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By L. D. Frink

Those actively interested in mining are fully aware of the ever-increasing difficulty of making conditions such that efficient work can be done in underground openings, especially as higher rock temperatures are encountered in depth. This is also true where an effort is being made to cut down the burden of overhead expense by working headings 24 hr. in a day if blasting is done as often as is possible in that time. That the conditions resulting from both these causes have driven the native-born Americans from the mines and that their places have been taken by less efficient foreigners is a fact that we must all admit. The great war now being fought in Europe and the educational qualification clause written into our immigration law by the last Congress will probably limit very materially the supply of labor, such as we are now using in our mines, and will force upon mine operators the necessity of making this work appeal again to Americans. Metal tubing, with blower or exhaust fans, has long been used in supplying air to dead ends where natural ventilation is impossible, or in driving the smoke from such places, or in doing both, as the need might be. Here in Butte we have now come to use canvas tubing very extensively and find that it has many advantages not possessed by the metal. The use of flexible tubing is not new, but it has not been generally used in mining operations. Recent improvements, however, in the canvas itself and in the jointing of sections and manner of suspension have so increased its usefulness that it promises to add much to the efficiency of mining. There is now on the market a product that is impervious to air, is fireproof, and has a system of jointing which permits it to be put up or taken down in a few seconds. In this article an effort will be made to explain the manner in which canvas tubing is being used in the North Butte company's operations at Butte, Mont. The accompanying photographs will, I hope, help make clear what may be done with this material.

Jan 1, 1918

By John S. Crandall

THE mineral garnet, while ordinarily considered a semiprecious gem stone or a second-grade industrial gem, has also proved itself in the field of industrial abrasives. Its use is well known as a sandpaper grain, and as a sandblasting sand its qualities are rapidly becoming recognized in more and more industries. Production of garnet as an abrasive is confined chiefly to two areas in the United States, North Creek, N. Y., where the Barton Mines Corp. operates, and Emerald Creek, Benewah County, Idaho, where Occurrence: Garnets in the Emerald Creek area occur as disseminated crystals in beds of micaceous schists of the Belt Series, which in this section are estimated to be close to 4000 ft thick. The schists are high in alumina and silica with iron, manganese, and magnesium. Subjection of the original sediments to high temperatures and pressures caused metamorphism to take place with the resultant re-crystallization of high alumina-silica minerals such as garnet, mainly spessartite and almandite varieties, cyanite, sillimanite, chlorite, actinolite, tourmaline, biotite, and muscovite, with minor amounts of ilmenite and magnetite. Quartz is also present in considerable amounts. Fast erosion of the soft mica schists on exposure to weathering has created extensive alluvial deposits containing up to 10 pct garnet having a maximum grain size of 3/16 in. These alluvial sands and gravels are now being treated for the recovery of garnet sands. Treatment: Overburden of 1 to 4 ft must be stripped to expose the garnetiferous gravels. This operation and the subsequent feeding of the gravels to a trommel-screen washing plant are performed by a % yd dragline. The trommel-screen openings are 3/16 in., thus allowing a separation and concentration based on grain size, since over 95 pct of total free garnets are minus 3/16 in. All plus 3/16-in. material is wasted at this point. The minus 3/16-in. material is further concentrated in a sand-drag classifier, where the slimes and silts are washed out and wasted. The sand product from the classifier varies in garnet content from 20 to 60 pct according to the particular section of ground being worked. This sand product is trucked to a jig plant where two sized fractions are made in a trommel-screen. The minus 3/16-in. plus 10-mesh portion is fed to a Pan-American two cell 42-in. jig. The minus 10-mesh portion is treated in a Bendelari three cell 42-in. jig. The jig concentrates are combined to form a 98 pct garnet sand. The jig tailings contain 3 to 5 pct garnet which is mainly flat crystals and chips which will not settle into the jig hutch. Subsequent treatment of these tailings in a scavenger jig followed by drying and electromagnetic separation will, according to tests, reduce the garnet losses in the tailings to something around 1 pct. Jig treatment of this feed approaches ideal as the major portion of the garnet crystals are the natural dodecahedrons and so are, in general, close to spherical. The specific gravity of pure garnet is 4.2, while the next heaviest mineral in the feed is cyanite with a specific gravity of 3.6, then quartz with specific gravity of 2.6. The garnet concentrate is practically free of quartz. The predominant impurity is cyanite which amounts to about 1.5 pct. The rod-like crystals of cyanite appear to up-end in the jig and go into the hutch with the garnets. Some ilmenite and magnetite appear in the concentrate but in very minor amounts. Subsequent washing in a sand-drag classifier removes fine silts and iron oxides. The gravel feed to the washing plant will average 8 pct recoverable garnet content. Concentration ratio in this plant runs about 2.5 to 1. Washing-plant concentrate as fed to the jigs will average 45 pct garnet by weight. Concentration ratio of jigging runs about 2.2 to 1. The garnet concentrate is dried in a rotary oil-fired drier and then fed to vibrating screens in closed circuit with crushing rolls. Practically any grit from 10-mesh down to 150-mesh grain size may be graded to specifications in two 3-deck vibrating screens. The present production, however, is approximately 75 pct No. 36, 15 pct No. 60. and the balance No. 80 and No. 100. Metal-screen cloth is used for sizes down to 36 mesh. From 36 mesh and finer, silk-screen cloth is used since it has less tendency to blind. All garnet sand is bagged in 100 lb self-sealing, sleeve-type paper bags. Practically all shipments are made in carload lots. Car loading is convenient since the plant is in Fernwood on the tracks of a branch line of the Milwaukee railroad. Truck shipments can and are made occasionally.

Jan 1, 1951

By John S. Crandall

THE mineral garnet, while ordinarily considered a semiprecious gem stone or a second-grade industrial gem, has also proved itself in the field of industrial abrasives. Its use is well known as a sandpaper grain, and as a sandblasting sand its qualities are rapidly becoming recognized in more and more industries. Production of garnet as an abrasive is confined chiefly to two areas in the United States, North Creek, N. Y., where the Barton Mines Corp. operates, and Emerald Creek, Benewah County, Idaho, where Occurrence: Garnets in the Emerald Creek area occur as disseminated crystals in beds of micaceous schists of the Belt Series, which in this section are estimated to be close to 4000 ft thick. The schists are high in alumina and silica with iron, manganese, and magnesium. Subjection of the original sediments to high temperatures and pressures caused metamorphism to take place with the resultant re-crystallization of high alumina-silica minerals such as garnet, mainly spessartite and almandite varieties, cyanite, sillimanite, chlorite, actinolite, tourmaline, biotite, and muscovite, with minor amounts of ilmenite and magnetite. Quartz is also present in considerable amounts. Fast erosion of the soft mica schists on exposure to weathering has created extensive alluvial deposits containing up to 10 pct garnet having a maximum grain size of 3/16 in. These alluvial sands and gravels are now being treated for the recovery of garnet sands. Treatment: Overburden of 1 to 4 ft must be stripped to expose the garnetiferous gravels. This operation and the subsequent feeding of the gravels to a trommel-screen washing plant are performed by a % yd dragline. The trommel-screen openings are 3/16 in., thus allowing a separation and concentration based on grain size, since over 95 pct of total free garnets are minus 3/16 in. All plus 3/16-in. material is wasted at this point. The minus 3/16-in. material is further concentrated in a sand-drag classifier, where the slimes and silts are washed out and wasted. The sand product from the classifier varies in garnet content from 20 to 60 pct according to the particular section of ground being worked. This sand product is trucked to a jig plant where two sized fractions are made in a trommel-screen. The minus 3/16-in. plus 10-mesh portion is fed to a Pan-American two cell 42-in. jig. The minus 10-mesh portion is treated in a Bendelari three cell 42-in. jig. The jig concentrates are combined to form a 98 pct garnet sand. The jig tailings contain 3 to 5 pct garnet which is mainly flat crystals and chips which will not settle into the jig hutch. Subsequent treatment of these tailings in a scavenger jig followed by drying and electromagnetic separation will, according to tests, reduce the garnet losses in the tailings to something around 1 pct. Jig treatment of this feed approaches ideal as the major portion of the garnet crystals are the natural dodecahedrons and so are, in general, close to spherical. The specific gravity of pure garnet is 4.2, while the next heaviest mineral in the feed is cyanite with a specific gravity of 3.6, then quartz with specific gravity of 2.6. The garnet concentrate is practically free of quartz. The predominant impurity is cyanite which amounts to about 1.5 pct. The rod-like crystals of cyanite appear to up-end in the jig and go into the hutch with the garnets. Some ilmenite and magnetite appear in the concentrate but in very minor amounts. Subsequent washing in a sand-drag classifier removes fine silts and iron oxides. The gravel feed to the washing plant will average 8 pct recoverable garnet content. Concentration ratio in this plant runs about 2.5 to 1. Washing-plant concentrate as fed to the jigs will average 45 pct garnet by weight. Concentration ratio of jigging runs about 2.2 to 1. The garnet concentrate is dried in a rotary oil-fired drier and then fed to vibrating screens in closed circuit with crushing rolls. Practically any grit from 10-mesh down to 150-mesh grain size may be graded to specifications in two 3-deck vibrating screens. The present production, however, is approximately 75 pct No. 36, 15 pct No. 60. and the balance No. 80 and No. 100. Metal-screen cloth is used for sizes down to 36 mesh. From 36 mesh and finer, silk-screen cloth is used since it has less tendency to blind. All garnet sand is bagged in 100 lb self-sealing, sleeve-type paper bags. Practically all shipments are made in carload lots. Car loading is convenient since the plant is in Fernwood on the tracks of a branch line of the Milwaukee railroad. Truck shipments can and are made occasionally.

Jan 1, 1951

By P. K. Lucke

ONE of the interesting features connected with the great continental uplift, which formed the table land of Mexico, is the great depth to which oxidation and secondary enrichment of orebOdies occurred. This table land lies at altitudes ranging from 4000 to. 7000 ft. (1219 to 2133 m.) above sea level. Several cases could be cited of oxidized zones in copper and lead mines which reached depths of upward of 1500 ft. (457 m.) below the surface, and it is universally admitted that the oxidized zone in a mine is limited by the permanent water level. FIG. 1. Mexico, however, like many other countries in which deserts occur, is visited at rare intervals by tremendous floods, which sometimes cause variable water levels over long periods. The following cases bear out the idea, and lead to interesting conclusions of commercial value. My paper demonstrates that carbonates of ores may occur below water level and sulphides above, and I will endeavor to explain the causes of the phenomena in certain specific instances.

Jan 6, 1918

[Alphabetic Section: The letter immediately following a member's name indicates grade: M-member, A-associate, J-junior. The numerals following member's grade indicate year of election. The letter following year of election indicates primary divisional affiliation: A. Mining & Exploration F. Coal B. Minerals Beneficiation G. Petroleum C. Iron and Steel H. Industrial Minerals D. Extractive Metallurgy J. Council of Education E. Institute of Metals K. Council of Economics Geographic Section: An asterisk (*) preceding a member's name indicates availability for consulting work:]

Jan 1, 1961

By P. K. Lucke

One of the interesting features connected with the great continental uplift, which formed the table land of Mexico, is the great depth to which oxidation and secondary enrichment of orebodies occurred. This table land lies at altitudes ranging from 4000 to 7000 ft. (1219 to 2133 m.) above sea level. Several cases could be cited of oxidized zones in copper and lead mines which reached depths of upward of 1500 ft. (457 m.) below the surface, and it is universally admitted that the oxidized zone in a mine is limited by the permanent water level. Mexico, however, like many other countries in which deserts occur, is visited at rare intervals by tremendous floods, which sometimes cause variable water levels over long periods. The following cases bear out the idea, and lead to interesting conclusions of commercial value. My paper demonstrates that carbonates of ores may occur below water level and sulfides above, and I will endeavor to explain the causes of the phenomena in certain specific instances. Case I.—Fig. 1 in this case shows that sulfides of lead remained

Jan 1, 1920

Executive HOWARD N. EAVENSON, Chairman FREDERICK M. BECKET EDGAR RICKARD ERLE V. DAVELER WILLIAM WRAITH Finance HENRY KRUMB, Chairman PAUL I). MERICA J. V. W. REYNDERS H. G. MOULTON, Consultant Admissions JOHN M. LOVEJOY, Chairman GEORGE D. BARRON DONALD M. LIDDELL ELI T. CONNER WILLIAM W. LYNCH Alternates WM. H. BASSETT, JR. L. B. LINDEMUTH W. A. SINSHEIMER

Jan 1, 1934

By executive order of the President, dated June 25, 1918, the investigation of matters relating to gas warfare, which had been initiated by the Director of the U. S. Bureau of Mines early in 1917, and had been continuously maintained and improved since, that time, was transferred to the recently created Division of Gas Warfare of the War Department. On the occasion of this transfer, both the President and the Secretary of War took occasion to speak most highly of the efficient service that had been rendered by the Bureau of Mines. It gives us great pleasure to reproduce here a letter from the President and from the Secretary of War, bearing on this subject and also to append a brief review of the work of the Bureau of Mines, prepared by its Director, Mr. Van H. Manning. The White House, Washington. June 26, 1918. MY DEAR MR. MANNING: I have had before me for some days the-question presented by the Secretary of War involving the transfer of the chemical section established by you at the American University from the Bureau of Mines to the newly organized Division-of Gas Warfare in which the War Department is now concentrating all the various facilities for offensive and defensive gas operations. I am satisfied that a more efficient organization can he effected by having these various activities under one direction and control, and my hesitation about acting in the matter has grown only out of a reluctance to take away from the Bureau of Mines a piece of work which thus far it has so effectively performed. The Secretary of War has assured me of his own recognition of the splendid work you have been able to do, and I am taking the liberty of enclosing a letter which I have received from him, in order that you may-see how fully the War Department recognizes the value of the services. I am to-day signing the order directing the transfer. I want, however, to express to you my own-appreciation of the fine and helpful piece of work which you-have-done, and to. say that this sort of team work by the bureaus outside of the direct war-making agency is one of the cheering and gratifying evidences of the way our official forces are inspired by the presence of a great national task. Cordially yours, Dr. Van. H. Manning, WOODROW WILSON. Chief, Bureau of Mines, Department of the Interior. War Department, Washington, June 25, 1918. MY DEAR MR. PRESIDENT: In connection with the proposed transfer of the chemical section at. American University from the Bureau of Mines to the newly constituted and consolidated Gas Service of the War Department, which you are considering, I am specially concerned to have you know how much the War Department appreciates the splendid services which have been rendered to the country and to the Army by the Department of the Interior, and especially by the Bureau of Mines under the direction of Dr. Manning. In the early days of preparation and organization, Dr. Manning's contact with scientific men throughout the country was indispensably valuable. He was able to summon from the universities and the technical laboratories of the country men of the highest quality and to inspire them with enthusiastic zeal in attacking new and difficult problems which had to be solved with the utmost speed. I do not see how the work could have been better done than he did it, and the present suggestion that the section now pass under the direction and control of the War Department grows out of the fact that the whole subject of gas warfare has assumed a fresh pressure and intensity, and the director of it must have the widest control so as to be able to use the resources at his command in the most effective way possible. The proposal does not involve the disruption of the fine group of scientific men Dr. Manning has brought together, but merely their transfer to General Sibert's direction. Respectfully yours, NEWTON D. BAKER.

Jan 9, 1918

NEW MEMBERS The following list comprises the names of those persons who became members during the period Dec. 10, 1918, to Jan. 10, 1919. ADAMS, W. W., Mine Supt., Cia. Minera Paloma y Cabrillas, Higueras,,Coah., Mexico. ANKENY, CLEMENT W., Golden Cycle Min. & Reduction Co., Colorado Springs, Colo. ARGUE, WILLIAM H Mech. Engr., Ohio Brass Co;, Mansfield, Ohio. ARTHUR, WALTER Chem. and Met., Garford Motor Truck Co., Lima, Ohio. BANGSER, WILLIAM, Supt., Treatment Dept., Bethlehem Steel CO., Bethlehem, Pa. BEACH, C: S Asst. Supt. and Engr., Kemmerer Coal Co., Frontier, Wyo. BEAVER, A. B., Chem. and Engr. of Tests, National Cash Register Co., Dayton, Ohio. BORRIES, WILLIAM J., Min. Engr., Gen'l Mgr., American Zinc & Slate Co., Picher, Okla. BOTSFORD, CLARENCE A., Acting Gen'1 Mgr., Mogollon Mines Co., Mogollon, N. M. BOTSFORD, GEORGE B., Asst. Supt., Sunrise Iron Mines, Colorado Fuel &. Iron Co., Sunrise,. Wyo. COLLINS, GEORGE N., Mine Shift Boss, New York & Honduras Rosario Min. Co., San Juancito, Honduras, Central America. COTS, HOMER, Resident Engr., Arkansas and Oklahoma Dist., Central Coal & Coke Co., Huntington, Ark. CRICHTON, WALTER CREIG, Min.. Engr., 20S Charleston National Bank, Charleston, W. Va.

Jan 2, 1919

By John McDonald

THIS report is a continuation of an earlier one with a similar title,1 to which the reader is referred for such details of procedure as do not appear here. A brief summary will be given of the objects and methods of the research at this time. It was pointed out in the previous paper that properties of magnesium alloys, as re-ported by different workers, often differ. This was thought to be due to differences in the preparation of the specimens tested. The ideal way to compare alloys would be to prepare each of them in so many ways that reasonable assurance would exist that the best properties of each alloy had been developed. The alloys would then be com-pared on the basis of these properties. The treatment actually given the alloys of these studies is necessarily a compromise with completeness. Nevertheless, enough treatments have been given so that a con-siderable degree of assurance exists that the properties obtained are representative of the alloy as such, and not merely of the manner in which it was worked and heat-treated.

Jan 1, 1940

NEW MEMBERS The following list comprises the names of those persons who became members during the period July 10, 1919, to August 10, 1919. BALL, C. LEONARD.. Cons. Engr., Suffern Co., Inc., 135 Broadway, New York, N. Y. BARRY, CHARLES W Box 502, Idaho Springs, Colo. BATTLE, JOEL ALLAN, JR., Min. Engr., U.S. Bureau of Mines, Room 2114, Interior Bldg., Washington., D. C. BEER, GUIDO, Compagnia. Italian, Dir Bronzi Speciali, C. I., B. S. La Direzione, Italy. BITLER, WILLIAM F., Management of Coal Properties, The Provident Life & Trust Co. of Philadelphia, 409 Chestnut St., Philadelphia, Pa. BLOOM, SETH W., Chief Engr,, Northwestern Min. & Exchange Co., 130 E. Sribner Ave., Du Bois, Pa. BOYDELL, W. Guy B., Min. Engr., Tul Mi Chung Mine, Care Seoul Min. Co. Whang Hai Do, Chosen. Korea. BRYAN, RUSSELL R.., Met., Sunnyside Min. & Mill. Co., Eureka, San Juan Co., Colo. CHIAPELLA, STEPHEN EUGENE 323 W. 30th St., Los Angeles, Cal. CONWAY, EDMUND JOHN, Exploration Engr., Granhy Consolidated Min., Smelt & Power Co., Ltd., Anyox, B. C., Canada. DEMOREST, DANA J Prof. of Met., The Ohio State Univ., Columbus, Ohio. EIDEMILLER, H. N., Geol., Benjamin C. Neely, Min. Lands & Leases, Crystal Falls, Mich.

Jan 9, 1919

By John B. Dilworth

In September, 1930, H. N. Eavenson, then Chairman of the Coal Division, appointed a Committee on Methods of valuing Coal Propelvties, with John B. Dilworth as chairman. The latter prepared a schedule' of features for consideration under the general headings of Undeveloped and Developed Coal Properties. These subjects were divided among the members of the committee and during the next year written discussions of his allotted subjects were received from each member. Mr. Grimes and Mr. Eavenson discussed the entire list,. These discussions were mimeographed and a set sent to each member before the meeting of the Institute in February, 1932. There was a general discussion at that meeting. At the meeting in February, 1934, Mr. Dilworth submitted a report12 which summarized the accumulated opinions and data and presented the conclusions of the committee as a whole on the subjects embraced in it's schedule. Members of the committee expressed the desire that some of the individual opinions be published for reference. Mr. R. Damon Hall's abstracts of these papers arc therefore presentrd herewith.3 Personnel of Committee John B. Dilworth (Chairman), Consulting Mining Engineer, Edward V. D'Invilliers Engineering Co., Philadelphia, Pa. Eli T. Conner, Consulting Mining Engineer, Seranton, Pa. W. G. Duncan, Jr., Superintendent, W. G. Duncan CoaI Co., Greenville, Ky. Howard N. EAveNson, Consulting Mining Engineer; Eavenson, Alford & Hicks. Pittshurgh, Pa. George Watkin Evans, Consulting Mining Engineer, Seattle, Wash. J. A. Garcia, Consulting And Constructing Engineer, Allen & Garcia Co., Chicatgo. III. John Alden Grimes, Valuation Engineer, Bureau of Internal Revenue, Washington, D. C. Otto Herres, Assistant Manager, United States Fue1 Co., Salt Lake City, Utah. J. R. Hicks, Consulting Mining Engineer, Eavensorl, Alford & Hicks, Pittsburgh, Pa. Robert D. Reeder, Mining Engineer, U. S. Bureau of Mines, Washington, D. C. Samuel, A. Taylor, Consulting Engineer, Pittsburgh, Pa. Bleeckee L.. WHeeler, Mining Engineer, Ford, Bacon & Davis, New York, N. Y.

Jan 1, 1934

By Robert S. Dewey

More wells were drilled in West Texas† during 1944 than in any year since 1941. As compared with 1943, there was an 82.5 per cent increase in the total number of completed wells. The 1646 wells required an estimated 140,715 days to complete for a total of 7,632,249 ft. An average of 85 completion days was required to drill to an average of 4630 ft. This depth is approximately 100 ft. greater than that of the previous year. It is estimated that $100,000,000 was invested in drilled wells. As of Dec. 31, 1944, there were 270 field and 91 wildcat wells being drilled. While an identical number of wells were drilling Dec. 31, 1943, the proportion of wildcats increased in 1944 from 19.7 to 25.2 per cent. During 1944, oil wells were completed in 103 of the 164 fields in West Texas. Of the 1361 oil wells, 385 were in Slaughter, 116 in Fullerton, 63 in North Cowden, 62 in Fuhrman-Mascho, 59 in Wasson, 52 in Westbrook and 47 in North Ward. Approximately 22 per cent of the wildcat drilling was to pre-Permian formations. Despite the increasing proportion of wildcat wells drilled, the wildcat discovery rate has declined since the year 1942. AS compared with 1943, the number of wildcat wells drilled increased from 11.7 to 12.7 per cent and the footage in wildcat exploration increased from 13.3 to 13.8 per cent of the total. The monthly production of crude continued to increase to a peak of 15,336,000 bbl. in October 1944. As compared with a similar peak production in October 1943, there was a 37.3 per cent increase. The yearly production increased from 98,165,-ooo bbl. in 1943 to 159,943,000 bbl. in 1944, an increase of 62.8 per cent. Based upon an assumed average price of $1.00 per barrel and less 1/8 royalty, the gross return to the producer amounts to $140, 000,000. From 1943 to 1944, the average number of producing wells increased 6 per cent while the average daily production per well increased 53.1 per cent. The average daily production per well increased from 17.5 bbl. in 1943 to 26.8 bbl. in 1944. The proportion of flowing wells decreased from 50.5 per cent in January to 49.1 per cent in December 1944. Drilling With the continued shortage of labor and materials, drilling costs have risen sharply. Just how much is difficult to ascertain. Owing to competition for available drilling rigs, contractors are reluctant to assume drilling risks. In consequence, some contracts are let on a cost plus basis, or day work below some specified depth with the operator furnishing part of the consumable materials, such as mud and drilling bits. Contractors are having difficulty in maintaining full and effective drilling crews with insufficient and inexperienced labor. Service companies have inadequate labor and equipment to meet their appointments promptly. Pipe Lines The Gulf Pipe Line Co. increased the capacity of its 10-in. main line by filling in gaps amounting to 75 miles on the loops between Judkins and Weatherford, Texas.

Jan 1, 1945

By R. B. Walker, R. Palmer, L. C. Bryner

The purpose of this investigation was to further study some of the factors affecting the air oxidation of sulfide minerals. Data obtained from laboratory studies on the effect of temperature, concentration of iron salts, pH, and other catalysts on the biological and nonbiological oxidation of sulfide minerals are presented. The oxidation of copper sulfide minerals and subsequent leaching of the soluble copper has long been a profitable operation. The chief oxidizing agent is oxygen from the air. This reaction is influenced by a number of different factors such as temperature, light, hydrogen ion concentration, oxidizing agents, and various catalysts. Sullivan1 found that copper sulfide minerals are slowly oxidized by the air and that dilute sulfuric acid and iron (111) increased their solubility. At that time it was not known that bacteria were involved in the oxidation of the sulfide minerals. It has been shown that pyrite, molybdenite, free sulfur, and the copper sulfide minerals found in the waste rock dumps in Bingham Canyon, Utah, are largely oxidized by chemosynthetic autotrophic microorganisms found in the leaching streams.2-6 Similar organisms have been isolated in other mining areas7,8 and from the effluents from coal rnines.9 The following are some of the questions that have arisen regarding the mechanisms of the reactions involved in the leaching process. How dependent is the leaching operation upon the biological reactions? How does the temperature effect the biological and non-biological reactions? How does the concentration of iron (II) and (111) effect the rate of oxidation of copper (II) sulfide? Does the iron act as a catalyst? Does activated carbon act as a catalyst on the oxidation of sulfide minerals? What effect does the hydrogen ion concentration (pH) have on the above reactions? The purpose of this paper is to report the results of laboratory studies on these problems. EXPERIMENTAL The apparatus used in this investigation was an air lift percolator described in our earlier work.' The percolator consisted essentially of an air lift which enabled the leaching solution and microorganisms to pass freely through a suspension of mineral (substrate) in Ottawa sand. The air lift served the additional purpose of maintaining an ample concentration of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the nutrient (leaching) solution. (See Fig. 1.) The percolators were so constructed that they could be immersed in liquid constant temperature baths for temperature studies. The thermostats were controlled to +0.5°C. The reactions were all run in the dark. The percolators were charged with one to three g of mineral, dispersed in 100 g of Ottawa sand and 100 ml of nutrient or leaching solution. The sand was purified to remove traces of iron by digesting with concentrated hydrochloric acid and washng with distilled water until free from chloride. After drying, the sand was ready for use. The compressed air supply was regulated to 5 psi and bubbled through an aerator containing distilled water, which was maintained at the same temperature as the bath used. The air was filtered through cotton plugs to maintain sterile conditions. The tops of the

Jan 1, 1968

STANDING COMMITTEES Executive-A. R. LEDOUX, chairman. Membership-J. E. JOHNSON, JR.,* chairman. Finance-J. V. N. Dorm, chairman. Library-E. GYBBON SPILSBURY, chairman. Papers and Publications-BRADLEY STOUGHTON, chairman.

Jan 5, 1919

By Michael S. Roscoe

In order to more accurately predict longwall surface subsidence over the Pittsburgh No. 8 Coal in Eastern Ohio, North American Coal Corporation's Quarto Mining Company undertook or participated in several subsidence studies. Due to the changing roof geology and rapid variations in the amount of cover two separate areas were investigated at two different mines to determine the subsidence response if any to these changes. Data generated from these studies were compared with NCB derived,data for accuracy and then used to predict subsidence under houses, gas lines and other critical man made structures. The following report summarizes the results of these studies as well as the subsidence case histories of gas lines, transmission towers, houses and water wells. Problems that were encountered during both phases of this process (investigation and subsequent application) are also included.

The Wheeler Condenser & Engineering Co., of Carteret, N. J., is now building a line of horizontal and vertical shaft centrifugal pumps for general services, as well as for condenser work.. This company has been building centrifugal pumps for over 20 years, most of them being used, however, in connection with condensers. The new line of pumps is suited for all services. A small motor-driven unit for tank or stand pipe operation is shown in Fig. 1. Referring to the sectional illustration (Fig. 2), it will be seen that this pump conforms to the most recent advances in centrifugal pump construction, having a two-part divided casing, with the suction and discharge nozzles in the lower half. The impeller is of the closed double-suction type, protected by labyrinth wearing rings. The shaft is protected from the water by bronze sleeves, which screw on to the shaft and extend clear through into the bearing bracket boxes. Bearings are of the ring-oiled type, and in the outboard bracket, is a ring-oiled thrust bearing, which is a refinement not usually found in double-suction

Jan 4, 1916

By S. D. Michaelson

[CONTENTS PACE See TP 2377, Min. Tech, May 1948 for discussion of A Technique for Photographing Difficult Subjects through a Petrographic Microscope (TP 2092 by DONALD W. SCOTT, Min. Tech., Nov. 1946. Discussion by HORACE WINCHELL). Metallurgical Efficiency-a Yardstick in Lead-zinc Flotation Metallurgy (TP 2141 by R. A. ....... PALLANCH, Min. Tech:, March 1947. Discussion by S. D. MICHAELSON). I Symposium on Milling Devices and Practices. (TP 2162 by J. F. MYERS and R. J. TOWER, Min. Tech., May 1947. Discussion by HARLOWE HARDINGE). ............ 2 Rod Milling-Plant and Laboratory Data. (TP 2175 by J. F. MYERS, S. D. MICHAELSON and F. C. BOND, Min. Tech., July 1947. Authors' supplement and discussion by HARLOWE .......................... HARDINGE, and B. H. IRWIN) 2 A New Separating Vessel for Sink-float Concentration. (TP 2182 by E. C. BITZER, Min. Tech., May 1947. Discussion by E. H. CRABTREE, JR.) .................. 5] Metallurgical Efficiency-a Yardstick in Lead-zinc Flotation Metallurgy S. D, MICHAELSON*-The method of determining the efficacy of a separation described in this paper, gives the metallurgist a most useful guide for keeping his ship on an even keel When the ore Waves vary from placid seas to high breakers. Now that such a method of evaluating metallurgical efficiency has been developed and proven practical, it Would seem logical to introduce the next, and more final, factor of Economic Efficiency. I choose to define this term as the percentage ratio of net return from milling to the theoretical maximum net return. The actual operating cost subtracted from the actual mill return represents the net actual amount received for the material treated. Experienced operators of most plants Would ordinarily have enough data on hand to estimate a theoretical milling cost per ton, based on labor, power, supplies and maintenance When operating at maximum tonnage With minimum trouble and under ideal ore conditions. When this theoretical estimated cost is subtracted from the theoretical maximum ore return (calculated by Pallanch's method) the resulting figure is the maximum theoretical net amount the mill operator could hope to realize in processing the ore. The percentage ratio of these sums, of actual to theoretical, is the economic efficiency of the operations. This economic efficiency, if determined on the basis of a fixed market price for metal and similarly fixed base rates for labor, power and supplies, Will reflect the effect of changes in milling practice, labor efficiency and equipment condition. When computations made on the basis of actual current rates for labor, power and supplies are compared With similar actual figures for past periods they will show forcefully how energetic our hunt must be to develop man saving controls, more effective metallurgy, and better equipment to maintain profitable operations. Such computations also offer a simple means of determining how much more labor, supplies and power can be put into the mill operation to obtain an increase in metallurgical recovery at a profit.

Jan 1, 1947

STANDING COMMITTEES Executive-A. R. LEDOUX, chairman. Membership-J. E. JOHNSON, JR., chairman. Finance-J. V. N. DORR, chairman. Library-E. GYBBON SPILSBURY, chairman. Papers and Publications-BRADLEY STOUGHTON, chairman.

Jan 4, 1919

[MINING METHODS PHILIP B. BUCKY, Chairman WILLIAM J. COULTER. Past Chairman J. B. HAPPER, Vice-Chairman LELAND A. WALKER, Vice-Chairman, CLYDE E. WEED, Vice-Chairman E. D. GARDNER, Secretary]

Jan 1, 1946