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By W. J. Parton

D. R. MITCHELL*—The Chairman mentioned that we have had many papers on cleaning of fine coal and treatment of wash water solids. There are, of course, two reasons for that. One is that we have legislation, particularly in the east. that is making us go into these things whether we want to or not. It just so happens at the present time that I have four plants that are going up under my general direction, three new and one rehabilitation job, and in all of them, we have these problems. Therefore, I was very happy to be able to listen to these papers, because some of the things that are in them are going to help me solve some of the problems that I am facing. Of course, the second reason why we are concerned about fine coal recovery is the fact that coal has become a luxury item in a good many places, particularly in the anthracite region, so that we cannot afford to have it go to waste like we did in former years. There is a third minor reason, and that is that we are finding how to handle and use the extremely fine sizes that we did not know how to use in former years. Now, I have a couple of questions that I would like to ask. First, what are the maximum solids that you could have in a pulp going to one of these launder screens? I realize that it would be for anthracite. Second, of course the life of these screen surfaces is not very long— with brass or bronze, I believe it is a week, and with stainless steel, a month. Would it be possible to use screen surfaces like the Bixby-Zimmer round rod for the small sizes and possibly increase the life? Have you experimented with that? Another point that I would like to bring out, both in Mr. Parton's paper and in some of the others, in studying cyclones and any settling apparatus where we use orifices, the life of the orifices is very short, and that is a problem that still has to be solved. The capacity of the cyclone seems to be small, and if you have a bat-

Jan 1, 1950

By Alexander L. Holley

Jan 1, 1879

By Michael Perch

The fact that coal is a complex organic material and heterogeneous in composition has made its study extremely difficult, particularly in regard to obtaining a fundamental concept of the processes involved in the formation of coke. It has been stated recently that coals are natural polymers and that in a complex reaction such as occurs during carbonization the differences between coals are quantitative and not qualitative. Such being the case, it would be expected, therefore, that a series of coals subjected to exactly the same conditions of coking would produce results that should be related quantitatively to the chemical analyses of the individual coals. In the past, however, this fact was not generally recognized and consequently many empirical test methods were devised for testing coals. The interpretation of the results obtained depended upon comparing a set of data with other data on coals of known characteristics. The testing procedure had to be con- ducted in precisely the same manner each time and not the least requirement in making the interpretation was experience. The test methods varied from those utilizing a gram of coal to the plant-scale tests in which one or more ovens were charged with the test coal. The aim had been principally to find some simple, inexpensive means by which the coke-making and other properties of coal could be predicted. It is not necessary to emphasize the importance of these endeavors, for anyone acquainted with the problems involved in the selection of coals for making coke is well aware of the time and expense involved in making a series of definitive tests.

Jan 1, 1949

By Lewis Smith

CHROMIUM is one of the new metals, but considerable research has been required to determine an approximate record of its production from 1827 until the present. Its use in the form of pure metal is not extensive; of the chromite mined, about one-half is required for making ferrochromium, about two-fifths goes directly into refractories and the remainder is absorbed chiefly by the chemical trades. The industries that demand chromite for such uses are mainly in countries that produce little chromite, while the important chromite-producing countries are not generally consumers. The international flow of chromite is therefore of interest, as yell as the political and commercial control of resources of the metal.

Jan 1, 1931

By Desio S. Oddone, Mark C. Malamphy, Irnack C. Do Amaral

Most igneous rocks, and particularly those of the basic type, contain relatively high percentages of magnetite and other iron oxides, which give them moderately high magnetic susceptibilities and make them responsible for an important percentage of the magnetic anomalies observed during the course of geophysical surveys by the magnetic method. The irregular form and high susceptibility of the igneous rocks make them readily polarizable and the position and strength of the magnetic poles formed are not always explicable by theoretical calculations of anomalies due to certain assumed forms in the normal magnetic field of the area under study. During the last four years our field work has permitted us to make detailed observations of anomalies due to igneous rocks in all the states of south Brazil. The form and position of the igneous rock at some places were fairly accurately known, which made it possible to calculate theoretical anomalies and compare them with the observed data. Some of the data we obtained have been published and additional cases are now awaiting publication. In this paper, we will present a few specific cases where the geology is moderately well known and which we believe to be of considerable value as representing typical magnetic anomalies in the south magnetic hemisphere, where the inclination of the magnetic field is very low. Although the vertical intensity is negative in the Southern Hemisphere, we have adopted the convention of plotting increase in intensity (negative) as a positive anomaly; i.e., above the x axis. This convention facilitates comparison with anomalies in the north.

Jan 1, 1940

By Irnack C. Do Amaral, Mark C. Malamphy, Desio S. Oddone

Most igneous rocks, and particularly those of the basic type, contain relatively high percentages of magnetite and other iron oxides, which give them moderately high magnetic susceptibilities and make them responsible for an important percentage of the magnetic anomalies observed during the course of geophysical surveys by the magnetic method. The irregular form and high susceptibility of the igneous rocks make them readily polarizable and the position and strength of the magnetic poles formed are not always explicable by theoretical calculations of anomalies due to certain assumed forms in the normal magnetic field of the area under study. During the last four years our field work has permitted us to make detailed observations of anomalies due to igneous rocks in all the states of south Brazil. The form and position of the igneous rock at some places were fairly accurately known, which made it possible to calculate theoretical anomalies and compare them with the observed data. Some of the data we obtained have been published and additional cases are now awaiting publication. In this paper, we will present a few specific cases where the geology is moderately well known and which we believe to be of considerable value as representing typical magnetic anomalies in the south magnetic hemisphere, where the inclination of the magnetic field is very low. Although the vertical intensity is negative in the Southern Hemisphere, we have adopted the convention of plotting increase in intensity (negative) as a positive anomaly; i.e., above the x axis. This convention facilitates comparison with anomalies in the north.

Jan 1, 1940

By James D. Sisler

Among the various studies made by the Coal Fact Finding Commission, appointed by President Warren G. Harding in 1922 to investigate all phases of the coal-mining industry in the United States and to report to Congress, was one concerning the amount and nature of losses in mining bituminous coal in the eastern part of the United States. This study was carried on under the direction of the U. S. Bureau of Mines. The writer was appointed field engineer to investigate the problem in Ohio, Pennsylvania and West Virginia. Some 400 mines were studied in these three states and conclusions were drawn from many sources of data. The summary report written by George S. Rice and J. W. Paul states that "the field reports indicate that the recovery in Ohio will remain about as at present, except in the Belmont district; whereas in Pennsylvania it will gradually improve, and in West Virginia it will improve rapidly." Since 1922, the writer has been interested in gathering material to substantiate or contradict these prophecies. Nature of Coal Losses There are six general causes of losses of coal in mining: (1) coal left on the roof and bottom; (2) coal lost in room, entry and panel pillars; (3) coal lost in oil-well or gas-well pillars; (4) coal lost under buildings, railroads and boundaries; (5) coal lost in handling and prepayation, underground and surface; (6) coal lost by rolls, thin or dirty areas and under streams. Local economic aspects that dominate the type of mining conditions determine to some extent whether certain losses are avoidable or unavoidable. In general, however, unavoidable losses include coal lost in the protection of buildings, streams, railroads, restricted properties and around oil and gas wells. Barrier pillars and other safety pillars are unavoidable losses as long as their size does not exceed the minimum for adequate safety. Natural physical conditions beyond human control, such as rock faults, clay veins, partings and binders, bad top and bottom, rolls and horsebacks, cause unavoidable losses. Unavoidable losses

Jan 1, 1931

By T. M. Gurr

The United States is the world's leading producer of phosphate rock. In 1975 according to the US Bureau of Mines' statistics, 44.3 million tonnes (48.8 million st) of phosphate rock were produced in the United States, l which is 40.6% of the world's production.2 The major phosphate producing areas of the United States are located in [Fig. 1] and the production for 1975 is listed as follows: [ ] All of these areas produce phosphate from deposits which are of marine sedimentary origin. Occurrences of phosphate exist throughout the United States in numerous locations that are of both igneous and sedimentary origins. However, these other phosphate occurrences vary greatly in extent and economic significance. Georgia, South Carolina, California, Texas, Arkansas, Kansas, Iowa, Alabama, Kentucky, and Virginia are but a few of the states in which phosphate is thought or known to exist. The near future expansion will probably continue to be in, or near, existing producing areas, (i.e., Florida and North Carolina).

Jan 1, 1980

By W. A. Mudge, Paul D. Merica

One of the most prominent features of our present-day industrial development is the ever-increasing demand put upon materials of construction. Engineering ingenuity, within the past 25 years, has been unusually active, and in some fields at least engineers frankly say that engineering design has progressed as far as the limitations imposed by the properties of the present materials of construction will permit. Consequently, they are today demanding improvement in their working materials and seeking new ones, through the aid of which the present limitations of design may be overcome. The activity of this search is evident in all fields, but it is particularly so in that of structural materials required to be resistant to corrosion. The corrosion resistance of metals and alloys is never absolute and all-inclusive; a particular alloy will withstand some corrosive conditions well and fail utterly under others. Furthermore, other properties, physical and mechanical, required in conjunction with corrosion resistance vary considerably for different commercial applications. One wants a soft, ductile sheet metal resistant to atmospheric corrosion; another, a high-strength alloy resistant to sulfuric acid. The last decade has witnessed active and definite progress in the development of high-strength, corrosion-resisting alloys. In June, 1924, a symposium by the American Society for Testing Materials, on Corrosion-resistant, Heat-resistant and Electrical-resistance Alloys, disclosed no less than 60 commercial alloys the properties of which were described as being suitable for industrial service where corrosion resistance was a feature. Today the number of these alloys has been doubled, at least. In addition, economy in design and construction through decreased weight has given considerable impetus to the improvement of alloys of which the mechanical propprties may be improved by heat-treatment.

Jan 1, 1935

By Paul D. Merica, W. A. Mudge

One of the most prominent features of our present-day industrial development is the ever-increasing demand put upon materials of construction. Engineering ingenuity, within the past 25 years, has been unusually active, and in some fields at least engineers frankly say that engineering design has progressed as far as the limitations imposed by the properties of the present materials of construction will permit. Consequently, they are today demanding improvement in their working materials and seeking new ones, through the aid of which the present limitations of design may be overcome. The activity of this search is evident in all fields, but it is particularly so in that of structural materials required to be resistant to corrosion. The corrosion resistance of metals and alloys is never absolute and all-inclusive; a particular alloy will withstand some corrosive conditions well and fail utterly under others. Furthermore, other properties, physical and mechanical, required in conjunction with corrosion resistance vary considerably for different commercial applications. One wants a soft, ductile sheet metal resistant to atmospheric corrosion; another, a high-strength alloy resistant to sulfuric acid. The last decade has witnessed active and definite progress in the development of high-strength, corrosion-resisting alloys. In June, 1924, a symposium by the American Society for Testing Materials, on Corrosion-resistant, Heat-resistant and Electrical-resistance Alloys, disclosed no less than 60 commercial alloys the properties of which were described as being suitable for industrial service where corrosion resistance was a feature. Today the number of these alloys has been doubled, at least. In addition, economy in design and construction through decreased weight has given considerable impetus to the improvement of alloys of which the mechanical propprties may be improved by heat-treatment.

Jan 1, 1935

By P. B. Liebermann

1. Haulage Tests on Coal-mine Cars THE haulage of coal from the face to the tipple is an important enough link in the production of coal to deserve its full share of study and care. In order to obtain a better understanding of mine haulage conditions, a series of tests and investigations has been made which promises to hasten the improvement of present conditions. For hauling coal through the mine and on the surface, locomotives are required, the size and power consumption of which depend on the resistance to motion offered by the mine cars. This resistance is principally caused by gravity and hearing friction. The effect of gravity can be reduced to a minimum by a suitable layout of the haulageways; that is, by arranging the grades in favor of the loaded trips, and by fixing the percentage of grade to that value which gives the lowest power consumption for loaded and empty trains. The bearing friction, which is considerably greater than is generally realized, can be easily reduced to a negligible quantity by the installation of a suitable anti-friction bearing that will stand the rough use and abuse of coal-mine service. The present investigation will deal with flexible roller bearings in comparison with ordinary plain bearings.

Jan 7, 1917

By M. E. Wadsworth, W. H. Dresher, W. M. Fassell

HIGH temperature-high pressure techniques have long been used to great advantage in the organic chemical industry, the petroleum industry, and the paper industry. Only recently, however, have these methods been used to extract metals from their ores on a commercial scale. The Chemical Construction Corp., together with interested producers of nickel and cobalt, has done much to develop methods of producing nickel and cobalt powders by the use of high temperature-high pressure techniques.' The Howe Sound Co. is currently operating a plant near Salt Lake City in which the new Chemical Construction Corp. technique is applied to cobalt-arsenic sulfide concentrates. In this method the concentrates are leached in a dilute solution of sulfuric acid under air pressure at a high temperature. Near Edmonton, in Alberta, Canada, the Sherritt Gordon Co. is also using the new method in conjunction with its ammoniacal leach process.' National Lead Co., at Fredricktown, Mo., is operating a process similar to that of Howe Sound. In spite of the rapid growth of high temperature-high pressure hydrometallurgical processes, there has been very little work done on fundamental principles involved in this type of process. Conse- quently the literature lacks any significant data in this field. Oxidation of pyrite,3 sphalerite,4 galena," and recently molybdenite" in alkaline solutions has been reported to some extent. This investigation was initiated, therefore, to broaden the application of high temperature-high pressure hydrometallurgy and also to contribute some insight into the basic mechanisms of oxidation in an aqueous medium under these conditions. In addition to the immediate consequences of these processes much valuable information remains to be learned about fundamental reactions when they are carried out at temperatures and pressures slightly higher than those normally encountered. Leaching of molybdenite by alkaline solutions under oxygen pressure has recently been reported in the Russian literature by E. S. Usataya,6 ho found that leaching rate increased with an increase in the pH of the solution—the strongest effects being observed at a pH of 10—and also with an increase in temperature. Usataya also has reported the formation of a protective film on the surface of the molybdenite when the leaching solution was weakly alkaline, neutral, or acidic. He believes that this oxidation process explains the migration of Mo++ in the oxidation zones of molybdenite ore deposits and the subsequent impoverishment of the ores. Equipment: The high temperature-high pressure reaction unit used in this work was especially designed for kinetic studies of this nature, emphasis being placed on accuracy of measurement and precision of control. As details of the unit's construction and operation have been discussed elsewhere,' only basic features and principles of operation will be discussed at this point.

Jan 1, 1957

By Frank W. Reinmiller, Edward S. Hsia

Earth bottom thickeners are generally considered to be the lowest cost solution for thickener bottom construction presently available to the mining industry. In addition to the capital cost advantage, these basins have proven to be watertight structures providing trouble-free operation for indefinite periods of time. During the past 15 years, some 18 of these thickeners have entered service with no particular problems encountered in porphyry copper operations, counter-current decantation in a gold cyanide plant, and other similar applications in mineral processing. In the course of this work, technological advances have been realized in the procedures for engineering and construction of these units to assure watertight basins and achieve all possible economies in construction.

Jan 8, 1977

By Harold R. Wampler, John L. Bolles, Adrian J. Broderick

Phelps Dodge's 60,000 tpd Morenci Concentrator has been in operation since 1942. The integrating of process control applications into the concentrator began in 1972. A process control system is presently on-line controlling 30 primary grinding circuits and all reagent additions. The system consists of a centralized control room process control Computer, on-stream X-ray analyzer, on-stream particle size analyzers and an operator interface. This paper describes the process control system's development, control concepts and its influence on the concentrator performance.

Jan 1, 1978

By LESTER W. STRAUSS

FOR fifteen months after the other dominions of the British Empire and the entire so-called sterling 11loc loosed the shackles that bound the111 to the gold standard, South Africa, giant among gold-producing nations, remained stubbornly attached to gold at the traditional ratio of 85 shillings in currency to one ounce of gold. But eventually even South Africa had to heed the dictates of trade and the obvious interests of its great gold-mining industry. In December, 1932, South Africa's currency severed its golden bonds. Today the South African pound is 011 a par wit11 the British pound.

Jan 1, 1935

By Louis D. Huntoon

The Porcupine gold area, located on the Hudson Bay slope of northern Ontario, has produced over $100,000,000 in gold and has paid more than $28,000,000 in dividends, since the first real production in 1912. The character of the ore has been studied by the geologists of the Bureau of Mines of Ontario, the geological staffs of the operating mines, and engineers commissioned to examine properties there. What information the Government has is free to everybody; the geological staffs of the several properties also give to the visiting engineer what information regarding ore deposition they possess, and the author wishes to express his indebtedness to the geologists of the Ontario Bureau of Mines and the staffs of the operating mines for their free discussion of geological questions. This paper is based on the examination of several properties, various petrographic reports, not only on specimens from Porcupine but from elsewhere in northern Ontario, and interviews with Government and mine staff geologists. The petrographic work has been done by Prof. R. J. Colony, of Columbia University. Geological History The geological history of the district may be summarized as follows: The outpouring of great floods of lava accompanied by beds of tuff, flow following flow; the contacts of different flows can be seen in various parts of the camp. This period mas followed by an uplift and the production of the Temiskaming sediments by erosion. Later, dynamic action turned the sediments and underlying lavas on edge; this was followed by the intrusion of igneous rocks—in the Porcupine area the quartz porphyry, which is of such great importance in connection with the gold deposits. Doctor Burrows says: "The intrusions of quartz porphyry have in some way influenced the deposition or location of the gold but it is not likely the porphyry has been the source of the gold-bearing solutions." This statement of Doctor Burrows I indorse. The formation of non-gold bearing quartz veins followed the intrusion of the porphyry. These veins occur along or near the contact of

Jan 1, 1923

By Louis D. Huntoon

The Porcupine gold area, located on the Hudson Bay slope of northern Ontario, has produced over $100,000,000 in gold and has paid more than $28,000,000 in dividends, since the first real production in 1912. The character of the ore has been studied by the geologists of the Bureau of Mines of Ontario, the geological staffs of the operating mines, and engineers commissioned to examine properties there. What information the Government has is free to everybody; the geological staffs of the several properties also give to the visiting engineer what information regarding ore deposition they possess, and the author wishes to express his indebtedness to the geologists of the Ontario Bureau of Mines and the staffs of the operating mines for their free discussion of geological questions. This paper is based on the examination of several properties, various petrographic reports, not only on specimens from Porcupine but from elsewhere in northern Ontario, and interviews with Government and mine staff geologists. The petrographic work has been done by Prof. R. J. Colony, of Columbia University. Geological History The geological history of the district may be summarized as follows: The outpouring of great floods of lava accompanied by beds of tuff, flow following flow; the contacts of different flows can be seen in various parts of the camp. This period mas followed by an uplift and the production of the Temiskaming sediments by erosion. Later, dynamic action turned the sediments and underlying lavas on edge; this was followed by the intrusion of igneous rocks—in the Porcupine area the quartz porphyry, which is of such great importance in connection with the gold deposits. Doctor Burrows says: "The intrusions of quartz porphyry have in some way influenced the deposition or location of the gold but it is not likely the porphyry has been the source of the gold-bearing solutions." This statement of Doctor Burrows I indorse. The formation of non-gold bearing quartz veins followed the intrusion of the porphyry. These veins occur along or near the contact of

Jan 1, 1923

By B. M. Larsen, T. E. Brower

INTRODUCTION THIS discussion is based on statistical manipulation and evaluation of operating data from several commercial blast furnaces which include rather wide variations in practice. We are concerned here mainly with the effect of manganese on sulphur elimination under operating conditions in commercial blast furnaces, but this effect can be outlined more clearly by including certain other variables such as silicon in iron and slag basicity, which are all in part interrelated. Real progress in understanding all of the smelting-zone reactions in this process requires more laboratory studies of slagmetal melts similar to those in the blast furnace, with careful control of oxygen pressure. Such experimental work is very difficult, however, and in the meantime, with the present scarcity of more fundamental data, such statistical trends and correlations as can be obtained from commercial furnace operating records may help in choosing laboratory test conditions as well as adding to our knowledge of operating procedures. We do not know just why the furnace data are apparently so irregular that statistical treatment of large numbers is needed to obtain accurate trends. It is .partly caused, no doubt, by the many simultaneous variables present, but there are perhaps also such factors as: (I) the continual swings up and down so characteristic of the process; (2) difficulty of accurate sampling of co-existing phases, as well as (3) the presence of both equilibrium and rate factors as a result of the fast driving of the process, In desulphurization, for example, the flow of thin layers of slag and metal over solid coke surfaces, plus the contact between droplets of iron falling through the slag layer in the hearth, would lead one to expect a close approach to equilibrium, On the other hand, most of the critical part of sulphur removal may occur in a short time and distance below the tuyeres with perhaps an accompanying decrease in oxygen pressure and the concurrent reduction of much of the silicon and manganese, so its degree of approach to equilibrium may be quite variable. PROBABLE CHEMISTRY OF DESULPHURIZATION Since there is little evidence that sulphur atoms in the iron solution are associated to any appreciable extent in molecules such as MnS, the transfer from slag to metal and back again can be written:* [(FeS) -, [FeS],[I] hence the following reactions seem most probable in the slag phase, (FeS) + (CaO) = (CaS) + (FeO), [2] and, (FeS) + (MnO) ;:2 (MnS) + (FeO). [31]

Jan 1, 1948

Jan 1, 1967

By Joseph W. Mills

In 1956 the discovery of nickel on Jumbo Mountain, Snohomish County, Washington, focused attention on this part of the Cascade Range, far more renowned for its timber than for its mineral resources. Hand specimens assaying as high as 13 pct Ni encouraged Discovery Mines Inc. of Mount Vernon, Wash., to stake 12 claims in Township 31 North, Range 9 East of the Willamette Meridian. The property was leased to Climax Molybdenum Co. in January 1957. Trenching, sampling, and geologic studies were carried out during the late summer of 1957 when most of the snow had disappeared. Although the deposits are only about four miles south of the logging town of Darrington and about two miles, as the crow flies, southeast of the end of a good gravel road from that town, all camp supplies and equipment were air-dropped, owing to the extremely rugged nature of the terrain.

Jan 3, 1960