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By L. W. Bahney

(Cleveland Meeting, October, 1912.) THE photograph, Fig. 1, shows the apparatus a little less than half size, consisting of a filtering-flask fitted with rubber stopper, through which passes a bent glass tube, and an extraction-thimble fitted with rubber stopper through which passes a glass tube of 0.2-5-inch bore. Both tubes are connected by a short piece of rubber tubing. A section of a thimble is shown in the photograph; the tube extends to within in. of the tapered end. The object of using the thimble is to remove the acid from the beaker after all the copper has been precipitated. Time is saved, the copper is not exposed to the acid alone, and there are none of the losses attending ordinary filtration. I have accomplished these results by means of a piece of perforated platinum fastened in the end of a 0.25-in. bore glass tube and a filter-mat of asbestos, but after my supply of proper length fiber became exhausted I could not replenish it even after purchasing 14 lots from four different dealers. The above apparatus may be used to remove at least seven-eighths of a supernatant liquid from a settled precipitate without disturbing the latter. The application of the thimble is best shown by partly out-lining the assay for copper, as follows: Dilute the acid solution of copper and other sulphates to 150 cc. in a 200-cc. Jena beaker, place on a hot plate, add 2 drops of concentrated HC1, then place a strip of aluminum in the beaker (this may be bent or straight, as desired). Connect the apparatus, as shown in Fig. 1, with a filter-pump having a, strong suction. When the copper is precipitated, remove the beaker from tine hot plate and insert the extraction-thimble alongside the strip of aluminum. The acid solution will be drawn through the porous tube. Wish the upper end of the aluminum strip with a jet of hot water, wash down the sides of

Nov 1, 1912

NEW MEMBERS The following list comprises the, names of those persons who became members during the period June 10 to July 10, 1914: Members ALDRICH, HAROLD W., Supt. of Leaching Plant, Washoe Red. Wks., Anaconda Copper Co., Anaconda, Mont. AYER, FRANK ASHTON, Mine Foreman.. ..Detroit Copper Co., Morenci, Ariz. BELL, ARTHUR F. L., Chief Engr., Associated Oil Co.., 817 Sharon Bldg., San Francisco, Cal. BERGMAN, JULIUS GUSTAF, Mech. Engr., Chief Draftsman, Arizona Copper Co. Morenci, Ariz. BURT, CURTIS F., Min. Engr., Pittsburg-Dolores Mining Co., Rockland, via Yerington, Nev. CALLAWAY SCOTT DAVID, Chem La Harpe Smelter Co., La Harpe, Kan. CAMPBELL, W. C., Min. Engr 4 Princess St., Roodeport, Transvaal, So. Af. CARROLL, GEORGE A., Genl. Mgr Kildare Min. Co., Manson, B. C., Canada. CARUTHERS, JOHN LYTLE, Min. Engr., Asst. Engr., St. Louis, Rocky Mountain & Pacific Co.. Raton. N. M.

Jan 8, 1914

By Jerry G. Rose, Robert C. Howell

This paper addresses a process by which both the disposal and utilization of preparation plant coal refuse can be simultaneously accomplished with an attendant benefit of significantly increasing the percentage of extractable coal. A laboratory study is described in which coal refuse was successfully utilized as an aggregate in low cost concrete (coal-crete) mixes under simulated mine environments. Coal-crete specimens with compressive strengths of 14 000 kPa (2000 psi) were consistently produced. A construction sequence and mining plans are offered for placing the low-cost coal-crete pillars in accessible areas in room and-pillar mines so that a substantial portion of the remaining coal pillars could be extracted. The method could be applicable in areas where mining procedures do not permit pillar extraction became of possible surface subsidence, roof problems, or other conditions. Possible structural difficulties with the coal- crete pillar support system are discussed. Using a discounted cash flow analysis, the economic feasibility of mining with the coal-crete pillar system is investigated. The cost of the system is compared to the cost of a mining system which would have less coal recovery. The analysis indicates that although at higher coal selling prices the coal-crete mining system may yield an acceptable rate of return, the alternative of leaving the coal pillars is more attractive at the present time.

Jan 3, 1979

Report of the Secretary TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE AMERICAN INSTITUTE OF MINING AND METALLURGICAL ENGINEERS Gentlemen:-To a Board of Directors keeping in as close touch with all of the affairs under their care as do the Board of Directors of the A. I. M. E., through their monthly meetings, a report of the year's progress is almost superfluous. To the members who read the monthly reports of. the Board Meetings and of the various activities of the Institute as published each month, a yearly report cannot carry much fresh information; yet for both it may be well, as is the custom, to glance over the field of our activities during the past year, and to make an estimate for the year to come. The beginning of 1924 was not propitious for the members of the mining profession, though tonnage production for 1923 had been high and the gross value higher than for several years. The margin of profit had been narrow, prospecting and development were limited, and many of our members were unemployed, or were working in other industries. Toward the end of the year, higher metal, prices were in sight. Old-time optimism began to grow, and it now brightens the outlook for 1925. An excellent barometer of the prosperity of the industry, and that of the Institute, for they go hand in hand, is the work of our Employment Bureau. During the past few months, the percentage of our members for whom openings have been found has been increasing to a marked extent, and many members who had fallen in arrears are placing themselves in good standing. The number of new members joining has remained about as it was in 1922 and 1923. The Directors have reason to congratulate themselves on the interest maintained during a dull period, for it is not humanly possible to take a keen interest in the technology of an industry when our hands and minds are not actively engaged in it Now, with a much brighter outlook, we can look forward to a year of increasing prosperity for the industry and for the Institute.

Jan 3, 1925

By J. D. Wright

INTRODUCTION The Endako deposit was first explored in 1926, but development waited until the early nineteen sixties. It first came under the control of Placer Development in 1963, and early in 1964 a decision to bring it into production was reached. The deposit is located near the geographic center of British Columbia, and is served by an east-west communication system including a paved highway, mainline railway and good telephone, teletype, and computer facilities. The plant area is shown in Figure 1. The operation is known as the Endako Mines Division of Canex Placer Limited of Vancouver. First production was achieved in June, 1965, at a nominal rate of 10,000 tons per day, but it soon was closer to 15,000 tons per day. In 1967, two new grinding and flotation, sections brought capacity to the present rate of approximately 27,000 tons per day. With mill heads of around 0.15 percent MoS2, production is about 14,000,000 pounds of molybdenum per year. A flowsheet of the operation is given in Figure 2. A legend for this flowsheet is given in Table 1. Published ore reserves are estimated at 214,500,000 tons at an average grade of 0.143 percent MoS2. PRIMARY CRUSHING The 85 or 100-ton haulage trucks dump over a grizzly into a 42 inch x 65 inch C.A.C. (Canadian Allis Chalmers) gyratory crusher. The

Jan 1, 1976

By Benjamin F. Tillson

The hammer drill rightly receives the credit for having made the one-man drill possible, and so many economies seem possible through the proper application of different types of hammer drills to various mining, quarrying, and excavating operations, that an indication of the 'economies effected by the New Jersey Zinc Co. at its Franklin mines may be of pertinent interest. When this company commenced its trials of hammer drills in 1907, these tools had not been developed to one-fourth the capacity and refinement which they have at present. At that time it was frequently stated that such a small tool, drilling holes of less diameter than the reciprocating rock drill, could not drill enough holes in a shift to permit the placing of sufficient explosive to break a tonnage of ore comparable with that produced by the "rock drills;" that the placing of small holes inclined upward, at angles steeper than 40' above the horizontal, could not be expected to produce results equal to the large flat, wet or dry, holes in the breasted back of an overhand stope, and would only shatter the ground so as to make the back unsafe. In spite of these adverse opinions, the hammer drills first showed their superiority over both heavy and light reciprocating drills in raising and in stoping, and then in drifting and quarry work. As a result, all of the reciprocating drills at the Franklin mines were scrapped three years ago, all of the mining work being accomplished with increased efficiency, as shown in detail in this article. With the advent of the hammer drill in this property, it was considered advisable to make comparative tests of all the tools accessible, and it has since been the policy to investigate the merits of any advance of the drilling art in order to get the maximum amount of work from the tools. The necessity of devising some means of standardizing drill tests, and of measuring the consumption of compressed air as well as the drilling speed, was early realized. The common test was to fill a measured air receiver with compressed air at a certain gauge pressure, run the drill until the pressure had dropped to too low a figure, then compute from the time, drop in pressure, and

Jan 1, 1915

By Thomas N. Walthier

If current trends continue, the shrunken world of exploration will keep on shrinking and the number of new mines will be insufficient to meet production requirements. Mineral shortages-not natural, but government induced-will then occur.

Jan 5, 1976

By S. P. Burke

THE presence of gas in coal mines necessitates the use of costly ventila-tion arrangements and the use of expensive mining methods. On the other hand, the gas itself in many instances is of considerable intrinsic value, and its separate recovery might conceivably be a profitable under-taking. This paper is concerned with a study of the movement of gas in coal strata with the object of determining the laws governing gas move-ment and thus making at least a preliminary step toward the solution of the more practical problem of its control or recovery. Naturally, so important a subject has received much attention from scientists and engineers. In most cases, however, the studies have been concerned with the origin1?, the amount2, the composition3 and the method of retention4 of the gas in coal; or, from the more practical side, have been concerned with the phenomena and conditions associated with outbursts5 or explosions and their control. Numerous studies also have been made of the permeability of coal to gas6, of gas pressures measured in coal seams, etc. The authors are unaware, however, of any attempt to present a consistent or complete picture of the laws governing the movement of gas through the coal.

Jan 1, 1935

Jan 1, 1961

By O. W. Simmons, L. W. Eastwood, C. M. Craighead

The results of a preliminary study of 113 ternary titanium-base alloys are described. The compositions investigated were as follows: 1. Ternary titanium-carbon alloys containing copper, silicon, vanadium, chromium, manganese, iron, or cobalt. 2. Ternary titanium-nitrogen alloys containing chromium. 3. Ternary titanium-chromium alloys containing additions of vanadium, molybdenum, tungsten, cobalt, or nickel. 4. Ternary titanium-manganese alloys containing additions of silicon, chromium, tungsten, or iron. Tensile properties, minimum bend radii, hardnesses, response to heat treatment and aging treatment, and phase relationships for these alloys were determined. THIS is the second in a series of papers describing some of the results of the exploratory work on titanium alloys being conducted at Battelle Memorial Institute for the Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. The work with the binary alloy systems has been described in a previous publication.' This paper describes ternary titanium-base alloys as follows: 1. Ternary titanium-carbon alloys containing copper, silicon, vanadium, chromium, manganese, iron, or cobalt. 2. Ternary titanium-nitrogen alloys containing chromium. 3. Ternary titanium-chromium alloys containing additions of vanadium, molybdenum, tungsten, cobalt, or nickel. 4. Ternary titanium-manganese alloys containing additions of silicon, chromium, tungsten, or iron. As the preparation and fabrication of the 0.5-Ib experimental titanium alloy ingots to 14-ga sheet, as well as the methods of testing used in this work, have been described in the first paper of this series, Titanium Binary Alloys, no further discussion of these techniques will be given. Ternary Alloys Containing Carbon The following alloys of titanium, containing carbon and one other metal, were investigated: 1. 0.25 pct carbon; 1, 2.5, and 5 pct copper. 2. 0.25 pct carbon; 1, 2, and 3 pct silicon. 3. 0.25 pct carbon; 1, 2.5, and 5 pct vanadium. 4. 0.25 pct carbon; 2.5, 3.5, 5, 10, and 15 pct chromium. 5. 0.5 pct carbon; 2.5, 3.5, and 5 pct chromium. 6. 0.25 pct carbon; 1, 1.75, 2.5, 3.5, 5, 7.5, and 10 pct manganese. 7. 0.5 pct carbon; 1.75, 2.5, 3.5, 5, 7.5, and 10 pct manganese. 8. 0.25 pct carbon; 0.25, 0.5, 1, and 2 pct iron. 9. 0.25 pct carbon; 1, 2, and 3 pct cobalt.

Jan 1, 1951

By Don M. Jackson, Robert W. Howard

Techniques for the epilaxial growth of single -crystal silicon carbide films on silicon were developed. The vapor-phase decomposition and bydrogen reduction of silicon tetrachloride (SiC14) and Propane (C3H8) resulted in clear films of silicon carbide, lip to seveval microns in thickness. The growth took place in a horizontal . silicon epilaxial reactor at 1100°C (pyrometer) at a rate of- 3000Å per minute. Electron diffraction and X-ray diffraction studies demonstrated that the films were single-cyrstal, ß -phase, or cubic silicon carbide. SiO2 film were used to mask areas of the silicon sur-lace in order that the silicon carbide might be grown in controlled geometries. Both n- and p-type films were grown on p-type silicon waters.. Heavily doped silicon films of the same conductivity type as the silicon carbide films were deposited over the silicon carbide in order to affect better probe contact to the structures. when n-type silicon carbide mesas were grown on p-type silicon substrates the de vollage-current relationships between films and substrates were that of junction diodes. These diodes showed a sensitivity to while light ill that the incident light increased forward- and reverse-satro,ation currents, P-type silicon carbide mesas grown on p-type silicon were ohmic rather than rectifying in their voltage -current relationship. No conclusions could he reached concerning heterojunc-tiou rectification in the structure. SILICON carbide is a semiconductor with many interesting properties. It decomposes at temperatures above 2200°C.1 It occurs in two general crys-tallographic forms—hexagonal (a Sic) and cubic (ß Sic)—with the cubic form having a forbidden-gap energy of 2.32 ev and the hexagonal form (specifically the 6H polytype) a gap energy of 2.86 ev.3 It behaves as an extrinsic semiconductor at temperatures approaching 5003C. It has been shown to have a high resistance to radiation damage4 and p-n junctions formed in Sic have been shown to radiate visible light under forward- or reverse-bias conditions. Epitaxial silicon carbide on silicon carbide has been successfully grown through the use of a variety of techniques, such as gaseous cracking of SiCL4 and CC4, nearly all of which require a deposition temperature above 1500°C.6 This paper will cover very recent work on the gas-phase deposition of highly ordered films of silicon carbide on high-quality silicon single-crystal substrates. The films have been shown to ex- hibit junction-rectification properties when geometrically isolated regions are electrically biased with reference to the silicon substrate. There will be no discussion of the mechanism of heterojunction rectification, but the methods of film fabrication, geometry control, and structural evaluations will be covered in detail. Electron diffraction, X-ray diffraction, and diode electrical properties were used to characterize the films and the junctions. GAS-PHASE DEPOSITION OF Sic The techniques for the deposition of silicon carbide films were a logical outgrowth of the standard silicon epitaxial process. The major premise followed was that, for any film to nucleate in an ordered fashion where there is considerable mismatch in lattice parameters (in this case 22 pct), an extremely clean, damage-free substrate surface must be presented to the gas stream. Thus a standard gas-phase HCl etching step was used to prepare the substrates for growth. A minimum of 5 µ of substrate-surface material was removed prior to the deposition of Sic overgrowth films. The techniques used for growing silicon carbide films were those of growing silicon alone, with the added injection of a hydrocarbon gas into the hydrogen and silicon tetrachloride gas stream. The hydrocarbon gases used thus far have been research-grade (99.99 pct) methane (CH4) and propane (C3H8). Propane ultimately gave the best results. The gas flows were controlled through a panel shown schematically in Fig. 1. A hydrogen main stream of 30 liters per min passed through the horizontal quartz-tube epitaxial reactor, while SiC14, C3H8, HC1, and doping gases were injected as side streams. The

Jan 1, 1965

By J. E. Johnson

OF the many items of information necessary to the successful management of the blast-furnace, few are more important than knowledge of the location and movement of the stock-line: whether the furnace is full and has. been kept so; whether the stock is settling regularly or slipping; and, if slipping, how often it has slipped, at what times, and how far at each time. To obtain these data, a man is sometimes stationed at the top of a. pair of mechanically-filled furnaces, simply to watch and gauge them by hand in the old-fashioned way. - A more recent practice is the suspension of test-rods from ropes leading over pulleys to the ground-level, where the ropes are wound on small drums with graduated peripheries and provided with crank-handles, whereby the skip-man or some other person can quickly and conveniently gauge the position of the stock-line in the furnace. I believe the credit for this great improvement belongs to Messrs. McClure & Phillips of Sharon, Pa., who were, as far as I know, the first to apply it, and who have a patent for it. The valuable indications gained by application of the Uehling pyrometer to the down-comer are Dot to be ignored; but the information thus furnished is somewhat indi¬rect, and there is no scale for the translation of "top-tempera¬tures " into " feet down." Moreover, this apparatus as a whole is delicate, and the cost of its installation and maintenance is high. If the record furnished by the Uehling pyrometer is not in the most desirable form, the test-rods, on the other hand, give no record at all, except through the memory, or notes of a man who, to say the least, is not gauging continuously, and who may omit to report an improperly low stock-line, if it be due to a fault of his own.

Mar 1, 1905

By Dudley Homer

MINAS DE MATAHAMBRE, S.A. is a Cuban mining corporation with mines located in the Matahambre district about 100 miles westerly from Havana in the Province of Pinar del Rio. The port of entry is the subport of Santa Lucia on the north coast of Cuba. The mines are located six miles inland at the town of Minas de Matahambre. Minas de Matahambre and Santa Lucia are connected by a 9-mile automobile road, and a 30,000-ft. Leschen aerial tramway. At the subport of Santa Lucia the company maintains docks, concentrate bins, tugs, lighters, and miscellaneous shipping equipment. The power plant of the company is also located at Santa Lucia. Connection between the power plant and the mine is effected by a 30,000-ft. transmission line. In the town of Minas de Matahambre are located the mines, concentrator, shops, and warehouses. The con-centrates are transported to Santa Lucia by the Leschen aerial tramway. The mines are equipped with three shafts, viz., Nos. 1, 2, and 3. (Fig. 1.) No. 1 Shaft is a three-compartment vertical tim-bered shaft and has reached a depth of 1825 ft. This is the present main hoisting shaft. No. 2 Shaft is a four-compartment vertical shaft lined with steel sets and native hardwood lagging. Certain portions where the ground is heavy have been lined with re-inforced concrete. Practically all production will be hoisted eventually through this shaft. No. 3 Shaft is a three-compartment vertical timbered shaft. It has reached a depth of 1090 ft. Its purpose is for prospecting, ventilation, and handling men and sup-plies through the north section of the mine.

Jan 1, 1933

By Courtenay de Kalb

REVISION of the United States mining law is needed. chiefly because of the following reasons: 1. The conceptions as to the characteristics of orebodies that were held at the time the statute of 1872 was enacted have since proved to be in many respects erroneous. 2. The operation of the existing law has been found to work unnecessary hardship upon many claimants to mineral land. 3. The existing statute fails in large degree to encourage development of mineral resources. 4. The existing law often produces conflict between placer and lode-claim rights, working unnecessary injustice to placer claimants. 5. The methods of establishing the rights of locators on United States mineral land are defective, and are not uniform throughout the States within which such lands exist. LAW OF THE APEX The objections to the so-called "law of the apex" are so well known as to require no detailed statement. It is sufficient to point out that the apex rule was based upon the notion that ore deposits consisted of well-formed veins included between definite walls, like the slice of ham in a sandwich. The fact is that veins conforming to that simple type are rare. Irregularity is the rule, and the chief metal production of the United States comes from masses which bear no resemblance to the tabular form of vein. Manifestly the law of the apex fails completely in such cases. Moreover, the tendency is constantly toward the exploitation of ores of lower grade than could formerly be worked, and such deposits exist mainly in the form of large irregular impregnated zones and masses, so that the future. development of our mineral resources would be continuously embarrassed by shadowy claims to extra-lateral rights by the locators of so-called apexes

Jan 2, 1915

By J. B. Fisken

(Butte Meeting, August, 1913.) BEFORE touching upon the immediate subject of this paper a few facts of a historical nature as to the general application of electricity to mining might be of interest. As to what was actually the first application of electricity to mining, opinions will no doubt always differ. My experience does not go back far enough, nor are the records to which I have had access of any value as covering this point. Sydney F. Walker, a man whose pioneer experience in the application of electricity to mining purposes dates back as far as 1876, ,gave an interesting resume of the subject in an address before the South Wales branch of the Association of Mining Electrical Engineers at its 1.913 session, and, unless his statements are shown to be wrong, they should be accepted as facts. According to Mr. Walker, the ignition of charges of blasting powder was the first operation in mining to be accomplished with the aid of electricity. Very frequently this energy was furnished by a static machine and occasionally by a magneto generator. Later, this was followed by the application of electricity to bell signals, and we are told that this application was looked upon skeptically and regarded as an expensive experiment by the mining managers of those early days. At the Paris Exposition of 1878, there was exhibited an electric lamp, which suggested future possibilities to the mining engineers of those days. The first successful application of electric lighting to underground excavations that I have been able to find any record of is that of M. Blavier. In the year 1879' he installed two Serrin lamps and successfully illuminated one of the large underground chambers in the Angers slate quarries. Another early application of electricity to the lighting of mines is that in the large chambers in the salt mines of Maros-Ujvár, in Hungary; these have been regularly and successfully lighted elec-

Jan 6, 1913

By Owen F. Devereux

Two discrete types of microstructure me seen in cermets formed by the reaction: 4Al (liquid) + 3SiO2 (glass) — 2A12O3(a) + 3Si (solid) Relatively coarse-grained macroscopically isotropic specimens resulted from reaction with aluminum containing appreciable silicon, while macroscopically anisotropic fine-grained specimens were formed by reaction with aluminum low in silicon. Optical microscopy, electron microscopy, and X-ray diffraction suggest that the anisotropic material contains gross areas in which submicroscopic grains of a A12O3 are oriented along radial lines drawn from the specimen surface. These lines are presumed to originate at defects in an otherwise protecting surface layer. A unique cermet is formed by the reduction of high-silica glass by molten aluminum according to the reaction: 4A1 (liquid) + 3SiO2 (glass) — 2A12O3 (a) + 3Si (solid) The free-energy change accompanying this reaction is -150 kcal at 800°C; the volume change (volume of A12O3 and silicon minus volume of SiO2) is +6 pct. The reaction product, however, contains aluminum metal as well as Al2O3 and silicon because some of the product silicon is dissolved in the aluminum bath and is replaced by aluminum in the structure. The product is a hard gray solid that retains the external dimensions of the original silica article. The system has been studied in the past, the investigations culminating in patents to George1, 2 and Saw-chuk., The former emphasize that this reaction is but one of a relatively broad class of such systems, while the latter demonstrates that a marked improvement in the gross physical properties of the cermet can be obtained by dissolving appreciable quantities of silicon in the aluminum reactant. The system has also been studied by workers at Rolls Royce Ltd.,4-6 who have patented the addition of small quantities of arsenic, antimony, bismuth, or phosphorus to the reactant bath to SO impede the reaction that glass fibers may be metal-coated by immersion in molten aluminum.

Jan 1, 1969

By J. L. Carne

ORE control is a matter of planning and supervision based on a foreknowledge of the content and distribution of ore. The Inspiration orebody is predominately a copper-sulphide blanket, overlain by an oxidized zone of copper silicates, copper carbonates, and barren capping. Most of the ore is treated by leaching, and the optimum requirement of this method is the goal toward which the mining schedule is aimed. Both open-pit operations and underground mining are used. The problems of ore control at Inspiration are: 1-maintenance of metallurgical balance, 2-conservation of oxide ore, and 3-mining out of the orebody at an average grade which parallels that of the reserve figure. Prior to the fall of 1926 all of the Inspiration division ores were treated by flotation, but the mixed ores of the Live Oak-Keystone section carried too large a proportion of copper in the form of chrysocolla for satisfactory flotation. For this type of mixed ore the leaching process now in use had been worked out, and the plant was put into operation in the fall of 1926. The process is known as the ferric sulphate leach, and the leaching solvents contain both ferric sulphate and free sulphuric acid. Sulphide copper in the form of chalcocite is leached by the ferric sulphate, and the oxidized copper minerals are dissolved by the sulphuric acid. From the beginning of operations to the present time the plant has treated some 67 thousand tons of ore having an average copper content of 1.142 pet, of which 0.605 pct has been in the form of oxidized copper minerals. The plant is currently being operated at the rate of 11,500 tons per day, 7 days per week. However, this tonnage is produced in 6 days of mine operation. The average current grade is approximately 1 pct copper, of which about 50 pct is present as oxidized or acid-soluble copper. Close control of metallurgical procedures is a vital factor in operation of the plant and is in turn dependent upon careful regulation of feed. An excess of sulphide copper requires the presence of more ferric sulphate in the leaching solvents. On the other hand, an excess of ferric sulphate in the presence of a low sulphide feed seriously reduces the efficiency of electrolytic precipitation in tank house operations. This condition must be avoided at all costs. An additional factor must be considered. It is known that the sulphide content is predominant in the ore which remains in the reserve. To maintain the necessary sulphide-oxide proportion, so that the entire reserve will mine out at both a grade and a sulphide-oxide ratio that will be permissible throughout the remaining life of the property, it is obvious that the oxide reserve must be currently preserved to as great an extent as possible. Fortunately much of the oxide reserve is found in the open-pit operation. This happy circumstance adds flexibility to the procedure and makes it possible to maintain the close regulation necessary to insure best overall results, both mining and metallurgical. The two ore streams from the pit and underground operations join at the coarse-crushing plant, and proper control must be exercised before the ore reaches this point. The open pit is currently providing about 55 pet of the ore and underground operations the balance of production. Both operations are under a single superintendent so that the closely interrelated problems may be more readily controlled. The least flexible of the two producing units is the underground mine, where the mining method is block caving. Although a block of ground may be undercut and developed, characteristics of the material determine its caving action. The ore in the chutes must be drawn. The area currently mined from underground is in a zone predominately sulphide and is generally

Jan 1, 1952

By Sabert Oglesby, Albert L. Thomas

Until recently, probably the best means of sampling airborne dusts has been the impinger method. Dust-laden air is drawn into a sampling tube, and the particulate matters separated from the air and collected in the liquid in the impinger. A sample of the suspension is prepared on a slide and counted through a projection microscope. This method is simple and reliable, but it does suffer drawbacks. Since the collected particles must be counted visually, results of the dust count are taken. This seriously impedes studying the effectiveness of dust inhibitors, such as water sprays, or making adjustments in equipment. Greatest disadvantage of all, however, is the tedious task of counting particles in the sample. With the growing desirability of taking more samples, the effort involved in making these counts is a real factor in the cost of dust control. Finally, it is generally recognized that impinger dust counts can be related to health hazard only for specific kinds of dust and under similar conditions. This is because the rather complex mechanism of dust damage depends so much on size distribution of the dust. Counts determined by impinger samples cover a limited size range that does not necessarily correlate with retention by the lungs and upper respiratory tract.

Jan 3, 1959

By J. H. Jackson, P. D. Frost, C. H. Lorig, A. C. Loonam

THIS paper describes (1) the effect of sodium on the tensile ductility of magnesium-lithium base alloys, and (2) the precautions necessary to avoid sodium contamination. Effect of Sodium on Properties The harmful effect of sodium in magnesium-lithium base alloys has been recognized by other investigators.1,2 However, quantitative data on its effect have not hitherto been published. The effect of sodium on the ductility of an 87 pct Mg-9 pct Li-4 pct Zn alloy is shown in fig. 1. The sodium was introduced by adding sodium chloride to the flux, which consisted of 50 pct LiC1-50 pct KC1. Moderately high ductility was obtained at an indicated sodium content of about 0.05 pct. Actually, the value probably was less than 0.05 pct, be-cause analyses of the lithium, which were more accurate than those of the alloy, indicated that the highest ductility was obtained when its sodium content was 0.02 pct or less. In fact, in alloys having somewhat greater strength than this particular composition, the sodium content of the lithium must be under 0.01 pct to avoid embrittlement. The effect of sodium on the ductility of several alloys having fairly low strength levels is shown in fig. 2. These alloys were melted with a flux containing 75 pct LiC1-25 pct LiF, to which various quantities of sodium chloride had been added. Sodium had no significant effect in pure magnesium but markedly decreased the ductility of the magnesium-lithium-zinc alloy, even though the alloy contained only 3 pct Li. As the lithium content of the binary alloys was increased, the ductility of the sodium-free alloys also increased. However, the effect of sodium on ductility became progressively more pronounced. Sodium raised the minimum hot-rolling temperatures, particularly those of the high-strength alloys, but its effect, in this respect, was less critical than its effect on tensile ductility. For optimum cold roll-ability, a low-sodium content was required. No deleterious effect of sodium on the stability of properties at slightly elevated temperatures was found. Control of Sodium in the Alloys Optimum ductility is obtained in the magnesium-lithium base alloys when sodium-free materials are used. Commercial lithium was formerly the chief source of contamination. Now purified lithium is usually available. When lithium of ordinary purity is used, the effects of sodium can be minimized by using a flux consisting of 75 pct LiC1-25 pct LiF. Bubbling nitrogen through the melt also helps remove sodium. The damaging influence of sodium on the ductility of the magnesium-lithium base alloys was observed very early in the alloy development program. The discovery came about as a result of chemical analyses made on the lithium used in the alloys. Ductile alloys had been made from lithium containing about 0.2 pct Na, whereas the lithium used in the brittle alloys contained about 0.9 pct Na. The first magnesium-lithium alloys were melted under commercial fluxes ordinarily used in melting magnesium alloys. These fluxes were unsuited for scavenging the contaminating sodium, and the resulting alloys were not ductile. Next, a flux containing 50 pct KC1-50 pct LiCl was tried. This was somewhat more effective but still was not satisfactory. After a number of different experimental fluxes had been investigated, one containing 75 pct LiC1-25 pct LiF was adopted. This flux made it possible to obtain good ductility in the alloys. The

Jan 1, 1951

By Rodney Lawrence, Tim Hackett

INTRODUCTION The western USA contains significant coal reserves in seams 10 feet or more in thickness which lie too deep for surface mining. As part of a demonstration of the use of two legged shield supports in the United States, Kaiser Steel Corporation, under contract to the US government used the longwall method to mine a ten foot thick coal seam in New Mexico. Caliper type shield supports and double drum shearers were used in three longwall panels. During the test, technical, production, and safety data were collected to objectively evaluate the performance of the shields in mining the thick coal seam. This paper presents discussions of practical operating experience and summary statistics to aid the mining industry in planning longwall mines in similar conditions.

Jan 1, 1981