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By A. C. Stevenson

IN OUTLINING the various steps taken and the exigences met during the time of unwatering and rebuilding the burnt top equipment at the Hecla mine, the major portion of the detail is omitted and a general description of the experience only is given. All the electrical power lines were out of commission, as were the mine feeder cables. The first effort, there- fore, was to restore electrical connections. The Washington Water Power Co. immediately put a crew to work restoring the power line, it being necessary to rebuild about 4000 ft. of 66,000 volt transmission and about 2000 ft. of 2200 volt feeder. This work was rushed and power was again available at the mine sub- station about 26 hours after the fire. During the same time temporary lighting lines were strung and transformer equipment obtained, so that when electrical connection was resumed the lights were turned on and the dump well lighted that night.

Jan 1, 1924

By H. O. Hoffman, C. D. Demond

There are two methods of determining the fusibility or refractoriness of fire-clays, the theoretical and the experimental. In the former, conclusions are drawn from the chemical composition; in the latter, from the changes which the clay undergoes when subjeoted to intense heat. It is well to use both methods, beginning with the actual heat-test and explaining the results obtained from this by the help of the chemical analysis. In discussing the subject, however, it is better to reverse this order. I. The Theoretical Method.* Leaving out the hygroscopic and combined waters and any organic matter, as not directly affecting the fire-resisting property, the refractory constituents of fire-clay are alumina and silica, and the fluxing constituents magnesia, lime, soda, potash and ferric oxide. According to Bischof,† alumina is the least fusible component, and silica follows close upon it. If, however, a mixture of the two be heated, it will be found that its melting-point is much lower than that of alumina, as a silicate will then have been formed. The way in which silica affects the refractoriness of alumina has been strikingly presented by Seger 1 in a diagram reproduced in Fig. 1. The abscissæ represent the melting-points of Seger cones Nos. 26 to 36 (see p. 55); the ordinates, the relative amounts of alumina and

Jan 1, 1895

By AIME

WE got our chance to talk with Arthur J. Blair at the Annual Meeting at the Pennsylvania Hotel. By two o'clock Wednesday afternoon things had quieted down enough so we had our interview in the foyer to the Ball Room. There were the usual questions. Where were you born? In La Salle County, Ill., on March 26, 1885. Where did you go to school? Northwestern University, B.S. degree in 1906. Where did you start work? For E. J. Longyear right after leaving school. One's ability as a geologist was measured by one's ability to wield a brush hook and ax. He stayed on the job as geologist for three years and then got to thinking about the advantages of a warmer climate. The advantages stacked up favorably, so off he went to Birmingham, Ala., just about the time U.S. Steel took over the Tennessee Coal, Iron and Railroad Co.

Jan 1, 1948

By Scott Turner

HOSTS of friends will rejoice that T. A. Rickard has been given honorary membership in the Institute. It might well have been done long ago, since, when one reviews distinguished services rendered by individuals to our organization and our profession, it is at once apparent that his name ranks high and that he has merited this distinction for more than three decades. Our by-laws restrict this list to twenty names; "T.A." becomes the sixteenth living member. Young engineers should particularly be pleased; Mr. Rickard has had a career rich in human interest, and full of useful suggestions to the younger men; he has given them good advice and set them a notable example; he, more than anyone else, has shown them how technical writing can be clear and concise; he has inspired youngsters to do their best; he has been their friend. No one has more first-hand knowledge of these facts than the writer of this appreciation:

Jan 1, 1935

By H. W. Gillett

Unlike most previous Howe lecturers, I had not the good fortune to be associated with Henry Marion Howe, nor to be directly one of his students. Yet, through his writings, he has been my teacher, as he has of all American metallurgists. Instructive as his writings are—I use the present tense because Howe thought so keenly and reasoned so surely, seeing clearly, as if by intuition, what was hazy to lesser minds, that his writings are still vital—it is not those books and papers, nor even the minds he trained in his classes, that were his most outstanding service. It was the spirit of Howe in his approach to the problems of metallurgy, his broad-mindedness and fairness, his recognition of the need for theories and hypotheses to explain metallurgical phenomena, his willingness to use them as servants, as well as his questioning attitude—his refusal to accept them as masters—that comprise his greatest service. This most thoroughly warrants the honor the Institute pays each year to his memory. These traits I so respect and honor in any man that I glory in this opportunity to do reverence to him in whom they were so notably united. Howe's Discussion of a Creep Problem I have often wished that Howe were still with us to turn his keen insight upon the problems of the use of metals at high temperatures, a field much studied but still very hazy. Indeed, 53 years ago, in a paper1 before this Institute, Howe stated a problem closely allied to some that still perplex metallurgists and engineers dealing with the high-temperature field. Howe was intrigued by a report2 from another old master, Robert Henry Thurston, on the behavior of annealed vs. cold-drawn iron wire, and in order to broaden the foundation for metallurgical generalization, Howe made experiments of his own on copper and silver. In these tests by Thurston and by Howe, the wires were rapidly loaded to determine the

Jan 1, 1939

By L. R. MacLead

Delivery of tailing to any part of the area by gravity from the ridge was found practicable. Experiments with asbestos-cement pipe proved it possible to use level pipe across the dams if it is fed through an inclined section in which pressure could be developed. Use of pipe to transfer the tailing to the dams was not favored because of the possibility that choking might occur. Metal flume was not believed to have sufficient wear resistance on this material and wooden flume would not withstand damage by the weather so well- Flume -action made- of 26-in diameter asbestos-cement pipe, split before curing and molded to a specified cross section, were finally approved. The flume is connected to the 24-in. diameter tail in distribution pipe by heavy concrete lateral launders. Cascades of horizontal and vertical pipe sections are used at the top of the pressure leg where scouring by high-velocity flow of tailing might occur.

Jan 1, 1942

By Harry C. Gatos, Frank J. Bachner, Mario D. Banus

The portion of the Nb-Sn phase diagram between 75 and 79 at. pct Nb at temperatures near the liquidus has been investigated by melting alloys of known composition and examining the microstmc-tzlres resulting when these melts were quenched. The Nb-Sn samples were contained in magnesia sleeves, and were mounted in a high-pressure apparatus. It was shown that Nb3Sn me1ts by a peri-tectic decomposition and that the composition of the compound Nb3Sn at the peritectic horizontal lies between 77 and 78 at. pct Nb. Analysis of the phases present in the samples was accomplished by anodic staining techniques and an electron-microbeam analyzer. DURING the past several years a great deal of work has been devoted to the Nb-Sn system, and the bulk of this work has been primarily concerned with the intermetallic phase Nb3Sn. However, the melting characteristics of Nb3Sn have not been investigated because of the difficulty in maintaining known compositions due to tin losses by vaporization, and the added difficulty of containing Nb-Sn alloys without sample-container reaction at the high temperatures involved. This paper reports on the development of a technique for containing Nb-Sn alloys under pressure high enough to prevent tin losses at temperatures in excess of the liquidus. Using this technique, melts of known composition were made and a phase diagram near the liquidus is proposed based on the microstructures resulting when these melts were quenched. EXPERIMENTAL The Nb-Sn alloys weighing 0.7 g each were prepared in the form of cylinders. Niobium powder, -200, +325 mesh, and tin shavings with a minute amount of tin powder for a binder were mixed in the desired proportions and cold-pressed at 50,000 psi in a 0.150-in. die. This cylinder was then enclosed as shown in Fig. 1, and the entire arrangement mounted in a 2.6-in. pyrophyllite tetrahedron.' The desired temperatures (-2500°C) presented several problems in high-pressure container materials. Boron nitride, the usual sample holder, was found to react with niobium to form the nitride. However, MgO cans and plugs machined from refractory rods did not melt nor react with the sample. Thick tantalum contact disks were used to carry the large currents (~450 amps) to the graphite heater, since tantalum did not melt and had enough strength to prevent extrusion of the sample. It was further observed that the graphite heater and tantalum disks could not be in direct contact with the pyrophyllite because it melts and decomposes at these temperatures to kyanite and coesite (SiO2),2 the former reacting with graphite and the latter with tantalum to form the silicide. The use of a MgO outer sleeve

Jan 1, 1965

By E. A. Gulbransen, W. S. Wysong

The behavior of molybdenum and its surface oxides in oxidizing and reducing gas atmospheres and in high vacua at elevated temperatures is a question of scientific and technical importance. The use of molybdenum as a metal or as an important component in alloys in oxidizing atmospheres at elevated temperatures has been limited because of the unprotec-tive nature of its oxide film and the volatility of this oxide at moderate temperatures. This communication will present results of a vacuum microbalance studyl, 2 of the following problems: (I) the oxidation kinetics in the temperature range of 250°to 450°C; (2) the reduction with pure hydrogen of thin oxide films formed on molybdenum; (3) the volatility of the thin oxide films; and (4) the vacuum oxidation of molybdenum at high temperatures. Molybdenum is an interesting metal to study for the following reasons: (I) although the oxide-to-metal-volume ratio is greater than one, the metal is not considered protective; (2) the metal oxidizes readily at temperatures of 2 50°C and higher; (3) the oxides of the metal are reduced at temperatures as low as 500°C by pure hydrogen; (4) the oxide Moo3 melts at 795°C; and (5) the oxides of molybdenum are volatile at moderate temperatures. The following variables are studied in the oxidation kinetics: time, temperature, pressure, surface preparation, surface area, concentration of inert gas in the lattice, cycling procedures in temperature, vacuum effect and high temperature vacuum oxidation. The general interpretation of many of these factors has been previously discussed. Literature The oxidation of molybdenum has not been studied critically. Although many studies have probably been made on the kinetics of the oxidation process, none has been reported in the literature available to us. The crystal structures found in the oxidation of molybdenum have been studied by Hickman and Gulbransen." Their results showed that Moo2 is the oxide which is stable in contact with the metallic substrate throughout the temperature range 300 to 700°C. As the film thickens in the low temperature range, MoO3 becomes predominant on the surface. Above 400°C, Moos is no longer observed, MoO2 being the only oxide found. Hagg and Magneli6 have shown from an X ray study that the a-phase, orthor-hombic Moo3 is stable up to 1050°C. Two other phases, ß and ß with compositions close to MoO2.90 are also obtained. The formula for the 0 phase is not given but that of the ß phase is defined as Mo9O26 The 0' phase is found to be built upon a monoclinic unit cell. A ?-phase is isolated from a preparation MoO2.75 heated for 17 hrs at 670°C. This phase is

Jan 1, 1949

Lieut. Louis J. Brunel, now in France, was commissioned on July 27, 1917, as Second Lieutenant in the Engineers Reserve Corps, assigned to the 7th U. S. Engineers, Dec. 10, 1917, and has been with the American E. F. since Mar. 26, 1918. He was assigned to the staff of the General commanding the 5th Field Artillery Brigade, as Engineer Officer, on Aug. 6, 1918. E. Ross Housholder writes that "the record for pontoon bridge building was broken Sept. 25, 1918, by Section A, Co. 4, 5th Engineer Officers' Training School, at Camp Humphreys, Va., of which I am a member. The time was 15 min. 11 3/5 seconds. We then proceeded to break the record for dismantling in 9 min. 57 1/5 seconds. The length of the bridge section was 200 ft. The post band was sent out to meet us, and we feel proud of this record. I have met quite a few A. I. M. E.

Jan 11, 1918

By McHenry Mosier

SUMMARY MERCURY is one of the strategic metals of which the supply has been raised from critical uncertainty to more than enough for essential demands. Work by the Bureau of Mines has contributed substantially to increased production of mercury in the United States and to consequent accumulation of Government stocks. Other contributing factors have been higher prices for mercury and Government loans to operators. The Bureau has undertaken 13 exploration projects, 10 of which have been completed. This work has comprised 28,376 ft. of several types of drilling and 23,798 lin. ft. of surface trenching, and has indicated commercial ore containing 34,800 flasks of mercury and marginal ore containing 26,200 flasks, a total of 61,000 flasks; equivalent, respectively, to domestic production for 8 months, 6 months, and 14 months. As Government stocks are now adequate, domestic production (currently at the rate of 50,000 flasks per year) is gradually being curtailed through Government control of labor and operating supplies.

Jan 1, 1944

ENGINEERS AVAILABLE (Under this heading will be published notes sent to the Secretary of the Institute by members or other persons introduced by members.) Technical graduate, aged-31, with experience as surveyor, chemist with a sulphur company, practical miner, and as chief engineer of an iron mining company, desires a position as mining engineer or superintendent. Speaks French and German. No. 165. Member, aged 31, married, graduate Yale and Massachusetts Institute of Technology, six years' experience in coal and iron mining, from engineer to general superintendent, desires position with large coal or iron company. Will go anywhere. References. . No. 167. Member, technical graduate, with experience as machinist, chemist, construction engineer, and manager-of mines in the United States and Mexico, desires position .as mine superintendent or manager. Speaks Spanish. No. 168. Member, technical graduate, aged 26, with experience as engineer, mine foreman, assistant superintendent for a pyrite mining company. Experience includes diamond drilling, shaft sinking, underground work, milling of pyrites, and mine accounting. No. 169.

Jan 12, 1914

By G. A. Savanick

Borehole (slurry) mining, where a tool incorporating a water-jet cutter and a downhole slurry pump mines phosphate through a borehole, was field tested in northeastern Florida as part of a US Bureau of Mines program to increase the domestic availability of critical minerals. About 1.5 kt (1700 st) of phosphate ore were mined at 23.6 t/h (26 stph) from a depth of 76 m (250 ft). The borehole was filled with water during mining for roof support and to assist slurry pumping. Underwater cutting was enhanced with an air-shrouded water jet. Mined cavities were backfilled to prevent subsidence after abandonment. Roof subsidence during mining was avoided only when the cavity was filled with water. Environmental monitoring before, during, and after mining included hydrological studies and measurements of water quality. Significant water quality changes occurred only in the zone being mined and were confined to the immediate area of the borehole.

Jan 1, 1986

By AIME AIME

The American Society of Mechanical Engineers.-The semi-annual meeting of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers will be held in Detroit, Mich., June 23-26. A session will be devoted to hoisting- and conveying-machinery; and many other subjects will be treated in professional papers, among which are . Clutches (with special reference to automobile clutches); The Thermal Properties of Superheated Steam; The Horse-Power, Friction-Losses, and Efficiency of Gas- and Oil-Engines; A Journal-Friction Measuring-Machine; A Simple Method of Checking Conical Pistons for Stress, and The By-Product Coke-Oven. The usual receptions will be held and excursions will be made to manufacturing plants, the slip-building yards, and various points of interest in and around Detroit. Among the excursions' planned is one to the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor. The Gas-Power Section of the Society will hold a session, and the Society for the Promotion of Engineering Education and the Society of Automobile Engineers will hold meet-

Jan 5, 1908

By James V. Thompson

ENGINEERS from industrialized countries are frequently called upon to examine mining operations in primitive areas and make recommendations regarding mechanization and modernization. They often set forth with self-confidence, knowing full well that all that is needed is their experience and several shiploads of mining machinery, and at times they mentally provide the answers before the problems have been clearly stated. In primitive areas it is absolutely essential that the examining engineer spend enough time at the site to acquire a thorough understanding of what is being done now and why it is done the way it is. The objective here is to state in simple terms some of the problems that may be encountered, in- as much as solutions, if they can be found at all, will differ with each experience.

Jan 8, 1958

By John C. Branner

Five of the geologic horizons that yield oil in other parts of the world are represented in Brazil; namely, the Devonian, Carboniferous, Permian, Cretaceous, and Tertiary. Thus far, the first two have shown no evidences of being oil bearing within Brazilian territory. Not enough exploring has been done to permit trustworthy comparisons of the relative importance of the Permian, Cretaceous, and Tertiary as oil-bearing horizons in this country. The most important, indeed almost the only, information available relates to the locations of the areas and to the structural features of the several horizons. The theories regarding the physical conditions under which these rocks were laid down, however, I regard of the utmost importance. Permian Rocks of Permian age cover an enormous area in Brazil, extending from Rio Grande do Sul to Maranhao on the north, and to Matto Grosso on the west. These Permian rocks in many places are known to include oil-bearing shales and in some locations contain small veins of gilsonite. The geologic map of Brazil shows that the Permian area is widely distributed, but there is considerable doubt about the origin of some of the rocks. Some of the lower Permian beds in southern Brazil contain marine fossils, but in Minas no fossils have as yet been found in them, and in Bahia, at only one locality have a few Permian plants been found. Indications of oil have been found in the states of Sa0 Paulo, Parana, and elsewhere farther south, but wells drilled in the Permian of SaO Paulo near the Morro do Bofete did not find oil. One well has been started, by the Brazilian Government, in the Permian of Parana near Marechal Mallet, close to latitude 26" south, but thus far oil has not been found.

Jan 1, 1923

By John C. Branner

Five of the geologic horizons that yield oil in other parts of the world are represented in Brazil; namely, the Devonian, Carboniferous, Permian, Cretaceous, and Tertiary. Thus far, the first two have shown no evidences of being oil bearing within Brazilian territory. Not enough exploring has been done to permit trustworthy comparisons of the relative importance of the Permian, Cretaceous, and Tertiary as oil-bearing horizons in this country. The most important, indeed almost the only, information available relates to the locations of the areas and to the structural features of the several horizons. The theories regarding the physical conditions under which these rocks were laid down, however, I regard of the utmost importance. Permian Rocks of Permian age cover an enormous area in Brazil, extending from Rio Grande do Sul to Maranhao on the north, and to Matto Grosso on the west. These Permian rocks in many places are known to include oil-bearing shales and in some locations contain small veins of gilsonite. The geologic map of Brazil shows that the Permian area is widely distributed, but there is considerable doubt about the origin of some of the rocks. Some of the lower Permian beds in southern Brazil contain marine fossils, but in Minas no fossils have as yet been found in them, and in Bahia, at only one locality have a few Permian plants been found. Indications of oil have been found in the states of Sa0 Paulo, Parana, and elsewhere farther south, but wells drilled in the Permian of SaO Paulo near the Morro do Bofete did not find oil. One well has been started, by the Brazilian Government, in the Permian of Parana near Marechal Mallet, close to latitude 26" south, but thus far oil has not been found.

Jan 1, 1923

By K. H. Heino

Two 200 T/da Lurgi Turbulent Layer fluid-bed roasters have been in operation at Canadian Electrolytic Zinc Limited since 1966. Zinc concentrate containing 52-54% Zn, 9-11% Fe,31-33% S is treated to produce calcine containing 60-62% Zn,10-12% Fe, .l-.3% S as sulphide and .8-1.2% S as sulphate. Each roaster train comprises a waste heat boiler, two cyclones in parallel and a two-field electrostatic precipitator. Distribution of calcine collected is 10-15 percent from bed overflow, 55-65 percent from boilers, 20-25 percent from cyclones and 2-6 percent from precipitators. A Monsanto designed contact plant produces acid at a rated capacity of 365 T/da (100% H2304 basis) from roaster gases diluted to 7.0-7.5% S02. The process steps are gas cleaning and cooling by weak acid scrubbing, acid mist removal in electrostatic precipitators, gas drying in 93.5-96.5% H2304, conversion of sulphur dioxide to sulphur trioxide in a four-pass converter containing vanadium pentoxide catalyst, and absorption of the sulphur trioxide in 98.1-98.3% H2S04. Product acid is 93.2% H2S04. Conversion efficiency is 97-98 percent and overall sulphur recovery from concentrate is 87-90 percent. The adjacent fertilizer plant has a capacity of 135 T/da of P205. The products are 54 percent phosphoric acid, run-of-pile triple superphosphate, and diammonium phosphate. The plant is of Ugine-Kuhlman design and consists of an air-cooled multiple tank reactor, a tilting pan filter, and a forced circultation vacuum evaporator. Triple superphosphate is made on a continuous belt and partially cured in a rotary dryer. Diammonium phosphate is produced by ammoniating phosphoric acid in a single stage reactor. The slurry of ammonium phosphate is granulated in a blunger and dried.

Jan 1, 1970

By R. H. Harrington

The definition of precipitation-hardening1 is well understood and its principles have been subjected to study for some time. However, the variation of properties with double aging, combined with strain-hardening, gives promise of new and useful phenomena. Properly to understand these distinctions, definitions of these terms are necessary. Precipitation-hardening1.—This reaction usually depends upon an alloy having such a composition that it consists only, or in major part, of but one phase, a solid solution, at a high temperature, so that, upon slow cooling, this solution breaks down into two phases, the solid solution and a compound. By heating the alloy to the temperature for maximum solution of the compound, quenching, and reheating to a suitable lower temperature for critical dispersion precipitation of the compound, useful properties of the alloy may be developed to a maximum. Double Aging.—Dougle aging in part is similar to the process for precipitation-hardening, consisting of heating a precipitation-hardening alloy to the solution temperature, quenching, reheating to the suitable dispersion precipitation temperature, strain-hardening, and again reheating to a suitable temperature to develop certain useful properties to a maximum. The strain-hardening may be induced by two methods: (I) a rate of cooling from the first reheat may suffice to strain the solid solution lattice of the alloy; or (2) the alloy may be cold-worked to a suitable degree between the two reheats. Pkecipitation-hardening of Copper-cobalt-beryllium Alloys1.2 The composition of principal interest is that of 2.6 per cent Co, 0.4 per cent Be, 97 per cent Cu. The alloy has been developed commercially and, with certain reasonable precautions, ordinary brass-foundry practice suffices to produce an alloy of high quality. Preliminary Precipitation-hardening Study.—Samples were cut from a I-in. round rod cast in a graphite mold. These samples were then

Jan 1, 1937

By Douglas J. Harvey

The surface tension of lead-tellurium alloys (in the range 0 to 6.70 at. pct Te) ad lead-arsenic alloys (in the range 0 to 10.53 at. pct As) has been examined by the maximum bubble pressure method. The surface tension of high purity lead can be expressed over a range of temperatures (M.P. to 750°C) by the relationship = 512 — 0.133t. Arsenic and lellurium were both found to be surface active in lead. The surface excess concentration at 700°C was .found to be constant at 0.74 x 10-10 moles per sq cm for tellurium. The surface excess of arsenic at 700°C varied between 0.26 x 10-10 moles per sq cm at 0.16 at. pct to 1.5 x 10-10 moles per sq cm at 8.3 at. pet. The surface tension of lead has been investigated sporadically over the last 90 years. The first recorded study was made by Quincke1 who used a rather crude application of the drop-weight method. Hogness2 obtained the first reliable value for the surface tension of lead by measuring the pressure necessary to force the liquid metal from the end of a small capillary of known radius. Hogness gives the empirical formula: ?(surface tension)= 444 - 0.077 (l-327) which describes the relationship between surface tension and temperature ("C); This work was followed by that of Bircumshaw3 who applied the two-capillar maximum bubble pressure method of Sugden.4 The values published by Bircumshaw are in good agreement with those found by Hogness. Matuyama5 examined the surface tension of lead by the drop weight method. However, the values found are somewhat higher than those previously reported. More recent investigations by Greenaway6 and by Melford and oar' have resulted in data which are not in close agreement, but which are well within the expected range at most temperature levels. The study of the surface tension of lead alloys began with Drath and sauerwald8 who examined the lead-bismuth system. They found that the surface tension values of the alloys in this system deviated only slightly from the ideal mixture rule. Matuyarna5 examined the lead-antimony system. Bircumshaw the lead-tin, and the lead-indium system was studied by Hoar and Me1ford.10 The results of these investi- gations are summarized in Fig. 1. It may be seen that the data vary only slightly from the ideal mixture rule. As none of the metals studied and reported in the literature has a very interesting effect on the surface tension of lead,*the next logical step might be to examine the effect of metals of low solubility or nonmetals having some liquid solubility. Baes, and Kellogg11 have pointed out that the elements most likely to be surface active in liquid metals are ones of limited solubility in the liquid state and possessing weak intermolecular bonding forces in the solid state. Therefore, Group V, VI and VII nonmetals are most likely to be surface active. It was decided to examine the effect of a borderline metal, arsenic, and a nonmetal tellurium. Arsenic forms a eutectic with lead having a melting point of 290°C and a composition of 6.9 at. pct As.13 Pure arsenic sublimes when heated above 610°C. Even though alloying with lead lowers the vapor pressure, fumes containing arsenic are evolved at a very noticeable rate when lead-arsenic alloys are heated above 650°C. Tellurium raises the liquidus temperature of lead sharply to 904°C,14 the melting point of PbTe (lead-telluride). The solid solubility of tellurium in lead was determined by Greenwood and worner15 to be 0.0007 at. pct at room temperature. EXPERIMENTAL METHOD Surface Tension Measurement—The two capillary maximum bubble pressure method for measuring surface tension developed by Sugden,4 and used later

Jan 1, 1962

By J. Richard Maier

Short-range mine planning (less than five years) previously was accomplished using contour and isopac maps, pencil and paper, an abacus, and our lucky quarter. Through the use of both micros and mainframe time sharing, Glenrock Coal Company (GCC) has been able to virtually put the old equipment away (except the problem solving quarter). In the process, GCC has saved many man-days and eliminated the more tedious parts of mine planning, such as picking elevations off a map with an engineer's scale and repetitive calculations. These savings have allowed GCC to do a more extensive job of mine planning as well as offer more alternatives, making GCC better prepared for possible economic changes. Mine planning, simply, involves looking at what has been done and deciding what needs to be done using various constraints. The application of this concept is not as easy as it sounds. The need for experience and insight cannot be replaced by a machine, but machines can supplement a person's ability by doing the bookkeeping and the repetitive work. Through the application of computers and their accessories, GCC has brought mine planning to a more modernized state. The following paper will detail the development and use of one system as used at GCC. Please note: In the figures and tables following, some of the data has been altered to protect confidential information used in mine planning.

Jan 1, 1983