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By Gary B. Williamson, Barton K. Cross

Digital simulation is a modern analysis tool which allows the mine operator to evaluate the result of making a decision without actually changing the organization or buying the equipment. The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate the use of digital simulation in evaluating a decision of whether or not to introduce dispatching in an open pit mine. The analysis shows that appreciable savings can be realized by dispatching. In certain cases, an operator can reduce the number of trucks required to move a specified tonnage. A second analysis evaluates the alternatives of using one large shovel or two smaller units. In this case, the operating cost of the haulage equipment necessary to support the shovels turns out to be the critical factor in this decision.

Jan 1, 1969

By Subhas G. Malghan

Feldspathic deposits occur widely throughout the United States, but North Carolina, California, Connecticut, and South Carolina accounted for over 80% of the total domestic feldspar output for the year 1973.1 Pegmatites and granites constitute the major feldspar reserves of the United States, 2 and in addition, feldspar is produced as a byproduct by firms whose major products are spodumene and mica. 3 Feldspar flotation is practiced in the United States, Mexico, Finland, Norway, West Germany, Japan, and the USSR. According to the US Bureau of Mines estimates, the production of feldspar in the United States and rest of the world were 704,000 and 2,514,000 t, respectively. Feldspar is principally used as a flux in making glass, pottery, porcelain, enamel, tile, and other ceramic products. In recent years, the domestic feldspar industry is faced with a number of problems. As a result of increased cost of energy and the introduction in 1972 of new legislative programs relating to air, water, and noise pollution, land-use restrictions, and mined-land rehabilitation, the production costs have increased. Apart from the increased cost of operation, an operational problem exists with the feldspar producers in North Carolina, especially those in the Spruce Pine area. This problem is concerned with the use of hydrofluoric acid in the feldspar flotation. Feldspar producers in Spruce Pine, NC, have been discharging process waste water into the North Toe River. The mill waste water contains active fluoride ions. Fluoride in excessive concentrations is undesirable in waters used for drinking. It is stated that water containing 0.9-1.0 ppm fluoride will seldom cause mottled enamel on children's teeth; and for adults, concentrations less than 3-4 are not likely to cause endemic cumulative fluorosis and skeletal effect. Although the literature on this subject is rather confusing and inconclusive, the inference that concentrations over 4 ppm may affect bone structure is clear. According to the recent Federal Register,4 maximum fluoride level of 1.4 ppm at 79°-98°F is considered to be adequate and safe for the protection of health of the consumers. The EPA and state environmental agencies have accelerated their drive to reduce water pollution on a faster schedule. By 1977, the EPA specifications for maximum contaminant level of fluoride ions in the discharge waters of feldspar milling operatins is expected to be reduced to 2.0 ppm. The other problems of using hydrofluoric acid are the following: toxicity, hazards of handling and storage, and high cost as compared to other inorganic acids (almost 16 times the cost of sulfuric acid). In order to reduce fluoride levels in mill discharge waters, mining companies have taken the following steps: I) Recirculating a part of their mill water. Even though recirculation of mill water seems to be a novel method of reducing fluoride contamination of the discharge water, there are certain operational and handling problems. 2) Conducting research on the treatment of fluorides in mill waste water. The technology of treatment of fluoride ions has received considerable interest in the recent years. A recent research report5 estimates that the cost of fluoride ion removal to meet the present specifications in the feldspar industry is approximately $0.25/t of ore processed, and about $0.50/t of feldspar produced. At the request of the feldspar producing industries in North Carolina, the North Carolina State University (NCSU) Minerals Research Laboratory has taken up a research program directed towards overcoming the fluoride ion pollution problem. After a close study of the operational, technical, and economic aspects of feldspar flotation, it was decided to attempt to replace the conventional hydrofluoric acid process. Conventional Feldspar Flotatin Using Hydrofluoric Acid Since the inception of the feldspar flotation process using hydrofluoric acid by O'Meara2,6 the process has achieved a great commercial success. In the conventional flotation separation of feldspar-quartz, hydrofluoric acid is used to suppress quartz and activate feldspar, and a long chain amine salt (acetate or chloride) is used as a collector. The bulk of amine collectors used in current feldspar operations are applied as the water-soluble acetates of the free-base amines. These products are pastes or waxy solids which are available in a range of acetic acid neutralization levels generally 50 to 100% neutralized. In spite of the problems mentioned in connection with the use of hydrofluoric acid, this process is extremely stable with respect to changes in the process variables. With the exception of a few operations, alaskite and pegmatite are the major sources of feldspar.7 In the flotation treatment of a pegmatite that contains iron-bearing minerals (heavy minerals), mica, feldspar, and silica, a logical order of removal presents itself considering the following:8 1) Mica is readily floated by an amine collector in a pulp pH 3.5. Some iron-bearing minerals will usually respond to amine collector in acid circuit with the mica concentrate. 2) Since iron minerals tend to occur invariably in the feldspar concentrate, it is desirable to remove most of these prior to feldspar flotation. A fatty acid or a petroleum sulfonate collector used in this flotation step in acid circuit will float iron-bearing minerals. 3) Using hydrofluoric acid to maintain pH of 2.5, an amine collector employed in a final step will float feldspar away from silica, usually leaving the latter in the tailing as a high-grade silica concentrate. The problems connected with the flotation separation of feldspar-quartz arise due to the similarities in their chemical structure. Therefore, any reagent system that is likely to succeed in feldspar-quartz separation should have adsorption affinity towards one of the minerals and depression effect towards the other mineral.

Jan 1, 1979

By R. A. Swalin, B. W. Roberts

ONSIDERABLE controversy has centered about the existence of an order-disorder transformation in alloys in the composition vicinity of 75 atomic pct Ni and 25 atomic pct Cr. All the evidence to date for such a transformation is of a rather indirect nature, since direct X-ray confirmation is difficult to obtain as a result of the small difference in X-ray scattering factors between nickel and chromium. As a result, superlattice lines would be very faint if present. Several investigators1-5 have observed anomalies in the electrical resistivity vs temperature curves of alloys in the vicinity of 25 atomic pct Cr. The observed change is characterized by a rather broad resistivity peak at about 540°C. A discontinuous drop in resistivity is normally associated with ordering. However, Taylor and Hin-ton4 have rationalized that the discrepancy could conceivably be caused by changes in the Brillouin zones upon ordering. The same investigators measured the specific heat as a function of temperature and have also observed anomalies in the vicinity of 540°C. Nordheim and Grant5 have proposed, because of the absence of superlattice lines and the absence of a discontinuity in the resistivity vs temperature curve, that long-range order is improbable and that the results could be better explained by short-range ordering. To date, however, the question has not been resolved satisfactorily. Neutron diffraction techniques provide a method for partially resolving the question since nickel and chromium have considerably different atomic scattering factors in the case of neutrons and, therefore, superlattice peaks, if ordering occurs, should be readily discernable. The results of a neutron diffraction investigation* coupled with a dilatometric in- vestigation are reported here. An alloy containing 28.0 atomic pct Cr was prepared from carbonyl nickel and electrolytic chromium in the form of a 1-in. diam x 10-in. ingot. Melting was done in an alumina crucible and casting in a graphite mold. The ingot was homogenized at 1250°C for seven days, after which a 5-in. long piece was cut into shavings in order to obtain a suitable neutron diffraction sample. Hardness samples and samples suitable for dilatometric analysis (% in. diam x 2 in.) were prepared from the remainlng piece. The neutron diffraction sample, along with a hardness sample, was annealed at 501°C for seven days, at which time the temperature was lowered to 479°C and held at this temperature for twenty-four more days. The hardness was observed to increase from 133 to 147 Vhn during the course of the annealing treatment, in qualitative agreement with Nordheim and Grant." Neutron diffraction traces taken at room temperature and at 42 °K are shown in Fig. 1. The insert shows the trace taken at room temperature with short counting times and thus only fair statistical accuracy. No evidence for superstructure reflections of Cu3Au-type ordering is observed. The statistical accuracy of the 4.2°K trace was improved by using longer counting periods. Several weak intensities are observed at small angles, including an aluminum reflection from the cryostat assembly and a very

Jan 1, 1958

By Edward Saibel

The object of this study is to investigate the effect of prior tensile strain on the fracture stress of a metal. This is done in a theoretical manner starting from the point of view developed by the author in his thermodynamic theory of the fracture of metals. The results are compared with experimental findings and a rational interpretation is given to work that shows the variation of fracture stress with prior tensile strain. Theory op Fracture In the thermodynamic theory of the fracture of metals developed earlier,' it was shown that a critical strain energy per unit volume exists. This is characteristic of the material and may be calculated from basic thermodynamic data. When the area under the flow curve reaches this characteristic value, fracture occurs. The general criterion for fracture is expressed in the form « ± u. = JLJW/V [r] where L, is the latent heat of melting of the unit volume, AV/V is the ratio of the change in volume of the unit volume to the original unit volume on passing from the solid to the liquid state, uo is an initial energy density, and J is a conversion factor, which changes energy from heat to mechanical units. As a first approximation, it will he assumed that the stress-strain curve is the straight line that extends from the point of maximum load onward, extrapolated back to the axis of zero strain, for example, line AC of Fig. I. If the point of intersection of the straight line with the axis of zero strain is represented by v., and the slope of the straight line is p, the analytic form of the flow curve is a = (To + pd [2] and the strain energy per unit volume evaluated from Jud6 becomes (u,6 + pa2/2). When this latter term reaches the critical value JLbVIV (designated hereafter by M), it is assumed that fracture occurs. This leads to the following expression for the fracture stress: a; = V«r.2 + iMp [3] The strain at fracture may be calculated from Eqs 2 and 3. It is assumed in this paper that the initial energy density is either zero or that it may be neglected. Furthermore, the complicated states of stress and of strain existing in the necked region of the tensile specimen after "necking" has occurred will also be neglected for the present, so that average conditions will be assumed to prevail. Flow and Fracture Curves LudwigZ attributed to materials two fundamental properties: (I) a resistance to flow and (2) a resistance to fracture. He reasoned that at each instant the

Jan 1, 1948

By Edward Saibel

The object of this study is to investigate the effect of prior tensile strain on the fracture stress of a metal. This is done in a theoretical manner starting from the point of view developed by the author in his thermodynamic theory of the fracture of metals. The results are compared with experimental findings and a rational interpretation is given to work that shows the variation of fracture stress with prior tensile strain. Theory op Fracture In the thermodynamic theory of the fracture of metals developed earlier,' it was shown that a critical strain energy per unit volume exists. This is characteristic of the material and may be calculated from basic thermodynamic data. When the area under the flow curve reaches this characteristic value, fracture occurs. The general criterion for fracture is expressed in the form « ± u. = JLJW/V [r] where L, is the latent heat of melting of the unit volume, AV/V is the ratio of the change in volume of the unit volume to the original unit volume on passing from the solid to the liquid state, uo is an initial energy density, and J is a conversion factor, which changes energy from heat to mechanical units. As a first approximation, it will he assumed that the stress-strain curve is the straight line that extends from the point of maximum load onward, extrapolated back to the axis of zero strain, for example, line AC of Fig. I. If the point of intersection of the straight line with the axis of zero strain is represented by v., and the slope of the straight line is p, the analytic form of the flow curve is a = (To + pd [2] and the strain energy per unit volume evaluated from Jud6 becomes (u,6 + pa2/2). When this latter term reaches the critical value JLbVIV (designated hereafter by M), it is assumed that fracture occurs. This leads to the following expression for the fracture stress: a; = V«r.2 + iMp [3] The strain at fracture may be calculated from Eqs 2 and 3. It is assumed in this paper that the initial energy density is either zero or that it may be neglected. Furthermore, the complicated states of stress and of strain existing in the necked region of the tensile specimen after "necking" has occurred will also be neglected for the present, so that average conditions will be assumed to prevail. Flow and Fracture Curves LudwigZ attributed to materials two fundamental properties: (I) a resistance to flow and (2) a resistance to fracture. He reasoned that at each instant the

Jan 1, 1948

By M. A. Dayananda, R. E. Grace

Vapor-solid diffusion couples were employed in a study of ternary diffusion in the single-phase copper-rich corner of the Cu-Zn-Mn system Interdiffusion coefficients were measured at three different compositions corresponding to the intersections of diffusion paths determined at 850°C. Intrinsic diffusion coefficients were determined at two compositions by the Philibert-Guy method. New relations between the various intrinsic diffusion coefficients are also presented. MOST of the investigations of ternary diffusion have been made with "sandwich" couples formed by welding together two homogeneous solid solutions with or without markers placed at the interface. With such couples Kirkaldy and his coworkers1,2 have determined interdiffusion coefficients which describe ternary diffusion in the substitutional alloy systems, Cu-Mn-A1 and Zn-Cu-Al. Guy and Leroy3 have reported intrinsic diffusion coefficients for Co-Ni-Cr alloys as a function of composition using the analysis of Philibert and Guy.4 The use of semi-infinite diffusion couples, for example, vapor-solid couples, where the diffusing species are supplied from a vapor source in contact with a diffusion disk, has so far been confined to studies of binary diffusion. Balluffi et a1.5,6 have successfully determined the interdiffusion as well as the intrinsic diffusion coefficients in several binary metallic systems employing vapor-solid couples with markers initially placed at the vapor-solid interface. They have also discussed the general advantages and limitations of such couples. Vapor-solid diffusion couples can successfully be employed in ternary diffusion studies. The importance of such couples in ternary diffusion lies in the fact that inert markers lie close to the vapor-solid interface, and the composition of the marker plane is virtually known before experimentation begins. Another minor advantage is that the method of Philibert and Guy4 may be used with three alloys instead of four. Lastly, the diffusion paths need not be S-shaped, as pointed out by Meijering7 for "sandwich" couples. The Cu-Zn-Mn system is convenient for ternary diffusion studies because of the large single-phase field in the copper-rich corner. The vapor pressure of zinc above such alloys is known, and X-ray measurements indicate that the molar volume is nearly constant over a wide range of compositions.8,9 It is the purpose of this paper a) to extend the analysis of Balluffi and seigle5 to permit an evaluation of interdiffusion coefficients in ternary vapor-solid couples, b) to use the method of Philibert and Guy to determine intrinsic diffusion coefficients with such couples, and c) to present experimental data on both interdiffusion and intrinsic diffusion coefficients for the Cu-Zn-Mn system at 850°C. INTERDIFFUSION IN TERNARY VAPOR-SOLID COUPLES The analysis of Balluffi and seigle5 is extended in this section to a vapor-solid couple where two solutes diffuse from a vapor source into a ternary solid solution. To take into account the expansion of the diffusion disk caused by the absorption of mass from the vapor phase, the total fluxes are expressed on the basis of a coordinate system that moves with the velocity of the vapor-solid interface; thus. where D3ij are the intrinsic diffusion coefficients,4 v(x, t) is the local Kirkendall velocity of mass flow, and F(t) is the negative velocity of the vapor-solid interface (x = 0). Both these velocities are based on a fixed coordinate system far removed from the diffusion zone. Using the continuity relations and Darken's method1' for a ternary system in which components 1 and 2 diffuse from the vapor phase into a solid of negligible vapor pressure, one obtains

Jan 1, 1965

By N. A. DeCecco, H. M. Meyer

IN the early stages of a titanium brazing investigation, binary titanium systems partially or completely known and fundamental metallurgical data were surveyed to select the pure metal most likely to be satisfactory for producing a ductile high strength joint. The phase diagrams for the purpose of this survey were classified into two groups: 1—systems with large solubility in ß titanium, but negligible solubility in a titanium, and 2—systems with large solubility in a titanium. Those metals with melting points believed to be too high or too low for titanium brazing (Tim = 1730°C) were eliminated from consideration. The melting points of vanadium, tungsten, tantalum, hafnium, zirconium, and the platinum group are too high and those of zinc, lead, cadmium, and tin are too low. The remaining metals were grouped as follows: 1—large ß solubility: Cr,¹ Mn,² Fe;³ CO,4 Ni,5 Cu,6 Be,' Si." —large a solubility: Al.9

Jan 1, 1954

By MARSHALL D. DRAPER

THERE are said to be about 150 operating companies in Kotchiu, most of these being small, corresponding in degree to lessees in western mines in the United States. Of the total number there are probably forty large companies having their own smelting plants equipped with one or two furnaces, slag crushing plant and other accessory equipment. A few plants, not more than ten, do custom smelting. There are in all about fifty smelting plants in Kotchiu. With little variation, the equipment and methods are the same. The plant usually consists of two furnaces, one being in operation while the other is being relined 01- re- paired. An adjoining house contains one or more of the large buffalo-drawn Chilean mills for crushing slag. A few houses for the working coolies, with more pretentious ones for the owners, complete the establishment, the whole being surrounded by a compound wall 8 ft. high.

Jan 1, 1931

By G. R. Speich, Morris Cohen

The growth rate of bainite has been determined by hot-stage metallography in five hypereutectoid high-purity iron-carbon, iron-carbon-chromium, and iron-carbon-nickel alloys. The studies have been confined essentially to lower bainite. The growth rate is independent of time at constant temperature, but both the edgewise and sidewise growth rates increase with increasing temperature. Increasing the carbon content, or adding chromium or nickel, decreases the growth rate without greatly affecting the temperature dependence. The results lead to separate diffusion-controlled models for the edgewise and sidewise growth rates. ALTHOUGH bainite has been subject of many detailed investigations,1,2 the growth mechanism of this intermediate transformation product of steel remains unclear. One difficulty has been that practically all the kinetic measurements have been restricted to studies of the overall reaction rate. Only a limited amount of information3, 4-6 is available on the growth process itself. The purpose of the present work was to investigate the effect of time, temperature and composition on the growth rate of bainite using hot-stage metallography. This method makes it possible to observe continuously the isothermal growth of individual bainitic units because of the surface upheavals accompanying their formation.3 This information is needed to test the existing growth models and to obtain a better understanding of the factors controlling the bainitic transformation. EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE Alloys—The compositions of the alloys used in the present work are shown in Table I. The five alloys were vacuum-melted and cast, and were prepared from high-purity materials. The three iron-carbon alloys were available from the work of Roberts et al.7 in the form of 3/8-in. diam rods.* To facilitate machining, the rods were ing. The rods were then tempered for 3 hr at 650°C to allow machining. The iron-carbon alloys in Table I were selected for investigating the effect of carbon on the bainitic growth rate. Due to the rapidity of the transformations involved, it was not feasible to measure the growth rates in iron-carbon alloys having carbon contents much less than 0.9 pct C. The iron-carbon-chromium and iron-carbon-nickel alloys were selected to study the influence of chromium and nickel on the growth rate at a carbon level of about 1.1 pct C, since this carbon content was intermediate among the iron-carbon alloys. The concentrations of chromium and nickel were chosen to match isothermal trans formation diagrams in the literature.8'9 Hot-Stage—Since the iron-carbon alloys had such low hardenabilities, it was necessary to quench the hot-stage specimens drastically from the austentiz-ing temperature to the isothermal transformation temperature to prevent the formation of pearlite or proeutectoid constituents. A rapid-quenching metal-lographic hot-stage was built for this purpose. A maximum temperature of about 1100°C and quenching rates up to 500°C per sec could be attained with this equipment. The details of the apparatus are described in a recent publication. After being polished and mounted on the hot-stage, the specimen (0.020 in. thick) was protected from oxidation and decarburization during austenitizing by a vacuum of 10-4 to 10-5 mm. The quench to the reaction temperature was accomplished with a helium blast, and the isothermal run at this temperature was conducted in a helium atmosphere. A fine-wire thermocouple spot-welded to the sample and a high-speed

Jan 1, 1961

MINING METHODS W. J. COULTER, Chairman P. B. BUCKY, Vice-Chairman CLYDE E. WEED, Vice-Chairman ROBERT S. PALMER, Secretary Alluvial Mining CLINTON BERNARD O. B. PERRY NORMAN CLEAVELAND C. M. ROMANOWITZ R. B. EARLING J. B. STAPLER BENERE H. GRANTCHARLES THURMAN Open-Cut Mining Iron. A. D. CHISHOLM EARL E. RUNNER G. E. DIEHL G. E. LEVEQUE P. G. HARRISON SIMPSON RICHEY W. A. STERLING

Jan 1, 1943

By J. H. Brophy, J. Wulff, H. W. Hayden

The mickel-activated sintering of tungsten occurs in two stages of densification. A kinetic analysis of the second stage has been based on an appropriate model of the process. As in the first stage, the rate-controlling mechanism for the second stage is also the solution of tungsten in the nickel carrier phase. The transition from the relatively rapid first-stage results from the spherozdization of pores and the initiation of grain growth. Finer grain size due to higher-nickel content leads to more rapid and higher degrees of densification 1 HE sintering of tungsten is accelerated by small additions of nickel, cobalt, and iron.' Experimental evidence in detail has shown that nickel-coated, hydrogen-reduced tungsten powder may be sintered to more than 90 pet of theoretical density at l100o C.2, 3 Simultaneously, a kinetic analysis of the process showed that it took place in two distinct stages. In the first stage, nickel evidently served as a carrier phase through which tungsten atoms could move. This stage was kinetically similar to the "solution-precipitation" step postulated when the carrier phase is a liquid,4 although in the Ni-W case, there is no evidence of the existence of a liquid phase either in equilibrium phase relationships or in microstruc-tures at the temperatures under consideration. It has been shown that this stage corresponds to a process which is rate controlled by a phase boundary reaction.3 More recent evidence has been presented5 showing that after the initial rapid stage of sintering, densification continues in the final stage but at a slower rate, although no mechanism for this stage of densification was defined. An analysis of later stages of densification in solid state sintering has been presented,6 but it is not directly applicable in the present case of activated or carrier phase sintering. It is the purpose of this investigation to study the final stage of nickel activated tungsten sintering in greater detail The effect of varying nickel content has been examined, and a possible kinetic mechanism defined. EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE AND RESULTS Commercial hydrogen-reduced tungsten powder from Wah-Chmg Corp., having a nominal particle size of1 µ and a B.E.T. specific surface area of 5500 sq. cm per g was mixed with aqueous solutions of hydrated nickel nitrate in proportions sufficient to produce nominal compositions of 0.25, 1, 3, and 5 wt pet Ni. This solution was then evaporated to dry-ness at approximately 150" C for 15 hr. Following evaporation, the resulting powder cake was broken with a mortar and pestle and reduced in hydrogen at 800oC for 1 hr. Following reduction, the powder

Jan 1, 1962

By R. D. Sprague, C. B. Richardson

The year 1938 was the most active and successful in the history of the oil industry in southern Louisiana. Drilling showed a 16 per cent increase over that of 1937, with a total of 538 wells drilled, which yielded 315 oil wells, 19 distillate wells, 4 gas wells and 200 dry holes. Nineteen new fields were discovered during the year, all but three of which were completed by plugging back to sands previously drilled through. Electrical logging played a large part in these new discoveries as well as in the discovery of new sands during routine development of fields. Fourteen of the new discoveries produced oil, and five produced only gas and distillate. Southern Louisiana continues to lead the world in depth of drilling, which is in part due to the great thickness of comparatively young deltaic sediments near the coast and the existence of numerous sands. The present development is rather evenly distributed over a coastal strip 100 miles wide. New Fields North Tepetate, Acadia Parish.—Atlantic Refining Company's No. 1 Klumpp was completed for a new field through perforations from 7960 to 7970 ft. The initial production was 65 bbl. of 54" gravity distillate and 4 million cubic feet of gas daily through a 1/4-in. choke with tubing pressure of 2850 Ib. and casing pressure of 2930 lb. The well is in see. 12, 7 S., 2 W., just north of Tepetate field. It was drilled to a depth of 8705 ft. and plugged back for its final completion. Atlantic's NO. 2 was completed in a new sand at 8300 ft., also for distillate. South Crowley, Acadia Parish.—Humble Oil and Refining Company's No. 1 Boyd Finch was completed in July 1938, as an oil well through perforations from 7318 to 7325 ft. after plugging from a total depth of 10,222 ft. After making several hundred barrels of oil, the well went to

Jan 1, 1939

By C. B. Richardson, R. D. Sprague

The year 1938 was the most active and successful in the history of the oil industry in southern Louisiana. Drilling showed a 16 per cent increase over that of 1937, with a total of 538 wells drilled, which yielded 315 oil wells, 19 distillate wells, 4 gas wells and 200 dry holes. Nineteen new fields were discovered during the year, all but three of which were completed by plugging back to sands previously drilled through. Electrical logging played a large part in these new discoveries as well as in the discovery of new sands during routine development of fields. Fourteen of the new discoveries produced oil, and five produced only gas and distillate. Southern Louisiana continues to lead the world in depth of drilling, which is in part due to the great thickness of comparatively young deltaic sediments near the coast and the existence of numerous sands. The present development is rather evenly distributed over a coastal strip 100 miles wide. New Fields North Tepetate, Acadia Parish.—Atlantic Refining Company's No. 1 Klumpp was completed for a new field through perforations from 7960 to 7970 ft. The initial production was 65 bbl. of 54" gravity distillate and 4 million cubic feet of gas daily through a 1/4-in. choke with tubing pressure of 2850 Ib. and casing pressure of 2930 lb. The well is in see. 12, 7 S., 2 W., just north of Tepetate field. It was drilled to a depth of 8705 ft. and plugged back for its final completion. Atlantic's NO. 2 was completed in a new sand at 8300 ft., also for distillate. South Crowley, Acadia Parish.—Humble Oil and Refining Company's No. 1 Boyd Finch was completed in July 1938, as an oil well through perforations from 7318 to 7325 ft. after plugging from a total depth of 10,222 ft. After making several hundred barrels of oil, the well went to

Jan 1, 1939

By E. W. Davis

On the eastern end of the Mesabi Range, in Northern Minnesota, is a large formation of siliceous rock which contains bands and fine grains of magnetite. The magnetite comprises about 35 per cent. of the rock, the remainder being chiefly quartzite and iron silicates. The rock has a specific gravity of 3.4, a hardness of 7, and is extremely tough. This large deposit was located early in the history of the Minnesota iron-ore industry but has not been utilized because of its low percentage of iron as compared with the other Mesabi ores, and because of the difficulty and expense of any milling treatment that would concentrate the iron. An investigation, begun about 3 years ago, shows that the magnetit,e is finely disseminated throughout the entire formation and that there are bands or lenses of higher- and of lower-grade material, in which the magnetite and silicate are intimately mixed. As a result, the scheme of milling adopted must include a fine-crushing plant. As it is necessary to crush to 200 mesh in order to produce the desired grade of product, the fine crushing is one of the largest items of expense and for this reason has been given detailed study. It is the purpose of this paper to present some of the results of the work on fine crushing, as to both theory and practice. Previous to fine crushing the part of the rock that contains little or no magnetite can be discarded by magnetic concentrators after each reduction in size in the dry-crushing plant. This-makes it possible to fine-crush a minimum of rock and also establishes the feed to the ball-mill as below % in. The fine-crushing problem, then, consists simply in crushing the rock from 1/4 in. to 200 mesh at the minimum expense. Equipment of the Testing Plant In order to determine, among other things, the operating conditions of the ball-mill when working on this rock, a test mill of about 300 T. daily capacity was erected at Duluth, Minn. The fine-crushing plant contains a Hardinge 8-ft. by 22-in. (2.4-m. by 55.8-cm.) conical mill, a 6- by 27-ft. (1.8 by 8.2-m.) Dorr duplex bowl-type classifier, a 41/2-ft. (1.37-m.) standard Akins classifier, and the auxiliary machinery necessary to handle the products. Each machine is driven by an individual motor, each of which is provided with meters for measuring the power required. Over 150 tests have been made in the ball-mill, varying in

Jan 1, 1920

By N. F. Schulz, H. A. Lex

Representative samples of typical manganiferous iron ores from the Cuyuna Range, Minn., were reduced to the metallic iron state at temperatures just short of fusion with an excess of coke in the manner prescribed by the R-N Direct Reduction Process. The magnetic separation characteristics of the reduced ores were determined at several grinds by means of the Davis magnetic tube concentrator. The efficiency of metallic iron concentration by magnetic separation was a direct function of the degree of metallization of the ore sample and of the degree of liberation at-tained in grinding. Some improvement of liberation characteristics was observed if a small amount of sodium chloride was present in the ore during reduction. Despite the extremely fine-grained structure of the crude ores, iron concentrates containing more than 90% Fe at iron unit recoveries of 90% or more were obtained from well-metallized samples of three of the four ores tested. The rejection of manganese to the tailings corresponding to such separations varied from 80% to 95%. The manganiferous iron ores of the Cuyuna Range in Minnesota constitute a major potential source of manganese in the United States provided that a technically and economically feasible process can be devised for its recovery. The iron and manganese of these ores occur chiefly as oxides or carbonates in the form of very small, irregular, discrete grains embedded in a matrix of quartz or other siliceous gangue. The present investigation was undertaken as a sequel to an earlier one conducted jointly by the U.S. Bureau of Mines and the R-N Corp. Those results indicated that the R-N Direct Reduction Process might be a means for recovering both a metallic iron concentrate and a marketable manganese by-product from Cuyuna manganiferous iron ores.' The R-N Process is one of many proposed schemes for the treatment of crude iron ores involving the di- rect reduction of the iron content to metallic iron followed by physical extraction of the iron. In general, it consists of the following stepsz2 1) Iron oxide in crushed natural ores or iron concentrates is about 95% reduced to metallic iron at elevated temperatures but without fusion in a rotary kiln in the presence of a solid carbonaceous fuel (usually coke), limestone, and combustible gases. 2) The kiln product, consisting of metallized ore, excess coke, lime, and coke ash is cooled. The excess coke is recovered and recycled to the kiln feed. 3) The metallized ore is ground for liberation and magnetically separated to yield a metallic iron concentrate. 4) The metallic iron concentrate is agglomerated by a briquetting process. The reduction kiln temperatures must be high enough for the desirable chemical reactions to proceed at practical rates without causing fusion of any of the ore constituents. The time of exposure of the ore to the reducing conditions must be ample for 90% to 95% metallization of the iron oxides present. If more than 95% of the iron is metallized, however, difficulties may arise in the briquetting step, presumably because of accompanying higher carbon content of the metallic iron. Although not always necessary, powdered limestone or dolomite may be added at some time during reduction to aid in eliminating sulfur and phosphorus from the final product.3,4 Other additives, notably sodium chloride, when present during reduction, result in improved liberation characteristics of the metallic iron from certain reduced ores.'v6 Under the reducing conditions normally employed, P(co + H2)= 1 atmosphere, and 1830' to 2150°F (1000° to 1170°C), the R-N Process is claimed to be adaptable to a wide variety of low, medium, and high grade iron and manganiferous iron ores. The manganese oxides and carbonates are reduced mostly to nonmagnetic MnO which is rejected to the nonmagnetic tailings. Manganese-bearing pyroxenes of the original ore, however, may be rejected poorly, if at all, apparently because these minerals occur within the iron lattice or are entrapped in the metal particles.7 The investigation was limited to studies of the Cuyuna ores listed in Table I, which were reduced to the metallic iron state under various conditions

Jan 1, 1969

By Charles S. Larkey

Numerous papers have been published on the use of graphic methods for determining the best curve for estimating the production decline of oil wells but, as far as the writer has been able to ascertain, nothing has been published showing how curves may be worked out mathematically that will conform most closely to the production data under consideration in any given instance; hence the writer has endeavored to show just how such application can be made. Among the valuation engineers, two types of curves are in current use for the representation of the decline in production of oil wells. One may be represented by the equation, y = krx; this is sometimes known as a percentage curve, for the production for any period is multiplied by a constant rate or percentage to obtain the production for the succeeding period. It appears as a straight line on semilogarithmic cross-section paper. The other curve may be represented by the equation, y = kxn, and is shown as a straight line on logarithmic cross-section paper. In each equation, y represents the number of barrels produced in a given period of time, and x the successive periods of time. The other letters are constants to be determined for each well, or group of wells considered in arriving at the most probable curve to represent the rate of production for a given property. From this the underground reserves may be estimated by extrapolation, or by extending the curve beyond the last known period of production to show the most probable production values for the future. Application to the Burbank Pool Fig. 1 relates to a property in the Burbank Pool, Osage County, Okla. The production is shown as an average per well per month, is plotted to the vertical scale of barrels on the left-hand margin and to the horizontal scale of months at the bottom of the chart. In column y, the number of barrels is listed beginning with May, 1922, as the first month on which to base a decline curve. The type of curve used is of the form, y = krx, or, expressed in logarithms, log y = log k + x log r, in which log k and log r are constants to be determined so that the curve will most closely approximate the production data given.

Jan 1, 1925

Mining Methods JAY A. CARPENTER, Chairman CLYDE E. WEED, Vice-Chairman ROY A. HARDY, Secretary Alluvial Mining CLINTON BERNARD O. B. PERRY NORMAN CLEAVELAND C. M. ROMANOWITZ R. B. EARLING J. B. STAPLER BENERE H. GRANT CHARLES THURMAN Open-Cut Mining Iron G. E. DIEHL EARL E. HUNNER P. G. HARRISON G. E. LEVEQUE Copper LOUIS BUCHMAN W. H. GOODRICH J. H. DAVIS WALTER S. LARSH

Jan 1, 1941

By A. T. Tye

WHEN the roughing tables operated in 1923 were abandoned, all the coarse iron pyrite for-merly removed by the tables had to be ground to flotation size, which caused an increased power con-sumption of 2 kw.-hr. per ton. Recently, by increasing the tonnage, this has been reduced to a total of 16.6 kw.-hr. per ton. The cost of repairs has been slightly reduced by using an alkaline circuit instead of the acid mine water used in 1923. Other economies from elim-inating roughing tables and the finishing tables have more than compensated for the extra grinding and the total costs have remained practically the same, until the first part of 1927, when, with increased tonnage, the total cost has decreased to 72 cents and the repair cost to 9 cents. In 1923, with a combined gravity and bulk flotation flowsheet, the grade of concentrate was only 4.38 per cent copper. With preferential flotation this has in-creased to over 17 per cent copper. The tailing has decreased from 0.29 per cent -copper to 0.18 per cent. The copper recovery, instead of decreasing; as might be expected, has increased from 87.4 per cent to, 91.5 per cent. The silver recovery has also increased from 88

Jan 8, 1927

By Arthur Braid

The war has caused an increasing scarcity of phosphorus and its well known alloys with copper and tin. At the same time, the production of brass and bronze, nickel-silver, cupro-nickel, and other non-ferrous alloys, has considerably increased. The manufacturers of these products had therefore to secure other materials which would serve their purpose; principally that of a deoxidizer, which could be obtained promptly and regularly. Fortunately these materials, pure carbon-free manganese metal and manganese-copper alloy, were not hard to find—in fact, they were never lost. Manganese in various forms has been used in Europe for more than a century; in this country, however, when manganese was first used, and indeed for a long time thereafter, it was consumed mainly in the manufacture of manganese-bronze. Many foundrymen at that time used manganese-copper with the same freedom as phosphor-copper. Although iron enters into the composition of certain grades of bronze, it is very detrimental to non-ferrous mixtures in general; consequently ferromanganese is not applicable, and therefore pure manganese metal, or the alloy of manganese and copper, technically free from iron and other impurities, is now being generally used. The following are the principal elements having an affinity for oxygen: 1, Sodium. 2, Potassium. 3, Calcium. 4, Strontium. 5, Barium. 6, Magnesium. 7, Aluminum, 8, Phosphorus. 9, Silicon. 10, Manganese. 11, Iron. 12, Zinc. 13, Lead. Each metal has its natural flux, or deoxidizer, in the form of a metal or non-metal which will alloy with it, and has a strong affinity for oxygen. For example, phosphorus, as is well known, acts very beneficially in copper alloys that contain tin. Within the last few years, and particularly since the war began, the .great value of mangancse in nickel alloys has been demonstrated, and one by one the manufacturers of these products have adopted its use. While manganese has not so strong an affinity for oxygen as magnesium, aluminum, or silicon, it is nevertheless sufficiently powerful to reduce any oxide of nickel, copper, or zinc that may be present in the nickel alloy to be purified.

Jan 1, 1919

Dec. 2, American Mining Congress, annual membership meeting, University Club, New York. Dec. 2, Society for Applied Spectroscopy, Socony-Vacuum Training Center, New York City. Dec. 4-6, AIME, Electric Steel Furnace Conference, Hotel William Penn, Pittsburgh. Dee. 5, Atlanta Meeting of Southeast Section, AIME, Ansley Hotel, Atlanta. Dec. 7-10, American Institute of Chemical Engineers, annual meeting, Hotels Cleveland and Carter, Cleveland. Dec. 8, AIME, Arizona Section, all-day meeting, Tucson. Jan. 6, 1953, Society for Applied Spectroscopy, Socony-Vacuum Training Center, New- York City. Jan. 14, 1953, AIME Connecticut Section, Hammond Metallurgical Laboratory, Yale University, New Haven, Conn. Jan. 14-16, 19th Annual Meeting of Society of Photogrammetry, Shoreham Hotel, Washington, D. C.

Jan 1, 1952