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By Sinha D. K.

As the main source of indigineous energy, coal has a big role to play in the development of national economy of India. Nationalization of the coal mining has brought the entire industry under the unit control of the Central Government following which an ambitious plan for increasing the coal production in the next few five year plans has been undertaken. In order to achieve best all round results, economy-mathematical models of Planning the total system, right from the highest to lowest hierarchial levels of decision making, have been proposed through a Global Model which is detailed in Local Models in stages right up to a mine. Optimum obtained by computer solution of the models would provide basis for objective decision making in the fields of selection of optimum plan for developing the industry, the coal fields and the mines with construction and/or reconstruction of mines, capacity optimization of enterprises and mines therein. Different types of Models and the optimization processes are presented.

Jan 1, 1977

By L. Larson

SMELTERMEN in the copper industry know that punching the tuyeres of a copper converter is a difficult, disagreeable, and at times a hazardous job. Knowing this, many men in the industry have given serious consideration to punching by mechanical means. As evidence of such consideration, a great many patents have been issued covering various mechanical devices or machines for doing this task. In 1942, as war-created manpower shortages became more acute, it became increasingly difficult to get men to punch tuyeres. Faced with this situation at the McGill smelter, it was decided that an all-out effort should be made to develop some sort of a mechanical punching device. The various patents were studied over thoroughly but none of the devices seemed suitable, all were discarded and it was decided to develop one, using the ideas of the personnel at McGill. Initial test work indicated that a separate punching device should be attached to each tuyere. This meant that an adapter would have to be developed which would accommodate such a device; the adapter to be so constructed that it could be substituted for the regular Dyblie valve head, and be punched either by mechanical means or by hand. Also a method for quickly attaching or detaching the punching unit would have to be devised. If the punching unit was attached to the adapter, then the punch rod and tip would have to remain inside of and reciprocate within the tuyere pipe. This last requirement meant that the punching device, the adapter, the piston rod, and punch rod must be in perfect alignment. The whole arrangement thus would become an integral part of the converter and would rotate along with the tuyere line to all the positions required for converter operation. If the puncher was to rotate with the converter, there was also a problem of limited clearance. The construction of a device to meet all of these conditions imposed many problems. In the latter part of 1942, two pieces of equipment were constructed and tried out under test-stand conditions. Both of these devices were very crude, but test-stand operation indicated that progress was being made. Neither of the units was considered good enough to be attached to and tried out on a tuyere of an operating converter. In May 1943, work was started on another device and in August of that year it was attached to and actually punched a single tuyere of a converter on an experimental basis (fig. 1). This unit was essentially a cylinder 3 in. in diam and about 15 in. long inside. Valve ports were so located as to provide a 1-in. cushion on each end of the stroke. The cylinder ports were piped to a 3/4-in. four-way disk valve. High pressure air (90 psi) was delivered to the valve by means of a long hose, thus making it possible to supply air to the device at all operating positions of the converter. The forward and return punching strokes were accomplished by shifting the valve handle as required. With the 3/4-in. valve, stroke velocities from 15 to 18 fps were achieved. Punching with this experimental arrangement was carried on for some time, but many difficulties were encountered. The punch rod tips often stuck in the tuyere accretion, indicating that more energy of some sort was necessary to avoid sticking the punch rod. To overcome sticking, experiments continued with a speeded up unit and although progress was made, troubles of various kinds continued to appear. On this unit, piston cup seals passed the valve ports which proved to be of very poor construction. Also the piston, driven forward at approximately 28 fps, would often bottom metal to metal in the forward end of the cylinder causing both mechanical and operational trouble. Sometimes the punch rod and at other times the piston rod would break loose and be shot through the tuyere pipe into the converter. Bottoming and poor timing of valve reversal caused a bounce and a hesitation at the end of the forward stroke, with the result that the punch rod

Jan 1, 1951

By S. W. Poole, J. A. Rosa

The object of this investigation was to determine the distribution of chemical elements within a large, killed alloy-steel ingot, by sulphur printing and quantitative chemical analysis. With regard to segregation in steel ingots, the factors of melting practice, pouring temperatures, mold design, etc., and the mechanics of solidification and its attendant functions, have been the subject of intensive study over a period of years by many investigators. Notable among these is the Sub-committee of the No. 5 Committee of the British Iron and Steel Institute. For an exposition of the many problems awaiting the researcher on the heterogeneity of steel ingots, the methods of attacking these problems, together with some of the answers, the reader is referred to the nine reports and numerous papers of that committee and its membership. Steelmaking Data Melt.—The heat was made in a 70-ton direct arc-type basic electric furnace. Furnace charge consisted of nickel-chromium-molybdenum steel, most of it in the form of heavy mill scrap. All of the scrap was charged cold. The standard double-slag method was employed, the heat being finished under a strong carbide slag. Aluminum was used as the deoxidizing agent. Tapping tempera- ture, as observed with an optical pyrometer, was 3000°F. Detail of Mold and Ingot Size.—Details of the ingot mold and the ingot itself are given in Fig. I. Teeming.—Teeming temperature of the subject ingot as observed with an optical pyrometer was 2830°F. The ingot was top-poured directly through a 1 1/2-in. nozzle and required 7 min., 44 sec. to fill up to the hot top. An additional 2 min., 30 sec. were required to fill the hot top. The ingot was stripped hot and charged with the remainder of the heat into an annealing furnace. There it was given the standard annealing cycle used for these ingots. Subsequent heat-treatments are described elsewhere in this paper. Sectioning and Preparation for Sulphur Printing Because of previous favorable experience in sectioning ingots up to 21 1/2 in. square with an oxyacetylene torch, it was decided to use this method to section the subject ingot. The ingot was preheated to 900°F. for 12 hr. It was then placed on a steel bed in a horizontal position so that the longitudinal axis was level and parallel to the track of the motor-driven torch carrier. Two cuts were made, one 2 in. above the longitudinal axis and the other 2 in. below. The time required to make each cut was approximately 75 min. The cutting operation is shown in Figs. 2 and 3. The 4-in. thick slab was mmediately charged into a furnace standing at 1200F.

Jan 1, 1945

Correspondent. Must be able, by virtue of, connection, to forward; daily ands weekly, reports, outlining, conditions affecting economics of. industries, particularly the metallurgical, and chemical, industries. New. York, City. R-1982. Sales Lubrication. Engineer. Preferably with experience, as chief marines engineer familiar with internal-combustion; engines and, with, automobile trade. Must be good salesman, of goody appearance and be able to meet people. Middle West. Salary $27.00: to start. R71984.

Jan 12, 1919

By Rudolph G. Wuerker

THE scarcity of values of tensile strength of rocks has been explained by the lack of successful testing procedures. In the case of mine rock a description is given' of the difficulties encountered in testing a cylindrical specimen, such as a core, by conventional methods. Over a period of years the following method has given definite and reproducible results with the weakest as well as with the strongest rocks. It does not completely supersede the use of cores with special fixtures but is a supplement in all cases where cores cannot be obtained, as from soft rocks, or in cases where it is less expensive to prepare test specimens by cutting them out of the rock instead of drilling cores. Principle and equipment are the same as for the test for tensile strength of hydraulic-cement mortar.' The test specimen, Fig. 1, has the shape of a briquet. While in the original cement mortar test the briquet is cast in a special mold, it is prepared from rocks in different ways, depending on how easily they can be cut and shaped. Soft rocks, which cannot be core-drilled with a carboloy or diamond bit, are simply hand-cut. Only two dimensions need be watched. The first is the 1-in. diam at the narrowest cross-section of the briquet. The other critical measure is the radius of curvature of the waistline, as the roller supports in the grips have a fixed distance. This radius is ground out of the solid by means of a carborundum grinding wheel having a 3/4-in. radius. Medium hard rocks can be core-drilled with a carboloy bit. The resulting core can be used for nondestructive sonic testing first, and after that for any destructive test. By using an EX-bit and by carefully placing the coreholes, preferably by using a tenplate such as shown in Fig. 1, it is possible to obtain from the rock a punched sample from which numerous tensile briquets can be made. The outside radius of the EX-bit differs from the radius of curvature of the briquet by 1/8 in., but this still permits placing and aligning the specimen in the grips. In the case of bedded rocks the core might have bedding planes normal to the plane of the briquets, and rocks can be tested in any arrangement of the bedding planes desired. Hard rocks, limestones, igneous, and metamor-whic rocks can only be diamond-drilled or diamond-cut. Here the method of getting the tension briquets by accurate placing of EX-drill holes is especially economical. The tops of the briquets made from hard rocks cannot be rounded; they are straight cuts made with a diamond cut-off saw and rounded off on a polishing wheel. Results: As long as specimens broke over the waistline the results were considered acceptable. Further statistical treatment of the tests' showed a satisfactory percentage of standard deviation. The tensile strength values obtained by this method do not represent true values because of the stress concentration caused by the curvature of the side of the piece and because of the closeness of the grips. The ratio of maximum to average stress at the plane of failure has been determined to be about 1.75." All tensile strength values listed in Table I are corrected accordingly. To avoid this stress-concentration, if there are a sufficient number of cores, tensile strength can be measured by imbedding the cores in mortar in the two outer briquets in the gangmold.4 Strain-Measurements: The applicability of the briquet specimens for strain observations was tested in the case of sandstone and shale. Two element Rosette SR-4 strain gages were used. Young's modulus and Poisson's ratio, both in tension, were computed and found to be different from those in compression, determined during the same test series and from the same rock, see Table I. References 1 L. Obert, S. L. Windes. and W. I. Duvall: Standardized Tests for Determining the Physical Properties of Mine Rock. U. S. Bur. Mines R.I. 3891 (1946). 2 Test for Tensile Strength of Hydraulic-Cement Mortar, ASTM Standard C 190-44. S F. O. Auderegg, R. Weller, and B. Fried: Tension Specimen Shape and Apparent Strength. Proc. ASTM 11939) 39, pp. 1261-1269. 4 API Code 32.

Jan 1, 1956

JOHN B. HASTINGS, Los Angeles, Cal. (written discussion *).-This, paper is so admirable for its brevity that one hesitates to enter into discussion. The cycle of eruptives makes one wonder, "Where's the basalt?" and the youthfulness of the Idaho flows suggests they may yet come. Veins and Dikes.-Veins and dikes seem to be closely aligned in the minds of some authors, while to me they appear quite distinct, the first representing quiet, long-continued action, typified by metasomatic replacement, far removed from volcanic action; the latter, sudden and cyclonic, emanating from the heart of vulcanism. The rock openings occupied by both types were formed by kindred forces, but in the one they were closed for indefinite periods before invasion by the solfataric solutions, and in the other their formation and occupation were simultaneous. Open Fissures.-I do not believe in the existence of open spaces of discission that may be occupied by veins. Occasionally they occur; I found one with. a machine drill 350 ft. below surface, fortunately in an adit; the water spouted for 12 ft. in a 6-in stream for nearly 24 hr. It was only a flattish fissure, 6 in. wide, crossing the perpendicular vein, and indicating how tabular veins of ore might be formed. The practical absence of open fissures should be a joy to miners. We all know the misgivings with which we feel about for an old winze having only 30 ft. of water in it, in an unsurveyed and inaccessible part of a mine. It is said that veins are sometimes formed in open spaces left by Protuberances of the walls, which meet after having been displaced; but I believe that in such circumstances there would be sufficient attrition and brecciated material to fill the fissure, though perhaps loosely. Parts of veins may possibly have been formed in originally open spaces, but if so, the spaces were made by solution shortly preceding the deposition of the veins. That total solution of rock adjacent to a fissure may occur under favorable conditions is proved by the existence of large bodies of sulphide which contain only a few per cent. of silica; while on the same level, and in other levels above and below, all being within the same ore shoot, assays may show as much as 50 to 60 per cent. of silica, although the gold, silver and copper assays may be almost identical in all the

Jan 1, 1918

By Thomas M. Drown

I DESIRE to communicate to the Institute the results of a few analyses which bear on the condition of carbon in gray and white iron. These analyses were made in the course of an investigation, now in progress, of the chemical composition of "chilling" irons. It will be remembered that Bell says he found no material difference in the amount and condition of carbon in gray and white pig iron made at the Clarence furnace, in England, and he therefore refers the difference in color and appearance in these two varieties of iron to the size of the particles of graphite. I quote from his "Chemical Phenomena of Iron Smelting:" "The inference I would draw from the information afforded by these analyses is, that the condition of iron in respect to its so-called 'richness' is, within certain limits, entirely independent of its chemical constitution.. .. In the fluid state, I conceive the carbon, so taken up, confers upon the iron the property of fusion much below the temperature at which the pure metal melts, and the carbon itself may be regarded as dissolved in the iron. If, during the process of manufacture, the pig metal has been formed at a low temperature, consolidation, I imagine, takes place under such circumstances that the crystals are so minute, and the carbon which is separated assumes the uncombined or graphitic form in particles so minute as to be invisible, and, in consequence, the iron is white. If, on the other hand, the furnace is working at a very high temperature, the intensely heated iron crystallizes with large facets, upon which the extruded carbon assumes the condition of distinct plates or flakes. Should the temperature be less intense, these crystals are of smaller dimensions, and the separated carbon is less conspicuous, and, as the temperature of the furnace declines, the crystals decrease in size, as do the flakes of carbon, until both disappear in white iron.. .. Returning, then, to temperature as the cause of differences in quality of pig iron, the 'chilling' of gray metal, and its conversion into white, may be regarded as the effect of preventing, by rapid cooling, the formation

By Charles H. Fulton

IT is assumed that the word "college" for the present purpose signifies technical school or technical department of a college or university. About ten or fifteen years ago, and more recently in some instances the contact between the technical school and the industry, as represented by the operating companies, was very limited. The school made no effort to place its graduates in the industry and the graduate's first position was obtained by his own or his friends' efforts; the friend often was a professor. The industries, or the operating companies, seemingly had little interest in the training of the technical graduates they employed or in seeking to discover their personal characteristics and fitness for the work. In the public mind there was little relation between technical training and industry. Such training was in the field of education; industry was in the field of business; and the interrelationship was not a matter of common knowledge or concern.

Jan 1, 1929

By AIME AIME

AN ENGINEER with as varied geographical experience as H. J. Brown does not often specialize on one particular thing all of his professional life. For forty years he has been engaged in gypsum mining, manufacturing, plant design, construction, and operation. Not only is it his work, but he says it is his hobby as well, though membership in three yacht clubs might belie that statement. New England's new representative on the A.I.M.E. Directorate, who was born in New York, Dec. 20, 1879, went to the Lawrence Scientific School at Harvard at the turn of the century. He tried journalism for a year, with the Boston News Bureau and associated financial

Jan 1, 1940

By N. H. MacMillan, W. M. Mularie, R. E. Jackson, A. R. C. Westwood

The initial results of a study of the environment-sensitive microhardness and diamond rotary drilling behavior of granite and its constituent minerals quartz and feldspar (microcline)1 have established that many similarities exist between the environment-sensitive mechanical (chemomechanical) behavior of these materials and that of the simpler solids such as periclase, soda-lime glass, and alumina4 studied previously, at least as far as n-alcohol (straight-chain alcohol) environments are concerned. The results of this study (hereafter designated study I) also suggested that the rate of drilling of granite in these environments is controlled by the chemomechanical behavior of its quartz constituent, and is greatest in those environments which impart a zero l-potential to this phase, thereby maximizing its hardness. Now, cationic surface-active species strongly influence the l-potentials of silicate minerals. For this reason they are widely used in mineral separation operations. In particular, dodecyl trimethyl ammonium bromide (DTAB) was found in study I to produce f 0 for quartz at a concentration in water of 107 to 10-4 moles per 1. Accordingly, the influence of dilute aqueous solutions of this surfactant on the drilling behavior of granite also was examined in study I. This revealed that granite could be drilled three to four times faster in 10-° molar aqueous DTAB than in water, and confirmed by experiment the suggestion that granite is most effectively drilled with a diamond core bit in environments which impart a zero l-potential to quartz. According to O'Connor and Buchanan' however, the isoelectric point for quartz in aqueous DTAB solutions occurs at a concentration of .•.•2 x 10-° moles per 1, rather than [101 to 10-1] moles per 1. To confirm the results of study I, therefore, a more comprehensive investigation of the [ ]-potentials of quartz, microcline, and Westerly granite in aqueous DTAB environments has now been undertaken. At the same time an examination has been made of one of the basic assumptions of the current conceptual understanding of chemomechanical effects. In this view, although hardness changes occur essentially instantaneously following wetting of the solid, they are confined to a surface layer at most a few micrometers (µm) deep. Hence, to maximize the influence of chemomechanical effects on bit penetration rate only shallow cuts should be taken. Practical penetration rates are then obtained by increasing bit rotation speed. Experimental l-potentials were determined by the streaming potential technique using an automated rapid-cycling apparatus recently developed by Martin Marietta Laboratory from a design by Somasundaran and Kulkarni. The drilling studies employed 3.2-mm-OD 120-grit diamond-loaded core bits with a wall thickness of ~0.7 mm, and bit rotation speeds of 2200 and 25,000 rpm. The load applied to the bit was independent of the depth drilled in both cases. The 2200 rpm measurements employed the same drill press and puddle drilling technique as used in study I. The higher rotation speed was obtained using a water-driven dental turbine drill. In the case, the surface active fluid was pumped down the axis of the bit to ensure efficient wetting and flushing of the drilling debris from the hole. In both cases drilling rate was measured by the parameter D(200), defined as the average rate of bit penetration during the interval from 150 to 250 sec after drilling commenced.

Jan 1, 1976

VITRIOL is likewise a mineral substance from whose exhalation, according to the opinion of some, are generated and produced the elemental materials or substances which produce metals, particularly gold. It is not a fumosity from metal nor is it a thing from which metal is extracted in any manner, although it shows in certain ways that it is not entirely without metal since it produces a certain trace of it. It is a thing that has a great resemblance to alum; it has a biting substance, is sharp to the taste and pungent to the tongue, and has an astringent nature. It dissolves in water and every damp place in a short time. They say that the reason for this lies, as with every other mineral, in its poorly joined watery substances. Nor does this mean that it does not contain much earthiness; on the contrary it seems to me that there are in it five. [2.9v] different participating qualities, that is, the property of sulphur, the action of alum, the corrosion of niter or of salt, and from the metals, the properties of copper and of iron. Its ore is mined in the valleys of mountains in wild but not too rugged places. It is more a gray earth or soft dead rock than a hard stone. It always has in it some yellow and green spots or near it is some sulphur mineral, either large or small.. When it is beneath the earth it exhales a sharp and very strong foul odor of scorching similar to that of sulphur. And the waters that rise where it is are all foul, earthy, and thick, some boiling with great fumes and others without great fumes, so that they surely appear to be infernal products in many places where there is a large quantity of it. After you have excavated and sorted well the quantity you wish, the ore must be put in a heap in open airy places before the vitriol can be extracted from this soil or ore, however you wish to call it. And it is left thus exposed to the weathering of the rains, the cold, and the sun for five or six months. It must be turned several times in order to bring to the surface that which was underneath; and always when this is done it is broken small with the eye of a mattock so that it is better heated and baked throughout. When it has been brought to this point it is covered over by a shed built above it or it is carried under a hut that has already been made. Here it is left to stand for another six or eight months before it is worked.

Jan 1, 1942

By W. Joseph Schlitt, Kenneth J. Richards, John D. Prater

Kennecott Minerals Company has developed a leach-hydrolysis route for treating flue dusts from copper smelters The flue dusts are acid leached in an oxygen atmosphere to solubilize copper and fix the arsenic, antimony, and bismuth as stable compounds Copper is recovered by cementation with Iron and the barren solution is recycled Molybdenum and other values may be recovered by modification of the basic flow sheet Results of bench scale and pilot plant tests are discussed in terms of the effect of operating parameters.

Jan 1, 1981

By Douglas R. Piteau, Dennis C. Martin

Instability of rock slopes may occur by failure along pre- existing structural discontinuities, by failure through intact material or by failure along a surface formed partly along discontinuities and partly through intact material. Although certain fundamental failure modes are recognized, the mechanisms of slope failure are varied and complex. Such mechanisms are governed by the engineering geology conditions of the rock mass, which are almost always unique to a particular site. An understanding of failure mechanisms requires a knowledge of the physical, mechanical and strength properties of the intact material and discontinuities which make up the rock mass, as well as the structural geology and hydrogeology. These engineering geology parameters also must be evaluated with respect to the slope geometry to determine failures which are kinematically possible. Only after obtaining a reasonable appreciation of the possible failure modes can a rational mechanical stability analysis be carried out. Both two-dimensional and three-dimensional failure mechanisms should be considered in assessing the design of rock slopes. Simple analyses methods are used initially to identify those possible failures which could control slope stability. More complex and detailed analyses usually are required for a few critical failure modes which could control stability, or where a more complex type of failure mechanism is envisaged. Complex failure mechanisms are usually identified when assessing previous slope failures. More detailed information concerning slope geometry and engineering geology parameters must be acquired where analyses must be more rigorous.

Jan 1, 1983

By J. J. Kramer, W. A. Tiller, G. F. Bolling

THE axial orientations of columnar crystals in unidirectionally solidified ingots of zone-refined zinc and tin have been examined using the techniques recently described by us.' Both metals had an initial purity of 99.999+ pct before zone refining and satisfied all qualitative guides for very high purity after zone refining. Fig. 1 presents the orientations of the columnar crystals for tin and zinc, respectively. For tin, there is a preference for grains growing in the [I101 direction, i.e., the dendrite direction.' For zinc, a weak preference for the [0001] direction is seen (a random population in the unit triangle would give equal density on either side of the 60-deg circle centered on [0001]).' There was no apparent evidence for dendritic growth in either metal. These results, and those previously reported,' confirm the recent investigation by Hellawell and Herbert of casting textures observed for zone-refined lead, zinc, and tin.4 The preferred casting orientations for these metals in both the impure and zone-refined states are given in Table I. In the experiments on zone-refined lead,' it was shown that two separate textures existed: a preferred (111) nucleation texture existed at the chill surface and a preferred (111) texture developed during solidification. Either effect is sufficient to produce the result recorded in Table I. Similarly the results recorded for tin and zinc may be attributable to either a preferred nucleation or a preferred growth phenomenon and additional experiments are required to separate these two possible explanations. Hellawell and Herbert' attribute their results to a preferred growth process and account for it on the basis of a "layer-growth" model proposed much earlier by one of the present authors.5 An equally satisfactory growth model would be that based upon anisotropic surface energies. However, both of these growth models would indicate that the preferred growth direction for very pure metals should be normal to the plane of closest packing in the metal. This is consistent for zinc but, contrary to the conclusion of Hellawell and Herbert, it is not consistent for tin since here the (100) is expected to exhibit a greater density of packing than the (110). Although tin is expected to exhibit an anisotropy of thermal conductivity, we would expect the thermal conductivity to be the same in the [1101 as the [l00]

Jan 1, 1963

K. Baumgarten has returned from active service in France. He reports that he saw C. W. Campbell, formerly with the 2d Engineers on the Chateau Thierry front, and believes that the latter returned to the United States on August 1. He also saw J. J. Croston; G. J. Sielaff, recently transferred to the Gas Service; Thomas M. Smither, survivor of the Tuscania after a 10-mile swim to Ireland. While in Paris he en-deavored to see Prof. Sauveur, but was unsuccessful. F. K. Borrow was given a commission as Lieutenant in the Royal Garrison Artillery in 1914, but had to relinquish it, on account of ill health, in August, 1915. His health has much improved and he hopes to resume active work toward the end of this year. Davis, A. W:, see British Columbia Engineers, below. Alfred Fox, Jr., enlisted in the Public Schools Brigade, Royal Fusiliers, in September, 1914; was gazetted Lieutenant in the Royal Field Artillery in December, 1914, promoted to Captain in November, 1915, and Adjutant to 78th Brigade, Royal Field Artillery, in January, 1916. He was appointed Staff Captain of the 12th Divisional Artillery in November, 1917. He has served continuously in France since July 1, 1915. He was awarded the Military Cross in January, 1917, and four times mentioned in despatches. E. Fraser-Campbell writes that he joined the London University 0. T. C. in January, 1918, for five weeks; enlisted with the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders in February, 1918, and attended a training course for officer cadets at Chatham for six weeks. He was commissioned 2d Lieutenant, Royal Engineers, in April, 1918. After two months on home training at Chatham, he landed in France on June 23, 1918, posted to 180th Tunnelling Co., R. E., and is now with his unit up on the line.

Jan 10, 1918

[ARIZONA Established July 10, 1915 CHARLES R. KUZELL, Chairman GILBERT C. DAVIS, First Vice-Chairman ALBERT MENDELSOHN, Second Vice-Chairman MORRIS G. FOWLER, Secretary-Treasurer Phelps Dodge Corporation, Douglas, Ariz. LYLE M. BARKER P. D. I. HONEYMAN A. T. BARR H. M. LAVENDER T. G. CHAPMAN WALTER C. LAWSON GEORGE M. COLVOCORESSES W. H. LOERPABEL EDWIN H. CRABTREE, JR. CARL F. MILLS WALTER I. GARMS P. M. MOSIER WESLEY P. Goss J. A. RICHARDS 11. C. HENRIE JOSEPH A. WILCOX C. F. WILLIS]

Jan 1, 1946

By Norman B. Braly

The following is not offered as an extended paper on the subject of shaft sinking, but more as a description of the present practice of shaft sinking in the Butte district. The Anaconda company is sinking at present the following shafts: Badger State, Moose, Mountain Consolidated, Mountain View, Pennsylvania and Tropic. At the High Ore and Leonard mines the shafts are being deepened by sinking two compartments and will subsequently be enlarged to the full working size by raising alongside the compartments which are now being sunk. The following other companies are also sinking shafts: Butte-Alex Scott, Butte and Zenith City, Boston and Corbin, North Butte Mining Co. (at the Granite Mountain shaft), East Butte Co. (at the Pittsmont shaft), and the Rainbow Lode Development Co. Shaft Timbering. The shafts of the Butte district, generally speaking, are of three compartments arranged in a straight line, and the pump compartment is usually arranged for the use of an auxiliary hoisting cage, as well as for carrying pipe lines and electric wires. The Rainbow shaft is practically square, and of three compartments. The length of the shafts outside of timber will vary from 17 to 22 ft., and the width from 6 ft. 6 in. to 7 ft. Fir timber is used in all shaft work. This may be obtained from the Coast, when it is known as Coast fir, or from Idaho or Montana, when it is known as native fir. The native fir seems to be the tougher wood, but it is hard to obtain clear lumber in the lengths and sizes necessary for shaft work. Some of the shaft timber of the Anaconda company has been treated with creosote as a preservative, but this practice has not come into general use, as the ground of the camp is so heavy that the timbers usually crush before they rot. The size of timber most used for shaft work is 12 by 12 in., while 10 by 12 in., 10 by 14 in. and 12 by 14 in. are used for some of the special pieces around the shaft. The new Leonard shaft is timbered with 14 by 14 in. wall plates throughout.

Jan 1, 1914

Jan 1, 1879

By C. W. Lawr

The ores mined by the Santa Gertrudis Co. at Pachuca, Mexico, arc mainly silver-bearing; they also yield some gold and carry a little copper. Strong cyanide solutions are used to dissolve the silver and gold, and the mechanical loss of cyanide at the tailings filter has been considerable. Prior to the year 1923, the pulp, after agitation, was given a 35 to 37-min. wash with barren solution in a Butters-type leaf filter; the discharged slime cake was repulped and pumped into eight Merrill self-sluicing slime presses in which the slime was given a further wash with barren solution for 25 to 35 min., followed by a 10-min. water wash. At that time the barren solution titrated around 0.350 per cent. free KCN and 0.500 per cent. total KCN. (Aero brand cyanide is used.) It can readily be seen that a 10-min. water wash would leave considerable cyanide in the filter cake, which of course was a total loss. This averaged 0.522 kg. (1.15 Ib.) KCN per ton of solution. As the daily discharge to the dam was 1600 tons' of slime of a 2:1 ratio of liquid to solid, the value of this mechanical loss of cyanide was an important item and it's recovery held alluring possibilities. Principle of Cyanide-recovery Process As it had acquired the patent rights to theLayng (H. R.) and Halvor-sen (A. L.) processes, also those of Mills (L. D.) and Crowe (T. B.) after considerable experimental work in its own laboratory and at Tonopah, Nev., The Merrill Company of San Francisco early in 1923 notified the Mexican Corporation and compania de Santa Gertrudis of its process for the recovery of cyanide from weak wash solutions, or for the transference of cyanide from a foul mill solution to a clean alkaline solution. This method is known as the Mills-Crowe process, the principle of which is as follows: The solution from which the cyanidc is to be removed is made acid by bringing it into contact with sulfur dioxide (SO2). The acidified solution is the; transferred to a closed tank in which air and solution are brought into intimate contact. The air leaving the tank charged with HCN is then passed to another tank in which it is mixed with an alkaline solution,

Jan 1, 1930

By Henry Fernald

THE accounting system or bookkeeping methods of any company are principally the concern of that company and of those who are in control of its affairs. Its published financial report is, however, primarily intended for those who are not already fully informed regarding its operations and finances. Whatever may be the advantages of standardization of accounting and bookkeeping methods, it must be admitted that a company has a certain right to handle its accounts and keep its books and records in whatever manner may seem to it best adapted to its affairs, even though such methods may differ materially from those generally adopted by others. In its financial reports it should not, however, either ask or expect that the statements it makes or the terms which it uses will be given in its case a meaning and interpretation different from that which they are ordinarily considered to have in similar reports and statements of other companies. The particular form and arrangement of such reports is a matter concerning which there may be much difference of opinion. It is of little importance whether current assets come first or last in the Balance Sheet, but it is important that there should not be included under this designation any items which are not properly current assets within the generally accepted meaning of that term. The extent to which stockholders or others interested are to be made acquainted with the full details of a company's business is a question which the proper authorities must in each case decide. It should, however, be recognized that there are certain facts regarding a mining com-pany which must be set forth in a financial statement if it is fully to cover the conditions and affairs of the company. For example, a financial, statement which does not include or is not accompanied by a statement, of the ore reserves of the company does not fully set forth its financial condition. This is true whether the absence of such a statement of ore reserves is because it is not desired to make public the figures or whether it is because the ore reserves themselves are not definitely known, or accurately measured.

Jan 1, 1928