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By R. W. Smith, R. W. M. Lai

Although several recent papers have shown that equilibrium contact angle in dodecylamine solution-quartz systems can often be directly correlated with flotation behavior, it appears that under conditions of relatively high amine strength and pH such a correlation can't be made. Under these conditions, when there are precipitated amine dipoles present, it appears that a dynamic contact angle formed immediately after introduction of fresh gas bubbles into the system is also of importance. The dynamic angle decreases in magnitude as a function of time. Apparently the decrease is the result of changes in interfacial tensions (liquid-gas and solid-gas) as a function of time. Dynamic angles of the type described can't be observed in trimethyldodecylammonium chloride solution-quartz systems. Several recent papers1-3 have shown quite conclusively that contact angle data can often be correlated directly with flotation behavior in cationic surfactant solution-quartz systems. At the same time, Iwasaki, Cooke, and Colombo4 have shown data for a dodecylammonium chloride solution-goethite system where, in the vicinity of pH 12 and a collector concentration of 10" M, 100% flotation occurs when equilibrium contact angle appears to be zero. A clue to this discrepancy can be found in the work by smith2 who reported the occurrence of dynamic, time dependent, contact angles in a quartz-dodecyl-amine solution system at relatively high pH values and at surfactant concentrations greater than or equal to 10-4 M. It was found that under these conditions, if a fresh bubble was brought into contact with a properly conditioned and polished quartz surface, a large angle was obtained. The large angle, however, instantly started to diminish in magnitude, sometimes to a smaller stable angle and sometimes to its complete disappearance. Also, if the bubble was preconditioned for some minutes (or sometimes even seconds) in the same amine solution, the smaller or sometimes zero stable angle was obtained when the bubble was brought in contact with the quartz surface. One is immediately led to the thought that perhaps it is these dynamic angles when they exist, not stable angles, that are of primary importance in flotation. The present investigation attempts to further study the relationship between contact angle and flotation

Jan 1, 1967

By William P. Blake

The Rainbow Lode is situated at Walkerville, in the Summit Valley mining district, Silver Bow County, Montana Territory, about one mile from Butte City. It was so named ill 1876 by Mr. J. E. Clayton, in recognition of the broadly-sweeping curve of the outcrop across the rounded surface of the eastern slope of a granitic mountain, at an elevation of about 6000 feet above the sea-level. It is on the western side of the range which divides the waters of the Missouri from those of the Columbia. History.—The history of the district is an instructive one. The water-courses and flanks of the hills were worked for years for placer gold. Millions of dollars' worth of low-grade gold have been washed out of the surface gravels below the veins of the district. Missoula Gulch and Silver Bow creek, just below Butte, are noted for their rich placers, and they continue to yield largely, producing within narrow limits from $50,000 to $100,000 dollars' worth of golddust yearly. It is ragged vein-gold, and evidently is near its parent source. It is no doubt derived from the disintegration of the veins of the district, and this conclusion was soon forced upon the miners. The veins which were seen outcropping boldly upon the slopes above them were located, and prospecting commenced. These outcrops were found heavily stained and blackened with oxide of manganese, and were porous and honey-combed in places, showing that the quartz was formerly filled with pyritous ores, and that these ores had decomposed and dissolved away, leaving, however, portions of the precious metal behind, especially at and near the surface of the ground. Assays of the croppings gave variable and often contradictory results; but the fact. that these were the outcrops of lodes bearing gold and silver in depth was patent to any experienced observer of mineral veins. The lodes of the district were first brought prominently to notice by Mr. Clayton in 1876, and in October of that year the Alice mine, upon the central portion of the lode, was opened by Mr. Marcus Daly, now so well known as the superintendent of the Anaconda Copper mine, upon another extremely interesting lode, in the same region.

Jan 1, 1888

By Alan Morris

BRASS rod for use in automatic screw machines is one of the major products of the brass mills. A large tonnage is consumed each year in the manufacture of an endless variety of finished articles and parts for assembly into other products. The machines that do this work have been developed to a high degree of efficiency, and their manufacturers are still striving for higher production speeds. This development has brought with it a demand for brass rod to meet the increasingly difficult machining conditions. This paper is a report of the results of tests undertaken in an effort to obtain a measure of the effects of such variables as lead content, microstructure and cold work on the machinability of brass rod. It is realized that the term "machinability" has never been well defined. Power, finish and tool life all should have a place in such a. definition. In practice it is sometimes found necessary to sacrifice some of these in order to obtain a rod that will not tend to throw up a burr, or will give a burr which is easily tumbled off. Again a specially stiff rod may be necessary because of long overhang from the chuck or a rod of special characteristics is needed to take a given broaching operation without chattering. It is only through an understanding of the effect of basic mill operations on the machinability of the rod that such problems as these may be solved most economically. It is hoped that this paper, together with the discussion it may evoke, will prove to be a basis for such an understanding.

Jan 1, 1932

By B. W. Howlett, M. B. Bever, Somnath Misra

The heats oj- formation at 0°C of the compounds AuSn,, AuSn2, AuSn, and the £ phase were measured in a metal -solution calorimeter with liquid tin or a liquid Sn-Bi alloy as solvent. The melting point, heat of fusion, and heat capacities near the melting point of- the compound AuSn in the solid and liquid state were measured in a constant temperature gradient calorimeter. The free energy and entropy of formation of the compound AuSn at its melting point and at 298 °K were calculated from the experimental results and published data. The heats of formation are discussed in relation to the nature of the compounds. The heat capacity below the melting point, heat of fusion, and entropy of fusion of AuSn are interpreted in terms of processes oc-curring before melting. The atomic arrangement in liquid Au-Sn alloys and the bonding in the intermediate phases of. the Au-Sn system are discussed in the light of the measured thermodynamic properties. THE available thermodynamic information on the intermediate phases in the Au-Sn system consists of the heats of formation of the compounds AuSn4, AuSn2, and AuSnly2 and of one composition of the < phase2 besides values of the heat content of the compound AuSn from 0" to 635".&apos; However, the heats of formation refer to different temperatures ringing from 90" to 450°C. Also, the reported error limits of some of the values are large and several inconsistencies are apparent. In the investigation reported here the heats of formation of the compounds AuS-, AuSnz, and AuSn and of three compositions of the < phase were determined for a single reference temperature of 0°C by liquid metal-solution calorimetry. The compound AuSn, which is the only congruently melting intermediate phase in this system, was further investigated in a constant temperature gradient calorimeter by measuring its heat of fusion, melting point, and heat capacity in the solid and liquid states near the melting point. From these data and published free energies of the liquid of composition Au~n,&apos; the free energies of formation of the compound AuSn at the melting point and at 298°K were calculated. The results shed light on the solid-liquid transition of AuSn and on the atomic bonding and state of association of gold and tin in the solid and liquid phases. 1) EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURES 1.1) Preparation of Samples. Stoichiometric amounts of gold and tin, each 99.99+ pct pure, were melted in evacuated Vycor capsules (12 mm ID). The melts were maintained approximately 150°C above the liquidus for about 12 hr and shaken repeatedly. Samples of the compound AuSn were cooled slowly to room temperature. Melts of the other phases, all of which solidify by peritectic reactions, were transferred to the narrow end (5 mm ID) of the capsule, which was then quenched into iced brine. The solidified samples were annealed in the unopened capsules for 10 days at 30" to 50° C below the respective solidus temperatures. The absence of microsegregation and second phases was confirmed by metallographic examination. At least two batches of each composition were prepared. 1.2) Solution Calorimetry. The heats of formation were determined by liquid metal-solution calorimetry. In this technique, the difference between the heat effects on dissolution in a liquid metal, or alloy bath, of the compound and a mechanical mixture of its annealed components, adjusted for changes in composition of the bath, is the heat of formation of the compound at the temperature from which the samples are added. Details of the equipment and technique have been described."&apos; A tin bath at 300" or 350°C was used with the compounds AuSn,, AuSnz, and AuSn. The high gold content of the £ phase would have caused it to dissolve with an appreciable exothermic heat effect. In order to achieve thermal compensation, the samples were added from 0°C to a bath at 350°C consisting of 66.2 wt pct Bi (99.999+ pct pure), balance Sn (99.99+ pct pure). This solvent gives thermal compensation because gold dissolves exothermically in tin and endothermically in bismuth. The calorimeter was calibrated by adding from 0°C approximately 0.015 g-atom of the solvent.

Jan 1, 1965

By Harlan A. Walker

Rock-drill steel has an important bearing on costs in many mining operations, both directly and indirectly. Direct factors include such items as shop expense, steel consumed per ton of ore produced, cost of distribution and the dust hazard. The latter, although no specific amount may be assigned to it, is an ever-present problem, and is receiving increased attention as the science of mining progresses. Indirectly drill-steel performance affects consumption of compressed air, maintenance of drills and drilling speed. The latter, in turn, increases or retards the tempo of mining and development. These factors, while not all inclusive, are preponderant in their importance. Thus it is evident that in an extensive operation drill-steel expense may run to many thousands of dollars and that thoughtful research leading toward more efficient practice is warranted. Experimental Work During the late spring of 1939, experiments were undertaken at Homestake in reducing changes in drill-steel gauge from ? in. to 1/16 in. In drifts and crosscut headings mounted machines were set up and holes were drilled with ?-in. bit-gauge changes and other holes a few inches

Jan 1, 1940

By Harlan A. Walker

Rock-drill steel has an important bearing on costs in many mining operations, both directly and indirectly. Direct factors include such items as shop expense, steel consumed per ton of ore produced, cost of distribution and the dust hazard. The latter, although no specific amount may be assigned to it, is an ever-present problem, and is receiving increased attention as the science of mining progresses. Indirectly drill-steel performance affects consumption of compressed air, maintenance of drills and drilling speed. The latter, in turn, increases or retards the tempo of mining and development. These factors, while not all inclusive, are preponderant in their importance. Thus it is evident that in an extensive operation drill-steel expense may run to many thousands of dollars and that thoughtful research leading toward more efficient practice is warranted. Experimental Work During the late spring of 1939, experiments were undertaken at Homestake in reducing changes in drill-steel gauge from ? in. to 1/16 in. In drifts and crosscut headings mounted machines were set up and holes were drilled with ?-in. bit-gauge changes and other holes a few inches

Jan 1, 1940

By Barrie T. Wells, Raghu N. Singh, Paul S. Buddery

Rockbolting and dowelling are important methods of ground control. Their effectiveness depends upon the compatibility of the support members and the geotechnical behaviour of the rock mass. Detailed geotechnical investigations are, therefore, necessary for the design of effective rockbolting systems. The study described in the paper was concerned with improving the effectiveness of ground control at Mount Isa Mine. The paper briefly reviews the design methods avail- able when choosing a rockbolting system with a view to identifying the most suitable method. Joint surveys were used for the geotechnical assessment of rock mass stability. These were interpreted with the aid of the stereographic technique of predicting the size and shape of potentially unstable blocks of rock in both the roof and side walls of excavations. The geology and ground conditions at Mount Isa are briefly described together with the current ground control techniques. The requirements for ground control have been investigated at representative sites by analysing typical modes of rock failure and using a geological predictive technique. An application of this technique to the selection of a support system in a shallow Coal Measures tunnel is also described. The paper concludes with a general discussion on the effectiveness of this method of site investigation for the appraisal of rockbolting support in mining and civil engineering excavations.

Jan 1, 1983

By W. C. Knopf, I. M. LeBaron

In the Carlsbad area potash is dry-mined and wet-concentrated. Wet concentration involves recircu-lation of saturated brines, with resultant difficulties of brine disposal and inherent losses in recovery through solution of the KCl. A dry beneficiation process for potash minerals would offer many advantages over present methods. International Minerals & Chemical Corp. has been working on development of a dry process for some time. This article is a progress report. Potash ores available in this country are largely mixtures of halite and sylvite contaminated with slimes and often with many sulfate and magnesium minerals. Electrostatic concentration of KCl when the contaminating minerals are in low percentage has been accomplished. Continuous production of better than 60 pct K2O concentrate from high potassium sulfate ores has not been demonstrated at the present time. Laboratory Procedure: Laboratory work on electrostatic beneficiation of potash minerals has been carried out using both pure crystals and mined ore. Electrostatic separation of the two main components of potash ore, sylvite (KCl) and halite (NaCl), is accomplished by first heat-treating the ore to allow for electric charging of the particles. Preferential exchange of&apos; electrical charges between different mineral particles through surface contact is the principal mechanism involved. After proper conditioning of the particle surfaces, the oppositely charged minerals are dropped vertically into a horizontal electric field having a field gradient from about 5000 to 15,000 v per in. The particles are free-falling in the field. A suitable power supply is used to produce the proper total voltage for the electric field. Total required voltage is, of course, a function of electrode spacing. A typical electrode arrangement with power supply is shown in Fig. 1. In general, the total voltage on any system is 75,000 to 90,000 v. Power consumption is negligible, as leakage at insulators and corona discharge are the main losses in the system. Optimum preheat temperatures for pure material components generally are not the same as for mined minerals. Fig. 2 shows clearly that maximum recovery on a 50 pct pure KCl, 50 pct pure NaCl mixture occurs at a preheat temperature of about 600°F. In this test the preheat mixture was allowed to cool to about 225°F before dropping through the electric field. The optimum temperature for sep- aration is practically never the optimum temperature of preheat. Optimum separation for mined Carlsbad potash ores occurs when a preheat temperature closer to 900°F is used, as shown by Fig. 3, which plots percent sylvite (KCl) in the concentrate and tails as a function of preheat temperatures. Here again the ore was allowed to cool to about 225°F before separation. It should be noted that efficiency of separation increases continuously with increasing preheat temperatures until incipient fusion of the ore takes place at about 950°F. The increase in optimum preheat temperature for Carlsbad ores over the pure minerals can be traced to the effect of the clay slimes intimately associated with the mined potash. If the slimes associated with the ore are removed by washing with alcohol or other non-aqueous material, the necessity of preheating to the high temperature is removed. This temperature range has been proved critical within these limits during continuous pilot plant operation. Concentrate and tailings grade and optimum recovery also are functions of the temperature of the potash mineral particles during separation in the electric field. Fig. 4 presents data indicating that feed to the rougher pass should range between 150°F and 275°F for best results. It has been found by subsequent pilot plant work that these temperatures can be maintained in actual operation.

Jan 1, 1959

By C. Zener, J. H. Hollomon

IT Is commonly recognized that a given material may be described as ductile or brittle only with reference to the conditions of test. Thus under the usual test conditions quartz is brittle, but under high pressures it is ductile. Salts that are brittle at room temperature become ductile at elevated temperatures. Pitch, brittle with respect o rapid loads, flows at low rates of loading. Pearlitic steel, ductile under the usual conditions of test, may be embrittled under the proper conditions of combined stresses, temperature, and rate of loading. EARLIER INVESTIGATIONS A clear analysis of the conditions necessary for plastic flow and for fracture was first given by Ludwik,1 who introduced two types of stress, the "flow stress" and the "stress at fracture." These stresses may refer to tensile or to shear stresses, or, in fact, to any type of stress. Ludwik considered these two stresses to be independent of one another, functions of the conditions of test and of the prior history of the material. For the purpose of analysis, both a flow stress and a stress at fracture can be envisaged as functions of strain over the entire range from zero to infinite strain. Thus, the material is brittle if the stress at fracture is less than the flow stress and ductile if the reverse is true. According to Ludwik&apos;s analysis, the problem of determining the effects of combined stresses, of temperature and of strain rate upon the behavior of metals reduces to a problem of determining the effect of these variables upon the flow stress and upon the stress at fracture. In the present paper, methods are described for determining the effects of two of these variables, temperature and strain rate, and examples are given of the dependence or now stress and stress at fracture, upon these two variables. The effect of combined stresses will be discussed in a succeeding paper. The flow stress may be determined from a load-diameter curve. Load-diameter curves were obtained over a wide range of temperature and over the limited range of strain rates obtainable with the lever-type Riehle machine used. The. curves were then converted to an extremely wide range of strain rate by making use of the equivalence of the effects of changes in strain rate and changes in temperature, previously proposed2 and demonstrated&apos; by the authors. According to this principle of equivalence, strain rate E and temperature T affect the flow stress only through a single parameter p of the form: p = EeQ/RT [I] In this equation, R is the gas constant (2 cal. per gram mol per deg. C.), and Q is a heat of activation, which varies from material to material, and may depend upon the strain, but not upon the strain rate or the temperature. There is associated with every value of p a flow-stress curve. Combinations of strain rate and of temperature that give the same p have the same flow-stress curve. Therefore, merely by changing the temperature of test, the effect of changing the strain rate may be obtained. Thus, under isothermal conditions, the material will behave the same at

Jan 1, 1944

By E. S. Leaver

THE presence of soluble base metals in precious-metal ores usually precludes cyanidation as the best method of treatment. The laboratory experiments described in this paper show the possibility of cyanidation of gold-silver ores containing less than 0.5 per cent. of cyanide-soluble copper and the effect of zinc in the cyanide solution. PART 1.-COPPER IN CYANIDATION The proposed process of cyanidation of precious-metal ores containing copper is based on the regeneration of about 80 per cent. of the cyanide used in the dissolution of the copper. The method of regeneration involves a combination of the sulfide and the acid precipitation of the copper and silver. The resultant solution is made alkaline with lime, and the gold is precipitated with zinc dust.

Jan 1, 1929

By Y. L. Yao

The solubility limit of oxygeu in a titanionn at 850°C has been determined by magnetic measurements as 12.5 + 0.5 pct (29.0—30,9 at. pct). Also in the susceptibility-co~centmtion curve, there is n distinct but not sharp maximum at 19.0 * 0.5 z~t pet (40.5--42.1 at. pct), which indicates the presence of the 6 phase. The magnetic susceptibilities of the alloys of the titanium-oxygen system were determined byEhrlich in 1939.&apos; is alloys were prepared by sintiring mixtures of titanium and its oxide at high temperatures. On the titanium-rich side, despite the fact that the alloy compositions he measured crossed two phase boundaries, the limited results obtained

Jan 1, 1960

By John M. Cummings, Warren. Harry V.

THE Geology Department of the University of British Columbia has undertaken the task of examining the ores from as many as possible of the gold mines of British Columbia. The object of this work is two- fold. First, it is known that detailed mineralographic studies are useful in attacking ore-dressing problems, and these studies are intended to be helpful to mill operators. Second, it is hoped that mineralogical and mineralographical studies will prove useful adjuncts to those of lithology and structure in throwing more light on problems related to the origin of the deposits. The paper shows that gold, for all practical purposes, is not present in an ore mineral in solid solution nor as a eutectic with any mineral; if the latter were true the gold particles would be distributed equally throughout that mineral. The gold occurs either as native gold or as a gold-silver telluride and is not distributed regularly through any mineral or minerals. The relationship between the gold or gold-bearing telluride and the associated minerals affords a means of classification that is not only simple but also appears to be directly related to the geological nature of the deposit, which may be summarized as follows: 1. Disseminated Gold Type.-Precious minerals in extremely small grains, which are distributed without regard to grain size, fractures or grain boundaries: (1) Hedley variety-gold in native form; (2) Surf Point variety-gold predominantly as telluride. 2. Veining Gold Type.-Precious minerals in grains of various sizes, which occur mainly along fractures and grain boundaries: (1) Cariboo gold quartz-goldin native form. (2) Waneta variety-gold as telluride. Application Te Ore Dressing These mineralographic studies have proved to be of value to mill operators, and future studies of a similar nature should prove increasingly useful because every year provides a further opportunity to correlate

Jan 1, 1937

By D. G. F. Hedley, D. F. Coates, K. Barron

INTRODUCTION Preceding papers presented in this symposium have considered the influence of various parameters, such as geologic structure, groundwater, etc., on the stability of rock slopes and have given some analyses and guide lines for slope design. To carry out such analyses it is necessary to put numbers to these parameters; where possible, this is best done on the basis of in- situ observation and measurement. Since none of the design analyses can be considered exact and since conditions vary during excavation, it is also desirable to monitor the behaviour of the slopes as the excavation proceeds. In this manner a feedback of information on the actual excavation conditions can allow a continuous reassessment of the design parameters to be made and can give early warning of incipient failures. The purpose of instrumenting rock slopes is thus to provide information which fits into one of two categories: (a) To give basic data to assist on-site assessment and design of the rock excavation. (b) To provide data for the control and assessment of safety during excavation. The purpose of this paper is to review briefly some of the instruments and measuring techniques available for gathering this data and to indicate where such data may prove useful. This is not a comprehensive review of all available instrumentation but, rather, is a survey of some of the instruments and techniques with which the authors have had some experience and which have proven useful. STRUCTURAL ASSESSMENT Whilst most structural assessment of a site is done on the basis of geologic mapping and core examination, there exists some instrumentation which can, in particular circumstances, assist in this assessment. Seismic instruments can be used to determine the geometry of formations and to give an indication of the relative competency of rocks. These instruments operate using seismic reflection or refraction techniques and, although mainly confined to shallow sub-surface exploration, can be useful in distinguishing between soil/ bedrock contacts and, in some cases, the extent of weathered surface rock.

Jan 1, 1971

By K. J. McGrew, J. W. Murphy

Introduction Maximization of profit consistent with environmental protection is the principal goal of new applications development for any conventional or in situ mining technique. Efficient evaluation of all the parameters that contribute to mining costs and production hinges on proper design and evaluation of testing programs and data. The program discussed uses several field and laboratory procedures to estimate ore deposit characteristics and optimize lixiviant compositions. Ore characteristics and lixiviant compositions are then used in a long path leaching test (stream tube test). Stream tube test data are analyzed by mathematical models with computer assistance to predict such wellfield rate parameters as target metal production, lixiviant consumption, and restoration. When these predicted rates are combined with market values for target metals, capital expenditures, prices of lixiviant chemicals, and other economic variables (labor costs, power rates, and licensing fees), an assessment of the relative feasibility of various proposed mining plans is possible. The flowsheet in Fig. 1 illustrates this process. [ ] Field and Laboratory Procedures In general terms, the procedures followed in the evaluation of an in situ leaching application aim at accomplishing: •rapid leaching and maximum recovery of the target metal in a marketable form, •low consumption of lixiviant chemicals, •unquestionably satisfactory restoration of the mined aquifer, and •minimization of capital and operating costs for the above through development of an optimum mine plan. Keeping these goals in mind, the following minimum test program is generally recommended. Geology •Estimate of ore reserves and their variability. •Average disequilibrium value for uranium deposits. •Ore thickness, depth to ore, water level, degree of confinement, and consolidation. •Characterization of quality and quantity of other ore deposit constituents (e.g. sulfide minerals, ion exchange parameters). Hydrology •Single well pump and injectivity test. •Downhole vertical permeability test to compare flow rates of barren and mineralized formations. •Groundwater quality as it may affect licensing, hydro metallurgy, and restoration. Hydrometallurgy • Flask or autoclave tests for optimization of lixiviant parameters and determination of specific reaction rate constants. • Flask or autoclave tests for assessing amenability of lixiviant solutions with ore, consumption of lixiviant, stability of metal in solution contacting ore, and environmentally important species mobilized. • A long-path leach test for modeling the behavior of the lixiviant solution flowing through a long mineralized streamline (stream tube testing). •Metal recovery tests from lixiviant solutions (ion exchange, electrowinning, etc.). •Lixiviant regeneration tests. •Environmental restoration tests.

Jan 1, 1985

By John C. Loretta

INTRODUCTION Organizations that regularly use project management services will almost certainly have their own views on the preferred systems and procedures. This chapter, therefore, describes Project Management for the personnel of groups not familiar on a regular basis with project management and deals with the basic questions that these groups can be expected to ask, such as: - What is project management? - Why is it needed? Project Management is the planning, implementation and monitoring of the Engineering, Procurement and Construction activities that are necessary to complete the project in the most economic manner. In the case of a crushing and grinding plant, completing the project would mean bringing it into full operat ion. Engineering is the design work for the purpose of producing drawings and technical specifications for Construction together with technical specifications and quantities for Procurement. Procurement is the arranging of con- tracts so that equipment, material and labour are brought as required to the construction site. Construction covers the on-site activities that bring together the components of Engineering and Procurement so as to arrive at a finished plant. Need & Cost Benefits Project Management systems are needed to allow progress and expenditures to be monitored so that any significant deviations from the plan can be identified and the appropriate corrective action taken. In this way, Project Management is able to give continual updated answers to the Owners broad questions. - What am I getting? - What will it cost? - When will it be ready? The need for Project Management is not always immediately apparent, a common belief being that the existence of the three components -Mining Company - Equipment Supplier - Construction Company - is sufficient to get the job done without a formal project management group. This trio

Jan 1, 1982

By David E. Nicholas

INTRODUCTION In this paper, a numerical process for selecting a mining method, with the emphasis on underground mass mining techniques, such as caving, induced caving, and stoping, is proposed. In the past, selection of a mining method for a new property was based primarily on operating experience at similar type deposits and on methods already in use in the district of the deposit. Then, the chosen method was modified during the early years of mining as ground conditions and ore character were bet- ter understood. Today, however, the large capital investment required to open a new mine or change an existing mining system make it imperative that the mining methods examined during the feasibility studies and the method actually selected have a high probability of attaining the projected production rates. Although experience and engineering judgment still provide major input into the selection of a mining method, subtle differences in the characteristics of each deposit, which may affect the method chosen or the mine design, can usually be perceived only through analysis of measured characteristics. The parameters that must be examined when choosing a mining method include: 1) geometry and grade distribution of the deposit; 2) rock mass strength for the ore zone, the hanging wall, and the footwall; 3) mining costs and capitalization requirements; 4) mining rate; 5) type and availability of labor; 6) environmental concerns; and 7) other site-specific considerations. This paper encompasses a detailed look at the first two parameters since they, plus mining costs, have the greatest impact on the selection of a mining method. The proposed method selection process is for a project where drilling has defined sufficient geologic reserves, but little or no underground development has been done. Since each deposit has its own characteristic geanetry/grade distribution, and rock mechanics properties, mining method selection should be at least a two-stage process. In Stage 1, the deposit is described in terms of geometry, grade distribution, and rock mechanics properties. Using these parameters, the mining methods can be ranked to determine which are most applicable; they can then be considered in general terms of mining and capitalization cost, mining rate, type and availability of personnel, environmental concerns, and other site-specific considerations. In Stage 2, the most likely mining methods are costed out, based on a general mine plan. Mining and capitalization costs are used to determine a cut-off grade fran which a minable reserve can be calculated; economic comparisons can then be made to determine the optimum mining method and economic feasibility. During the mine planning phase of Stage 2, rock mechanics information would be used to provide realistic estimates of underground opening size, amount of support, orientation of openings, and caving characteristics, and open pit slope angles. If ground control or operational problems should be encountered with the methods being considered, modifications could be made. Although planning on paper extends start-up time, it is cheaper to err on paper than to find the error after mining has begun. METHOD SELECTION - STAGE 1 The main purpose of Stage 1 is to select those mining methods which should be considered in greater detail. The simplest way to do this is by defining those characteristics required for each mining method and then determining whether the characteristics of the deposit are suitable. However, no one mining method is so restrictive that it can be used for only one set of characteristics, as indicated by the classification system proposed by Boshkov and Wright (1973). In the mining method selection proposed, geometry, grade distribution, and rock mechanics characteristics are ranked according to their acceptability for ten general mining methods.

Jan 1, 1981

The American mining industry is vigorous today because it is young. At a time when the ore deposits of central Europe, for example, were being exploited actively, those of the United States were lying practically untouched. The founding fathers of our republic were not interested in mineral wealth because they were ignorant in such matters; their preoccupations were with defence against the Indians, the clearing of the forest, and the starting of agriculture in their new domains. They had no idea of establishing a mining industry. The Indians whom the American colonists dispossessed had no mines; they used only the metal that was to be found lying on the surface of the ground. Their arrows and spears were tipped with flint, which likewise called for little digging, if any. The native copper that glacial action had torn from the lodes of the Lake Superior region and had carried into the valleys of the Ohio and Mississippi was employed in the making of earrings, bracelets, knives, and scrapers. The same useful metal was found in many other places, in Virginia and Carolina, in Vermont and New Jersey, for example, but the Indians did not know how to melt it, much less how to smelt the ore, therefore they shaped it into tools and implements by hammering. Fortunately for them the hammering of the metal caused it to harden and therefore to become serviceable for implemental use. It is doubtful if they obtained the copper by actual mining, that is, by digging or excavating; it is true we find traces of such operations in the Keweenaw .peninsula of Michigan, but we have no

Jan 1, 1932

By I. N. Zavarine

AUSTENITE is often defined as a solid solution of carbon or carbide in a nonmagnetic form of iron. Conversely, magnetic measurements are often used by investigators for the purpose of detecting the degree of austenite decomposition after an iron alloy has been subjected to certain thermal or mechanical treatments. Association of the magnetic state with the gamma-phase decomposition is often extended to the alloys of iron with elements other than carbon. Definition of austenite as a nonmagnetic solid solution cannot be accepted in the light of available information without certain reservations. The relation of magnetic transformations with the gamma-phase decomposition in the complex alloys of iron has never been rigorously proved. The present investigation deals primarily with the magnetic trans-formation that occurs in carbon steels during the quenching process. The work was further limited to a study of magnetic transformation in carbon steels quenched at such rates as are necessary to retain the product of austenite decomposition in a martensitic state.

Jan 1, 1934

Dr. F. W. C. Schniewind, New York, N. Y.:—Mr. Vogel speaks of briquetting the flue-dust by means of lime. I learned recently in Europe of a process employed with considerable success at one of the blast-furnaces, where blast-furnace cinder is used with lime. The lime and cinder are mixed with the flue-dust, and exposed to superheated steam, which converts the blast-furnace cinder into cement. Briquettes are then formed in the usual way. Mr. Vogel :—The process referred to is the " Scoria process," which has not been in use for some time past. For that reason, I did not mention it. Prof. Arthur L. Walker, New York, N. Y.:—I would ask the commercial name for magnesium chloride, and where it can be obtained ? Mr. VoGel :—I mentioned magnesium chloride, because it has been used abroad to a large extent. In Germany it is obtained as a by-product in the manufacture of potash-salts; in the United States we have been using chloride of lime, which is cheaper. Otto Sussman, New York, N. Y.:—What is the cost of this process ? Mr. Vogel :—The cost is exceedingly low. I can give you the figures from abroad, but not for the United States, because the system has not -yet been used here commercially to

Jan 1, 1913

By T. M. Morris, W. E. Horst

W. E. Horst—In regard to the flotation rate being described as "first orcler" for flotation of quartz particles below 65 p in size (or any size studied in this work) in this paper, it appears that the authors&apos; conception of rate equations is not in agreement with cited references. A first order rate equation has as one of its forms the following: a In.=a/a-x=kt where a = initial concentration, a—x = concentration at time t, t = time, and k = constant. The constant, k, has the dimension of reciprocal time which is similar to the specific flotation rate, Q. described by Eq. 2 in the authors&apos; article, as has been previously discussed by Schumann (Ref. 1 of original article). The plotted data presented in Fig. 4 of the article utilizes the specific flotation rate, Q (min.&apos;); however, there is not adequate data given to indicate the order of the rate equation which describes the flotation behavior of the quartz system studied. Results from the experimental work indicate that the relationship between rate of flotation (grams per minute) and cell concentration (provided the percent solids in the flotation cell is less than 5.2 pct and the particle size is less than 65 p) is described by an equation of the first order (R, = k c+", n being equal to 1 in this size range) and the use of the first order rate equation does not apply. Similarly the relationship for other particle size ranges studied is expressed by equations of the second or third order depending on the magnitude of n. T. M. Morris—The authors are to be commended for the experiments which they performed. As they state in their discussion the concentration of collector ion In solution did change with change in concentration of solids in the flotation cell. Since for a given slze of particle, flotation rate increases with concentration of collector until a maximum is reached, the effect of concentration of particles in their experiments was to vary the concentration of collector ions. A collector concentration which insures maximum supporting angle for all particles eliminates the unequal effect of collector concentration on various sized particles and the effect of size of particles and concentration of particles upon flotation rate could be more clearly assessed. I believe that if the authors had increased the concentration of collector to an amount sufficient to attain a maximum supporting angle for all particles they would find that the specific flotation rate of particles coarser than 65 p would be constant with change in the concentration of solids in the flotation cell, and that a first order rate would apply to the + 65 as well as to the —65 p sizes. It might also be discovered when this change in collector concentration was made that the maximum specific rate constant would be shifted toward a coarser fraction than when starvation quantities of collector are used since this practice favors the fine particles and penalizes the coarse particles. P. L. de Bruyn and H. J. Modi (authors&apos; reply)—The authors wish to thank Professor Morris for his kind remarks and for mentioning the influence of equilibrium collector concentration on flotation rate. With a collector concentration sufficient to insure maximum supporting angle for all particles, a first order rate equation may indeed be found to be generally applicable irrespective of size. Such a concentration would, however, lead to 100 pct recovery of the fine particles and consequently defeat the essential objective of the investigation to derive the maximum information on flotation kinetics. To establish absolutely the validity of any single rate equation for a given size range, the ideal method would be to work with a feed consisting solely of particles of that size range. Use of such a closely sized feed would also eliminate the possibility of the interfering effect of different sizes upon one another. The authors do not believe that increasing the collector concentration would shift the maximum specific flotation rate (Q) towards a coarser fraction. Experimentation showed Q to be independent of solids concentration for all particles up to 65 µ in size, whereas the maximum value of Q was obtained in the range 37 to 10 p. Professor Morris contends that the addition of starvation quantities of collector favors fine particles at the expense of coarse particles, but the reason for this is not entirely clear to the authors. The comments by Mr. W. E. Horst are concerned only with the concept of the term "first order rate equation." According to the usage of this term in chemical kinetics, time is an important variable, as is shown in the equation quoted by Mr. Horst. All the experimental results reported by the authors were obtained under steady state continuous operations when the rate of flotation is independent of time. To be consistent with the common usage of the "first order rate equation," it would be more satisfactory to state that under certain conditions the experimental results show that the relation between flotation rate and pulp density is an equation of the first order.

Jan 1, 1957