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By J. W. Harden

APART from the merits of the respective systems of mining under conditions alike, there is much in the nature of the coal and the measures with which it is associated, to make that system which is successfully practiced in one locality ill adapted to that of another; the structure of the coal itself, the roof, the floor, the depth and character of the overlying strata, each exercising more or less controlling influence. Again, in the highly bituminous districts, and with such as have caking coals, where the size of the coal as it comes off the face does not affect its value, as the very smallest of it may be utilized, and in the hard, the open and free-burning coals, in some of which the round only (large coal) is merchantable,

Jan 1, 1873

By J. Weng

The equations of heat conduction are numerically solved for two kinds of artificial freezing- mechanical freezing and liquid nitrogen freezing. A two dimensional finite difference model simulating the freezing field is developed. The procedure introduces a way to simulate the effect of latent heat released when water transforms from liquid to solid. The procedure also produces a way to calculate the harmonic mean of heat conductivity used when dealing with heterogeneous material. The theoretically derived temperature distributions in frozen soil are given and compared with measured data. An analysis made on the thermal design in shaft freezing. The average temperature of frozen soil is calculated by using numerical integration. The regularity of development of frozen soil radius is revealed and given in an appropriate mathematical model.

Jan 1, 1984

By Brian F. Osborne

A continuous on-line particle-size analysis system for solid/liquid suspensions is described. The basic sensor utilizes a centrifugal principle to separate particles according to size, the resultant separation being measured by means of beta-ray attenuation. Results obtained when analyzing a variety of materials at sizes from 65 mesh (210 µ) to 20 w are discussed in detail. Accuracies better than 2% are demonstrated. The effects of particle specific gravity, and mixtures of materials of diverse specific gravities, are discussed from both a practical and a theoretical viewpoint. It is demonstrated that particle specific gravity has a minimal effect on the size reading obtained. This renders the instrument suitable for handling materials where the ratio of light to heavy component may change. The design of the first commercial installation of this instrument is described in detail. This installation will be capable of analyzing three streams in sequence, measurement at three particle sizes being effected on each stream.

Jan 1, 1975

By S. Chander, D. W. Fuerstenau

Hallimond tube flotation, contact angle measurements, electrokinetics, and electrode potential measurements have been used to investigate the natural floatability of molybdenite. The effect of surface pretreatment and the role of hydrogen, hydroxyl, molybdate, and calcium ions on the flotation of molybdenite has been studied. The surface potential of molybdenite has been suggested to be controlled by HMoO[ ] and MoO4= surface species whose properties are strongly influenced by pH. Calcium ions, which appear to be specifically adsorbed, are able to reverse the zeta potential of molybdenite. The experimental results have been analyzed in terms of the Derjaguin model of wettability, namely in terms of van der Waals and electrical double layer interactions and hydration effects at interfaces.

Jan 1, 1973

By Colin Fink

TANTALUM and columbium occur together in tantalite and columbite ores, which may be considered as ferrotantalate (FeTa206), with part of the iron and tantalum replaced by manganese and columbium respectively, the general formula, therefore, becoming (Fe, Mn)O.(Ta, Cb)205. The ratio of tantalum to columbium is not fixed; the amount of tantalum may vary from one-third to three times that of columbium. Minerals having a high content of tantalum are called tantalite, while those possessing larger amounts of columbium are classified as columbite ores. These minerals are found in pegmatites and often occur in veins associated with cassiterite and wolframite, and may contain small amounts of tin, tungsten, titanium and silica.1

Jan 1, 1931

By Ray W. Ballmer, K. H. Matheson

Since start-up in 1906, Bingham had been a rail pit, beginning with steam locomotives and converting to electric locomotives in 1923. Ore production was maintained by effective utilization of avail- able rail equipment. From time to time, as it became necessary to deepen the pit and as stripping ratios increased, studies of alternative material haulage systems such as diesel locomotives, conveyor belts and trucks were made. Conversion from rail haulage with electric locomotives could not, however, be justified. Because of a gradual decline in ore grade, a program was approved in 1963 to raise ore production to 108,000 tpd. The decision posed a serious problem: due to built-in inflexibility and other limitations, a parallel expansion of the rail haulage system was impractical. (Track and trolley wire relocation causes greater shovel downtime than required for normal maintenance; instability of the dumps and the resulting additional track maintenance increases greatly as the daily volume of waste material increases.) Studies indicated that economically the most favorable course of action would be the replacement of rail haulage on the upper levels of the mine by truck haulage.

Jan 11, 1965

By F. D. Waltman

Under the hot, baking sun, engineers at the AEC's Nevada Test Site have been busy for several years in the sinking of 48-in. diam shafts to depths varying anywhere from 1800 to 4800 ft below the surface. In so doing these men have evolved several new techniques which should be of interest to the mining industry. Surface Facilities Designed For Speed: "Expediency plus efficiency" is a key phrase at the Site. Because of the relatively short duration of actual mining operations, all equipment has been packaged to decrease time and cost of "set up" and "take down". The headframe, designed specifically for use over 48-in. cased shafts, can be erected or dismantled within 48 hours. The back legs are pinned and hinged to the front legs for ease of installation and, when dismantled, for movement to another site with a minimum of delay.

Jan 6, 1966

By John Fulton

Johnstown is the site of the extensive iron, steel, and wire-works of the Cambria Iron Company. It is situated at the western base of the Alleghany Mountain, 275 miles from Philadelphia, and 78 miles from Pittsburgh. The valley in which the town and its ironworks are located, has an average elevation of 1160 feet above tide water. Johnstown, in its main features, is a modified duplicate of Pittsburgh. It is located at the confluence of the Little Conemaugh and Stony Creek rivers, which, by their union, form the Conemaugh River, just as Pittsburgh is situated at the junction of the Allegheny and Monongahela rivers, which together make the Ohio River. The site of Johnstown is in a cutting through the lower productive coal measures, 500 c feet deep, with steep slopes along the valleylimits, exposing, in sharp-cut terraces, the outcrops of the coal and iron-ore beds; the whole surmounted by the shales and sandstones of the barren measures.

Jan 1, 1885

By G. A. Vissac

In continental Europe the feldspar jig is used almost exclusively for cleaning the fine sizes of coal; it operates with an artificial bed, made up generally of pieces of feldspar or of any other hard and heavy rock with good cleavages. A primitive form of this machine requiring close supervision was used in this country years ago, but output was small. The modern machines are generally air-pulsated Baum-type jigs, with capacities up to 150 tph, and treat sizes from 3/s in. to 0, usually previously dedusted or deslimed. These jigs are equipped with very accurate and sensitive automatic controls insuring satisfactory operation even at low separating gravity and with feeds irregular in quality and quantity. This paper will deal more particularly with coal cleaning separation, but the technical studies apply equally to all minerals.

Jul 1, 1955

By Frederic Benard

RECOVERY of selenium and tellurium at Copper Cliff by the Ontario Refining Co. has been previously described by the writer.1 During 1935 a new building was erected to house this operation and description of the new plant and process form the subject of this paper. The building, of modern steel and tile construction, covers an area of 5900 sq. ft. with a volume of approximately 165,000 cu. ft. The large monitored center bay is flanked by two smaller outside bays, one of which is devoted to the tellurium section. All equipment, ceilings and upper walls, are treated with aluminum paint, giving good illumination and facilitating good housekeeping, essential from a health standpoint in handling material of this nature.

Jan 1, 1938

EDMUND NEWTON, Minneapolis, Minn. (communication to the Secretary?).-In discussing the question of the deoxidation of steel and material suitable for performing this function at the end of the heat, it would seem logical also to include the question of prevention of oxidation in the steel or the formation of iron oxide, FeO. I refer to the use of manganese in the basic open-hearth and basic Bessemer processes. The advantages of high manganese in pig iron for these processes have evidently been clearly understood in Germany for a number of years, although little has been written in regard to the exact manner in which the benefits are obtained. In this country, while we make no steel by the basic Bessemer process, our basic open-hearth process is becoming more and more important. Until 10 years ago, in this country, manganese in the pig iron for this process was considered of little value and by many writers it was spoken of as a disadvantage. During the past 10 years, however, in certain parts of the United States, higher contents of manganese in basic pig have been used with considerable success, although there is apparently nothing in our technical literature to show the reasons for this trend. A German book, "The Basic Open-Hearth Steel Process" by Carl Dichmann does, however, offer an explanation. Dichmann says that if the charge for either of the above-mentioned processes contains 3 per cent. of manganese or above, satisfactory steel.

Jan 6, 1917

By High Archbald

It is possible to construct a simple diagram of the earnings, or the production, of the men employed at a coal mine that will show not only if the conditions tend toward contentment among the men, but if the operating distribution of the work is correct. As earnings are the greatest cause of discontent, even exceeding all the other causes, if contentment exists in the matter of earnings, the likelihood of other discontents flaring up is greatly lessened. The basis of such a diagram would be the Gaussian curve of the normal variation in human ability. Such a curve has long been recognized. H. L. Moore,' in discussing the quantitative relation between wages and ability says: "It has been pointed out that industrial efficiency is dependent upon physical, mental, and moral qualities, and these qualities . . . there is good reason for regarding as being distributed according to the Gaussian law.

Jan 1, 1925

By Jonathan G. Price

Silver-copper-lead deposits In Precambrian, Permian, and Cretaceous red-bed sequences near Van Horn, Texas, have the following features In common: (1) mineralization controlled by steeply dipping fractures in sandstones, (2) lack of ore in overlying and interbedded limestones, (3) absence of igneous intrusions, (4) sulflide ores without typical hydrothermal gangue minerals, and (5) associated arsenic, molybdenum, zinc, and cadmium but not gold. Ore was probably deposited along fractures by reaction between low-temperature, oxidizing, metal-rich ground waters and sulfide-bearing waters or rocks. Detailed mapping and studies of fracture patterns indicate that mineralization occurred during Basin and Range extensional deformation, thereby postdating major Trans-Pecos igneous activity.

Jan 1, 1984

By T. A. Rickard

In southeastern France, among the magnificent alpine masses of the Dauphine, there is a group of celebrated mines of silver-, nickel- and cobalt-ores, the deposits of which present many features

Jan 1, 1895

By Timothy Collins

There was once a speculative period of interest in small mining companies that is commonly referred to as "the uranium boom of the 50's." In the late 60's, there was a second mining stock boom: it centered around uranium and silver, when silver had reached a new high of $3.60. In the mid 1970Js, there may be a new boom in the making, and it appears that substantial public and institutional interest in mining equities will finally result in a viable long-term capital market rather than the boom-or-bust pattern of the 50's and 60's. The reason for Wall Street's renewed interest in mining is understandable: most mineral commodities have recently gone up in price. Domestically, these price increases have come in the wake of the inflationary spiral unleashed by years of unbridled government deficit spending and erratic fiscal and monetary policies. Internationally, of course, the biggest push for higher prices has come from third-world countries whose primary income derives from indigenous natural resources. Many of these countries-whose fiscal and monetary policies haven't been models of excellence either-have attempted to cope with the worldwide economic mess by forming cartels that could control the price of commodities. What's happened to petroleum is well-known; what's happened to copper, bauxite, phosphate, and uranium is part and parcel of the same syndrome.

Jan 9, 1975

By J. D. MacKenzie

THE world production of copper for the first eight months of 1927 shows an increase of 3 per cent over the same period in 1926. Since February of this year, however, production has been considerably curtailed. The United States reduction in the last four months has been offset by the increased South Ameri-can and Belgian Congo production. The United States is now producing 58 per cent of the world production, Chile and Peru 17.3 per cent, Belgian Congo 5 per cent. In 1926 the United States produced 54 per cent, Chile and Peru 16.3 per cent, Belgian Congo 6.3 per cent. Production, Tons 1917-largest war year 1,580,000 1925 1,581,000 1926-increase 3 per cent 1,628,000 1927-increase 3 per cent 1,670,000 Copper Producing Countries, 8 mo., 1927: Tons Per Cent United States 644,000 58.0 Chile and Peru 192,000 17.3 Europe 90,000 8.1 Belgian Congo 56,000 5.0 Japan 46,000 4.1 Mexico 30,000 2.7 Canada 23,000 2.1 Figures are not available for Spain and Portugal, which would probably precede Mexico.

Jan 12, 1927

By R. C. Nelson, T. L. Weaver, A. I. Michals

This paper describes the design and performance of an apparatus for making continuous nondestructive resistance measurements throughout a spool of fine wire. Highly reproducible results on clean and graphite coated tungsten and rnolybdenum wires from 1 to 9.5 mil are presented. A linear relation between resistance and wire weight (per standard length) was obtained on clean wires, but only on those coated wires with very uniform coatings. Results indicating a correlation between tensile strength, hardness, and resistivity are reported. THE increasing demand for greater uniformity in fine tungsten and molybdenum wires destined for use as mandrels, grids, and coils in radio tubes and as filaments in light bulbs has rendered inadequate the standard (sampling) approach to the control of wire diameter and other physical properties. This ap-

Jan 1, 1961

By Vytas Svalbonas

Sophisticated computer analysis methods such as finite elements, finite differences, and numerical integration have become tools in the mineral processing industry for design of large mill shells. While use of such methods allows the analyst-designer to take new freedom with his designed structure, there are also pitfalls and dangers which must be recognized for the proper use of such sophisticated tools. One of the worst of these is treating any computer answers as "gospel truth." The present paper discusses the knowledge required by the analyst-designer for proper use of computer analysis, as well as explaining to the layman how to identify questionable areas in such structural analyses.

Jan 1, 1980

By George Anagnostache

AMONG the petroleum-producing countries of the world, Roumania occupies the fifth place; in Europe, it occupies second place, coming after Russia. The extraction and the use of petroleum in Roumania, may be trace( as far back as 1856, but the production on an industrial scale started in 1896, when the "Steaua Romana," was formed. From that time until the beginning of the war, the petroleum industry had a rapid growth the number of the producing companies increased to 37, and production FIG. 1.-ROUMANIAN OIL AND GAS FIELDS. increased from 81,571 tons, in 1896, to 1,898,545 tons, in 1912, when the greatest production was reached. In 1916, when the Germans invaded Roumania, the oilfields, at the order of the Allies and under British supervision, were destroyed, to pre vent their exploitation by the Central Powers; the wells were blown in the refineries and the storage tanks burnt, and pipelines put out of order This voluntary destruction, which weakened the resistance of the Central Powers, set back the petroleum industry at least one decade. Reconstruction after the war was slow, because of bad transportation conditions the scarcity of drilling and refining material, the insufficiency of. electric power, and the continuous depreciation of the Roumanian money, which made difficult the buying of the necessary materials for reconstruction.

Jan 3, 1925

By Christopher W. Schram, Allan B. Tanner, Frank E. Senftle, George R. Boynton, Philip W. Philbin

Abstract-A borehole sonde wing a 252Cf neutron source and a Ge(Li) gamma-ray detector was field tested in a coal bed in Belmont County, Ohio, to ascertain whether such a device could be useful as a coal-exploration tool. As the sonde was lowered into the borehole, successive spectra were accumulated over short time intervals. The intensities of the capture gamma rays from hydrogen and of decay gamma rays from aluminum were determined simultaneously in each spectrum. A log of the intensities versus depth shows the depth and thickness of the coal bed.

Jan 6, 1978