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By Charles Janin

ONE of the most interesting features of the world's platinum situation has been the steady increase of Russian production, which had dropped to 11,000 oz. in 1920, but increased to 92,000 oz. in 1926, and to probably over 100,000 oz. for 1927. It is ex-pected that Russian production of platinum will, be-fore long, closely equal its pre-war production, or approximately 200,000 oz. annually. The world production before the war was around 250,000 oz.; that for 1925 has been estimated at 160,000 oz., and for 1926 probably 170,000 oz. The consump-tion of platinum has, however, decreased. The esti-mate of the International Selling Agency was a de-mand of 130,000 oz. new platinum against a normal pre-war demand of over 200,000 oz. The high price of platinum during the war gave an added impetus to the search for substitutes for the metal, and sev-eral were developed that are now used extensively in place of platinum. The demand for platinum for high-class jewelry, however, was not greatly affected by the high prices, but "white" gold did replace platinum in the cheaper jewelry. Colombia is the most important producer of plati-num, next to Russia, and the production has increased from around 10,000 oz. pre-war production to 55,000 oz. or more in 1927. In 1924 important discoveries of platinum were made in South Africa. Prior to these discoveries practically all platinum was recovered from alluvial deposits, and the South African opera-tions are first to work an ore profitably for the pri-mary recovery of platinum. A number of companies were formed to develop these deposits, but only a few made any real progress. Total production for 1926 was about 5000 oz. The United States production is unimportant; that in Canada has increased to around 9000 oz., principally as a by-product in nickel-copper ores.

Jan 5, 1928

Jan 1, 1933

Jan 1, 1932

By Lovell Lawrence

MAGNETITE deposits in the Eastern States have been mined uninterruptedly since pre-Revolutionary War days. The industry, thriving in normal times, was given impetus in all periods of tumult, and continued to advance and expand, until the Lake Superior ores came into production. A period of comparative quiet existed until increased freight rates, together with increased mining costs on Lake Region ores, permitted the magnetites again to compete. This, coupled with World War demands, created unpre¬cedented activity. Producing plants were at their peak, new mines were equipped and put in operation and the industry pushed production beyond the absorption point. Ore stocks were tremendous, internal competition severe, and a great increase in import of European ores brought the industry to a low ebb in 1923.

Jan 1, 1933

By J. P. Zannaras

If we assume that testing of the model started at time C, that time t2 was the instant at which the elastic limit of the material was passed at the points of the maximum stress, and that at time t3 the failure of the model was completed as shown in the typical photograph (Fig. 1), then actually the photograph shows the final results of what took place between time t2 and t3. By the principle of similitude all conclusions drawn from the behavior of the model were applicable and valid for actual mine roofs up to the time t, after time t, motions and friction came into play during the destruction of the model. The events between t2 and t3 and the photograph itself are not representative of the events expected in an actual mine roof unless corrections imposed by the principle of similitude are made.

Dec 1, 1956

LET us return and follow our first intention of discussing the art of melting. Since I have demonstrated to you how large works are made, you may have thought that the way to the small ones was also open to you, and you would not have been mistaken. But in order to avoid work and expense there are shorter and easier ways to be used, both because the things can be handled more easily and because it is not necessary to have so much regard for the forces of small materials. Therefore, wishing to make a distinction for you, I shall call this the small art of casting. Before speaking of this, I shall tell you of several methods of making powders for moulding. Then I shall also tell you of the methods of moulding in boxes and in frames, and how the said powders are to be prepared for casting either dry or green. Then I shall tell you some methods that are held as secret by the masters for handling the metals in melting and making them flow readily, so that you may easily fill the cavities of your moulds.

Jan 1, 1942

ENGINEERS AVAILABLE (Under this heading will be published notes sent to the Secretary of the Institute by members or other persons introduced by members.) Member, technical graduate, five years' experience as mining engineer and chemist. Actual experience in underground work, surveying, mapping, foreman, etc. Will accept very moderate salary to start with reliable company. Willing to go anywhere. No. 184. Member, technical graduate, with experience as engineer and metallurgist for various copper companies, is open for similar positions. No. 185. Member, specializing in cyanide treatment and cyanide plant construction, with 10 years' experience in Mexico and in the West, desires position. No. 186. Member, technical graduate, first in mining engineering and then in chemistry and metallurgy, Lafayette College; Fellow, School of Mines, Columbia University; special work Royal School of Mines, Freiberg, Saxony, Germany; ten years' experience teaching mining, chemistry, assaying, and metallurgy, desires position as Director of School of Mines or Professor of Metallurgy. No. 187.

Jan 2, 1915

PROF. COURTENAY DE KALB, Kingstou, Oat. (communication to the Secretary): It. may be due to some lack of carefulness in expression that Mr. Upham seems to imply that there

Jan 1, 1899

Jan 1, 1925

Jan 1, 1949

A joint meeting of the American Institute of Metals Division, and the iron and steel members of the American Institute of Mining Engineers; with the American Foundrymen 's Association, has been arranged for Milwaukee, beginning on Tuesday, October 8, 1918. The papers to

Jan 8, 1918

By R. P. McLaughlin

EXACT information as to performance of the gas lift from the mechanical engineering standpoint is hard to obtain. Several hundred wells are now producing in California fields by means of the gas lift, and a survey of results shows that the gas lift has increased production at these wells by approximately 60 percent. Similar or even larger figures describe results in Mid-Continent fields. Such an increase in output of oil is so satisfactory, to the average oil producer, that it may not encourage investigation looking to more efficient operation. The cost of lifting oil by compressed gas varies from 3 c. to 15 c. per bbl. of oil, depending upon the efficiency of the gas lift. A difference of 10 c. or 12 c. per bbl. of oil is immediately noticed by an oil operator and the cost in production is as real to him as is the price of his product. Therefore, the efficiency of gas-lift process deserves more consideration than it has been given in some quarters. It has been found that there is a wide variation between different operators and at different wells in the amount of gas used per barrel of oil lifted. Some of the most efficient operations show oil being lifted with only slightly over 400 cu. ft. of gas per bbl. of oil.1 On the other hand, wells are being flowed and using as high as 3000 cu. ft. per bbl. of oil. The cost of compressing gas to 300 or 400 lb. varies from 3 c. to 5 c. per 1000 cu. ft. of free gas. This figure has been obtained from a number of sources and as a matter of fact is the basis of actual business transactions involving gas compression. The cost of lifting oil with compressed gas is thus determined.

Jan 12, 1926

By Freeman Bishop

Of all President Nixon's many legislative proposals, the one that will probably have the most far reaching effect on the mining industry will be the collecting of odds and ends of antipollution programs into the confines of a single independent Federal agency, the Environmental Protection Administration. In addition, the President is asking this Congress to approve shifting some policy and planning to the Commerce Department in an agency that will probably be known as the Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration. This division will deal with ocean mining policy and future sources of minerals and metals.

Jan 1, 1970

By NONE N/A

THE Section on Aerial Geologizing of the American Institute of Mining and Metallurgical Engineers convened on Monday afternoon, Feb. 17, 1936, during the Annual Meeting of the Institute. Mr. Theodore Marvin presided. CHAIRMAN MARVIN.-We hope to get through with the papers on the program in time so that you can examine the instruments that are dis-played here, and also the photographs and air views brought by the Fairchild people. This is what we might call the first bread and butter session of the Aviation Committee. The group, as many of you know, was started at the request of the Board of Directors two years ago. We have had two sessions since then, both of them of a somewhat general nature, their pur-pose being to point out the reasons why mining and petroleum engineers should be more interested in the facilities of aviation. Today we have two papers. The first is one by Mr. Eliel, of the Fairchild Company's California branch. In Mr. Eliel's absence, Mr. Gale, of the Fairchild Company, will read it. C. H. GALE.-Before I begin to read Mr. Eliel's paper, I would like to point out two instruments that he mentions. One is what he calls the solar-navigator, a new type of aerial navigating device which he has developed for use in flying cameras in aerial surveys. Flying a camera at high altitudes over unfamiliar territory is a very difficult procedure and only a few pilots in this country can do it. So far as I know, this is the first time this device has been discussed in public. Another facility I want to refer to in advance is the use of the stereoplanigraph in making contour maps from photographs. This is an extremely interesting procedure, which we are appreciating more than ever at the present time.

Jan 1, 1936

Jan 1, 1892

Jan 1, 1957

In mid-November, a long awaited announcement was made by John Drybrough, President of Granduc Mines Ltd. In short, he said that the extensive exploration conducted by his company and its parent organization, Newmont Mining Corp., have indicated the feasibility of a commercial copper mining operation at the company's prospect located slightly north of Stewart, B.C., and just east of the Alaskan Panhandle. The financing of the project is now being planned. SUMMARY OF PROJECT Granduc reasonably assured ore reserves are estimated at 32,510,000 tons averaging 1.93% copper content before dilution, of which 20,670,000 tons averaging 2.08;:; copper content are situated above the proposed mine access tunnel at elevation 2475 above sea level. The life of the reserves at the planned rate of production is 13 1/2 years. The probability of finding substantial additions to these present reserves is considered good.

Jan 12, 1963

By A. Henry

THE manufacture of wheels of metal for locomotives and cars constitutes an important branch of the iron industry, and one closely related, moreover, to many of the conditions of railway practice, such as speed, safety of passengers, and economy of working. It has been, also, since the introduction of iron roads, a subject of constant study on the part both of engineers of construction and iron manufacturers. The car-wheels at first used in Europe had spokes of wrought iron and a hub of cast iron. Subsequently endeavors were made to make the wheels entirely of wrought iron, by forging successively the different parts which constituted the hub, spokes, and rim. By this treatment the expansion of the heated portions at the last forgings gave rise to interior ruptures in the already cold and finished parts. The metal was thus strained before use, and the wheels broke frequently in service. It was in consequence of these failures, doubtless, that the engineers of this country were led to employ exclusively wheels of cast iron. The railway companies are nevertheless greatly interested in the reduction of the weight of rolling stock, while preserving abundant strength, and by the employment of wrought-iron wheels one may attain this double end if the defects of manufacture which we have just mentioned are avoided. This may be accomplished by making the wheels in such a manner that the different parts are welded at the same time, whereby the interior strains which so frequently give rise to ruptures in wheels successively forged are avoided. This result has been attained by what is known in France as the Arbel process, of which I will give you a short description if you will kindly give me a few minutes' attention. The process may be briefly summed up as follows : A pile of puddled bars of the general form of the wheel to be made is prepared,

Jan 1, 1877

Jan 1, 1911

WE the undersigned, being all persons of full age and citizens of the United States and a majority residents of the State of New York, desiring to form a corporation pursuant to the provisions of the Membership Corporations Law for the purpose of incorporating, as provided in Section 5 of Article I. of said law, the existing unincorporated association known as American Institute of Mining and Metallurgical Engineers, Incorporated, do hereby make, acknowledge and file this Certificate for that purpose, and do Certify as follows: I. That the American Institute of Mining Engineers is an unincorporated association organized and existing with the object of promoting the arts and sciences connected with the economic production of the useful minerals and metals and the welfare of those employed in these industries by means of meetings for social intercourse and the reading and discussion of professional papers, and to circulate by means of publications among its members and associates the information thus obtained.

Jan 1, 1937