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By Frank F. Aplan

In looking into the crystal-ball scene of minerals beneficiation for 1970 and beyond, an impartial observer becomes con- fused as to what has been done and what is possible in the way of improvements. The mining official must balance the burden which is being shouldered by the mineral industry for maintaining our environment in its pristine state on one hand, with the solid advancements made in technology and cost savings on the other hand. Then the official wonders if this is really the criterion for judging overall performance today. As a prospective engineer, Dave Bolles sees it this way: "Specialization has caused many engineers to subordinate everything to doing their job the cheapest and fastest way. In the future this won't be enough. The engineer in the mineral industry will be responsible not only for mining, concentrating and smelting, but also for the resultant wastes- the mine dumps, the tailing dams and the slag piles." (See Drift on page 63).

Jan 1, 1971

By J. A. Herbst

During the last decade it has been established that conventional mineral-processing control strategies based on classical control theory result in significant increases in plant throughput and operating-cost savings. It has, however, also been recognized that conventional strategies have important limitations for complex multivariable mineral-processing systems. These limitations center around the fact that single-input/single- output control linkings often result in highly undesirable interactions between controllers. During the last few years new and promising approaches to solving this problem have emerged. These approaches are based on the use of on-line dynamic models to make predictions which are useful for control decision-making. This paper presents a brief summary of the state-of-the-art for mineral-processing control in 1984. This summary is followed by a review of recent developments in model-based control strategies including those in optimal control, self- tuning regulators and decoupling control. Expected trends for the future in the control of mineral-processing operations are discussed.

Jan 1, 1984

By M. Baeyertz

SINCE 1915 many papers and books have covered industrial applications of X-rays from various angles. Two of the more recent are a paper by Fink and Archer1, which describes in detail the technique of radiography, and a paper by Clark2, which embraces the whole field of X-ray metallography. This paper, therefore, is confined to work of the X-ray Laboratory of the Western Electric Co., which naturally divides into two categories: radiography and diffraction patterns of various types.

Jan 1, 1930

By Edward B. Durham

The refinery at the San Francisco Mint takes the bullion purchased by the receiving department, and carrying Illore than 200 parts of precious metals in 1,000, or, in mint parlance, over 200 fine, and separates and refines the various metals contained therein, using electrolytic processes exclusively. Bullion containing silver is treated in cells charged with a nitric electrolyte. These cells produce fine silver and leave a residue rich in gold. The residue from the silver-cells, together with crude gold-bullion, is treated in cells having a chloride electrolyte. These produce fine gold and leave a residue containing silver chloride. The latter is reduced to the metallic state with zinc and is then treated in the silver-cells. The various waste solutions and the wash-waters, after being freed from the bulk of their precious metals, still contain copper and other metals. These are removed by scrap-iron, and are then treated in the copper-cells, having a sulphate electrolyte. These cells produce pure copper, and collect a residue containing lead, some gold and silver, and all the metals of the platinum gronp that were in the bullion. This residue is relatively small, and is melted into bars and stored until suEcient accumulates to warrant treating it for platinum, etc. The refinery occupies three large and three small rooms. The large ones are, a melting-room, 30 by 34 ft.; a cell-room, 39 by 46 ft.; and a wash-room, 30 by 33 ft. The small rooms are used as foreman's osce, laboratory, and , re- spectively. The methods here described are those in use in December, 1909, when notes for the present paper were taken.

Jan 1, 1912

By Sidney Powers

CONTENTS PAGE Distribution of fields 4 History of development 6 Origin of oil 7 Structure, accumulation and migration 8 Reservoir rocks 9 Methods of drilling and exploration 10 Oil-field statistics : 12 Description by regions: United States: Appalachian region ; 12 East-central states 17 Kansas 18 Oklahoma : 19 Texas : 24 Arkansas : 32 Louisiana 33 Mississippi ....... 34 Rocky Mountain region : 34 California 37 Canada 41 Mexico 43 Cuba 46 Bibliography 46 THE purpose of this brief account- of the occurrence of petroleum in North America is to make available to those who have a knowledge of geology, but who are not engaged in the petroleum industry, a few salient facts about the location of oil and gas fields, their productivity, the important structural types of accumulation and the age of the rocks containing petroleum. A few useful data and statistics are furnished, yet not complete statistics that are available elsewhere. Geology has been treated in simple terms because the reader is presumed to have little interest in the names of formations and of oil sands. Mineral deposits are more or less analogous. Whether oil or metals, minerals are found in rocks, largely in sedimentary rocks which carry water or have at one time carried it. A genetic or accumula-

Jan 1, 1931

By R. A. Swalin, A. H. Geisler

THIS study represents an investigation of the effect of annealing temperature on the texture of drawn molybdenum, iron, and an iron alloy containing 14 pct Al. The effect of temperature on annealing textures has not been widely investigated in the past. One of the obstacles in making such a study using usual X-ray diffraction techniques results from the

Jan 1, 1957

By J. H. Nead

The experiments herein described were undertaken with a view to investigating thoroughly the influence of carbon on the tensile and impact physical properties of carbon steel. The original comprehensive plan included investigation of a series of steels with varying carbon contents over a wide range of heat treatments. These were to be studied as to their static tensile qualities, and also their resistance to shock as measured by the Charpy impact bending test. A thorough metallographic examination was likewise included in the schedule. The Charpy tests and the metallographic examination have not been completed to date, and are accordingly withheld for another report. All heat treatments, however, have been made, and the static tensile tests have been completed. A description of the procedure of the experiment and the results thus far obtained are therefore reported herein. Conclusions No attempt is made to draw general conclusions from these experiments, but the curves and the data are submitted as being of general importance and wide applicability. Composition of Materials An attempt was made to secure steels increasing in carbon by increments of 0.1 per cent. from 0.1 per cent. up to 0.8 per cent., and from that composition to 1.6 per cent. by increments of 0.2 per cent. Actually, however, steels of the composition given in Table I were procured, and as the carbon contents were arranged sufficiently well so that satisfactory curves could be drawn showing the relation between carbon content and other properties, these steels were used in the experiments.

Jan 1, 1916

By T. L. Joseph

THE invention of the Bessemer converter process in 1856 added great impetus to the manufacture of steel and is one of the outstanding contributions to process metallurgy. Although the process of refining pig iron by passing air through the molten metal bears the name of Henry Bessemer, it should be mentioned in passing that William Kelley of Eddysville, Ky., worked on the process as early as 1847. Kelley was granted a patent on the process in 1857, inasmuch as he was able to prove priority in discovery.1 After considerable litigation in 1865 the respective interests of Kelley and Bessemer were combined. On Sept. 10, 1856, Robert Mushet of England obtained his first patent on the application of manganese to cast steel. Mushet anticipated trouble in purifying iron by passing currents of air through it. His patent specified that steel made in this way often contained flaws and was red short or cold short. Mushet understood the refining of pig iron into steel well enough to realize the difficulties likely to be encountered from oxidation of the iron. Mushet was not only an inventor but he was also an investigator. He understood the principle of selective oxidation which takes place in the converter process, arid he realized therefore that the remedy for over-oxidation was attainable if a suitable metal could be found at a reasonable cost and in sufficient quantities. His first experiments were made in small crucibles holding a few ounces of metal. Later his work was conducted on a larger scale and with complete success. Manganese had been used in making steel a quarter of a century before the converter

Jan 5, 1927

By E. T. Dumble

Introduction..........914 I. Topography,........915 The Nueces Basin........915 The Coastal Slope...........918 Streams..........919 II. Geology..........921 Eocene..........923 Basal Beds .......923 Lignitic Stage........923 Atascosa Sections......924 International and Great Northern Sections .. . 928 Leona Sections.......929 Nueces Sections....929 Rio Grande Sections.....930 Lower Claiborne Stage......932 Marine Beds ........933 Atascosa Sections....... 933 International and Great Northern Sections .. . 934 Frio County Sections,.....935 Rio Grande Sections.....936 Yegua Clays........938 Atascosa Sections......938 Tilden Sections.......941 International and Great Northern Sections .. . 942 Rio Grande Sections.....942 Fayette Sands........945 Atascosa Sections......946 Tilden Sections......948 Rio Grande Sections.....950 Frio Clays........953 Atascosa-Frio Sections.....953 Tilden-San Diego Sections....955 Rio Grande Sections......955 Neocene ....966 Oakville Beds.......957 Lapara Beds,....... 987 Nueces Sections......958 Bartlett's Ford Sections.....959 Fort Merrill Section......963 Lapara Sections,.....964 Tilden-San Diego Section.....967 Lee Tiendas.......969

Jan 1, 1903

By V. N. Krivobok

THE study and use of low-carbon manganese steels have been curiously neglected in the general history of developments in alloy steels. Hadfield1 made an extensive study of manganese-iron-carbon alloys about 1886, which culminated in the wide application and use of Hadfield austenitic manganese steel. His alloys were nearly all high in carbon, as compared with the steels discussed in this paper, and he found a marked tendency towards brittleness in the alloys of medium and low manganese content, that is, below 7 per cent. manganese. As a result, there has been a widespread prejudice against the use of manganese steels containing between 1.0 to 3.5 per cent. manganese with comparatively low carbon. Steels of this composition have never been studied adequately in comparison with other alloy steels, and have had little use in practice. In a very recent paper by Sir Robert Hadfield2 the following statement appears: ?. . . manganese-iron alloys with little or no carbon do not seem to offer any practical employment; they only become valuable in the presence of quite high percentages of carbon, 0.90 to 1.50 per cent." The results of the present investigation are so contrary to the findings of Hadfield that the writers feel fully justified in presenting the preliminary report incorporated in this paper.

Jan 1, 1927

By George M. Fowler

THE Tri-State district, as outlined in this paper, refers to the entire mineralized area in southwestern Missouri, southeastern Kansas and northeastern Oklahoma (Fig. 1). The part of the district in Missouri and near Galena, Kans., is still sometimes referred to as the Joplin district (Fig. 2). The Picher-Miami area is that part of the Tri-State district located contiguously in Kansas and Oklahoma in the vicinity of Baxter Springs, Picher and Miami. This paper is confined almost wholly to the ore deposits of the Tri-State district and particularly to the Picher-Miami area. Our study of the ore deposits of this district dates from late in 1925 (by Fowler) and early in 1927 (by Lyden) to the present. Our work has been confined almost entirely to the search for ore for numerous companies and individuals. It was not possible for us to undertake numerous highly interesting investigations which presented themselves but which would not immediately help in finding ore. We particularly refer to the general structural geology of the Ozark uplift, the genesis of the ore, and other problems of a similar nature. The local and general structural problems of the district are being solved gradually as the work progresses. The factors that control the loci of the several orebodies are evident. This paper is based almost exclusively upon our own observations. Most of the important mines in the Picher-Miami area were studied in detail. A map (Fig. 5) is included which shows this area and the properties we have examined to date. When it was convenient we visited, studied and compared structural relations in numerous mines in states outside the district. Some of these observations are noted in this paper.

Jan 1, 1932

CHARLES CATLETT, Staunton, Va.-A great many important things have been said in an interesting way but the most startling, to me, is that for 25 years, the price has been in the neighborhood of $1.00, with a minimum of 86 cents and a maximum of about $1.25. It is evident that during all that time the price was inadequate. The amount paid to be divided between the land owner, the capitalist, and the laborer was too limited or too irregular to permit of a healthy condition; yet it is evident that the enormous industrial development of this country was fostered by this very cheap coal, probably the cheapest that has been provided in quantity in any country. I entered the coal business when the price was lowest and my interest and sympathy went out to the man who spent his days in the dirt and foul air of a mine and I was filled with schemes for helping. But at the end of the year, after exercising every economy and in blissful ignorance of proper depreciation and obsolescence, there was still only a profit of 1 cent per long ton for what I think is one of the best coals in the world, the best grade of New River coal. We are now paying a great deal more than we did a few years ago and probably will continue to pay more for some time; but any one who thinks we will not have low prices again is very young or very forgetful. Yet we must have larger profits if the industry is to be healthy, if the three parties to the production are to get adequate returns and be in shape to provide the improvements which will be needed to take the place of and supplement the man-power. This will come when the men are making so much money that the operator wants to replace the man by a machine, and when the operator is making so much money as to be in a shape to make the improvements. He will not put in machinery unless the machinery will save money. We have got to pay a higher prime cost for coal, but engineering skill will teach us how to handle it better and use it more economically, and the ultimate result ought to be of advantage to the public.

Jan 3, 1920

By Henry Lloyd Smyth

In 1891-92 1 was entrusted with the geological survey of part of the large area lying between the Marquette and Menominee iron-ranges in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, and extending from the Republic trough on the north, through portions of the valleys of the Michigamme and Fence rivers, to and including the intermediate Felch mountain range on the south. Until a few years back the larger part of this area has been very difficult of access, and much of it is difficult still. The rock-surface is for the most part covered with swamp, forest and glacial deposits of various kinds, and therefore has not invited geological study. For these reasons the district, as a whole, with the exception of the Felch mountain range, remained almost unknown from a geological standpoint until our work in 1892. Our main object was to map the pre-Cambrian rocks, particularly the iron-bearing formations of Algonkian or Huronian age, and to obtain as much information as possible with reference to their sequence and structure, In carrying out this purpose, the use of simple magnetic instruments was found to be of the greatest assistance, and indeed indispensable. In this paper the results of our experience in tracing magnetic rocks by means of the disturbances produced in these instruments, have been brought together in systematic form, with such references to the particular area as are necessary in order to illustrate general principles, with the hope that they will prove useful to other workers in the same region, or in other regions where similar conditions may be encountered. The writer was efficiently aided in the field-work by Messrs. Samuel Sanford and Charlea N. Fairchild for nearly the whole period, and E. B. Mathews and H. F. Phillips for part of it,

Jan 1, 1897

By E. Maltby Shipp

YouR committee's secretary submits the following report, or summary, to the members of the committee, in an endeavor to lay before them a general review of the information so far received and also his own knowledge of the work as carried on at a number of plants, this being done in part to secure further information and suggestions from members and lead to a more effective means of furthering the work of the committee. It is suggested that more detailed data be compiled regarding engineering features involved, and that papers be contributed which will deal with the safeguarding of underground electrical installations. There are few operating companies which have not started a more or less systematic campaign to safeguard their employees from accidental injuries and unhealthful surroundings, but a great deal is to be gained by experience. All may welcome the advice and cooperation of those who have been actively engaged in the work and have demonstrated the results obtainable by organized effort, and it is, therefore, exceedingly gratifying to note the ready assistance and hearty cooperation rendered by the companies that may be truly termed pioneers in the movement. No solution of the safety problem is to be found in a skrict standardization of methods, rules or devices, as the various mining, milling and metallurgical practices present too many conditions differing broadly in general principles, but some standard system embodying principles already proven to be efficient should be created, which may be modified or elaborated to meet specific requirements of each individual company, or to fit working conditions as they exist in the various mining camps throughout the country. An industrial plant is primarily a business undertaking, therefore the economic side of a safety or welfare campaign is of importance. Many small operators have been deterred from undertaking the work by their belief that it involved an expense beyond their means, and one that could not be counterbalanced by greater efficiency or saving along other lines. This idea is generally due to a lack of knowledge of the actual costs of such work, and of the results secured by judicious selection of a method commensurate with the size and nature of the opera-

Jan 1, 1918

By J. F. Lewis

Much has been written on this great engineering work, principally from the civil engineer's stand-point. In presenting the subject to the Institute, it seems necessary to include something of geology as well as engineering. In this case, it is particularly the glacial and post-glacial periods with which we are concerned; for it has been clearly proved that the canal recently excavated has not for the first time opened the Des Plaines valley for drainage away from Lake Michigan, and that this valley, as well as the site of this city, is very closely connected with the processes and effects of the ice period. We have simply renewed a channel and a drainage direction which formerly existed. As the days of deep water-ways for commercial purposes are fast approaching, engineers may find the consideration of ancient topography and geologic changes highly useful. For what I may say on this subject I am greatly indebted to Mr. Ossian Guthrie, who has made an earnest study of glacial geology and labored especially to decipher the records of its history in this region. * Chicago is situated in the track of one of four great glacial ice-streams that swept down from the North: one moving due South from Marquette and entering the Illinois valley at Ottawa; one through the Lake Michigan valley, entering the Illinois valley near Lemont; one from Saginaw Bay diagonally across the States of Michigan and Iadiana, entering through

Jan 1, 1898

By Samuel B. Christy

The present paper is a continuation of a study of the reductionworks of New Almaden, the first part of which was published under the title " Quicksilver-Reduction at New Almaden," in the Transactions of this Society, vol. xiii., p. 547.* Frequent reference will be made to some of the data there given. The following is an outline of the contents of this paper: I. Condensing appliances used at New Almaden: a. Brick condensers, b. Iron condensers—flues and " water-backs," c. Glass and wood condensers, d. Friction-coudensers—filters and revolving screens, e. Flues, towers, and chimneys. II. Analysis of condensing-systems. III. Temperature of condeusers. IV. Product of condensers. V. Treatment of soot. VI. Losses of treatment: a. Nature of losses, b. Composition, weight, and volume of dry gases, c. Volume of wet gases, d. Specific weight of quicksilver vapor, e. Vapor-loss at various temperatures. VII. Comparison with New Almaden practice. VIII. Comparison with results at Idria, Austria. IX. Comparison with results at Almaden, Spain. X. Future improvements in quicksilver-condensation. I. Condensing Appliances. The complete condensation of mercurial fumes in a large way presents numerous practical difficulties, familiar to all who have had to retort amalgams. In condensing the quicksilver-fumes discharged

Jan 1, 1886

By H. A. Guess

Introduction. History and Production Statements. Southeast Missouri is the oldest of the large producing districts of the United States. The first recorded production from disseminated ores was in 1869, although for many years prior to that time lead had been milled from shallow pockets, and steady growth in production has been shown ever since, the greatest increases being during the past five years. The production by years for each of the operating companies from 1869 to 1907, inclusive, is given in Table I. In Table 11. is given the production by years from 1908 to 1912, inclusive, for the district as a whole, showing the tonnage of crude ore mined, yield in concentrates, average assay of concentrates; yield in metallic lead both per ton of crude ore and in total; also approximate value of the yearly production. It is interesting to note that the production for the 5-yr. period 1908 to 1912, inclusive, is practically equal to the total previous production, viz., the 39-yr. period 1869 to 1907, the summary being as follows:

Jan 1, 1915

By G. Van Esbroeck, M. Van Weyenbergh

The copper mines of the Katanga region in the Belgian Congo lie along the same mineralized belt as those of Northern Rhodesia. There are two distinct types of deposits in that belt, the dolomitic and the quartzitic. In the dolomitic type the metallic minerals are found in a dolomitic limestone country rock. Through oxidation and enrichment, large deposits of high-grade oxidized copper ores were formed, some of which are being worked by the Union Minière du Haut Katanga. Such deposits are all in Katanga. The quartzitic deposits are found in Katanga and Northern Rhodesia. Here the primary mineralization occurred in sandstones and quartzites, in horizons stratigraphically lower than the dolomites. These rocks are not favorable to secondary enrichment and the oxidized zone is poorer than the sulphide zone, which alone contains the ore. There are also in Katanga a few ore-bearing veins. One of them is being worked in the Prince Leopold mine at Kipushi. Prince Leopold Mine The Kipushi ore body fills a fault vein and invades the wall rocks more or less extensively by metasomatic replacement. The vein strikes north-northeast and south-southwest and dips to the west. The variable dip averages 60' to a depth of 300 ft., and more uniformly 80' below 400 ft. In the upper section the average width is 200 ft. and below the width is about 150 ft. The length of the ore body is 2300 feet. The eastern side of the vein—the footwall—is dolomitic and contains irregular masses of ore sometimes extending 100 ft. or more from the main

Jan 1, 1940

By M. Van Weyenbergh, G. Van Esbroeck

The copper mines of the Katanga region in the Belgian Congo lie along the same mineralized belt as those of Northern Rhodesia. There are two distinct types of deposits in that belt, the dolomitic and the quartzitic. In the dolomitic type the metallic minerals are found in a dolomitic limestone country rock. Through oxidation and enrichment, large deposits of high-grade oxidized copper ores were formed, some of which are being worked by the Union Minière du Haut Katanga. Such deposits are all in Katanga. The quartzitic deposits are found in Katanga and Northern Rhodesia. Here the primary mineralization occurred in sandstones and quartzites, in horizons stratigraphically lower than the dolomites. These rocks are not favorable to secondary enrichment and the oxidized zone is poorer than the sulphide zone, which alone contains the ore. There are also in Katanga a few ore-bearing veins. One of them is being worked in the Prince Leopold mine at Kipushi. Prince Leopold Mine The Kipushi ore body fills a fault vein and invades the wall rocks more or less extensively by metasomatic replacement. The vein strikes north-northeast and south-southwest and dips to the west. The variable dip averages 60' to a depth of 300 ft., and more uniformly 80' below 400 ft. In the upper section the average width is 200 ft. and below the width is about 150 ft. The length of the ore body is 2300 feet. The eastern side of the vein—the footwall—is dolomitic and contains irregular masses of ore sometimes extending 100 ft. or more from the main

Jan 1, 1940

By Francis C. Krauskopf, Carl E. Swartz

Metallurgists differ considerably in their opinions regarding the effect, if any, of small amounts of iron pyrites, or other iron compounds on zinc sulfide ores during the roasting operation. As a result, the literature on this subject expresses many conflicting ideas. The ore, previously crushed to pass through a 1-mm. screen, dries in the roasting kiln, losing water up to 200° to 300° C. At 150° C. iron pyrites begin to lose sulfur. As the temperature increases, while the ore is passing to the hotter part of the furnace, the sulfur burns to sulfur dioxide, leaving the metals as zinc oxide and ferric oxide. These two substances then interact to form zinc ferrite, a compound, yellow brown in color, having the general characteristics of a spinel. Like magnetite, another spinel, zinc ferrite is insoluble in alkalis and dilute acids. As a result, when leached with 10 per cent. sulfuric acid solution, zinc values tied up in this compound remain behind History In the electrolytic recovery of zinc from its ores, the roasted ores are usually leached with a 10 per cent. sulfuric acid solution. When the zinc ore contains iron pyrites as an impurity in an appreciable amount, the actual yield of metallic zinc is much lower than a theoretical calculation would indicate. Further, losses of zinc are, in a rough way, directly proportional to the amount of iron pyrites or other iron compounds present. When the iron is present in the ore in an isomorphous relation to the zinc, as in the case of a marmatite, a greater amount of zinc remains insoluble than when present as a true pyrite or marcasite. Work on the insoluble residues obtained from leaching of the calcines shows that the zinc lost is intimately tied up in this residue. Some investigators have suggested a definite compound, such as zinc ferrite; others merely a mixture of zinc and iron compounds. As early as 1851, Pelouze(')' prepared calcium ferrite by fusion of calcium oxide and ferric oxide. Ebelman, 2) about the same time, prepared

Jan 1, 1928