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By J. B. Austin, H. H. Pierce

In developing a consistent picture of the thermal expansion of the commercial chromium steels, which cover a range of carbon contents, it is desirable to know the expansion in the limiting case of the binary, carbon-free, iron-chromium alloys. We have, therefore, determined the thermal expansion of a series of five special alloys, ranging in chromium content from 3 to 10.5 per cent, with not more than 0.03 per cent carbon, over a temperature range extending beyond the transformation region; this low carbon content enables us to draw reasonably reliable conclusions as to the behavior of the carbon-free system. Moreover, the measurements serve to determine the beginning and the end of the alpha-gamma transformation; and they emphasize once more the fact that a transformation temperature determined by any method in which the specimen is cooled at an appreciable rate is apt to be seriously in error, particularly if the metal contains a transformation-retarding element such as chromium or managanese. The lag, or undercooling, observed at the ? — a transformation is explained in terms of the influence of temperature on transformation velocity; the rather unusual shape of the ? loop is attributed to a change with temperature and with composition of the distribution of chromium between the alpha-iron and gamma-iron solid solutions. The exact composition of the alloys, which were obtained through the courtesy of Dr. W. Rohn, of the Heraeus Vakuumschmelze A-G., is given in Table 1. Determinations of the linear thermal expansion and of transformation temperature were carried out in the vacuum dila-tometer previously described,' using a rate of heating and of cooling of 3.0" to 3.5" per minute unless otherwise stated. Magnetic susceptibility, which was measured in studying the rate of transformation, was determined with a magnetic balance, which also has been described.2 Results and Discussion Thermal Expansion Coeficients.—Numerical values for the linear expansion coefficient, derived from a smoothed curve based on at least

Jan 1, 1935

By J. N. Hummel

The methods of electrical prospecting, which employ contact electrodes to produce an electric field in the ground, furnish information concerning the constitution of the material beneath the surface, as indicated by the distortion of this artificially produced field and anomalies therein. To reveal the distortion of such field of known character, it is only necessary to measure qualitatively the direction of the field, using sensitive compensation methods. In such a case, the survey is relatively simple, and that is an important factor from a practical point of view. The distortion of the normal field thus determined permits an easy interpretation and gives approximate information as to the subsurface conditions, without the necessity of a thorough theoretical knowledge of the electrical field. The true field of application of the equipotential lines and search-coil methods, which are based on this principle of directional determination of the electrical field in the ground, is that of search for deposits of economic minerals for the mining industry, although they can also be used in solution of other problems; for example, in the determination of the strike of anisotropic beds. The distortion of the electric field as represented by the picture of equipotential lines or other measured curves is striking only when bodies having conductivities different from that of the country rock are embedded in the underground, or when the underground is anisotropic. It is obvious that methods based on such a simple principle and capable of solving directly many of the practical problems of mining geology have found a widespread application. However, these methods are unable to furnish any information as to the presence, depth and physical properties of layers in the underground, which have different conductivities, but are parallel, or only slightly inclined, to the surface. Where such conditions exist in the underground, the picture of the field

Jan 1, 1932

By John Chipman, K. C. McCutcheon

To a very large extent the quality of a mild steel ingot is determined by the manner in which it is poured into the ingot mold and its behavior during the first few minutes after it has been poured. The formation of the solid rim of metal around the periphery of the mold, the effervescent action of the liquid steel within this solidified rim and the upward or downward movement of the metal level are indications of what is going on beneath the surface of the liquid metal, especially at the interface at which solidification occurs. Observation of this "rimming action" enables an experienced observer to predict the thickness of the sound skin of the ingot and the location and extent of cavities or "blowholes" caused by entrapment of gases. The control of rimming action at the hands of a skillful steel pourer is a vital part of the control of quality in mild steel sheet, and the behavior of the liquid steel during the rimming period is a useful criterion of the melting and refining practices employed in the open hearth. The behavior of rimming steel during solidification depends primarily upon the evolution of gases from the molten metal and it is therefore a problem of considerable interest to determine the nature and amount of the gases evolved. A number of attempts to determine either the amount or the analysis of the evolved gases have been reported. Klinger,1 in 1925, analyzed the gases extracted from rimming, semikilled and killed steel ingots and found that the chief constituent of the rimming gas was carbon monoxide. The relatively large amounts of nitrogen reported in his first few samples may have been due to incomplete removal of air from the gas-collecting mechanism. McKune2 reported similar studies of rimming ingots from which surprisingly large proportions of nitrogen and hydrogen were evolved. Ameen and Willners3 determined both the amount and composition of gases extracted from unkilled ingots with the aid of diminished pressure. . Their ingots weighed only 80 kg. (176 lb.) and apparently were solid within two or three minutes, so that their

Jan 1, 1938

By H. H. Pierce, J. B. Austin

In developing a consistent picture of the thermal expansion of the commercial chromium steels, which cover a range of carbon contents, it is desirable to know the expansion in the limiting case of the binary, carbon-free, iron-chromium alloys. We have, therefore, determined the thermal expansion of a series of five special alloys, ranging in chromium content from 3 to 10.5 per cent, with not more than 0.03 per cent carbon, over a temperature range extending beyond the transformation region; this low carbon content enables us to draw reasonably reliable conclusions as to the behavior of the carbon-free system. Moreover, the measurements serve to determine the beginning and the end of the alpha-gamma transformation; and they emphasize once more the fact that a transformation temperature determined by any method in which the specimen is cooled at an appreciable rate is apt to be seriously in error, particularly if the metal contains a transformation-retarding element such as chromium or managanese. The lag, or undercooling, observed at the ? — a transformation is explained in terms of the influence of temperature on transformation velocity; the rather unusual shape of the ? loop is attributed to a change with temperature and with composition of the distribution of chromium between the alpha-iron and gamma-iron solid solutions. The exact composition of the alloys, which were obtained through the courtesy of Dr. W. Rohn, of the Heraeus Vakuumschmelze A-G., is given in Table 1. Determinations of the linear thermal expansion and of transformation temperature were carried out in the vacuum dila-tometer previously described,' using a rate of heating and of cooling of 3.0" to 3.5" per minute unless otherwise stated. Magnetic susceptibility, which was measured in studying the rate of transformation, was determined with a magnetic balance, which also has been described.2 Results and Discussion Thermal Expansion Coeficients.—Numerical values for the linear expansion coefficient, derived from a smoothed curve based on at least

Jan 1, 1935

By Paul Tyler

FULLY a decade ago, demand for ground mica began to exceed supplies of scrap mica from manufacturing operations and of waste block from feldspar and sheet mica mining in the United States, with the result that in recent years the market has absorbed larger and larger quantities of mica recovered as a by-product from clay washing,1 as a joint product with kyanite,2 and by grinding schists. So far, only schists that contain a large percentage of mica have been utilized for making ground mica, but already there has been a good deal of wishful thinking with regard to recovering mica as an aid to the prospective working of low-grade gold ores and ores of certain base metals. With wet-ground mica selling at $60 to $100 a ton and even dry-ground mica worth over $20 a ton, many ores that could not be considered as otherwise workable under present conditions will show commercial possibilities if they can be made to yield even a relatively small percentage of salable mica. An interesting paper might be written on the coming role of industrial minerals as joint products of metal mines, It is largely a matter of mar-kets. Many years ago I watched the mess left behind the gold dredges in the mountains of Colorado and thought of the Denver sand and gravel operators who prided themselves upon their canniness in providing devices for catching gold merely as an incident to their regular business of selling what we miners classed as "tailings." Nowadays almost every milling or mining operation near settled communities finds use for at least part of its waste for road material or concrete aggregate and several eastern iron mines have gone into the crushed-stone business. Promoters now mention fertilizer "filler" as potentially salable at all the way from $1 to $10 a ton, or whatever is needed to cover costs of mining and treating the "ore" and leave the metal values as "clear profit." In emulating the pork packers in their efforts to utilize "everything but the squeal,"

Jan 1, 1938

By B. Woyski

MANY writers, in discussing defects caused by oxidation and gassing of bronzes and red brasses advocate substantially the same cure for both. But from its nature, oxidation cannot take place if there is an excess of fuel in the furnace, while the gases absorbed by some alloys are products of incomplete combustion of the fuel. Hence the metal can be either oxidized or gassed, but it is doubtful whether these actions can take place simultaneously. Oxidation can be easily overcome by the use of deoxidizers or it may be avoided by protecting the molten metal with suitable fluxes. Absorption of gases is more difficult to overcome. The regulation of the air and fuel, so as to produce complete combustion, and the protection of the bath by mineral fluxes are the most important factors. Gas expulsion, resulting in gas holes, porosity, unsoundness, and swollen or cauliflower-headed risers, is said to have several causes. One writer' lists the most common causes in the order of their importance, as follows: Superheated metal, dirty or slaggy furnace conditions, using metals low in quality or those previously subjected to bad melting practice, poor grade of fuel, use of newly lined or damp ladles, indiscriminate mixing of scrap or illogical combinations of metal. Superheating the metal usually occurs when the heat is ready to be poured but for some reason must be held in the furnace. In this case, a careful furnace tender tries to avoid overheating the metal by keeping a mild fire; that is, a reducing fire which, unfortunately, results in gassing the metal. A dirty, slaggy furnace may result in gassing the metal by retarding the heating and prolonging the time necessary to bring the metal to the proper temperature, thereby increasing the chances of gassing in uncertain furnace atmosphere.

Jan 5, 1922

By R. C. Thompson

THE lead-zinc mill of Phelps Dodge Corporation, Copper Queen Branch, Mines Division, Bisbee, Arizona, is about 3 miles from the main hoisting shafts of the Junction and Campbell mines at Lowell. All the ore treated in the mill is obtained from these two mines. The mill was designed for an all-flotation treatment of 450 tons of lead-zinc ore per day, and has been operated at that capacity since the start of milling operations on Nov. 17, 1945. An expansion program is underway whereby the mill capacity will be doubled, but this article describes only the original program and presents results of the 45o-ton operation. GENERAL DESCRIPTION The milling plant consists of an ore-receiving bin and three steel-constructed buildings housing, respectively, the primary crushing equipment, the secondary crushing equipment, and the ore-storage bins, grinding, flotation, and filtering equipment. The mill site is the one that was used for a previous copper-concentrating plant, which was operated over a period of years and then dismantled. There remained from this operation some milling equipment, a reservoir for mill-water supply, railroad tracks, tailings-disposal ponds, and a steel-constructed building, all of which were incorporated in the design of the present lead-zinc mill. The location plan of the plant layout is shown in Fig I. The flowsheet of the mill is based on the conventional scheme for lead-zinc treatment, however, several innovations were made necessary in order to utilize the existing building. Placing of equipment also was governed by the design of the building; thus making the mill unique in many respects. The following brief description of the mill building as adapted to the flowsheet points out the compactness of the installation and some of its unusual features. The first floor (Fig 2) houses the grinding equipment, with connecting conveyors for ore feeding, also an air compressor, two vacuum pumps, bins for lead and zinc concentrate storage with individual conveying systems for loading the two kinds of concentrates. Filtering of concentrates is done on the second floor, the concentrates discharging directly into the concentrate-storage bins. On this floor are the lead and zinc filters, two diaphragm pumps, sample-filtering equipment, sample-preparation room and a change room for the mill employees. The flotation machines are on the third floor, at elevations allowing a gravity flow of the lead and zinc concentrates to the thickeners. The annex to the building contains a freight elevator and provides space for all reagent mixing and feeding, also storage of reagents and grinding balls. All the water used for milling purposes is pumped from the Junction mine and

Jan 1, 1947

By R. S. Shoemaker, F. W. McQuiston

RECOVERY METHODS AS RELATED TO PROPERTIES OF SILVER ORES The earliest metallurgical process for treating silver ores was amalgamation with mercury which was in use in the early 1500's. Closely following was the development of the Patio process for treating ores at Pachuca, Mexico. Silver often occurs as the native metal and in deposits associated with other metals such as gold, copper, lead and zinc. Principal silver minerals include compounds of sulfur, antimony, arsenic, and copper. Silver chloride, and argentiferous galena are also prime sources. Native silver and the chloride characterize the oxide zone of most deposits. Native silver can be concentrated, amalgamated, or cyanided. Silver chloride rapidly dissolves in cyanide without oxygen. Oxidized silver ores containing the higher oxides of manganese are generally refractory to metallurgical treatment. A refractory compound of manganese and silver is formed, probably a manganite , which is insoluble in cyanide solutions. Argentite is the predominant silver mineral. Other important economic minerals are native silver, argentiferous galena, cerargyrite, pyrargyrite and tetrahedrite. Argentite dissolves slowly, the reaction being reversible requires an excess of cyanide. Argentite with disseminated fine grained gold occurring in quartz veins with minor amounts of chalcopyrite and galena may be cyanided directly after grinding, with high silver and gold recoveries. The flowsheet adapted to this type of ore is the Minas de San Luis, Tayoltita cyanide plant, which treats a high grade argentite silver ore containing gold. It is a standard cyanidation circuit but employs long periods of agitation contact for the high silver sulfide content ore. Lead-zinc base metal semi-oxidized- complex ores in pipes and chimneys are replacement deposits in limestone at El Mochito Mine, Honduras. Mineralization comprises galena, cerussite, anglesite, sphalerite, calamine, and smithsonite. The silver content of about 16 ounces occurs as native silver globs, wire and the mineral argentite. After flotation of lead and zinc concentrates, the tailings are cyanided for gold and silver recovery. The great Huelva pyritic copper deposits of Spain carry a little gold and silver. At Cerro Colorado, these metals were concentrated above the chalcocite zone into the so-labeled Mgossanu. This material with a content of 0.08-0.09 oz Au and 1.50 oz Ag per ton is amenable to cyanidation. See Cerro Colorado flowsheet. In southern Hidalgo, about 60 miles north of Mexico City, are the great silver--gold veins of one of the foremost silver mining districts of the world. Real del Monte, Pachuca. The mineralized area consists of flow rocks and intrusives. The oxidized ores carry pyrites with oxides of iron and manganese and other minerals, silver and gold. The first zone contains

Jan 1, 1975

By Emmanuel Detournay, Charles Fairhurst

A method is proposed for computing (a possible solution of) the ground reaction curve, for use in tunnel support analysis, in cases where the initial stress field is not hydrostatic. Rock around a circular tunnel is assumed to behave as an elasto-plastic material with a Mohr-Coulomb yield envelope.

Jan 1, 1982

By F. Newton Parks

SOUND management organization is as essential to a mining operation as sound mining practices, exploration methods, concentration processes, or marketing methods. In fact, if a mining company is well organized, with the right people in the right management positions, it can be reasonably assured of the adequacy of its operating practices. Management problems in mining are unique, but certain principles of organization are universal. These principles should be used as ground rules in mining as they are in other industries.

Jan 5, 1958

By A. Filyk

The current plant practice at Molycorp, Inc., Questa Division, a molybdenum producer in northern New Mexico, is described. An outline of crushing, grinding, flotation, drying, and tailings disposal is included, with emphasis on metallurgy.

Jan 1, 1976

By R. V. Wheeler

A MATTER of much concern at present to the coal-mining industry of-Great Britain is the effect of the working of the Coal Mines Act, 1930. This Act, which received the Royal Assent on Aug. 1, 1930, contains five parts: (I) production, supply and sale of coal; (II) the reorganization of the coal-mining industry; (III) hours of work; (IV) the Coal Mines National Industrial Board; (V) general. The first three parts are of major interest and discussion can be confined to them.

Jan 1, 1931

By O. Vartiainen, R. T. Hukki

A preliminary investigation of the collecting effects of various fatty acids in tall oil has led to a conclusion that the collecting power of fatty acids used in flotation increases with increasing unsaturation of the hydrocarbon chain, Linoleic acid was found to be an excellent collector for oxide minerals.

Jan 8, 1953

By Ernest M. Spokes, Martin A. Thieme

A simulation model developed to analyze scraper-pusher utilization in open pit mining systems is described. The mining simulator discussed was developed as a tool to aid management in evaluating alternative open pit haulage schemes and to reduce the risk involved in the selection of equipment.

Jan 1, 1973

By William P. Blake

A recent paper by Prof. George P. Merrill, Curator of the Department of Geology of the U. S. National Museum, Wash-

Jan 1, 1897

By D. H. R. Price

This paper presents two tentative models of the use of a notional metal in a country like Britian, which have been developed using the System Dynamics modelling method. Computer simulations have been carried out using one of the models. These show the effect on the recycling of the notional metal of a wide range of possible future values of world market price and demand for the metal.

Jan 1, 1977

By Fenton Scott, Patrick Hannon

Some occurrences of lead-zinc mineralization in Mississippian carbonates of central Nova Scotia are briefly described. The results of geophysical and geochemical prospecting are presented. Because the deposits do not give a positive response to these indirect techniques it is necessary to site exploratory drilling through the development of geological concepts.

Jan 1, 1976

Robert Annan is an Englishman who started his brilliant mining career in Arizona, yet achieved the pinnacle of success in his native land when he became chairman of The Consolidated Gold Fields of South Africa. This story of his life, prepared in collaboration with the late Henry Carlisle, continues this fascinating biographical series of important personalities in the mining industry.

Jan 12, 1964

Phase II of President Nixon's economic game plan will incorporate many top flight metals mining companies. The large corporations must receive approval from the Cost of Living Council before increasing prices and or wages. The theory here is that, with large companies complying with advance approval, smaller firms will be examined more closely by government, and thus will be forced also to comply. Rep. Paul McCloskey (R.-Calif.) called for a moratorium on strip mining for "the few years involved before we adopt a national energy policy and a national land use policy." McCloskey, who is a cosponsor of Congressional legislation that would outlaw strip mining, told a hearing that a "moratorium can scarcely hurt us until national energy and land use policies are adopted."

Jan 1, 1971

A recent study estimates that a 10% improvement in the performance of wire rope used on draglines could save the US coal industry $2 million annually in rope costs. In addition, such an improvement could boost annual coal production by allowing the industry's draglines to remove an extra 1.5 million m3 (2 million cu yd) of solid overburden each year. These findings, although admittedly preliminary, suggest the magnitude of benefits that can be derived from a well-planned wire rope maintenance program.

Jan 3, 1978