer that one important, and indeed sufficient reason, for our slow progress in learning the relation between the chemical composition and the physical properties of cast-iron, has been that the problem has not been attacked properly. It would be well to select the most probable working hypothesis which we can find, and proceed to test that hypothesis by comparison with observed facts, and by making new observations specially designed for such a test. Our first step, then, is to select the most probable working hypothesis ; and to attempt this selection, to state the hypothesis and its immediate corollaries, and to take some first steps toward testing it, is the object of the present paper. Its chief purpose is to bring the hypothesis to the attention of those who are more familiar with the evidence than the writer can pretend to be, and in a better position both to present new evidence and to discuss it. The hypothesis here selected is, that composition governs properties in the case of cast-iron, in the same general way and for the same reasons as in the case of steel, mutatis mutandis. This hypothesis, which of course makes no claim to originality, certainly seems reasonable and probable; its exposition and discussion are made easy by our existing knowledge of the constitution of normal or " carbon " steel; it therefore seems worthy of consideration.

Jan 1, 1902

By Anthony F. Lucas

Certain geological indications at Glady's station, four miles south of Beaumont, on the Sabine and East Texas railway (a branch of the Southern Pacific) induced me to undertake a thorough test of that locality by means of a well. I had been making reconnoissances for nearly two years in that part of Texas, before deciding upon this supreme effort. Three previous attempts had been made in the same place: one in 1894 by Messrs. Sharp & Co.; one in 1896 by Mr. J. Looney; and one in 1898 by Messrs. Savage Bros. They had all failed to pass though the immense thickness (500 ft.) of quicksand which underlies the surface soil, clay, etc. At first, I employed the system of boring which I had previously used in the Louisiana salt-deposits.* But I soon found that this method was inadequate, without modification, to deal with the quicksand. Accordingly, I adopted the use of large and heavy castings, and pipes of 12, 10, 8, 6 and 4 in. diameter, successively telescoped one into the other. Boring was begun by Messrs. Hamill Bros., of Corsicana, contractors, about the middle of October, 1900; and on January 10,1901, after many difficulties, a layer of rock containing marine shells was reached, at the depth of 1160 ft. For 150 ft. immediately above, the drill had passed through layers of sandstone and concretions of limestone. At this time there was about 600 ft. of 4-in. pipe, weighing at least 6 tons, in the well; and this, together with the next (6-in.) casing above, was filled with water. When the rock was penetrated the well " blew out," lifting the whole of the 4in. pipe. Mr. Hamill was on the top of the 60-ft. derrick when

Jan 1, 1902

By William P. Blake

The ancient city of Guanajuato, the capital of the State of that name, has been built up and sustained chiefly by the milling industry based upon the veins of the Veta Madre and La Luz. It is distant about twelve hours, by rail, from the City of Mexico. Its elevation above the sea is about 6300 ft., and it has a salubrious climate. The population, at the date of my visit in 1891, was estimated at from 80,000 to 100,000 persons. The place is justly celebrated for the antiquity, depth and extent of the mines, the magnitude of the deep shafts, and the enormous total yield of the district in silver and gold, which is comparable with that of the Comstock Lode in the United States. Several important public institutions are located at this center. The State office for the records of claims and of the statistics of mining and production is known as the Deputacion de Mineria. The Mining College, with its fine collection of ores and minerals from the mines of the region, is highly interesting to mineralogists. A mint for the coinage of silver, but not of gold, coins from four to twelve millions of' silver dollars annually. The silver received at the mint is melted in an open-hearth furnace, and is ladled out and cast into long and thin bars, which are rolled down to the proper thickness for the blanks. The bars contain some gold which is not parted. There is an export of dore bars to Germany, amounting in value to from $1,000,000 to $1,500,000 annually. There were, in 1891, upwards of forty reduction-works in and about the city where the silver ores were treated, chiefly by the ancient patio method. In these works were 65 Chilean mills, 301 arrastres of large size, and 936 of smaller dimensions. There were 36 steam engines, but mule-power was generally used at the ar-

Jan 1, 1902