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By H. A. Coy

THE Mascot mines of the American Zinc. Co. of Tennessee are situated at Mascot, Tenn., 14 miles northeast of Knoxville, on the Southern Railway. The district is centrally located in the Great Valley, or Appalachian Valley Province. Prior to 1900, a small output of zinc was obtained from oxidized ore mined in open pits. In 1900, a shaft was sunk to sulfide ore, and in 1903, a second shaft was put down, neither being as deep as 200 ft. The American Zinc Co. of Tennessee began drilling in 1911, and outlined an ore body to which its No. 1 shaft was sunk, to a depth of 365 ft. Since that time, the American Zinc Co. of Tennessee has been the only operator in. the district. The Federal mining laws have never been in operation in Tennessee and mining lands are as irregular in boundary and area as farm lands. Ownerships are generally held in fee. In most cases the surface and mineral rights, are transferred together. Electric power is supplied at 66,000 volts by the Tennessee Power do, from a hydro-electric plant at Parksville, Polk County, Tenn., 100 miles from Mascot. No other power is used, but an emergency steam plant is held ready in case of interruption of service. Labor is all native and non-union. Negroes are employed for most of the shoveling, and for a few miscellaneous jobs, but for almost, no other work.

Jan 9, 1924

By H. A. Schwartz

FROM time to time, one of the authors has had occasion to investigate the graphitizing reaction and has published the results mainly as discussion1 of the work of other investigators. In view, therefore, of the diversity of both observations and interpretation, it seemed well to attempt a revision of the entire subject in the Research Laboratory of the National Malleable Castings Co. The work consisted of a careful study of a single, impure, iron-carbon alloy. The material, which may be considered typical low-carbon white cast iron of the malleable industry, was an air-furnace iron of the following composition: carbon 2.30 per cent., silicon 1.20 per cent., manganese 0.29 per cent., phosphorus 0.156 per cent., sulfur 0.048 per cent. The freezing range extended from 1213° to 1132° C., the latter figure agreeing with Gontermann's data .2 We have attempted to define the equilibrium diagram of this alloy, in the stable condition as related to the metastable diagram, from a temperature somewhat below the eutectic freezing point to a temperature below Ar1 and for a graphitic-carbon content from practically nothing to the original total carbon of the specimen (see Fig. 6). More especially we desired to locate the line in the stable diagram corresponding to the Acm line of the metastable system, which is designated by analogy, the Atm line (tm from temper carbon) ; also to determine the location of Aim with respect to Acm toward their lower extremities at Ar1 in order to determine whether or not graphitization is completed by the separation of an iron-carbon eutectoid analagous to pearlite in the iron-cementite system. This would involve further a comparison of the locations of the stable and metastable A1 points.

Jan 8, 1922

By Norberto Dominguez

In the year 1820 a commission, assisted by Sr. C. Fernando de Ainada, was appointed by Sr. Jose Ramon Mila de la Roca to report on the condition of the mining region of Parral, in the State of Chihuahua, Mexico, where in recent years the mines of Batopilas have reached an important development under American management. The object of the inquiry was to provide Sr. De la Roca with facts to support a project for reopening mines that two centuries before had produced a large amount of silver. Although this plan failed, many facts of interest in the history of the mines were presented.. Much of the report dealt with questions that had only local application or were restricted to the conditions of labor and equipment in the opening of the nineteenth century. The historical part is presented in the following paragraphs: Abstract of the Report. Notwithstanding the difficulty of forming a just estimate of the system of mines in this mineral group in the valley of Senor Sail Jose del Parral without an examination of each of them, that which we shall say in a general way will suffice to convey an idea of their value and of the urgent necessity of reopening them. If this is undertaken, we believe the results will be of the highest consequence to the Republic, as well as to this immediate locality. The group of the Villa del Parral covers the mineral territory in which the village of that name was located. Its moantains contain large metallic veins, from which, as from the trunk of a tree, depend others much more slender, locally called ,fibras, crossing and interlacing each other in many directions. The first and oldest of these very rich deposits of gold

Jan 1, 1902

By Harold W. Aldrich, Frederick Laist

After a series of experiments covering a period of about three years, extending from the spring of 1912 to the spring of 1915, a 2,000-ton leaching plant for the treatment of the accumulated copper concentrator tailing was built and put into operation. During the experimental period, the first step was that of laboratory experiments or beaker leaches. The results on this small scale were so satisfactory that a small operating plant, capable of handling 5 tons of roasted tailing per day, was installed. Again, the results proved satisfactory and an 80-ton plant was built and operated continuously from August until February, 1913. In this plant, full-sized roasting and leaching units were

Jan 1, 1917

By Irwin Roman

PART I. INTRODUCTION THE literature of geophysics as applied to the discovery of mineral deposits has been very extensive during the past few years, but there seem to be few references to the use of the method of least squares for obtaining better interpretations of the observed data .2 There seems to be a general reluctance among geologists and. engineers to acquire the technique of least squares, in spite of the fact that a thorough knowledge of the theory is not necessary for the use of the method.

Jan 1, 1931

By C. W. Goodale

THE motives behind the organization of the Bureau of Safety were twofold. First, there was the policy of the company toward its employees, which was one of fairness and consideration for their welfare and which entails the prevention of injuries; second, in order to prevent injuries, a study of their causes was essential, and this study could be made only by a thorough systematic classification of accidents, which required a special department to form and carry out the plans. The Bureau of Safety was organized to begin operation Jan. 1, 1914, but practically all of the first year was spent in collecting data, making plans, etc. This department is semi-independent of others and reports directly to the president and general manager. It consists of the president of the company and the managers of the following departments: Mines, Washoe Reduction Works, Great Falls Reduction Works, Coal Department, Lumber Department, B. A. & P. railway, and the chairman of the Bureau of Safety. Working under this group is the General Safety Committee consisting of the manager of mines, as chairman, the general superintendent, two assistant general superintendents, and the heads of the following departments: mechanical, geological, purchasing, sampling works, and framing plant, as well as the safety engineer. Operating under the General Safety Committee are the group safety committees, consisting of the Anaconda group of mines, Boston & Montana group of mines, zinc group of mines,.Washoe reduction works at Anaconda, B. & M. reduction works at Great Falls, coal department, lumber department and the B. A. & P. railway. Each of these group safety committees was in charge of the superintendent or manager of the group represented and the committee consisted of the foremen of the mines or works that the committee served, as well as the safety engineer.

Jan 2, 1922

By E. J. Horwood

The varying physical character and large extent of the Broken Hill lode necessarily involve the employment of a variety of underground methods. The lode had its origin in an extensive fault plane traversing metamorphosed schists conformably, as a rule, with their beds of stratification. The underground waters carrying minerals in solution deposited their contents. in the original cavities formed by the faulting action, and in the enlargements of these cavities due to dynamic forces brought to bear on the rocks, more especially on the hanging-wall side of the fault, This deposition was supplemented by metasomatic replacement of a portion of the original rock contents by the argentiferous sulphides of lead and zinc which form the staple products of the district. Although the orebody is practically continuous throughout the mines, its width varies greatly, ranging from a few feet to about 350 ft. The widest portions occur in conjunction with huge folds in the inclosing country rock, almost exclusively on the hanging-wall side. The ore it these folds pitches to the south in the southern half of the field, and to the north in the northern half; there are, however, undulations in these ore channels evidently due to compression of the rocks in the direction of the channels. In the earlier days, before the orebodies had been opened up: vertical cross-sections across these bulges in the hanging wall gave the lode the appearance of the "saddle formation," so well exemplified at Bendigo in Victoria; but subsequent development of the ore channels ha; long since proved that the formations in the two districts are entirely different. The depth reached by the zone of complete oxidation of the sulphide, varies from about 250 to 550 ft. from the original outcrop while partial oxidation extends in places below the 1,000-ft. level. The result of oxidizing influences has been the production of ore of every grade of cohesiveness, from that of dry sand to that of hard compact rock.

Jan 1, 1916

By Hugh D. Pallister, Richard W. Smith

The Alabama flake-graphite industry has flourished only in times of war when importations of foreign graphite for crucible use have been greatly curtailed or cut off. World War I was a boom period and in 1918 some 30 plants produced 7,795,475 lb. of flake graphite. The industry languished following the war and no graphite was produced from 1929 to 1939. The Federal Bureau of Mines began investigating the Alabama graphite deposits in 1940 and worked out modern recovery methods that were applied to production during part of World War II. A prospecting program disclosed reserves of over 25 million tons of graphitic schists. In 1942 the War Production Board authorized the enlargement of the only plant then producing flake graphite and the construction of two new plants. Production of flake graphite from these three plants in 1943 is estimated at 8,100,000 lb. Increased imports from Madagascar late in 1943 shut down one of the new plants and curtailed production at the other. Alabama flake graphite has not yet been able to compete with Madagascar graphite for use in the manufacture of any but small graphite crucibles. The future of the industry must depend on meeting the higher carbon content demanded for other uses.

Jan 1, 1945

From the beginning to the end, the attendance and enthusiasm of the 119th meeting, which was held in New York, Feb. 17 to 20 surpassed all expectations. Besides the ten technical sessions, one of which was in conjunction with the American Institute of Electrical Engineering and one a session of the National Research Council, there were two memorial meetings, one for Dr. Raymond and one for the members who died in service; two joint sessions with the Canadian Mining Institute; and a meeting devoted to pictures of copper mining, milling, and smelting. Of the 732 persons registered, 119 registered in the Institute of Metals Division. Monday's sessions were devoted to the problems of industrial organization, the Institute of Metals Division, and to petroleum and gas. Among the special features of these sessions were the topical discussions on housing and. Americanization. Americanization, too, was the topic for discussion by the Woman's Auxiliary Wednesday morning. On Tuesday, nearly 100-members of the Canadian Mining Institute were present to discuss the possibility of bringing about uniform mining laws for the United States, Canada, and Mexico, to obviate the maintaining separate legal departments and managerial forces for the several countries; and to avoid the confusion which, it is said, has led to a duplication of effort and has sometimes created a barrier to international cooperation in mining. Among the Canadian delegation were D. B.

Jan 3, 1919

By J. J. Rutledge

I. Description of the Clinton Ores and Associated Rocks. The Clinton rocks in Stone valley comprise (1) thick layers of deep-red shale, (2) layers of reddish-gray shale interspersed with beds of sandstone and thin beds of extremely fossiliferous limestone, and (3) yellowish-gray shales alternating with thin layers of olive-colored shales. These layers of shale are all very thin and are at no point massive.' A bed of gray-white sandstone varying in thickness from 12 to 30 ft. occurs in the upper portions of the Clinton shales. This is called the ore sandstone, a name given to it by Rogers and adopted also by the Second Pennsylvania Geological Survey. It is the surest guide to the presence of the iron-ore bed, which lies below its lower edges at distances varying from 10 to 20 ft. This ore sandstone, in the valley, lies generally at very low inclinations, but often is locally subjected to considerable changes in dip. At its outcrop this ore sandstone weathers very easily and yields a rather sparse crop of stone, composed of dirty, iron-stained boulders. Upon the roads these boulders are quite well rounded, and bear fragments of crinoid stems and other fossil forms. The ore sandstone exhibits at many points evidences of former movements in this very great thickness of the shales, and as it is the only stratum in this series competent to transmit and record stresses due to structural movements, its evidence is of considerable importance in determining the occurrence of movements in times past.

Jan 1, 1910

In a straight caving system, the ore is first undercut and then broken down by its own weight or .by the weight of the overlying rock, or by a combination of both. Operations that involve the caving of the material overlying an orebody as an essential part of the work are also classed as caving, though practically all the ore is broken by drilling and blasting. Actually there are two distinct methods—sublevel caving and block caving, and modifications thereof. The mines described are Miami and Alaska Juneau.

Jan 1, 1925

By W. D. Forgeng, R. L. Folkman, D. C. Hilty

The solubility of oxygen in molten Fe-Cr alloys has been determined at 1550° , 1600°, and 1650°C for alloys containing up to alloyshasbeenabout 50 pct Cr and found to decrease as chromium increases to 6 pet and then to increase gradually. Phase relations in the Fe-Cr-0 system at steelmaking temperatures have been evaluated and two previously unreported oxides have been identified. OPERATIONS in the melting and refining of chromium steels are dependent to a major degree on the reactions of chromium and iron with oxygen and are primarily directed toward controlling and modifying these reactions to secure maximum advantage in the utilization of chromium. Although fairly effective practices have been developed empirically, understanding of the specific reactions is limited. Moreover, the ability of molten steel to dissolve oxygen that subsequently precipitates as oxide inclusions during solidification is well known, so that clarification of the effect of chromium on the nature and mechanism of formation of these inclusions is desirable. Study of the problem indicated that increased knowledge of the fundamental Fe-Cr-0 system is essential to further technical and economic improvement. Consequently, an investigation of the influence of chromium on the solubility of oxygen in molten iron and of phases and phase relations in the Fe-Cr-0 system was undertaken at the Metals Research Laboratories of the Electro Metallurgical Co. as part of a general program on the effective utilization of chromium in chromium steel production. Experimental Procedure All of the experimental runs made during this investigation were carried out in the rotating crucible induction furnace which has been described in detail in a previous publication.' In review, the principle underlying this furnace is that rotational forces in the crucible cause the molten metal to assume a concave shape in such a manner that the slag is contained in the molten metal cup, thereby minimizing slag/crucible contact and subsequent reaction. Practically all of the heats were melted in commercial-quality magnesia crucibles of the type usually furnished for laboratory induction furnaces. All of the runs were made under an argon atmosphere after the furnace chamber had been degassed. Bath temperatures were controlled by Pt—Pt-10 pct Rh thermocouples. The basic furnace charge consisted of a premelted 12 to 15 lb electrolytic iron slug which had been cast to a shape convenient for fitting into the rotating furnace crucible. A typical analysis of the electrolytic iron slugs is given in Table I. For certain runs, it was desirable to melt down charges containing high initial chromium contents. In these cases the chromium was added to the electrolytic iron during the premelting operations. Chromium was added to the rotating furnace bath in the form of electrolytic chromium of the analysis given in Table 11. In all of the constant temperature runs, the standard procedure was to melt down the electrolytic iron or alloy slug under vacuum, admit argon to slightly greater than atmospheric pressure, and adjust rotational speed to develop a well formed "cup" on the bath surface. The melt was then saturated with oxygen by an addition of ferric oxide and the temperature of the bath adjusted to within +5°C of the desired level. At this point the heat was permitted to come to equilibrium prior to sampling or further addition. This time interval was varied from 15 min to 2 hr but generally was about 20 min. After sampling, the desired chromium addition was made and the bath again equilibrated prior to subsequent sampling. This cycle of addition and sampling continued for the duration of the run which lasted from 4 to 8 hr. At the end of this period, power was shut off and the bath allowed to solidify in the furnace. Quenched metal samples were taken from the equilibrated melts by means of the "Taylor sampler" which has been described by Taylor and Chipman.' Before being submitted to chemical analysis, all samples were carefully examined for surface slag occlusions and cold shuts. Later in the study, each sample was radiographed and examined metal-lographically in cross-section to determine the presence of internal defects. On the basis of these examinations, sound and apparently clean specimens were selected from the Taylor samples for chemical analysis.

Jan 1, 1956

By David R. Mitchell, E. C. Carris

THE particular field of application of machines utilizing air currents as the primary separating medium is in the cleaning of fine sizes of bituminous coal. Approximately 18,000,000 tons of bituminous coal was cleaned by air machines in 1947, but such machines have not yet been applied in the cleaning of anthracite. This chapter is limited to a description of the processes in which the separation between coal and refuse depends mainly on a difference in specific gravity. Dry processes depending on differences in coefficient of friction, shape, or other property, are described in chapter 17. The possibility of using air for the separation of coal from refuse was recognized early by mining men and many attempts were made to develop commercial machines. Some of these early machines are described by Berrisford,1 Chapman and Mott,2 and Mitchell.3 Only two machines are extensively used today in the United States, the Stump air-flow jig and the American oscillating table. GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS OF AIR CLEANING MACHINES The principles of gravity concentration and the properties of air as a medium for separation were explained in chapter 9. It was pointed out that because of the low density of air a medium of sufficient density has to be built with the material itself. Hence there must be some device to impart to the bed the necessary mobility for proper classification. It was also noted that the compressibility of the air may cause "geysering" of the bed and disturbance of the hindered-settling classification if the correct balance of conditions is not maintained. Most devices use a vertical upward current of air through the bed of material. They differ by the method of imparting mobility to the bed and the method of removing the refuse. In general terms, the air machines can be divided into three types: 1. Pneumatic jigs where the air current is pulsated. 2. Pneumatic tables where the refuse is diverted from the direction of flow of the clean coal by a system of riffles fixed to the deck.

Jan 1, 1950

By V. W. Aubel

AMONG the iron-bearing ores of the world, the titaniferous iron sands of New Zealand are probably the least known to American engineers. This is not surprising in view of the fact that. American ironmasters look with disfavor on any, even domestic ores, containing over 1 per cent. titanium. The possibilities of smelting titanium-bearing ores in the blast furnace are still undetermined, but the problem of their efficient reduction is becoming more important each year. There seems to be little inclination on the part of American furnace operators to tackle this problem, and they will no doubt continue to utilize the non-titanium ores at their command, leaving research and experiment to those countries not so fortunately endowed. New Zealand has, however, been intensely interested in her deposits of titanium,bearing iron sand, and during the last 50 years considerable English and New Zealand capital has been expended on this problem. The extent of the New Zealand iron-sand deposits is almost beyond measure. From Patea north to Manuka Heads, along almost the entire west coast of the, north island, these deposits exist. Wherever there is beach sand along this 300 mi. of coast line, the sand is iron bearing. It varies considerably in grade; but wherever the contour of the coast affords small bays and inlets, large dunes are found that are remarkably uniform in quality. Several of these large deposits, especially those at New Plymouth and Patea, are noted for their high iron content. The dune at New Plymouth runs between 55. and 60 per cent. of metallic iron; the panning action of the prevailing westerly winds and northwesterly currents has no doubt resulted in this concentration. Whatever the origin of this material may be, there is no doubt that deposition is going on continuously. At New Plymouth, a small artificial harbor, protected from the drifting sand by a large breakwall, has been dredged. Here sailing vessels have for years been loaded with iron sand for ballast by means of a crane and grab bucket operated from the wall of the breakwater. Thousands of tons of sand have been removed from this spot

Jan 9, 1919

By Henry S. Washington

I. INTRODUCTION. DURING the last twenty years or so the chemical investigation of rocks has made great advances, and it is now generally recognized that a knowledge of the chemical composition is as essential as that of the texture or mineral composition-if not more so-for the proper classification of rocks and study of their origin and relationships. Rock-analyses have vastly increased in number and, what is of greater importance, in quality. New and improved methods permit of greater accuracy than was possible in the early days, and the list of chemical constituents frequently determined has risen from the seven or eight of the greater part of the nineteenth century, to twenty or more. Indeed, rock-analyses with determinations of so many constituents ire now commonly made by the chemists of the United States and Australia, while in Germany, Great Britain, France, and Italy the rarer constituents are determined more frequently-than formerly. As a consequence of this modern, accurate work, it has been discovered that some elements which were formerly supposed to be rare are of wide-spread occurrence and are often present in considerable amount. The fact is further being developed that the elements tend to show certain relations of occurrence or abundance in connection with each other. This is a fact which is applicable to the rarer elements, and which also finds a broad geological and petrological expression in the recognition of petrographic provinces. We are beginning to obtain some definite, though as yet rudimentary, knowledge of the distribution of the elements among igneous rocks. Some of the results along these lines obtained by study of the vast accumulation of analytical data now available are well known to petrologists, while others do not seem to be so gener-

Jan 1, 1913

By Byron M. Bird

JIGGING is the stratification of a mass of solid particles in upward pulsations of water or in alternating upward and downward pulsations. The stratification usually is effected in a rectangular open-top container having a perforated bottom through which the pulsations of water are applied to the materials to be separated; in separating coal, to a mass of coal and refuse. Jigging usually is a continuous process involving three steps: (1) the reception of the raw coal, (2) the stratification of the coal and refuse so that the refuse settles to the screen plate, and (3) the overflow of the cleaned coal and the withdrawal of the refuse collected on the screen. The jig is the most universal washer ever devised. It is handling in practice a wide range of closely sized coals and ores, mixed sizes of coal from 8-in. to 0 through ¾ -in. to 0, and mixed sizes of ores down to 7/32-in. to 0 and even smaller. It is treating materials ranging in specific gravity from that of gold at 19 to that of coal at 1.30. It is handling feeds in which the proportions of high-gravity materials range from 90 per cent or higher, as for some iron ores, to 10 per cent or less for some coals. It is handling feeds containing all shapes of particles-round, rectangular, and , flat. It is handling simple separation problems and difficult separation problems. Thus, it is an almost universal separating device. One might add that it has been one of the most misunderstood types of washers, from both a theoretical and a practical point of view. Although considerable progress has been made in coal jigging in the past 10 years, the jig probably has more unexplored possibilities than any other type of washer. In this chapter the object has been to treat the jigging process in a practical manner and to give information that will help the reader to improve his particular operation. Inasmuch as performance data from operating plants would contribute little of value, none has been given. Instead, the emphasis is upon jigging principles as a foundation for attacking the problems that arise. These principles are in reality tentative conclusions from research in the field of jigging during the past 10 years and most of this chapter should be regarded as a progress report on an investigation still under way. As all really difficult problems in jigging arise from an attempt to treat a large range of sizes in one operation, nearly the entire discussion will be

Jan 1, 1943

By S. F. Emmons

In a report upon the geology of Ledville and vicinity, which is till in the hands of the Public Printer, I hare given, at some length, my conclusions as to the genesis of the remarkable silver-lead deposits of that region, and the data, gathered during a long and careful consideration, upon which my views were founded. In the brief abstract of this report, published in 1881, the bare conclusions are given, with but few of the facts upon which they were founded. Since that time, these conclusions have been variously criticized, and it has even beer] assumed that the views I expressed with regard to these deposits were intended as a theory of ore-deposits in general.

Jan 1, 1887

By Ancel St. John

DURING a session on coal and coke at the February, 1926, meeting of the American Institute of Mining and Metallurgical Engineers, the writer called attention to the important work on the X-ray analysis of coal1,2 being carried on in England by C. Norman Kemp and his associates. This aroused so much interest that a paper on the subject was requested for the October meeting. It has seemed advisable to make this paper a preliminary survey of the present status in the application of X-ray methods to coal problems and to follow it from time to time with further articles as the art develops. A survey of this sort naturally divides itself into two parts, radioscopic analysis of the distribution of constituents through the body of the coal, and diffraction analysis of the state of association of the elementary components. In this article the subject matter concerning radioscopic analysis has been drawn almost entirely from the writings of Kemp and his associates and the illustrations have been specially furnished by him. It is a pleasure to record here a great indebtedness for this courtesy and cooperation. The subject matter and illustrations concerning diffraction analysis are taken from the author's unpublished researches.

Jan 10, 1926

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Jan 1, 1938

By Shosei Serata, Bruce Gardner

A system of three new field instruments has been developed to measure, in situ, the three basic classes of geomechanical parameters: material properties, stress state, and creep deformation. The significance of this development is that it represents a successful adaptation of recent computer technology to underground rock mechanics work, opening up new possibilities in underground mining methods. The system was developed to meet the application requirements of the stress control method of mining, a method which is based on the actual geomechanical conditions of the underground, rather than upon conventional linear-elastic, idealizations of ground conditions. These instruments enable in situ measurement not only of elastic, but also post-elastic, yielding, and failure conditions of geological materials, establishing the stress control method on a truly scientific foundation. In order to evaluate the present status of this field instrumentation system, case examples of underground mine openings designed with the stress control method are reviewed and analyzed, in terms of the effectiveness of the three instruments for informing and guiding the site-specific application of stress control design.

Jan 1, 1984