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By S. F. Emmons

IN a report upon the geology of Leadville and vicinity, which is still in the hands of the Public Printer, I have given, at some length, my conclusions as to the genesis of the remarkable silver-lead deposits of that region, and the data, gathered during a long and careful consideration, upon which my views were founded. In the brief abstract of this report, published in 1881, the bare conclusions are given, with but few of the facts upon which they were founded. Since that time, these conclusions have been variously criticised, and it has even been assumed that the views I expressed with regard to these deposits were intended as a theory of ore-deposits in general. Had my final report been printed, no such misconception could have occurred; for, in that I explicitly disclaim any intention of general application of the theories there presented. Even in the abstract I am unable to find any statements which would. justify such a conclusion. Since my Leadville work, however, I have had further opportunities of examining ore-deposits, and have given the general subject much thought and study, and, as a result, I have made in my own mind certain generalizations, which, I am conscious, need the test of a far greater number of practical applications than I have yet been able to make, but which, I think, it may be well to present to the members of the Institute as suggestive, that their own observations may further prove or disprove them. I shall use my Leadville observations and the criticisms which have been made upon them as a sort of text for my remarks. The salient facts, which I thought to have determined with regard to the Leadville deposits, which, as is well known, are silver-lead deposits in a dolomitic limestone, overlain and in

Jan 1, 1913

By Noah Fields Drake

This paper is devoted chiefly to the coal-fields of the western part of the province of Chili and the eastern part of the province of Shansi; but the outline of this belt will give some idea of the extension of the coal-fields over northeastern China. This part of China is topographically divided into: (1) the mountainous peninsula of eastern Shantung; (2) the coastal plains, extending W. and SW. from the gulf of Pechili; and (3) the mountains and table-lands N. and W. of the coastal plains. The plains extend N. and W. from the gulf to within from 10 to 25 miles of the Great Wall, while their SW. extension covers western Shantung and reaches W. along the Yellow river almost to the southern boundary of Shansi. A line joining the mapped coal-fields, shown in Fig. 1, almost gives the western boundary of the plains; since these areas lie on the border of the plains—except the Tsê Chou field, which is on the table-land, 20 to 25 miles from that border. The coal-fields which have been mapped and investigated by the author are shown in Fig. 1. The one at and around Tongshan is known as the K'ai-p'ing coal-field; the one W. of Peking has been called the Wang-p'ing coal-basin; the one SW. of Pao-ting and N. of Chêng-ting may be called the Lingshan coal-field; and the one at and around Tsê Chou is known as the Tsê Chou coal-field. I. The K'ai-p'ing Coal-Field. As is shown in Fig. 2, most of this field lies in the coastal plains, and is therefore covered by alluvium and loess, which have buried the older rock-beds, and the more gentle and older topographic outlines, to such an extent that most of the re-

Jan 1, 1902

By Samuel Shallcross

TO principal function of the Bell limestone mine, of the American Lime & Stone Co., at Bellefonte, Pa., is to supply raw material to the company's modern rotary kiln plant at Bellefonte. Because mining costs are naturally higher than many open quarries with more favorably lying strata, it cannot compete, except to a limited extent, in the markets for road material and fluxing stone. In the broad sense, mining does have an advantage over the average open quarry when the end products are designed for and controlled by process and final inspection for the exacting demands of the industrial and chemical markets. Approximately 80 per cent of the output of the Bell mine is sold in the industrial and chemical markets. And as higher standards are set each year for construction and agricultural work, the remainder of the mine output goes to these two classes. Mining produces more fines than open quarries, and these fines are difficult to market; on the other hand, owing to absence of contaminating clay and impure rock, a greater percentage of the output of a mine is marketable. Because of the great production of fines, rotary kilns for lime burning are necessary when the stone must be mined. In 1921 the American Lime & Stone Co. operated 19 quarries and 72 lime shaft kilns spread over an area of 40 miles between Bellefonte and Altoona, Pa. At that time the lime-production capacity of the 72 kilns amounted to approximately 700 tons per day. After 15 years the company operates three rotary kilns and six shaft kilns, with a combined output of approximately 500 tons of lime per day, concentrated in its single Bellefonte plant (Fig. 1). Its only stone-producing plants are now the limestone mine at Bellefonte and a construction-stone open quarry at Union Furnace, near Tyrone, Pennsylvania.

Jan 1, 1936

By K. E. Manchester, A. H. Clark

Hall measurements have been made on three groups of silicon samples, which were implanted with boron, aluininunz, and phosphorus ions. Boron and phosphorus implants show essentially bulk properties when annealed under previously determined conditions, i.e., 15 min at 80O°C for boron and 10 mirz at 600°C for phosphorus. Bulk properties were also observed in alu?rrilzum-implanted samples when ion concentrations were below 1015 cm-'; however, strange low- terrzperalure behavior and a falloff in cavrier concenlralion was observed for sarnples with ion concenlration abozle loL5 ern-'. This can be attributed to solid-solubility effects since the average bulk concentration f0.r the sample exhibiting bulk properties was below the reported solubility limit for aluminum, while the other samples were above the limit. A detailed study of the annealirzg process indicates that mobilities reach bulk c~alues in phosphorus implants at 250DC, in alutninurn ivnplanls a1 500°C, and in boron implants at 700°C. A simple rnodel has been proposed to fit the annealing data. THE technique of semiconductor doping by direct injection of energetic ions is being actively investigated at this Center. Previously published results from this laboratory have been concerned with the investigation of implanted profiles in silicon and the electrical properties of the resultant p-n structures.1'2 Diode properties have been reported for junctions produced by implantation of boron ions and aluminum ions in n-type silicon and phosphorus ions in p-type silicon. Reverse current characteristics, as well as electron diffraction data, have indicated that the damage to the structure produced by the energetic ions during the stopping process can be minimized by a gentle anneal. The time-temperature conditions for this process have been determined by sheet resistivity studies.3 Electrical profiles of implanted phosphorus ions which have been determined by a differential sheet conductivity technique are based on the assumption that the carrier mobilities and activation energies for ionization are the same as in bulk silicon. These assumptions have been substantiated experimentally by measurement of Hall constants and resistivities of these implanted structures and the results are presented herein. After establishing the bulk property equivalence of the annealed layers, a more detailed examination of the annealing process was undertaken. The sheet resistivity technique initially used to determine anneal conditions has been broadened to include Hall constants and mobility behavior with anneal conditions. PROCEDURE The three groups of samples prepared for Hall measurements were implanted with mass-separated beams of boron, aluminum, and phosphorus ions. Ion concentrations are equivalent surface concentration and they have been determined from beam current measurements during implantation. Implant conditions for the samples are shown in Table I. In all cases, the samples had previously been angle-lapped on one edge and the junction delineated with an HF-copper sulfate solution. The surfaces of the implanted regions of the samples were exposed to the delineating solution and in the case of the "n"-type phosphorus-implanted areas it was later discovered that a finite amount of surface could be etched by this solution. This is discussed in the section on results. The implanted samples were ultrasonically cut into the conventional six-probe configuration shown in Fig. l.* In the annealing studies, for which the meas- urements were taken at room temperature, the sample holder was a Bakelite jig incorporating tungsten mechanical probes. The other measurements were taken using a conventional liquid-nitrogen cryostat, in which the temperature could be varied from 77" to about 400°K. For these measurements, 10-mil aluminum dots were evaporated onto the samples and alloyed with the silicon at 530°C for 15 min. The samples were then mounted in flat-packs, and gold wires were bonded to the aluminum dots. The electrical measurements were made with either a Leeds & Northrup K-5 Potentiometer, a Keithley 147 Nanovolt Null Detector, or a Keithley 601 Electrometer. No external bias was applied to the substrate. There is an inherent self-biasing arrangement at one or the other of the current contacts (depending upon the polarity), and this suffices to limit the current flow to the implanted layer. The magnetic field was generated by an A. D. Little electromagnet. Except for occasional checks of linearity of the Hall voltage with

Jan 1, 1969

INCREASING realization that pouring and ingot-mold practices involve many factors of fundamental importance to ingot quality and general steel-mill operations has caused these phases of steelmaking to become major concerns of operators and metallurgists engaged in control of quality and costs. Methods of pouring steel from the ladle into the ingot molds have some direct effects on ingot quality. The mold itself governs solidification and dimensions of the ingot and in so doing exerts some very tangible influences not only on ingot quality but also on product yields and general steel-mill processing. In addition, practices are employed' in the handling of molds during daily open-hearth operations that are important to quality and production costs. Therefore, pouring and mold practices must be considered highly specialized and important steps in steel-mill operations. MOLD DESIGN Mold design is difficult to discuss in a precise manner because it varies greatly throughout the industry, both in theoretical concepts and practical application, and few well developed data are available. Most ingot molds are designed to meet conditions peculiar to a given plant wherein quality standards are dictated by end-use requirements, which may differ considerably, even for the same grade of steel. The mold designer must also consider the equipment available to process ingots and the product obtained from them. Such equipment, used for stripping, heating, blooming and finishing operations, is seldom, if ever, exactly the same in any two steel plants. Thus, pronounced contrasts in mold designs can be expected to continue, even among plants making strictly comparable types of product, particularly because some producers are just beginning to realize the benefits possible from specialized designs. Certain fundamentals are used in mold design but even these

Jan 1, 1951

By L. E. Young

GERMANY'S recent collapse and the occupation by the Allies of the coal fields of the Ruhr, the Saar, Silesia, Poland, and Czechoslovakia have focused attention on the postwar coal problems of Europe. American coal operators are interested deeply in what is happening in Britain, particularly in the discussion of plans to rehabilitate and reorganize the entire British coal mining industry, as such reorganization will probably determine the place Britain will occupy in the European coal markets for the next few decades. The continuing decline of British out-ut per man-shift, particularly during wartime, has resulted in a most serious effort to determine whether this unfortunate trend is due to the physical condition of the coal seams, poor management, poor engineering and planning, inadequate use of power and machinery, or failure of labor to co-operate with management.

Jan 1, 1945

By Carleton Ellis

(Presented at a meeting of the New York Local Section of the Institute, Apr. 12, 1912.) I. INTRODUCTION. THE problem of the influence of hot surfaces upon gaseous combustion is one which, from a purely scientific stand-point, has engaged, for many years past, the attention of Prof. William A. Bone, of Leeds University and the Imperial College, London; and as his recent work has been the direct outcome of earlier scientific investigation, it will be appropriate, by way of introduction, to review briefly the present position of science with respect to this important subject, as stated by Professor Bone. One may perhaps best arrive at an understanding of the term " ?flameless " or " surface " combustion by considering certain facts which differentiate it from the more familiar processes of combustion as they occur in ordinary flames. All hot surfaces have an accelerating influence upon chemical changes in gaseous systems. If, at any temperature, a gaseous system, A, tends to pass over into another system, B, contact with a solid at the same temperature will accelerate the process. To take a very simple example, if a mixture of hydrogen and oxygen in their combining proportions (electrolytic gas) were maintained in an inclosure with smooth glass walls at a temperature of, say, 450° C., there would certainly be a tendency to form steam, but the rate of change would be negligibly small. If, however, there were brought into the system some porous solid material at the same temperature, so that a large surface was exposed to the gases, the rate of change would at once be rapidly accelerated in the layer of gas immediately in contact with the hot surface. Steam, the product, would diffuse outward from the surface, and the supplies of hydrogen and oxygen at the surface would be renewed by diffusion inward. Thus combustion would proceed heterogene-

Sep 1, 1912

BASIC open-hearth slags have no obviously unique features when compared with slags from other metallurgical operations. Open-hearth slags form and exist at temperatures ranging from 2500 to 3100 F (1370 to 1700 C). In the course of an open-hearth heat, the liquid slag changes slowly and continuously in chemical analysis-the changes reflecting changes in temperature, changes in metal analysis, solution of charged materials, solution of feed additions, and solution of refractories. Through- out the process, the slag performs specific primary functions that are responsible for a large measure of the technical and economic importance of basic open-hearth steelmaking. It is intended in this chapter to present the chemical reactions by which the primary functions of basic open-hearth slags are carried out, to describe the physical and chemical principles governing the extent to which these reactions proceed and can be regulated, and finally to indicate the limitations imposed on other features of the process by the fulfillment of the primary functions. Basic open-hearth slags perform three primary functions. First and foremost, the slag provides a means of removing phosphorus from the liquid metal. The ability to remove phosphorus is largely responsible for the widespread use of the basic open- hearth process. Second, the slag serves as a controlling factor in transferring the oxygen required for the other oxidizing reactions. Third, the slag provides a means of eliminating some sulfur from the open-hearth bath. While the extent of sulfur removal is not comparable to that of phosphorus, the ability to remove some sulfur contributes much to the value of the process. The effectiveness with which the slag fulfills its functions varies with temperature and composition. Since operating temperatures are fixed largely by the specified nature of the product and the equipment, the speed and extent to which the functions of the slag are carried out depend largely on its composition. The necessity for regulating slag composition to accomplish the re-

Jan 1, 1951

By Sherwin Kelly

The prime objective of geophysical exploration is to promote the economical and rapid dis-covery of mineral or oil deposits of commercial value. To a few this concept as applied in min-ing may signify the direct discovery of ore-bodies, but to the geophysical engineer this latter Idea is one of the most insidious and detrimental misapprehensions which he has to combat. The destruction of this annoying obstacle to the progress of geophysical exploration reveals the kernel of truth behind it, that the exploration geophysicist has for the better part of two decades been concerned primarily with the discovery of mineral formations favorable to the occur-rence of commercial ore. There is a very real distinction here, since geophysical methods are capable of discovering certain mineral formations such as sulphide bodies or quartz veins, but are totally incompetent to predict whether or not they constitute ore; that is. whether or not they contain minerals of economic value in the amounts requisite to repay extraction. The art of geophysical exploration is now, however, rapidly outgrowing these early limita-tions. The rate of this growth will in large measure depend on the recognition by the mining industry of the fact that geophysics can play a role far wider and more important than it usual-ly does now, in guiding the future exploration and development of mineral deposits. It is my own firm conviction that as time marches on we will see the methods of applied geophysics turned more and more to the delineation of both minor and major structural features. The outlining of such features having a bearing on the probable loci of mineral deposition will be of inestimable value in guiding the development of a mining district. It is in this field that there will In-evitably occur a meeting and overlapping of the activities of the exploration geophysicists and

Jan 1, 1940

By C. J. Haigh

Stockpiled and currently produced zinc plant residues containing zinc ferrite are to be treated at a rate of 350 tonne per day in a plant that is being constructed at the Risdon works of the Electrolytic Zinc Company of Australasia Limited (E.Z.). Start-up of the plant is scheduled for December, 1970. The residue is to be treated by a hydrometallurgical process that was developed by E.Z. in Australia, by Det Norske Zinkkompani in Norway, and by Compagnie Royale Asturienne des Mines (Asturiana de Zinc) in Spain. The process, as it is to be used at Risdon, is simple, consisting essentially of two stages : 1. A leaching stage at atmospheric pressure in which the zinc ferrite contained in zinc plant residue is dissolved in spent electrolyte, fortified with make up sulphuric acid, at a temperature in the range 70 to 95ºC. Undissolved solids containing lead and precious metals are separated for sale to a lead smelter. 2. An iron precipitation stage at atmospheric pressure in which ferric iron is precipitated from a slightly acidic solution at 90 to 95ºC as ammonium jarosite, a crystalline double sulphate which is relatively coarse, and is easily filtered and washed free of zinc-bearing solution. Calcine is used to neutralise the acid that is liberated during precipitation of the iron. Also included in the Risdon plant are a separate stage for oxidation of ferrous iron by injection of air, and a pre-neutralisation stage, using recycled oxidation stage pulp, to neutralise excess acidity from the leaching stage before the jarosite precipitation stage. The residue treatment plant consists of conventional equipment such as covered agitated vessels, thickeners and filters. Operation will be continuous and product solution will join the main zinc plant circuit for further purifications and electrolysis. Marketable zinc production will be increased by 70 tonne per operating day by the treatment of residue.

Jan 1, 1970

By John Sullivan

Resources for Freedom, a report by the President's Materials Policy Commission, commonly termed either the Paley report, after its chairman, or the PMPC report, was issued in June 1952. The data collecting and assembly work for its preparation were done in 1951. The statistical base in most cases was 1950. It reviewed our economy and predicted what it will be in 1975.* The bases for the predictions were given. Consideration was given not only to statistical data and trends but also to technological changes taking place and likely to take place in the ensuing 25 years that will affect our economy. The supply of raw materials was studied and predictions made as to the availability of supply and the sources in 1975. One of the industries covered was iron and steel. For the most part the report did not attempt to provide a curve showing annual growth for any industry or commodity. It contrasted 1950 with the probable status in 1975. Interpolation between these dates is difficult and the Commission did not intend that it be used for short interim intervals. It is possible in 1958 to show the actual changes from 1950. The magnitude of the changes illustrates the agreement with some interpolation of the Paley report. Statistical comparisons can be general only because the Commission did not postulate a linear change. A study of the iron and steel industry will show if the general predictions have been realized or if gross errors were made. This paper is concerned with such an analysis. It is concerned with the production and consumption of crude, not fabricated products. It attempts to bring various facets of technical and statistical information on the industry up to date.

Jan 8, 1959

By Harold L. Hinds

The Homestake Ledge or Lead was discovered by Fred and Moses Manuel on April 9, 1876. They recovered a small amount of gold from the quartz outcrop, but, unfortunately, they were prospectors not hardrock miners. Their claim was sold to a group of experienced California mining men in 1877. These mining men incorporated their holdings as the Homestake Mining Company. This was the beginning of one of the greater gold mining enterprises of the Western World. Metallurgical operations progressed over the years from an eighty- stamp grinding circuit using amalgamation for recovery to the more complex circuit of today. The Homestake Mine, today, is an underground mine with the deepest winze reaching the 8,000-foot level. The ore is hoisted to the surface by two primary shafts, the Ross Shaft and the Yates Shaft. See Figures 1 and 2. It is crushed in three-stage crushing plants located in the headframes. From here, it is trammed to the mill fine- ore bins by electric locomotives. The Lead grinding plant milling circuit, known as the South Mill, receives ore from the crushing plant at minus 112 inch (Figure 3). This material is dumped into overhead fine-ore bins from five- ton rail cars. The fine-ore bins have a live capacity of about 3,700 tons. The South Mill bins can also be fed by a conveyor system which reclaims ore from an 80,000-ton capacity stockpile. This stockpile is built up from peak mining production periods and available surface low grade material. It is then reclaimed during low mine production periods. The grinding circuit at the South Mill consists of four rod mills in open circuit followed by four ball mills in closed circuit. Three of the rod mills are 6-foot by 12-foot Marcy's. The other is

Jan 1, 1983

By Turno De Michelis

The Porto Marghera plant was erected in 1936 for the production of 10,000 tons of electrolytic zinc annually. Since then it has been continuously enlarged until annual production of the metal reached 40,000 tons in 1969. At the same time the processing cycle was modified bringing it up to date with modern techniques, and was completed by installations for the recovery of by-products in the minerals treated and subsequent processing of the base metal. 90% of the zinc produced is of 99.993% purity . At present the plant comprises, first of all, the zinc blende desulphuration department which has a single modern fluid bed furnace capable of processing 220 - 250 tons of dry crude mineral daily; it is connected to the sulphuric acid plant with its three catalysis sections each capable of producing 60-70 tons of sul9huri.c acid monohydrate daily. The roasted blende is conveyed pneumatically to plants for leaching of the zinc and purification of the resulting solution. During recent years this department has been completely transformed from the discontinuous cycle, for which it was built, to the continuous cycle, paying great attention to

Jan 1, 1970

By H. W. Hardings

Nearly every mining and metallurgical engineer will recall his early experience and method of producing step- or stage-reduction in preparing ore-samples for assay, in which he employecl idea, step- or stage-reduction simply because it was a self-evident fact that it would be easier to break coarse ore with a hammer than it would be to roll it back and forth under the muller, and alter having reduced it to a size easy for a rubbing or bucking division he then placed it under the muller on the bucking-board and further reduced it in proportion to the physical energy he wished to expend, which was generally the minimum to produce results. After this step in our experience me seem to have ceased to consider stage-reduction as mechanicallg essential, probably because it did not apply to individual exertion. Moreover, me did not retain the mass under the muller until it was all reduced to pass the 80-mesh assay-oftice screen, but practiced further step-reduction by screening out the fine in order that it should not interfere with subsequent work, replacing the coarse for further reduction on the bucking-board. It was many years after the bucking-board stage of metallurgical practice that we mere brought to a full realization that there was a more economical method in applying the crushing forces usually employed in metallurgical work by taking advantage of this individual experience and applying it to mechanical ends. We have made some advance to this end in bringing out the conical ball-and-pebble mill—a device which fairly well automatically adjusts power to the results obtained, mechanically repeating the bucking-board experience. In the action of the conical mill, theory is evolved from practice, rather than practice from theory, as is commonly the case.

Jan 1, 1914

By J. M. Gaines, C. H. Herty

IRon oxide (FeO) plays an extremely important part in the manufacture of steel. In the open-hearth furnace and the Bessemer converter it is the chemically predominant compound and controls to a large extent both the operation of the furnaces and the composition and quality of their products. Almost all of the refining action is carried out through the medium of FeO, which oxidizes carbon, manganese, silicon and phosphorus. At the end of any open-hearth or Bessemer heat the steel contains dissolved iron oxide, which must be wholly or partly eliminated. The type of deoxidation product depends on the amount of dissolved iron oxide and on the deoxidizer used. After the heat has been deoxidized and while it is being teemed, iron oxide diffuses from the ladle slag into the metal, causing losses of deoxidizer and increase in iron oxide content of the steel. It is generally believed that non-metallic inclusions are responsible for a great many failures of steel in service and for decreased yield of steel during rolling. The basis of most non-metallic inclusions is dissolved iron oxide. This investigation was undertaken in order to determine the amount of iron oxide that will dissolve in iron under various conditions. Steel-making slags are complex and it has been thought best to determine solubility under simple slags as a first step. The study is being continued under slags whose compositions approach those of operating slags Previous Investigations The solubility of oxygen in iron has been determined by a number of investigators (see Table 1) but their effort's have been directed toward the

By William Best

OIL burners, oil furnaces, and methods of installation, have been the subject of many articles, but information concerning oil-burning systems, based upon scientific principles, is still in great demand, especially in the manufacturing districts of our country. Fuel oil, as it is termed (this being the residuum from oil refineries), has for many years been of great service to our manufacturers, and has justified its popularity not only by producing a superior manufactured product, but by turning out approximately 50 per cent. more product than can be made with coal fuel under like conditions. To install a system requiring only an oil-storage tank, a small pump, and an oil-supply main with numerous laterals leading to the various burners, furnaces, boilers, etc., is a comparatively simple matter; and, because fuel oil is very volatile, it is not necessary to heat it, even during the winter months in a very cold climate. Furthermore, only a small amount of power is required to atomize fuel oil, this often being done by a positive pressure blower, or by a mechanical burner. An analysis of fuel oil, together with that of various other liquid fuels, is given in Table I.

Jan 2, 1914

By R. P. King

The two-phase distributed-parameter kinetic model for flotation has been wed as the basis for a digital simulation of flotation plants of arbitrary configuration. Ores that contain any number of minerals can be handled. The effects of incomplete liberation and particle-size distribution are specifically allowed for. The simulator allows the investigation of variations in throughput and in the slurry density of the feed, and of variations in stage volumes and aeration rates. It can handle cell behavior even under conditions of hindered flotation. The requirements for data preparation are completely documented so that the computer program is suitable for general-purpose use. The program is written in Fortran. The output from the simulator consists of the complete material flows in the plant, as well as the grade, recovery, and particle-size distribution in each stream.

Jan 1, 1976

By Irwin Remson

Some unique hydrogeologic issues are inherent in the problems of siting, designing and licensing a mined geologic high-level nuclear waste repository. The problems involve hydrogeologically unfamiliar rocks for which little proven technology has been developed, long containment periods, elevated temperatures, and externally-imposed management constraints. In evaluating the existing national program, it should be recognized that hydrogeology is only one aspect of the total nuclear waste disposal problem, that the use of multiple barriers requires that the hydrogeologic system be considered in its entirety as a total system, and that engineering modifications can improve the isolation capabilities of certain barriers. Important research questions involve the mechanics of transport through dense fractured and unfractured rocks, methods for measuring vertical hydraulic conductivity, and a variety of geochemical questions. Current expectations for "high quality data" from either in situ or laboratory testing are unrealistic, and a modified approach to repository hydrogeology is needed. The dilemma is that the hydrogeological characteristics that make a potential host rock more satisfactory for respository siting are the same characteristics that are difficult to characterize and make the particular site more difficult to license. Finally, evaluation of the containment potential of any candidate site will become meaningful only with detailed underground exploration, mapping and testing in the host rock formations at the repository levels.

Jan 1, 1984

By David R. Mitchell

This paper is limited primarily to a description of dry coal-cleaning processes in which air currents are used to effectuate a separation between coal and refuse. Processes depending mainly on differences in the coefficient of friction, resilience and shape are not described unless the use of air is necessary for the proper functioning of the process. The air cleaning of coal is of primary importance to the coal industry of the United States. From figures presented in the 1941 edition Mechannual, it is estimated that at least 12 million tons of bituminous coal was cleaned in the United States during 1940 by machines using air as the separating medium. One of the current problems confronting the coal-preparation engineer is the dry cleaning of small sizes and slacks. Progress in machine development for the cleaning of small sizes has been slow in recent years in the United States of America; it has been much more rapid in Britain and on the European continent. This paper does not attempt an exhaustive survey of all these developments, and only machines and processes that have found considerable commercial application are cited. Further, no critical analysis has been made of the theory involved in the separation of coal from refuse by processes using air as the separating medium other than that necessary for an understanding of particular machine designs and applications. The possibility of using air for the separation of coal from refuse was recognized early by mining men and many attempts were made to develop commercial machines. The ingenuity of the early experimenters is to be marveled at in view of their lack of knowledge of the theoretical principles involved. As in other arts, practice has largely preceded theory. Yet, science and practice play a game of leap frog, now one ahead, then the other; the careful experimenmenter governs his efforts along practical lines by adapting his experiments to the limits prescribed by scientific laws. By first studying developments and the theory involved, it is not only possible to adapt processes to new uses but also to reduce materially operating cost and to build larger units without costly failures. Although many inventors have applied for patents for separating minerals by the use of air currents, the literature in regard to coal is meager. Berrisford2 describes briefly some of the early attempts to clean coal without the use of water. Several of the examples cited by him are reproduced herein. Fig. I shows a machine used for grinding and; izing, in which rollers running in a pan with a perforated bottom and fan opening on the side crushed the coal, which was then carried by the air currents to a settling chamber. The heaviest particles dropped out first and the light ones farthest away, as shown. In the year 1864, a machine was made that could be used as a sizer or to separate dirt from coal with a sized feed (Fig. 2).

Jan 1, 1942

By David R. Mitchell

This paper is limited primarily to a description of dry coal-cleaning processes in which air currents are used to effectuate a separation between coal and refuse. Processes depending mainly on differences in the coefficient of friction, resilience and shape are not described unless the use of air is necessary for the proper functioning of the process. The air cleaning of coal is of primary importance to the coal industry of the United States. From figures presented in the 1941 edition Mechannual, it is estimated that at least 12 million tons of bituminous coal was cleaned in the United States during 1940 by machines using air as the separating medium. One of the current problems confronting the coal-preparation engineer is the dry cleaning of small sizes and slacks. Progress in machine development for the cleaning of small sizes has been slow in recent years in the United States of America; it has been much more rapid in Britain and on the European continent. This paper does not attempt an exhaustive survey of all these developments, and only machines and processes that have found considerable commercial application are cited. Further, no critical analysis has been made of the theory involved in the separation of coal from refuse by processes using air as the separating medium other than that necessary for an understanding of particular machine designs and applications. The possibility of using air for the separation of coal from refuse was recognized early by mining men and many attempts were made to develop commercial machines. The ingenuity of the early experimenters is to be marveled at in view of their lack of knowledge of the theoretical principles involved. As in other arts, practice has largely preceded theory. Yet, science and practice play a game of leap frog, now one ahead, then the other; the careful experimenmenter governs his efforts along practical lines by adapting his experiments to the limits prescribed by scientific laws. By first studying developments and the theory involved, it is not only possible to adapt processes to new uses but also to reduce materially operating cost and to build larger units without costly failures. Although many inventors have applied for patents for separating minerals by the use of air currents, the literature in regard to coal is meager. Berrisford2 describes briefly some of the early attempts to clean coal without the use of water. Several of the examples cited by him are reproduced herein. Fig. I shows a machine used for grinding and; izing, in which rollers running in a pan with a perforated bottom and fan opening on the side crushed the coal, which was then carried by the air currents to a settling chamber. The heaviest particles dropped out first and the light ones farthest away, as shown. In the year 1864, a machine was made that could be used as a sizer or to separate dirt from coal with a sized feed (Fig. 2).

Jan 1, 1942