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Mitsui Aluminium Co. of Japan announced that it would finance 25 percent of the construction costs for the 217,000 ton-per-year primary aluminum smelter being built by Alumax, Inc. at Holly, SC. Mitsui would receive 25 percent of the plant's production in return. Construction on the smelter began early in 1978, and is scheduled to be completed in 1981. The Aluminum Company of America (Alcoa) announced plans to restart a third potline at its Point Comfort, TX primary aluminum smelter in July. The company previously announced plans to restart two potlines at the facility in May. Reynolds Metals Co. began preparations to restart primary aluminum production in May in one of two 57,000 ton-per-year potlines at its Corpus Christi, TX smelter. The plant has been closed since 1975.

Jan 1, 1979

The Kaiser Aluminum and Chemical Corp. announced plans to raise June ingot prices by 4 cents to 57 cents per pound. Producers? April value for 99.5 percent unalloyed aluminum ingot was at 53 cents per pound. Domestic merchants last month were quoting the metal at 48-49 cents per pound. Primary aluminum producers began restarting production facilities following the settlement of the coal strike. Noranda Aluminum Inc. recalled workers to prepare potlines for production at its plant at New Madrid, Mo., which had closed February 14, 1978 due to the shortage of coal. Eastalco Aluminum Co. resumed full capacity production at its Frederick, Md. smelter where production had been cut by 30 percent. Anaconda Aluminum Co. resumed full capacity production at its Sebree, Ky. smelter.

Jan 1, 1978

By Harold Kennedy

Take a good look at this issue of Minerals and Materials. This is the last issue of M&M, as it has been known within the U.S. Bureau of Mines, that you will receive. Fifteen years after it was created to help cope with a growing worldwide mineral shortage, M&M is ceasing publication. In its place will be a bright, new publication called Minerals Today. Like its venerable predecessor, Minerals Today will be a bimonthly magazine that reports on recent trends and issues in the minerals and materials industries. It will be the Bureau of Mines' most frequent periodical presenting an overview of the entire field of minerals and materials.

Jan 1, 1989

By Hal M. Lewers

IN the past few years and especially since the beginning of World War No. 2, gold has attained a new, important. and critical place in the international scene, and in world affairs. In the past, as far back as history records, most wars have been waged for the purpose of acquiring it from someone else by conquest. But now, the most titanic struggle of all time is being waged with the avowed purpose of not only destroying it, but of destroying all that it stands for and represents. A tradition dating back to ancient Rome, affirms that battles are fought by men with weapons, but wars arc eventually won by gold. The validity of that tradition is now being subjected to its major test. Hitler has proclaimed that in his new world order, the work dollar or reichsmark, a beautifully engraved paper currency representing only a theory of value, based on unit of work and production, will become the supreme medium of world exchange, and that gold eventually will he valueless and obsolete.

Jan 1, 1942

By T N. Little

The grade control process undertaken at mines aims to maximise the value of the ore (valuable product) mined and fed downstream for processing or sale. The full range of grade control activities includes: reserve estimating, drilling/sampling, assaying, modelling, ore block design, blasting, ore mark out, excavating, stockpiling, processing and reconciling. Over the last 25 years, the grade control process has undergone significant improvements and this is in part due to the developments in grade control blasting. This paper discusses the development and classification of grade control blasting applications in surface mining. A review by the author in 1988 (Little and van Rooyen, 1988) is used as a benchmark for discussing the very significant progress that has been made.Two major technology initiatives have enabled this development. The first was the development of a method for the measurement and analysis of total displacement during the blasting process. Currently, the Blast Movement Monitor (BMM®) is a practical tool that has been used around the world to improve the industry’s understanding of three-dimensional blast movement dynamics. The second technological enabler was the development of electronic detonator systems. The unique aspects of electronic detonating systems are their higher accuracy and that all detonators are activated at time zero (initiation). From a grade control blasting perspective these features and other improvements allow experimentation and, ultimately, more complex, multiobjective blasts to be designed and implemented.This paper reports on a classification and review study undertaken by the author. In all, five selective blasting methods and nine bulk blasting methods are classified and reviewed. Five important observations are made: there is value in classifying the range of grade control blasting strategies, and the blasting objective framework presented is helpful in this regard the range of strategies available to designers is increasing as enabling technology develops, so too do the ambitions of blast designers and the expectations of downstream customersgrade control blasting and Mine to Mill concepts are merging, and this paper caters for this trend using multiple blasting objectiveshaving a technical primary blasting objectives framework, combined with the classification system presented here, should assist practitioners and stakeholders with lateral thinking in regards to future technological innovations, grade control blasting and Mine to Mill initiatives.CITATION:Little, T N, 2015. Classification and development in grade control blasting for surface mines, in Proceedings 11th International Symposium on Rock Fragmentation by Blasting, pp 343–354 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne).

Aug 24, 2015

By C. E. Fivaz

SYNOPSIS Tribute is paid to J.S. MacArthur and the Forrest brothers for their invention. The opinion is expressed that the successful application of their process, not only saved the gold-mining industry on the Witwatersrand from stag¬nation for an indefinite but probably prolonged period, but also made a major contribution to the economic growth of the country in the twentieth century. A background is given of the activities of prominent chemists who researched the solubility of gold in cyanide solution prior to the MacArthur-Forrest invention. An account is given of the invention and patenting of the cyanidation process, and of the golden rule that the patentees laid down for themselves, which came close to wrecking the invention. The South African gold-mining scene from the discovery of gold on the Witwatersrand in 1886 up to 1890 is sketched. An account is given of how, when unoxidized ores were first encountered, the recovery efficiency dropped alarmingly, gold shares were sold on an unprecedented scale, and doom and despondency seized the town of Johannesburg. The complete turnabout in the fortunes of the South African gold-mining industry after the introduction of the cyanidation process in 1890, the steady rate of increase in production after the Anglo-Boer War, and its effect on the South African economy are described. A brief look is taken at the effect of gold mining on secondary industry. The deportment of the gold that is not dissolved from the ore by the cyanidation process is illustrated. Some thoughts are expressed on what can be done to increase the gold recovered by cyanidation.

Jan 1, 1988

By B. G. Russell

A wide range of minerals is found within the Republic of South Africa, many of which are exploited to a greater extent than in similar deposits found elsewhere. It is often asked whether this is atributed to the high grade of the ores encountered in this country, or whether such factors as fiscal and Infrastructural incentives create an economic climate that has en bled the mining industry to successfully extract and market minerals at a profit. This paper views South Africa's mineral resources in a regional and global context In an attempt to place the country's geological wealth in perspective. It represents the author's own Views, and not necessarily those of the Department of Mine al and Energy Affairs.

Jan 1, 1986

In October, the Aluminum Company of America restarted the fourth of seven pot-lines at its Point Comfort, Tex. primary aluminum smelter. The price of primary aluminum ingot, as quoted by American Metal Market, was increased from a range of 60.5 to 63.0 cents per pound at the end of September to a range of 66.0 to 66.5 cents per pound at the end of October. BERYLLIUM On October 15, Brush Wellman, Inc., of Cleveland, one of two U.S. producers of primary beryllium products, announced a planned $6 million expansion of its extraction plant at Delta, Utah, increasing the plant?s capacity to extract beryllium from bertrandite ore by 25%. Another $5 million will be spent on two mine expansion programs in Jaub and Millard Counties, Utah. Other mineral claims and 1 eases he 1 d by The Anaconda Company will be taken over by Brush Wellman through lease or purchase. This expansion, when completed in 1981, will decrease U.S. dependence on imported beryl ore.

Jan 1, 1979

By Persifor Frazer

1. SMOKE PREVENTION. Report of Select Committee of House of Commons (1843). Nuisance considerably abated in Leeds (Wm. Backerd, July 13, 1843, 239 pages). A synoptic index, p. 211, gives, in alphabetical order, the digest of every subject taken up. 2. FUEL : ITS COMBUSTION AND ECONOMY. D. Kinnear Clark, C. E. 24mo, 1354 pp. Crosby Lockwood & Co., London (1880). Includes abridgement of treatise on combustion of coal and prevention of smoke, by C. W. Williams, A.I.C.E. 3. DIE RAUCHSCHÄDEN IN DEN WÄLDERN DER UMGEBUNG DER FISCALISCHEN HÜTTENWERKE BEI FREIBERG. Dr. J. v. Schröder, Professor in Tharand, and Dr. A. Schertel, Vorstand des Hüttenlaboratoriums zu Freiberg. Royal 8vo, 27 .pages, 19 pages of tables and a map. Ernst Maukisch, Freiberg (1884). (Aus dem Jahrbuch für das Berg- und Huttenwesen, 1884.) In 1861, Reich and Stockhardt examined the extent of injury to vegetation by the Muldner works. Needles and twigs of pine showed in 100,000 parts : Pb, 5 to 50 ; As, 3.3 to 14.3 ; S02, 62 to 120. In the top twigs, 5 to 8 ; needles, 10 to 16 ; thicker twigs, 10 to 22 ; thinner twig-ends, 17 to 54 of lead. Lead greater in amount in sickly twig-ends with few needles ; also in the bark than in the naked wood of the trunk, which had hardly a trace ; also in the part turned toward the works than on the opposite side. Pb and As diminished in the vegetation with distance from the smelter ; and the same with regard to the soil. Fresh snow was collected, and SO, As, and Pb detected in it.

May 1, 1907

Chromium, a critical mineral for which the United States is largely dependent on foreign sources, is the subject of a new report just issued by the Interior Department's Bureau of Mines. The report is the first in a new series called "Mineral Commodity Profiles" (MCP's). Designed to give an updated review of important events affecting critical minerals, it also presents a comprehensive description of industry structure, supply-demand relationships, technology, and outlook for the future.

Jan 1, 1977

By Charles Hardy

?POWDER METALLURGY? is the production of semiformed or fully formed metal products by compressing metal powders. It had its beginnings in the fabrication of tungsten and molybdenum bars and wire by compression, sintering, and swaging. Powder metallurgy, although still in its infancy with other metals, has shown remarkable progress in recent years. Production of Metal Powders-The first step in any powder-metallurgy process is the production of metal particles of suitable shape and size. Mechanical processes for producing metal powders, as by crushing, stamping, or grinding, are usually not suitable, as the resulting particles may cause laminations and decreased strength in the finished articles. The principal metal powders now in use on a large scale are produced by electrolysis or by reduction of metal oxides by gases.

Jan 1, 1936

By J. C. Reid

Pre-cambrian scheelite deposits in Northeastern Brazil are widespread in a high grade metamorphic terrain. Previously these deposits had been interpreted as contact-metasomatic. In this paper, a volcanigenic model is invoked based on the volcanic setting (proximal to distal) and the absence of associated felsic intrusives and spatially associated metasomatic skarns. The tungsten was introduced into sediments by volcanic- exhalative processes and subsequently remobilized and further concentrated by heat and metamorphis fluids associated with high-grade metamorphism and migmitization. An alternative syngenetic - diagenetic model is discussed which requires the transport of tungsten by heteropoly acids and deposition of the tungsten as a function of Eh and Ph conditions and different clastic depositional environments. While such stratabound tungsten deposits are considered rare in North America, the hypotheses developed in this paper may open new areas for exploration.

Jan 1, 1983

By AIME AIME

BESIDES commanding increasing importance as an alloying element in combination with ferrous and other nonferrous metals, the variety of uses for pure nickel continues to widen. For coinage it is growing in popularity. These coins have been minted for 27 countries in 72 issues representing 69 denominations. Approximately 3,000,000,000 pieces have been struck, the aggregate weight, of which amounts to nearly 14,000 tons. . Danzig, Iraq and Japan are the most recent governments to adopt, pure nickel coinage. France is adding the denomination of five francs to its other nickel currency; they replace silver pieces. Germany is now minting a new issue of one Reichsmark coins of pure nickel. The Japanese program for 1933 called for the issue of 35,000,000 10-sen pieces and 30,000,000 5-sen pieces. In radio tube manufacture the consumption of pure nickel was approximately twice that of 1932. During 1.933 the nickel plating process by which bright deposits may be plated

Jan 1, 1934

By Henry Kreisinger

Some of the investigations conducted by the Bureau of Mines have for their object the collecting and disseminating of information regarding methods by which the fuels of the country may be most efficiently used. As the analysis of flue gases tends to develop better methods of firing, which in turn reduces waste of fuel, the Bureau of Mines in this bulletin presents for the benefit of those in charge of boiler plants and all other persons interested detailed information on methods of sampling and analyzing flue gases, and on the utilization of the analyses in promoting boiler-room economy. This bulletin is intended to be a companion to Technical Paper 80,a and is written in plain and nontechnical language, as far as possible, so that it may be readily understood by persons who have not had the advantage of a technical education. Whenever possible, illustrations of apparatus and methods of handling have been used rather than elaborate descriptions.

Jan 1, 1915

By Harold M. Smith

This publication summarizes the literature on the composition of petroleum, with special emphasis on naphtha and gas oil, and provides a source book for the known qualitative and quantitative facts on crude oil composition. The discussion points out the known facts from supposition, and suggests new researches needed in various areas.

Jan 1, 1968

By D. B. Paterson

In view of decreasing head grades, the relatively high gold price, and recent developments in metal evaluation, an exercise was initiated to determine the extent of gold concentration, the mode of occurrence, and the areas of concentration within the run-of-mine milling circuits of Randfontein Estates Gold Mining Company (Witwatersrand) Limited. The total gold content of three of the thirteen run-of-mine mils in the Group was measured as a typical lock-up of approximately 200 kg per mil. The majority of this gold was concentrated either behind the grid-type body liners or within the pockets of the body liners. This paper is an account of the experimental procedure and the results obtained, and highlights possible means of limiting gold lock-up in future.

Jan 1, 1988

By M. W. BERNEWITZ

AUSTRALIANS and New Zealanders, whose countries have respectively yielded gold to the value of £666,000,000 and £96,000,000, are taking full advantage of the current high prices for that metal. There is a marked activity in ordinary prospecting, geophysical exploration, further development of working mines and reopening of old properties, formation of new companies, installation of new equipment and processes, and expansion of operations generally. Australian gold production last year was approximately double the quantity of 1929 and its value three times as great, 1929 being the low of recent years. The 1933 production was about 821,000 oz. From New Zealand, 165,000 oz. was exported last year. Papua and New Guinea contributed slightly over 100,000 oz. What the future price of gold will be nobody knows, but, even if it returns to the former level, Australian producers are almost sure of 110 shillings an ounce until 1940 through the Commonwealth Government's Gold Bounty Act, at present temporarily and necessarily suspended from operation.

Jan 1, 1934

During the period January 1, 1977 through July 31, 1977, 5 percent (264,000 tons) of U.S. capacity was closed due to power curtailments in the Pacific Northwest because of the shortage of water. During July, one plant in Tennessee cut production by 50,000 tons annually due to a power reduction by the Tennessee Valley Authority. Full capacity production was resumed at a West Virginia smelter during September. If demand for aluminum is strong it seems likely that aluminum supply during the remainder of 1977 and in 1978 will be tight. The price was increased 3¢ per pound to 51¢ per pound effective March 28, 1977, and by an additional 2¢ per pound to 53¢ per pound, effective July 5, 1977. New projects and expansion of existing facilities are planned by Australian aluminum companies over the next 2 to 3 years. The companies listed have committed themselves to spending approximately A$801 million: Alcoa of Australia Ltd. -New alumina plant at Wagerup, south of Perth. Darling Ranges bauxite is located near the proposed project. A$650 million. Coma 1 co Industries Pty. Ltd. -Increase bauxite mining capacity and upgrade or replace other facilities at its Weipa mines on Cape York Peninsula region of Northern Queensland. A$81 million. Alcan Australia Ltd. -Expansion program that will increase capacity of the Kurri Kurri aluminum smelter north of Sydney about 50 percent, and improvement of other facilities at the plant. A$70 million.

Jan 1, 1977

It is a pleasure to submit to the National Critical Materials Council (Council) some of my thoughts concerning the important tasks which lie before you. It long has been my belief that America's economic health and national security may depend to a substantial degree on whether we have available to us an adequate supply of critical and strategic materials at reasonable cost. To the extent the Council can contribute to the identification and implementation of wise public policies which facilitate the achievement of that goal, we and our children should be grateful. Even before assuming office, President Reagan warned of the danger of undue dependence on imported materials essential to the Nation's defense and economic well-being. After his election, he appointed a transition task force on strategic and critical materials, and he later directed the Cabinet Council on Natural Resources and Environment to prepare .a National Materials and Minerals Program Plan and Report to Congress, which he forwarded to the Congress in April 1982. In 1984, my predecessor, Secretary Clark, established the National Strategic Materials and Minerals Program Advisory Committee, popularly known as the "Mott Committee" because of its distinguished chairman, retired Admiral William C. Mott.

Jan 1, 1986

By J. C. Griffiths

There are two kinds of problems concerning the elements of a population : the first is to estimate the proportion of some specific kind of element in the population, e.g. the amount of gold in a block of ground (equals population) or the proportion of mercury in a sample; the second is to estimate the length, breadth, volume, etc., of a specific kind of element, e.g. the grain size of quartz grains in a beach sand or the size, shape and arrangement of lenses of ore in an ore deposit. Given a specific objective, a bounded population, identified elements and the element characteristics of interest, it is then necessary to select a sample of the elements from the population and the problem of sampling requires a decision on how to select the sample. It is also necessary to establish, either by heuristic analysis or empirically, based on long experience, the model frequency distribution of the desired element characteristics: in general, constant-probability models are used as models, the binomial or Poisson for count data and the normal distribution for measurements (or their transformed equivalents). The objective of sampling then becomes to obtain an appropriate statistical estimate of the desired population parameter: for example, the estimators may be the mean (X) and variance (a2): these should be unbiased sufficient estimators of their corresponding parameters (u, a2, respectively). Statistical tests are performed in order to determine that the estimators are of the appropriate kind: all statistical tests are designed to test against bias of a specific kind, although they are stated as tests against randomness. Given a random sample of some population, the estimators are usually stable and adequate to solve the sampling problem. Random samples are simple to define but exceedingly difficult to achieve in practice: in selecting a sample, if every element in the population has an equal chance of occurring, then the sample is a random sample. Interaction between the arrangement of elements in a population, i.e. its structure, and the sample selection process frequently introduces bias—that is, some elements have more chance than others of appearing in the sample and, hence, the sample is not random. An algorithm for dealing pragmatically with this aspect of the sampling problem offers one way of achieving random samples and, therefore, adequate estimators. Examples of the use of this algorithm on various kinds of geological populations, in both field and laboratory, illustrate the requirements for solving sampling problems and the achievement of appropriate estimators.

Dec 1, 1971