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By Milton C. Head, Aulton E. Roland, William E. Hawes

INTRODUCTION Uranium mining in the Grants Mineral Belt has undergone changes from methods pioneered during the 1950's and has now become fairly standardized throughout the district. The orebodies vary in size and shape and have been most successfully mined by using modified room and pillar methods with pillar recovery. This paper will expand on methods and equipment that are being used and modifications of these that will increase productivity and efficiency. GEOLOGICAL BACKGROUND The petrology of the Grants Mineral Belt consists of alternating layers of sandstone and shales (mudstone), with occasional thin layers of coal. The sandstones are aquifers which are generally artesian to some extent. The shales are bentonitic and decompose into extremely sloppy mud when exposed to water. Figure 1 shows a typical geologic section. Most of the uranium produced in the Grants Mineral Belt comes from the Westwater Canyon member of the Morrison Formation and occurs as scattered ore bodies throughout the formation. This formation consists of layers of bentonitic shale and sandstone of varying degrees' of cementing and grain size. It is also a very significant artesian aquifer. The unconfined compressive strength of the various formations is not high, as shown in Table I. It is important to note that these represent average values and a great range may exist within a single formation, especially In the Westwater which is the ore formation. [ ]

Jan 1, 1982

By Mark L. Requa

During the past two years California has developed a new and important oil-field: I refer to Midway. This field produced the famous Lake View gusher, which is credited with a total production in excess of 8,000,000 barrels. Fortunately for the oil industry of the State, this well is now a thing of the past, and nothing, save a great crater-like opening marks its location. The pipe is entirely worn away and gone; and it is a matter of serious doubt if there can be anything done that will cause the well to produce again. Fortunately, also, there have been no other wells in that field or elsewhere throughout the State that in any may compared with the Lake View. Midway is noted for large wells, of from 500 to 2,000 barrels production; but the decline is rapid, and a few months serve to bring the output down to a few hundred barrels. In the oil-territory heretofore blocked out as proved and probable, there have been, during the year, many changes. Some areas which were expected to be fairly productive have apparently failed; others, more strictly "wild-cat," have come in; while in some of the older fields there are properties which are beginning to shorn evident signs of exhaustion. The total area of proved territory will therefore probably suffer but small

Jan 1, 1912

By A. M. Gaudin

It is only in recent years that substantial progress has been made in developing a physico-chemical picture of the solid state. The molecular concept, so useful in dealing with gases, was naturally carried over to the field of crystalline solids; it has resulted in the firm implanting of erroneous concepts that only now are being eradicated successfully. Two simply written and effective books on the subject are Crystal Chemistry by Stillwell' and An Introduction to Crystal Chemistry by Evans. A more complete treatment of the subject is available in a book by Wells. The monograph by Hucke14 also touches on a subject most easily perceived by reference to the brief introduction by Bragg; that master of the field. These texts make it clear that while some solids are built of molecules, many are built of ions, others of atoms connected in the form of giant molecules, and still others of cations and electrons. The various lattices in which these entities are systematically arranged, the joint use of several of these entities, and the transitional character of some of the bonds make for the great variety of crystalline solids. The purpose of this paper is to point out a most important corollary of present views on the structure of solids. In this connection the classification of solids in Table I is helpful.

Jun 1, 1955

By Anders Carlson

NOTABLE advances have been made in the evaluation of oil-reservoir rocks from information furnished by core analysis. Among the physical data employed, per-meability is of primary importance. It may be assumed that the permeability of a core sample, considered as a property inherent to the nature of the porous medium only, is not markedly altered by the coring opera-tion, therefore some degree of accuracy is justified in the laboratory determination of permeability constants by means of homo-geneous flow media. To provide that such relatively simple determinations be sus-ceptible to duplication and consistent inter-pretation should prove advantageous in the prediction of subsurface flow conditions involving nonhomogeneous fluids. The air permeameter seems to fill most satisfactorily the need for rapid and fairly accurate determinations. Instruments that are similar in design and operation have come into general use. However, this has not resulted in an encouraging uniformity in the results obtained. Recognizing the value of reducing measured values to a common quantitative standard, the authors have sought to determine possible reasons for undue discrepancies and means for their elimination. This paper will be specifically concerned with three factors, which appear to be of some importance in the establishment of consistent permeability values: (I) design and operation of the permeameter, (2) preparation and mounting of the sample, (3) type of flow created in the sample.

Jan 1, 1940

By M. K. Barnett

[ ] ENGINEERING research consists, broadly speaking, in the investigation of the effect of the variations in a number of factors on some property of a product or characteristic of a process. The unambiguous description of the product or process requires that the property or characteristic be expressible in quantitative terms. For the purpose of practical control, it is likewise desirable that the independently variable factors governing the product or process be quantities, although this ideal goal is not always attained. Maximum efficiency-i.e., the attainment of the maximum amount of reliable, useful information relating to the influence of the factors on the property of the product or characteristic of the process, for the least expense-is an important requirement for the satisfactory operation of a research organization. Obviously, a necessary condition for the attainment of maximum efficiency is an adequate knowledge of the specialized field in which the experimental research lies. While necessary, this condition is not sufficient. Proper attention must also be given to the general principles of experimental design together with the modem methods for the analysis and evaluation of experimental data. The present discussion is confined to a single design, the so-called "factorial" design. This design is of special interest in that it attains its goal, maximum efficiency, by directly departing from the

Jan 1, 1947

By Carl Henrich

A.. S. DWIGHT, New York, N. Y.-Mr. Henrich's paper is rather inconclusive as to the role that alumina really plays in slags. He gives a number of interesting instances of high alumina, with conclusions that he draws from the analyses, in the light of what he knows of the accompanying conditions, but the information given is hardly sufficient to permit intelligent criticism of these conclusions, for it is well known that the slag composition is not the only factor that can produce some of the furnace results favorable or disastrous, as the case may be, which he records. As a matter of fact, most metallurgists who have wrestled with this problem in connection with the smelting of lead and copper ores, usually arrived at some sort of a working hypothesis which met the local conditions fairly well, and then, being busy men, were inclined 'to leave the theoretical question very much as Mr: Henrich leaves it when he says: "A question with which I purpose dealing at some future time." It is unfortunate that in the Golden Age of the smelting industry in the West, when we were all dealing with large tonnages of complex ores, often containing large percentages of alumina in combination with other. refractory elements, the smelting companies were not generally equipped for research as they are today, and much experience that might have been,

Jan 4, 1917

By Paul E. Queneau, H. J. Roorda

Cobalt consumption will increase during the next decade at an average rate at least equal that of nickel. In the past, use of cobalt has at times been curtailed by lack of availability or by high price. In the future, output of cobalt derived from copper ores and iron sulfides will continue to grow and output of cobalt from nickel ores will be greatly increased. There should therefore be an adequate supply of this metal at a reasonable price. Nickeliferous limonites constitute by far the largest known terrestrial reserves of cobalt. A process has been conceived, based upon selective reduction and aqueous chlorination for treatment of such ores. The proposed procedure permits good extraction of the ore's cobalt content, comparable to that of the nickel, and is adaptable to large-scale, automated unit operations. Chlorine leaching of the ore enhances its value as a potential source of iron and chromium. Over four thousand years ago, cobalt pigments were employed for decorative purposes in some glass and glazes of Egypt and Persia, and by 1000 B.C. they were widely used in the Middle East.' " However, prior to 1914, virtually no cobalt was produced as metal and ceramics remained the largest consumer of the element as oxide. During World War I cobalt-containing high-speed steels came into their own and the metal's merit in magnet steels was established.

Jan 1, 1971

(Under this heading will be published notes sent to the Secretary of the Institute by members or other persons introduced by members.) Engineer of many years' experience in mining engineering, construction, public works, contracting, water-power development and operation, having heretofore retired on a sufficient competence, wishes to have employment with thoroughly reputable concern where his experience would be of value; the question of remuneration is of secondary importance. A-2591. Engineer, in military service nearly two years, desires, when discharged, to secure permanent position offering future opportunities. Experienced as mechanical and metallurgical engineer, investigator, teacher. Technical graduate and post-graduate from two of best American schools. Ability as executive, organizer and industrial leader. Especially fitted for industrial position of administrative nature or as technical assistant to industrial manager. Salary expected $4500 to $5000. A-2619. Member A. I. M. E., age 36, twelve years' experience in smelting and hydrometallurgy of copper ores, desires research or works position with responsible company. Speaks fair Spanish. Can handle men. Will welcome difficult metallurgical problems. Salary $5000. A-2627. Mining engineer, recently discharged from the Army as Captain, Engineers, age 38, 15 years' experience in the Southwest and in Mexico in gold, silver and copper mining, engineering, surveying, sampling and assaying, with special training in prospect and mine examination and the development of prospects. Speaks Spanish; immediately available; references. A-2136.

Jan 6, 1919

By W. H. Bassett

THE subject assigned is rather a broad one but it, is doubtless expected that it will be dealt with as applying to metals and alloys and not to the ob-taining of metals from their ores. The liberty will further be taken of confining the matter discussed to copper and some of the copper alloys. Everyone is familiar with copper, at least everyone who attends the meetings of the A. I. M. E., so no gen-eral description of the metal is necessary. There are still to be recognized two classes of copper and each of these has some sub-divisions. The two general classes are electrolytic and fire-refined copper. Since there is some misunderstanding about these materials, definitions are in order. Electrolytic is just what the name implies. It may and it should be very pure but with high current densi-ties or very impure anodes, or both, impurities such as antimony, tellurium and lead may be carried over to the, cathode. Any one of these, or a combination in which they occur, are alike fatal to good working quali-ties in the resulting metal. Of course, these metals are not supposed to be deposited with copper, but slimes containing them may be 'occluded. in the deposited cop-per or held in rough cathodes if not washed with suffi-cient thoroughness.

Jan 5, 1927

By Bernard Kopelman, C. C. Gregg

THE reduction of tungstic oxide to tungsten metal powder by hydrogen is a process by which one might expect the resultant metal powder to be porous. In- [ ] deed, sponge iron, prepared by reduction of the oxide in a reducing gas, is generally accepted as quite porous, with pores large enough to be seen readily under the optical microscope at relatively low magnifications. However, any pores that may exist in tungsten metal powder are not resolved by the optical microscope, and apparently, not even by the electron microscope. Fig I shows commercial tungsten powder magnified at 10,000X by the electron microscope,1 both etched and unetched. In an earlier paper by one of the authors,2 the existence of pores in tungsten powder [ ] was required to explain adequately the particle size changes occurring during the reduction of tungstic oxide. The inability to detect these pores under the electron microscope at 10,000 X implies that these pores are of a size of 100 A units or less. (This in itself is by no means proof that pores above 100 A would not exist, since polishing effects on the specimen might smear up holes of such small magnitude). If, then, these pores are less than 100 A, and of the order of molecular size, then the density of the metal powder should be

Jan 1, 1948

By Eric S. Cheney

The often-heard question "How can we interest young geologists and engineers in AIME?" is virtually the same as "How can we interest young geologists and engineers in the glamorous mining industry?" Many persons would reply that AIME and industry should improve their image by various devices aimed at high school students and teachers, boy scouts, and even grade school children. For more immediate results, I suggest that we concentrate our efforts at the professional level on students already identified as geol¬ogists and engineers. Why does our glamorous profession appear distinctly unglamorous to most of the engineers and geologists currently in college and graduate school? The answers seem quite simple to me. First, the profession talks almost exclusively to itself, seldom to the engineering or geologic public, and almost never to the lay public. Second, the industry has been overly conservative in all aspects of recruiting during an especially competitive and affluent period. Consequently, mining has taken a terrific public drubbing from preservationists who still portray its leaders as robber barons. SME and AIME have, of course, various commendable programs for enticing student interest, including student membership, the low dues for this membership, the somewhat reduced prices at which students can attend AIME meetings and buy AIME volumes, and the large number of AIME Student chapters on campuses. Obviously, more active encouragements are needed.

Jan 1, 1971

THIS method of melting with a little wind furnace is called by many melting with air. It is a method that is done with little labor. First a furnace is made with crucibles and charcoal. It is small or large as you wish, without blast from bellows, but not without a draft of air which proceeds from the place where it is made and from the arrangement of the furnace.* This, after a certain period of time, has the effect of melt- [ ] gin the thing in the quantity that you wish, provided, however, that you proportion it properly to the space, to the fire, and to the air which makes the wind. In order to make this, the aforesaid furnace is first made of bricks, or it is dug out of an elevation of stone or [106V] in a wall of clay. It can also be made portable with iron bars and loam as I shall tell you. However you may make it, you must place it in a spot that is windy, for instance, in some large room or opposite doors or windows. It is made round or square as is most pleasing to him who is to make it. But here we will now say that it is to be made square for greater convenience of building with bricks. Having chosen the place, make it a half

Jan 1, 1942

FOREIGN WAR RELIEF COMMITTEE Chairman, MRS. JESSE SCOBEY The task of the committee since Oct. 17, 1918, has been to stimulate and foster interest in the work of the Dispensary in France, to aid and further the work, and to that end has centered on the inauguration of an "Engineers' " day, once a week, at the headquarters of the American Fund for French Wounded, where members of the Auxiliary might join in sewing for this "Dispensary of the New York Section of the Woman's Auxiliary to the A. I. M. E.," recently established at Briey, France. Letters and pledge forms asking for workers were sent to all members of the Auxiliary in New York City and vicinity, and a most gratifying response has assured the success of the undertaking. The meetings in December, pending the completion of better working facilities at Fund headquarters, were held at the home of Miss Madeline P. Stone, to whom the committee extends its grateful thanks for her hospitality large, well-equipped room at Fund headquarters has now been assigned to the committee for Tuesday of each week, from 10 a. m. to 5 p. m., with Mrs. Percy E. Barbour of the committee as director of work room. All members of the Auxiliary and others whose interests are with the mining profession will be welcome on "Engineers'" day-Tuesdays-at 73 Park Ave.

Jan 2, 1919

By J. F. Radavich

Many heats of steel of low carbon value have been known to produce brittle pieces of steel. The brittleness is believed to be due to the impurities located within the grain boundaries. Such brittle steels have been examined with an optical microscope to ascertain the nature and the amount of the impurities present at the grain boundaries. Due to the relatively low resolving power of the optical microscope, the impurities are not visible in fine detail. The writer obtained some sheet steel and proceeded to determine the location of the impurities and to show the application of the electron microscope to the study of grain boundaries. One sample was known to be capable of becoming embrittled, whereas another sample was believed to be much less susceptible to embrittlement. Treatment of Specimens The specimens were embrittled by annealing above the A3 point under mildly oxidizing conditions. One piece of ingot iron could not withstand a 90" bend, whereas another piece of ingot iron was not affected and could withstand a 90" bend. The brittle piece was then annealed at a high temperature in a hydrogen atmosphere. The annealed ingot iron was termed cured and could withstand a 90" bend very easily. The three specimens examined will be designated as brittle, good. and cured in the discussion that follows. Procedure The sizes of the specimens were as follows: one piece of brittle ingot iron-3/8 by 35 in.; one piece of good ingot iron-96 by 1/8 in.; one piece of cured ingot iron-36 by 54 in. The specimens were too small to be polished by hand and therefore were mounted in bakelite. The polishing procedure was carried out in the conventional manner with the use of 1/0 through 3/0 papers, and the final polish was done with alumina on a billiard cloth. The specimens were then etched in a 4 pct solution of picral in alcohol, and then they were examined through an optical microscope. An area was chosen that showed distinct grain boundaries, and an effort was made to keep near this area when pulling the replicas REPLICA TECHNIQIJE The replica technique used in the preparation of the replicas for examination under the electron microscope is described in Electron Metallography.' It consists essentially of the following steps: 1. Obtaining a suitably etched specimen. 2. Applying a swab of ethylene di-chloride on the surface. 3. Applying a formvar solution on the surface. 4. Placing a screen on any desired spot. 5. Breathing on the fornivar layer. 6. Applying scotch tape on the screen and film. 7. Pulling the film and the screen up with the Scotch tape. 8. Separating the screen from the Scotch tape. This replica technique is very similar to the one described by Harker and Shaefer. However, with the added step, the percentage of replicas removed is very much higher regardless of the length of the time from the etching of the specimen to the actual pulling of the replica. The replicas were then shadow cast with manganese at a filament height to replica distance ratio of 1 1/2:7. This produced a very high contrast replica for use in the electron microscope. One of the dificulties encountered with this study was the restricted area of the specimen. The width of the specimens was the same as that of the 200 mesh nickel supporting screen. In order to increase the effective area, the screens were cut down as shown in Fig 1. The arrow indicates the direction in which the replica was pulled. This operation made it possible to obtain a large percentage of good replicas. Fig 3 shows an electron micrograph of a brittle piece of ingot iron and a grain boundary that was polished mechanically. The surface is very rough probably due to the incomplete removal of the flowed layer by the picral etchant. The grain boundary does show evidence of impurities. It was decided to electropolish the specimens to obtain a much smoother surface than the one obtained by mechanical polishing. ELECTROPOLISHING The specimens were cut in half to expose the metal on the back side. The exposed metal had sufficient area to make good electrical contact and electropolishing was carried out easily. The conditions for electropolishing were 0.9 amp, 35 volts, and 25 sec. in an electrolyte composed of 850 cc of ethyl alcohol, 100 cc distilled water, and 50 cc of perchloric acid. The polished specimens were then etched in the 4 pct picral solution for a shorter time than was necessary for

Jan 1, 1950

By AIME AIME

PAST President R. C. Allen, then State Geologist of Michigan, gave George Corless his first job-tracing ?magnetic? with the dip compass in northern Wisconsin. His second job was also with a man now Past President of the Institute-"Chief" Buehler, for whom he worked at Joplin three years. Then came seven years as geologist and later as assistant manager of the Chanute Spelter Co., a subsidiary of The American Metal Co., Ltd. His entrance into the oil business was not planned. During a lull in the zinc industry in July, 1926, he stopped at Houston, after a trip to the Rio Grande Valley, and was so impressed with the city that he decided to migrate. His first job there was with the Texas Company, whose impressive building across from the Post Office caught his eye after he had mailed a letter saying that he was settling in Houston and would not be home until Christmas. Some months later, A.I.M.E. Past President Philip N. Moore learned that he was in. Houston and wrote an unsolicited recommendation that resulted in his present employment with the Humble Oil & Refining Co. Today he is superintendent of the Gulf Coast Division of its production department. The Division extends from Jackson County, Texas, to New Orleans, and includes such pools as Sugarland, Conroe, Toni Ball, Thompsons, Anahuac, and Friendswood. -

Jan 1, 1938

By Philip D. Pearson

Competition is the problem and modernization is the solution in today's underground iron operations on the Lake Superior Range. Profound changes in the iron ore picture during recent years have prompted correspondingly great changes in the economic position of the Lake Superior underground mines. To meet the ever growing competition from other lower cost iron sources, underground operators are becoming increasingly aware that the newest advancements in mining technology must be incorporated in their operations. UNDERGROUND POSITION TODAY The extraction of iron ore by underground methods has been going on for many decades in the Lake Superior region, starting in 1872 on the Menominee Range. The number of mines has changed gradually over the years as new ones were opened and old ones were exhausted, but in recent years, the most drastic change occurred from 1960 to 1961. In 1960, there were 31 underground mines operating in Michigan, Minnesota and Wisconsin, but at one period in 1961 only 20 were operating (Table I). In western Ontario so far there has been only some temporary curtailment of operations. Of the 11 U.S. mines which ceased operations in 1961, some may he closed only temporarily, but some will remain closed for our lifetime, at 'east, unless there is a tremendous reversal of the present trend in the iron ore market

Jan 3, 1962

By C. W. Spencer, B. F. Addis, G. H. Bishop, C. A. Steidel

STUDIES of the inter granular attack of metals by liquids have generally been confined to polycrys-talline specimens. This note reports the results of preliminary studies of the penetration of bismuth-rich Ni-Bi liquids into oriented bicrystal specimens of nickel. It is found that isothermal penetration follows a parabolic rate law and shows a definite anisatropy with respect to direction on the grain boundary surface. Nickel bicrystals containing < 100> tilt boundaries were grown using the Czochralski method. Relative misorientation of the parent crystals was controlled to ± 1deg. The boundaries are straight in the growth direction, i.e., the common <100>, and generally straight in the transverse direction, as shown in Fig. 1. The starting material, Inco HPM grade nickel was contained in a recrystallized alumina crucible and maintained under argon. Bicrystals typically contain 30 ppm C, less than 10 ppm S, O, N, and 50 ppm residual metallics, principally iron and silicon. Specimens, as schematically illustrated in Fig. l(c),were cut from bicrystal ingots using a thin water-cooled abrasive wheel. To insure removal of all residual strain, which accelerates the penetration, specimens were round through 600 grit silicon-carbide, chemically polished, and annealed for 4 hr at 1375°C under argon. The procedure described by Cheney et al.1 for exposing specimens to

Jan 1, 1962

By Robert Lepsoe

IT is generally realized that in cyaniding the precipitation efficiency of zinc dust is due to the fine division or extended surface of its metallic particles; but frequently it is thought that the presence of other, metals, say 2-3 per cent. lead, is advantageous,. causing more complete precipitation. The results of testing about fifty brands of commercial zinc .dust have led to the conclusion that there is a distinct relation of precipitation efficiency to fineness and that the effect generally can be estimated by examining the size of metallic particles. The presence of lead was not found to be of any importance. SPECIFICATIONS Generally the term "97 percent. to pass a 350-mesh screen, 95-97 per cent. uncombined metallic zinc" is used by the leading European exporters. Among the many methods of determination of metallic zinc, I have found the iodine test (iodine in potassium iodide) very satisfactory and rapid. It has been controlled by the other methods, samples of the same product having been sent to three different analysts: Iodine method 98. 11 per cent. metallic zinc, Volumetric method 97.63 per cent. metallic zinc, Ledoux Co., New York Bichromate method 98.16 per cent. metallic zinc, Watson Gray, Liverpool, England Bichromate method 98.20 per cent. metallic zinc, Norway Inst. of Tech., Trondhjem

Jan 2, 1925

EUGENE COSTE, ? Calgary, Alta.-Evidently in Argentine they have a petroliferous province just east of the Andes where very much the same conditions exist as are found on the east side of the Rocky Mountains and in the plains adjacent. It strikes me, though, that the same mistake is being made in Argentine in the exploration for oil as was made in Alberta, Canada; viz., drilling the wells too .near the seepages in the belt in the eastern part of the petroliferous province, too near the mountains. This same mistake was made in Alberta, with disastrous results; viz., only fissure production was found. The strata so near the mountains are tilted at a very strong angle, such as is described in this paper, and the dislocations are intense. On the other hand, we have found that when we get 100 or 200 mi. away from the mountains we get into oil and gas belts which are very prolific. So far our fields in Alberta have been gas, but in Wyoming, as you know, they get many thousands of barrels a day. I have no doubt that conditions in Argentine are exactly similar but that they have so far kept too near the mountains and that they want to explore the belts farther east to obtain better results.

Jan 4, 1919

The first prize of the President&apos;s Prizes has been awarded to J. J. Beeson for his paper entitled "Disseminated Copper Ores of Bingham, Canyon." When this paper-was written, Mr. Beeson was a student at Stanford University, and was president of the Stanford Geological and Mining Society. The President&apos;s prizes were established in 1915, funds being provided, at that time for three prizes of $50, $30 and $20 respectively, for the best essays, or other papers submitted in competition by Junior Members and Members of Affiliated, Student Societies. The original intention was to award all three during the year 1915, but the committee has deemed it advisable to extend the time for the second and third prizes, and the Secretary of the Institute will be glad to hear from any member who wishes to compete for one of these prizes. A competitor for the President&apos;s Prizes must be, at the time of submitting his essay, either a Junior Member or a Member of an Affiliated Student Society of this Institute. The essays must be upon some subject related to Mining, Economic Geology, or Metallurgy. I11 malting the awards, special weight will be given to originality in investigation and treatment; and to &apos;literary merit. As a general rule, the essays should not be less than 3,000, nor

Jan 5, 1917