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By C. R. Wohrman

A melt of pure electrolytic iron with about 0.4 per cent. sulfur and 7 per cent. manganese was prepared in connection with a study of inclusions in iron. The alloy darkened rapidly when etched with a 10 per cent, alcoholic solution of nitric acid, and microscopic examination revealed the presence of a semimartensitic, semi-Widmanstättian structure (Figs. 1 and 2) closely resembling the structures found by Benedicks in his artificially prepared "meteoric iron."' The structures found by Benedicks were readily explained by the presence in his alloy of the two well-known iron-nickel solid solutions, taenite and kamacite, and of their eutectoid (?) aggregate, plessite. By analogy, one would infer the existence of similar phases in the iron-manganese alloy just described, such an inference being strengthened by the similarity displayed in many ways by nickel and manganese in their effects on iron. Iron-manganese Alloys are Regarded as Homogeneous Heterogeneity of iron-manganese alloys has not been recognized heretofore, judging from the data of standard metallographic books and those of original papers. In fact, iron and manganese are quite generally regarded as completely miscible in the solid state. Dr. Rosenhain,2 for example, writes: Alloys of group (a), of which those of gold-silver, iron-manganese, and copper-nickel are examples, when allowed to crystallize sufficiently slowly to attain their condition of final equilibrium, present a microstructure exactly similar to that of a pure metal—the homogeneous character of the molten solution is in that case so completely maintained that the microscope cannot detect the presence of any second constituent. Guillet and Portevin3 refer to the iron-manganese system as an example of the "case of metals completely miscible in the solid state."

By Donald F. Hammer, Donald W. Peterson

The Magma mine at Superior, Arizona, has produced over 13 million tons of ore yielding 1.5 billion pounds of copper. It is a mesathermal deposit, and, although the bulk of the ore has come from the Magma vein, most of the recent production has come from replacement deposits in limestone. The mine lies in a Precambrian and Paleozoic sequence of rocks that includes schist, diabase, quartzite, shale, and limestone; nearby, these rocks are intruded by igneous bodies of Mesozoic age that were probably the source of the ore-bearing fluids. Locally, these rocks are overlain by Cenozoic volcanic rocks and conglomerate. Layered rocks at the mine dip eastward about 30°. The area is extensively faulted, and surface faults are grouped into an earlier east-trending set and a later northtrending set. An additional set of diagonal faults that trends northwest and northeast is recognized underground. The east-trending Magma vein-fault, with its splits and branches, is the principal mineralized structure of the district. The bulk of the ore occurs in large ore shoots that plunge steeply westward and are sporadically connected by irregular ore shoots dipping gently eastward. The main ore controls apparently are selective zones of permeability related to the transverse faults. A bed of crystalline limestone near the base of the Martin Limestone (Devonian) is the host for the replacement ore bodies-discontinuous tabular pods dipping eastward parallel to the bedding. Selective permeability is again the apparent ore control, caused both by local hydrothermal solution of limestone and by deformation along faults. The principal copper minerals in the vein are chalcopyrite, bornite, enargite, tennantite, chalcocite, and digenite; these minerals vary in abundance according to a distinct zoning pattern. The upper part of the mine yielded considerable zinc as sphalerite, and the oxidized zone was rich in silver. The chief gangue minerals are pyrite, quartz, and hematite. In the limestone replacement bodies, chalcopyrite and bornite are the chief ore minerals.

Jan 1, 1968

Jan 1, 1967

Who's Who in Mineral Engineering - The 1979 Directory of the Society of Mining Engineers of AIME

Jan 7, 1979

By Wilbur S. Burbank, Robert G. Leudke

The impressive western San Juan Mountains of Colorado were carved by Pleistocene and Recent erosion from a thick blanket of Tertiary volcanic rocks that rests upon a basement of metamorphic, sedimentary, and igneous rocks ranging in age from Precambrian to Tertiary. These rocks record a long, complex, and fairly complete sequence of geologic events that have affected the region through much of geologic time. The geologic history of the region includes several periods of deformation, erosion, and igneous activity; closely associated with two of these periods were two periods of mineralization. The older of these was related to Late Cretaceous-early Tertiary (Laramide) intrusive activity, and its deposits occur in the older sedimentary units. The younger, of later Tertiary age and related to the widespread middle Tertiary extrusive and intrusive activity, is the chief concern of this paper. Tertiary volcanism built a great plateau surrounding the San Juan volcanic depression, a complex of subsided crustal blocks in the vent areas. The Silverton and Lake City cauldrons, nested within the larger depression, were domed by resurgent magma that created keystone grabens along the distended crests of the domed floors and many postcauldron radial and concentric fractures, dikes, and intrusive plutons within and marginal to the cauldron sites. The postvolcanic evolution of large quantities of gases, chiefly carbon dioxide and water, propylitically altered the rocks in and around the volcanic depression prior to the younger period of ore deposition. The ore deposits, localized mainly in the radial and concentric fractures about the cauldrons and in the associated graben faults, include fissure veins, chimneys, replacements, and disseminations in volcanic and underlying basement rocks. Fissure veins, constituting the major economic source, yielded precious- and basemetal ores. Most veins are compound with sphalerite, galena, and chalcopyrite; some veins contain silver-bearing arsenical sulfosalts and free gold. These minerals occur in predominantly quartz gangue. However, gangues composed of several manganese silicates and carbonates and relatively· barren of metals are abundant locally and probably originated by alteration of rocks at roots of faults and fissures during evolution of carbonatic solutions. The bulk of the ores are hypogene and probably had their source in deep parent magmas of the shallow eruptive rocks. Total production since the early 1870's has exceeded half a billion dollars in recovered metals, with a ratio of precious- to base-metal values of about 3 to 2. Since 1930, improvements in metallurgical treatment and mining techniques have increased the base-metal yield.

Jan 1, 1968

By S. A. Swensrud

NINETEEN Thirty-Six was the biggest year in volume in the history of the oil industry, and unquestionably the best since 1929 in respect to profits. The quota of new and difficult problems to face seemed a little smaller during 1936 than in most recent years, and a somewhat better balance existed between the different branches of the industry. 'Domestic consumption of gasoline in 1936, estimated at about 475 million barrels-the highest on record, was approximately 11 per cent above 1935, and 26 per cent above 1929. Demand for crude oil increased in about the same proportion: over 1935, and the average production, of about three million barrels daily,' constituted a new high level.

Jan 1, 1937

Jan 1, 1961

Jan 1, 1969

By E. N. Harshman

Uranium mining and milling are rather new industries in Wyoming and South Dakota, but, in the past 15 years, ore valued at more than $400,000,000 has been mined and milled in the region. The major uranium deposits are in structural and/ or erosional basins or on the flanks of uplifts. The principal host rocks are medium- to coarse-grained sandstones that were deposited in continental or brackish-water environments and were derived in large part from the granitic cores of the uplifts and the sedimentary rocks that flank the cores. The ages of the host rocks range from Cretaceous to Miocene, but more than 95 per cent of the known reserves in the region are in rocks of early Eocene age. The bulk of the ore in the region is unoxidized and lies below the water table; some oxidized ore has been mined in the Powder River Basin and Black Hills districts. The unoxidized ore comprises pyrite, uraninite and/ or coffinite, marcasite, hematite, jordisite(?), and selenium. Minerals in the oxidized ore include hydrous uranium carbonates, phosphates, and sulfates and hydrous uranium and/ or vanadium silicates. The deposits are in the form of ore rolls that contain from a few hundred to a few hundred thousand tons of ore, ranging in grade from 0.1 per cent to 1.0 per cent U3O8. The rolls are at the margins of large tabular bodies of sandstone that has been altered by the orebearing solutions. The deposits are believed to have resulted from the interaction of an alkaline; oxidizing, ore-bearing ground water and a reducing environment. Exploration guides include the spatial relations of ore to altered sandstone, favorable lithology in the host rock, the content of certain elements and/ or compounds in ground water, and the relation of deposits to major paleodrainages.

Jan 1, 1968

By Charles Albert Ashburner

The coal-fields of the United States have been variously classified as to their geographical positions. In 1887 I proposed slight changes to the classification generally used, for more convenient description of our coal-fields in my report on the statistical history of coal in the States during 1886 for the United States Geological Survey. This new classification seems to meet all practical requirements and has been generally adopted. The coal-areas are grouped in two divisions—the anthracite division and the bituminous division. The anthracite division, in a commercial sense, may be said to include the anthracite districts of Pennsylvania alone, although small amounts of anthracite are mined in Colorado and have been

Jan 1, 1890

||Abad, Leopoldo F., Min Engr, Div of Mines, Bureau of Science Manila, P I '23 Abadilla, Quirico A, Geol, Lago Pet Corp Box 172, Maracaibo, Venezuela '20 ||Abbey, Robert Graham, The W W Sly Mfg Co Train Ave, Cleveland, Ohio '21 Abbott, A. N., Mines Supt, Mazapil Copper Co, Ltd Concepcion del Oro, Mexico '23 Abbott, Clarence E., Mgr, Mines & Quarries, Tenn Coal, Iron & R R Co, 1242 Brown Marx Bldg, Birmingham, Ala. '04 Abbott, Louis Benjamin, Chief Engr , Consolidation Coal Co , Elkhorn Div Jenkins, Ky. '16 Abbott, Robert R., Met Engr , Peerless Motor Car Co Cleveland, Ohio '12 ||Abbott, Wells Osborn, Ray Consolidated Copper Co Hayden, Ariz. '23 Abeel, George H, Jr., Cons Min Engr 4612 West 17th St , Los Angeles, Cal '18 Abel, Albert E., Asst to Pres, Valley Mould & Iron Corp Sharpsville, Pa. '19 Abernathy, George Elmer, Prof of Geol & Min , Kansas State Teachers College, Pittsburg, Kans. '20 Abey, Hiroshi, Min & Met Engr, Min & Met Dept, The Higher Technical School, Osaka, Japan. '17 ||d'Ablaing, Philip R, Chem , Anaconda Copper Min Co Great Falls, Mont '25 Aborn, Robert H , Research Assoc., Mass Inst of Tech Cambridge, Mass '19 Abouchar, Sylvain Sley, Min. Engi & Geol , care of S H Sekaly, 13 Rue El Nimr, Cairo, Egypt '17

Jan 1, 1923

By Walter S. White

The Michigan native-copper district has produced about 5,400,000 tons of copper since mining began in 1845. The copper occurs primarily as open-space fillings and replacements in amygdaloidal flow tops and conglomerate beds of the Portage Lake Lava Series, of middle Keweenawan age. Secondary minerals with which the copper is associated include microcline, chlorite, epidote, pumpellyite, prehnite, quartz, and calcite; zeolites, other than laumontite, are not abundant. A zonal pattern of the secondary minerals transects bedding and suggests regional metamorphism mainly to the grade of the prehnite-pumpellyite graywacke facies of Coombs. Most of the major copper deposits are near the upper limit of abundant quartz in this zonal pattern. The distribution of copper in both amygdaloid and conglomerate deposits is controlled partly by primary permeability of the rocks and partly by later tectonic fracturing that was concentrated in the mechanically weak flow tops and sedimentary beds. Ore shoots and deposits are therefore controlled partly by primary structural features, such as areas of thick and thin fragmental amygdaloid or the boundaries of conglomerate lenses, and partly by regional structure: a number of ore deposits are in synclinal downwarps. The copper-bearing solutions that formed the deposits were ascending. They may have come from a large concealed intrusive, or may have been driven out of the porous tops of lava flows when the rocks were compacted and metamorphosed at great depth in the central part of the Lake Superior syncline. The second hypothesis seems more consistent with the widespread distribution of the copper, its relation to mineral zoning that represents truly regional metamorphism, its native state, and the likelihood that copper deposition was later than most or all of Keweenawan volcanism.

Jan 1, 1968

By Edward L. Beutner, Robert M. Crump

Benson Mines low-grade iron ore reserve is a replacement deposit within the Grenville gneisses of the Adirondacks. The average grade of the crude ore is about 23 per cent iron. The iron minerals are principally magnetite and hematite disseminated throughout the gneisses as discrete grains about 1 mm in size. Both the ores that are beneficiated by magnetic means and the non-magnetic ores that are treated by a gravity method of concentration are found in stratigraphically different positions but are mined from one open pit, which is about 2.5 miles long and 800 feet wide and are treated separately. The gneisses are described and named according to the distinctive mineralogy of each. Recognition of the gneissic types permits the interpretation of the structure as a northward-plunging syncline overturned to the west. A large subsidiary anticline-syncline complex occurs on the east limb of the major syncline. Iron minerals in sufficient quantity to be considered ore are confined to areas where the footwall rock has been overturned to become the hanging wall.

Jan 1, 1968

By Northcutt Ely

This chapter deals with the systems of laws by which governments regulate the exploration for and production of the minerals within their jurisdictions. It is a summary, restricted by necessary space limitations, of material assembled by the author for a publication of the United States Bureau of Mines, "Summary of Mining and Petroleum Laws of the World," (Information Circular 80 1 7, 196 1. ) The present study is organized in three parts, dealing with (1) the historical background of these legal systems, (2) laws of the United States, and (3) laws of other countries of the world. The reader's attention is invited to the acknowledgments at the end of the chapter, which inadequately express the appreciation due those who have assisted in the collection of this material. Part I. Historical Development of Major Western Systems of Land Tenancy with Respect to the Ownership and Control of Minerals The use of metals in primitive societies was largely confined to the manufacture of weapons for self-preservation. The ruler's control over copper, then bronze, then iron, was essential to maintenance of his own ascendancy at home and his group's position against neighbors who had access to similar metals. Ancient societies were thus characterized by the ruling group's ownership of minerals and metals. The Egyptian civilization, which emerged in the fourth millenium B.C. upon the agricultural subjugation of the lower valley of the Nile, was responsible for extensive development of the upper valley as a source of mineral wealth. The production of gold during the height of that civilization has been estimated at $30,000,000 per year, thus equaling the early placers of California and Australia. The mines of Egypt were the property of the Pharaohs and were controlled at their direction. Greek mining developed a different scheme of land tenancy which more closely resembled modem concepts. Development of mineral resources was

Jan 1, 1964

By Donald W. Gentry

Many firms in the minerals industry are facing enormous capital-equipment requirements for existing operations, planned expansion programs, pollution control systems, etc. Yet, because of existing economic conditions, mining companies find it increasingly difficult to obtain reasonable financing for the acquisition of large, high-cost capital equipment. One way of obtaining the use of mining and other major pieces of high-cost capital equipment is through leasing. The popularity of this approach is evidenced by the growing number of leasing companies, equipment manufacturers, and financial institutions now offering this service to their customers. Indeed, leasing has become a billion-dollar industry, and many commercial banks have developed sizeable portfolios in this area. "Should we buy or lease?" This question eventually comes up whenever a mining company needs additional major capital assets. Unfortunately, many buy-or-lease decisions are made on an emotional basis-rather than on a proper financial evaluation that would yield the…

Jan 9, 1975

Jan 1, 1967

pAbad, Leopoldo F., Min, Engr,, Div. of Mines, Bureau of Science Manila, P. 1. '23 Abadilla, Quirico A,, Geol., Lago Pet. Corp Box 172, Maracaibo, Venezuela, '20 Abbey, Robert Graham, The W. W. Sly Mfg, Co Train Ave., Cleveland, Ohio. '21 Abbott, A. N., Mines Supt., Mazapil Copper Co., Ltd Concepcion del Oro, Mexico, '28 Abbott, Clarence E., Mgr., Mines & Quarries, Tenn, Coal, Iron & R. R, Co,, 1242 Brown Marx Bldg,, Birmingham, Ala. '04]

Jan 1, 1928

THOSE NOT MARKED ARE MEMBERS; MARKED THUS t ARE ASSOCIATES. HEAVY-FACED TYPE SIGNIFIES HONORARY MEMBERSHIP. JUNIOR MEMBERS ARE MARKED II. THE FIGURES AT THE END OF THE ADDRESS INDICATE THE YEAR OF ELECTION. AARONS, J. BOYD, Genl. Mgr., Chaffers G. M. Co., Boulder City, West. Australia. '05 ABADIE, EMILE R., Min. Engr Box 291, Porterville, Tulare Co., Cal. '76 ABBOTT, CLARENCE E., Genl. Supt., Iron Mines Div., 1405 Minnesota Ave., Bessemer, Ala. '04 ABBOTT, J. W., Min. Engr., "St. Omer," 123 N. Grand Ave., Los Angeles, Cal. '94 ABBOTT, Louis BENJAMIN, Chief Engr., Consolidation Coal Co., Elkhorn Div., Jenkins, Ky. '15 ABBOTT, ROBERT R., Met. Engr., Peerless Motor Car Co., Cleveland, Ohio. '12 ABE, ASAKA Yamagano G. M., Satsuma-Gori, Satsuma, Japan. '14 || ABRAHAMS, A. I., Student 1391 Madison Ave., New York, N. Y. '14 tACKER, E. O'C., Met Bethlehem Steel Co., Bethlehem, Pa. '86 ACKER, Louis K., JR., Min. Engr 565 Highland Place, Bellevue, Pa. '08 ADACHI, JINZOO 11 Shiba Park, Shiba-ku, Tokyo, Japan. '88 ADAMI, C. J., Min. Engr., St. Joseph and Doe Run Lead Companies, Bonne Terre, Mo. '12

Jan 1, 1917

By Finney, W. R.

MUCH has been said and written of the "Big Inch," of the terrific obstacles encountered in its construction, of the colorful and tough men engaged in its building, but little has been publicized of the engineering and economic problems behind the scenes. Long before Pearl Harbor it was apparent to the petroleum industry that a critical oil shortage could be expected along the Atlantic seaboard, owing to delay in tanker deliveries as a result of convoy movements, and to allocation of vessels for foreign shipments. This area, with a normal consumption of approximately 1,800,000 barrels per day of oil and products, was almost entirely supplied by tanker. Pipe lines supplied an average of only 20,000 barrels per day in 1939, 40,300 barrels per day in 1940, and 55,000 barrels per day in 1941. A small amount of oil and products was also delivered via barge.

Jan 1, 1943

By AIME AIME

EITHER the 2300 people who came to the Annual Meeting were in a better frame of mind or they were resigned to their fate, or it was a better meeting than usual. Whatever the reason, at the 1nstitute?s 148th meeting the attendance was better than ever before, things went more smoothly than in some previous years, and complaints appear to have been almost entirely absent. Patience was sometimes reauired but. almost without exception, it was forthcorning the well-known recession seems to have given many members enough leisure time to come to the meeting without depriving them of the tangible wherewithal to come.

Jan 1, 1938