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By Craig E. Saporito

INTRODUCTION Freeport-McMoRan Inc. has been very active recently with two major discoveries and its restructuring activities. This paper describes Freeport-McMoRan's businesses, the two major mineral discoveries, and exciting opportunities within the oil and gas operations. BUSINESS ACTIVITIES Freeport-McMoRan is the largest and one of the lowest cost fully integrated U.S. phosphate fertilizer producers. It is the second largest domestic Frasch sulphur producer. Freeport- McMoRan will become the largest domestic producer of Frasch sulphur when its Main Pass Block 299 sulphur deposit reaches full production in 1993. Furthermore, it is the largest transporter of sulphur produced by others. Its oil and gas activities rank among the largest U.S. independents in terms of production and proved reserves. The copper/gold operations in Indonesia are among the world's lowest cost. When expansion operations reach full capacity levels in 1992, the Indonesian copper/gold complex will be the fifth largest copper operation in the world. Operations are divided into three business segments that include: 1. Agricultural minerals, incorporating sulphur, phosphate rock and phosphate fertilizer activities; 2. Energy, including oil and gas activities; and 3. Metals, incorporating copper, gold and silver operations in Indonesia. In early 1989, Freeport-McMoRan announced the discovery of two world-class ore bodies; a sulphur deposit off the coast of Louisiana on Main Pass Block 299, and a copper/gold deposit -- the Grasberg in Indonesia -- approximately two miles away from the existing Ertsberg East operations. As a result of these major discoveries, Freeport- McMoRan decided to carry out a restructuring program. Its purpose was to sell $1.2 to $1.5 billion of non-strategic assets. Debt levels and associated interest expenses will be significantly reduced, and general and administrative expenses will be reduced, which will place Freeport- McMoRan in an excellent position to fund the development of the Main Pass Block 299 sulphur discovery, the Grasberg discovery, and oil and gas discoveries. This restructuring program also will allow Freeport-McMoRan to achieve the greatest future value for shareholders by focusing on its principal businesses (Figure 1). Strategic Restructuring • Sell $1.2 - $1.5 Billion Of Non-Strategic Assets • Significantly Reduce Debt • Significantly Reduce G&A • Fund Development Of Main Pass & Grasberg • Stronger Company; Positioned For Future Growth • Focus Is On Principal Businesses: - Sulphur/Phosphate Fertilizers - Indonesian Copper/Gold - Oil And Natural Gas Figure 1 - Strategic Restructuring AGRICULTURAL MINERALS Main Pass Block 299 Discovery The Main Pass Block 299 discovery has a proven reserve of 67 million long tons of recoverable sulphur. This is the largest known Frasch sulphur deposit in North America. The discovery increased Freeport-McMoRan's sulphur reserves more than five-fold, and is synergistic with the company's phosphate fertilizer assets. The

Jan 1, 1990

By H. L. Talbot, A. J. Hall, R. S. Young

A METHOD for the chemical differentiation of oxidized cobalt from sulphide cobalt in complex mine and concentrator products is of considerable interest to a number of mining companies throughout the world. At Rhokana Corporation, in Northern Rhodesia, for instance, cobalt is found chiefly in the sulphide form, as carrollite, but a cobalt oxide mineral also occurs irregularly underground, and relatively small quantities in the mill feed from time to time are difficult to detect it visually at the concentrator. The oxide cobalt is not amenable to the sulphide flotation process used at Rhokana and nearly all of it passes into the tailing. The occasional. period when high tailing losses occur with no appreciable change in the cobalt content of the mill feed has naturally been disturbing to the concentrator staff, who had no means of determining whether an influx of cobalt oxide ore or laxity on the part of the mill flotation operators were responsible for these results. A procedure for determining oxidized copper minerals, based on their solubility in dilute sulphuric acid saturated with SO2, has been used for many years in the copper industry. In the presence of cuprite the procedure fails, but otherwise it gives results quite satisfactory for control purposes. Empirical methods for determining oxidized forms of zinc and lead have been proposed, but they are generally unsatisfactory except in isolated cases of a very simple ore. No published procedure for determining oxidized forms of cobalt or similar elements has come to the authors' notice. EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE There are obviously two alternatives in attacking a problem of this nature. One is to employ a solvent for oxide cobalt that will not dissolve cobalt sulphide. The other is, to find a substance capable of oxidizing the cobalt sulphide to sulphate, which of course is water-soluble and can then be leached from the water-insoluble oxide cobalt. A representative sample of Rhokana cobalt oxide ore was secured, ground to minus 200-mesh, and carefully rolled to furnish a standard sample for this work. The analysis of this material gave the following percentages: Co, 0.55; Cu, 1.64; Fe, 2.98; S, 0.08; SiO2, 41.42; A1203, 11.20; CaO, 13.82; MgO, 3.80. As a source of cobalt sulphide a similar large sample of carrollite was prepared, analyzing Co, 23.36 per cent; Cu, 27.32; and S, 31.13. This sample of course was not pure carrollite, but was the best obtainable in quantities sufficient for a standard intended for considerable work. It was a pure sulphide sample, microscopic examination showing only carrollite, a little bornite, and gangue, with no visible sign of oxidized ore present. A wide variety of reagents were used in an effort to selectively dissolve oxide cobalt or to oxidize sulphide cobalt to

Jan 1, 1946

By Luis Elek

DEVELOPMENT of the cement industry in Mexico began some 40 years ago. It has gradually reached great importance in the economic life of the country and has contributed greatly to the technical and economical advances which have been so noteworthy, particularly during the last 15 years. From a modest start, the industry now comprises 18 cement-producing plants having a potential annual capacity of approximately 14 million bbl. About half the plants were built and equipped with second-hand machinery during the last world war when no new machinery could be procured. They will hardly attain full production before being modernized and reconditioned, a job now under way in several of the plants. At present, the yearly consumption is only about 8 to 9 million bbl but is steadily increasing. This is only a fraction of the cement consumed in the U.S.A., which is about 250 million bbl per year, although on the basis of consumption per capita per year, the figure is 1/3 bbl for Mexico and 1 2/3 bbl for the U.S.A. Cement consumption in Mexico is well above the average of all other Latin American countries, with the exception of the Argentine, and considering the potentialities and undeveloped riches of Mexico, the road construction and irrigation works, it is fair to assume that the Mexican cement industry will still prosper and expand in spite of temporary setbacks in the future caused by-local events of economic or political nature. Portland cement is manufactured by burning a mixture of raw materials, one of which is mainly composed of calcium carbonates and the other of aluminum silicates. The most typical materials answering this description are limestone and clay, both of which occur in Mexico in many varieties. To be usable for cement manufacture limestone should contain at least 77 to 80 pct calcium carbonate. Lower grade limestone can be used for cement manufacture only if the lime content is increased by the beneficiation process, which has not yet been adopted by the Mexican cement industry. Most of the limestone used by Mexican cement plants has a calcium carbonate content of 90 to 95 pct and therefore requires addition of one or several correction materials. A typical composition of raw mix for cement manufacture is 85 pct limestone and 15 pct shale, clay or volcanic materials. Occasionally it is necessary to add a smaller amount of sand or other siliceous material to increase the silica ratio in the raw mix. Likewise, it is sometimes necessary to add 1 or 2 pct iron ore to facilitate fusion in the kiln and to obtain proper relation between alumina and iron oxide. After calcining and

Jan 1, 1952

C. P. BOWIE, San Francisco, Cal.-In my work with the U.S. Bureau of Mines, I have been detailed to report on oil storage containers, and in going around the country I have, been much interested in, the possibilities in the use of concrete for such containers. In talking with a good many people, I have discovered that concrete is being used A good deal for a wide variety of oils ranging from 14° to as high as 40° Bé., especially, by some of the western railroads:, If any member has had experience, in storing gasoline in concrete, I should like to learn of it. DORSEY HAGER, Tulsa, Okla.-Mr. M J. Munn, formerly .with the U. S. Geological Survey, acid connected with the Gypsy Oil Co., until a short time ago, has invented a invented a method for the application of concrete to the storage not only of crude oil but of refined products:. The Cosden Oil Co., of Tulsa, is now working on that plan, and, expects to store refined products in concrete tanks. THE CHAIRMAN (I.N. KNAPP, Ardmore Pa.).-I have had considerable experience in building masonry tanks for gas Holders. I do not believe it is possible to build a concrete or masonry tank of any kind. With hydraulic cement, mortar, which will be absolutely water-tight, unless the bottom and inner wall, after completion are waterproofed with some impervious material. The same will be true of oil tanks, the bottom and inner face of which must be made impervious to oil. Masonry tanks are intended to be sunk in the ground. All that the wall of the tank then amounts to is a retaining wall to keep the excavation in shape and to receive an impervious coating. The bottom of, a; tank, when empty, must be protected by a relief valve from any hydraulic: pressure acting from below. At ordinary prices, for sheets, a tank 100 ft. diam by 20 ft. deep can be built of steel much quicker and cheaper than of masonry. Several years, ago I saw very large oil storage tank under construction in California the bottom and sides being concrete. The sides were, sloped at about the single of repose for the material excavated: If you build a steel oil tank, you can get. .men for the work who do nothing else, and you, are likely to get a satisfactory job; but if you wish to build a concrete or masonry tank it is almost: impossible to find men skilled in building absolutely water-tight masonry Work. The general idea is that any laborer can mix up concrete in any old way and make a,

Jan 1, 1918

By Carl Tolman, LeRoy Scharon, Harold Powers

THIS paper presents geophysical and subsurface data observed in the vicinity of Shafts No. 1 and and 5 of the National Lead Co. lead mines at Fred-ericktown, Madison County, Missouri, see Fig. 1. The area selected is an excellent example to illustrate the close correlation between geophysical data and geological facts as revealed by drilling and mining. Such close correlations make geophysical applications appropriate to the development of known ore-bodies as well as the exploration for new orebodies. In the past, magnetic and shallow electrical resistivity observations were made over limited areas in the Fredericktown lead district by the Missouri Geological Survey, with favorable results. The first extensive magnetic and electrical resistivity surveys were started by the U. S. Bureau of Mines in May 1945 in two areas located northwest and southwest of Fredericktown, as shown in Fig. 1. The results of these surveys were reported in April 1948 at Denver, spontaneous-polarization surveys were made over the property of the St. Louis Smelting and Refining Co. at Fredericktown by Sherwin F. Kelly Geophysical Services, Inc. Aeromagnetic surveys were completed in 1948 over the Fredericktown quadrangle by the U. S. Geological Survey. Since 1945 geophysical surveys have been an important part of exploration programs in the Fred- ericktown district. Such methods, magnetic and electrical resistivity, are now serving as guides in the further development of known orebodies. On an irregular pre-Cambrian igneous erosion surface Lamotte sandstone of upper Cambrian age was deposited, partially filling the topographic basins, see Fig. 2. Above and conformable with the Lamotte sandstone lies the Bonneterre formation, a dolomite with locally interbedded thin dolomitic limestones and shales at its base. This formation also only partially filled the topographic basins. The Bonneterre was overlain by the Davis, Derby, Doe Run, and Potosi formations, which are principally dolomite. Uplift, tilt, and slight warping has allowed erosion and weathering to remove most of the sediments overlying the Bonneterre, and in many places, not far from the mine, the Lamotte sandstone is exposed. This erosion has also exposed areas of pre-Cambrian igneous rock. The Lamotte sandstone, having been deposited on an irregular pre-Cambrian surface, is extremely variable in thickness and ranges from zero where it laps the pre-Cambrian rocks to 250 ft thick in the deeper basins. In the vicinity of the mines the Bonneterre dolomite ranges from zero where it wedges out against the pre-Cambrian igneous rocks to 400 ft thick. The ore deposits occur as a bedded disseminated type1 and are chiefly composed of galena and pyrite with minor amounts of chalcopyrite and siegenite. Heavy pyrite and marcasite mineralization may be found throughout the Bonneterre formation. However, there is little or no apparent association of these iron sulphide bodies lying above the ore hori-

Jan 1, 1954

By Nicholas Kowall, K. L. Clark

Maximum furnace efficiency and close control of final steel composition demand that the steel melter be able to follow closely the variations in the carbon content of the bath. For many years, the fracture test has been used by melters for estimating carbon, because it requires only a very short time to pour a sample into a chill mold, cool it in water, break it with a sledge hammer, and observe the fracture. After long experience gained from the observation of such fractures, most melters are able to estimate the carbon content of steel with amazing accuracy, particularly in the lower carbon ranges. Notwithstanding the utility of the fracture test, there has been widespread interest in other methods for rapid carbon determination to supplement it and to ensure against possible errors in human judgment. Several methods, based upon measurement of magnetic properties as functions of carbon content, have been described in the literature1-6 and have been found to give reasonably reliable results in plant practice when scrap composition is known and controlled. A difficulty encountered in the use of analyzers of the magnetic type is that alloying elements do change the relationship between carbon content and magnetic properties and it becomes necessary to establish calibration curves for all the expected combinations of alloy residuals that are not oxidized in the bath. The work reported here is of an investigation of a method that is independent of alloying elements normally present in constructional steels, being based upon the relatively well-known fact that in plain carbon and low-alloy steels martensitic hardness is a function of carbon content alone. Work oF Other Investigators In I938, Burns, Moore and Archer published & curve? that showed that the hardness of martensite is a function of carbon from 0.10 to 0.50 per cent and is independent of grain size or alloy content, at least within the rallge found in construc-tional S.A.E. compositions. Some of the deeper hardening types investigated, however, contained carbon to a maximum of only o.2o per cent. Using this principle, Kern8 developed a method of rapid carbon determination for S.A.E 43xx steels, His procedure consisted of chill-casting a test bar that was large enough to give a a that could be prepared for Brinell indentations. The test piece was quenched immediately after solidi fication was complete and hardness readings were taken, so that the carbon content could he read from an experimentally determined curve giving the relationship between as-quenched hardness and carbon. Experimental Work Although Kern's work had been done with a relatively deep-hardening steel, it

Jan 1, 1944

By K. L. Clark, Nicholas Kowall

Maximum furnace efficiency and close control of final steel composition demand that the steel melter be able to follow closely the variations in the carbon content of the bath. For many years, the fracture test has been used by melters for estimating carbon, because it requires only a very short time to pour a sample into a chill mold, cool it in water, break it with a sledge hammer, and observe the fracture. After long experience gained from the observation of such fractures, most melters are able to estimate the carbon content of steel with amazing accuracy, particularly in the lower carbon ranges. Notwithstanding the utility of the fracture test, there has been widespread interest in other methods for rapid carbon determination to supplement it and to ensure against possible errors in human judgment. Several methods, based upon measurement of magnetic properties as functions of carbon content, have been described in the literature1-6 and have been found to give reasonably reliable results in plant practice when scrap composition is known and controlled. A difficulty encountered in the use of analyzers of the magnetic type is that alloying elements do change the relationship between carbon content and magnetic properties and it becomes necessary to establish calibration curves for all the expected combinations of alloy residuals that are not oxidized in the bath. The work reported here is of an investigation of a method that is independent of alloying elements normally present in constructional steels, being based upon the relatively well-known fact that in plain carbon and low-alloy steels martensitic hardness is a function of carbon content alone. Work oF Other Investigators In I938, Burns, Moore and Archer published & curve? that showed that the hardness of martensite is a function of carbon from 0.10 to 0.50 per cent and is independent of grain size or alloy content, at least within the rallge found in construc-tional S.A.E. compositions. Some of the deeper hardening types investigated, however, contained carbon to a maximum of only o.2o per cent. Using this principle, Kern8 developed a method of rapid carbon determination for S.A.E 43xx steels, His procedure consisted of chill-casting a test bar that was large enough to give a a that could be prepared for Brinell indentations. The test piece was quenched immediately after solidi fication was complete and hardness readings were taken, so that the carbon content could he read from an experimentally determined curve giving the relationship between as-quenched hardness and carbon. Experimental Work Although Kern's work had been done with a relatively deep-hardening steel, it

Jan 1, 1944

By Luis Elek

DEVELOPMENT of the cement industry in Mexico began some 40 years ago. It has gradually reached great importance in the economic life of the country and has contributed greatly to the technical and economical advances which have been so noteworthy, particularly during the last 15 years. From a modest start, the industry now comprises 18 cement-producing plants having a potential annual capacity of approximately 14 million bbl. About half the plants were built and equipped with secondhand machinery during the last world war when no new machinery could be procured. They will hardly attain full production before being modernized and reconditioned, a job now under way in several of the plants. At present, the yearly consumption is only about 8 to 9 million bbl but is steadily increasing. This is only a fraction of the cement consumed in the U.S.A., which is about 250 million bbl per year, although on the basis of consumption per capita per year, the figure is 1/3 bbl for Mexico and 1 2/3 bbl for the U.S.A. Cement consumption in Mexico is well above the average of all other Latin American countries, with the exception of the Argentine, and considering the potentialities and undeveloped riches of Mexico, the road construction and irrigation works, it is fair to assume that the Mexican cement industry will still prosper and expand in spite of temporary setbacks in the future caused by local events of economic or political nature. Portland cement is manufactured by burning a mixture of raw materials, one of which is mainly composed of calcium carbonates and the other of aluminum silicates. The most typical materials answering this description are limestone and clay, both of which occur in Mexico in many varieties. To be usable for cement manufacture limestone should contain at least 77 to 80 pct calcium carbonate. Lower grade limestone can be used for cement manufacture only if the lime content is increased by the beneficiation process, which has not yet been adopted by the Mexican cement industry. Most of the limestone used by Mexican cement plants has a calcium carbonate content of 90 to 95 pct and therefore requires addition of one or several correction materials. A typical composition of raw mix for cement manufacture is 85 pct limestone and 15 pct shale, clay or volcanic materials. Occasionally it is necessary to add a smaller amount of sand or other siliceous material to increase the silica ratio in the raw mix. Likewise, it is sometimes necessary to add 1 or 2 pct iron ore to facilitate fusion in the kiln and to obtain proper relation between alumina and iron oxide. After calcining and

Jan 1, 1953

By Luis Elek

DEVELOPMENT of the cement industry in Mexico began some 40 years ago. It has gradually reached great importance in the economic life of the country and has contributed greatly to the technical and economical advances which have been so noteworthy, particularly during the last 15 years. From a modest start, the industry now comprises 18 cement-producing plants having a potential annual capacity of approximately 14 million bbl. About half the plants were built and equipped with secondhand machinery during the last world war when no new machinery could be procured. They will hardly attain full production before being modernized and reconditioned, a job now under way in several of the plants. At present, the yearly consumption is only about 8 to 9 million bbl but is steadily increasing. This is only a fraction of the cement consumed in the U.S.A., which is about 250 million bbl per year, although on the basis of consumption per capita per year, the figure is 1/3 bbl for Mexico and 1 2/3 bbl for the U.S.A. Cement consumption in Mexico is well above the average of all other Latin American countries, with the exception of the Argentine, and considering the potentialities and undeveloped riches of Mexico, the road construction and irrigation works, it is fair to assume that the Mexican cement industry will still prosper and expand in spite of temporary setbacks in the future caused by local events of economic or political nature. Portland cement is manufactured by burning a mixture of raw materials, one of which is mainly composed of calcium carbonates and the other of aluminum silicates. The most typical materials answering this description are limestone and clay, both of which occur in Mexico in many varieties. To be usable for cement manufacture limestone should contain at least 77 to 80 pct calcium carbonate. Lower grade limestone can be used for cement manufacture only if the lime content is increased by the beneficiation process, which has not yet been adopted by the Mexican cement industry. Most of the limestone used by Mexican cement plants has a calcium carbonate content of 90 to 95 pct and therefore requires addition of one or several correction materials. A typical composition of raw mix for cement manufacture is 85 pct limestone and 15 pct shale, clay or volcanic materials. Occasionally it is necessary to add a smaller amount of sand or other siliceous material to increase the silica ratio in the raw mix. Likewise, it is sometimes necessary to add 1 or 2 pct iron ore to facilitate fusion in the kiln and to obtain proper relation between alumina and iron oxide. After calcining and

Jan 1, 1953

The Western World's gold reserves now exceed 23,000 mt (750 million oz), 65% of which exist in South Africa. Although several major mines are reducing production or closing because of depletion of reserves, new mines or expansions of existing mines are coming on-stream which will maintain an annual production of 684 mt (22 million oz) of gold well into the 1990s. These new operations by the South African mining industry represent the largest expansion since the opening of the Witwatersrand gold fields in 1886. Included in three new mines being opened is that of Anglo American Corporation's Elandsrand plant, their fir& new gold venture in South Africa in seventeen years. Current average grade of South African mines is 8.2 g Au per mt (0.24 oz per st); and while the cost of the Elandsrand 135,000 mt (149,000 st) operation, including mine development, was about $314 million, it is estimated that the cost of a comparable operation started today and completed in the mid-1980s would be of the order of $480 million. New mines to exploit low-grade ore bodies are, therefore, likely to be few in number, and further expansion will undoubtedly be in the form of extensions to existkg operations where cash flow can be used to finance development. The authors' first monograph, "Gold and Silver Cyanidation Plant Practice," devoted a section to South African cyanide plant operation; and it is believed that this new volume would not be complete without a description of Elandsrand, South Africa's newest gold plant. The Elandsrand mine is adjacent to Anglo American's Western Deep Levels on the Far West Rand. The decision to go ahead with the development was taken in mid-1974 from the results of exploration drilling carried out over a period of .lo years. Results of 17 bore holes and 68 intersections of the Ventersdorp Contact Reef had indicated a gold-.bearing reef less than one meter thick at a depth of 1,800 to 3,000 meters (5,900 to 9,840 ft). Preliminary studies indicated a mine of 900 km (560 miles) of underground workings would yield 725,000 kg (23. 3 million oz) of gold from 60 million mt (66 million st) of ore to be milled over a period of 34 years. Eventually, when the mine is in full production, the total hoisting capacity will be 300,000 mt per month (331,000 st) for a milling capacity of 225,000 mt per month (248,000 st). The Elandsrand surface facilities have been built on a low range of 0 hills to take maximum advantage of the 10 slope in transporting ore

Jan 1, 1981

By John G. Hall

MANY millions of tons of raw materials are removed each year from open pit mines in the eastern U. S. These materials are used by industry to produce aluminum, asbestos, barite products, building stone, cement, crushed stone, copper, coal, dolomite, garnet, iron, limestone, mica, phosphate, phyrophyllite, titanium products, and wollastonite. Improvements in open pit mining techniques through the years have made open pit mining more and more attractive as compared to underground methods. Today ore deposits that formerly would have been mined underground have proven to yield more profit if mined by open pit methods. Ever-rising labor and material costs have made equipment capable of high-volume production and low-unit cost-and supplies rendering low-unit costs-not only attractive to open pit operations, but essential to their economic existence. During the past year, the major advances have been in drilling and blasting operations, and the application of large capacity materials handling equipment. Mining men from the Great Lakes, Northeast, East Central, and Southeastern regions of our country tell in the following articles of the trends in open pit mining in their areas during 1956.

Jan 2, 1957

NEW MEMBERS The following list comprises the names of those persons who became members during the period of Feb. 10, 1918, to Mar 10, 1918. ADKINSON, HENRY M., Min. Engr Walker Bank Bldg., Salt Lake City, Utah. BARKE, A. C., Min. Engr., United States Smelt., Refin. & Min. Exploration Co., 1503 Hobart, Bldg., San Francisco, Cal. BARKER, F. L., Prof. of Min. and Geol., Pei Yang University, Tientsin, China. BEASLEY, ALFRED F., Supt. Of Refinery, Bunker Hill & Sullivan Min. & Cone. Co., Kellogg, Idaho. BEEKLY, A. L Chief Geol., Cosden & Co., Tulsa, Okla. BELLIS, ARTHUR E Met., N. E. Westinghouse Co., Springfield, Mass. BRAIN, ELMER C Mgr., United Gold. Min. Co., Granite, Ore. BRUNER, CRANE S., Engr., American Zinc, Lead & Smelting Co., Carterville, Mo. COLLINS,. HARRY R Mech. Engr., Fuller Engineering Co., Allentown, Pa. CRANKSHAW, ALDEN, Experimental Met., New Jersey Zinc Co. (of Pa.), Palmerton, Pa. GALLIGAN, EMMET F., Mine Supt., Homestead-Iron Dyke Mines Co., Inc., Homestead, Ore. GREENE, FRANK C Geol., Cosden Oil & Gas .Co., Tulsa, Okla. HALSEY, HOWARD G Field Engr., 0. M. Bilharz Min. Co., Miami, Okla. HARROUN, DOUGLASS HOUGHTON, Supt.., Aguascalientes Metal Co., Asientos, Aguascalientes, Mexico.

Jan 4, 1918

By Robert U. King, John W. Vanderwilt

THE Climax molybdenite deposit in Lake County 100 miles southwest of Denver is located in the central part of the mineral belt extending north-easterly across the state. Principal geographic features and geology are shown on Fig. 1. The first period of molybdenite mining, which began in 1918, ended in April 1919 because of limited demand and a price drop to about 724 per lb. During this time the ore came from the Leal level and surface outcrops at a higher elevation. Rate of mining was 250 tpd and several million tons of ore averaging 0.7 pct molybdenite were developed. Since April 1924, when the second period* began, Climax Molybdenum Co. has been the only operating company. Production in 1924 was 400 tpd and finding ore was a continual problem. When the White tunnel was extended, however, further ore was encountered. The orebody was thought to be tabular until 1926, when B. S. Butler recognized the relation of the developed ore on the Leal and White levels to a central area of fine-grained hydrothermal quartz, and by 1929 diamond drilling had blocked out indicated ore reserves in excess of 100 million tons.

Jan 1, 1955

By William Alden

A GREAT landslide occurred on June 23, 1925, in the valley of Gros Ventre River, about 35 miles south of Yellowstone National Park (Fig. 1). The relations of the north-easterly dipping rock formations of the slide scarp and of the dam formed by the slide are shown in the diagrammatic cross-section of the valley (Fig. 2). This generalized section is based on unpublished maps and notes by Eliot Blackwelder, in the files of the U. S. Geological Survey. FIG. 1.-MAP SHOWING SCARP AND DAM (LARGE DOTS) AND LAKE (CROSS-LINED) FORMED BY LANDSLIDE BLOCKING GROS VENTRE RIVER. (Scale 1, in. = 1 mile; contour interval 100 ft. From Grand Teton and Mt. Leidy topographic maps). Heavy rains and melting snow in the Gros Ventre Mountains had saturated clay layers in the Carboniferous strata, which dip toward the valley at angles of 18° to 21°, consequently an enormous mass of rock at the end of the north spur of Sheep Mountain became loosened and, on the afternoon of June 23, slid suddenly down into the valley. Within a few minutes this mass of debris-estimated as 50,000,000 cu. yd.-carrying

Jan 1, 1928

By M. H. Merriss

In the last few years, there have been developed at the plant of the Nichols Copper Co., Laurel Hill, 'Borough of Queens, New York City, improvements in electrolytic copper refining by the series system that have materially increased the flexibility and economy of that system. The purpose of this paper is to discuss, as of interest to refiners and to those who have copper to refine, as well as to the engineering profession in general, the changes' that have taken place resulting in wider application and increased efficiency of the series system. Copper is electrolytically refined in two ways, which are spoken of as the "multiple system" and the "series system." In both systems, the electrolytic tanks are in series electrically. In the multiple system the electrodes in a single tank are in multiple or in parallel, thus: There are two important adaptations of the series process, one represented by the series electrolytic tank room at the Baltimore Copper, Smelting & Rolling Co., Baltimore, Md., and the other by that of the Nichols Copper Co.'s plant. At Baltimore, the anode is rolled to perfect

Jan 1, 1926

By Robert B. Hoy

To maintain a competitive position in the world market in spite of higher domestic labor costs, the U.S. has been forced to the forefront in developing labor saving devices. This has resulted in automation in our factories, mechanization in our mines, and development of faster and more economical methods of transportation. Since World War II the domestic mining industry has suffered perhaps more than any other sector of our economy. When we assisted our allies-and our enemies-to get back on their feet following the ravages of war we were perhaps overly generous in providing funds and technical assistance to develop foreign mining industries that have since become thorns in the side of our own industry. It has become imperative that domestic industry exert its vigor to meet the challenge of foreign competition. While the domestic industry can meet this challenge of foreign competition in part by protective tariffs, quotas and governmental aid, the most effective way is to maintain technological superiority that will reduce manpower requirements and costs and increase productivity. There is this opportunity both in mineral processing and in mining.

Jan 9, 1962

By John L. Burnett

Manufacture of lightweight concrete aggregate from common shale is one of the most rapidly growing industries in the field of nonmetallic or industrial minerals. Although expanded shale" has been in use since it was developed by Stephen J. Hayde in 1917, it was not until after World War II that it became a substantial competitor with other aggregates. There are some 70 plants now producing this aggregate in the United States, approximately half of them in states west of the Mississippi River. Expanding plants throughout the U. S. are grouped around major urban centers such as Los Angeles, New York, Chicago, and Denver. Concrete made with expanded shale aggregate combines the desirable features of low weight with relatively high strength, making it especially useful in concrete block, in structural concrete for multi-story buildings and in a variety of specialized concrete products such as prestressed panels and beams, and storage tanks. As the cost of construction continues to rise, lightweight concrete will probably be used in increasing quantities because of its low cost relative to the more traditional construction materials such as wood, brick and steel

Jan 1, 1964

By Alan K. Burton

An industry-wide demand for bigger and more efficient trucks, with their supposed economies of scale, is well established. Some trucks have been, and often are brought "off the shelf," with the manufacturer offering only certain minor options, much as in the private automobile industry. The market is well established; there is keen competition; in recent years there have been few significant changes, and few are expected. With large trucks (100-ton-capacity and over), however, the situation is different. Here, with an individual truck costing several hundred thousand dollars, there is an ever in- creasing trend to engineer a truck for a specific application. The body will be designed and sized for the material that the truck will carry; the engine and transmission will be geared to the haul profile, and tires will be designed to suit road conditions and work requirements. Early Truck Development Haulage trucks designed expressly for open-pit mine service were introduced during the 1930's. The first models to arrive on the scene hauled about 15 tons, and easily outperformed the modified highway trucks that had been used for mine haulage up to that time.

Jan 8, 1975

By Samuel Thomas

The specimen of anthracite coal which I hold in my hand, insignificant as it may appear to the casual observer, speaks volumes to me and to the initiated, as it suggests and represents the entire evolution of the use of anthracite coal in the manufacture of pig-iron, the growth and development of which it is my purpose to review here to-day. During our recent visit to the Mountain Copper Co.'s works at Keswiek, I picked up this piece of coal from a pile of anthracite lying in the yard, asked Mr. Edwards, the manager, a countryman of mine, where it came from, and, to my surprise and delight, discovered that it had been brought all the way from Wales, and had come out of the identical vein which my father opened near Yniscedwin, about eighty years ago. I had no idea, before this incident, of contributing to the already full and complete programme of the day; but, being requested by our distinguished President and Secretary to do so, I consented to relate here the story which this remarkable find naturally brought back to my mind.

Jan 1, 1900

By H. F. Haller

COLUMBIA-SOUTHERN'S Barberton limestone mine, 8 miles southwest of Akron, Ohio, is a million-ton-per-year producer from a depth of over 2200 ft in a district where other underground mining at this depth is unknown. Mining extracts 46 of the top 51 ft from a formation of Devonian limestone discovered by drilling in the 1890's. The same drilling revealed extensive salt deposits below the lime- stone, which led to the location of the chemical plant at Barberton as a division of the Pittsburgh Plate Glass Co. in 1899. Soda ash was the principal product of the plant, and as production increased the demand for limestone increased. Columbia's first attempt to secure a reliable all-weather source of stone was the development of a quarry at Zanesville, Ohio, in 1919. Zanesville production eliminated some of the stock- piling required by the use of Michigan stone, avail- able only during the lake shipping season. Stone from some Zanesville horizons, however, was found to be more suitable for cement production than for soda ash, and rail transportation remained an important factor. As demand continued to increase, plans were made to develop the Barberton deposit.

Jan 12, 1954