Search Documents

By Yoon T. Auck, Milton E. Wadsworth

Column leach studies of two low grade prophyry copper ores were made with variables of size, flow rate, pH, drainage rate and tempature. Evidence is presented to show that, in some types of ores, sulfide minerals block leaching channels and regulate the rate of dissolution of gangue constituents. Basic iron sulfates, dissolved by introducing acid, provide oxidizing agent in the form of ferric ion in the absence of oxygen. Ferric ion then acts to release copper from the ore. Oxygen up-take was found to increase with the lowering of the pH and to follow parabolic kinetics attributable to the precipitation of basic iron salts within the pore channels. Slow drainage of residual gravitational water can seriously retard oxygen up-take during oxidation for particles in the coarse sand range. A model is presented for dump leaching in which a reaction zone connected by channels to the surface of the ore particle moves topo-chemically during the course of the reaction.

Jan 1, 1973

By A. A. Scheil, S. I. Hoyt

In technological studies on steel considerable emphasis has been placed on the identification of the foreign inclusions, testimony of which is adequately given in the metallographic literature covering methods for their identification. The outstanding accomplishment in this field is the scheme devised by Campbell, Comstock and Wohrman for identifying various oxides, sulfides, silicates and other constituents by systematic etching tests and microscopic examination.' The time involved in carrying out this procedure has led to attempts to secure quicker methods, or at least to shorten the time required to secure essential information. An example of this is the use of dark field illuminatin,2 but when this was tried out by the authors it was found that cavities and pits on the polished surface appeared bright on a dark field and could not be distinguished from small glassy inclusions. Still another means is the Leitz Ultropak, an instrument equipped with optical units for the illumination of the specimen by reflected light to secure an effect similar to dark field illumination. The structures are made visible in exceedingly sharp details by utilizing the inherent properties of the samples, such as refractive index, absorption coefficients and reflection powers. We have had no experience with the Ultropak, but a recent paper by Benedicks and Löfquist3 describes methods for determining the refractive index of (Fe, Mn) O and MnS by the use of this equipment. Presumably this method would be subject to about the same limitations as dark field illumination, though the, feature added by Benedicks and Löfquist appears to offer great promise in inclusion identification.

Jan 1, 1935

By A. A. Scheil, S. I. Hoyt

In technological studies on steel considerable emphasis has been placed on the identification of the foreign inclusions, testimony of which is adequately given in the metallographic literature covering methods for their identification. The outstanding accomplishment in this field is the scheme devised by Campbell, Comstock and Wohrman for identifying various oxides, sulfides, silicates and other constituents by systematic etching tests and microscopic examination.' The time involved in carrying out this procedure has led to attempts to secure quicker methods, or at least to shorten the time required to secure essential information. An example of this is the use of dark field illuminatin,2 but when this was tried out by the authors it was found that cavities and pits on the polished surface appeared bright on a dark field and could not be distinguished from small glassy inclusions. Still another means is the Leitz Ultropak, an instrument equipped with optical units for the illumination of the specimen by reflected light to secure an effect similar to dark field illumination. The structures are made visible in exceedingly sharp details by utilizing the inherent properties of the samples, such as refractive index, absorption coefficients and reflection powers. We have had no experience with the Ultropak, but a recent paper by Benedicks and Löfquist3 describes methods for determining the refractive index of (Fe, Mn) O and MnS by the use of this equipment. Presumably this method would be subject to about the same limitations as dark field illumination, though the, feature added by Benedicks and Löfquist appears to offer great promise in inclusion identification.

Jan 1, 1935

By Earl S. Bardwell

The determination of suitable and safe annealing temperatures is one of the most important problems arising in the operation of a copper rolling mill. Certain of the larger mills have worked this problem out for themselves and in these mills the operation has become more or less standardized. In some of the mills pyrometers are used to measure the temperature of the annealing furnaces and careful watch is kept to see that overheating does not take place. In a considerable number of the mills, however, dependence is placed entirely on the judgment of the operator. The almost total lack of literature bearing on this subject seems sufficient warrant for the publication of this paper. ' The discussion of this subject naturally divides itself into two parts: (1) The effect of annealing temperature on physical properties; and (2) changes in the microstructure of refined copper due to cold rolling and annealing. I. The Effect of Annealing Temperature on Physical Properties For the purpose of investigating this phase of the subject six test bars were selected, varying in oxygen content between the limits of 0.036 and 0.070 per cent. The chemical composition of each of these test bars was as follows: Bar Number 1 2 3 4 5 6 Copper + silver...... 99.95 99.92 99.945 99.94 99.95 99.93 Oxygen.............. 0.041 0.070 0.046 0.050 0.036 0.058 As + Sb............. 0.0038 0.0038 0.0038 0.0038 0.0031 0.0031 The bars were heated in an electric muffle to about 1,650" F. and rolled into rods. The rods were annealed, pickled, and drawn to No. 12 B. & S. gauge wire. The wire which was to be used for the annealing test was cut into 38-in. lengths and each length made into a coil 6 in. in diameter. The separate coils were marked so that they might readily be identified

Jan 1, 1915

By Alan Morris

SEASON cracking of brass has received wide attention and there is a wealth of technical literature on the subject. Its causes are fairly well understood and means for its prevention are inexpensive and effective, .so that the frequency of failures from this source has diminished of recent years. But its sister phenomenon, the failure of annealed brass by reason of applied tensile stress plus a certain type of corrosion, has received less attention, though it has been responsible for occasional more or less troublesome cases of cracking of brass in service. The work described in the following pages was undertaken about two years ago to determine the relative resistance of various commercial brass mixtures to stress-corrosion cracking, and to learn something of the controlling factors. By stress-corrosion cracking we mean the cracking of brass free- from internal stresses by reason of applied tensile stress and simultaneous attack by certain corrosive agents. Rogers,1 in discussing a paper by Hatfield and Thirkell, says : "He had also applied a solution of mercuric salt to tensile test pieces of brass whilst they were under stress in the testing machine. At very moderate stresses such test pieces cracked, and very readily broke." Moore, Beckinsale and Mallinson2 subjected test pieces to simultane-us corrosion and tensile stress. In order to determine the minimum stress detectable in brass by the mercurous nitrate test, tensile samples were placed under stress and treated with mercurous nitrate solution. They found that brass stressed below a minimum did not crack.

Jan 1, 1930

By Samuel B. Christy

" The man is always greater than his work." The training of the men who are to develop the mineral resources of the world is the most important problem connected with mining engineering. It becomes ever more important to civilization as the mineral wealth of the earth approaches exhaustion. I have therefore decided to consider a few of the more important problems arising in the training of the mining engineer, and especially those arising in America. , The Peculiar Nature of Mineral Wealth. Mining and Agriculture are the two fundamental arts. Without the latter our existence would be precarious; without the former, our civilization impossible. Agriculture furnishes that regular supply of food and raiment which leads to the growth of large communities in which cultivated leisure first becomes possible; while mining furnishes the metallic thread from which is woven that complex fabric we call civilization. But in these two arts the conditions for success are widely different. Most of the crops that the farmer reaps may be harvested year after year, and the proper fertilizers being added, he may continue the annual harvest indefinitely, while, as a result of cultivation, his farm becomes yearly more valuable. But the crop the miner reaps can be harvested but once in the history of the race. Our mineral wealth has taken unknown ages to mature in the bosom of the earth. The ripened fruit can be plucked but once. There are no fertilizers for worked-out mines. It never pays to work over a mine that has been

Jan 1, 1906

By A. B. Kinzel

Precise knowledge regarding the effect of heat treatment on the properties of steel has made possible the detailed specifications and instructions covering optimum heat-treating temperatures and practices that are in current use. A distinct contrast is presented by the metallurgical treatment of steel adjacent to a fusion weld, as such steel is subjected to each temperature from room temperature to fusion temperature, and cooled at a rate that is not generally controllable but is predetermined by the nature of the assembly to be welded, the kind of welding used, and the surrounding conditions. This is true regardless of the type of fusion welding: oxyacetylene, electric arc, thermit or flash resistance. Therefore it seemed desirable to investigate the effect of this metallurgical treatment on the characteristics of carbon steels commonly used for welding, by a detailed study of metal subjected to each temperature range; i.e., each heat-affected zone. Oxyacetylene welding was chosen for the investigation because of the experimental facility of accurately segregating and studying each temperature zone. The nature of the zones produced by other types of welding is the same. The difference is primarily a matter of dimensions of each of the temperature zones involved. The advantages and disadvantages of the extent of the zone are of prime moment, and are discussed after the presentation of the detailed zone study. No mention is made of the fused metal proper, as this has been the subject of much published research and the nature of the solidified metal is fairly .ell known. General Method The scheme of procedure in the work herein reported involved the testing of the metal of each temperature zone adjacent to the weld in so

Jan 1, 1935

By A. B. Kinzel

Precise knowledge regarding the effect of heat treatment on the properties of steel has made possible the detailed specifications and instructions covering optimum heat-treating temperatures and practices that are in current use. A distinct contrast is presented by the metallurgical treatment of steel adjacent to a fusion weld, as such steel is subjected to each temperature from room temperature to fusion temperature, and cooled at a rate that is not generally controllable but is predetermined by the nature of the assembly to be welded, the kind of welding used, and the surrounding conditions. This is true regardless of the type of fusion welding: oxyacetylene, electric arc, thermit or flash resistance. Therefore it seemed desirable to investigate the effect of this metallurgical treatment on the characteristics of carbon steels commonly used for welding, by a detailed study of metal subjected to each temperature range; i.e., each heat-affected zone. Oxyacetylene welding was chosen for the investigation because of the experimental facility of accurately segregating and studying each temperature zone. The nature of the zones produced by other types of welding is the same. The difference is primarily a matter of dimensions of each of the temperature zones involved. The advantages and disadvantages of the extent of the zone are of prime moment, and are discussed after the presentation of the detailed zone study. No mention is made of the fused metal proper, as this has been the subject of much published research and the nature of the solidified metal is fairly .ell known. General Method The scheme of procedure in the work herein reported involved the testing of the metal of each temperature zone adjacent to the weld in so

Jan 1, 1935

By Ian Wark

IT has been shown1 that in the absence of heavy metal salts, the nature of the alkali used to promote differential flotation-whether caustic soda, lime or sodium carbonate-is unimportant. The hydroxyl ion is the active depressant upon which differentiation depends, and the pH value determines whether a film of collector forms on any given mineral surface. Even when sodium cyanide is used in conjunction with alkalies, it is the pH value and not the nature of the alkali or its concentration that is important, for upon the pH value alone depends the fraction of the added sodium cyanide that is present as cyanide ion, which is the true depressant. When heavy metal salts become dissolved from partly oxidized ores, or are added intentionally as activators, conditions are different, and metallurgists have found that lime and sodium carbonate do not give identical results, even when added in amounts sufficient to produce the same pH value. In the few instances in which we had attempted to confirm this view, we had failed to do so, for, with nothing to guide us, we had inadvertently chosen solutions that gave contact curves of a "stand-ard type," which correspond to conditions of ready floatability. Now, however, we find that, in the presence of copper salts, and within a restricted range of reagent concentrations, the nature of the anions present is important, and that sodium carbonate does influence the results, apart from the usual effect due to its influence on pH value. With the recognition of this anion effect, and with the control of temperature already introduced,' it appears that the factors of major importance in connection with this set of reagents have been taken into consideration, and that the results obtained and the conclusions drawn from contact tests will be of more immediate value to the operator.

Jan 1, 1939

By N. A. Stockett

SOUTHEAST Missouri is the largest and oldest lead-producing district in the United States. For the year 1941, the statistical picture of pig-lead production, stated in short tons (partly estimated by the Engineering and Mining Journal) is as follows. [Tons World production 2,000,000 United States production 460.000 Southeast Missouri production 242,000] The consumption of primary lead in the United States in 1941 was approximately 900,000 tons, or almost double the country's production. The largest previous year's consumption in the United States was 718,000 tons, in 1926. The largest quantities of lead are used for cable sheathing, storage batteries and white lead. During 1941 tetraethyl lead for auto and aviation gasoline consumed 50,000 tons of lead. The entire lead production of Southeast Missouri is now mined by the St. Joseph Lead Co., whose dominant position as the largest producer in the United States of lead directly from ores is best shown by the fact that in 1941 it produced approximately 31 per cent of the lead production of the United States from its mines in southeast Missouri, where 22,000 tons of ore, averag¬ing over 3.00 per cent lead, is mined per working day. It is known that lead was mined at Mine La Motte, Madison County, Missouri, by Renault in 1723. Other white men and Indians probably did some mining prior to that time. Since 1865, the recorded production to Jan. 1, 1942, shows that the St. Joseph Lead Co. and the various other companies that have operated in St. Francois County mined lead ore, which, after milling and smelting losses produced 5,00,000 short tons of pig lead. About 95 per cent of the present lead production of Southeast Missouri is mined in St. Francois County. The northern part of this area is 60 miles south of St. Louis. The remainder of the lead is obtained at Mine La Motte, about 25 miles southeast from the center of the producing area in St. Francois County. PROSPECTING In this district, most of the ore is discovered by surface and underground diamond drills and by prospect drilling underground with rock drills. Each 2-ft. length of the cuttings from these Jackhamer prospect holes is assayed for lead. These holes are marked and the records are entered on maps. It has been found that close drilling--100-ft. centers of holes, and sometimes less-is necessary in order to locate most of the smaller commercial ore bodies, many of which previously had been missed by drilling the areas with holes spaced 200-ft. centers or more.

Jan 1, 1943

By J. L. Ratliff, R. I. Jaffee, H. R. Ogden, D. J. Maykuth

An experimental program was carried out to improve the low-temperature ductjlity of tungsten through the combined use of dispersed oxides for grain-size control and Groups VII and VIII metal additions for matrix softening. Separate binary -alloy studies showed that increasing amounts of finely dispersed thoria or zirconia and critical amounts of rhenium, osmium, and iridium were effective in significantly reducing the ductile-to -brittle bend transition temperature of tungsten as well as in increasing its re crystallization temper - LIKE most of the high-melting point bcc metals, tungsten undergoes a marked transition from ductile to brittle behavior with decreasing temperatures. The material factors which influence the transition temperature include grain size, metal purity, and the presence of dispersed phases. ature and decreasing its recrystallized grain size. The beneficial effects shown by each of these additions on transition temperature and grain size in binary combinations appeared to be additive in tevnary combinations. Thus, combined additions of 2 to 8 vol pct thoria with 5 pct Re, 0.87 pct Os, or 0.30 pct Ir were effective in lowering the transition temperature of tungsten pom 2000 to 75"C, increasing its re crystallization temperature from 1600 to 1800°C, and decreasing its recrystallized gain size from 1175 to 6800 grains per sq mm. The mechanism by which these factors are operable in tungsten is not yet clearly understood. Nevertheless, it has become increasingly apparent that the interrelationship of grain size and matrix composition governs to a large extent the degree of low-temperature ductility which can be achieved. Though it is not possible to accurately assess the relative importance of these variables, the available evidence suggests that, at low temperatures, grain-size effects predominate over purity effects. This was indicated in recent studies by Allen, Maykuth, and Jaffee,' involving single crystals containing 20 to 40 ppm 0 and 1 to 30 ppm C. Thus, while each

Jan 1, 1964

By Allan J. Clark

It is nearly three years since the metallurgy of the Homestake ore was discussed with considerable thoroughness, in a paper1 read before the Institution of .Mining and Metallurgy. Certain changes have been made in this period which are perhaps of sufficient interest to justify a brief description, and it is chiefly with such details and miscellanies that this paper will deal. In the circumstances, a certain amount of repetition is inevitable, but matter treated of in the former paper will be referred to here only when it is necessary for the sake of coherency. For full descriptions of equipment and technique, the former paper should be consulted. The mineralized slates and schists which constitute the ore vary considerably in composition, but the unoxidized ore, perhaps constituting the major part of the reserves, contains either chlorite or hornblende (cummingtonite), with quartz, carbonates of lime, magnesia and iron, and arsenopyrite, pyrite, and pyrrhotite. Ferrous minerals predominate, and this fact has been an important factor in determining the metallurgical treatment. With one or two exceptions the minerals noted are of relatively high specific gravity, and the ore as a whole is exceptionally heavy, many determinations giving an average specific gravity of 3.00. This high specific gravity presents one decided advantage, when the cost of treatment is compared with operations elsewhere, in that the ton, almost universally the basic unit, represents a volume probably less by 10 per cent. than that of many gold ores. On the other hand, this high gravity renders more difficult the discharge of pulp from mortars, its distribution on amalgam tables, and its transportation in launders. In the same way, as attesting the usual balance of such variations of different ores, it may be noted that the needle-like fibers of hornblende (cummingtonite), interlacing throughout the mass, render the ore more difficult to crush than would be anticipated, but on the other hand assist

Jan 1, 1916

By J. G. Morlet, A. R. Troiano, H. H. Johnson

Delayed failure in steel occurs by controlled initiation and growth of a crack. The incubation period for crack initiation was measured. Crack initiation and Propagation are controlled by interaction between hydrogen concentration and triaxial stress state. The incubation period results from stress-induced diffusion of hydrogen to the point of crack initiation. THIS paper describes the phenomenon of delayed failureland the kinetics of crack initiation and propagation in uniformly hydrogenated steel. The investigation was prompted by service failures of high-strength-steel components at applied stresses far below the conventional yield strength, after the part had successfully sustained equal or higher stresses for an extended time interval. This delayed failure phenomenon, often termed static fatigue, is associated1 with the presence of hydrogen. This is not surprising, since the voluminous literature on flaking and hydrogen embrit-tlement demonstrates that hydrogen may exert a potent embrittling influence. Flakes, or internal hairline cracks in alloy-steel forgings, are related to the presence of hydrogen retained from the steel-making process.2 On the other hand, embrit-tlement arises from hydrogen introduced during surface treatments such as acid pickling or electroplating. Laboratory delayed failures have been induced in notch specimens of 4340 steel by electrolytic charging of the specimen surface with hydrogen and subsequent static stressing.l,4,5 Static fatigue was observed over a wide range of applied stresses; however, failure did not occur below a critical applied stress, designated as the static fatigue limit. In this instance the extended time for failure resulted primarily from the macroscopic redistribution of hydrogen. A crack formed to the depth of the hydrogen enriched "case* upon loading; further crack growth naturally awaited diffusion of hydrogen into the material ahead of the crack. The crack-propagation rate was therefore controlled primarily by the macroscopic diffusion of hydrogen into the specimen interior during the test. Thus, in this instance static fatigue was associated with the movement of a gross concentration gradient. However, delayed failure in steel of uniform hydrogen concentration is of greater fundamental interest, as well as commercial significance. With a homogeneous hydrogen distribution a different mode of delayed failure might be expected. As the heterogeneous hydrogen distribution became more uniform,4,5 the initial crack-propagation rate decreased markedly and, in fact, what appeared to be an incubation period for crack initiation was observed. However, the macroscopic concentration gradient precluded an accurate evaluation of these observations. Although the existence of an incubation period, up to this time, has not been established definitely, it is not amiss to point out some implications of the concept. It is of interest in all hydrogen-induced embrittlement phenomena, such as flaking, delayed failure, and hydrogen embrittlement. Much discussion has centered around the possibility of an

Jan 1, 1959

By AIME AIME

Russell B. Paul, Chairman of the Special Committee on Divisional Relationships, presented the interim report of his Committee which was published in the September, 1945, issue of MINING AND METALLURGY and a copy of which is incorporated in the official minutes of this meeting. The following specific actions were taken by the Board of Directors in relation to the six recommendations in the Summary of the Report as published: (1) Mr. Haider, Chairman of the Petroleum Division, presented the formal request of his Executive Committee that the headquarters of the new Secretary of the Petroleum Division be established in Dallas, Texas. After lengthy discussion in which the point was made that the success of this program would depend upon effective co-operation between the Chairman of the Division, the Secretary of the Petroleum Division, and the Secretary of the Institute, the request was approved. The new secretary will be selected by the Division and will be employed by the Institute in the capacity of an Assistant Secretary. (2) The following item in the report was approved:

Jan 1, 1945

By Albert A. Smith

The creep properties of metals have assumed increasing importance in recent years and many investigations have been made on various phases of the problem. In the past year the annual lectures of the Institute of Metals Division1 and the Iron and Steel Division2 were concerned with this subject, and are excellent reviews. For many years the creep properties of lead and lead alloys have been investigated at the Central Research Laboratories of the American Smelting and Refining Co., and it is hoped that the present paper will contribute knowledge of some of the factors that influence creep. Lead, being a metal that recrys-tallizes readily at room temperature, is an excellent material upon which to investigate creep phenomena because of the simplicity of the apparatus needed, and it might be expected that results would apply to some extent to elevated-temperature tests of other metals. Material The creep tests of this investigation were all made on high-purity lead (99.9998+ Pb) in which the only impurity that could be detected by spectrographic and chemical means was approximately 0.0001 per cent Fe. Flat strips, 0.750 in. wide by 0. 100 in. thick, were prepared by extruding 2-in. dia. cast billets at a temperature of 250°C. This gave a material of 2 to 3 mm. average grain size with a tensile strength of j.400 lb. per sq. in. when tested at a straining rate of 5 per cent per minute. With this extremely soft material, great care was necessary in handling the specimens, to avoid distortion and subsequent recrystallization. The creep tests at 30°C. were conducted in a constant-temperature room, specially built for the purpose in the basement of an office building in which there was no moving machinery, and no vibration was detectable under the most severe conditions of shock in the adjacent surroundings. The room was well insulated and heated electrically, control being by means of a de Khotinsky regulator operating a relay. Maximum temperature variation over a period of several years has been ± 1/2°C. Specimens of the extruded strip, 16 in. long, were used for test purposes with no reduced gauge section, thus eliminating any distortion due to machining. The method of clamping and supporting the specimens is shown diagrammatically in Fig. 1. The gauge marker for the measurement of extension consisted of an aluminum strip, 0.050 in. thick by 0.75 in. wide, one end of which was ground and sanded to a precise knife-edge and fastened to the specimen by suitable pins. After the strip was fastened in place a fine scratch was inscribed just below the knife-edge by means of a sharp teasing needle. Just below this gauge scratch a short vertical mark was made so that the same point could be located and read each time. Several hundred specimens have been prepared by this method, and it was found that with experi-

Jan 1, 1941

By Albert A. Smith

The creep properties of metals have assumed increasing importance in recent years and many investigations have been made on various phases of the problem. In the past year the annual lectures of the Institute of Metals Division1 and the Iron and Steel Division2 were concerned with this subject, and are excellent reviews. For many years the creep properties of lead and lead alloys have been investigated at the Central Research Laboratories of the American Smelting and Refining Co., and it is hoped that the present paper will contribute knowledge of some of the factors that influence creep. Lead, being a metal that recrys-tallizes readily at room temperature, is an excellent material upon which to investigate creep phenomena because of the simplicity of the apparatus needed, and it might be expected that results would apply to some extent to elevated-temperature tests of other metals. Material The creep tests of this investigation were all made on high-purity lead (99.9998+ Pb) in which the only impurity that could be detected by spectrographic and chemical means was approximately 0.0001 per cent Fe. Flat strips, 0.750 in. wide by 0. 100 in. thick, were prepared by extruding 2-in. dia. cast billets at a temperature of 250°C. This gave a material of 2 to 3 mm. average grain size with a tensile strength of j.400 lb. per sq. in. when tested at a straining rate of 5 per cent per minute. With this extremely soft material, great care was necessary in handling the specimens, to avoid distortion and subsequent recrystallization. The creep tests at 30°C. were conducted in a constant-temperature room, specially built for the purpose in the basement of an office building in which there was no moving machinery, and no vibration was detectable under the most severe conditions of shock in the adjacent surroundings. The room was well insulated and heated electrically, control being by means of a de Khotinsky regulator operating a relay. Maximum temperature variation over a period of several years has been ± 1/2°C. Specimens of the extruded strip, 16 in. long, were used for test purposes with no reduced gauge section, thus eliminating any distortion due to machining. The method of clamping and supporting the specimens is shown diagrammatically in Fig. 1. The gauge marker for the measurement of extension consisted of an aluminum strip, 0.050 in. thick by 0.75 in. wide, one end of which was ground and sanded to a precise knife-edge and fastened to the specimen by suitable pins. After the strip was fastened in place a fine scratch was inscribed just below the knife-edge by means of a sharp teasing needle. Just below this gauge scratch a short vertical mark was made so that the same point could be located and read each time. Several hundred specimens have been prepared by this method, and it was found that with experi-

Jan 1, 1941

By H. P. Allen

The Achotla mill of the Cia. Minera de Penoles is of special interest in that it is one of the few still employing the chloridization process. The ore milled comes from the Suriana mine and consists of both oxide and sulphide, from neither of which can the gold or silver be extracted by a simple cyanide treatment. The mill was built in 1927, after several years of study in the development of the process1, and operated from December of that year until October 1930. Operations were resumed in February 1935, and have been continuous since, treating approximately 5000 tons per month, while the mine is getting up to full tonnage of 6500 tons per month. Transportation of Supplies The property is in Guerrero, Mexico, some 175 km. by airline southwest of Mexico City. The mill site is at Temisco (Fig. I), 8 km. from the Balsas River and 4.8 km. by aerial tram from the mine. At Temisco are the general office, shops, warehouses and laboratory serving both mine and mill. Here sufficient water is available either from a small creek running through the property or from the Balsas River, also convenient and ample storage space for the tailings. With the exception of the mine timber and a few native building materials which may be obtained locally, all supplies for both mine and mill are brought down the Balsas River from Balsas, the terminal of a Mexican National Railway line out of Mexico City. The method of transportation on the river is interesting. Rapids with very fast water are numerous, prohibiting the use of mechanically propelled boats. Those used resemble large, flat-bottomed rowboats some 22 ft. long by 8 ft. wide (Fig. 2). They are manned by two oarsmen sitting in the bow, each handling one large oar, and usually another man in the stern who, with his oar, assists in steering the boat, especially when the rapids are run. From 3 to 7 tons of freight are carried on each boat, depending upon the stage of the water, which governs also the time

Jan 1, 1939

By H. P. Allen

The Achotla mill of the Cia. Minera de Penoles is of special interest in that it is one of the few still employing the chloridization process. The ore milled comes from the Suriana mine and consists of both oxide and sulphide, from neither of which can the gold or silver be extracted by a simple cyanide treatment. The mill was built in 1927, after several years of study in the development of the process1, and operated from December of that year until October 1930. Operations were resumed in February 1935, and have been continuous since, treating approximately 5000 tons per month, while the mine is getting up to full tonnage of 6500 tons per month. Transportation of Supplies The property is in Guerrero, Mexico, some 175 km. by airline southwest of Mexico City. The mill site is at Temisco (Fig. I), 8 km. from the Balsas River and 4.8 km. by aerial tram from the mine. At Temisco are the general office, shops, warehouses and laboratory serving both mine and mill. Here sufficient water is available either from a small creek running through the property or from the Balsas River, also convenient and ample storage space for the tailings. With the exception of the mine timber and a few native building materials which may be obtained locally, all supplies for both mine and mill are brought down the Balsas River from Balsas, the terminal of a Mexican National Railway line out of Mexico City. The method of transportation on the river is interesting. Rapids with very fast water are numerous, prohibiting the use of mechanically propelled boats. Those used resemble large, flat-bottomed rowboats some 22 ft. long by 8 ft. wide (Fig. 2). They are manned by two oarsmen sitting in the bow, each handling one large oar, and usually another man in the stern who, with his oar, assists in steering the boat, especially when the rapids are run. From 3 to 7 tons of freight are carried on each boat, depending upon the stage of the water, which governs also the time

Jan 1, 1939

By J. H. Yang, K. E. Gray

Results of single-blow bit-tooth impact tests on saturated rocks under elevated confining pressures and zero pore pressure were reported in a previous publication.1 This paper presents an extension of the earlier work to include a study of crater formation during tooth impact on both gas- and liquid-saturated Berea and Bandera sandstones at elevated confining and pore pressures. The basic data obtained were force-time, displacement-time, velocity-time and force-displacement curves during crater formation. Crater volume was also measured and the mode of crater formation determined. Bit tooth geometry, depth of penetration and velocity of impact were held constant. Results indicate that, with pore fluid present in the rock, failure trends from brittle to ductile as pore pressure is increased at constant confining pressure (pore pressure and borehole pressure were equal) For a given rock type, the mode of crater formation was dependent not only upon the nominal effective stress, but also upon the fluid which saturated the rock pore space. When confining pressure and pore pressure were equal (zero nominal effective stress), bit-tooth impact resulted in brittle failure for nitrogen-saturated Berea, and brittle to transitional failure for nitrogen-saturated Bandera; when saturated with liquid both rocks failed in a ductile manner at zero nominal effective stress. INTRODUCTION Dynamic wedge penetration tests have been conducted by investigators in several fields, but the failure mechanism of rock under dynamic stresses is not understood completely. The complex action of drilling bits, even considering the action of a single tooth, may be considered as a combination of drag bit and rolling cutter action. Thus, as a first step in understanding rock breakage in oil well drilling, single chisel impact and rock planing are of fundamental importance. For example, Gray 2 and Crisp3 studied drag bit cutting action at brittle stress states. Simon4 and Hartman5 studied the reaction of rocks to vertical impact by means of drop tests. The depth of penetration, crater volume and force-vs-time curves during crater formation were observed. The significance of indexing single-bit impacts has been noted.4,6-8 Gamer et al,9 reported impact tests on impermeable Leuders limestone at atmospheric and elevated confining pressures. In all cases the tests were accomplished on dry rock and pore pressure was considered to be zero. The importance of both confining pressure and pore pressure on the failure characteristics of rock was described. 10-12 It was found that the yield strength and ductility of porous rock depend on the state of stress under which the sample is tested. The importance of pore pressure on drilling rate in microbit experiments was noted by Cumingham and Eenink. l3 Robinson 12 also pointed out that in drilling the most important parameter in rock failure is the effective stress, where effective suess is defined as confining pressure pc minus pore pressure pp. The effect of pore pressure and confining pressure on rock strength was also noted by Serdengecti and Boozer 14 in strain rate tests, and by Gardner, Wyllie and Droschackl5 in elastic wave studies. Until recently all reported wedge impact studies under simulated wellbore stress states have been conducted on dry rock. Maurer 16 reported impact tests on samples saturated with deaerated water. Borehole and formation fluid pressures were equal in these tests except when mud was used in the borehole. With mud in the borehole and a high borehole-to-formation fluid pressure differential. Maurer observed "pseudoplastic" crater formation. Podio and Grayl reported impact tests on Berea and Bandera sandstone saturated with pore fluids having wide ranges in viscosities. In Podio and Gray's tests, confining pressure was elevated, but pore pressure and borehole pressure were held fixed at atmospheric pressure. The presence of

US 4,134,618-Method for restoring an underground reservoir subsequent to the solution mining of an ore body of uranium, copper, nickel, vanadium, molybdenum, silver, rhenium, or selenium. Clean water a cycled through the mined area, via the injection and production wells used during mining, at a flow rate sufficient to entrain residual dissolved solids. The solids are separated at the surface and disposed of, e g., in a deep disposal well, while clarified water is recycled C A. Kossack, assigned to Atlantic Richfield Co. Jan 16, 1979 4 pp. (299-5) Filed. 12-29-77 (865,646) US 4,155,982-In situ leaching of a subterranean uranium ore deposit The ore is leached with a dilute aqueous solution of ammonium bicarbonate containing a small amount of hydrogen peroxide in order first to convert tetravalent uranium in the ore to the hexavalent state and second to dissolve the hexavalent uranium preferentially to the other metals or elements commonly occurring In such ore The uranium- enriched leach liquor IS brought to the surface, and the uranium recovered by means of adsorption on a particulate ion exchange resin, elution with an acid, and treatment with ammonia to precipitate relatively pure ammonium diuranate. G G. Hunkin, T P. Fife, and J R Stano, assigned to Wyoming Mineral Corp. May 22, 1979. 13 pp (423-7). Filed: 10- 9-74 (51 3,445). Same: Canadian 1,027,849, dated Mar. 14, 1978. US 4,157,847-In the mining of sulfur by the Frasch process hot water accumulating above subterranean sulfur from previous mining operations is recycled downward to contact and heat additional solid subterranean sulfur. Advantageously, pressurized and superheated drive water from above ground is commingled with the underground water to raise its temperature before it is recycled downward R. L Williams, R L Latiolais, J. L Gabriel, and R. L Bouis, assigned to Freeport Minerals Co June 12, 1979. 13 pp (299- 6) Filed 7-28-77 (81 9,879). US 4,158,76%1n this method for determining the uranium content of a solution obtained in the solution mining of an underground uranium ore deposit, the intensity of gamma radiation from the Th-234 daughter of U-238 emitted by the solution is determined as it impinges on a scintillator after being passed successively through filter foils of a ytterbium- tin alloy, a lutecium-tin alloy, and a hafnium-zirconium alloy This scintillation is evaluated as a measure of the uranium content To assure that the uranium-thorium conversion has reached a stable state, the measurement should be made about three months after the uranium solution has been produced R C Smith, assigned to Westinghouse Electric Corp. June 19, 1979 11 pp. (250-255). Filed. 10-20-77 (843,770).

Jan 1, 1980