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By J. C. Smock

The magnetic and polaric properties of magnetite, or magnetic iron ore: are fundamental facts in magnetism. The disturbing erect of this mineral upon the magnettic needle in land surveying must have been very early observed. The difficulties arising from this source are still almost insurmountable in making accurate surveys in districts where this ore occurs to any extent, either as a rock

By Charles D. Walcott

Jan 1, 1901

By Robert W. Hunt

The first pump of this character, made by H. R. Worthington, and, so far as the writer is informed, the first and only one of this kind ever constructed, is now in daily use in the above-named works. The water-pressure necessary for the working of the hydraulic machinery of this plant had been supplied, up to the time of the building of this pump, by two Worthington Duplex High Pressure Pumps, having steam-cylinders of 20 inches diameter and 12-inch stroke, with water-plungers of 71/2 inches diameter; eight inlet and eight outlet valves of 24 inches diameter, and pumping into a 6-inch pipe. These pumps required a large amount of steam, and, in consequence of the various additions to their duty, their capacity became far short of the work required. In preference to putting in another engine of the same class, it was decided to accept Mr. Worthington's proposition to build the compound one under description, he guaranteeing that it should be equal to the demands of the works, and at the same time cause a saving of from 5 to 6 tons of coal per day from the amount required to run the two old pumps. The new engine has been in operation about one month, and so far has exceeded the most sanguine expectations. It consists of two high-pressure cylinders of 21 inches and two low-pressure ones of 363/8 inches diameter, by 36-inch stroke, with water-plungers of 961/2 inches diameter. There are two air-pumps of 20 inches diameter by 18-inch stroke; the condenser being 24 inches diameter by 60 inches high. Both cylinders are jacketed with wood and felt, and the low-pressure cylinder also with live steam. The high and low pressure steamcylinders are in line and immediately adjoining each other, while the inconveniences attending an internal stuffing-box are avoided by having two piston-rods for each of the low-pressure cylinders, running through stuffing-boxes on the outside of the smaller high-pressure ones. The steam-valves are very ingeniously designed balanced

By A. H. Bromly

The small agricultural village of Santa Barbara, in the State of Guanajuato, has been the center of spasmodic tin-mining operations during recent years. The deposits, so far as I know, are unique, and a few brief notes may be of interest. Santa Barbara, about 12 miles west of San Felipe station on the Mexican National Railway, and at an elevation of 2,400 m. above sea-level, is situated in a flat valley extending east and west, and bounded north and south by broken rugged hills rising about 330 m. above the general level of the valley. Tin-mining operations have been conducted at the Queensland mine, near this village. A small concentrating-mill was erected and attempts were made to smelt the ore in reverbera-tory furnaces. The country-rock of the district for many miles is rhyolite of great thickness. There are some local variations due to differences in cooling, or subsequent alteration or impregnation; but throughout the whole district the principal constituents of the rocks remain the same, viz., free silica, orthoclase-feldspar and sanidine. The latter is especially marked. The crevices and joints of the rock are frequently filled with calcedonic and opalescent quartz. The ore-formation at the Queensland mine is of an unusual nature, consisting of cracks in the rhyolite which have been filled with clay. This phenomenon is largely developed over a width of from 80 to 100 m., in which the principal fissuring follows an approximate direction of north and south. The average dip ranges between 70 and 80 degrees. Some of the fissures hold sufficiently true for a time to afford the impression that they are due to dynamic causes, or earth-movement. This may be true of some of the north by south fissures; but considering

Jan 1, 1906

By Walter Harvey Weed

Introductory.............449 Summary oF Types............452 I. The Virgilina Type...........452 The Virgilina mines...........452 Location.............452 History.............453 The rocks of the district..........453 The veins.............454 Notes on the mines.... 458 The Holloway. 458; Yancey and Durgy. 465 ; Copper World. 467 ; Frazier. 467 ; Thomas. 467 ; Anaconda. 468; Blue Wing. 468; High Hill. 472; Dorothy.......474 II. The Gold Hill Type...........474 The Gold Hill mine...........475 Location.............475 History............• 475 Surface improvements.......... 476 The rocks............478 Vein.phenomena...........478 Character of the ore..........481 Origin of the ore...........481 Notes on the mine.workings.........482 Other occurrences of ore-deposits of the Gold Hill type.. .. 483 III. The Ducktown Type..........484 The Ducktown mines...........485 Other examples of the Ducktown type....... 494 Alabama mines...........494 North Carolina examples : Ore Knob.......496 Virginia examples..........497 IV. The Catoctin Type.. ......... 498 General characteristics,......... 498 The Linden district...........499 General distribution of the Catoctin type.......503 Introductory. In the early history of this country the existence of copper in the Appalachian region was well known. but no mining mas attempted until the discovery of the Ducktown deposits in

Jan 1, 1901

By William P. Blake

I have not before had the honor of offering to the Institute a communication on the subject of the variety of asphaltum which I described as uintahite; but several disconnected notices of it have appeared in the Transactions, and much additional information regirding it and its relations to other varieties of the asphalt group has been gathered together. Dr. Henry Wurtz has also discussed the nature of uintaite, and has endeavored to show that it should be considered a variety of grahamite.* We have also had an interesting paper upon."Asphalt and its Uses," from Captain F. V. Greene, containing much important technical information and a scheme of classification of the varieties of bitumen and of bituminous compounds. The object of the present paper is to bring the substance of these disconnected notices together; to present some additional facts; to revise the name uintahite; to compare the substance with the allied bitumens or asphalts, known as albertite and grahamite; and fur-

Jan 1, 1890

By R. H. Richards, A. E. Woodward

In Rittinger's Aufbereitungskunde of 1867 occurs (p. 195) the following table, which shows the rate of falling in water of fragments of minerals, of irregular shapes and of five different specific gravities: Diameter of particles in millimeters. 10 8 6 4 3 2 1 .5 Sp. Or. Velocity in meters per second. Auriferous silver, 16..9 .8 .7 .57 .5 .4 .29 .20 Galena,. ..7.5 .62 .55 .48 .39 54 .28 .20 .14 Pyrites,. ..5.0 .49 .43 .38 .30 .26 .22 .15 .10 Quartz,. ..2.6 -30 .27 24 .19 .17 .14 .10 .07 Coal,. ..1.3 .13 .12 .10 .08 .07 .06 .04 .03 With the purpose of extending this valuable table, to cover a larger number of minerals and sizes of each mineral, and of making it more easy of application in deciding upon a sieve-scale for any group of minerals, we have prepared the curves of velocity of fall of bodies in water shown in Plates I., XI., 111. and IV., using Rittinger's formula V= 2.44d(8 —1) where V= velocity in millimeters per second. " D = diameter of particles in meters. " 8 = specific gravity of the mineral. These curves embrace a large number of specific gravities, and for each specific gravity the relation of the diameter of the mineral particle to the velocity of its fall in water is given for all diameters and velocities used in practice. The second diagram is an enlargement of the lower left-hand corner of the first, the third bears the same relation to the second, and in like manner the fourth to the third. Plate I, therefore, covers the work of the coarsest jigging 2 inches in diameter; and under

Jan 1, 1890

By Frederick Prime

At the last meeting of the Institute, Mr. A. L. Holley read a paper on "Steel," in which he proposes for it a definition so opposed to the one generally received, as to call for some remarks. Until within the last five or six years there has been no dispute on the subject, and it seems worth while to investigate the matter. For not only does a proper tax on all importations depend on a proper appreciation of the term steel, but it is necessary to know whether steel, or wroughtiron, or homogeneous iron are requisite in all processes of manufacture in which malleable iron is employed, on accouut of cost, strength, etc. Karsten* says: "Iron may be obtained, either as an unforgeable, unweldable metal, which melts at a high heat, termed cast-iron ; or as a ductile, weldable, soft, metal, which can only be melted at the

By William P. Blake

In addition to uintaite, the Uintah Mountains contain a deposit, or vein, of the peculiar hydrocarbon mineral, to which I have given the name wurtzilite, * in honor of the chemist, Henry Wurtz, Ph.D., of New York, who, in 1865, described grahamite, and who has added to our knowledge of the composition of the hydrocarbon minerals. Wurtzilite and uintaite are very similar in appearance, but are very different in their physical and chemical properties. Both are black, splendent and shining in fresh fracture; but the wurtzilite has a decided toughness, and a degree of elasticity, especially when warmed, which suggests to some persons a resemblance to caoutchouc. It was at first, at Salt Lake, believed and reported to be a mineral form of India-rubber, and great expectations of its value as a substitute for crude rubber were indulged in. It was, however, found that it would not act like rubber with sulphur; it would not incorporate with it and become "volcanized," and it was very refractory and insoluble in the ordinary solvents of rubber and of uintaite. The elasticity, though unlike the elasticity of rubber, led to the reference of the mineral to the species elaterite, the only name under which an elastic bitumen is described in the mineralogies; and it is so called in the list of the mineral products of Utah, given in the last message of the Governor of the Territory. The name elaterite, as used by Dana, covers at least three differing substances, ranging in specific gravity from 0.905 to 1.223. Two of the varieties are soft and elastic, much like India-rubber, and one is occasionally hard and brittle, imbedded in the softer kinds. All are rare, and comparatively unknown, and not generally represented in mineral collections. One of the varieties referred to here is the subterranean fungus from Derbyshire, described by Lister as early as 1673.

Jan 1, 1890

State College of Washington, Engineering Experiment Station, Pullman, Wash. H. V. Carpenter, Director. A selected list of available bulletins which may be had upon request, is as follows: Bulletin 28, Importance of preliminary ore analysis by means of the stereoscopic binocular microscope (1929), 35, Electro-hydrometallurgical process for copper flotation concentrate (first progress report) (1930), 37, A method of compiling approximate mining cost data (1931), 38, Electro-hydrometallurgical process for copper flotation concentrate (second progress report) (1932)

Jan 1, 1933

Conservationists have launched an attack on the mining law of 1872, accusing it of permitting the min- ing industry to rob the public and despoil the environment while doing it. Michael McCloskey, executive director of the Sierra Club, and one who has made known his opposition to the law said, "environmentalists are unified in their agreement that repeal . . . is one of conservation's most urgent tasks . . . ." Charles H. Callahan, executive vice president of the National Audubon Society, paralleled McCloskey's sentiments, calling the law a "disgrace" and a "give-away." In his opening statement before the Senate Interior Committee, Chairman Henry M. Jackson (D-Wash.) said that legislation pending before the committee would put the hard rock minerals under a leasing system as is the case with oil and gas.

Jan 1, 1971

The Joint Economic Committee's subcommittee on international payments and exchange has recommended that, following international monetary reforms, the law which prohibits private possession of gold by American citizens be repealed. The subcommittee recommendation called for reforms to enhance the role of special drawing rights in international monetary affairs and downgrade the role of gold. Special drawing rights, also known as "paper gold", are on artificial reserve with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) which distributes them to member nations in proportion to their economic importance in the world economy. The special drawing rights are then used to settle debts between nations in the same manner as gold or currency. The subcommittee said that under the reforms now being discussed special drawing rights would be acceptable in lieu of gold among the member countries of the IMF.

Jan 1, 1973

By Freeman Bishop

Nothing has disturbed the copper- lead-zinc producers in recent years more than smelter tolerances set by some states. What hurt most, copper spokesmen told the Government, was the Government's own erroneous estimates of smelter pollution controls. Government charts indicated that 23 firms smelting copper, lead and zinc may need to invest about $108 million by fiscal 1976 to control stack emissions. The copper industry's independent study, however, indicates that the required controls could cost as much as $550 million to install and $200 million a year to operate.

Jan 1, 1971

By Freeman Bishop

Mercury is the latest ecological disaster. It was believed to be no pollution problem because it is heavier than water and expected to fall to the bottom of streams. But the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) found that mercury in a dozen states and several Canadian provinces was being ingested by fish. A Deadly Dose First to sound the alarm was Canada when a graduate student's research revealed that mercury contamination in Lake St. Clair had reached 1.4 pmm. which is almost three times the 0.5 ppm the FDA's allowable maximum.

Jan 1, 1970

By Freeman Bishop

President Allende says he will expropriate all American investments in Chile and he's already well on the way to accomplishing this objective. What the average observer doesn't realize is that this has not only created big lossess for the copper companies. It could also take a chunk out of the U.S. taxpayers' pockets. Premier Castro expropriated the U.S. taxpayers' investment of over $100 million in the Nicaro (Cuba) nickel and cobalt operations-and U.S. Government protest over the loss was never heard above a whisper. Where the taxpayer comes in today is through the Overseas Private Investment Corporation, which was set up to guarantee U.S. companies' foreign investments against losses due to political changes. As of now, metals firms hold more than $300 million worth of obligations against this U.S. Government agency. The agency itself may not be able to raise more than $85 million, and a supplemental appropriation may be needed to meet its guarantees.

Jan 1, 1971

By Freeman Bishop

The Nation's capital has one over- riding minerals-metals question: How long will prices and wages continue to move upward at the inexorable pace of the last year? Is the wage pattern to settle this year around 10%? The big industrial unions are coming into line, some of them later this year. Steel is standing in the wings for next year. Copper, steel, nickel and most other industrial metals have taken big hikes in their stride. Aluminum, which is making inroads into areas of industrial use formerly sacred to copper and some other metals, seems to be fighting to hold down its prices to attract customers from the higher-priced metals.

Jan 1, 1970

Striving to do a better job of ad- ministering the letter and spirit of the Federal Coal Mine Health and Safety Act of 1969, the Interior Department recently invited criticism-and got it. The criticisms were voiced on July 1 and 2 at the first of a series of public meetings being held by the Office of Hearings and Appeals at the Department's behest. Later meetings, at which all interested parties are invited to comment, are to be announced in the press and the Federal Register. Persons wishing to participate in the meetings should contact the Director, Office of Hearings and Appeals, 1015 Wilson Blvd., Arlington, Va. 22203. At the first Hearing, USBM Director Elburt F. Osborn outlined the progress his agency has made to date in implementing the law on three fronts: enforcement, education and research. Since the Health and Safety Act became law on December 30. 1969, he said, the Bureau's force of inspectors has grown from a mere 300 to almost 1100, while mine inspections have increased from 10,265 in 1970 to 11,021 for the first six months of 1971. On the educational front. Osborn said, the Bureau now has some 60 instructors who have trained about 50,000 miners in safety procedures since March 30. 1971. Classes at the new Federal Mine Safety Academy for both government and industry personnel begin on September 1, 1971. he added. Health and safety re- search, meanwhile, has been allot- ted $20.1 million for the 1971 Fiscal Year. Of this, $8.1 million is assigned to the Bureau and $12.3 million to contracts with universities and private companies. Admittedly, Osborn said, the mine fatality rate is still unacceptable, hut it was lower in the first half of 1971 than ever before---0.73 per million man hours and 0.31 per million tons of coal.

Jan 1, 1971

By Freeman Bishop

Copper production has been under Government scrutiny for many years because it's known as a concentrated industry which in turn creates what many economists label administrative prices. Neither of these conditions is illegitimate, per se, the Federal Trade Commission and the Justice Department have said time and again. But Justice spoke up once more. This time over a Puerto Rican copper development planned by American Metal Climax, Inc., and the Kennecott Copper Corp. Bureaucratic Dichotomy Creates Confusion and Conflict In the Copper Industry Ian MacGregor, chairman and chief executive officer of Amax, said Justice in a recent communique questioned the propriety of the proposal of a joint copper venture in Puerto Rico. At the same approximate time, Dr. Hendrik S. Houthakker, chairman of the President's Commission on Copper, was urging copper producers to expand production to help hold down prices by making more copper available to all consumers. This, Mr. MacGregor said, is creating confusion and conflict, since the Administration from one source is chastising the industry for doing what another branch requests.

Jan 1, 1970

A joint statistical report released by the U.S. Department of Commerce and U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission indicates that business investment in new plants and equipment is expected to total $81.8 billion during 1971. This figure is based on the findings of a survey conducted in late April and May and reflects about a 1 ½ % decrease in investments from the $83.1 billion projected in February. Mining, on the other hand, is still in a bullish mood and is expected to spend $1.99 billion in 1971 compared to $1.89 billion in 1970 and $1.86 billion in 1969. Based on figures quoted above, mining investment in 1971 should show a 5.2% increase over 1970. Carl E. Bagge, president of the National Coal Association, was the dedicatory speaker at the new Milton R. Young Station of the Minnkota Power Cooperative in North Dakota. This new power plant incorporates many innovations which have overcome the problems of using the low-cost lignite abundant in the area. According to Bagge, this development and President Nixon's recent request for an extra $10 million for coal gasification plants is helping the region lead the way in providing for the power needs of the future. He also maintains that gasification of coal can reconcile coal consumption with the demand for cleaner air, and also assure the nation of adequate pipeline gas.

Jan 1, 1971

Bill S.1431 for the creation of a Department of Natural Resources has received a propitious hearing before the Senate Committee on Government Operations. Interior Secretary Rogers C. B. Morton was one of the prominent witnesses who testified in favor. The department had been proposed, Morton said, with "the conviction that the development of all natural resources would be harmonized with the most practicable possible means to protect and preserve the environment, consistent with the social and economic needs of the Nation." Another opinion on the pro side came from Atomic Energy Commissioner Clarence E. Larson, who said that a "total picture" had become essential to the establishment of a policy for developing energy resources in the best public interest. Commissioner James T. Ramey, on the other hand, was one of the AEC dissenters. Ramey said he believed the reorganization of resource responsibilities would hinder efforts to deal with energy-environmental problems and prevent the use of AEC "expertise and facilities" to the greatest advantage. As Arnold Weber, associated director of the Office of Management and Budget, pointed out, however, retiring AEC Chairman Glenn T. Seaborg is in favor of the new department. Another supporter, and one who can cast a vote on the bill, is Sen. Frank E. Moss. Final Standards for emissions from new stationary sources will be published by the Environmental Protection Agency on October 27. The initial proposals, appearing in the Federal Register on August 17, called for limiting emissions per million Btu of heat input (maximum 2-hr average) to 0.2 lb of particulate matter, and, where solid fuel is burned, to 1.2 lb of sulfur dioxide and 0.7 lb of nitrogen dioxide. While the new rules are mainly for new plants, the EPA is also proposing them for "existing plants which are modified in such a way as to increase or alter. . . their emissions."

Jan 1, 1971