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By A. S. Watts

The Bureau of Mines has been conducting an investigation of the feldspar resources of the New England and North Appalachian States with a view to greater efficiency and economy in their utilization. Such an investigation was deemed necessary, not only because of the continued and increasing consumption of these minerals, but especially because of the demand for better technical control of the raw materials that are used by the white-ware industries of the United States. Most manufacturers of white pottery wares have only a limited knowledge of the origin, mode of occurrence, and methods of mining and preparation of the materials that they use. Heretofore, owing to a belief that the supply of raw material was unlimited, the manufacturer had concerned himself chiefly with the solution of the problems of manufacture. Within the past few years, however, it has been found that difficulties arise in manufacture which can be traced beyond the manufacturing process and are believed to be due to a need of better control of the materials used. Furthermore, as competition becomes more severe, more attention must be paid to selection of materials in order to minimize consumption and also to avoid unnecessary expense for transportation of material. Doubtless the lack of interest as regards these details has arisen from the fact that in the past a considerable proportion of the whiteware ingredients has been imported and the manufacturer has been forced to rely on the samples submitted and the general uniformity of the source of supply to insure against variation of the material. An extra precaution arising from this lack of definite knowledge still prevails in the common practice of never depending on one source of supply for anyone ingredient. Often the products of three or more producers are blended so that if anyone shall vary without warning the variation arising from its use will not be sufficient to ruin the ware.

Jan 1, 1916

By Irving D. Cohen

In order to overcome our reliance upon foreign energy sources for both crude supply and finished products, we must realize the goals proposed by Project Independence. In general this involves expanding production of existing and new oil, gas, and coal resources, utilizing and improving nuclear technology and the developing of new energy sources such as solar, geothermal, oil shale, tidal, wind and stimulation techniques. There is a continuing debate, both in the scientific community and the consuming public as to the potentiality of nuclear power generation being cost effective and environmentally and safety conscious. The development of new sources of energy does not occur overnight; it is rather a continuing effort in time and money to achieve the goal of providing energy to an ever increasing demand. The public has been accustomed to the availability of energy whenever and wherever it was needed. The era of "energy gluttony" has begun to fade into the realm of "energy awareness". Unfortunately, it required the action of another country to bring the picture that has been discussed many times in the past by energy suppliers into correct focus. Nevertheless, the public responded by conservation efforts to reduce energy wastefulness. Still, the demand for foreign importation of energy supplies is on the rise. What is our recourse? The largest known unexploited energy resource available in the United States is our coal resources. Moreover, the Department of the Interior has noted that 63 counties in Montana, Wyoming, and the Dakotas hold 60% of the nation's least expensive strip minable coal. This western coal is the most abundant and least costly Fossil Fuel in the United States. It is acknowledged that western coal is an important input in meeting the energy needs of our nation.

Jan 1, 1976

When studying minerals degrees at university, all the emphasis is towards sending the graduates into the bush to work at a remote mine; however, that is not the only option available to new graduates. There are positions in equipment supply companies, commercial laboratories, research organisations, engineering companies and contractors of many types. The aim of this paper is to show metallurgy graduates that there are non-mine site based career options available to them that offer outstanding career development. This is illustrated by outlining the research being undertaken by Magotteaux Australia and by telling the story of a graduate metallurgist working in MagotteauxÆs small research group. Magotteaux is an international supplier of grinding media and wear resistant components for the mining industry. The Australian research group is focused on determining the effects that the choice of grinding media has on subsequent processing, for example flotation and leaching, by using newly developed tools and techniques.

Jan 1, 2006

By R. S. Dean

The work of the metallurgical fundamentals section during the past year, representing active experimental investigation or thermodynamic study, may be summarized as the following problem subjects: 1. Low-temperature specific-heat investigations. 2. Development of a method of concentrating gases. 3. Thermodynamic properties of metallic carbides and nitrides, 4. Production of pure chromium from chromium chlorides. 5. Thermodynamic properties of the hydrates of calcium, sulphate. While this list is not identical, with officially designated problems, due to overlapping of subjects and to new developments within specified problems, presentation upon the basis of this subdivision will best serve to review the work of the section.

Jan 1, 1937

By Haskiel R. Shell

While the original purpose of the Bureau of Mines work on fluorine micas was to synthesize large single crystals or film suitable to replace natural muscovite or phlogopite, the objective was broadened to include development of the many possible fluorine micas as a class of new, unique materials. Several methods were developed for the synthesis of the fluorine micas at atmospheric pressure: Solid state reaction, melting in crucibles, internal resistance electric melting, and arc resistance electric melting. The latter two methods are now med commercially. A variety of fluoromicas were synthesized by isomorphic substitution including disilicic, trisilicic, and tetrasilicic. Fluorophlogopite, KMg3AlSi3O10F2, is the fluoromica most widely used. While most of the fluoromicas are completely stable to water, many water-swelling fluoromicas and fluoromontmorrilonoids were synthesized. Single crystals or film of the fluorine micas were grown to 2 inches or more by a number of methods, but none has as yet proved economical. In the report, detailed data and descriptions are given on compositions, syntheses, products, and uses, and on the properties including physical, dielectric, chemical, X-ray, optical, and structural.

Jan 1, 1969

By Laura E. Beverage

The Changes 2008 Brought -MSHA recently posted a PowerPoint to its website which shows statistical performance information for fiscal years 2000 to 2008. -Interesting statistics: Fatality rate in Coal dropped by nearly 30% (.0348 to .0246 per 10,000 workers)

Jan 1, 2009

By M. Drozd, A. Ibrado, P. Butcher

While effective in treating refractory sulfide ores, pressure oxidation leaves carbonaceous matter unscathed and able to adsorb gold from cyanide solutions. Barrick Goldstrike's strategy to mitigate this problem is to minimize contact between dissolved gold and native carbon in advance of the carbon-in-leach (CIL) process. Measures currently in use include limiting carbonaceous matter in the plant feed by meticulous blending of ore, controlling the degree of oxidation in the autoclaves and blinding native carbon surfaces with lauryl sulfate. The presence of residual cyanide and thiocyanate in the process water remains to be a cause of premature gold dissolution and loss of gold by adsorption on carbonaceous matter. This cyanide is introduced by water that is recycled from the tailing pond. Of several treatment options considered, oxidation by peroxymonosulfuric acid, also known as Caro's acid, is deemed to be the most effective. Laboratory and pilot plant tests show that Caro's acid can oxidize free cyanide, weak¬acid-dissociable (WAD) cyanide and thiocyanate, resulting in significant improvements in gold recovery downstream. The process requires Caro's acid at 125 % of the stoichiometric requirement and pH in the range of 9.5 to 10 to accomplish the desired destruction in about twenty minutes. A cyanide destruction plant is currently being designed and construction should be completed by the end of 2005.

Jan 1, 2005

By William B. Plank

IN this paper are presented the results of a complete statistical survey of the enrolment, courses and degrees, and the employment situation of recent graduates in all of the 46 institutions in the United States, including Alaska, and four of the six schools in Canada that grant degrees in mineral technology. The data were collected by the writer by means of a questionnaire in December, 1933, to which all the institutions, except one, replied. Included also are data of a similar study made by the writer in May, 1933, for the S. P. E. E. summer session of mining and metallurgical teachers at the University of Wisconsin and published in the Journal of Engineering Education for December. 1933. Some of the data of a paper of the writer's entitled, "The Trend of Mineral Engineering Student Enrolment in the United States," read at the A. I. M. E. meeting on Feb. 16. 1931, are given for comparison. Acknowledgment is made to all the administrative officers of the institutions who took the time from their busy lives to supply the in- formation asked for. Their fine cooperation has alone made possible these two surveys with a completeness of detail never before attempted

Jan 1, 1934

By Arístides Sotomayor

El presente texto señala la importancia del oro a nivel financiero y minero ya que los inversionistas suelen utilizar este metal para obtener ganancias debido al mínimo riesgo existente en la pérdida de su valor comparado con otras divisas. Así, se estima que en el Perú, existen 480 unidades mineras de oro, de las cuales 28 concentran cerca del 90% de la producción nacional, como la Minera Yanacocha, Minera Barrick, Compañía de Minas Buenaventura, Consorcio Minero Horizonte, Aruntani y Aurífera Retamas. Entre las dos regiones que producen mayor cantidad de oro está: Cajamarca y La Libertad ( 38%) y la tercera región es Arequipa, seguida por Madre de Dios (9%).

May 1, 2016

By John W. Fredland

Many accidents occur in the mining industry as a result of the instability of material during handling and processing operations. Accidents due to dump point instability at stockpiles, and at spoil or waste piles, for example, occur with alarming frequency. Miners must be trained to be better aware of these hazards. Information on safe working procedures at stockpiles and surge piles is provided. Mine operators must review their training and operating procedures regularly to ensure that hazardous conditions are avoided.

Jan 1, 1993

By AIME AIME

THE following paragraphs, constituting the concluding portion of the Annual Report of the Council for 1903, have been withheld from publication until now, in order to make them as accurate and complete as possible. They will be published in Volume XXXV. of the Transactions in their proper place at the end of the said Annual Report. Franklin Ballou was born in Pittsburg, Pa., May 29, 1845. He was the son of an old resident, Arthur Ballou, a manufacturer and wholesale dealer in vinegar. In early youth Franklin attended the Western University of Pittsburg, but left school at the age of 16 to become book-keeper for his father, upon whose retirement from business, in 1868, he associated himself with Walter C. Childs, of Pittsburg, in the manufac¬ture of furnace-grates and asbestos-cement for blast-furnaces. This firm was known as W. C. Childs & Co., and did a success¬ful business for several years. In 1869 Mr. Ballou married Miss May S. Wilson, daughter of Judge Wilson, of Lewistown, Pa. In 1876 he spent several months traveling in the West and studying the mining industry, which greatly interested him. In consequence of this journey, he wound up his business in Pittsburg and removed in 1877 to Georgetown, Colo., where for several years he conducted a sampling-works, and built up an extensive business as an agent for the sale of ores, besides engaging to some extent in mining enterprises. , It is said that he controlled at one time about one-eighth of the output of the Leadville mines. In the early 80's, he became Vice-President and General Manager of the Bimetallic Smelter at Leadville, of which Mr. David H. Moflat was the principal owner. This was practically the first successful demonstration of pyritic smelting in Colorado. Upon the sale of the works in 1897 to the American Smelting and Refining Co., Mr. Ballou retired

Jan 1, 1905

By J P. Sykes, A Trench

"World-class mine projects are increasingly failing to become world-class mines. Non-technical, socio-political and environmental problems seem, in part, to be the cause. However, the intangible and qualitative nature of these problems means overcoming them will require a greater systemic understanding of how the various technical and non-technical factors interact. This is particularly important as the concept of sustainable development has changed the industry paradigm sufficiently that it is no longer clear what world-class means. Finally, this better systemic understanding of mine projects needs communicating back to the exploration sector to improve exploration targeting.However, a disconnect between the exploration and mining sectors and between geologists and mining’s other professional disciplines means this is currently not possible. The use of economic evaluation techniques to assess the risk and value presented by the various technical and non-technical factors can assist with this by giving the varied professions a common language and including inputs from all disciplines. This paper therefore suggests a theoretical framework for analysing the various technical and non-technical factors, particularly the most challenging intangible and qualitative ones, and incorporating them into the typical economic evaluation techniques used in the mining industry.Understanding the risk and value relating to both technical and non-technical risks, however, places a greater emphasis on mining geologists to be conversant with a wide range of disciplines. Mining geologists will have to develop three types of knowledge:focusedinter-disciplinarybroad. In addition, they will have to become systemic thinkers to connect these types of knowledge. This multidisciplinary approach will require the use of fundamental critical thinking skills, common sense, intuition, experience and quantitative modelling techniques, dependent on the situation. As a result, both companies and professional societies, such as the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, will have to develop ways of improving mining geologists’ inter-disciplinary and broad knowledge.CITATION:Sykes, J P and Trench, A, 2014. Resources versus reserves – towards a systems-based understanding of exploration and mine project development and the role of the mining geologist, in Proceedings Ninth International Mining Geology Conference 2014 , pp 243–270 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne)."

Aug 18, 2014

By M. Hitch, M. B. Lytle

Resource development conflicts arise largely due to differences in worldview between those who support and those who oppose development. This paper illustrates how societies and civilizations with different worldviews produce different levels of creative and economic energy. A questionnaire was created to build a database of responses to test whether worldview and resource development are correlated. Factor and multivariate regression analysis determined correlations for respondent groupings. Results showed a positive correlation between the respondents\u2019 worldviews and their attitudes toward resource development. Correlations became stronger as the homogeneity of the sample subgroups increased.

Jan 1, 2017

By David R. Wilburn

The U.S. Bureau of Mines investigated the resources, costs, capacities, market relationships, and short-and long-term supply of bauxite, alumina, and aluminum. The 45 evaluated mines and deposits in 14 market economy countries (MEC's) have a demonstrated resource of 8.4 billion mt of bauxite and an aluminum content of approximately 2.1 billion mt. Developed world bauxite resources and existing primary aluminum smelting and refining capacity are sufficient to satisfy demand through at least 1995, when additional properties (with higher cost levels) would need to be developed to satisfy future demand levels. It is anticipated that new alumina or aluminum production most likely would occur in developing regions with large bauxite potential, low-cost energy sources, and a close proximity to refining and/or smelting capacity. An increase in aluminum recycling capacity would help meet future demand increases. A series of network model supply analyses was performed for the period 1988 through 2000. Based on announced future production levels and assuming demand grows at the level outlined in the analyses, model results indicate there is sufficient material available to meet demand until 1998, where-upon an aluminum shortfall is projected. Additional analyses investigated the effect of a reduced growth rate of demand and regional production variations in Venezuela on the international aluminum industry.

Jan 1, 1993

By Frederic Dewey

(New York Meeting, February, 1913) This old and well-known method of determining, silver is, in bullion work, so far superior to the furnace-assay that it is looked upon with reverential awe by many, if not by most, users, and its-ease of execution, with proper equipment, commends it highly where much commercial bullion work on silver is required. The method is so thoroughly well known that a, description of it here may seem to be unnecessary, but many thousands of determinations are annually made by it in the U. S. Mint Service and its practice is there reduced to an art. This is necessary both for the sake of economy of time, acid because high-grade work with it requires constant practice. It is useless for a person who uses it only occasionally to expect to attain high accuracy with it, without spending more time upon a determination than is warranted in a busy commercial laboratory. It is always employed in the Mint service whenever possible, but its chief field is in the determination of silver in standard silver (ingots and coin), which is 900 fine in silver and 100 fine in copper, and I shall first briefly outline its use on this metal and then take up various points in detail, especially as related to the accuracy of the results obtained.

Jan 4, 1913

By Lawrence H. Van Vlack, Alfred S. Keh

The distribution of sulfur in iron was found to be dependent upon the time and temperature of the treatment as well as the chemical composition of the sulfide. With higher temperatures, the sulfide phase spreads more extensively between the iron grains. A complete network, however, does not form until approximately 1300°C (2372°F), ot which temperature the dihedral angle approaches zero. Silicon has little effect on this change. Aluminum, oxygen, and manganese all modify the temperature of sulfide network formation to a higher value. The microstructures which result and have significance in relation to hot-shortness are discussed. SULFIDE inclusions in steel were recognized by metallurgists before the turn of the century. Considerable attention has been paid to them, and numerous studies have been made on the working properties of steel as affected by them. It has been suggested that ho t-shortness of steel is due to the presence of an enveloping liquid sulfide film at the grain boundaries of the steel in the range of the hot-working temperatures. However, several facts have been observed in commercial steels which do not seem to be completely consistent with this explanation: 1) the frequent absence of continuous films of sulfide as observed under the microscope, 2) the absence of hot-shortness in some high sulfur and resulfurized steels, and 3) the limitation of hot-shortness to a definite temperature range. The role that manganese plays in steel to eliminate hot-shortness is well known, but the theory behind it is still under question. Moreover, the effect of de-oxidizers such as aluminum and silicon, and the effect of oxygen are still not clearly known. In this study, the effect of heat treatments and of additions of manganese, aluminum, silicon, and oxygen upon the distribution of sulfide inclusions in iron was investigated. Both the as-cast and the heat treated structures were studied, using microscopic and autoradiographic techniques. Part of the results were interpreted in terms of Smith's' concept of microstructure. Review of Literature Metallurgists used to consider sulfide inclusions as suspended particles. It was Wohrman' who first pointed out that sulfide inclusions are soluble in liquid iron. Many observed facts may be understood on the basis of this concept of solubility. Wohrman found that small castings contain small inclusions. and larger castings contain larger ones. Also, inclusion sizes are smaller near the chilled surface. For the same size ingot, the average inclusion size in a given heat of steel depends upon the rate of solidification. That is, with slow solidification, enough time for precipitation and agglomeration of these

Jan 1, 1957

By T. Holmes, J. Middlemiss

"Agnico-Eagle (AE) has been operating their Kittila Mine in Northern Finland since 2008. The mine has experienced considerable ore flow problems with ratholing, bridging and freezing in their mill feed bin since start up. In the first winter of operation, the entire central portion of the contents of the cylindrical flat-bottomed 2000 tonne mill feed bin froze. Flow was erratic and could only be achieved through small diameter ratholes. To maintain a reasonable, albeit limited, feed to the mill, the bin had to be kept less than ½ full and a portable steam generator was brought in to melt the frozen agglomerates that frequently blocked the outlets. The combination of limited surge capacity and frequent outages required the crushing plant to operate 24/7 and resulted in inconsistent production levels and high operating costs.AE had planned to expand the processing plant to increase throughput by about 30% when they transitioned from open pit to underground ore. These plans presented an opportunity to improve the material handling.To avoid the problems experienced with the original mill feed bin, AE enlisted Jenike & Johanson Ltd. (J&J) to test samples of the ore, and based on the measured flow properties to provide design recommendations to ensure that the new mill feed bin would operate reliably. The new 2000 tonne expanded flow mill feed bin and apron feeder were installed in 2014 and are now supplying almost 93% of the total mill feed with the remaining coming from the original bin.IntroductionIn early 2009, AE engaged J&J to visit their then recently opened Kittila mine and mill in Northern Finland (Figure 1). Over the first half-year of operation, production had been restricted in the ore handling and storage system by flow problems such as ratholing, bridging and freezing including blockages of chutes and hoppers as a result of frozen fines buildup and large frozen agglomerates. AE wanted to increase production in the existing open pit mine and mill feed operation and also wanted to avoid similar ore handling problems when they commissioned the new underground mining system under development at that time."

Jan 1, 2017

This briefing was sponsored by the Bureau of Mines to summarize ongoing and recently completed chromium-chromite research and resource assessment activities by the Bureau. Through the series of 18 presentations compiled herein, Bureau personnel covered a wide range of topics including U.S. chromite and chromium trends and usage patterns; foreign and domestic resources; and research activities on mineral characterization and beneficiation, chemical and pryometallurgical processing of chromite and chromium-bearing wastes, new low-chromium alloy and coating substitutes, corrosion- and oxidation-resistant stainless steels, and chromium-containing refractories.

Jan 1, 1986

By T. C. Moore

This report describes the feasibility test of an electromagnetic method for locating boreholes, with or without casing, that have been drilled in conjunction with mining operations but whose location with respect to the tunnel is not precisely known. The first tests were conducted with the cooperation of the Kerr-McGee Corporation, Church Rock Mining Operations, New Mexico, in September 1977. These tests demonstrated that accuracies of better than ±5% of range and ±1° of bearing can be achieved with a simple system and setups. Subsequent tests, in January 1978, on a horizontally drilled pipe line river crossing application, by Titan Contractors of Sacramento, California, demonstrated that accuracies of better than one-half percent of range and a few tenths of one degree of bearing can be achieved by using refined techniques. The demonstration tests were done at ranges on the order of 100 to 200 feet but the method is capable of working at much greater distances.

Jan 1, 1978

The National Mining Hall of Fame and Museum (NMHF&M) will celebrate its 25th anniversary on Sept. 22, 2012 when the 2012 class is inducted during a special ceremony in Las Vegas, NV in conjunction with MINExpo 2012. The NMHF&M will induct four men representing the equipment manufacturing, minerals exploration, copper and coal sectors of the mining industry. The diverse cross-section of mining industry giants joining the hall of fame include Glen A. Barton, J. David Lowell, Samuel Newhouse and John Cleveland Osgood. They will join 214 other mining industry pioneers when they are formally inducted into the National Mining Hall of Fame at the 25th Silver Anniversary Induction Banquet & Ceremony. These men were selected for being visionaries, leaders and ambassadors within their own sectors and across the industry at large.

Jan 1, 2013