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By Gealy W. Wallwork

INTRODUCTION The administrative processes of coal mines are becoming increasingly complex. As society evolves into a more complicated structure with greater emphasis on individuality, government regulations reach deeply into every activity in an effort to force individuals into a standardized mold. These contradictory pressures add an extra burden to the administration of a mining operation. Recent years have brought a substantial change in the skills needed by mine supervisors and managers. As a result, a better understanding of the administrative functions is necessary. The mine superintendent has the overall responsibility for the mine; for effective operation he must be sufficiently knowledgeable to oversee all the complex functions that make up the mine. This chapter does not cover all the administrative requirements because of the variation in mine operation and in company policies and organizational structure. It does attempt to identify the administrative functions that would be required at a large mine with a preparation plant. It is assumed that the mine operation is decentralized with very little duplication of functions at the organizational levels above the mine. Thus each function is assumed to be relatively complete at the mine and under the general supervision of the mine superintendent. EMPLOYMENT PROCEDURES Throughout the mining industry, in deep or surface mining, in union or nonunion companies, the success or failure of an organization is directly related to the caliber of employees who make up the organization. A company is nothing more than a group of people working together with

Jan 1, 1981

By Richard D. Harvey, Arthur M. Squires, Robert A. Graff, George Kan

Particles of half-calcined dolomite (CaC03 + MgO) that had undergone cyclic absorption of H2S and regeneration with C02 in laboratory tests reveal enlargement of the crystallite grain structure, reduction in the number of pores but enlargement in their size, and partial development of a relatively dense mosaic microstructure on outer surfaces of cyclically reacted particles. Scanning electron microscopy, X-ray microanalysis, microprobe analysis, and X-ray diffraction techniques were used to evaluate microstructural properties of particles after tests conducted at pressures of 1 and 21 atm and temperatures of 7000 to 9000 C. The tests conducted at 7500 C and 21 atm showed the most favorable absorption and regeneration capacities of the dolomite tested. The changes in structure and pores play a major role in reducing the sulfur reactivity of half-calcined dolomite particles. The mosaic microstructure forms more rapidly at 1 atm than at 21 atm pressure. Once it occurs it seals the surface of the natural pore channels that existed in the half-calcined dolomite and restricts further conversion of crystallites of CaCO3 within the particles. Although a relatively coarse, granular mosaic of crystallites is present on some particles cycled at 21 atm pressure after only three absorption-regeneration cycles, it does not completely cover the particles, and that is true even after 30 cycles. Individual crystallites of MgO were not resolved by the X-ray microanalysis, but we believe that during the tests the MgO occurs as crystallites no more than 0.1 um in diameter that are homogeneously distributed through the particles, and it remains essentially inert during the reactions. The MgO contributes to the maintenance of the original fine-grained and microporous structure of the particles, an effect that is most advantageous to absorption and regeneration.

Jan 1, 1976

By J. J. Kantner

CREEP investigators have made extensive studies to determine the interrelation of stress, temperature and the tensile creep rates of metals. It has been suggested that at small stresses the secondary or constant creep rates obey a simple viscous law. Building upon this suggestion, departure from pure viscosity as stress increases may be expressed mathematically as a consequence of reversibly altered viscosity or "flowability" in the same sense that temperature change reversibly alters viscosity. From the index to alteration of viscosity, a value for the energy of secondary creep may be derived having the magnitude of the free energy of vaporized metal. The suggestion is made that applica-tion of stress alters the energy of secondary creep. Strain energy is argued to be but a minor factor in the energetics of secondary creep. A deformation mechanism involving the large energy associated with secondary creep implies a sort of solid self-diffusion process. Evidence indicates that creep strain above the recrystallization temperature takes place by crystallographically directed self-diffusion at grain boundaries and points of crystal defects. A self-diffusion theory of secondary creep is proposed, embracing the principles of the Dushman-Langmuir theory of solid diffusion. An equation is suggested whereby the rate of tensile creep may be related directly to the physical and struc-tural character of the solid metal.

Jan 1, 1937

By E. A. Reilly, G. R. Gardner, F. P. Lasseter

THE methods that may be applied to the treatment of slurries and water, as these are related to practical coal-preparation problems, are concerned essentially with the movements of solids suspended in water. It is assumed that there are no fundamental differences between the principles involved in the treatment of coal slurries and the phenomena encountered in general mineral-dressing practice, and the latter are presented in some detail. Basic principles ,are correlated with present practice for both the anthracite and the bituminous coal fields, and methods are discussed which are designed to utilize best all the material subjected to treatment and suggest a sound approach to the solution of problems relating to the return of clear water to process or to streams. In order to approach the practical phases of the subject with sufficient understanding of the basic principles, it is necessary to discuss two types of phenomena that are applicable. The first is flocculation and the second is sedimentation. Descriptive matter is given covering the various methods and types of equipment employed to conduct these operations, with emphasis on their application to water and coal-slurry treatment. DEFINITION OF TERMS Definitions of terms are consistent with modern developments, and on form, in general, with their usage in mineral-dressing practice. Because of variations in coal-preparation methods, it is impossible to define a rigid upper limit of particle size for a coal slurry or sludge which will apply generally. Limits vary somewhat with the particular treatment method employed at a given plant. For purposes of definition, this limit is chosen as the particle size for which preparation methods such as Chance cones and jigs are usually dispensed with, and other methods, such as the Hydrotator, tables, and froth flotation, are employed. Generally the limit will be 10 to 6 mesh. In assuming this variable upper limit of particle size in a coal slurry, it is recognized that the size ranges discussed will duplicate sizes dealt with

Jan 1, 1943

By W. M. Albrecht, M. W. Mallett

The solubilities of hydrogen in titanium and several of its alloys were determined at 600 to 1000°C and pressures of 0.05 to 10µ of mercury. Solubility increases with increasing beta phase in the alloys. Factors found to affect degassing rates are specimen size and presence of thick surficial oxide. Removal of hydrogen by heating in vacuum and in flowing inert atmospheres was studied. Practical curves predicting minimum degassing times are presented. THE presence of hydrogen in titanium and titanium alloys has detrimental effects on the mechanical properties of the metal.'"," The hydrogen content of commercial titanium is sometimes of the order of 200 ppm by weight' and varies with alloy composition. As a consequence, titanium and some titanium alloys as normally processed are sometimes not ductile unless treated to lower the hydrogen content. The best known hydrogen-removal treatment is heating the material in a vacuum. The rate of removal (degassing) at a give temperature determines the duration of the treatment required to attain a satisfactory low hydrogen level.

Jan 1, 1959

By John D. Sullivan, Edwin J. Rogers, Chester R. Austin

The problem of making a building unit combining the necessary physical and mechanical properties and good thermal insulation has been foremost in the minds of architects and ceramic and construction engineers for many years. This paper presents the results of studies on thermally expanding shales or clays to produce lightweight cellular products suitable for making building units. An expanded clay block suitable for building purposes should be large enough qo that substantial savings may be effected in labor costs in laying the wall. The permeability should be low and it should have sufficiently good "dry-wall" characteristics to permit exposing the exterior surface to the elements, and to permit plastering directly the inside wall surface. The thermal conductivity should be low and the mechanical properties should be adequate. Obviously, a unit possessing satisfactory qualities for constructing an - outside wall would be satisfactory for interior walls and for back-up purposes. The results of studies on bloating various shales or clays† and the properties of the expanded products are reported. In another paper1 basic factors involved in bloating of clays are discussed. Manufacturers of ceramic products, partitularly structural clay, may encounter bloating of the ware during burning, and precautions must be followed to avoid this phenomenon. About 1927 the C. F. Burgess Laboratories, Madison, Wis., while carrying on an investigation for the American Face Brick Research Corporation, conceived the idea of intentionally bloating clay while holding it in a restrained condition, with the hope of producing a unitary cellular mass. Work was carried on until about 1931, when studies were terminated because of business conditions. These studies were continued later by The Western Brick Co., Danville, Ill., which developed a process of "inwardly expansive bloating."² The major purpose of the latter investigation was to produce back-up tile to compete with concrete blocks made from Haydite or cinder aggregate. Haydite is a light-weight aggregate formed by heating certain clays or shales rapidly in a rotary kiln. While the investigations at the C. F. Burgess Laboratories or at Western Brick Co. were not carried far enough to lead to the commercial production of material for the construction of walls, particularly outside walls, they showed that certain clays could be thermally expanded and that it was possible to produce a material of low permeability with a large percentage of the total voids or cells closed. commencing in 1939, the Ozark Chemical Co. sponsored a research program at Battelle Memorial Institute for the Purpose Of determining whether it is technically feasible to make thermally expanded building units, and specifically to get answers to the following questions:

Jan 1, 1942

By Donald C. Barton

OF the four papers that comprise this Technical Publication, three are case histories of individual geophysical prospects, subsequently tested by drilling. The bibliography of Dr. Barton's published scientific paperst includes investigations in physiography and surface geological mapping, as well as his geophysical papers, and from this list it is to be observed that he early recognized the place of different types of geophysical prospecting methods in the search for geological structures of economic importance. Moreover, his viewpoint was not merely that the structures should be found, but that the geophysical data should be examined quantitatively to determine the geometry of the structures. In other words, that although these data are insufficient to deduce a unique form for the structure that caused the effects measured in the data, the engineering computations should be carried out to give as much of a definite configuration to the structure as the data permitted, in order that the testing of the structures could be conducted in the most economical manner and with the idea that the experience so gained could be later incorporated in the study of structures subsequently found. Dr. Barton continually emphasized the quantitative use of geophysical observations, whereas at the time that he began his specialization in geophysics it was considered sufficient to use observations only qualitatively. He, more than any one else, was responsible for the first volume on geophysical prospecting issued by the Institute in 1929, and his three articles in that volume stressed the quantitative use of geophysical prospecting. The fourth article in this present Technical Publication is a further contribution to this branch of geophysical interpretation, and is a supplement to the paper in the 1929 volume, "Calculations in the Interpretation of Observations with the Eötvös Torsion Balance." From the successful demonstration by Dr. Barton of the usefulness of quan-

Jan 1, 1946

By A. G. H. Andersen

A FEW years ago, while the writers worked on the constitution of ternary and quaternary alloys consisting mainly of iron, chromium and silicon1,2 some information on microstructures and hardness, not incor-porated in the published work, was obtained. It has not been possible to do any further work on the properties of the alloys. The information possessed is hereby presented for the interest it. may have in connection with the constitution of the alloys.

Jan 1, 1937

By Donald C. Barton

OF the four papers that comprise this Technical Publication, three are case histories of individual geophysical prospects, subsequently tested by drilling. The bibliography of Dr. Barton's published scientific paperst includes investigations in physiography and surface geological mapping, as well as his geophysical papers, and from this list it is to be observed that he early recognized the place of different types of geophysical prospecting methods in the search for geological structures of economic importance. Moreover, his viewpoint was not merely that the structures should be found, but that the geophysical data should be examined quantitatively to determine the geometry of the structures. In other words, that although these data are insufficient to deduce a unique form for the structure that caused the effects measured in the data, the engineering computations should be carried out to give as much of a definite configuration to the structure as the data permitted, in order that the testing of the structures could be conducted in the most economical manner and with the idea that the experience so gained could be later incorporated in the study of structures subsequently found. Dr. Barton continually emphasized the quantitative use of geophysical observations, whereas at the time that he began his specialization in geophysics it was considered sufficient to use observations only qualitatively. He, more than any one else, was responsible for the first volume on geophysical prospecting issued by the Institute in 1929, and his three articles in that volume stressed the quantitative use of geophysical prospecting. The fourth article in this present Technical Publication is a further contribution to this branch of geophysical interpretation, and is a supplement to the paper in the 1929 volume, "Calculations in the Interpretation of Observations with the Eötvös Torsion Balance." From the successful demonstration by Dr. Barton of the usefulness of quan-

Jan 1, 1946

By JAMES J. DOUGHERTY

THIS paper is a general discussion of developments in our reverberatory smelting practice during the past five years. It deals briefly kith changes in furnace types ; changes in furnace feed ; de- crease in the amount of slag produced; relation of slag assays to copper loss in the slag; increase in the grade of matte and furnace capacities. The reverberatory is but one unit in the copper plant ancl 'any discussion of it must be considered with reference to the other units and to the plant as a whole. A change in the grade of concentrates at the concentrator puts an entirely new aspect on reverberatory smelting and, likewise, a change in the grade of matte at the reverberatory affects the rate and cost of converting. The introduction of differential flotation in 1927 had a very marked influence on all smelting operations and its effect will be noted

Jan 1, 1930

By J. B. Newsorn

VERTICAL SHAFTS in the United States have heretofore been sunk by blasting and mucking. The blasting leaves uneven, shattered walls which usually must be supported. Even though the walls will stand, shaft lining is needed to furnish supports for the cage guides, pipes, and power conduits. The lining is generally timber, and as timber can be most easily framed into rectangles, rectangular shaft openings are the rule. The timber reduces the size of the cage floor. For example, if the Idaho Maryland company had put down No. 2 shaft by blasting and mucking, the cage area would have been about thirty per cent of the total shaft area. Besides a low percentage of useful area, an ordinary shaft is subject to fire hazard and to timber maintenance charges. It is also poor for ventilation because the timber ribs cause eddies which greatly reduce the speed of the air currents. A bored shaft does not have these disadvantages. The walls are smooth, circular, and not shattered by blasting, so lining is not required in most

Jan 1, 1936

Question 1—1s Structural Deformation of Some Character Always Necessary for the Migration of Mineralizing Solutions. Especially in Limestone or Other Dense Rocks Discussion by: A. M. Bateman.........120 S. F. Kelly........... 125 C. H. Behre. Jr........118.123 G. B. Langford......... 123 T. M. Broderick.........121 H. E. McKinstry......... 116 R. H. Clarke.......... 123 D. H. McLaughlin........ 118 J. D. Forrester for M. H. Gidel . . 11.4 W. H. Newhouse......... 123 G. M. Fowler......112. 116. 121 R. H. Sales.......... 116 L. C. Graton..........121 Edward Sampson......... 122 R. D. Hoffman.........120 J. 8. Stevenson.......... 117 I. B. Joralemon.........121 L.B.Wright........... 112 Question 2—What Are Some of the Chemical and Physical Characteristics in Certain Beds within a Limestone Formation that Determine Their Favorable or Unfavorable Aspects as Reservoirs for Ore and Other Introduced Minerals? Drscussion by: G. W. Bain....... 127 G. M. Fowler....... 131 C. H. Behre, Jr. ..... 131 L. C. Graton....... 128 J. S. Brown. ...... 126 G.. F. Loughlin...... 128 E. L. Bruce ....... 129 R. H. Sales........ 129 R. H. Clarke...... 130 A. K. Snelgrove....... 130 Question 3—Are There Any Criteria by Which One Can Determine When Mining Operations Have Reached the Roots of an Ore Deposit? Discussion by: J. M. Boutwell...... 139 G. B. Langford..... 139 T. M. Broderick..... 138 . G. F. Loughlin...... 135 E. Y. Dougherty..... 137 R. H. Sales...... . 134 G. M. Fowler....... 132 F. A. Thomson..... 136 I. B. Joralcmon...... 132 Edward Wisser:..... 140 General s. F. Kelly................. . ...........145 References...............................146

Jan 1, 1941

By F. S. Jr. Norcross

MANGANESE has long been considered one of the United States' most important strategic raw materials. Its indispensabil-ity in steel manufacture makes it vital to the nation's industrial life. Coupled with this indispensability is the fact that domes-tic producers have not been able as yet to supply more than a small part of the nation's manganese needs; consequently the United States has had to depend upon such distant foreign sources as the U.S.S.R., British India, the African Gold Coast and Brazil for the major portion of its ore. The great bulk of the mineral is con-sumed in the form of ferromanganese, an alloy that averages 8o per cent manganese and 20 per cent mainly iron and carbon. Manganese is used as a deoxidizer and desulphurizer in steel manufacture. By combination with the residual oxygen and sulphur of the bath, it helps to produce a clean, sound metal. Approximately 14 lb. of manganese, it is estimated, is used in making one ton of steel. For standard-grade ferromanganese, the ore should have a minimum of about 48 per cent Mn and preferably more. Beneficiation methods have not yet been developed for making the immense low-grade deposits in the United States salable at prevail-ing prices.

Jan 1, 1940

By T. S. Spicer, C. C. Wright

A CHARACTERISTIC property of bituminous coal is that upon being heated the coal becomes plastic, evolves volatile gases, and finally solidifies into coke This fundamental characteristic is of utmost importance and is utilized in the production of the high-temperature coke upon which the steel industry is so dependent, but from the standpoint of operation in the domestic underfeed stoker this coking tendency seriously interferes with efficient combustion When the coke formed has too strong a structure, certain difficulties result, such as low rate of burning, slow response to heat demand, and, in extreme cases, extinction of fire The plastic mass prevents uniform distribution of air through the fuel bed and, With strongly coking coals, large dense pieces of coke are produced which have much less reacting surface thin was possessed by the original coal In both ignition and combustion of solid fuels, the extent of the reacting surface is an accelerating factor Poor combustion permits a surplus of fuel to accumulate in the furnace because the rate of feed and the rate of combustion are not in equilibrium, and this produces an unbalanced condition detrimental to continued) automatic service In order to burn strongly coking coals satisfactorily in a conventional stoker during the three requisite types of operation continuous, intermittent and hold-fire, frequent attention is necessary Domestic stokers are defined by the industry as residential stoker heaters that burn 60 lb of coal or less per hour With a few exceptions, these units employ the underfeed principle of combustion in which both air and coal move in the same direction up and through the fuel-bed Domestic combustion equipment has difficulty in meeting the problems presented by the several variations in ash and volatile matter, in ash-clinkering tendencies, in coking properties, and in the particle size of bituminous coals The work of Bituminous Coal Research Inc at Battelle Memorial Institute has shown that, of these, coking characteristics and the clinkering tendencies have the greatest effect upon the operation of the conventional clinkering type of stoker Typical coke formations in a clinkering type of underfeed domestic stoker are illustrated in Fig. I, which shows (A) the ideal fuel bed obtained with a noncoking or free-burning coal, (B) the type of fuel bed formed -with, a coal that produces a weal coke, and (C) the type of fuel bed obtained with a strongly coking coal C is characteristic of the fuel bed developed when the average Pennsylvania bituminous coal is ,burned in an underfeed stoker of conventional type It is apparent from these pictures that the formation of coke trees will seriously interfere with the efficient automatic combustion of Pennsylvania bituminous coals

Jan 1, 1942

By H. R. Hanley

THE characteristics of alloyed anodes and their influence on the products of electrolysis and power consumption have been noted previously in the literature.1 This paper presents data in continuation of the subject given in an earlier paper by the authors.2 As noted in the authors' previous paper, the objectives of this work are the reduction in the cell voltage and the purity of the cathode product resulting from the use of alloyed lead anodes. The fundamental facts developed in the previous paper were: (1) that the presence of a small amount of calcium lowers the anode potential approximately 50 per cent. below that of pure lead; and (2) that thallium when present to the extent of 4 per cent. rendered the anode practically stable, thereby lowering the contamination of the cathode by lead to a very insignificant amount. The specific features determined in this recent work are as follows: 1. The lowest limit of calcium in the lead which will still give maximum lowering of the anode potential. 2. The characteristics of the thallium-calcium-lead anode. 3. The characteristics of the silver-calcium-lead anode. 4. The characteristics of the thallium-silver-calcium-lead anode. It was determined that 0.1 per cent. calcium in the anode was sufficient to lower the anode potential approximately 50 per cent. Table 1 shows the characteristics of alloyed anodes tested. The anode composed of 0.1 per cent. calcium, 4 per cent. thallium, and 95.9 per cent.

Jan 1, 1931

By G. S. Rice, J. A. Davis

The Péchelbronn oil field is located in the province of Alsace, in the Rhine Valley, about 30 miles north of Strasbourg. It is approximately 4 miles wide and 12 miles long, extending from the villages of Lobsann on the north to Wintershausen and Ohlungen near Haguenau on the south. (See Fig. 1.) The productive area includes about 44,000 hectares (107,680 acres). The name Péchelbronn signifies "pitch-spring" or "pitch-fountain." The first exploratory galleries were driven in from the hillside in 1735; and in 1745 the first official concession was granted by the French government and the first pit sunk to a depth of about 30 ft. Extraction by drilled wells was begun in 1879, supplementing the mining operations, and during the next 10 years 200 wells were drilled to an average depth of 172 m. (568 ft.). The bringing in of two "gusher" wells, in 1882 and 1888, respectively, was followed by the abandonment of all underground work. Underground mining, with a view to increasing the production of petroleum by recovering the oil left in the sands after drilling wells, was resumed in 1916. This mining operation started by sinking shaft No. 1 to a depth of 150 m. (495 ft.). The underground developments were pushed during 1917 and 1918 and the annual production of the Péchel-bronn field was increased to about 50,000 metric tons or 350,000 bbl. On the signing of the Versailles Treaty the province of Alsace, which had been taken by Germany as the result of the war of 1870, was returned to France, and the proprietary rights were taken over by the French Government. Concessions or leases, which embraced all the known oil-bearing territory of the field, were granted to the present operating company, Mines de Péchelbronn. This company followed both the drilling and the mining methods of the previous company.

Jan 1, 1927

By L. S. Castleman, L. L. Seigle

THE formation and growth of intermetallic phase layers is of considerable practical importance to metallurgists interested in diffusion bonding and cementation processes and has been the subject of extensive qualitative investigation. In contrast, it is somewhat surprising that so little quantitative data have been amassed. The need for additional fundamental work was pointed out by Mehl in 1936,' and persists to a large extent to the present day. The early studies have been reviewed by Rhines,2 and his conclusions have been summarized by Lustman and Mehl3 substantially as follows: 1) All phases that are stable at the temperature at which diffusion occurs will appear in the interdiffusion of two metals; however, in some cases, certain of the phases may be too thin to be observed and identified easily. 2) The isothermal growth of intermetallic phases generally obeys a simple parabolic equation of the form X2 = Kt, where x is the thickness of the alloy layer, K the temperature dependent reaction rate constant, and t the time. 3) The rate of thickening varies with temperature according to the Arrhenius equation k = Ae -Q/RT , where k is the parabolic rate constant, A, a temperature independent constant, Q the heat of activation for the process, R the gas constant, and T the absolute temperature. Subsequently, Lustman and Mehl made a quantitative study of the laws of growth in intermediate layers in a number of binary systems, in which one of the components was either zinc or cadmium, and the other component was one of the following: nickel, copper, silver, cobalt, gold, iron, or Monel metal; the interdiffusion times used were for the most part less than 24 hr. It was found that the simple parabolic law was not obeyed in general, but that a generalized parabolic law of the form xn = kt was valid, where n was a temperature dependent constant; also,

Jan 1, 1959

By V. R. Garfias

Although the work on which this paper is based was carried on by the writer as Special Commissioner of the Petroleum Department of the Mexican Government, the opinions expressed are only his personal views for which the Mexican Government can in no way be held responsible. Notwithstanding that the appointment covers all phases of the so-called petroleum question, as the one question of immediate importance was that relating to taxation, it was decided to devote all the time to this phase of the work. The present report has been divided into two closely related parts, the first dealing with the production and marine transportation of Mcxican petroleum, and the second, with the Mexican taxation on petroleum and its products. The writer wishes to acknowledge the loyal cooperation rendered by Mr. M. C. Ehlen, who had charge of the statistical work, and by Miss S. Stern and Messrs. E. P. Heiles and J. E. Morrissey. The aim throughout the work has been to pave the way for a thorough understanding between the Mexican Government and the oil operators and to present a true and clear statement of facts relating to the questions at issue. Mexican Oil Fields Development The salient features in the development of the Mexican oil fields may be summarized as follows: 1901. First commercially productive well in Ebano field. 1902. Tehuantepee field came in; Diaz Government granted concession to Pearson & Son on practically all Federal lands along the Gulf of Mexico. 1907. First producing well in the Furbero field. 1908. Dos Bocas well caught fire, advertising tremendous productivity of Southern oil fields of Mexico.

Jan 1, 1921

Question 1—1s Structural Deformation of Some Character Always Necessary for the Migration of Mineralizing Solutions. Especially in Limestone or Other Dense Rocks Discussion by: A. M. Bateman.........120 S. F. Kelly........... 125 C. H. Behre. Jr........118.123 G. B. Langford......... 123 T. M. Broderick.........121 H. E. McKinstry......... 116 R. H. Clarke.......... 123 D. H. McLaughlin........ 118 J. D. Forrester for M. H. Gidel . . 11.4 W. H. Newhouse......... 123 G. M. Fowler......112. 116. 121 R. H. Sales.......... 116 L. C. Graton..........121 Edward Sampson......... 122 R. D. Hoffman.........120 J. 8. Stevenson.......... 117 I. B. Joralemon.........121 L.B.Wright........... 112 Question 2—What Are Some of the Chemical and Physical Characteristics in Certain Beds within a Limestone Formation that Determine Their Favorable or Unfavorable Aspects as Reservoirs for Ore and Other Introduced Minerals? Drscussion by: G. W. Bain....... 127 G. M. Fowler....... 131 C. H. Behre, Jr. ..... 131 L. C. Graton....... 128 J. S. Brown. ...... 126 G.. F. Loughlin...... 128 E. L. Bruce ....... 129 R. H. Sales........ 129 R. H. Clarke...... 130 A. K. Snelgrove....... 130 Question 3—Are There Any Criteria by Which One Can Determine When Mining Operations Have Reached the Roots of an Ore Deposit? Discussion by: J. M. Boutwell...... 139 G. B. Langford..... 139 T. M. Broderick..... 138 . G. F. Loughlin...... 135 E. Y. Dougherty..... 137 R. H. Sales...... . 134 G. M. Fowler....... 132 F. A. Thomson..... 136 I. B. Joralcmon...... 132 Edward Wisser:..... 140 General s. F. Kelly................. . ...........145 References...............................146

Jan 1, 1941

By F. S. Jr. Norcross

MANGANESE has long been considered one of the United States' most important strategic raw materials. Its indispensabil-ity in steel manufacture makes it vital to the nation's industrial life. Coupled with this indispensability is the fact that domes-tic producers have not been able as yet to supply more than a small part of the nation's manganese needs; consequently the United States has had to depend upon such distant foreign sources as the U.S.S.R., British India, the African Gold Coast and Brazil for the major portion of its ore. The great bulk of the mineral is con-sumed in the form of ferromanganese, an alloy that averages 8o per cent manganese and 20 per cent mainly iron and carbon. Manganese is used as a deoxidizer and desulphurizer in steel manufacture. By combination with the residual oxygen and sulphur of the bath, it helps to produce a clean, sound metal. Approximately 14 lb. of manganese, it is estimated, is used in making one ton of steel. For standard-grade ferromanganese, the ore should have a minimum of about 48 per cent Mn and preferably more. Beneficiation methods have not yet been developed for making the immense low-grade deposits in the United States salable at prevail-ing prices.

Jan 1, 1940