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By K. C. Gilbart, E. Stansfield

This test was described in a privately circulated First Progress Report on Slacking Characteristics of Coal, by A. C. Fieldner and W. A. Selvig, May 1, 1928. The test was described in detail in U. S. Bureau of Mines Report of Investigation 3055, in November, 1930,1 The test, in brief, is conducted as follows: A sample of freshly mined coal consisting of 18 to 25 pieces approximating 1 1/4 cubes, and weighing 500 to 600 grams, is taken for the test. The sample is subjected to a "blank sieving" of carefully regulated degree, on an 8-in. circular sieve with 0.263-in. square openings, and the undersize and oversize weighed. The oversize is placed on a sheet-iron pan and dried for about 24 hr. in an A.S.T.M. air-drying oven maintained at 30" to 35" C. through which a current of warm air is drawn. The sample is then cooled to room temperature and immersed for one hour in water at the same temperature. The water is then drained off, the sample dried for 24 hr. as before, cooled, sieved as before, and the oversize and undersize weighed. The percentage weight of the undersize is calculated and reported as the first cycle loss. This loss, corrected by subtracting the percentage loss in the blank sieving, is termed the slacking index. The sample may be subjected to further cycles of wetting, draining, air-drying, sieving and weighing. In a letter (August, 1932) W. A. Selvig approved making the blank sieving on a duplicate sample, rather than on the sample used for the test, where sufficient coal was available. This method is now employed in these laboratories. The accelerated weathering test has been employed in the laboratories of the Research Council of Alberta, at Edmonton, since 1928, but not found entirely satisfactory as repeat determinations with samples taken from the same or adjacent mines frequently showed serious differences. Differences must be expected as the coal may vary in the seam, and the selection of a typical set of lumps approximating 1 1/4-in. cubes

Jan 1, 1934

By Leland H. Johnson

THE Tennessee Coal, Iron & Railroad Co.'s ore mines began experimental tests with trackless mining units early in 1947. The units had many weaknesses to overcome, but are now well beyond the experimental stage and are becoming a necessity to ore seams that are amenable to this type of equipment. The development of this type of mining with the problems of increased underground supervision, maintenance, and training personnel, along with the benefits derived, are discussed.

Jan 12, 1950

By F. M. Lyon, F. J. Chernosky

Research efforts have not developed techniques for the complete desulfurization of coal that is needed to reduce air pollution caused by burning coal and to reduce the sulfur in metallurgical coke. Sulfur in coal occurs in three forms and of these, the pyritic sulfur occurs as discrete mineral particles and, at least theoretically, should be subject to physical rejection. Pyrite occurring in hard rock mining is concentrated by froth flotation; therefore, the possibility of removal of pyrite from coal by flotation does exist. With this possibility in mind, the flotation and adsorption characteristics of ore and coal-pyrite were compared while using potassium ethyl xanthate as the collector.

Jan 1, 1973

P. W. SHIMER, Easton, Pa. (written discussion*).-When lump calcium cyanamid is immersed in the melt of mixed chlorides of the alkalies and alkaline earths in the manner described in the paper, the amount of sodium cyanide formed in the melt, as shown by numerous analyses, is but a small fraction of that formed by the reaction referred to by Mr. Johnson. The case-hardening effects in my process are, however, at least as good as when the common cyanide baths are used. Moreover, when compared with the cyanide baths, the gases evolved in the new process are harmless, consisting of nitrogen, carbon monoxide (which burns to carbon dioxide on the surface of the melt), and occasionally a little carbon dioxide. These gases are not irritating or poisonous, whereas the vapors arising from cyanide baths are both irritating and poisonous. The complex chemical reactions that take place in and on the surface of the melt are being investigated by the writer, who hopes, in due time, to communicate the results of his work.

Jan 7, 1919

By L. G. Evans, C. Rampacek, G. A. Freeman

A large aggregate tonnage of oxidized and mixed oxide-sulfide copper ore of the southwestern U.S. is not amenable to conventional flotation concentration or sulfuric acid leach treatment. Most of the ores contain chrysocolla as the principal oxide copper mineral, for which no successful commercial flotation method has yet been developed. Acid leaching some ores is not feasible since they contain substantial quantities of calcite and other acid-consuming constituents. Other ores decrepitate during leaching or contain excessive slime and clay minerals which cause plugging of the ore beds.

Jan 10, 1961

By Nathaniel Arbiter

THE separation of minerals by flotation can be regarded as a rate process, with the extraction of any one mineral determined by its flotation rate, and the grade of concentrate by the relative rates for all the minerals. So regarded, the significant variables for the process are those that control the rates. These variables are of two types, the first describing the ore and its physical and chemical treatment prior to flotation and the second characterizing the separation process in the cells. This paper will examine the variation in rates for a group of separations, will show that a simple rate law appears to govern, and will consider the relation of the control variables to the rates. The use of rate constants for evaluation of performance and efficiency will be discussed.

Jan 9, 1951

By F. X. Tartaron

F. C. Bond (Consulting Engineer, Processing Machinery Dept., Allis-Chalmers Manufacturing Co., Milwaukee, Wis.) — Papers such as this one which deal in a lucid manner with the obscure fundamentals of comminution theory are always welcome. The author has attempted to bring together several diverse theories and handles them interestingly. However, some of the ideas expressed and conclusions drawn require critical reviewing, for which amenities alone will not suffice. The author points out that the theoretical energy required to break across crystal lattices is of the order of 1000 times the actual energy required to crush or grind, and that this energy in turn is perhaps 1000 times the measured surface energy of the new surface area produced. The energy required to grind commercially is controlled by flaws and dislocations, rather than by the inner strength of the lattice structure. The measured surface energy is only a slight residue left after the face atoms are adjusted to their new environment. The dislocations in the crystal lattice structure, with a spacing of about O.l,u, or

Jan 1, 1962

ALLERTON S. CUSHMAN, Middletown, Ohio (written discussion*).¬ This subject is one to which I have given much thought and study and which I have frequently discussed informally with Mr. Cain and others. I have long been convinced that the gaseous elements, either combined or entrained (occluded), in steel play a much more important role than is ordinarily admitted. This is probably due to the difficulties encountered in the accurate quantitative estimation of gases, some of which Mr. Cain has referred to, as well as to the fact that, considered from the weight-percentage basis, gas content is measurable only in hundredths or even thousandths of 1 per cent. Volumetrically, however, the results ob-tained by modern research are startling, to say the least. Baraduc-Muller,1 as cited by Mr. Cain, pumped out of 1000-lb. ingots of basic Bessemer steel 2100 l. of gas. or about 75 cu. ft., at normal temperature and pressure, per ton of steel. In other words, we are to understand that Bessemer steel normally carries about fifteen times its own volume of gas. According to Baraduc-Müller's table of results, which is given here-with, carbon monoxide, nitrogen, and hydrogen are important consti-tuents of Bessemer steel, the latter gas being undoubtedly formed by the

Jan 11, 1919

By K. P. Gupta, P. A. Beck, N. S. Rajan

By determining the a phase boundaries in the following ternary systems: V-Fe-Si (at 1175oC), V-Co-Si (at 1175°C), V-Ni-Si (at 1175oC), Cr-Mn-Si (at 1000°C), Cr-Co-Si (at 1175°C), Cr-Ni-Si (at 1175°C), V-Fe-A1 (at 1175°C) and Cr-Co-A1 (at 1175°C), it was found that Si exerts a stabilizing effect on these a phases, while A1 tends to destabilize them. Si atoms in solid solution occupy sites D in the a structure, The co/ao ratio increases with increasing Si-, Mn- or Fe-content. The volume of the unit cell decreases with increasing Si-content. THE stabilization of certain metal silicides (the Nowotny phases) by the addition of relatively small

Jan 1, 1961

By S. K. Ruggieri, R. A. Jankowski

Airborne respirable dust levels on longwalls can be reduced if operators approach the dust control problem in a logical and fundamental manner. This can be accomplished through the proper application and continued use of effective dust control techniques. The Bureau of Mines is currently assessing the effectiveness of longwall dust control techniques in use today to provide mine operators with guidelines for selecting the most appropriate control technology. This paper presents a fundamental approach to the problem of shearer dust control. Three dust control techniques to be discussed are: deep cutting/increased pick penetration for reducing the amount of respirable dust generated; drum water sprays/improved water supply system to suppress the amount of airborne respirable dust; and improved external water spray system, the “shearer-clearer, "to push the dust close to the face. The techniques have been evaluated infield trials and have been shown to be both practical and effective in applications to control shearer generated dust.

Jan 1, 1985

By Edwin B. Wilson, Charles F. Cockrell

The application of evolutionary operation is proposed for the cleaning of coal by the heavy media process. Analysis of the data given suggests some benefits that may not be immediately appreciated unless evolutionary operation is applied. For example, while it may seem obvious to increase specific gravity when the ash and sulfur content of the clean coal is lower than that allowed, evolutionary operation may show that an increase in feed rate or an increase in both feed rate and specific gravity would be a more profitable alternative. In addition, by using evolutionary operation, up-to-date knowledge of the effect of change of feed rate or specific gravity on yield and product quality is available. This information facilitates confidence about decisions made in regard to the day-to-day operation of these units. A number of other applications in the minerals industry are proposed. An application of evolutionary operation in a related field is also given where a large number of variables were required to be optimized.

Jan 1, 1969

By Edward Martinez

Although the copper segregation process has been known as a method for treating oxide copper ores since the 1920's, the reactions involved in this process are still a matter of conjecture. However, the evidence turned up in a recent series of experiments at Asarco's Central Research Laboratories strongly indicates that some of the proposed reactions may not be occurring. Experimental work on oxide copper ores from the Sagasca mines in Chile led to the discovery of the copper segregation process in 1923. It was found that the reduction of the copper with coal at about 700°C occurred on the surface of the coal instead of remaining disseminated in the ore. The unusual behavior of the copper, which caused it to migrate from the ore particles to the coal, was traced to the presence of a small quantity of sodium chloride occurring in the ore. Further experiments with oxide copper ores proved that the presence of a halide, either occurring naturally or admixed with the ore, caused the copper to migrate from the ore particles and to segregate in the charge.

Jan 8, 1966

"Nestling in a little valley, right under the shadow of the rugged peaks of the Rocky Mountains and just over the great Continental Divide on the Pacific Slope, are Columbia Gardens, Butte's one rare beauty spot. Here purling brooks, fed from springs of snow-water course through the grounds to lend their aid later in making the great Columbia River. It is a question which has done more to make this oasis the charming place it is, nature or man, for both appear to have put forth their best efforts. The inspiring scenery surrounding the gardens is found in close association with the consummate art of the trained landscape gardener. The most delicate flowers, nurtured in large greenhouses, in the pleasant months of early spring and summer are transplanted into outdoor beds and in many instances woven, as it were, into beautiful designs. Green trees and grass on every side rest the tired eyes.Butte owes this delightful breathing spot to former Senator W. A. Clark, who owns and maintains it. A decade ago there were five large smelters belching forth their obnoxious fumes upon the city, making it impossible for vegetation to flourish within the confines of the town, a condition which fortunately no longer prevails. Primarily with a view of furnishing the children with a healthy playground, other than the muddy or dusty streets, Mr. Clark bought and developed the land upon which these grounds are situated. Upon numerous days in each month during the summer season, when school no longer demands attendance, his street railway carries the little folks to and from this ideal spot, free of all charge. ""Children's Day"" at the gardens presents a scene of life and happiness which once seen can never be forgot."

Jan 1, 1913

By Joseph C. Buchen

In principle, productiorl of salt from sea water is a simple operation. The sun and wind cause evaporation of sea water trapped in ponds, and what is left is principally salt. Commercial production, however, requires consideration of many factors. First is a high consistent annual rate of evaporation, as well as large areas of suitable low-lying ground close to economical shipping facilities. The south end of San Francisco Bay has these requisites. Large ponds are built, by using clamshell dredges to build up levees to a height of approximately 3 ft. on ground usually lower than sea level, so that the water may be taken in through tide gates without pumping. Ponds are divided into extremely large concentrating ponds and smeller crystallizing ponds. Approximately ten times more area is required for concentrating than for crystallizing. The concentrating ponds are irregular in shape and size but the crystallizing ponds are rectangular and fairly regular in size, to aid in harvesting. The ocean water is taken into the first of a series of concentrating ponds and gradually moved forward from pond to pond as it increase:: in density, reaehing the crystallizing area as a saturated brine. This brine is pumped into the crystallizer at the beginning of the net evaporating season, usually in May, and further evaporation causes its sodium chloride content to deposit on the bottoms of the ponds. The brine must be drawn off and a fresh supply added from time to time to prevent other undesirable salts from depositing with the sodium chloride. Harvesting usually begins near the end of August and now is accomplished almost entirely by mechanical means. After harvesting, the salt is stored in large sbockpiles until required for shipping or refining. The greatest amount is used for industrial purposes and is shipped without any processing other than screening, but all salt for domestic use produced by the Leslie Salt Co. is refined by the racuum process, giving a produet consistently testing over 09.9 per cent sodium chloride.

Jan 1, 1938

By Joseph C. Buchen

In principle, productiorl of salt from sea water is a simple operation. The sun and wind cause evaporation of sea water trapped in ponds, and what is left is principally salt. Commercial production, however, requires consideration of many factors. First is a high consistent annual rate of evaporation, as well as large areas of suitable low-lying ground close to economical shipping facilities. The south end of San Francisco Bay has these requisites. Large ponds are built, by using clamshell dredges to build up levees to a height of approximately 3 ft. on ground usually lower than sea level, so that the water may be taken in through tide gates without pumping. Ponds are divided into extremely large concentrating ponds and smeller crystallizing ponds. Approximately ten times more area is required for concentrating than for crystallizing. The concentrating ponds are irregular in shape and size but the crystallizing ponds are rectangular and fairly regular in size, to aid in harvesting. The ocean water is taken into the first of a series of concentrating ponds and gradually moved forward from pond to pond as it increase:: in density, reaehing the crystallizing area as a saturated brine. This brine is pumped into the crystallizer at the beginning of the net evaporating season, usually in May, and further evaporation causes its sodium chloride content to deposit on the bottoms of the ponds. The brine must be drawn off and a fresh supply added from time to time to prevent other undesirable salts from depositing with the sodium chloride. Harvesting usually begins near the end of August and now is accomplished almost entirely by mechanical means. After harvesting, the salt is stored in large sbockpiles until required for shipping or refining. The greatest amount is used for industrial purposes and is shipped without any processing other than screening, but all salt for domestic use produced by the Leslie Salt Co. is refined by the racuum process, giving a produet consistently testing over 09.9 per cent sodium chloride.

Jan 1, 1938

By R. Stefanko

The use of strain gauges and compression pads for an underground bolt installation in a central Pennsylvania coal mine revealed that satisfactory anchorage could not be maintained in the shale stratum that constituted the immediate roof. Comprehensive laboratory tests resulted in a new shell designed with an increased area of contact and smaller surface serrations. Retightening of the bolt was also found to be beneficial for maintenance of high load values. Roof bolting in coal mines has progressed very rapidly in the last decade, and today this method of support is in general use. There are many theories concerning the functions of roof bolts, but the importance of beam building is indisputable. Proper tension in the bolts minimizes shearing along bedding planes and creates a thick, competent beam from individually weak layers. Bolting must be accomplished immediately upon exposure of the roof, and bolt tension must be maintained if roof failure is to be prevented. Seams are being mined today with roof bolt support where conventional timbering was not effective.' The widespread use of continuous mining equipment was made possible by roof bolts which permit long supported spans free of obstructions. Since adequate anchorage is the key to successful bolting, better methods for determining the efficiency of anchorage are continually being sought. Attempts have been made to measure bolt loads, thus assessing anchorage efficiency by employing sensing devices between the bolt head and roof. 3-s None of the techniques appears to be very accurate, and all have at least one serious deficiency. The greatest efforts are being directed toward the standardization of the pull test.6" Nevertheless, the author believes that the pull test is only one criterion for establishing the efficiency of anchorage and not necessarily the most important one. The conventional pull test involves the short-term application of forces, whereas the success of roof bolt installations is dependent upon the ability of anchorage to sustain relatively long-term forces. Therefore, it would appear that the time-dependent function of the anchor is the single most important parameter for the success of roof bolting in many types of rocks. UNDERGROUND TESTS Strain gauges and compression pads were employed to measure bolt loads in a central Pennsylvania coal mine.8 Bolting had been employed only sporadically in the shale top since dubious benefits were obtained with this type of support. Table I shows some typical results from this investigation. Anchorage losses were extremely variable among the bolts, but all showed a considerable degree of bleed-off. The tests indicated that anchorage efficiency was extremely low in this type of shale. The results confirmed that bolting under these conditions was practically worthless, and thus a waste of material and labor. Probably even more important, bolting constituted a hazard when reliance was placed upon it for support. Certainly the complete lack of confidence in roof bolting, which was apparent in the mine personnel, was justifiable since the bolts did not accomplish their purpose. PRELIMINARY LABORATORY BOLT TESTS The extreme losses in bolt tension that were detected in underground installations prompted a comprehensive study to assess the causes. However, preliminary studies were first made to determine the combined stresses in a roof bolt and to prove conclusively that the observed bleed-off phenomena were due to anchorage: slippage and not to some other physical manifestation. In all of the ensuing tests

Jan 1, 1962

By G. K. Manning, M. C. Udy, L. W. Eastwood

Those who have examined beryllium and beryllium-rich alloys under the microscope have noted the results of the difficulties encountered when preparing these materials for examination. Hard constituents are readily chipped and pulled out of the matrix, and the soft ones are easily gouged out or embedded with abrasive or other material. The matrix is easily deformed, which makes it very difficult to remove the effects of scratches. Furthermore, the matrix and some of the constituents are also readily pitted during etching, which makes the structure difficult to develop. The metallographic techniques designed to avoid these difficulties are neither radically new nor necessarily the best possible procedures. They were developed at Battelle to fill immediate requirements as part of a study of the preparation and pouring of beryllium melts as described in a separate paper. A part of the research program on the causes of gas unsoundness in beryllium castings entailed a study of the effects of such gases or gas formers as oxygen or oxides, nitrogen or nitrides, and carbon or carbides. These gases or gas formers, if dissolved in the melt, might be an important factor in the study of unsoundness caused by gas evolution in beryllium. Because it was necessary to be able to distinguish these gases or gas formers, if present as alloy constituents, from metallic phases also present as alloy constituents, a series of alloys was prepared with additions of the various possible metallic and non-metallic constituent formers. It should be emphasized that the constituents referred to as gases or gas formers are important in the study of gases in beryllium only if they form a part of the alloy, that is, if they dissolve in the liquid or solid metal. During the first part of the development of metallographic techniques, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, unpublished report (TC 3315, Nov., 1945) by Paul Gordon, describing various microconstituents in beryllium, was quite useful. Of particular interest in this report is the confirmation of one of the conclusions drawn from the present investigation, that is, that a distinct oxide phase apparently does not occur in beryllium. The Preparation of Metallographic Specimens GRINDING PROCEDURE The original specimen is either sawed or cut on an abrasive wheel to a convenient size. For best results, the surface to be polished should not be more than about 1/4 in. square, and it is convenient to mount the specimens in bakelite to facilitate handling. Two alternative grinding procedures have been developed. As one alternative, specimens are ground successively on 120-, 240-, and 400-grit, wet-or-dry metallographic discs. The abrasive discs are revolved at 1750 rpm on a conventional pedestal grinder. The coarsest disc (120 grit) is used either wet or dry, and in most instances, it can be eliminated from the procedure. Grinding on the two finer discs (240 and 400 grit) is accompanied by the application of kerosene. The technique consists of holding an oil can, containing kerosene, in one hand and the mounted specimen in the other hand. While the grinding is being done, several drops of kerosene are applied every few seconds close to the center of the disc. Carbon tetrachloride serves at least as well as kerosene as a lubricant; perhaps it is slightly better, but it volatilizes so readily that an additional health hazard is involved. Light oils and water are not satisfactory for the finer grinding operations. The second procedure is perhaps slightly slower than the first and requires a more careful technique, but it eliminates the use of kerosene. The specimen is first ground wet on a 240-grit disc, followed by dry grinding on a 400-grit disc. Finer grinding does not appear to be necessary with either of the two alternative procedures. The pressures used throughout either grinding operation must be extremely light, that is, barely sufficient to hold the specimen in contact with the disc; otherwise, flow and chipping are almost certain to occur. In both procedures, it is essential that the discs be sharp and that they be discarded as they show evidence of becoming dull or loaded. In general, not more than four or five specimens can be ground on a disc before the disc becomes dull enough to warrant discarding it.

Jan 1, 1950

By J. Richard Maier

Short-range mine planning (less than five years) previously was accomplished using contour and isopac maps, pencil and paper, an abacus, and our lucky quarter. Through the use of both micros and mainframe time sharing, Glenrock Coal Company (GCC) has been able to virtually put the old equipment away (except the problem solving quarter). In the process, GCC has saved many man-days and eliminated the more tedious parts of mine planning, such as picking elevations off a map with an engineer's scale and repetitive calculations. These savings have allowed GCC to do a more extensive job of mine planning as well as offer more alternatives, making GCC better prepared for possible economic changes. Mine planning, simply, involves looking at what has been done and deciding what needs to be done using various constraints. The application of this concept is not as easy as it sounds. The need for experience and insight cannot be replaced by a machine, but machines can supplement a person's ability by doing the bookkeeping and the repetitive work. Through the application of computers and their accessories, GCC has brought mine planning to a more modernized state. The following paper will detail the development and use of one system as used at GCC. Please note: In the figures and tables following, some of the data has been altered to protect confidential information used in mine planning.

Jan 1, 1983

By Frederick Burbridge

The Morning silver-lead-zinc mine of the Federal Mining & Smelting Co. is about 'two miles northwest of Mullan, Ida. The lode is a metasomatic fissure vein. The orebody is approximately 2000 ft. long within the bounds of the property and varies in width from knife edge stringers to 50 ft. It has been developed to a depth of 3600 ft. and stands nearly vertical in Revett quartzite, which .strikes north 65" west. The high-grade veins and lenses are generally mixed with waste (siderite, quartz, and quartzite). The average grade of ore to sorting plant in 1921 was 4 oz. silver per ton, 8.6 per cent. lead, and 4.1 per cent. zinc. Wall rock stands only a short time without timbering. The minimum angle of gravity flow is 45". The ratio of waste sorted out to ore is 6 per cent. No gases are generated underground and temperature has no influence on mining operations. Fresh air is forced down the air raise and up the main shaft. Drifting and Stoping Main drifts 12 ft. wide and 13 ft. high are driven every 200 ft. (vertically) and are connected by raises 125 ft. apart. These raises consist of three compartments (chute, tramway, and timber slide) and are for the purpose of ventilation, access, and hoisting supplies to stopes. Ground is stoped between raises. Chutes are placed every 25 ft. for drawing off ore broken in stopes. Waste for filling is obtained from waste raises off the stope in walls or waste is dumped from the level above down the chute compartment of raises, which is bulkheaded so that waste can be drawn off at any floor as required. Timbering Posts and caps for square sets (varying in diameter from 6 to 24 in.) are cut to length in a sawmill on the surface. No preseratives are used. Timber is taken on a flat car along drifts to a raise nearest the working place and hoisted as required. Practically no timber is salvaged for

Jan 1, 1925

THE book covers principally the assaying of silver and gold and the determination of these values in ores, sweepings, and base metal. It seems to have been written more for the goldsmith and jeweler than for the primary producer of metals. There were approximately sixty different substances needed in the operations described and not over a dozen different types of raw material (ore, matte, crude or alloyed metal) are mentioned. The methods of separation used were essentially simple and reasonably reliable, though the processes were not sufficiently understood to permit the selection of the simplest effective ingredients, and there was a great tendency to employ complicated fluxes, with unnecessary repetition of long-continued heatings indicative of a leisurely pace of life. Practically all the processes described are based on a few chemical facts: the inability of gold to combine with sulphur, while silver and the base metals form easily fusible sulphides; the ready oxidation of base metals; and the ii- solubility of gold in nitric acid. Fluxes serve to make earthy impurities fusible, and to carry oxidizing or sulphurizing ingredients. Many of the processes of assaying had changed little up to the beginning of the present century. Even as late as 1924, when the writer took a University course in fire assaying, the crucibles, cupels, scorifiers, molds, and tongs were identical with those of the sixteenth century, though the wind furnace had a stack on it and the muffle for cupelling was gas-fired.* The fluxes were purer, but of the same essential composition. That this branch- or twig-of metallurgy had not advanced in any funda-

Jan 1, 1949