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By Blair R. Benner

This paper describes the installation and operation of a Texas Nuclear on-line silica analyzer (NOLA) coupled with a Leeds and Northrup Microtrac particle-size monitor (Microtrac) at U.S. Steel's Minntac taconite concentrator. An automatic sampling system provides the NOLA with samples of final concentrate. After the sample is analyzed for silica by the NOLA, it is pumped to the Microtrac for size and surface area measurement. A sample is analyzed every six minutes, providing the control room with the silica concentration, the percent passing 270, 400, and 500 mesh, and an equivalent Blaine surface area number. When fed a slurry of final concentrate containing between 20 and 70% solids and 5 to 6% silica, the NOLA analysis is within ±0.2% of the wet chemistry silica. The agreement between the Microtrac output and standard screen analyses is ±1.2% at 270 mesh; ±1.5% at 400 mesh, and ±2% at 500 mesh. The poorer disagreement at the finer sizes is mainly due to inaccuracies in screening at 400 and 500 mesh. The agreement between Microtrac surface area a d laboratory Blaine surface area is about 9 ±80 cm 2/g. These instruments provide rapid and reliable feedback information to the concentrator and feed forward information to the agglomerator.

Jan 1, 1984

By Lawrence Adler

For openings in bedded rocks, analyzed by simple beam theory, it has been shown that roof loads can be shifted from one support to another.' This transfer is effected by controlling the relative deflection of adjacent supports. If this action is used to reduce loads in the props or bolts and increase them in the ribs or pillars, it could be productive of economies averaging 30 pct. Such savings can be realized by: 1) using smaller artifical supports such as props and bolts, and 2) increasing loads in the rib to induce eventual failure for longwall caving. Since the rib is relatively load-insensitive, it provides a natural load sink. However, caution must be used in applying such permissive deflections, for while the supports are being handled properly, the stresses in the roof itself are very sensitive to such manipulations.'

Jan 5, 1960

By N. A. Gokcen, R. A. Dodd

Solubility of nitrogen in liquid iron-manganese system at 1550°C and one atmosphere pressure has been determined by a simple method. Results show that the solubility increases from 0.040 pct for pure iron to 1.41 pct for pure manganese. DETERMINATION of the solubility of gases in volatile metals. and alloys by the well-known Sievertsl method is unreliable. This is particularly true for the Fe-Mn system since Mn vaporizes readily from the alloys containing as little as 2 pct Mn, and, upon condensing on the cooler parts of the apparatus, it absorbs large amounts of nitrogen. Further, the condensing Mn vapor interferes with the usual method of temperature measurements with an optical pyrometer.

Jan 1, 1962

Jan 1, 1944

Jan 1, 1944

By R. Maddin, C. H. Mathewson, W. R. Hibbard

Recent publicationsl.2 establishing the presence of cross-slip in strained metallic single crystals oriented wholly within the area of single slip as predicted from the generalizations of Taylor and Elam3 described these markings as they appeared during the initial stages of the deformation process. At that time, the plane having a common glide direction with the primary slipping plane was reported as the cross-slip plane although the specific direction was not confirmed. Consequently, in continuation of the research, it seemed advisable to investigate the micro-graphic appearance of cross-slip together with the Laue back-reflection X ray analysis and stress-strain data during the later stages of the deformation process. Accordingly, a single crystal of brass (72.75 pct Cu, 0.01 pct Fe, 0.01 pct Pb, 27.23 pct Zn) was polished mechanically and repolished electrolytically after the manner described in the earlier paper.' Three pairs of flat surfaces, parallel to the specimen axis, and (1) perpendicular to the plane containing the pole of the primary glide plane and the specimen axis, (2) perpendicular to the plane containing the pole of the cross-slip plane and the specimen axis, and (3) perpendicular to the plane containing the slip direction and the specimen axis, were polished mechanically and repolished electrolytically, resulting in a final minimum gauge diameter of 0.4864 in. in a gauge length of 3.36 in. The specimen was elongated in tension and load-extension readings were taken following the method described in the initial investigation.' Observed reorientations were obtained from a series of Laue back-reflection photograms at the center and ends of the gauge length and at various positions around the circumference of the specimen. These were interpreted after the manner of A. B. Greninger.4 Cross-slip (Fig 1 and 2) was found with the first appearance of the primary slip clusters and usually joined members of these clusters. In addition, a third set of entirely different markings (Fig 3) could be noted. The displacement of this third set by the primary slip lines was measured as 8300 at. diam (3.04 microns). Since the specimen was carefully observed at high magnifications before any deformation and no markings of any type could be noted, it would appear that this third set was formed during the deformation process prior to the initiation of classical primary slip. Additional extensions produced no unusual change in the appearance of either cross-slip or the third set of markings. The number of lines increased with increasing elongation and appeared, generally, in areas where earlier markings were present. The continuity of the clusters of cross-slip lines in Fig 4, 5 and 6 illustrates that they are neither noticeably displaced by nor do they displace the primary lines at this stage. In Fig 7, cross-slip appears in a long narrow localized band approximately 45 degrees from the stress axis. This somewhat resembles a twin band except for the lack of a sharp boundary. After a shear of 0.257, suffcient additional glide occurred on the cross-slip plane to displace the primary slip lines (Fig 8). Generally, where a large number of cross-slip lines could be observed in an area on one flat surface, few cross-slip lines appeared on the diametrically opposite position on the parallel flat (Fig 9). These, of course, were not matched observations on the same glide ellipses. It was extremely difficult to make such comparisons. The third set of markings (Fig 10) was extensively displaced by glide on the primary slip planes. A plot of the width of primary slip clusters versus their displacement of the third set of lines is shown in Fig 11. The slope and the linearity of the plot suggest that each primary glide plane slips to a constant maximum value of shear before further slip is transferred to another plane. A shear value of 0.28 was determined in this case. Heidenreich5 has presented a similar schematic representation of glide for aluminum. After the specimen had attained an elongation of 51.8 pct, corresponding to a shear of 0.973, cross-slip appeared very prominently in certain areas as shown in Fig 12, yet at diametrically opposite positions very little cross-slip could be noted, Fig 13. Classical conjugate slip was found at this advanced stage in the deformation, Fig 14, which corresponds to the axial location shown at 12 in Fig 15. It should be noted that cross-slip occurs within the conjugate slip clusters and on the same plane as the cross-slip associated with the closely spaced primary lines which constitute a background in less distinct focus. The third set of markings noted at all stages in the deformation of the

Jan 1, 1950

By Fred D. DeVaney

DURING the past few years a radically new process for the magnetic roasting of iron ores has been investigated and developed by Pickands Mather & Co. and the Erie Mining Co. in the Erie laboratory at Hibbing, Minn. This process, originally devised by Dr. P. H. Royster of Washington, D. C., involves the use of a roasting technique quite different from older methods. It has now been demonstrated that iron-bearing materials can be roasted as effectively as by any previously known method, and at a much lower cost. The increasing shortage of highgrade iron ores in this country has accelerated the search for new methods that would permit low grade materials to be utilized. The concept of magnetically roasting low grade nonmagnetic ores such as the oxidized taconites and then separating such material magnetically has always had considerable appeal. The magnetic concentration idea is attractive because of the sharpness of the separations and cheapness of the method. Heretofore, however, the equipment and the processes available for the magnetizing-roasting -step have left much to be desired. The customary equipment available for reduction roasting has been: 1-multiple hearth furnaces, 2-rotary kilns, and 3-shaft type kilns. In addition, it is understood that some work has been done in magnetically roasting fine ores by a process using the FluoSolids principle, but little information on this process is available. The multiple hearth kiln has been used the most but first costs and operating costs have been high because of low capacity, high maintenance, and poor gas utilization. Magnetic roasting can be done in a rotary kiln, but the radiation losses are high and the conversion to magnetite is usually unsatisfactory because of poor contact between the gases and the solids. Of the shaft-type furnaces, probably the most efficient yet developed is that designed by E. W. Davis of the Minnesota Mines Experiment Station. This furnace was operated at Cooley, Minn., during 1934-1937 but was abandoned in 1937 because the operation was uneconomic. Heretofore the basic concept behind most magnetic roasting processes has been the idea of heating iron ore to a temperature of 800° to 1100 °F in a strong reducing atmosphere, preferably either carbon monoxide or hydrogen. Temperatures under 800°F were undesirable since excessive roasting time was required. Temperatures over 1100°F were avoided because of the danger of converting part of the iron to ferrous oxide which is nonmagnetic. In the new roasting process, the operation is carried on in a shaft furnace using a controlled atmosphere containing a low percentage of reducing gas. The temperature in the roasting zone is considerably higher than with the usual reducing gas and this speeds up the reduction time. Portions of the spent furnace gases are cooled and recirculated and this together with the good contact between ore and gas makes for high reducing gas utilization. High heat economy is secured by recuperating heat from the roasted ore by passing the cold reducing gases countercurrent to flow of ore. The heat transfer principle is similar to that employed in a pebble stove and to that used in the Erie Mining Co. furnace at Aurora, Minn., for pelletizing fine magnetite concentrates derived from taconite. The theory of controlled atmosphere during the roasting operation can best be appreciated by inspecting the equilibrium diagram of the Fe-C-O system shown in Fig. 1. An inspection of this diagram shows that in certain areas magnetite, Fe3O4, is the only stable form of iron. A further inspection of this table shows that if the proper ratio is maintained between carbon dioxide to carbon monoxide, such a gas will be reducing with respect to hematite, Fe2O3, and will be oxidizing with respect to both ferrous oxide, FeO, and iron, Fe. It should be kept in mind that the formation of ferrous oxide in a roasting operation is harmful, since this oxide is nonmagnetic; if it forms in any quantity, it will cause substantial loss of iron in the ensuing magnetic separation step. If a ratio of approximately three parts carbon dioxide to one of carbon monoxide is maintained, the resulting operation can be carried on at a relatively high temperature without fear of over-reduction. Specifically, most of the tests in the Erie furnace have been made at a temperature of 1500° to 1600°F, with an entrant gas containing approximately 5 pct carbon monoxide and 15 pct carbon dioxide, with the remainder largely nitrogen. It should be remembered that the ratios of carbon monoxide to carbon dioxide shown in Fig. 1 hold even though the bulk of the gas is an inert gas such as nitrogen. It may surprise many to learn that a gas containing as low as 3 pct carbon monoxide, and 12 pct carbon dioxide with the remainder nitrogen is an extremely effective reducing gas in the 1000° to 1600°F temperature range. The reducing gas is not limited to carbon monoxide, and mixtures of hydrogen and carbon monoxide may be used effectively, provided that a similar ratio is maintained between the reducing gases and carbon dioxide and water vapor. For a more detailed explanation of the theory involved, the reader is referred to U. S. patents 2,528,552 and 2,528,553. From a safety standpoint, the weak reducing gas used in the furnace offers an advantage. Its composition is such that it is well below the limits of explosion should air enter a hot furnace. This condition is not true with the usual reducing furnace, in which a gas rich in carbon monoxide or hydrogen is used. The general furnace design and method of operation may best be understood by an inspection of

Jan 1, 1952

By Don Simon

In the late 1960s the mining industry was in an apparent slump due to a combination of factors. Enrollment dropped significantly at schools offering mining engineering degrees, resulting in a shortage today of experienced mining graduates to staff middle management positions. How has this limited supply affected salaries? Does the shortage impair the mining industry's ability to respond to national energy needs?

Jan 12, 1979

By James S. Browning

The Mineral Resources Institute and State Mine Experiment Station of the University of Alabama conducted Humphreys spiral tests on fine coal waste from nine preparation plants of Alabama strip mining operations to determine the feasibility of recovering low ash and sulfur fuel meeting steam coal specifications. The ash in the samples ranged from 9 - 5l%, and the total sulfur ranged from 0.4J- 2.39%. Continuous laboratory tests using a Humphreys spiral gave good recovery of the coal with excellent rejection of the ash and pyritic sulfur. Coal recoveries of 83.6 - 94.1% were achieved from the different samples. Ash content of the clean coal products fell within a range of 5 - 12.2%, with a total sulfur content of 0.62 and 1.10%. In quality, the products were comparable or superior to those now being shipped from the preparation plants.

Jan 1, 1980

By William G. Pariseau

The extraction ratio approach to pillar design in flat seams is based on a mathematically exact analysis that is a reasonable physical approximation to room-and-pillar layouts in many instances. The essentials of the approach are reviewed and then mathematically approximate formulas for pillar design in inclined seams of arbitrary dip are proposed. Detailed numerical analysis of stress about a typical 5 entry, 4 pillar panel at dips of 0, 15, 30, 45, 60, 75 and 90 degrees at low and high extraction ratios show that the proposed inclined seam extraction ratio formulas for pillar normal and shear stresses, although conservative, have an accuracy quite adequate for engineering purposes. Appropriate pillar safety factors for compressive and shear failure and a safety criterion for overturning are specified.

Jan 1, 1982

By Thomas Fraser, H. F. Yancey

The jig may be termed the standard coal-washing machine. Although exact figures on the relative tonnages of coal treated by the various coal-cleaning processes are not available, it is known that a large part of all the coal given special cleaning treatment is handled by jigs. This wide use of the jig warrants a special study of its performance. In this paper are presented the results of an analysis of work done by a three-compartment jig in treating bituminous coal from the Thick Freeport bed in Allegheny County, Pa. Certain systems of washing coal require sizing before washing, while others treat unsized coal. The prevailing practice, however, for the preparation of coking coal from the more easily washed coal is to treat an unsized or natural feed of about — 1 in. size and smaller. Under such conditions, the minimum size of particle that is beneficiated has long been and is still a matter of discussion and conjecture. In a careful laboratory investigation J?ngstl concluded that the practical limit of settling of fine coal is reached at from 0.02 to 0.008 in. On the other hand, Hancock2 has found that single-compartment jigs, used in preparing coal for the domestic market, usually allow most of the heavy (refuse) particles smaller than 1/4 in. to go into the washed coal. He also states that it is impossible with the ordinary coal jig to make any noticeable improvement in the quality of the coal finer than 20 mesh (about 1/30 in.). Because of its importance in coal cleaning, the work described in this paper was undertaken for the purpose of obtaining information on this subject, as a part of the general coal beneficiation program being carried out by the Bureau of Mines.

Jan 1, 1925

By P. B. Bucky

IN this day of steady progress in the mining industry, especially along mechanical lines, the question of whether to discard present equipment for that of a new type often engages the minds of many officials of mining companies. The rapid strides made from year to year sometimes cause this question to be brought up within a year after new equipment has been purchased and installed. It is a moot question whether a machine that has been purchased last year should be replaced by a new one put on the market this year. As I see it, the reasons for the replacement of present equipment may be summed up as follows: (1) because of increased safety; (2) because of legal regulations; (3) because of increased profits. I think all of us, as engineers, will endeavor to put in as safe equipment as it is possible to devise. The tendency of mining companies in that direction is very gratifying.

Jan 1, 1930

By PDF

C. 0. FAIRCHILD, Washington, D. C. (written discussion*).-Referring to the paragraph entitled "Effect of change in temperature of absorbing glass on its transmission," Dr. Foote and the writer have been using, since

Jan 11, 1919

Report of the Americanization Society, New York Section During the past two months the Americanization Committee has held social meetings of various kinds for foreign-born women, as a preliminary to future effort along the lines of Americanization work. At the same time, a thorough investigation was made as to the work being done in New York by organizations devoted to this interest. The committee will be very glad to help any other committees being formed, in mining centers, with advice and information that has been gathered together as to classes and meetings of all kinds best suited to the needs of a foreign-born population. The work has been so extensively taken up in New York that for the present it would seem to be, for this committee, the most profitable and interesting work to continue the social meetings and to undertake the care of one or more immigrant families, to be friend and adviser in joy and sorrow, work and play, and in this way do some fundamental Americanization work. Respectfully submitted, LAURA G. BURGER, Chairman.

Jan 6, 1918

By John T. Grasso

This paper describes the computer-assisted development and implementation of new written examinations for persons desiring to become certified as underground or surface mine electricians in the State of West Virginia under the certification program defined by the WV Department of Mines and the Board of Miner Training, Education and Certification. The procedures used to develop and validate the new certification tests have simplified the administration of the new tests. Future developments in mine electrical work can also be easily incorporated into the certification program by augmenting the existing computerized pool of test questions prior to computer-production of future test forms. Most important, computerization now facilitates continual evaluation of the certification program, to contribute to greater safety in mine electrical work in West Virginia.

Jan 1, 1983

By James E. Gingrich

The new Track Etch technique for uranium exploration has been utilized in several survey programs conducted during the last few years. The results from these programs have been very encouraging, and new uranium ore bodies have been discovered by using this new technique. The method is being used in several exploration programs in various locations around the world. This exploration technique utilizes small pieces of special radiation-sensitive plastic film to detect the presence of radon gas which is released by uranium ore bodies. Because of the selectivity and sensitivity of the technique, ore bodies not normally detected with other surface or airborne monitoring methods are found. Since no large equipment or special training of personnel is needed, the technique is easily used in field operations. The basis for the Track Etch method, its application in field exploration programs, and the results obtained to date in locating uranium ore bodies are discussed.

Jan 1, 1976

By J. E. Tobey, David R. Mitchell, J. H. Kerrick

DETAILED knowledge of purchase specifications established by coal consumers is essential to the successful design and operation of a coal-preparation plant. ANTHRACITE Specifications should be considered by both the consumer and the producer as guide posts outlining a certain path for both to follow. Plants differ, therefore specifications must differ to meet the varied requirements. Specifications are not of themselves a "cure all" or an assurance of complete satisfaction in fuel utilization. Specifications should not be regarded as a license to engage in an orgy of buying any and all coals that may happen to fall within their limits. This would lead to the-indiscriminate mixing of coals which may vary in their burning characteristics. Different coals of equal grade tend to be individualistic in their burning characteristics. Rather, specifications should be used to help simplify coal selection, to reduce the actual number of coals used over a given period; in other words, to have a stabilizing influence on coal or customer turnover. In the final analysis, the use of too many coals per year in a plant is costly to both the consumer and the producer. Too many sources usually result in higher operating and maintenance costs for the consumer and higher sales costs for the producer. Finally, the statement included in the report accompanying the comprehensive Coal Selection Charts prepared by the Coal Committee of the National Association of Purchasing Agents, and released in 1938, is significant. This Committee worked diligently for a period of 15 years seeking to find a scientific and reliable method for selecting coals. The two following paragraphs are quoted from its report: More important is the fact that no ready-made classification or set of specifications can possibly replace the judgment and resourcefulness of an experienced combustion engineer, or fuel technologist, nor the usual need for full scale plant tests under the exact conditions of use before a final decision is made . . .

Jan 1, 1943

Tile National Research Council announces further appointments to National Research Fellowships in physics and chemistry. The object of the National Research Council in maintaining a system of research fellowships is to promote fundamental research in physics and chemistry primarily in educational institutions in the United States. Fellowships are awarded to persons who have demonstrated a high order of ability in research for the purpose of enabling them to conduct investigations at educational institutions which make adequate provisions for research: in physics and chemistry. The new appointments are as follows: In Chemistry.-Warren C. Vosburgh, of New York City, B. S. Union College, 1914, A. M. Union College, 1916, Ph. D. Columbia University, 1919. Research assistant to the Professor of Chemistry at Columbia University for the past six months. George Scatchard, of New York City, A. B. Amherst College, 1913, Ph. D. Colt tibia University, 1917. Formerly research assistant to the Professor of Chemistry at Columbia University and instructor in organic chemistry: First Lieutenant. Sanitary Corns. U. S. A.

Jan 7, 1919

By Max Mason

IN 1923 a Western mining company was experimenting with the device of an inventor designed to locate buried ores by radio. Because the progress was slow and the results were confusing, the company began to doubt the usefulness of the method and invited me to review the whole question of the application of physics to ore detection. I was fortunate in securing the cooperation of several physicists who had worked with me during the war on the problem of submarine detection. This group has been increased and has been studying the problem of physical exploration for ores since that time. It was evident that the problem is a big one, with many angles of approach. Its general features may be set down, in rough outline, as follows: The soils, rocks and ores hidden beneath the surface differ, one from another in many respects. These differences may be made to furnish a clew for the physicists working from the surface. To bring these differences into action the physicist creates some kind of an effect, which penetrates into the ground and is distorted and, reflected when it meets boundaries between different sorts of underground structure. In other words, he sends a message down, and the rocks and ore send back signals in, reply. In picturing this process, we should not regard the ground as dense and impenetrable. The kind of messages used pass through the earth about as readily as a sound wave travels the air. If, then, the fundamental procedure is to shout down questions in the hope that an orebody will hear and answer back to us, it is clear that a large part of the expert's study must relate to the kind of questions best suited to the temperament and intelligence of orebodies. It will be easier for the ore to, reply to some of our questions than to others, and it is for us to find the right questions. In certain cases, we are-spared the necessity of using a messenger, because nature has already provided one. For example, we already have a terrestrial magnetic field which auto-matically and continually conveys messages from underneath. We also have available the earth's gravitational field which furnishes us

Jan 1, 1927

By Frank Riddle

THE life of thermocouples is governed, to a large extent, by the protection they receive when in use; particularly when the temperatures being measured are high and the products of combustion are reducing in character. Several types of protection tubes are being used for this work; they are made of ordinary and aluminous porcelain, fused quartz, carborundum, fused alumina, fireclay, and some kinds of metal. All of them may render good service under certain conditions but they must be used for the purpose for which they are intended. For example, fused-quartz tubes are very good when excessive changes in temperature occur, but under certain conditions they will crystallize and lose their strength. Porcelain is used in several ways in connection with the use of thermocouples: for insulating the two wires of the couple and to. prevent short circuits; for protecting the entire couple in a refractory gas-tight tube, which is ordinarily fastened to and is considered part of a properly equipped thermocouple; and for protecting the complete thermocouple from the possibility of physical injury and to support it. This tube is made porous and strong and is ordinarily built right into the wall or crown of the furnace, as the case may be. The insulating tubes must be small and sufficiently refractory to withstand the temperatures at which they are to be used. The length of the tubes, porosity of the material from which they are made, etc. does not particularly matter. The tubes are sometimes made with two or even four holes, the latter being used where it is desirable to have two couples as close together as possible for calibration work. The thermocouple protection tube must be of proper size to permit the thermoelements and insulating tubes to be inserted or taken out easily. It must be porous enough to withstand sudden changes in temperature and yet gas-tight, as well as refractory enough to withstand the furnace temperature, even if the tube protrudes into the furnace in a horizontal position without support for a reasonable distance. If the

Jan 9, 1919