Search Documents

By David Burgess, Hershiel H. Hayden

Experiments at the Somerset mine, Colo., under an agreement between US. Steel Corp. and the US. Bureau of Mines are described. A test was made of the tube bundle method of mine air sampling which was developed for European longwall mines; some 300,000 running feet of tubing provided continuous monitoring at 38 locations. Carbon monoxide concentrations were obtained with standard deviations of less than 1 ppm and oxygen concentrations with standard deviations of less than 0.2%. A base level of CO index (ppm CO evolved per percent 0, removed) was determined to be zero to 20 through most of the passageways of the mine. However, in one working section where the coal was initially hot (about 180°F within a pillar) the CO index was demonstrably higher, 120 trending upward to about 60 when smoke appeared and the section was sealed. The data are discussed in terms of laboratory experiments on CO evolution from coals.

Jan 1, 1977

By J. C. Osler

The design of a tailings dam is a geotechnical engineering project of considerable scope. For the design, it is necessary to establish the engineering properties of the soil or rock strata which will support the dam and the tailings or other fill which will be used to construct the dam. The various field and laboratory investigations which are necessary to obtain the required design parameters are discussed in the paper and the use of these parameters to compute stability, settlement, and seepage are considered. The designer of a tailings dam can never assume an absolute knowledge of the properties of the foundation strata. Further, initial design assumptions are often approximate, particularly with regard to the distribution of pore pressures through and beneath the dam. Thus, the installation of performance monitoring instruments is recommended, since data obtained from such instrumentation can be used to check the stability of the structure both during construction and after its completion.

Jan 1, 1972

By H. M. Howe

The chief purpose of this note is to call attention to the triaxial diagram as a convenient means of illustrating the properties of slags, and by this example of its use to commend it to those inclined to graphical studies having other possible applications. Explanation.—In the common or di-axial diagram, the properties corresponding to any point are determined by its perpendicular distance from each of two axes. For example, in an ordinary stress-strain diagram the properties of a given point in the curve are, first, a stress cd so many pounds per square inch, because its perpendicular distance from the horizontal axis of the diagram corresponds by the vertical scale to that stress; and second, a strain or elongation of so many per cent., because its perpendicular distance from the vertical axis corresponds by the horizontal scale to that elongation. It happens that, as a matter of convenience, we habitually place these two axes at right angles to each other; so that our measurenieilts happen to be made not only at right-angles to

Jan 1, 1899

By Daniel R. Shawe

Ore deposits of the western U.S. are divisible broadly into two genetic groups, a smaller one that fits the plate tectonic model of subduction and a larger one that appears unrelated to subduction. Some of the middle Paleozoic and lower-middle Mesozoic ore deposits in the western U.S. are associated with eugeosynclinal rocks and lie a few hundred kilometers west of reconstructed continent margins. These deposits probably formed as a result of subduction beneath oceanic or thin continental crust that was analogous to subduction predicated for the Kuroko massive sulfide deposits of Japan. Some middle Mesozoic porphyry copper deposits may have formed east of the continental margin when subduction-generated magmas were emplaced high in continental crust in a manner analogous to subduction-generated magmas that formed the Andean porphyry copper deposits. Most Cretaceous-Cenozoic ore deposits lie in a broad region extending many hundreds of kilometers east of the continent margin and characterized by conjugate tectonic zones, high terrestial heat flow, and low seismic velocity in the upper mantle. The deposits likely were formed in relation to magmas generated along the conjugate tectonic zones during differential northwestward drift and internal wrenching of the continental plate.

Jan 1, 1978

In 1974, iron pellet production in the Great Lakes region reached the 53-million-tpy level, accounting for more than 88% of the nation's pellet production. By 1978, pellet output from the Great Lakes district will climb to at least 78 million tpy. To achieve this 50% increase in output, the US iron and steel industry is investing at least $1.25 billion in new mines and pelletizing plants, mostly in Minnesota and Michigan. The biggest effort is concentrated in the Mesabi Range of Minnesota, the heart of the US steel industry's major iron ore source: here, plans for two new taconite plants-one by Hibbing Taconite Co., and the other by Inland Steel Mining Co.-and three major expansions of existing facilities are already under way to boost Minnesota's total iron pellet capacity from the current 41.2 million tpy to 65 million tpy by 1978. The facilities being expanded are those of US Steel Corp. (Minntac operations), Eveleth Taconite Co., and National Steel Pellet Co.

Jan 11, 1975

NEW MEMBERS The following list comprises the names of those persons who became members during the period Mar. 1 to 15, 1914: Members ADAMS, JOHN H., Cons. Engr First National Bank Bldg., Birmingham, Ala. ALEXANDER, WILLIAM H., Miner 80 Maiden Lane, New York, N. Y. AUSTIN, EDGAR TAYLOR, Asst. Smelter Supt., Mond Nickel Co., Ltd., Coniston, Ont., Can. BAKER, DANIEL, JR., Asst. Treas., Standard Lime & Stone Co. 524 Equitable Bldg., Baltimore, Md. BALL, MAX WAITE, Geologist U. S. Geological Survey, Washington, D. C. BARREN, HARRY B., Supt. Blast Furnaces, Inland Steel Co., Indiana Harbor, Ind. BAUMANN, HENRY N., JR., Amalgamator 365 Lynn St., Seattle, Wash. BLACK,, THOMAS B., Min. Engr Care Vulture Mines Co., Wickenburg, Ariz. BRADT, HARLAN H 429 West 111th_ St, New York, N. Y.

Jan 4, 1914

By R. A. Vik, C. B. Daellenbach, W. M. Mahan

The influence of reduction roasting and thermal shock on the grindability of a refractory low-grade Michigan iron ore was examined in bench-scale tests. The quantitative effects of the various treatments were evaluated at three sieve levels, 48, 100, and 400 mesh, with ball-mill-grindability and work-index parameters as response indicators. Data from the testing program were statistically analyzed to isolate the effects of cooling rate, roasting temperature, mesh level, and ore chemical condition. All four variables were found to have an important influence on the grindability of the treated ore. Ore chemical condition and roasting temperature had the most pronounced effects.

Jan 1, 1972

By W. M. Courtis

In compliance with the suggestion in Mr. Emmons's paper on the Genesis of Certain Ore-Deposits (Trans. xv., 125), that facts should be accumulated for study and future compilation, I wish to put on record, before the data are lost, a section of the Animikie series of rocks and the vein-phenomena exposed by the explorations at the Duncan mine, Port Arthur, Thunder Bay, Lake Superior. This may serve as a supplement to my paper on this district (Trans. v., 473). I trust this information will not be without interest at. the present time. The recent discoveries of very rich silver-ores at Rabbit and Silver Mountains, on the same belt, have brought the district once more before the public; and a study of the facts here set forth may assist some fellow-engineer in the determination of the value of property offered for sale in this neighborhood. The vein at the Duncan mine was tested to a depth of over eight hundred feet by shaft and drifts, and to nearly a thousand feet with

Jan 1, 1887

W. E. RUDER, Schenectady, N. Y. (written discussion?).-To many members of the Institute, papers like this one by Prof. Jeffries, and that on "Reversal of Inheritance" by Prof. Howe, may seem highly academic. Aside from their direct application to all heat-treating processes, to my mind, the establishment of a physical fact and the correlation of facts into a definite law are in themselves ample justification for immense effort. A law, once established, cannot be ignored by those who carry the work along to practical ends. In studying both papers, it seems to me that each author is more concerned with defending a theory than with explaining the individual results as published by various investigators. Take, for example, my sample of pressed electrolytic iron, frequently referred to by both. Prof. Howe, defending inheritance, says that the grains on the second (1300° C.) heating inherited their size from the mother austenite. Prof. Jeffries, defending reversed inheritance, elabor-.

Jan 4, 1918

By Donald H. Yardley, A. Aly Selim

An economic simulation model was developed to predict the amount of copper recovered from copper oxide deposits, and the cost of producing it as a function of the deposit parameters. The economic simulation model includes programs for fragmentation design and cost, copper extraction, solution distribution and recovery, effluent solution cut-off grade, and financial analysis. Cost and price indices were also developed to evaluate the economic feasibility of in situ leaching operations as a function of their starting date. Application of the models to various hypothetical properties having the same area and different ore thickness shows that the effluent solution cut-off grade does not vary with the ore thickness nor with its grade. The percent of copper recovery is, however, shown to increase with the increase in the ore thickness and is independent of the ore grade. It is also shown that while the profit per unit of extracted copper increases with the increase in ore grade or ore thickness, the rate of return on total investment does not show any correlation.

Jan 1, 1979

By W. P. Blake

Forty-five years have passed since I discovered the extensive and remarkable diatom-earth beds at Monterey, California., and now I have the satisfaction of bringing to notice still another wonderful deposit in the heart of Arizona. The Monterey beds mere described at the Philadelphia Academy,* and specimens were sent to Prof. J. W. Bailey, West Point, N. Y., at that time the leading American authority upon such microscopic relics of organic life. The earth from both localities is snow-white and pulverulent. It rubs off' like soft chalk upon the fingers when handled, and has the general appearance of chalk. But, unlike the Monterey beds, these newly-discovered deposits consist largely of volcanic ash, through which the siliceous shells of the diatoms are distributed. These deposits are in the central portion of the San Pedro valley,† in the southeastern corner of Pinal county. The region of their greatest development is a few miles south of the mining town of Mammoth, on the east bank of the stream, and near Redington, some 40 m. N. of Benson, on the Southern Pacific railway. The altitude is about 2600 ft. above tide. This portion of the San Pedro valley lies between the high Catalina and Rincon ranges on the west and the Galiuro mts. on the east. The Catalinas are composed chiefly of crystalline DIRECTOR OF THE ARIZONA SCHOOL OF WINES,

Jan 1, 1903

By R. R. Nash, W. F. Sheely

Experiments were conducted on magnesium monocrystals in order to collect quantitative information on the mechanisms which limit the rate of basal slip. Using critical shear stress and creep data, activation energies for creep at low aid at high temperatures were derived. The activation energy at low temperatures is the same as that for jog formation and the activation energy at high temperatures agrees with that for climb. COTTRELL has suggested that at low temperatures, the expansion of dislocation loops under stresses near the yield strength is limited by the rate at____ which the expanding loops can cut the "forest" of dislocations passing through the glide planes.' On the basis of this mechanism, seeger2 has derived expressions for low-temperature creep and for the relation of flow stress of single crystals to temperature. In the work reported here, the authors have performed experiments designed to obtain quantitative data on the physical properties of the dislocation intersection mechanisms operating during basal slip in pure magnesium monocrystals. Above a critical temperature, dislocations thread-

Jan 1, 1961

By D. D. Lambert, E. C. Simmons

Rare earth element (REE) analyses of cumulus plagioclase from the PGE ore zone of the Stillwater Complex indicate that pressure fluctuations in the magma chamber acting on a single magma cannot be responsible for features such as the reappearance of Mg-rich olivine on the liquidus. The data are more consistent with a model involving multiple injection and mixing of geochemically distinct magmas. The PGE-bearing sulfides of the J-M Reef are associated with such a reappearance of olivine, indicating that the unusual location of the ore zone may be related to the addition of new magma, compositionally distinct from magmas that produced cumulates in the Ultra- mafic zone of the complex.

Jan 1, 1984

By Henry E. Colton

Very little information has been published concerning the Tennessee coal-field. The State never appropriated over $600 per annum for a geological survey, and that was discontinued about 1870. Yet even with that small sum Dr. J. M. Safford made a

Jan 1, 1886

By J. W. Snavely

WITH all the advantages of handling bulk materials by means of belt conveyor also go some problems, one of the most persistent being that of cleaning. When sticky materials are being carried; the build-up of material on the return idler rolls results in difficulty of belt training. Much attention has been given to the problem of cleaning conveyor belts, and a great variety of cleaning devices have been developed. Even the best involve troublesome maintenance, and none can completely remove the fine particles imbedded in the belt cover, which cause rapid wear of the return idler rolls, and at the same time, of the belt cover as well.

Jan 12, 1951

By R. Varbanov, D. Nikolov, I. Nishkov

An interesting new flotation technique which reportedly improves mineral recovery over an extended particle size range-from 3 mm to 5 microns and below-has been developed by the Institute of Physical Chemistry, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences. Designated the "static" flotation technique, it is suited for upgrading tin, molybdenum, tungsten, uranium, gold, copper, lead, zinc, and other metallic ores. Recoverable nonmetallics include feldspar, sulfur, and phosphorite. Characteristic of the static flotation process are: •longer contact period (up to 1000 times longer between particles and bubbles, •low collision velocity and inertial forces between the contact and aeration in a thin pulp layer, • aeration without the harmful hydrodynamic repulsion upon particles below 5 microns (the pulp layer is only a few millimeters thick and rising bubbles collide with the particles either directly or in the thin foam films formed), •option to conduct the process with or without froth by film flotation at equilibrium contact angles, and • the use of inexpensive frothers and/or unstable froth with separate regulations of froth stability by hydrodynamic, ultrasonic, or electrostatic means.

Jan 10, 1979

By Stuart McHugh, Douglas Keough

INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND Because of the potential for large reserves from increased production in the eastern Devonian shales, the Department of Energy (DOE), Morgantown Energy Technology Center (METC) selected these materials for the application and evaluation of existing and novel well stimulation techniques. One technique selected for further study was pulse tailoring, or tailored pulse loading, i.e., shaping the input borehole pressure history to produce a specific fracture pattern and to increase communication with the reservoir. The complexity and expense of in-situ mineback experiments prohibits direct evaluation of pulse tailoring in various geologic formations. An alternative approach used by SRI International consisted of evaluating fracture enhancement by computational simulations with supporting laboratory experiments and using data from field tests by other agencies to validate the computational model (McHugh and Keough, 1980). Laboratory experiments were conducted on core samples to determine fracture phenomenology and parameters and to verify material properties. The fracture parameters were obtained from posttest measurements of fracture distributions and correlation with stresses calculated by a wave propagation code. Model development was guided by these experiments and similar experiments in various materials performed by other agencies. The validity of the modeling, parameters, and scaling was evaluated by comparing fracture patterns from field tests with calculational simulations.

Jan 1, 1982

By John J. McKetta, Donald L. Katz

Recent experimental data on the methane-n-butane-water system have been combined with data in literature to present: (I) the water-vapor content of natural gases, (2) the solubility of water in hydrocarbon liquids, and (3) the solubility of natural gases in water. Since water is present in petroleum reservoirs, experimental data regarding the behavior of water in hydrocarbon-water systems is of increasing engineering importance. A survey of literature (Table I) shows that data of these types are fragmen-tary at temperatures above the hydrate region. Experimental data taken from the authors' recent investigation of the meth-ape-n-butane-water system are presented.17

Jan 1, 1947

By W. D. Grundy, Frances Wahl Pierce, Jean-Paul Marbeau, Carol Waite Conner

Resource and coal quality estimates of three coal deposits in the Western United States were estimated by kriging, a geostatistical method that yields unbiased estimates with maximum achievable precision. Derived geostatistical models were used in kriging to estimate the tonnages of the deposits and to derive contour maps of thickness, structure, and sulfur content. Where data were available on quarter-mile spacing, kriging was used to obtain detailed information applicable to mine planning and design. Where data were sparse, kriging was used to do a preliminary evaluation of total resources. Geologic studies were required to correlate the individual coal beds and to identify complicating conditions such as the presence of faults, burnt zones, channels, and regional changes in thickness and elevation. Where these conditions were identified, they were explicitly integrated into the estimation procedure.

Jan 1, 1983

In their presentations Dr. Puddington and Dr. Stratton-Crawley have concentrated on spherical agglomeration and two-liquid extraction respectively. I should like here to complete the picture by putting these two techniques together in context with other techniques in which non-polar oils are used in the concentration and separation of minerals. Although these techniques are invariably treated separately and have been studied in isolation, there is a lot to be said for considering them together and trying to systematize their similarities and differences. This I take as a principle guideline in my introduction to this discussion. Four processes can be distinguished on the basis of the dosage of oil required: --simple flotation with collector-extender --agglomeration (emulsion) flotation --spherical agglomeration --two-liquid separation Dr. Stratton-Crawley has suggested that "pigment flushing" could find application in the treatment of ores. This is an interesting suggestion. However, the process can be regarded as a variant of two-liquid extraction, and it is convenient for me to do so in this discussion. Table 1 sets out some main features of these techniques. The first, in which the oil is used to enhance the strength and reduce the dosage of the collector is not designed for and has no special advantages in the treatment of fines, and therefore will not be further treated here. To add to the details appearing in the Table, thumbnail sketches of the other three, which all do show particular efficacy in the treatment of fine particles, are given below.

Jan 1, 1979