Search Documents

By Edwin A. Rides

HISTORICAL ORIGIN OF THE EXPORT CREDIT AGENCIES Almost since the inception of international commerce sellers, having manufactured and/or sold and shipped goods to an overseas buyer, have been obliged to accept the risk that they will not be paid for one reason or another. There are many reasons why payment may not be forthcoming, for example, the goods may be lost at sea, or rejected by the buyer or the buyer nay simply not be creditworthy. These risks were brought into sharp relief as international trading became more sophisticated and the practice of giving credit to buyers gathered momentum. Inevitably enterprises sprang up which offered same mitigation of this exposure, accepting houses and later confirming houses and banks were prepared to assure acceptable credit risks an behalf of the seller, usually by discounting trade paper, and for many years the market ticked over reasonably satisfactorily. However, after the 1914-18 War international trade was at an extremely low ebb and its inherent risks were accentuated to a point where they were often commercially unacceptable. Yet a healthy and vigorous international market was indispensable to recovery of the world economy and a number of governments, led by the United Kingdom, perceived a need to offer their exporters a comprehensive form of insurance, particularly to facilitate the extension of credit to foreign buyers. In the United Kingdom the Export Credits Guarantee Department (ECGD) was set up to encourage trade through the provision of export credit insurance. Over the ensuing years others followed suit and now most of the developed trading nations and many developing nations have similar agencies. PRESENT DAY IDLE OF THE EXPORT CREDIT AGENCIES (ECAS ) Traditionally then the BA's role was to encourage trade through the provision to exporters of insurance against the risks of non-payment by overseas buyers of their goods and services. However, during the 1970's the manufacturing industries of most of the developed nations found themselves facing severe competition for business, particularly in the developing world. As a result the more aggressive ECA's began to introduce ancillary forms of cover designed to reduce exporters' risks outside of the credit field. For instance, most of the European agencies now have a form of cover against foreign exchange risks here contracts are denominated in currencies other than that of the exporter's country. Most of the agencies also provide cover to exporters against the risk of unfair calling of bid, advance payment, performance bonds etc and in certain countries, where high inflation rates were endemic, a form of cover against cost escalation. In certain circumstances it is also possible for an exporter to obtain cover against losses arising as a result of the involvency of a partner in a consortium or joint venture. These are all forms of insurance but, also during the 1970's, many of the national export credit programmes took a major step away from their original raison d'etre by facilitating the provision of preferential financing terns for the acquisition of capital equipment by an overseas buyer. This new line of business quickly became an important ingredient of major export financing packages and, as we shall see later, turned out to be extremely costly for the countries providing it.

Jan 1, 1985

By AIME AIME

THE following paragraphs, constituting the concluding portion of the Annual Report of the Council for 1903, have been withheld from publication until now, in order to make them as accurate and complete as possible. They will be published in Volume XXXV. of the Transactions in their proper place at the end of the said Annual Report. Franklin Ballou was born in Pittsburg, Pa., May 29, 1845. He was the son of an old resident, Arthur Ballou, a manufacturer and wholesale dealer in vinegar. In early youth Franklin attended the Western University of Pittsburg, but left school at the age of 16 to become book-keeper for his father, upon whose retirement from business, in 1868, he associated himself with Walter C. Childs, of Pittsburg, in the manufac¬ture of furnace-grates and asbestos-cement for blast-furnaces. This firm was known as W. C. Childs & Co., and did a success¬ful business for several years. In 1869 Mr. Ballou married Miss May S. Wilson, daughter of Judge Wilson, of Lewistown, Pa. In 1876 he spent several months traveling in the West and studying the mining industry, which greatly interested him. In consequence of this journey, he wound up his business in Pittsburg and removed in 1877 to Georgetown, Colo., where for several years he conducted a sampling-works, and built up an extensive business as an agent for the sale of ores, besides engaging to some extent in mining enterprises. , It is said that he controlled at one time about one-eighth of the output of the Leadville mines. In the early 80's, he became Vice-President and General Manager of the Bimetallic Smelter at Leadville, of which Mr. David H. Moflat was the principal owner. This was practically the first successful demonstration of pyritic smelting in Colorado. Upon the sale of the works in 1897 to the American Smelting and Refining Co., Mr. Ballou retired

Jan 1, 1905

By Paul D. Merica, R. G. Waltenberg

Although nickel was discovered and isolated as early as 1750 and its valuable properties recognized, many years passed before it was used commercially for wire, sheet, rods, etc., in the pure form. This was due partly to its high cost at that time and partly to the fact that it was not possible to refine and cast nickel into ingots sufficiently malleable to be amenable to the usual forging, rolling, or drawing processes. So remarkable was this fact, and so different from the experience at that time with metals such as copper and iron, that it has left its impress on the nomenclature within the nickel industry. To this day, furnace-cast nickel produced in such a manner as to be suitable for rolling and forging is called malleable nickel to distinguish it from the ordinary pig and shot nickel of commerce. In 1878, the firm of Jos. Wharton, of Philadelphia (which later became The American Nickel Works, a constituent of The International Nickel Co.) exhibited at the Paris Exhibition specimens of rolled pure nickel strip and of drawn nickel wire. About this time, there was considerable activity in the study of the refining of nickel and several methods were described, some of which were patented, for the production of furnace-cast malleable nickel including the use of manganese (Boed-dicker,1 Selve and Lotter2), the use of potassium permanganate (Berns-dorfer Metallwarenfabrik3) and the use of phosphorus (Garnier4). By far the most efficient method was discovered by Th. Fleitmann in 1879;5 it consisted in adding to the molten nickel, just before pouring the castings, from 0.05 to 0.125 per cent. of metallic magnesium. This soon became the recognized final malleableizing treatment for furnace-cast nickel.

Jan 1, 1925

By Charles Clayton

IN connection with certain coöperative work carried on between the Ordnance Department of the U. S. Army, the U. S. Bureau of Mines, and the U. S. Geological Survey during the year 1918, it was the writers' privilege to make metallographic examinations of a great many test bars and other pieces of nickel-steel gun forgings. The material studied came from many different steel plants throughout the country and consisted both of forgings that had been accepted by the Ordnance Department and those that had failed to pass the specified physical tests. In general, these tests require a minimum tensile strength of 95,000 lb. (42,091 kg.), an elastic limit of 65,000 lb. (29,483 kg.), an 18 per cent. elongation, and a 30 per cent. reduction in area. An average chemical composition of the steel studied is 0.38 per cent. carbon and 2.9 per cent. nickel. The steel was of both basic electric and basic open-hearth manufacture. The object of the metallographic work was two-fold: to assist in detecting defects in the steel and, if possible, to suggest remedies for the same; and to obtain as much information as possible in regard to the relation of the microstructure of the metal to its physical properties. The greater part of the investigation was devoted to defective metal that failed to pass the ordnance specifications. Many types and kinds of more or less serious defects thus came under observation, but most of these were due to the attempts by the manufacturer to meet the enormous demand for ordnance steel with more or less inadequate equipment, and were soon remedied. Two defects, the so-called "flakes" or "snowflakes" and a certain "fibrous" or "woody" fracture, were encountered so frequently and were so disastrous to the steel that the greater part of the study was devoted to them. As a result much information as to their nature and their effects

Jan 2, 1919

By A. W. Fahrenwald

FLOTATION practice in Idaho is now about 13 years old. The advance has been steady during these 13 years. The operators have been alert to take advantage of the newest developments and they have themselves made a constant effort to improve their work. The metallurgical improvements are due to the development of (1) better equipment, (2) better reagents, and (3) better understanding and control of the process. During the eight years the writer has been in this district, there has been continuous experimentation by several companies to improve the ore dressing by flotation methods. Gravity concentration has fought hard to hold its place, and although it is true that gravity processes have been improved during this period, nevertheless, in several of the important mills of the district the few tables that managed to hang on have finally given way. On the straight-lead ores, tables and jigs are still used; and, due to better classification, their hold on this job has been strengthened. ORES OF THE DISTRICT The ores of the district are of two general classes: (1) clean lead ores, such as those from the Bunker Hill and Hecla mines, and (2) complex lead-zinc ores. The general impression prevails that the clean lead ores, class 1, are simple and that it is easy to obtain high recoveries and good grade products. This, in a way, is a false impression; there is quite a high percentage of locked middling in these ores at 100 and 150-mesh sizes. Improved classification preparatory to table treatment of this type of ore has made it possible to segregate effectively a high-grade middling which is further comminuted and floated. The complex lead-zinc ores of the district, of which the ore from the Morning mine of the Federal Mining & Smelting Co. is a typical example, always have presented a difficult problem. It always has been comparatively easy to make a clean lead concentrate, but it never has been possible to concentrate sphalerite with a-specific gravity of 4.10 from siderite of gravity 3.88. Also, a large percentage of the galena and sphalerite of this class of ore refuses to separate out until the crushing has been carried

Jan 1, 1928

By James V. Thompson

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

Jan 8, 1958

By E. S. Moore

ALTHOUGH nickel was in use in alloys long before the Christian era, the metal was not discovered until 1751, when Cronstedt recognized it in niccolite from Sweden. The Chinese apparently used a nickel alloy, known as "pahfong" thousands of years ago and Persian coins dating farther back than 200 B.C. consist of a copper-nickel alloy similar to some of those now in use in coins. The pure metal was first prepared about 1775 and the metal was refined for commercial purposes some years later. The nickel industry did not attain much prominence until the ores in New Caledonia were discovered. Exports of ore from that country began in 1875 and since that date there has been an ever-increasing world output of nickel and a great expansion in the uses of the metal except during short periods of commercial and industrial depression. Previous to 1875, for a number of years, Norway was the chief producer, although the metal was mined also in Sweden, Finland, Italy, Germany, Austria, France, China, the United States and other countries. With the dis-covery of nickel deposits in the Sudbury district, Ontario, a new factor was introduced into the nickel industry and Sudbury has since become the overwhelmingly dominant feature in the world's nickel markets. Although nickel was first discovered in Canada as early as 1848 near the north shore of Lake Huron and nickel-copper sulfides were found in 1856 by surveyors working close to the present location of the important mine at Creighton, in the Sudbury field, it was not until 188.3 that any importance was attached to this field. In that year copper sulfide attracted attention where the main line of the Canadian Pacific railroad was being projected across Canada to the Pacific coast. Mining began near this discovery in 1889 but in the meantime operations had begun in 1886 in other parts of the field and by 1890 about 100,000 tons of ore had been raised. In the Sudbury field, as in Norway and at the old Lancaster Gap mine in Pennsylvania, the ore was first mined for its copper content and difficulty in the refining of the copper led to the discovery of the important proportions of nickel in the ore. No. 3 property of the Inter-national Nickel Co., now known as the Frood, the greatest deposit in the

Jan 1, 1932

By Amitava Gangulee, Michael B. Bever

The order-disorder transition in Ag-Mg alloys in the range 17 to 26 at. pct Mg was investigated and some thermodynamic, electrical and mechanical properties of ordered Ag-Mg alloys were measured. A modification of the phase diagram is proposed on the basis of measured transition temperatures. The stability of the ordered structure is analyzed in terms of the quasichemical theory. Kinetic aspects of the order-disorder transition were also investigated. The energies of ordering at 273°K of Ag-Mg alloys were measured by liquid metal solution calorimetry. The electrical resistivities and the tensile Properties of the ordered alloys were measured. The exothermic energy of ordering increased with magnesium concentration up to the composition Ag3Mg; it is discussed in terms of the quasichemical theory. Pronounced order hardening was observed and can be explained by several strengthening mechanisms, which are particularly effective because of a change in crystal structure associated with the ordering transition. IN silver-rich solid solutions containing approximately 17 to 26 at. pct Mg, long- range ordering may occur during appropriate therma1 treatments. Clare-brough and Nicholas1 first detected such long-range order in the solid solution of composition Ag3Mg and suggested that the unit cell of the superlattice contained 256 atoms. x-ray2 and electron diffraction3 investigations confirmed the occurrence of long-range order, but indicated a shifted Ll2-type structure. On the basis of recent X-ray measurements the crystal structure of ordered Ag3Mg has been confirmed as type D023.4 The present paper is concerned with the order-disorder transition in silver-rich Ag-Mg solid solutions and some thermodynamic, electrical, and mechanical properties of the ordered alloys. The effects of short-range order on the properties of silver-rich solid solutions containing up to 26 at. pct Mg are discussed in a concurrent paper.5 1) EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURES 1.1) Preparation of Specimens. Specimens of Ag-Mg alloys containing from 18 to 26 at. pct Mg were prepared in the form of 1.0-mm-diam wires as described in Section 1.1 of Ref. 5. Disordered specimens were prepared by annealing at 773°K for 1 hr and quenching into iced brine. Ordered specimens were prepared by annealing at 773°K for 1 hr and slowly cooling to room temperature over a period of 15 days. The specimens were stored at 78°K. 1.2) Resistivity Measurements. Electrical resistivi- ties were measured by a potentiometric method.' Equilibrium values were obtained at several temperatures. The kinetics of ordering were investigated by following the time-dependent changes of the resistivity of initially disordered specimens during annealing. The specimens were enclosed in copper capsules and immersed in salt pots; the heating up was accelerated by injecting preheated helium into the capsules. 1.3) Calorimetry. The energies of ordering of the alloys were measured in a tin solution calorimeter as the difference between the heat effects of additions of completely ordered and disordered specimens of the same composition. The procedure and the method of calculation have been described.6 Magnesium was used for thermal compensation in most calorimetric runs in order to improve the accuracy.677 1.4) Mechanical Tests. Tensile tests were carried out with wire specimens at room temperature as described in Section 1.5 of Ref. 5. Microhardness measurements were also made.? 2) RESULTS AND DISCUSSION The characteristics of the order-disorder transition of silver-rich Ag-Mg solid solutions will be discussed first. Some thermodynamic, electrical, and mechanical properties of the ordered alloys will then be considered and compared with the corresponding properties of dis-disordered alloys. 2.1) The Order-Disorder Transition. 2.1.1) Thermodynamic and Structural Aspects. The transition temperatures Tt were determined from discontinuities in the slope of the equilibrium resistivity vs temperature curves. Normalized curves for three compositions are shown in Fig. 1. The transition temperature increases with the magnesium concentration and reaches a maximum at the stoichiometric composition Ag3Mg. The transition temperature of the alloy Ag3Mg was measured as 665° ± 2°K and compares with published values of 660°,1 663°,8 and 66°k.3 In the slopes of the resistivity vs temperature curves of alloys containing 22.2 and 22.5 at. pct Mg, discontinuities were observed at two temperatures. Such upper and lower discontinuities indicate a two-phase field. A modified form of the published phase diagram9 is shown in Fig. 2. A two-phase field was found only on the low-magnesium side of the composition Ag3Mg. On the high-magnesium side, the existence of a two-phase field could not be established because of insufficient resolution, but such a field must be present. This part of the phase diagram can be made complete by a eutec-toid-type reaction a = (a' + ß). The existence of a boundary between the two-phase fields (a + ß) and (a' + ß) is also in accord with published lattice parameters.3 The crystal structure of ordered Ag3Mg (type Do23)

Jan 1, 1969

By M. M., Fine

In a laboratory study of grinding and classification' of silica sand, a satisfactory means of producing the medium-fine specification sand desired by producers of flint-glass containers was developed. The best procedure consisted of ball-mill grinding and double classification, which gave a properly sized sand containing less iron than the feed.

Jan 1, 1950

By A. L. Sweetser

Experience has shown how difficult it is to obtain information regarding laboratory-tests in connection with the chlorina-tion-process for the extraction of gold from its ores, and I therefore present the following method, somewhat in detail, for the benefit of those who may desire to pursue research work in this field. The ore chosen was a partly-decomposed porphyry, extremely siliceous and comparatively soft, and of an average value per ton of from $25 to $26 in gold and $0.68 in silver. The chemical analysis gave: Fe,O,, 3.35; FeS, 1.5; MnO,, 0.75; ZuCO,, 4; A1,0,, 3.20; H,O, 0.7 ; SiO, and insol., 83.50 per cent. The ore, first crushed to pass a 5-mesh screen, was coned and quartered until a 45-lb. sample was obtained. Samples for assay and analysis, taken from this lot by means of riffles, were crushed to pass a 100-mesh screen. The original sample was divided into 10-lb. lots, of which one was crushed to pass a 10-mesh screen; another through a 12-; the third through a 20-, and the last through a 30-mesh screen. Because of the production of an excessive quantity of fine material it was deemed inexpedient to crush finer than 30-mesh size—a decision the wisdom of which is proved by the data in Table I., showing the increasing ratio of slimes, in proportion as the ore is crushed finer. In order to determine the percentage of fines in the sizes of mesh selected, a weighed sample of ore was taken from each mesh, and a sample from the 10-mesh lot was passed successively through 20-, 40- and 100-mesh screens, and the percentage remaining on each screen determined. This process was repeated with the 12-, 20- and 30-mesh lots, with the results given in Table I.

Jan 1, 1908

By AIME AIME

FEW mining schools possess an art gallery and certainly none can equal the collection of paintings depicting the mineral industries now hanging in the comparatively new building of the School of Mineral Industries at The Pennsylvania State College. Dean Steidle, who conceived the idea, early this spring boasted of 55 paintings in the collection, by 24 different artists, the gallery being appraised at $18,000. Since then, eleven additional paintings have been added. Opportunity will he presented for an inspection at the meeting of the Industrial Minerals Division, to be held at the College, Sept. 24-26.

Jan 1, 1936

By ALEX. S. THOMAS

HOWEVER good a furnace may be in regard to design, etc., or however excellent in the quality of the gas used, a suitable heat for the successful working of the metal cannot be obtained unless the melt be coated with a proper quantity of slag. This coating may be excessive or it may be deficient in quantity. The right degree of heat is the essential condition of successful working, for the quality of the steel made is never very good when the metal is allowed to simmer in the furnace for an excessive period, and this heat cannot be obtained if the metal is not protected by a proper covering of slag. This is not only to prevent the metal being over-oxidized and wasted, but also to prevent the metal being chilled when exposed with only a thin covering of slag. The slag may be obtained in either of two ways : 1, naturally, by the presence of sufficient silicon in the iron used, to unite with iron oxide to form a staple slag ; or, 2, by the addition of slag or free silica. In the first case the slag is formed naturally by the action of the oxygen in the flame - i.e., the oxidizing atmosphere of the furnace-on the silicon in the metal when melting. The charge then melts, as it is termed, "thick," and protects the banks from being cut. If too much silicon be present, however, and an excessive quantity of slag be formed, it will be found to be rather infusible, and unless care be taken to add the oxides quickly and follow the furnace up-thus rendering the slag more fusible by the extra iron oxide-the furnace bottom is liable to be pulled up. In such cases the author has frequently been able to warn

Nov 1, 1906

By William E. Greenawalt

IN these days of special legislation for the benefit of various industries one might well consider one branch of human endeavor intimately associated with engineering-that of patents and patent litigation. It is estimated that 85 per cent of all industries in the United States are based directly or indirectly on patents. Most inventors are engineers, and most patent litigation pertains to the engineering industries. It is fitting, therefore, that engineers should be vitally interested in discussing patent affairs, particularly as inventors are not a professional group, and invention is mostly a transitory phase incident to the development of specific industrial problems.

Jan 1, 1937

By J. C. Bradley

The relation of annealing temperature to conductivity of copper wire has been determined. Conductivity hard was 98.26 per cent. After a 10-min. heat,ing at 200" C. it was 98.69. By annealing 10 min. at 300" C. a large increase, to 100.93, occurred. Maximum conductivity, 101.15, was attained after a 500" C. anneal; thereafter it decreased to 100.53 after a 950" C. anneal. If copper is gassed the decrease is much more than this. Material and Method The work was done on high grade electrolytic copper, 99.942 per cent, copper plus silver, silver 0.0008 per cent. It was hot-rolled to 1/4 in., then cold drawn to 0.080 in. The wire was cut into 25 5-ft. lengths and numbered 1 to 25 as cut. Four samples were tested hard. The others were wound into 5-in. diameter coils. For the 100" C. heating a coil was put into water, the water brought to . boiling, and the wire kept at this temperature for 10 min. For the higher temperatures the coils were placed in envelopes of sheet copper, a little water added, and the envelopes sealed by folding over the edges twice, and hammering them together. This kept the air out very well. The envelope and wire were brought to the desired temperature; this was maintained for 10 min., then the whole was water-quenched. Results Data from the tests are shown in the table and plot (see Fig. 1); conductivity is referred to the International Annealed Copper Standard at 20" C. Conductivity hard is considerably less than conductivity soft.1 The increase is sharp when the wire anneals. The maximum, 101.15 per cent, in the particular material used, comes at 500º C.; thereafter the conductivity falls to 100.53 per cent. after 950" C. annealing, a drop of 0.62 per cent.

Jan 1, 1927

By C. H. Snyder

Tlie paper deals with details of construction of the Colmol, including improvements in design that will be incorporated in new models. These improvements are results of problems encountered and worked out in experimental operation with the unit. Also included is a descriptive plan of operating where roof and air conditions are of the worst. A summary of production results from the machine is presented. THE various units used in conventional mining are well-built. Generally the universal under -cutter, driven by approximately 50 hp, weighs approximately 25,000 lb, and is a very strong piece of machinery. The drilling machine is not as husky as an undercutter, generally is driven by approximately 15 hp, weighs about 9000 lb, but is a well-constructed, sturdy mechanism. The loader, usually 60 hp, weighs approximately 24,000 lb, and certainly is a strong, rugged unit. The working parts of all three of these sturdy conventional units have been made of tough steel alloys for some time. With the use of three machines having a combined horsepower of approximately 125, with a combined weight of approximately 60,000 lb, and with the possible inherent advantage of single purpose machines performing a single function, the use of considerable explosives has been required to complete the conventional mining cycle. It was therefore our thought, upon conception of the first Colmol,* a machine which was to do the work accomplished by the three conventional units plus explosives, that it must be a rugged mechanism. Now, after building several units, after going through many and varied experiments, and after the expense of some million-odd dollars, we find we have observed and learned nothing that contradicts our original thinking. A continuous miner, if it is to give satisfactory performance, must be a rugged piece of machinery. Ruggedness has been, and is constantly, in the minds of our engineers in designing the Colmol. Improvements where they have been required have been in the direction of more weight, more horse power, better alloys, bigger hydraulic pumps and motors; in short, always, toward more torque, greater strength, more ruggedness. Now not only the finest steel alloys are utilized but more than 100 Timken roller bearings are used. The following is some pertinent data on models being built and to be built: The low unit: Cutting height, 30 to 42 in. By changing the upper gear case the maximum cutting height can be increased to 61 in., giving a variable cutting height of from 30 to 61 in. Width of cut, 9 ft 6 in. Width of body, 75 in. over tracks. Height of body, 271/2 in. Overall length, 23 ft. Driven by three 50-hp motors or a total of 150 hp. Weight, 26 tons. The intermediate unit: Cutting height, 451/2 to 72 in. Width of cut, 9 ft 8 in. Width of body, 77 in. over tracks. Height of body, 43 in. Overall length, 26 ft. Driven by three 70-hp motors or a total of 210 hp. Weight, 35 tons.

Jan 1, 1951

By C. H. Snyder

Tlie paper deals with details of construction of the Colmol, including improvements in design that will be incorporated in new models. These improvements are results of problems encountered and worked out in experimental operation with the unit. Also included is a descriptive plan of operating where roof and air conditions are of the worst. A summary of production results from the machine is presented. THE various units used in conventional mining are well-built. Generally the universal under -cutter, driven by approximately 50 hp, weighs approximately 25,000 lb, and is a very strong piece of machinery. The drilling machine is not as husky as an undercutter, generally is driven by approximately 15 hp, weighs about 9000 lb, but is a well-constructed, sturdy mechanism. The loader, usually 60 hp, weighs approximately 24,000 lb, and certainly is a strong, rugged unit. The working parts of all three of these sturdy conventional units have been made of tough steel alloys for some time. With the use of three machines having a combined horsepower of approximately 125, with a combined weight of approximately 60,000 lb, and with the possible inherent advantage of single purpose machines performing a single function, the use of considerable explosives has been required to complete the conventional mining cycle. It was therefore our thought, upon conception of the first Colmol,* a machine which was to do the work accomplished by the three conventional units plus explosives, that it must be a rugged mechanism. Now, after building several units, after going through many and varied experiments, and after the expense of some million-odd dollars, we find we have observed and learned nothing that contradicts our original thinking. A continuous miner, if it is to give satisfactory performance, must be a rugged piece of machinery. Ruggedness has been, and is constantly, in the minds of our engineers in designing the Colmol. Improvements where they have been required have been in the direction of more weight, more horse power, better alloys, bigger hydraulic pumps and motors; in short, always, toward more torque, greater strength, more ruggedness. Now not only the finest steel alloys are utilized but more than 100 Timken roller bearings are used. The following is some pertinent data on models being built and to be built: The low unit: Cutting height, 30 to 42 in. By changing the upper gear case the maximum cutting height can be increased to 61 in., giving a variable cutting height of from 30 to 61 in. Width of cut, 9 ft 6 in. Width of body, 75 in. over tracks. Height of body, 271/2 in. Overall length, 23 ft. Driven by three 50-hp motors or a total of 150 hp. Weight, 26 tons. The intermediate unit: Cutting height, 451/2 to 72 in. Width of cut, 9 ft 8 in. Width of body, 77 in. over tracks. Height of body, 43 in. Overall length, 26 ft. Driven by three 70-hp motors or a total of 210 hp. Weight, 35 tons.

Jan 1, 1951

By L. R. MacLead

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

Jan 1, 1942

By Bunting S. Crocker

Pebble grinding was used at Lake Shore Mines in 1949. A full description of experimental evidence and test plant results was published in 1952 1 and further operating details in 1954.2 In more recent years the term autogenous grinding has been coined and is now frequently seen in the technical literature. Autogenous crushing and/or grinding covers any grinding mill in which the larger of ore are made to grind the fine pieces; the crushing and grinding may be either dry or wet. This discussion deals only with wet autogenous grinding, and only in the fine grinding part of the circuit, i.e., from 6 mesh to 92 pct -325 mesh. The term pebble milling could apply to fine autogenous grinding in which the pebbles are made from the ore itself, or it could also refer to grinding with pebbles, such as flint pebbles, from a source outside the mine.

Jan 5, 1959

By AIME AIME

ANOTHER meeting of the Institute has passed into history and it fully sustained the reputation of the Institute as a live organization of the men, and nowadays the women, concerned with the mineral . ? industries and those working therein. The field meetings of, the 1nstitute are cine of its pleasantest and most valuable features. As Dr. Raymond used to say, ((It is good for a mining engineer once in a while to see a mine" and these meetings bring back to the mines those who, through progress into higher executive positions, have come to visit them infrequently, at the same time that they give opportunity for the .younger men to see regions and mines aside from those in which they are then working. This, and the formal and' informal interchange of information resulting,, is of the greatest professional value to all, while the meeting of old and making of new friends causes each meeting to be notable in turn. This year's meeting at Salt Lake City was one of the largest that has been held outside of. New York City; 470 members and guests registered while many more were present at the sessions without attending to this formality. '

Jan 1, 1925

By JO. E. SHERID

THE Dawson coal-mines are owned and operated by the Stag Canon Fuel Co., of which Dr. James Douglas is President and E. L. Carpenter general manager. The property is situated in Colfax county, N. M., and the openings now in operation are in townships 28 and 29 N. R. 20 E., and township 28 N. R. 21 E., shown in Fig. 1. The mines are part of the southern end of the Raton coal-field, which extends north into Colorado and embraces many coal-camps of the Trinidad section. II. GEOLOGY. Geologically, the coal-measures, commonly known as the Laranmie series of the Cretaceous system, have a thickness of about 800 ft. in the vicinity of Dawson. The coal makes an excellent coke, and, according to some authorities, its coking properties are clue to the action of intruded sheets and sills of igneous rock, the sheets occasionally thickening into masses resembling laccoliths, at such places making nearer approach to the coal and sometimes producing small areas of natural coke. There are but few dikes through¬out the entire southern portion of the field and little or no faulting along the dikes. In some parts of this great coal-field the intrusive sheets are far removed in the green shales below the coal-measures, and are so much altered as to be difficult of identification. There is but little disturbance of the strata through¬out the Raton coal-field in as far as it extends into New Mexico. There are two workable seams in the coal-measures, and two or three smaller coal-seams, ranging from 1 to 2.5 ft. in thick-

Jun 1, 1909