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By John Naughton

At the General Electric ResearchLabora-tories, we have been interested in the iron-manganese system and the effect of hydrogen on the properties of these alloys. Dr. H. H. Uhlig previously has presented some of these results.' We wish now to offer some other of the data that have a bearing on the subject of this symposium. In the determination of hydrogen in the iron-manganese system by any heating Method we are presented with the problem of the evaporation of volatile manganese and the consequent adsorption of hydrogen by this evaporated metal. It seems wise. therefore, to extract gas at as low a temperature as feasible. Consequently we chose the vacuum or hot extraction method for the analyses of these alloys. The apparatus used is shown in Fig. I. The design is a modification of the apparatus described by Holm and Thompson. To limit loss of hydrogen, samples are stored in a chamber immersed in liquid air. We recommend this procedure whenever there is a question of loss of hydrogen at room temperature. Thence they are moved to the quartz furnace by means of a small magnet, where they are heated by induction to 700' to 800°C. The extracted gas is removed by the circulating pump and placed in the known volume VI (or V2). The circulating pump has been described.3 It is so designed that in spite of the fact that the outlet portion of the pump is part of the known volume, this volume is affected neither by the speed of pumping nor by the pressure of stored gas. The pump also serves to circulate the gases for analysis. The analytical system consists of a

Jan 1, 1945

By Wayne S. Cavender

During the past year, geochemical prospecting appears to have come of age as an exploration method, and its acceptance by the mining industry is widespread. There is a growing recognition that applied geochemistry is a scientific tool and must be performed and interpreted by scientific personnel who are trained in its utilization. At present, most personnel training is done by geochemical departments in government organizations and industry groups. Most schools in the United States and Canada do not offer geochemical training, particularly at graduate levels, due to faculty limitations, lack of budgetary support and the erroneous impression that applied geochemistry is not sufficiently academic. As a result, some companies have found it expedient to send selected personnel to European schools for advanced training. A critical personnel shortage now exists will probably continue into the near future. Indications are that the rate of development of new geochemical techniques has levelled off, and the probability of new breakthroughs is not high. Present research is essentially limited to efforts by government agencies and a few private companies. Progress has been the most rapid in the development of analytical techniques, but the need remains for investigation into sampling technology and the development of more quantitative methods for the interpretation of geochemical results. Geochemists need a better understanding of the numerous physical and chemical factors which affect and control primary and secondary dispersion phenomena in all geologic environments. Detailed studies must be made of the relationship between geologic, geochemical and geophysical factors. With better interpretive techniques, the return on the geochemical exploration dollar will increase.

Jan 2, 1968

I. PRESIDING OFFICERS. At all Business meetings of the Institute the President, or, in his absence, the Vice-President, or, in the absence of both of them, any other member of the Board of Directors to be chosen by the meeting, shall preside. At all other meetings of the Institute the President of the Council or, in his absence, one of the Vice-Presidents, if present, shall preside II. ORDER OF BUSINESS. At each Business meeting of the Institute the order of business shall be as follows 1. Reading of minutes of preceding meeting. 2 Report of the President. 3. Report of the Treasurer. 4. Report of the Secretary. 5. Election of Directors. 6. Election of Members of the Council. 7. Reports of Standing Committees. 8. Reports of Special Committees. 9. Special Orders 10. Miscellaneous business. This order of business may be changed by a vote of a majority of the Members and Associates present in person or by proxy. The usual parliamentary rules shall govern all meetings of the Institute except in cases otherwise provided by the Constitution or the By-Laws. At all sessions of the Institute other than business meetings, the order of proceedings and the time of adjournment, shall rest in the discretion of the presiding officer

Jan 1, 1923

By M. P. Boss

Of the two methods of mechanical reduction—that of percussion and that of abrasion—it is not easy to say which was first employed by primeval man. The stone hammer and the flat or hollowed stone used for grinding are found together in the remains of prehistoric periods. But the use of the maray, or bucking-stone, developed from the hammer, was probably introduced later than that of crude millstones. Diodorus Siculus, the Roman historian of the first century B. c., mentions such millstones as used in the mines of Egypt to pulverize material which had been previously broken in a mortar. The invention of the arrastra for fine grinding is declared by some authorities to have been made by Bartolomeo de Medina, at Pachuca, Mexico, about A. D. 1557—which is quite probable. Being the first to amalgamate silver on anything like a business scale, he must have felt the necessity for oregrinding apparatus of greater capacity than the old primitive millstones; and the arrastra was thus the natural successor of the millstone. It is very unfortunate that the archives of Pachuca, which has made so much history in ore-treatment, were destroyed in some one of the many insurrections for which, also, the place is renowned. The first application of the stamp to the crushing of rock is asserted by some writers to have been the invention of a Saxon nobleman named Von Maltitz, about the year 1505. Better authenticated reference, however, is made to one Paul Gronstetter, a native of Schwarz, and called an ingenious worker, who, in the year 1519, established at Joachimsthal a process of wet stamping and sifting. Two years later, a larger plant was established at the came place. It is said that he had previously introduced the same device at Schneeberg. How much of the invention was due to Gronstetter is not certain;

Jan 1, 1902

By Adolf Gurlt

It has long been known that minute quantities of foreign substances, when alloyed with steel, are capable of materially altering its physical properties. Thus, half a century ago, Faraday and Stodart, in England, discovered in the famous Indian steel, known as " wootz," small quantities of aluminum, from 0.0728 to 0.693 per cent., and attributed its extraordinarily good quality to the presence of such minute quantities of that metal. Since aluminum is now produced by electrolytic means on a large scale and at low cost, its addition to cast-steel has been frequently recommended of late. Chromium was alloyed with steel fifty years ago by the celebrated French metallurgist, Berthier, of Paris, and has recently been successfully applied to the same purpose by Holtzer, of Terre-Noire. In 1860 titanium was alloyed with crucible steel by Robert Mushet, of Coleford, the alloy containing up to 0.50 per cent. of titanium, which was extracted from Norwegian ilmenite. The titanium-steel was much vaunted by him for its excellent qualities. Rhodium, a very rare metal of the platinum series, was maintained by Berthier to improve steel materially in strength and hardness. Manganese has always been held by Sheffield steel-melters to provide steel with excellent qualities, and this influence was quite recently investigated by H. M. Howe and L. Campredon. Nickel was tried as an addition by Berthier, not to speak of gold, silver and platinum ; and nickel-steel has recently been brought into prominence by J. Riley and others, who recommend it for its great strength and toughness, particularly as material for armor-plates.

Jan 1, 1894

ALL the ores of any kind whatsoever, even though they be semiminerals and may be perfect in their qualities, have to be recognized by experienced and good sorters. These men must have a detailed as well as a general experience of the metals so that in this first preparation, which is most important, they may know how to distinguish the good from the bad, and to know what is rock and what is ore. They must use patience in this, breaking and cutting and king the ore from the earth. They must separate the good ore from the bad, avoiding as far as possible every occasion for poisoning it by traces of other ores, evil stones, or other things inimical to its nature. Finally, with the judgment of the eye and with tools, and, in the end, by roasting it with fire and then quenching it with water, or by washing and re-washing it, the ore must be made as pure as possible in order to join it better with the companions that seem to be the most beneficial for its needs. Ores would be useless stones without smelting. Therefore, when it is certain that such ores are of divers elemental mixtures, aid must be given to each one according to the evil ingredients [47v] that harm it. But because such evil qualities are things that are often not apparent to the eye, such as too great a burning, or too much earthiness so that when they are alone the fire burns these ores before it melts them, it is necessary to temper them with other materials. To do this it is necessary to have the ability

Jan 1, 1942

By Stanislaus Skowronski

THE melting of cathode copper, usually containing 99.98+ per cent. Cu, would appear to be a simple matter. Owing to the well known affinity of copper for sulphur, however, so much sulphur is absorbed by the copper during the operation that a long and expensive refining process is required to remove it, and the final product is inferior in purity and lower in electrical conductivity than the original cathode copper. The furnace operation, as now conducted, includes the following stages: 1. Charging the cathodes into the furnace. 2. Melting the cathodes. 3. Oxidizing period-saturating the copper with cuprous sub-oxide and bringing the metal to the condition known as "set copper;" this is now done by blowing air into the molten bath of metal. 4. Reduction period, otherwise known as "poling," whereby the oxygen previously added is removed by covering the molten bath completely with coke or charcoal and introducing large poles of green wood; this reduces the cuprous sub-oxide, bringing the copper to the "tough pitch" stage ready for casting. 5. Casting Period. Many experiments have been made to obviate the long periods of oxidation and subsequent reduction, with no success. While the copper first, cast will be good, as indicated by the set surface of the bars, it is impossible to hold it to the "tough pitch" condition, and long before the whole charge has been poured the copper will become "overpoled," entailing numerous difficulties. Sulphur has always been blamed by the furnace men as the reason why this refining process is necessary, yet the literature on the subject does not sufficiently emphasize how small a proportion of sulphur will ruin copper for practical purposes.

Jan 3, 1918

Low metal prices prevailing at the beginning of 1950 stimulated the search for improved mining methods. More experience was gained during the year with such new developments as the jackleg drill, millisecond delays as applied underground, trackless mining, and Diesel powered equipment. One of the outstanding innovations in mining practice was the starting of the Round Mountain "dry land gold dredging operation." The Government is now inviting the mining industry to open up every available source of new metal supply and this circumstance will undoubtedly speed the development of new machines. New methods will also result but it is doubtful if economic efficiency will be at its peak.

Jan 2, 1951

By John G. Hall

The unstable metal market during 1949, with resulting lower metal prices, has focused every mine operator's attention on the problem of reducing operating costs. Improvement in mining methods, use of modern mechanical mining equipment, and increasing the efficiency of the labor force are the tools with which we will have to work. Careful planning is necessary to coordinate all phases so that no one phase is overdone. A mine may become over-mechanized if, for instance, capital charges against new equipment exceed the savings in labor costs, or where a large enough tonnage is not produced. The cooperation of labor is essential to any mechanization program. There have been too many instances where mechanization and improvements have done nothing more than make up for a decrease in labor efficiency, thus bringing the production of labor back to its old standard. The operator has gained little and labor has gained only a "softer job." In any mechanization program there are gains to be had by both the operator and labor. By the efficient application of modern equipment and improved mining methods the operator should gain by decreased costs, and labor may profit by receiving a share of these decreased costs.

Jan 8, 1950

By R. Lingle, E. Hardin, M. Board, H. Pratt, W. Ubbes, M. Voegele, N. Barton

A 2 m. cube of jointed, Pre Cambrian biotite gneiss was subjected to uniaxial and biaxial loading at ambient and elevated temperature. The effects of different boundary conditions on the following rockmass properties were investigated: deformation modulus, joint stiffness, dynamic modulus, coefficient of thermal expansion, thermal diffusivity and conductivity, and joint permeability. Test conditions ranged between 0 and 6.9 MPa uniaxial and biaxial load, and 12° to 74°C mean block temperature. The tests were performed as part of the Office of Nuclear Waste Isolation program for evaluating site charterization test methods for measuring the hydro-thermal-mechanical properties of rock masses. The fracture flow experiments discussed in this paper were described in detail in a similar paper given to this symposium in 1981 (Voegele, 1981). DEFORMATION MODULUS Horizontal deformation measurements oriented parallel to the loading direction were made at the block surface. Several instrument types were employed: surface short-rod extensometers, bonded strain gauges, vibrating wire strain gauges and the Whittemore caliper strain gauge. Two vertical and two slant borehole extensometers measured vertical displacement. Loading history, especially during uniaxial loading, was critical to interpretation of observed deformation and fracture flow data. This important tendency has been observed in other large-scale laboratory (Bandis, 1980) and field tests (Pratt, et al., 1977). Excavation of the block resulted in minimal disturbance to the intrinsic condition of the sample. Even so, permanent, unrecovered "set" was imparted to the block beginning with the first low-stress biaxial load cycle to 3.45 MPa (Table 1). Unloading

Jan 1, 1982

The Library of the above-named Societies is open from 9 A.M. to 9 P.M. on all week-clays, except holidays, from September 1 to June 30, and from 9 A.M. to 6 P.M. during July and August. The Library contains about 55,000 volumes, including sets of technical periodicals and the publications of scientific and technical societies. Members of the Institute, with few exceptions, are forced to spend a portion of their time in localities isolated from sources of information. To these the Library can render valuable service through correspondence; letters requesting information will receive special attention. The Library is prepared to furnish references and copies of articles on mining and metallurgical subjects; to determine the existence of mining-maps, and to furnish general information as to the geology and mineral resources of all countries. All communications should be made as definite as possible so that the information received may be what is desired and not include collateral matter which may not be of interest. The time spent in searching for such collateral matter will be saved, and the information will be sent more promptly and in more usable shape. The members of the Institute can be of service to the Library by forwarding copies of mining-reports, maps privately issued, and similar material, which will be classified, indexed, and made available to other members. Suggestions for additions to the Library, either by purchase or personal solicitation as gifts, will be welcomed. It is hoped that members while in the city will use the Library freely, and assurance is, given that most careful service will be rendered to them.

Jan 9, 1913

By B. J. Kochanowsky

The primary use of a portable crusher, i.e., a crusher mounted on crawlers or tires, in the rock and mining industries is to reduce costs by permitting the substitution of conveyor belt haulage for truck or track haulage. The usual sequence of operations in surface mining is drilling, blasting, loading, haulage, and crushing. Haulage is normally accomplished by truck or track-mounted cars, the latter method being used for the longer distances. However, by using a portable crusher in the pit, the sequence of operations would be changed so that the crushing stage would occur before haulage (Fig. 1). Such a sequence would permit the use of conveyors to replace the more expensive truck or track haulage methods. Since most quarry and open pit operations normally require a crushing stage, the only additional costs incurred will be due to the investment required to purchase or construct a mobile arrangement for a crusher. But this factor has to be weighed against the advantages to be gained by conveyor haulage. As shown in Fig. 2, transportation of material by belt conveyor over short distances is less ex- pensive than by truck. The inclination of the belt has no effect on belt speed; consequently, the hourly tonnage moved remains the same. Conversely, the output rate of trucks as expressed in tons or ton- miles per shift decreases proportionally to the haulage speed, which is considerably slowed by the steepness of the road (Fig. 3a). Although maximum possible grades and maximum economic grades of haulage are greater for a belt than for a truck (over the same total lift), the longer haulage distances favor the use of trucks.

Jan 12, 1960

By H. C. Rolseth, R. H. Kohler

Jet channeling made its entry into the granite industry in 1955 and quickly gained acceptance as an economical method of quarrying. Developed by the Linde Division of Union Carbide Corp., this method employs a small rocket-jet burner with a high-temperature, high-velocity exhaust flame that causes granite to disintegrate. It can thus make continuous vertical cuts to free large blocks from granite formations. The Thermal Spalling Process The effect of a thermal device on rock depends upon the rock's spallability. In simplest terms, spalling is the decrepitation resulting from differential expansion of rock crystals due to thermally induced stresses.1 the individual rock properties influencing the spalling characteristic are so numerous and their interaction is so complex that it has so far been impossible to predict with accuracy the reaction of any particular rock to a high-temperature source of heat. Perhaps computers will eventually make such predictions possible, but for the present it is necessary to impose the thermal shock conditions on a sample of the rock to establish its spalling characteristics. The properties most favorable to a high degree of spallability are: (1) Large linear thermal expansion at temperatures below 700º C. (2) High thermal diffusivity at temperatures below 400º C. (3) Equigranular interlocking structure with little or no fine-grained clay or mica alteration products. (4) No significant amounts of soft, low-melting, or elastic minerals or materials which yield after thermal decomposition.

Jan 7, 1969

By Albert Burch

The theory of the present law with reference to lode locations contemplates the existence upon the surface of mineral-bearing veins which have clearly marked boundaries, and which can be so readily traced that a locator may immediately mark the boundaries of his 600 by 1,500 ft. claim in such a way that the vein will 'pass through both of its end-lines. It also supposes that, having discovered such a mineral-bearing vein, the locator will at once post a notice upon such discovery, mark the boundaries of his location in such a manner that they can be readily traced, and from that time forward have absolute title to the ground embraced within such boundaries, as against every person except the United States. For initiating title to placer ground, the law presupposes the discovery of a valuable mineral deposit; but not necessarily in place, as in the case of lode claims; and the location must be made to conform "as nearly as may be" to the legal subdivisions of the United States public land survey. When the placer law was extended to include the acquisition of title to oil lands, no exception was made as to the necessity for the discovery of valuable mineral in advance of location! Practice under the Present Law Nature did not make all veins clearly defined and readily traceable upon the surface; nor did she, in all cases, leave upon the surface which overlies important ore bodies such outcrops as would in them-selyes be considered valuable; and the citizen of the United States has in the past endeavored to steer his course between the mandates of the law and the limitations of nature. Until quite recently, it has been possible to obtain a patent for any-

Jan 1, 1915

SINCE I promised you above when speaking of the melting of metals to teach you to make small crucibles and shells for melting, I do not wish to fail in my promise. For, in truth, since they are instruments that are much used for this procedure, they increase the work if they are not good, and often cause great extra expense as well as necessitating repetition of the work. If they are good they save everything. Therefore, if you have to make them, do it so that they, are greatly aided by art. It is first necessary to have the clay of a good nature, that is, resistant to the force of the fire by its own natural virtue, either when it is lean or when its viscousness is mixed with much talc, and whether it is yellow or white. This should be well freed from small stones and beaten well with an iron, and then thoroughly mixed by hand. With this should be mixed an eighth part of finely ground and sifted iron scale,* and also some [145] young ram's-horn ashes. These things should be well mixed together by hand and by beating them. If this clay should not be strong enough by itself, it is mixed with another lean clay, with crushed peperino, flintstone, or some other stone that in your judgment seems to be arid and resistant. Crucibles are worked on a low potter's wheel turned by hand, or on a high one turned by foot, just as plates are made. Both large and small ones are made. Most of them are given a triangular shape at the mouth, and the shells have a kind of spout for ease in pouring out the metal. This done they are well dried, and baked in furnaces like pots or other vessels. At the end, when they have been thus made they are used for melts.

Jan 1, 1942

By Utley Wedge

In general, the art of securing copper from sulphide ores or concentrates may be said to consist of: (1) separation, in the molten state, of copper sulphide with some iron sulphide, from the great bulk of gangue-material, followed by (2) elimination of sulphur and iron from the molten matte, by oxidation and fluxing, leaving metallic copper. The definition is made broad enough to cover the general practice, whether or not the ore or concentrate is given a prelimiuary roast for the removal of surplus sulphur. The above process, which I will designate as the smelting process, makes necessary the presence in the ore, or the addition thereto, of such silica, lime, and iron as may be necessary for the formation of a light and fusible slag, together with sufficient sulphur and iron for the formation of copper-matte, and also the addition to the matte of sufficient silica for the oxidation and fluxing-out of the iron. These items, together with the cost of fuel sufficient for melting the mass, constitute important items of cost in the copper-smelting process. Numerous cases where fluxing-materials are scarce or dear, or where fuel is expensive, have caused special attention to be given recently to the wet process of copper-extraction, which may be designated as consisting of forming soluble copper salts which are then washed or leached out of the ore or concentrates by dissolving in water or acid. Metallic copper may then be secured from the solution of copper salts by electrolysis; by cementation; or copper can be brought out of the solution as a hydroxide or other insoluble precipitate and reduced to metallic copper by subsequent melting in a reducing atmosphere.

Jan 1, 1913

By Charles R. Keyes

In the dry regions of the globe many silver-deposits display certain remarkable features, which at the same time are so totally unlike anything met with among ore-bodies elsewhere that they hare long presented exceptional dificulties, not only to a satisfactory explanation of their origin, but to economical milling. A most striking peculiarity of these ores is the haloid character of many of their bonanzas. To this fact more than to any other may be ascribed most of the unusual uncertainties of mining-operations in desert countries—the marvelous local richness of the ores under certain conditions and the often abrupt transition to utter poverty; the inadequacy of ordinary prospecting customs and the constant devising of new exploratory methods; the unaccountable losses in smelting and the continual change in treatment-practice. For these anomalies certain climatic conditions seem to be chiefly responsible.

Jan 1, 1912

By Gordon M. Matheson, Charles V. Logie

The current state-of-the-art design of mine pillars can be grouped into empirical and numerical design techniques. Numerical design techniques are based on sophisticated computational techniques which analyze the stresses and strains through the interstices of a pillar. Empirical techniques are less exact, but have been widely used, particularly for coal mine pillar design, because of their ease of computation. Over the years numerous empirical equations have been proposed to calculate the ultimate strength of coal mine pillars. This paper presents a review of the various equations which are most frequently utilized and examines the fundamental assumptions, limitations and applicability of the design formulae. The review intends to provide the practicing mining engineer with an understanding of the assumptions and mathematical basis of each equation to aid in the selection of the criteria most applicable to his specific design problems. Recommendations are made of the empirical equations that are presently most acceptable for design.

Jan 1, 1983

By C. H. Jr. Herty

IT Is well known that manganese will desulfurize molten iron through the formation of manganese sulfide, which, being only slightly soluble in the metal, rises to and enters the slag where it remains as such (mixer slag) or is converted partly or wholly to calcium sulfide (basic open¬hearth slag). The reaction by which manganese sulfide is formed is Mn + FeS = MnS + Fe. This reaction is generally considered to be reversible, although McCance1 states- that such is not the case. The experimental work was carried out to confirm the results of Rohl2 as to the reversibility of the reaction. Six trials are herein considered. In each 200 grams of electrolytic iron free from manganese and sulfur were melted in a pure zirconia crucible in a carbon resistance electric furnace. To the melted iron in runs 2, 3 and 4 metallic manganese and manganese sulfide were added to give 1, 2 and 4 per cent. manganese respectively, with 0.50 per cent. of sulfur in each. In runs 5, 6 and 7, metallic manganese andiron sulfide to give the same proportions of manganese and sulphur as in runs 2, 3 and 4, were added. The melts were held molten in the furnace for an hour and then cast into small ingots.

Jan 2, 1925

By Ernest F. Burchard

In connection with the work of testing structural materials for the use of the U. S. government at the laboratories of the technologic branch of the U. S. Geological Survey at St. Louis, Mo., from September, 1904, to April, 1909, and since then at Pittsburg, Pa., large quantities of sand, gravel, and crushed stone have been needed from time to time, besides samples of building-stone, clays, and other quarry-products. In many instances it has been necessary to obtain single samples of sand, gravel, or crushed stone in lots of a car-load or more. For obvious reasons all these collections have had to be made by a representative of the Survey. As the work progressed it was found essential that numerous geologic data should be gathered regarding the materials collected, in order that they might be properly classified as to kind of material, source, geologic age, etc., and that they might be rated according to quantity available, accessibility to transportation facilities, approximate costs, suitability for special purposes, etc., and that notes might be taken regarding undeveloped deposits of possible value. Furthermore, it mas desired that the selection of materials for tests should be made broadly, so as to cover, first, the representative types of material, and later, if possible, the typical materials of the more important building-centers in the United States. In order to insure a certain degree of uniformity in this work and economy of effort and expense, it was decided that as much of the sampling as was practicable should be done by a member of the geologic branch, whose regular field-trips could be combined conveniently with those necessary for procuring materials for the laboratory. During parts of the last three years 1 have been engaged in field-work of this sort.

Jan 1, 1911