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The Aluminum Company of America announced a temporary reduction of the operating rate at its primary aluminum plant at Palestine, TX where it is developing a new process to produce aluminum metal by electrolysis of aluminum chloride, Output will be reduced by half to about 7,500 tons per year while some improvements are being made on the chemical segment of the plant. The modifications were expected to take 3 to 4 years to complete. Alcan Alumininum Ltd., a major U.S. supplier of aluminum, reported declaration of force majeure on aluminum ingot shipment commitments following the shutdown of its primary aluminum plants at Arvida, Isle Maligne, and Beauharnois, Que. The shutdowns, which began early in June, resulted from management and labor differences.

Jan 1, 1979

By H. Foster Bain

I. INTRODUCTION. By H. FOSTER BAIN.+ THE recently aroused public interest in the conservation of our natural resources has peculiar importance to mining-men, since they deal with resources which are stored products. Within certain limits, the fertility of a worn-out soil may be restored, deforested areas can be replanted, one year's wasted water-supply is followed by another; but coal and ores, once taken out, cannot be mined again, and should therefore be conserved with especial care. This means, however, not that mining should be restricted, but that it should be done most economically and with the minimum of waste.

Nov 1, 1908

By Christopher Mark

This proceedings volume contains papers presented at W U.S. Bureau of Mines (USBM) technology transfer seminars on New Technology for Longwall Ground Control. These seminars were conducted in Washington, PA, on April 12, 1994, and Denver, CO, on May 10, 1994. The papers herein describe several new, highly practical USBM technologies now available for ground control in longwall mines, including lie Coal Mice Roof Rating (CMRR), cable bolts, the MULSIM/NL model, and the Wood Crib Performance Model. Other significant topics addressed include longwall panel layout, coal pillar design, horizontal stress in longwall mines, roof support selection for gate entries, and ground control monitoring.

Jan 1, 1994

By Ernest A. Hersam

"INTRODUCTION.Luring the year 1923 a complete survey was made of the condition of research in the reduction (milling) and concentration of ores and nonmetallic minerals - that is, up to the stage where the ores or concentrates were ready for hydro- or pyro-metallurgical treatment. This survey was carried on under the general supervision of L. A. Lyon, assistant director and chief metallurgist of the Bureau of mines, in cooperation with the milling committee of the American Institute of mining and metallurgical Engineers, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and the University of California. Other institutions, including the National Research council, were of assistance and outlined recommendations during the study.While this report is on ""ore dressing"", it contains short sections on coal and clay. The mechanical handling that these minerals undergo is ""dressing"", so that ore dressing is inclusive of metallic and nonmetallic minerals. ""milling"", in its broadest sense, includes with ore dressing certain other metallurgical treatment which the report is not designed to cover.The survey revealed that considerable experimentation is being carried on great cost to the mining industry, but that the research is in general poorly coordinated while companies and firms are adequately taking care of routine tests and the mechanical features involved in their own operations, no comprehensive study of the fundamental principles of ore reduction is now in progress or contemplated. Many industries, besides mining, are interested in the preparation of materials for final treatment, rendering this investigation of value also to them. This class of fundamental research is neglected by industry unless there is some agency which can bring together at least a majority of this interested in a cooperative effort. It can not be effectively handled by a single company; and, moreover, no company can be expected to bear the whole burden of an investigation to benefit the entire industry or a number of industries hence there is need for concerted study within reasonable limits. Furthermore, co-operation eliminates duplication, which is largely a waste of effort and capital."

Mar 1, 1925

By C. O. Hawk

A PART of the Bureau of Mines effort to improve the conversion of coal to liquid fuels, batch autoclave tests were made on the hydrogenation of bituminous coal by a dry method, which featured charging the autoclave with dry ingredients only-coal, catalyst, and hydrogen. This innovation, which omitted the liquid vehicle used in earlier work, limited the products to those made from the coal charged. The effects of the common process variables (catalyst, hydrogen pressure, temperature, and residence time) were studied. Tin catalysts showed the highest activity in the widest variety of forms and were the easiest to disperse; dry mixing in the autoclave during the heating-up period usually sufficed. Ammonium molybdate, on the other hand, was inactive when dry mixed, but it compared favorably with the best catalysts known when applied by impregnating the coal with a solution of a molybdenum compound. As a group, metal naphthenates were the most effective; in fact, molybdenum naphthenate was the most active catalyst the Bureau tests disclosed. One-hundredth of a percent of molybdenum in this form (calculated as the metal in weight-percent of maf coal) induced 90-percent conversion of coal. However, because of their high cost, naphthenates have as yet only technical significance in coal hydrogenation. Long residence time and high reaction temperatures tend to increase the amount of thermal decomposition products formed (light hydrocarbon gases and/or char). High hydrogen pressure favors the production of liquids.

Jan 1, 1965

By Jeffrey M. Listak

This U.S. Bureau of Mines report describes the implications of in-mine ground control on the automated or remotely controlled operation of longwall mining equipment, Perhaps the greatest challenge to longwall automation researchers is the development of systems that will continuously function in the complex and unpredictable underground environment. The high degree of environmental variability, together with conditions brought about by the extraction process, makes complete automation of longwall mining a difficult task. The intellectual thought processes and split-second decision making required to avert disasters are lost when workers are removed from the face. As many mine operators can attest, minor problems, left unresolved, can eventually accumulate and lead to catastrophic consequences. The automation process will have to assess and manage various routine problems that are otherwise resolved through worker observation and experience.

Jan 1, 1990

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Jan 1, 1985

By R. C. M. Minnitt, W. Dr. Assibey-Bonsu, F. A. Camisani-Calzolari

Born in Bothaville (OFS) on the 26th August 1919, Daniel G. Krige grew up in Krugersdorp on the West Rand. Hematriculated from Monument High School in Krugersdorpin 1934 at the age of 15 and graduated with a B.Sc. (Eng.)degree in mining engineering from the University of the Witwatersrand at the end of 1938 (age 19). In 1938 he joined Anglo Transvaal where he worked on a number of gold mines until 1943, gaining a wide range of valuable practical experience in surveying, sampling and ore valuation. He then joined the Government Mining Engineer’s Department where he worked for 8 years during which time he participated in the uranium negotiations with the British and American authorities and designed the uranium pricing formula for the contracts which led to the establishment of South Africa&apos;s profitable uranium industry in the early 1950s. During the same period he began his pioneering work in the application of mathematical statistics to the valuation of new gold mines using a limited number of boreholes and of ore reserves for existing mines. His early papers in the application of mathematical statistics, some republished in French, created world-wide interest that led to the development of the science and concepts that surround the spatial evaluation of mineral resources and reserves known as geostatistics. This technique has contributed to improved ore evaluation techniques as well as the reduction of the financial risks associated with investment in mining enterprises. Furthermore, it led to the recognition of his contributions to the evaluations of mineral deposits through the coining of the term ‘kriging’ that is used to describe a spatial mineral evaluation process known and practised in international mining circles. He continued his work in geostatistics throughout his career as Group Financial Engineer of the Anglovaal Group until his retirement in1981 and afterwards for ten years as Professor of Mineral Economics at the Witwatersrand University. He is still active as a consultant and is a registered Professional Engineer. He has published some 90 technical papers both locally and overseas, some in Russia, and has lectured and participated in international congresses in many countries. His contributions were recognized by the Witwatersrand University through the award of the D.Sc. (Eng.) degree in1963, by three honorary degrees (from the universities of Pretoria, UNISA and Moscow State Mining University), by many awards from the South African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, the International Association for Mathematical Geology, Die Suid Afrikaanse Akademie vir Wetenskap en Kuns, the SME of the American Institute of Mining Engineers, the International APCOM Council in1999, the University of Antofagasta in Chile, and by the South African President (Order for Meritorious Service, Class 1, Gold). He has served on various Government committees, notably that for State Aid for gold mines (1967/8) and designed the State Aid formula which enabled many mines to survive a period of low gold prices; also various taxation committees, and the mining mission to Iran in 1974. He is a fellow and/or honorary life member of various technical societies locally and overseas, including the Royal Society of South Africa. During the period in the Government service he also handled several of the post-war lease applications in the Free State and Klerksdorp goldfields. The fact that decisions on new gold mines of critical importance to the State and the economy as a whole, were being taken on a limited number of drillholes without any scientific analysis of the risks of failure, stimulated him to start basic research into ore evaluation. His approach was based on the application of Mathematical Statistics to these problems, an approach of which very little was known world-wide at that stage but which had already been initiated in South Africa by Sichel via the lognormal frequency distribution model. In Krige&apos;s 1951 paper published in the Journal of the Chemical, Metallurgical and Mining Society of South Africa he covered the statistical explanation of the conditional biases in ore block valuations and stimulated the use by several gold mines of regression corrections for routine ore reserve valuations, a technique which, in effect, was the first use on an elementary basis of what is now known as kriging. His 1952 paper introduced, inter alia the basic geostatistical concepts of ‘support’, ‘spatial structure’,’ selective mining units’ and ‘grade-tonnage curves’. His 1951 paper was based on his M.Sc. (Eng.) thesis submitted in the Department of Mining Engineering to the University of the Witwatersrand, and expounded his pioneering work in geostatistics in more detail. His early research papers that had stimulated interest in several mining circles overseas, were republished in French in1955, resulting in a major research effort by French mining engineers in this field. This, in turn, led to the establishment of the now world-renowned French school of ore evaluation in Fontainebleau, Le Centre de Geostatistique de l’École des Mines de Paris. As the Group’s Financial Engineer at the Anglovaal Head Office until his retirement in 1981, he was responsible for

Jan 1, 2003

By James R. Evans

Orange County, adjacent to the populous and industrialized Los Angeles area, is the fastest growing county in California and is second only to Los Angeles County in total population (figure 1). In addition to an equable climate and a burgeoning economy, there is room in Orange County for growth and expansion. Growth over the past decade has resulted in rapid development of industrial tracts, housing areas, and shopping and commercial centers, mostly in former agricultural areas. The value of new building in 1972 was a record amount-over I billion dollars (figure 2). Problems relating to the proper direction of growth are the concern of both government and the private sector. The intelligent and efficient use of areas to be developed requires planning for the conservation and protection of the County&apos;s natural beauty and for the orderly development of natural resources. The availability of sand and gravel, which is used in many phases of construction, will be a major controlling factor in the future of the County.

Jan 1, 1974

By R. Farrar

The survey work on protective canopy design was conducted in a 2-month period commencing November 15, 1973. The reported re¬sults under this contract are intended to provide guidance to coal mine operators in complying with federal regulations pertaining to incorporation of protective canopies on underground coal mine electric face equipment. All coal mine electric face equipment manufacturers and 11 coal mines were visited in the course of conducting this survey. Canopy designs currently being manufactured and those now being used underground were examined and discussed with manufacturers, mine operators, machine operators, and safety committeemen. The general objective was to find out what kind of canopies are now being made and used underground, what the operational problems are, and what can be done to secure improvements. Specifically, the survey scope was as follows: a. Survey all electric face equipment manufacturers. b. Survey 10 coal mines (seam height 60 inches and greater). c. Identify current production canopy configurations and minimum mine entry dimensions for each model and type of electric face equipment. d. Assess in-mine operation of canopies developed by manufacturers and/or coal companies. e. Specify optimal canopy configuration and minimum mine entry dimensions for each type and model of electric face equipment.

Jan 1, 1974

By Raymond F. Gray, Victor J. Hoffman, Richard J. Bagan, Harold L. McKinley

The first indication of tungsten in the Bishop area was the discovery of scheelite concentrations in a gold placer operation in the ( since named) Tungsten Hills in 1913. After early intermittent production, the deposits of the district were slowly discovered and developed. The Pine Creek mine, located in 1916 and under the direction of Union Carbide Corporation since 1935, became the principal producer in the district. By the end of 1965, the total production of the district had reached 3,450,932 units of WO3, 17,071,242 pounds of molybdenum, and 19,599,110 pounds of copper. The topography of the district is characterized by its extreme relief, ranging in elevation from 13,986 feet to about 4400 feet in the Mount Tom quadrangle. The present topography is the result of the uplift and erosion of the Sierra Nevada and the great subsidence of the Owens Valley with its related deposition and volcanism. The general structure of the pre-Tertiary rocks consists of a series of tightly-folded metasedimentary and metavolcanic rock remnants surrounded by exposed plutons ranging in composition from hornblende gabbro to alaskite. The metasedimentary rocks consist of low- to intermediate-grade metamorphic equivalents of fine-grained sediments deposited during the Paleozoic era in a miogeosynclinal environment. Later volcanics were deposited in a eugeosyncline. The ore bodies in the Bishop district consist of scheelite-bearing tactite formed by the pyrometasomatic replacement* of calcareous sediments along the contact with an acidic granitic intrusive. A number of the metasedimentary remnants have had tungsten deposited along their edges.

Jan 1, 1968

By R. W. Bee

This project, sponsored by the U.S. Bureau of Mines, Division of Environment, addresses two major subjects: refuse removal and subsidence monitoring. The refuse removal task consisted of developing a methodology for selecting the most economical combinations of coal mine breaker refuse and rock banks, disposal sites and material moving systems (trucks, trains, belt conveyers and pipelines). To prepare plans for moving refuse in the Lackawanna Valley of Northeastern Pennsylvania, refuse banks were inventoried, underground disposal sites identified and unit cost data prepared for the various material moving systems. The subsidence monitoring task consisted of defining the phenomenon of coal mine induced surface subsidence, establishing operational requirements, cataloging sensors and techniques to detect and measure subsidence and testing of the most promising techniques (photoelastic patch, tiltmeter, strain gage, microseismic and precise surveying). A preliminary system for a 700 acre area in Scranton utilizing 267 grid sensors, seven microseismic sensors and precise surveying techniques was designed with initial and annual operating costs determined. Two minor tasks supported both main subjects: zoning in the Northern Anthracite Field of Pennsylvania and Technology Transfer of subsidence vulnerability prediction techniques.

Jan 1, 1972

By E. H. Boyle

The Bureau of Mines has evaluated the potential availability of silver from 436 mines and deposits in 41 market economy countries (MEC?s) comprising five major economic categories of deposits: predominantly silver deposits and predominantly zinc, lead, copper, and gold deposits. This study evaluated the long-term cost and availability of primary silver production from 53 producing and 13 nonproducing predominantly silver properties in 11 MEC&apos;s and estimated the total recoverable silver from 370 properties as a coproduct or byproduct of zinc, lead, copper, or gold production. This study resulted in estimates of a demonstrated resource of 5.99 billion tr oz of recoverable silver as of January 1984. Of this total, 23.5 pet is in the 66 mines and deposits classified as predominantly silver properties. The largest quantity of recoverable silver, 43.9 pct, lies in the 121 properties classified as predominantly zinc, with 26.5 pct in 120 properties classified as predominantly copper, 4.1 pet in 21 predominantly lead properties, and 2.0 pct in 108 predominantly gold properties. At current silver prices, the economics of silver production favor silver that is a byproduct or coproduct of zinc, lead, copper, or gold, and much of the silver production in the United States from the predominantly silver mines is at an economic disadvantage in comparison with silver production in other countries.

Jan 1, 1986

By Edward H. Williams

IN the middle of the eighteenth century John Frazier and wife, Sarah Ingraham, removed from Boston, Mass., to Philadelphia, Pa., where he was held in such esteem that we find him one of the Committee which arranged the ball at Washington&apos;s inauguration. Their son John. Nalbro Frazier, was prosperous in his mercantile career and fortunate in his wife, .Anne West; who was an important personage in the early life of Professor Frazier. This cultured lady brought into the family an atmosphere of religious enthusiasm, of thoroughness and: of unity of purpose. Her son, Benjamin West Frazier, inherited her traits and displayed them during a. short and active life. Like his father, he engaged in mercantile pursuits, and was a member of the firm of Zimmerman, Frazier & Co. In their interests he lived for a short- time in Montevideo, and on his return married Isabella Zimmerman, a daughter of the head of the firm. Their happy married life was cut short by the death of Mrs. Frazier shortly after the birth of the subject of this sketch which, occurred October 3, 1841. Mr. Frazier did not long survive her, and left his orphaned sons to, the care of his mother, from whom he had inherited a lovable and deeply religious nature, an : artistic temperament and a capacity for thorough work. Whatever of these traits fell by inheritance to these children were strengthened by the influence of their grandmother, and. the purity of mind, the delicacy of sentiment, the refinement of honor, which characterized. Professor Frazier, are due to Anne West Frazier, and are generally present in the characters of all of gentle blood who have been under the sole and immediate influence of a mature and refined woman. Professor Frazier was educated at the Episcopal Academy in Philadelphia, and passed thence through the University of

Sep 1, 1905

By Richard E. Thill

The Bureau of Mines&apos; Oil Shale Data Bank (OSDB) was created in 1976 to serve as a centralized source for the storage, retrieval, and dissemination of technical literature, patents, and information on research projects in oil shale. Thousands of bibliographic references, patents, and research projects relating to the mining of oil shale have been identified, abstracted, and indexed according to selected keyword topics. The resulting data bank listings are contained in three sections, each with a separate keyword breakdown for use in rapidly identifying references pertaining to a specific subject. All references cited in the OSDB were published prior to an established cut-off date of May 1, 1981, when a redirection of Bureau of Mines programs resulted in the loss of project funds and the subsequent phasing-out of data bank operations. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS The oil shale data bank listings are the result of a team effort of the project staff. The contributions of Jimaleen Jansma for keypunching, information acquisition, and data entry, and John Brandenburg and Sandra Brake for keywording and information acquisition are gratefully acknowledged. Appreciation is expressed to the staff members of the Smithsonian Science Information Exchange, Washington D.C. for their cooperation in supplying data on recent research projects in oil shale for inclusion in the OSDB listings. Appreciation is extended also to the staff of the Gallegos Research Group for assisting with computer services to obtain the final printouts and transfer of files onto magnetic tape.

Jan 1, 1982

Aluminum Production. -By October 1, Aluminum Company of America will restart a 35,000-ton-per-year unit at its aluminum smelter at Rockdale, Tex., restoring that facility to its full capacity of 325,000 tons annually. Primary Ingot Price Increase. -Most U.S. aluminum producers in mid-September were quoting a price of 72 cents per pound for primary aluminum ingot. On September 19, Kaiser Aluminum & Chemical Corp. announced that it would increase the price of primary aluminum ingot 4 cents to 76 cents per pound.

Jan 1, 1980

By M Scott, J J. McEwan

Silver and silver alloys tarnish readily by the formation of tarnish on the surface when exposed to a wide range of sulphur-containing atmospheres. This tarnish is unsightly and undesirable and can be removed either with a silver polish or a chemical dip. Polishes are, however, not suitable for irregular and embossed surfaces such as on coins, medallions and jewellery items, because of uneven removal of the tarnish layer and excessive wear. Successful tarnish protection can be achieved by either storing the items away from the aggressive atmosphere or by coating/treating the exposed surfaces with a protective layer. Storage is feasible for collections but is not suitable for items that are handled or worn regularly, such as jewellery. A number of commercial coatings and treatments have been developed, but to date there has not been a systematic evaluation of tarnish protection. This paper details the performance of a range of generic coatings in an accelerated tarnish test. The degree of tarnish was evaluated by means of loss in reflectivity and change in colour. Four coatings/treatments improved the tarnish resistance of silver by more than tenfold. These include an organic lacquer, rhodium electroplating and an organic self-assembled monolayer (SAM) conversion coating. Research is continuing to optimise these coatings. Keywords: silver alloys, tarnish resistant coatings, silver polishes.

Jan 1, 2006

By Frederic P. Dewey

THE Bureau of the Mint of the United States Treasury maintains 13 offices for the purchase of gold-bullion, and this paper describes an investigation to establish the reasonable differences in the assay-results at the various institutions which may be commercially allowable in the settlements between them. Beginning with the comparative assay of proof-gold at the Philadelphia mint and the Utrecht mint, which shows 0.00002 as the closest agreement now possible, eight tables of comparative results, taken from the regular work of the service, are given. These tables begin with very fine gold, produced in an electrolytic refinery, showing close agreement. in the assay-results, and follow through decreasing gold fineness and . increasing amounts and complexity of base metals to very impure and complex bars produced at cyanide-mills, some of which give widely-varying results. Next is given a series of results on samples, prepared and sent out to various laboratories in the service, to test the influence of different metals and various combinations upon the&apos; agreement of the assay-results; 11 samples were sent out and each one was assayed from 44 to 71 times, making a total of 623 assays. To these are added 107 assays of identical samples of coin-gold. On a previous occasion,&apos; I have endeavored to show the degree of accuracy that may be expected in the ordinary everyday analysis of various materials, and on another occasion2 I

Aug 1, 1909

Jan 1, 1902

By R. W. Hodder

"Archean lode gold deposits of both vein and chemical sedimentary types typically have major enrichments of certain rare elements, including Au, Ag, As, Sb, B, W, Se, Te and Bi, coupled with low or negative enrichments of the more abundant and mobile base metals, Cu, Pb and Zn. On the other hand, in massive base metal sulphide deposits Au, Ag, Cu, Zn and in some instances Pb are all enriched by a factor of 200 to 2000 t:'Jf'1pared to background and there is no large separation of gold relative to the base metals.The fluids from which gold was precipitated in veins were at temperatures of 320 to 480°C, at lithostatic pressure, had significant C02, and Na """" K; whereas the fluids which generated base metal deposits were at 250-300°C, at hydrostatic pressure, had C02 < < H20 and Na > > K.Many lode gold deposits are characterized by K, C02 and Si additions to their enveloping rocks, whereas base metal deposits typically have a fixation of Fe, Mg, Si and S in footwall rocks. Lode gold deposits may also have a relatively large halo of low-temperature oxidative, sadie spilitization in enclosing volcanic rocks, where seawater has later streamed into cooling stocks or flows that have initially acted to focus gold mineralizing fluids along thermal contraction fractures. The submarine environment is one hydrologically appropriate for the mixing of two initially independent hydrothermal systems, and the blending of their separate characteristics. Hence, lode gold and base metal massive sulphide deposits appear to be products of two distinctly different crustal and hydrological regimes. The former involves a high-temperature, high-pressure discharge of fluids which probably were generated during dehydration accompanying burial and progressive accumulation of volcanic-sedimentary sequences, with an additional influence of marine water in the near-sea-floor environment. The latter represents thermally driven convection of ocean water at lower temperatures and under hydrostatic conditions.Auriferous fluid systems with only minor base metal content could plausibly be generated during dehydration accompanying burial and metamorphism, when the water-to-rock ratio is low and halogen availability is limited by crustal abundance (- 60 ppm Cl). These two factors may constrain the uptake of the abundant base metals into fluids, but the solubility of rare elements is not constrained by limited fluid; and preferential uptake of Au along with other rare elements may be promoted if such elements compete more successfully for the limited halogens than the base metals, and/or have an alternative complexing agent such as CO or C()j-."

Jan 1, 1982