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By Frederic P. Dewey

It is common to blame irregular assay results upon volatilization and much has been written upon the subject, but there is no real evidence that, in a properly conducted assay, the loss of either gold or silver by volatilization is sufficient to affect appreciably the result, even when arsenic or antimony may be present. Bulk assays of flue dust from assay muffles have been published, but the data given are totally insufficient to even approximate the volatilization from a single assay; and such figures as we have indicate the volatilization to be extremely small. Diligent search in the literature and wide inquiry among assayers and instructors have failed to produce a single case where the litharge volatilized in making an assay has been collected and assayed for gold and silver. Having attempted to do this, with most indifferent success, I am not surprised that this has not been done. While various textbooks give volatilization as a cause of loss in cupella-tion, it may safely be said that in the rare cases where this volatilization is sufficient to affect appreciably the result it is due to excessive temperature. Percy' says "The loss of silver by volatilization during cupellation is very slight (unless the temperature has been much too high), and may be disregarded." This statement is repeated by the Beringers2 and Smith,3 who includes gold with silver. Mitchell4 says the litharge fume rarely contains over one ten-thousandth of silver. Campredon5 ays that at a proper temperature no silver is lost by volatilization. Primarily, excessive temperature may be due to too high general temperature in the muffle; but it may often be due to temperature localized within the bead by oxidation of the metals and this may be influenced by other causes than the general temperature. I have shown an ex-

Jan 1, 1921

UP TO and including 1931, the twelve mines that were treated in THE PORPHYRY COPPERS had produced 17.4 billion pounds of copper worth $2,820,000,000. With a little help from six others (three of them did not start output until 1954) that record had been increased at the end of 1955 to 60.5 billion pounds worth $10,440,000,000. Today, ten billion dollars is not as impressive as it once was; but it still represents a lot of value. It must be remembered that this is newly-created wealth, produced entirely from material considered worthless when the Porphyry era started about fifty years ago. At that time "rock" that contained less than forty pounds of copper per ton was regarded by competent mining engineers as value- less. It was not "ore" in the economic sense. Today, ore is being successfully exploited that contains less than twelve pounds of copper per ton. Also, in Peru, a typical Porphyry operation is being launched by a partnership of four United States mining companies that will involve an initial capital investment of $200,000,000 for mine development, plant construction, and the provision of related facilities. Of this project more will be said at the end of the chapter. The point I want to make now is twofold: (1) that phenomenal progress has been made in Porphyry engineering and technology; and (2) that exploitation of an important Porphyry copper deposit has become an industrial enterprise of truly great magnitude. Much had been accomplished by 1931; but that progress has been dwarfed by the achievements of the past 25 years- a fact that, in the nature of things, is as it should be.

Jan 1, 1957

By M. L. Requa

This paper is abstracted from the report of the Appraisement Committee of the Independent Oil Producers' Agency, of which the writer was Chairman. The other members of the committee were M. V. McQuigg and R. S. Haseltine. To Thomas Cox, engineer in charge of the investigation, and to his efficient staff of assistants, is due the credit for the detail work necessary in carrying out the plan of the Committee. It treats only of the valuation of the lands, wells, and piping, without going into details of equipment and other features. It was recognized, early in the operation, that the value of oil lands was the value of oil to be extracted, and marketed, less the costs attendant thereon. Referring this back to the costs in cents per barrel, it became obvious that surface improvements, absolutely necessary in the production of oil, from wells then drilled; had no separate and independent value aside from the value of the land, but that any excess equipment, not necessary for the production of oil from present wells, such as drilling tools, well casing, etc., should be given a present condition value. In valuing the properties of the Independent Oil Producers' Agency, the Committee has considered the following facts: 1. That from each property there will ultimately be. produced a certain total quantity of oil. 2. That in the production of that oil a certain total quantity of money will be expended. 3. That a certain total amount of money will be received from the oil. 4. That the total net receipts will be the total gross receipts less the cost of development and production. 5. That the present value of the net receipts must be such an amount that when invested by a purchaser it will be returned with 8 per cent. interest additional during the life of the property.

Jan 2, 1918

By A. J. Lynch, E. V. Manlapig, J. S. Hall, G. C. Thorne

Modelling of industrial sulphide flotation based on data collected in several flotation plants is discussed. A mechanistic approach is used in which it is recognised that flotation is a two stage pro- cess with concentration occurring both in the pulp and in the froth. The important features of the model, which is a kinetic model, are – 1. for each particle species there is a range of flotation rates which corresponds to the range of particle sizes, 2. the flotation rates of the liberated gangue particles which have no hydrophobic properties are dependent on the flotation rate of water and are controlled by variables such as the air and frother addition rates, and the pulp level, 3. as an approximation the valuable sulphide particles may be regarded as being present in two groups with high and low flotation rate constants, 4. increase in the addition rate of collector tends to increase the proportion of sulphide particles which are in the high flotation rate constant group. The actual flotation rate of each group of particles is a combination of an "inherent" flotation rate and a flotation rate which is dependent on the flotation rate of water, 5. at particular air and frother addition rates and pulp levels there is a physical limit to the rate at which particles can be transported into the concentrate and this is recognised in the model. The model has been used to study the steady state and dynamic properties of flotation circuits in operating plants. The assessment of the behaviour of composite particles is difficult because of the problem of quantitatively describing the surfaces of mineral particles. A method which is being developed to measure unpolished particles is described briefly.

Jan 1, 1976

By Philip W. Simmons

THE Colorado Plateau uranium province is in a mining boom rivaling the most colorful days of the early West. The application of scientific skills and the use of modern and novel mechanical equipment, however, is unique. No metal has ever received such concentrated effort from geologists and mining engineers. Moreover, no other metal has had the variety of tools available for finding and mining ores. Radiation detection equipment, bull- dozers, truck-mounted wagon and core drills, jeeps, airplanes, helicopters, tractor loaders, self -propelled 3-wheeled dump cars, front-end loaders and fleets of modern trucks are some of the present-day tools of the uranium prospector and miner. Because uranium is so vital to our national defense, the Atomic Energy Commission has offered many incentives for its mining. Through a series of circulars, the AEC has established base price schedules and various incentive payments. The incentive payments for acceptable ores from domestic mines are: (1) a guaranteed base price of $3.50 per Ib for ores assaying 0.20 pct U3O8 and more; (2) premiums based on grades above 0.20 pct U3O8 as for example, ores assaying above 0.50 pct U3O8 receive $1.00 per lb premium; (3) a development allowance of 506 per Ib of U3O8 contained in ores assaying over 0.10 pct U3O8 (4) an ore haulage allowance of 64 a ton mile for a maximum of 100 miles; and (5) an initial production bonus which may amount to as much as $35,000 in addition to all other payments. The producers have been guaranteed this policy until Feb. 28, 1957. The other four will continue until April 1962.

Jan 4, 1954

By R. R. Sayers

Ventilation may be defined as the process by which vitiated air of an enclosed or partly enclosed space is continuously replaced by fresh air. Fresh air has been defined as invigorating pure air. Pure dry air at sea level contains the following gases:1 Analysis of Air at Sea Level Per Cent. Oxygen.................................................. 20.94 Nitrogen................................................. 78.09 Carbon dioxide........................................... 0.03 Argon................................................... 0.94 Helium, krypton, neon, xenon, hydrogen, hydrogen peroxide, ammonia, ozone........................................ traces Carbon Dioxide Limit For many years carbon dioxide was used as an index of the purity of the air vitiated by the metabolism of people. It was, however, well known that the untoward effects produced on those exposed to such air was not due to the concentration of the carbon dioxide. It has been found that the untoward effects on the comfort and efficiency of those so exposed are due to the increased temperature and humidity. It has been found that men can breathe air containing many times the amount of carbon dioxide found in our worst ventilated theaters and assembly halls, which, according to Rosenau, do not contain above 0.5 per cent, carbon dioxide. Nevertheless, in mines it sometimes occurs in sufficient quantities to cause symptoms in men or even unconsciousness and death. One-half of 1 per cent. of carbon dioxide in normal air causes a slight and unnotice-able increase in the ventilation of the lungs, that is, a man exposed to one-ha,lf of 1 per cent. of carbon dioxide will breathe a little deeper and a little faster than when in pure air. If 2 per cent. of carbon dioxide is in the air, the lung ventilation will be increased about 50 per cent.; if there

Jan 1, 1927

By C. R. Forbes, J. C. Barton

Many different shapes of drill bits are in use with hammer drills, but little definite information is available whereby to judge which one of these shapes is the best. The following investigation was undertaken in order to determine what effect, if any, the shape of the cutting edge has on the cutting speed and wearing qualities of drill bits. The bits tested were those in common use, namely, the 4-point or cross bit, the 6-point bit, the Z bit and the "Carr" bit. The rock in which the tests were made was the red granite from southeast Missouri. It is a coarse crystalline granite containing an unusually large amount of quartz and is extremely hard, and on account of its uniform texture is admirably adapted to this work. While tests in other rocks might show somewhat different results, nevertheless it is the opinion of the authors that the relative cutting quality inherent in the shape of the bits would be the same in all rocks. Other qualities, such as mudding freely, freedom from fitchering, etc., might make one bit more desirable than another in softer rocks. Description" of Bits Tested 'I'he 4-point bits were the usual shaped bits commonly made on the Leyner sharpener, with 14' taper on the wings and a 90" angle between cutting edges. Some tests were run at 85 Ib. pressure with a 4-point bit made with a 50 taper on the wings; this bit was formed with the Carr bit dies. The 6-point bits were the usual shaped bits made on the Leyner sharpener. The Carr bits were made with a 5º taper and an angle of 100" between cutting edges.

Jan 1, 1918

By F. R. Morral, E. P. Miller

Hot-dipped heat-treated zinc coatings on sheet steel were examined with X-rays. The phases identified were compared with those listed in the modern literature 01 the zinc-iron system. The zeta (FeZn13) phase is shown to correspond to the phase found by Schueler (1925) in heat-treated zinc coatings. An investigation was undertaken to determine the phases present in hot-dipped heat-treated zinc coatings on steel sheets and wire. This kind of coating on wire was studied some years ago by Schuelerl by microscopic and chemical methods. He reported a new phase, FeZn10. Later, Clark and Stillwell,2 using X-ray crystal analysis, identified a new phase in ordinary galva. nized wire, which was assumed to be the FeZn10 phase. Since the extensive review of the iron-zinc alloys presented a few years ago,3 much new work has been published, some of which5-l6 was too late to be included in the recent edition (1939) of the American Society for Metals' Handbook.4 Figs. 1 and 2 are reproductions of the latest iron-zinc diagram proposed by Schramml1 as a result of his investigations by microscopic, thermal, magnetic susceptibility and X-ray methods. Table 1 summarizes all the known published X-ray data of the phases Present. The solubility of iron in zinc has been determined by x-ray methods.10 In the same manner the homogeneity range of the P phase was studiedlo using the principle that the parameter of an intermetallic compound changes while the concentration of One of the constituents changes. Schramm10 has found some 80 alpha lines in X-ray powder photograms of phase d1, and from these he believes that this phase is related to the P phase. Previous investi-

Jan 1, 1941

By Clarence Wright

THE average lead and zinc content of the ores mined and milled in the Joplin district is low as compared with that of other lead and zinc deposits throughout the United States. Because of this fact and of the high grade of the concentrates, the ratio of concentration is unusually high. Most of the operating companies have aimed to produce as high a grade of concentrate as possible in order to obtain the highest price for their product. They have done this at the sacrifice of the percentage of zinc recovered. The average percentage of zinc recovery is from 60 to 70 per cent. For percentage of recoveries from actual mill tests, see tables. The concentration is commonly effected by crushing the ore to h-in. (12.7 mm.) size and subjecting it to a roughing and cleaning over two or more large Cooley jigs, of the Harz type, the finer sands being treated on the usual types of sand and slime tables. The treatment of slimes by flotation is being tested at several of the larger mills. COARSE CONCENTRATION When the ore. has been hoisted from the mine it is dumped onto a chute leading to a grizzly made of iron bars, usually heavy rails, spaced 4 to -5 in. (101 to 127 mm.) apart. The oversize is caught on the grizzly, the mineralized pieces are broken with sledge hammers so as to pass through, and the boulders that are practically barren are sorted out by hand and trammed to the waste-rock pile. The proportion of waste rock thus sorted out varies from a fraction of 1 per cent to 15 per cent., depending on the nature of the rock.

Jan 10, 1917

By F. C. Langenberg

DURING the course of some magnetic investigations which the authors have under way, six bars of 0.43-carbon steel were tested, a permeameter designed after the Hopkinson yoke type being used. The results obtained were of some interest and although far from complete serve at least to show the necessity for a careful investigation of the previous history of the samples under study as well as the chemical composition. A steel of given chemical composition may assume a great variety of structures, depending on its treatment. Professor Sauveur has devised a very clear and effective means of illustrating this point: The accompanying microphotographs show some of the possible structures assumed by a 0.30 carbon steel (Fig. 1). It is now a well-established fact that a structural change is accompanied by changes in the tensile strength, elastic limit, hardness, etc., and it seems reasonable to assume also, a change in the magnetic properties. Six bars of a 0.43-carbon steel were used, all the bars being taken from the same rod and treated as follows: Bar 1. Heated to 1,100° and cooled in the furnace. Bar 2. Heated to 1,000° and cooled in the furnace. Bar 3. Heated to 900° and cooled in the furnace. Bar 4. Heated to 1,000° and cooled in air. Bar 5. Heated to 900° and cooled in air. Bar 6. Untreated. The bars were then turned to 13 mm. diameter and tested by the Hopkinson yoke method. After testing, three specimens were taken from each bar, one from each end and one from the middle. The homogeneity of the. bars was tested in this manner and in no instance could any difference in structure be detected between the three specimens.1

Jan 2, 1915

OPEN-HEARTH refractories are not merely an accessory to the furnace. They themselves ore the furnace, to all intents and purposes. The steel work of the main structure is merely a frame which helps to support the refractories; and the regenerators, a necessary part of the furnace system, consist almost entirely of refractories with very little supporting structure. Not only do refractories constitute the essential part of the furnace, but they also carry the liquid steel all the way to the point where it begins to solidify. On leaving the furnace the liquid passes through a refractory runner into a refractory-lined ladle, then through a refractory nozzle closed by a refractory stopper on the end of a refractory- protected rod. The liquid is sometimes sent through an additional refractory-lined tun-dish, a supplementary ladle, or a refractory runner for bottom pouring, until it finally enters the iron mold in which it solidifies. Even in the mold, refractory materials are sometimes used to provide a non-conducting "hot top." These materials, from ladle to hot top inclusive, are often referred to as the "pouring-pit refractories." CAUSES OF FAILURE Compared with the equipment used in most industrial processes the open-hearth furnace has a relatively short life. The most important quality of an open-hearth refractory, therefore, is its rate of failure. The discussion here of the individual refractory materials will therefore keep uppermost the question "Why, how, and where does it fail?" The principal causes of failure of open-hearth refractories are, in their order of importance: 1. Reaction with iron oxides. 2. Reaction with slag. 3. Flow and failure under load. 4. Melting. 5. Spallimg. 6. Mechanical breakage. Reaction with Iron Oxides and Slag. This is by far the most important cause of failure. Liquid iron oxide comes very near to being the

Jan 1, 1944

By Lawrence Addicks

THrough the courtesy of Dr. James Douglas I am permitted to give a summary of some of the results obtained in leaching slimes tailings in a series of experiments conducted under my direction at Douglas, Ariz., during the past year. While the test run for which the data are given deals with a particular case, much of the work is general in its application and may therefore be of interest. This work was done upon the ores of the Burro Mountain Copper CO. A description of the geology of the district will be found in the paper by R. E. Somers published in this volume, p. 604. The mineral is pyrite and chalcocite very finely disseminated throughout the gangue and a characteristic of all the ores is the large amount of alumina present. A representative analysis of the particular ore under consideration would be about as follows: Cu, per cent..................... 2.35 S, per cent...................... 3.0 Ag, ounces per ton.............. 0.05 CaO, per cent.................. 0.5 Au............................ None K2O, per cent.................... 4.0 Fe, per cent..................... 1.50 SiO², per cent.................... 70.0 Alz²O³, per cent....................13.OO The leaching of the ore direct was early dismissed from consideration for the following reasons: 1. The ore would have to be quite finely crushed to liberate the mineral for leaching; concentrating after crushing would cost but a few cents a ton; and a higher total reeovery would result from leaching tailings rather than ore. 2. Rough concentration would yield a suitable material for roasting to make sulphur dioxide or sulphuric acid in connection with the leaching scheme. 3. Such a program put the question of cost vs. recovery on a basis where flotation and discarding of tailings were directly comparable. Concentrating experiments already available indicated that the tail-

Jan 1, 1916

By E. P. Miller, F. R. Morral

Hot-dipped heat-treated zinc coatings on sheet steel were examined with X-rays. The phases identified were compared with those listed in the modern literature 01 the zinc-iron system. The zeta (FeZn13) phase is shown to correspond to the phase found by Schueler (1925) in heat-treated zinc coatings. An investigation was undertaken to determine the phases present in hot-dipped heat-treated zinc coatings on steel sheets and wire. This kind of coating on wire was studied some years ago by Schuelerl by microscopic and chemical methods. He reported a new phase, FeZn10. Later, Clark and Stillwell,2 using X-ray crystal analysis, identified a new phase in ordinary galva. nized wire, which was assumed to be the FeZn10 phase. Since the extensive review of the iron-zinc alloys presented a few years ago,3 much new work has been published, some of which5-l6 was too late to be included in the recent edition (1939) of the American Society for Metals' Handbook.4 Figs. 1 and 2 are reproductions of the latest iron-zinc diagram proposed by Schramml1 as a result of his investigations by microscopic, thermal, magnetic susceptibility and X-ray methods. Table 1 summarizes all the known published X-ray data of the phases Present. The solubility of iron in zinc has been determined by x-ray methods.10 In the same manner the homogeneity range of the P phase was studiedlo using the principle that the parameter of an intermetallic compound changes while the concentration of One of the constituents changes. Schramm10 has found some 80 alpha lines in X-ray powder photograms of phase d1, and from these he believes that this phase is related to the P phase. Previous investi-

Jan 1, 1941

By J. L. Brimhall

Slip-line formation during bending has been studied on neutron-irradiated molybdenum single crystals. For equivalent strains, the slip lines are coarse and distinct in the irradiated molybdenum and not resolvable in the unirradiated molybdenum. The slip lines have been directly correlated with dislocation channels present in the irradiated and deformed thin foils. The heterogeneous distribution of the dislocations during deformation in the irradiated material results from dislocation interaction with the dejects produced during irradiation. Impurities , in the form of' carbides, affected the dislocation channeling Principally by acting as dislocation sources. ALTHOUGH the mechanical behavior of irradiated materials has been studied extensively, the precise mechanism of irradiation hardening has not been established. Some information on the microstructural species responsible for hardening of irradiated materials has been derived from direct and indirect observations. The direct observation of the structure of deformed irradiated metals, particularly by transmission electron microscopy, is a relatively new and unexplored area. Slip-line studies in fcc metals have been restricted primarily to copper.1-3 Very coarse slip lines, representing slip on many closely spaced planes, have been observed in deformed, irradiated copper. Coarse slip lines have also been observed in irradiated aluminum.4 Clear channels in irradiated copper caused by dislocation motion through the defect structure have been seen by transmission electron microscopy and correlated with slip lines.5-6 To date, little work has been reported on the irradiated bcc metals. Eyre described the slip lines around hardness indentations on irradiated iron and found them to be more distinct than lines in unirradiated material.' Mastel et al.' have observed channels in deformed irradiated molybdenum similar to those reported in copper. As part of a program concerned with the effect of neutron irradiation on metals, the slip-line

Jan 1, 1965

By S. G. Dixit, A. K. Biswas

The flotation and adsorption behavior of ilmenite, monazite and zircon have been studied with sodium oleate as the collector and pH as the principal variable. The maxima in the flotation and adsorption properties of any of the above minerals fall within similar pH ranges. The bell shaped pH versus adsorption magnitude (r) curve is explained on the basis of collector concentration (Co and the concentration of hydroxyl ion (COH-) acting as the depressant. An equation of the type: 1 =KiCor~K2 Coh-/Coi-is proposed to account for the experimental data. The beach sand deposits along the sea coast in Southern India contain ilmenite, monazite, zircon, rutile and sillimanite as valuable minerals while quartz, garnet, shells and traces of hornblende form the gangue. A typical composition of the deposits is reported to be as follows:' Ilmenite 75%, Zircon 4-6%, Rutile 3-4%, Monazite 2 - 4%, Garnet 2 - 5% and the rest 8 -10%. Selective flotation of beach sand constituents has been reported by many workers.2-4 The fatty acid soaps have been invariably used as collectors. It is seen that all the valuable constituents of the beach sand are efficiently floated by soap collectors such as sodium oleate. In order to selectively float the beach sand constituents, it is necessary to use some depressants such as sodium silicate.3 The physicochemical parameters that govern the flotation of these minerals are yet to be studied in detail. In the present article, the findings on the parallel studies on the flotation and adsorption of the systems — ilmenite-sodium oleate, monazite-sodium oleate and zircon-sodium oleate — are being reported. In these correlative studies on adsorption and flotation of beach sand minerals, ilmenite (FeTiO3), monazite (Ce, Dy, Nd) PO4 and zircon (ZrSiO,) have been selected because they represent three important

Jan 1, 1970

By C. E. Sims, C. A. Zapffe

AN investigation of the behavior of inclusions in steel several years ago1 led to the conclusion that some of the commonly occurring inclusions in steel have appreciable solubilities, particularly in liquid steel. In the belief that further study and clarification of this matter was warranted, a laboratory study of oxides in liquid steel was started. These oxides are generally the result of deoxidation treatment, and the basis of an understanding of their behavior must be, therefore, the behavior of the deoxidizer in liquid iron. The Fe-Si-O system was selected for the first study, and the apparatus used and experiments conducted are described herein. APPARATUS The apparatus is shown in Fig. I and the system is shown by diagram in Fig. 2. Furnace Atmosphere Commercial hydrogen (1) passes through an orifice (2) into a manometric system that measures the tankside pressure (3) and the back pressure (4) in the system. A water trap (5) guards against excess tankside pressure. A by-pass with stopcocks (6 and 7) is provided, so that the hydrogen can be routed directly from the tank to the furnace if desired. When stopcock 7 is closed and stopcock 6 is open, the gas proceeds through the conditioning train, of which the first unit is a furnace (8) that contains platinized asbestos at 350°C. The temperature is measured by a thermo-couple and potentiometer (9) and is controlled by a slidewire resistance (10). In [ ] this furnace free oxygen is converted to water vapor. The exiting gas passes over a water bath (11) kept slightly below boiling temperature by an auxiliary heating unit (12). This unit also heats a surrounding copper coil (13) containing water, and the heated water rises through a collar (14)

Jan 1, 1942

By Charles W. Bauer

Most of the aluminum produced in the United States today is derived from foreign bauxite deposits. Earth Sciences, Inc. initiated a program to evaluate domestic non bauxite sources for alumina in the 1960's. In the initial evaluation of alunite, domestic resources were not sufficient to support development. An exploration program led to the discovery of large deposits of alunite in Utah and several other western states. Identification of alunite is difficult as both its physical and chemical characteristics are similar to the minerals with which it is associated. Most of the significant alunite deposits in the western United States are replacement type deposits. These deposits have formed as a result of hydrothermal alteration of volcanic, sub-volcanic, and igneous rocks. Typical alunite deposits contain between 30 and 50% alunite and 50 and 70% quartz, with minor amounts of other minerals. Four mineralogical zones are common in these systems. They include a siliceous zone, a quartz-alunite zone, a kaolinite zone, and a chlorite-montmorillonite zone. Total US reserves of alunite were estimated at 20 Mt fat 30% alunite) by the US Bureau of Mines in 1941. More recent work by the US Geological Survey estimates reserves of 252 Mt and potential resources at 1.4 Gt. Reserves and resources estimated for 23 properties on which field work has been done by ESI are considerably higher. Most of these properties have reserves and potential resources of several hundred million metric tons. The combined demonstrated reserves of these properties are estimated to be about 650 Mt. Inferred reserves are estimated at 2.5 Gt and potential resources at 8 Gt. It appears that the US has sufficient reserves and resources for alunite to be considered as a potential nonbauxite source of alumina.

Jan 1, 1982

By Milnor Roberts

The Nicola Valley coal-field is small, but it seems likely to become important because of its commanding position in a rich region that is developing rapidly. Bituminous coking-coal in workable quantity has not been found at any other point between the Crow's Nest Pass region, about 400 miles to the east, and Vancouver island, 250 miles westward. The Canadian Pacific railway reached the Nicola valley two years ago ; two other lines, the Canadian Northern and the Great Northern, are building towards the valley. The vast region between the Rocky mountains and the Pacific coast, extending northward for several hundred miles from the international boundary, which has been the scene of extensive mining- and smelting-operations for many years, is filling up with settlers, who are attracted by the wealth of minerals and timber, the rich soil of the valleys, and the fine climate. The Nicola river, flowing westward through the valley of that name in the Yale district, discharges into the Thompson river, which is the eastern branch of the Fraser. The transcontinental line of the Canadian Pacific railway crosses the mouth of the Nicola river at Spence's bridge, 178 miles from Vancouver. From Spence's bridge the Nicola branch line ascends the valley for 40 miles to Merritt, the coal-center, and continues 7 miles farther to the town of Nicola. Thus the haul from the mines at an elevatioiz of 2,000 ft. to salt water is 218 miles down river-grades. The Nicola branch will be continued about 150 miles farther eastward to Penticton, where it will connect with an extension of the line through the rich Kootenay and Boundary districts. The Canadian government has granted a subsidy of $6,000 per mile, to which the provincial government is planning to add $5,000 per mile, to assist in the construction of the Nicola extension. Upon the

Jan 1, 1910

By James Norman, E. W. Gieseke

Spodumene is a lithium-bearing pyroxene, and is an important source of lithium compounds. Because of its high alumina and lithia content, it might be a desirable constituent of glass batches. The use of spodumene in ceramics will undoubtedly increase, as it has been shown that a mixture of the proper proportions of this mineral with soda feldspar and potash feldspar has a much lower maturing temperature upon firing than has any one of the three components. The mineral spodumene seldom occurs as pure mineral, but ordinarily with feldspars, mica and quartz. All spodumene-bearing rocks tested contained these minerals as gangue. Small amounts of iron and manganese oxides also were present, usually as stains on the silicate grains. Mica associated with the spodumene carried a considerable amount of lithia. This was discovered in flotation tailings, which, although virtually free of spodumene grains when examined microscopically, showed 0.4 to 0.5 per cent Li²O on chemical analysis. The lithia content of micas picked from the North Carolina spodumene rock was variable. Some samples contained little lithia, others more than 3 per cent. In 1938, under the supervision of Oliver C. Ralston,S the Bureau of Mines, in cooperation with the Tennessee Mineral Products Corporation, undertook to study the beneficiation of North Carolina spodumene by froth flotation. The Bureau had previously published investigations on the beneficiation of spodumene.2,3The methods described in the second publication3 did not give good results with badly weathered spodumene rock, so that more thorough investigation of the subject was warranted. Study of Method of Flotation Separation Most of the work on concentration of spodumene was done with rock from near King's Mountain, North Carolina. Rock from two

Jan 1, 1942

By C. M. Weld

The southeastern coast of China, from Ning-Po to .Macao, represents an element in the continental mass of Asia which has at practically all times in the remote past exhibited a tendency to rise rather than to subside.' This strip of land, 1,000 or more miles long by perhaps 150 miles wide at its widest part, has in fact stood above sea level since at least early Cambrian times, while the great basins to the north and west were receiving their massive accumulations of Sinian (Cambro-Ordovician), Carboniferous, and later deposits. We find, .therefore, a coastal fringe of metamorphic and igneous rocks bordering the huge expanses of sedimentary rocks which occupy the interior. Hong-Kong is situated toward the southwestern extremity of this fringe. Hong-Kong is an island of approximately 30 sq. miles, on the north shore of which is situated the city of Victoria, with its 325,000 inhabitants. This island was ceded to Great Britain in 1842. In 1560 the peninsula of Kowloon (about 5 sq. miles), being that part of the mainland lying directly across from the city of Victoria, was added to Hong Kong. Thirty-eight years later, in 1898, a stretch of territory, including the mainland behind Kowloon and. numerous adjacent islands, was leased to Great Britain for 99 years. This last addition is known as the "New Territory of Hong-Kong" and comprises 376 sq. miles in area. A map of Hong-Kong, Kowloon, and the "New Territory" is shown in Fig. 1. My studies of this total area of over 400 sq. miles were devoted primarily to an investigation of the mineral resources. Systematic mapping of the immensely complex exposures of rocks was not possible in the time at my disposal. However, observations in, this. direction warrant a few generalizations.

Jan 2, 1914