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1. Book reviews Geostatistics for natural resources characterization, edited by G. Verly, M. David, A.G. Journel, and A. Marechal. Hingham (MA 02043, U.S.A.), D. Reidel Publishing Co., 1984. Pt I: 606 pp. Pt 11: 518 pp. U.S.$135,50 per set. Reviewer: D.G. Krige Magnesium, the international perspective, by Peter King. London, Financial Times Business Information Ltd, 1984. £120. 147 pp. Reviewer: D.G. Maxwell 2. Mintek reports Report M156 A kinetic study of the reactions of certain gaseous sulphur compounds with iron. Report MI57 Reaction mechanisms in the reduction of Winterveld chrome spinel with graphite and carbon. Report MI72 Computer programmes for the control and datamanipulation of a sequential X-rayfluorescence spectrometer. Report MI77 A proposed test for the determination of the grindabi/ity of fine materials. Report MI86 A survey of the erosion, corrosion, and abrasion of material-handling systems in the mining and mineralprocessing industry. 3. New journal Advanced materials & processes, issued monthly by American Society for Metals (Metals Park, Ohio 44073, U.S.A.). CIM conference The combined 24th Annual Conference of Metallurgists and the 15th Annual Hydrometallurgical Meeting will be held in Vancouver from 18th to 22nd August, 1985. Light metals The 8th International Light Metals Congress will take place from the 22nd to 26th June, 1987. These meetings, which take place traditionally every few years, are organized by the Austrian Metals Industry Association, the Austrian aluminium industry, and the University for Mining and Metallurgy in Leoben, in collaboration with the Aluminium-Zentrale Diisseldorf. President of AS&TS* Mr Arthur Woodington Reynolds (Sam) took office as President of The Associated Scientific and Technical Societies of South Africa on 28th November, 1984. Sam Reynolds was born in Boksburg on 27th December, 1930, and received his education at Christian Brothers College in Boksburg and at St John's College in Johannesburg. World mining Sweden, Finland, and Norway expect representatives of all mining countries in May-June 1987 to the 13th World Mining Congress in Stockholm. The Swedish Mining Association, the Finnish Association of Mining and Metallurgical Engineers, and The Association of Norwegian Mines will organize the Congress, together with the International Organizing Committee of the World Mining Congress. Sheet metal The German Group of the International Deep Drawing Research Group (IDDRG) will be organizing the 14th Biennial Congress of the IDDRG on 21st to 26th April, 1986, in Cologne and Munich. Safety in mines The 21st International Conference of Safety in Mines Research Institutes is to be held in Sydney from 20th to 25th October, 1985. ILAF A conferences The Instituto Latinoamericano del Fierro y el Acero (ILAFA) has scheduled the following congresses for 1985. Mechanical testing of materials The Deutsche Gesellschaft fiir Metallkunde, together with the Deutschen Verband fiir Materialpriifung and the Fachhochschule Osnabriick, is holding a course on the methods used for the mechanical testing of materials at Osnabriick from 9th to 11th September, 1985. Mine ventilation The Second U.S. Mine Ventilation Symposium will be presented from 23rd to 25th September, 1985, in Reno, Nevada, by the University of Nevada-Reno's Mackay School of Mines and Division of Continuing Education.

Jan 1, 1985

1. Book reviews Physiochemical properties of molten slags and glasses, by E.T. Turkdogan. London, Metals Society, 1983.516 pp. £35. Reviewer: A.F .S. Scboukens Microstructural characterisation of metals and alloys, by P.E.J. Flewitt and R.K. Wild. London, Institute of Metals, 1984. £14. Reviewer: M.P. Sbaw Metallurgical applications of magnetohydrodynamics, edited by H.K. Moffatt and M.R.E. Proctor. London, Metals Society, 1984.346 pp. U.K. £35, U.S. $70. Reviewer: N.A. Barcza Extractive metallurgy symposium. Proceedings of a meeting on 12-14 November, 1984, organised by the Melbourne Branch. Parkville (Victoria), Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, 1985. Reviewer: B.K. Loveday Conference on gold mining, metallurgy and geology. Proceedings of a meeting on 9-11 October, 1984, organisedby the Perth and Kalgoorlie Branch. Parkville (Victoria), Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, 1985. Reviewer: B.K. Loveday Corporate policies for the 1980's in the steel industry, by Patrick Genevaz in collaboration with B.A. Bloom. La Chambre des Cartes, 26 rue de Piepus, 75012 Paris (France). U.S.$7oo, additional copies $140. Reviewer: D.C. Maree Mineral processing technology, by B.A. Wills. Oxford, Pergamon Press, 1984 (3rd edition). 629 pp. Hard cover £31.50, soft cover £9.75. Reviewer: B.K. Loveday Ma1lllgement information-ma1lllging for improYement, volume 2: symposium proceedings and additional papers. edited by M. Hammond. Doncaster (England), The Institution of Mining Engineers, 1984. 86 pp. £60 for vols. 1 and 2 (124 pp.). Reviewer: M.J .R. Meyer 2. Recent publications Tins and its and its uses no. 144, 1985. This issue by the International Tin Research Institute (Fraser Road, Greenford, Middlesex, UB6 7AQ, Canadian minerals yearbook 1983-84. Department of Energy, Mines and Resources Canada, Mineral Report 33. Ottawa, Canadian Government Publishing Centre, 1985. $35.40. 82 Year 1984, edited by 1.0. Jones and RM. Louthean. Kalgoorlie (Australia), Western Australian School of Mines, 1985. 100 pp. Johnson Matthey Chemicals 1984-85, issued by Matthey Catalogue Sales (Orchard Road, Royston, Hertfordshire SG8 SHE, England). 416 pp. South Africa's mineral industry 1984. Johannesburg, Minerals Bureau, 1985. 190 pp. Coal 1985. Operating and developing coal mines in the Republic of South Africa. Johannesburg, Minerals Bureau, Directory 2/8S. 1985. 72 pp. Gold 1985. Operating gold mines and gold recovery plants in the Republic of South Africa. Johannesburg, Minerals Bureau, Directory 3/8S. 98 pp. 3. New journal Pergamon Press, New York, have announced the publication of a new quarterly known as the International Journal of Plasticity. 4. Mintek reports Report M93D Hydrochloric acid leaching and low-temperature roasting of tin-tungsten concentrates from Van Roois Vley. (First issued April 1983.) Report M99D The upgrading of coarse kyanite crystals. (First issued Report M105D The development and installation of a microcomputer based data logger, and the analysis and evaluation of data. (First issued July 1983.) Report M109D The remelting ofsi/iconfines. (First issued July 1983.) Report M180 An assessment of available corrosion inhibitors for the reticulation systems of South African gold mines. Report MW1 Quantitative assessments of abrasive and impactive wear from ball-size distributions in rotary mills.

Jan 1, 1985

By T. B. Beeton

In view of the limited reserves of good-quality coking coals in South Africa, Iscor has been involved in direct reduction since the middle sixties. Since the early seventies, its interest in direct reduction was stimulated further by a swing towards' continuous casting, which, in turn, contributed to a shortage of the scrap supply for electric-arc-furnace (EAP) steelmaking. Rock engineering The First International Conference-Rock Enginet:ring and Excavation in an Urban Environmentorganized by The Institution of Mining and Metallurgy and the Hong Kong Section of the Institution, in association with the Hong Kong Institution of Engineers, will be held in Hong Kong from 23rd to 28th February, 1986. SPOTLIGHT on Gold Fields National Engineering Awards For the Gold Fields Foundation National Engineering Awards, each university affiliated to the South African Federation of University Engineering Students (S.A.F.U.E.S.) selected a candidate who, in their opinion, presented the most outstanding design project in their final year during 1984.

Jan 1, 1985

By B. K. Loveday

A Colloquium on 'Control and Simulation in the Minerals Industry' was held at the Holiday Inn, Milner Park, on 20th September, 1984, in conjunction with the Electra Mining Exhibition. A total of 170 persons attended the very full morning programme, which began with an opening address by the President, The South African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, Mr l.D. Austin. He outlined the reasons why computers were being used to an ever-increasing extent for control and simulation in the minerals industry. The computer was even used to check, among other things, the validity of the signals it was receiving by mass-balance calculations.

Jan 1, 1985

By H. E. James

Much has been said and written about the need to reduce South Africa's dependence on gold. To compensate for the decline in the country's foreign-exchange earnings resulting from the phasing out of gold, which must inevitably occur at some future date, a far higher priority will have to be placed on the mining, beneficiation, and export of the 59 other mineral commodities produced in South Africa. The basic strategy of the mining and metallurgical industries should be to move from the traditional approach of establishing a resource base to the establishment of a market base; to turn from production orientation to market orientation; and to rely less on exploration and economies of scale and more on process innovation and product development. The enthusiasm, entrepreneurial spirit, and commitment of the leaders in the mining and metallurgical industry will clearly be of decisive importance in the establishment of new industries for the beneficiation and export of added-value mineral-based products. The State can make a significant contribution by the provision of a welldeveloped and efficient infrastructure, including rail and harbour facilities, communications and health services, roads, and of electricity and water supplies. In our search for a new development strategy for the beneficiation and export of South Africa's minerals, we need to recognize that no one nation has all the mineralresources that it needs. Commercial and strategic manipulation of mineral supplies should no longer be tolerated. The future of the human species lies in international cooperation and in a greater understanding of the limitations of the world we live in.

Jan 1, 1985

By O. Steffen

Two Schools on 'Rock Mechanics in Mine Management' were held at the University of the Witwatersrand from 23rd January to 3rd February, 1984. The School was originally perceived as a repetition of the Rock Mechanics School held in 1978.

Jan 1, 1984

By G. Peinaar

Superhardening is a new development by which a substantial increase in hardenability above the normal can be achieved in Iow-alloy steels. This paper concerns the reversible temper-embrittlement behaviour of steels with a superhardenability characteristic. Steels of type BS 530A40 with manganese modifications varying from 0,72 to 1,27 per cent in the superhardenable and conventional condition were compared. It was concluded that superhardenability in itself does not affect the susceptibility of a particular steel to temper embrittlement. However, an increase in manganese content, which was intended to increase the base hardenability of the steel, caused serious deterioration of the temper-embrittlement properties. As the use of manganese, chromium, and nickel to increase base hardenability results in an increase in susceptibility to temper embrittlement, it is suggested that this effect should be countered by the addition of 0,2 to 0,3 per cent molybdenum.

Jan 1, 1984

By J. D. Austin

Currency fluctuations affect the rand revenues of all exports of mineral commodities, as well as influencing their price on local markets. Of the more than 50 mineral commodities produced by South Africa, about 75 per cent derive 40 to 100 per cent of their revenues from exports. . Although supply and demand are largely beyond its control, management can maximize its revenues despite fluctuating overseas prices and exchange rates by using the right market at the right time. Management can operate in the futures markets, which involve a specific commitment to deliver a specific quantity of a standardized commodity at a set time in the future and at a price that is determined on a futures exchange in open auction; or management can use the options market, in which a producer can insure against the risk of a falling price by taking out a put-option, which gives the holder the right (but not the obligation) to sell the commodity at a stated price at an agreed time in the future. In the forward markets, management has three available tools; forward currency transactions, trading of currency options, and money market hedges. Revenues, currencies of exchange earnings, purchasing power of the rand, and world price trends are shown in over 40 diagrams and tables for the main mineral commodities produced in South Africa.

Jan 1, 1984

Dr J. P. Hugo, Pr. Eng., after obtaining a B.Sc. (Eng.) in Metallurgical Engineering at the University of the Witwatersrand in 1948, gained about 9 months' practical experience in a British steelworks, followed by post-graduate studies at Sheffield University, leading to a Ph.D. (Metallurgy) in 1953. Mr G. Y. Nisbet, Pr. Eng., holds a B.sc. (Min.) from the University of the Witwatersrand (1948) and a P.M.D. from Harvard University, U.S.A. (1966). On graduating, he was awarded the Chamber of Mines' Gold Medal. Professor D. G. Krige, holds a D.Sc. (Eng.) from the University of the Witwatersrand (1963) and a D.Ing. (H.C.) from the University of Pretoria (1981). Dr P. T. Wedepohl holds a B.Sc. (Hons.) from the University of the Witwatersrand (1953) and a Ph.D. from the University of Reading, England (1958).

Jan 1, 1984

By Colin M. Spence

The Federation of Societies of Professional Engineers (FSPE), in collaboration with the Habitat Council and the Environmental Planning Professions Interdisciplinary Committee (EPPIC), held a Symposium on 'Engineering our Environment' at the Rand Afrikaans University on 5th June, 1984, under the chairmanship of Mr Colin M. Spence, Vice-President, to commemorate World Environment Day.

Jan 1, 1984

By T. R. Twiddle

The sequential flotation of copper, lead, and zinc in that order is practised at the Broken Hill Concentrator of the Black Mountain Mineral Development Company (Pty) Limited. The minerals of economic importance are chalcopyrite, galena, and sphalerite, with associated silver. The targets for recovery and grade in the lead and zinc circuits were reached quite readily after start-up, but the copper circuit failed to meet the performance requirements with respect to both recovery' and grade. The original circuit for copper is described, together with the subsequent investigations and modifications that were required to produce acceptable metallurgical results. Circuits for semi-bulk and bulk flotation were tried, and the effect of the oxidation state of the pulp was investigated extensively and found to be all important. Tests were conducted on the depression of lead in the cleaning circuit by the use of sodium dichromate, and on heating with the addition of sulphurous acid. The latter technique was ultimately the more successful. The proportion of fresh to recycle water entering the circuit was shown to be important. The original reagent regime was altered and augmented. A more recent problem has been the contamination of the ore with cemented backfill. The changes that this new condition necessitated are described. Success has been measured by a continuous improvement in the economics of the copper recovery.

Jan 1, 1984

By N. T. Halgreen

The use of coal for combustion, carbonization, and the production of synthetic fuel is discussed briefly, highlighting the effect of certain physical and chemical properties of coal on these processes. The effect of consumer specifications of properties such as calorific value, ash content, moisture content, and size consist on the planning and operation of a mine are discussed, including the influence of coal degradation through time or mechanical means. The effects of various mining methods on these parameters and on the utilization of coal reserves are discussed.

Jan 1, 1984

By P. J. D. Lloyd

This fascinating paper deserves study by all who are interested in the economics of gold production. The argument in the paper that price is determined by the balance between supply and demand may be thought to be obvious. However, correlation analysis presumes causality, and there is some evidence in the paper to suggest that causality is absent in this market.

Jan 1, 1984

By H. M. Friede

A study was made of the smelting process in two experimental furnaces patterned on Iron Age furnaces excavated at Melville Koppies Nature Reserve, Johannesburg. In a number of smelting experiments, the influences of air supply, temperature, time of operation, fuel consumption, and other operational factors were investigated. Metallurgical and metallographic aspects of the furnace operation and smelting products are discussed, and the experiments are compared with similar research work conducted in Europe and Africa.

Jan 1, 1984

By J. D. Flint

The geological conditions in the Vierfontein area ~re such that conventional pillar extraction ~stooping) cannot be practised safely or efficiently. Both the open-end lift and the pocket-and-fender methods of pillar extraction have been tried with little success because of problems with roof control and ground stability. The main reasons for the difficulties are the coarse-grained sandstone roof, local weaknesses in the coal seam, and the rate at which the pillars were extracted. The mine has practised bord-and-pillar mining since it started production in 1952, and considerable reserves of coal are contained in the pillars. As an alternative to total pillar extraction, in which hand-loading methods were practised, a system of partial pillar extraction using mechanized-mining methods ~11"modified goaf-line support has been evolved. These remnant coal pillars (snooks) remaining after partial extraction ofthe pillar, together with the installation of 1,2 m" matpacks and a double line of fullcolumn resin roofbolts, ensure control of the edge of the area that has been mined out (goaf). Where roof conditions preclude the use of conventional pillar-extraction methods, this method holds promise as a safe and efficient alternative for the recovery of coal from pillars and for an increase in the volumetric extraction of the reserves within a mining panel.

Jan 1, 1984

The imbalance between the coal resources contained in thin seams (1,5 m or less) and the production from them is outlined. It is suggested that an Increase In the exploitation of thin coal seams is necessary, and that drum-type continuous miners can produce a substantial amount of any increase. Continuous miners are employed in a number of mining methods including bord-and-pillar, pillar extraction (stooping), rib-pillar extraction, and shortwalling. These techniques of mining are evaluated with respect to production rates and the cost of extraction for South African conditions included in these evaluations are the types of equipment used to transport coal from the mining machine to the section conveyor belt. Computer simulation techniques are used to generate the required production levels, and interpretations are made of other results from the computer modelling. For thin, coal seams, bord-and-pillar mining utilizing continuous haulage is apparently the most productive and cost-effective of all the methods using the continuous miner. The relative efficiencies of the other techniques of mining and of coal-transportation vehicles are also outlined.

Jan 1, 1984

Results are presented on the elution of gold cyanide and base-metal cyanide complexes from strongand weakbase resins. It is shown that thiocyanate anions, zinc cyanide anions, and thiourea in acid solution are effective eluants of strong-base resins, but that it is generally necessary for electrowinning to be incorporated in the elution cycle if fast rates of elution are to be achieved. Weakbase resins are eluted with sodium hydroxide solution, which is shown to be far simpler and far more effective than the elution of strong-base resins. The effects of parameters such as concentration of the eluant, temperature, and electrowinning efficiency on the rate of elution of the resins are examined.

Jan 1, 1984

The winners of the Delfos and Atlas Copco Travel Grant for Mining Engineers were announced at a cocktail party hosted by Mr Mario Pellegrino, Managing Director of Delfos and Atlas Copco, at the Sandton Sun Hotel on Friday evening, 18th May, 1984.

Jan 1, 1984

This paper describes the operating practice and design features of an intensive-cyanidation plant at the East Gold Plant of Vaal Reefs Exploration and Mining Company Limited (V.R.E.M.). After the development oh cyanidation route for the treatment of gold-plant gravity concentrates by the Anglo American Research laboratories (A.A.R.L.), a full scale plant was commissioned at Western Holdings (Welkom Division) Gold Mine in March 1977, and the V.R.E.M. plant was commissioned in August 1981. Although the gravity-concentration route does not now enjoy the prominence of former times, in an existing conventional plant the intensive-cyanidation route can successfully replace mercury amalgamation.

Jan 1, 1984

By A. M. Sage

This paper reviews the metallurgical functions of vanadium in high-strength Iow-alloy steels, and discusses the ways in which vanadium is used in various types of steel supplied as reinforcing bars, plates, sections, and strip. Potential developments to meet new engineering requirements are discussed briefly.

Jan 1, 1984