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By C. D. Woodward

The Anaconda Copper Mining Co. purchases 25,000 kw. of electric power for its mining operations at Butte, Mont. This power is delivered, over duplicate feeders, in the form of 60-cycle, 2400-volt, three-phase current, to five compressor plants, where most of the energy is used for driving air compressors. At the compressor plants are located the switching apparatus for controlling the 2400-volt power and distributing it to the various mines. At these points, also, there are a number of motor-generator sets for converting the alternating current to 275-volt direct current for the haulage systems. Pole lines convey the powcr from the compressor plants to outdoor transformer substations at most of the mines. When it is not economical to distribute the power at the lower voltages in the mines, transformers and motor-generator sets are placed at strategic points underground. All power is purchased on a maximum-demand basis; therefore there is installed at one of the compressor plants an eight-element totalizing graphic wattmeter. This instrument records simultaneously the value of all power taken at the numerous points of delivery, which not only climinates the diversity factor but permits load dispatching between compressor and pumping plants, and thus materially reduces the maximum demand from the power system. As most of the mine hoisting is done by 90-lb. compressed-air winding engines, the air-compressor equipment for the winding engines and mining operations is quite extensive. The standard air compressor has a rating of 7500 cu. ft. per min. of free air, and most of the compressors are directly connected to synchronous motors. The synchronous motors are designed for 80 per cent. loading power factor, thus facilitating power-factor correction of total mine load. Consequently by cooperation with the power company, the voltage of the power received at the compressor plants is constant. In the mines there are installed an induction motor load of approxi-mately 10,000 hp., and 4500 kv.-a,, in transformer capacity. It is the practice to install 2200-volt motors in the mincs, except those rated below 50 hp, hence there are in operation underground about 5000 hp., in the

Jan 1, 1923

By R. L. Sebastian

ALUMINUM'S war history is the record of a successful race to expand facilities fast enough to meet the multiple increases in military requirements, principally for aircraft. From the beginning of the war program in 1940 through 1942, requirements estimates were repeatedly lifted to new high levels, and plans for increasing capacity had to be constantly revised. In 1943, basic metal supply caught up with and exceeded requirements, and by 1944, the surplus of primary production was large enough to force reduction in output and plant closings. In the past two years, ingot capacity has been ample, though periodic critical shortages have been experienced for a few fabricated shapes as a result of sudden shifts in demand. And now with all controls lifted we are faced with surplus capacity, surplus stocks, and surplus scrap. In 1938 the Aluminum Co. of America was the only U. S. producer of primary

Jan 1, 1946

By H. H. Kellogg, T. R. Ingraham

Three anhydrous zinc sulfates have been identified. They are: ZnSO,(a), stable below 1007°K; ZnS04(/3), stable above 1007OK; and ZnO.ZZnSO,. The decomposition pressure of each sulfate has been measured and the following relations calculated from the results: The measured data have been combined with the known themzodynamic properties of ZnS, ZnO, Zn, SO,, and SO, to yield univariant and bivariant phase diagrams for the system Zn-S-0. The application of these diagrams to problems of roasting zinc concentrates is discussed. PRESENT knowledge of the equilibrium chemistry of the system Zn-S:O, so essential to scientific control of zinc-blende roasting, is deficient in several respects. A basic sulfate of zinc has been reported by many investigators, but its composition is in doubt and its thermodynamic properties have not been measured. Our scanty knowledge of the properties of the normal sulfate at roasting temperatures is based on old and inexact studies. A crystal transformation in the normal sulfate, involving a sizable heat effect, has been noted by several investigators but has never been quantified. The studies reported herein were designed to fill these gaps in knowledge and to make possible a reasonably complete thermodynamic description of the system Zn-S-0 at roasting temperatures. The results make possible a far more exact understanding of zinc roasting chemistry than was hitherto possible. EXPERIMENTAL The principal experimental technique employed was the measurement of the total gas pressure developed from decomposition of either ZnSO, or ZnO2ZnS0, in a closed system. The apparatus employed was essentially the same as that described by Warner and lngrahaml and Flengas and tngraham.' The unusual feature is a flexible Pyrex bellows used to separate the reaction gas mixture (S03, SOz, and 02) from the mercury in the manometer and thus prevent corrosion of the mercury by SO3. The bellows operates without evidence of hysteresis and, barring accidents, may be used for several months. The response of the bellows varies from manometer to manometer, but is generally of the order of 0.6-cm displacement for a l-cm change in pressure. The response for all manometers has been linear over the range 0 to 1 atm. To prevent condensation and polymerization of sulfur trioxide, the bellows-manometer was maintained at 100.0" * 0.5" by a circulating bath of silicone oil. The connecting tubing between the manometer and the furnace was maintained at 100.0" * 0.2"* also, with a stirred air bath. The open end of the manometer was connected with a chamber which was maintained at a known pressure. The pressure could be varied so that readings of the height of the mercury column, measured with a cathetometer, could be made with both rising and falling mercury column. By using the average of the readings, any error due to sticking of the mercury column was minimized. The sample was placed in a 2-in.-long platinum boat formed into the shape of a half-cylinder. The sample was prepared as a fine powder and pressed against the inner wall of the platinum boat. A silica thermocouple well, covered with a platinum sleeve, was placed lengthwise along the center of the boat. The temperature of the sample was read on a calibrated Pt-10 pct Rh theirnocouple. The temperature profile of the furnace was constant within ± 0.2 C over the length of furnace occupied by the sample. The horizontal furnace used to contain the sample and the quartz reaction tube was electrically heated, with the control thermocouple placed 1/4 in. from the windings. A Brown Pyro-O-Vane temperature controller with a 3-sec response time was used to maintain the furnace temperature. Before beginning a run, the apparatus, including the bellows manometer, was thoroughly washed in sib with acid and distilled water to remove any

Jan 1, 1963

By H. O. Jahns

This paper describes the application of regression analysis for obtaining a two-dimensional areal description of heterogeneous reservoirs from short-term pressure-time data such as that obtained in interference tests. The method replaces the time-consuming trial-and-error procedure commonly used to match field data on an electric analyzer or digital computer with a systematic search which is programmed for a computer. The computer program adjusts the properties of a reservoir model automatically until a least-squares fit is obtained between observed and calculated pressure data. The reservoir is simulated by a single-phase, compressible, two-dimensional model. It is divided into a number of homogeneous blocks whose transmissibility (kh/F) and storage (Fch) values are varied to obtain the least-squares fit. The reliability of these values is determined from their standard deviations and correlation coefficients. Although the method is rigorously applicable to single-phase flow only, multiphase flow can be handled provided saturation changes are small during the test. Possibly the method can also be used to obtain a reservoir description from pressure-production history, but this application is outside the scope of this work. The paper includes, in addition to a description of the numerical procedure, a discussion of some of the problems associated with the method. Rules are given to help in selecting the number of homogeneous blocks and deciding upon their arrangement. The uniqueness of a reservoir description is considered. Finally, the use of the method is illustrated by the interpretation of field data from two interference tests. INTRODUCTION Pressure data from short-term transient tests, such as single-well and interference tests, are widely used to obtain reservoir properties. These tests are usually analyzed by assuming a simple reservoir model; very often, a homogeneous one is used. As a result, analysis of the transient data from each well frequently gives different values for reservoir properties. The problem then arises to combine all these differing results into a more detailed picture of the reservoir. One technique is to simulate the reservoir with a digital computer or with an electrical analyzer and to adjust the reservoir parameters by trial and error until the simulated pressure data are in reasonable agreement with the observed pressure data for all wells. Although this method has been used for both transient tests and pressure-history data, it is time-consuming and subjective. A second technique uses regression analysis to replace the trial-and-error procedure with a systematic search that can be programmed for a digital computer. Use of regression analysis in reservoir description was proposed recently by Jacquard and Jain.1 They divided the reservoir into a number of homogeneous blocks whose properties are varied until a least-squares fit is obtained between observed and calculated pressures. However, they did not consider their technique to be operational, mainly because of ".. .(I) the lack of experience in using the method .. . notably for the improvement of convergence; and (2) limitations imposed by the insufficiency of available computers". 1 While the analysis presented in this paper applies the same general principle used by Jacquard and Jain, the specific method is significantly different. Some differences are (1) the regression problem is solved in a different way which requires less computer time in most cases; (2) a stepwise solution, in which the detail in the reservoir description is increased from step to step, is used to improve convergence; and (3) the reliability of the estimated reservoir .properties.. as measured by their standard deviation and correlation coefficient, is estimated'

Jan 1, 1967

By Bjorge, Guy N.

MINING method improve through the gradual process of evolution and in 1340 there were no marked outstanding innovations. On the other hand refinements of detail and betterment: in equipment design continued to progress. Among the most important changes have been the increased application of trucks and highway equipment, including tractors and bull- dozers, to open-pit mining as exemplified by Phelps Dodge's Morenci operations; the Mesabi iron range; and the Tri-State district. Mass or bulk handling contributed its part underground with slurhers and conveyors at Consolidated Coppermines and slushers at Climax; and in open-pit mining. conveyors found increased use on the Mesabi range.

Jan 1, 1941

By E. Klar, A. B. Michael

Differences in the electrical conductivities of copper powder sintered under reducing, selectively oxidizing, and neutral atmospheres are related to impurities in solution or as precipitated oxides. The precipitation of impurities as oxides during sintering in nitrogen is proposed for maximizing the conductivity of sintered copper. Conductivity equations for two-phase systems are summarized. Selected equations are applied to porous sintered copper and composite structures. A recent review of the influence of impurities on the electrical conductivity of copper by Gregory et al.1 emphasized that an impurity in solid solution has a much more pronounced effect on reducing the electrical conductivity than when present partly or wholly as a second phase. When impurities in solid solution can be precipitated as oxides, the copper is purified with respect to these elements and the conductivity is increased. Cast and wrought copper, therefore, frequently contain an intentional residual oxygen concentration to oxidize and precipitate impurities less noble than copper. Copper powders generally also contain impurities which can contribute to a reduction in the electrical conductivity of the sintered material. The most deleterious impurities commonly found in commercial copper powders which markedly decrease the electrical conductivity when in solid solution but which can be precipitated as oxides include iron, tin, antimony, arsenic, cobalt, and nickel. In addition to impurities, porosity in sintered copper also contributes to a reduction in the electrical conductivity. The work reported herein discusses the influence of impurities, sintering atmospheres, and porosity on the electrical conductivity of sintered copper. These are important factors for controlling the electrical conductivity of materials such as sintered copper electrical contacts. Several publications on the electrical conductivity of sintered copper and composite materials with random pores or obstacles have incorrectly considered the conductivity to be proportional to the volume fraction of conducting material. However, analyses and equations have been proposed, the earliest of which is perhaps Lord Raleigh's of 1892,' which more accurately describe the conductivity of two-phase systems. These equations which in many cases allow one to closely estimate the electrical conductivity of porous sintered materials and two-phase composites will be reviewed and related to the measured electrical conductivity of sintered copper, copper-graphite. and Ag-W composites. INFLUENCE OF IMPURITIES AND OXIDIZING, REDUCING, AND NEUTRAL ATMOSPHERES Zone-Melted and Leveled Copper. The electrical conductivities of an electrolytic copper and a lower-purity compacting grade of copper powder after consecutive treatments in reducing or selectively oxidizing atmospheres are compared in Fig. 1. The powder and drillings from the electrolytic copper ingot were melted and solidified in a graphite crucible under hydrogen. The vertical zone leveling technique of multiple passes in opposite directions was used to obtain a uniform distribution of impurities. The electrical conductivity was measured on machined specimens 3 by 0.10 in. diam of the zone-leveled material and after the same specimens were consecutively treated as follows: 1) heating in hydrogen at 1600°F for 3 hr; 2) heating in air in a sealed tube so that 0.04 pct 0 was introduced; heating was started at 1000°F for 1 hr and continued at 1800°F for 8 hr; the stepwise diffusion treatment was used to avoid loss of copper due to evaporation of copper oxide at higher temperatures; and 3) final heating in hydrogen at 1600°F for 3 hr. A L&N Kelvin Bridge, type 4306, and a test fixture with knife edges 2 in. apart were used to measure the room-temperature conductivity with an estimated accuracy of ±0.5 pct. In all cases the conductivity of the electrolytic copper was approximately 100 pct of IACS. The conductivity of the impure copper was 80 pct of IACS both in the cast state and after heating in hydrogen. However, after the heating in air, the conductivity of the impure material was 100 pct IACS. After again heating in hydrogen, the electrical conductivity decreased to 60 pct of IACS. This decrease is attributed both to the dissolution of impurities and observed intergranular cracks due to the phenomenon of hydrogen embrittle-ment in copper. These data show that the electrical conductivity of commercial copper as represented by a compacting type powder can be increased significantly by the precipitation of impurities as oxides through heat treatment in an oxidizing atmosphere. Sintered Copper Powder. A commercial compacting type of copper powder pressed to various densities was sintered either in nitrogen, dissociated ammonia, or dissociated ammonia followed by a selectively oxidizing atmosphere of air in sealed Vycor tubes so that 0.06 pct O was added to the material. The electrical conductivity was measured perpendicular to the pressing direction on as-sintered specimens of approximately 3 by 0.25 by 0.15 in. The fully dense material was obtained by zone melting and leveling

Jan 1, 1969

By J. J. Forbes

'"THE Federal Coal Mine Safety Act (public Law T. 552. 82nd Congress) was approved oil July 16, 1952. It incorporates, as Title I, the Coal Mine Inspectio1.1 and Investigation Act of May 7. 1941 (Public Law 49, 77th Congress), which gave Federal inspectors only the right to enter. coal mines for inspection and investigation purposes but no power to require compliance with their recommendations. Title 11 contains the enforcement provisions of the act; its purpose is to prevent major disasters in coal mines from explosions, fires. inundations. and man-trip 01. man-hoist accidents. At this point a brief account of events that preceded the enactment of the Federal Coal Mine Safety Act seems appropriate. The hazardous nature of coal mining was recognized by the Federal Govermment as long ago as 1865, when a bill to create a Federal Mining Bureau was introduced in Congress. Little was done, however, until a series of appalling coalmine disasters during the first decade of this century provoked a demand for Federal action. As a result an act of Congress established a Bureau of Mines in the Department of the Interior on July 1, 1910. The act made it clear that one of the foremost activities of the Bureau should be to improve health and safety in the mineral industries. One of the first projects selected by the small folce of engineers and technicians then employed was to determine the causes of coal-mine explosions and the means to prevent them. By investigations aftel mine disasters the fundamental causes and means of prevention were soon discovered, and the coal mining industry was informed accordingly. However, despite this knowledge and the enactment of State laws and the Federal Coal Mine Inspection and Investigation Act of 1941, mine disasters continued to occur with disheartening frequency and staggering loss of life. The devastating explosion at the Orient No. 2 mine on December 21, 1951, resulted in the death of 119 men. The Orient disaster rekindled the memory of the Centralia. Ill., disaster of March 25. 1947, which caused the death of 111 coal miners. These two tragedies ultimately brought about enactment of the Federal Coal Mine Safety Act. The act is a compromise measure. Senator Matthew M. Neely of West Virginia and Congressman Melvin Priec of Illinois introduced almost identical versions in the 82nd Congress, but they were considered too drastic. The final version was introduced by Congressman Samuel K. McConnel, Jr., of Pennsylvania, after considerable discussion and amendment in committee hearings. It was passed by the Congress and became effective when signed by the President on July 16, 1952. The act is somewhat limited in scope because it applies only to approximately 2000 coal mines in the United States and Alaska that employ regularly 15 or more individuals underground. It exempts approximately 5300 mines employing regularly fewer than 15 individuals underground and all strip mines, of which there are about 800. Moreover, it covers only conditions and practices that may lead to major disasters from explosion, fire, inundation, or man-trip or man-hoist accidents. According to Bureau records, such accidents have resulted in less than 10 pct of all the fatalities in coal mines. It is important to mention that the law is not designed to prevent the day-to-day type of accidents that have caused the remaining 90 pct or more of the fatalities, because it was the specific intention of the Congress to reserve the hazards which caused them to the jurisdiction of the coal-producing states. Many who opposed any Federal legislation that would give the Federal inspectors authority to require compliance with mine safety regulations claimed that such legislation would usurp or infringe upon States' rights. To assure that the principle of States' rights would be preserved, the act provides for joint Federal-State inspections when a state desires to cooperate in such activities. The Director of the Bureau of Mines is required by the act to cooperate with the official mine-inspection or safety agencies of the coal-producing states. The act provides further that any state desiring to cooperate in making joint inspections may submit a State plan for carrying out the purposes of this part of the act. Certain requirements are listed: these must be met by a state before the plan can be accepted. The Director of the Bureau of Mines, however, is required to approve any State plan which complies with the specified provisions. The Director may withdraw his approval and declare such a plan inoperative if he finds that the State agency is not complying with the spirit and intent of any provision of the State plan. When this paper was prepared, agreements for joint Federal-State inspections had been entered into with Wyoming and Washington. A few other states have indicated their desire to submit a State plan and negotiations toward that end are now under way. Reluctance to enter into such agreements may be due to the mine operators' knowledge that in the states that adopt a cooperative plan they are prohibited from applying to the Director of the Bureau of Mines for annulment or revision of an order issued by a Federal inspector and must appeal directly to the Federal Coal Mine Safety Board of Review for such action. Experience has proved that review by the Director as provided in the act is a less expensive and time-consuming procedure to all concerned than applying to the Board. Reluctance also may stem from the fact that joint Federal-State inspections somewhat restrict the movements of the State mine inspectors and tend to reduce the number of inspections of mines. Where a State plan is not adopted, the Federal coal mine inspector is responsible under the law to take one of two courses of action if he finds certain hazardous conditions during his inspections. The first action involves imminent danger. If a Federal inspector finds danger that a mine explosion, mine fire, mine inundation, or man-trip or man-hoist accident will occur in a mine immediately or before the imminence of such danger can be elim-

Jan 1, 1955

By AIME AIME

THE initial meeting on Mining Methods* opened at 10 o'clock Monday morning with Scott Turner as chairman and W. Spencer Hutchinson as vice- chairman; about 60 attending. After preliminary announcements Theodore Marvin was called on for his paper,, entitled "Rock Tunnel Methods," which has been appearing serially in The Explosives Engineer. Marvin read the introduction and called attention to the account of one or' two particularly' interesting projects, such as the. Brooklyn water supply tunnel. E. D. 'Gardner, Char1e.s S. Hurter, L. D. Lamont and Spencer P. Howell took part in the discussion, Howell commenting on the fact that, in one case cited, misfires had occurred through detonator wires 'coming in contact with the case of an unapproved flashlight, .,: and that all flashlights should be approved.

Jan 1, 1931

By E. Miller, J. M. Eldridge, K. L. Komarek

The liquidus curve of the Mg-Pb system was accurately redetermined. The compound Mg2Pb decomposes peritectically at 538.2° ± 0.3°C to liquid and to a compound p' which melts congruently at 35.0 at. pct Pb and 549.0° ± 0.3°C. The solidus curve of ß' was determined. X-ray diffraction studies indicate that 4' has an orthorhombic structure. Activity values of magnesium calculated from the phase diagram agree with those published in the literature. EXPERIMENTAL thermodynamic properties of binary metallic systems have to be consistent with values calculated from the phase diagram. In systems forming intermetallic compounds the shape of the liquidus curve near a compound is determined by the thermodynamic properties of the coexisting solid and liquid phases. Hauffe and Wagner' neglected the temperature dependence of the chemical potentials and obtained the potential differences of the components of the liquid alloys, relative to stoichiometric liquid. Their calculations were based on the liquidus curve and on the heat of fusion of the compound, and were only valid near the congruent melting point. Steiner, Miller, and Komarek2 developed equations which account for the temperature dependence and obtained the chemical potentials of liquid Mg-Sn alloys over the entire phase diagram from the liquidus and solidus curves and from enthalpy values with the pure components as the standard states. The Mg-Pb phase diagram has been studied by several investigators whose results have been compiled and critically evaluated by Hansen.3 Although the liquidus curve was poorly defined, the general features of the diagram, i.e., one congruent melting compound, Mg2Pb, of essentially stoichiometric composition, two eutectics, and limited terminal solid solubilities, seemed to be suitable for a similar thermodynamic analysis. A careful redeter-mination of the liquidus by thermal analysis revealed, however, the existence of another compound. The liquidus curve between the two eutectics was precisely delineated and the structure and solidus curve of the new compound were investigated. The revised phase diagram was thermodynamic ally analyzed to evaluate the activity of magnesium in the liquid alloys. EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE The magnesium metal (Dominion Magnesium Ltd., Toronto, Canada) had a purity of 99.99+ pct; lead (American Smelting and Refining Co.) contained 99.999 pct Pb. Most experiments were carried out in graphite crucibles. Several experiments were made in high-purity alumina (Triangle R.R., Mor-ganite, Inc.) and in Armco iron crucibles to test the inertness of the graphite crucibles. Chemical analysis of magnesium and detailed description of the procedure for thermal analysis have been given previously. For the determination of the solidus curve of the compounds, specimens of initial composition Mg2Pb were equilibrated in a closed isothermal system with magnesium vapor. The source of the magnesium vapor was an alloy which had a gross composition lying in the 0' + L field at the temperature of equilibration. As equilibrium was approached, the specimens lost magnesium to the two-phase reservoir thereby lowering the activity of magnesium in the specimens until activity and composition equaled that of the ß'/ß' + L boundary. Crucibles (1.9 cm ID by 2.2 cm OD by 4.1 cm high) and tightly fitting lids were machined from a molybdenum rod; small, shallow trays were fashioned from thin (0.005 in.) molybdenum sheet, and all the molybdenum components were degreased in hot carbon tetrachloride and then dried. The pieces were then degassed in vacuum at 950°C for about 6 hr. The two-phase alloy was placed at the bottom of the crucible and small specimens of the Mg2Pb compound, weighed on an analytical balance, were placed in two molybdenum trays above the two-phase alloy. The crucible was closed by forcing its lid on and then inserted in a titanium crucible. This crucible was evacuated, flushed twice with argon, and welded under argon. The specimens were equilibrated for about 1 week in a resistance furnace regulated by a Celectray controller, and the runs were terminated by water quenching. The specimens were again weighed and the equilibrium compositions were calculated on the basis that the weight losses were solely due to a loss of magnesium to the two-phase alloy. The structure of the B' phase was investigated by the Debye-Scherrer X-ray diffraction technique. Selected ingots from thermal-analysis experiments containing about 35 at. pct Pb were re-melted, slowly cooled, and crushed in an argon-filled glovebox until the entire ingot passed through a 50-mesh sieve. The powder was thoroughly

Jan 1, 1965

By Hubert E. Risser

Although, for about a half-century the percentage of coal production provided through strip mining has steadily increased, recent trends indicate that a peak in percentage (not tonnage) is being approached, principally because of the decline in economic adrantage enjoyed by strip mining compared to underground mining. Factors contributing to the decline are the decrease in the margin of advantage in manpower requirements held by strip mining; an increase in depth and volume of overhurden, requiring larger equipment and capital investment; increasing lack of reserve land blocks large enough to support extensive strip mining operations; more stringent legislation for reclamation of stripped land, with increasingly higher costs of such reclamation; and the increasing costs of land surface rights for strip mining. Already there has been a peak and suhsequent decline in relative importance of strip mining insome major Eastern coal-producing states; trends indicate that a peaking for the whole Eastern region is on the way. Although, in the West the pressures are less severe, they will, nevertheless, reduce to an increasing degree the advantage that strip mining has possessed. For about half a century, strip mining has been providing an ever-increasing share of total coal output in the United States, and in the past 30 years this share has grown from less than 8% to 33.7%, as shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 1 also shows that strip mining is gaining faster in the West than in the East. From 1961 to 1967, output from strip mines grew 63.6 million toqs, or 52.2%. Certainly there is nothing in such performance to indicate any peaking in the level of strip coal-mine production. But the fact is that, if not in actual tonnage, strip mining appears to be reaching its peak in relative importance, at least east of the Mississippi River. And the area east of the Mississippi provides 90.0% of the strip and 94.9% of the total coal production of the nation. The relative economic advantage which spurred strip mining's growth for a third of a century has been diminishing markedly in recent years. Fig. 2 shows evidence of this decline. From 1947 until 1961, strip tonnage output remained fairly stable, at the end of the period showing only a 12.5% decline. Meanwhile, underground coal production fell 44.5%. As the result of the greater decline in underground coal, strip coal in 1961 furnished 30.3% of the total coal produced, compared to only 22.1% in 1947. In the succeeding six years, however, underground coal output increased by 76.5 million tons, while strip output increased only 63.6 million. Further evidence of the strengthening of underground coal's relative position — or if you will, the weakening of strip coal's position — can be found in the major coal stripping states: Illinois, West Kentucky, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Indiana, and West Virginia, which in 1966 provided 80% of the nation's strip coal. Fig. 3 shows what has been happening in three states lying in the Appalachian field and in the total output of these three states. In the figure, the column height represents the output of coal mined by all methods. The number at the base of each column is the percentage mined by stripping. In Pennsylvania and Ohio, the percentage of strip mining increased between 1956 and 1961, but by 1966 had declined from the 1961 level. In West Virginia, a decline occurred during the first five years but was followed by a rise. In January 1968, Coal Age published an article listing the locations and capacities of new large mines in the planning and construction stages that would be operating by 1968-1971. The plans for West Virginia and Pennsylvania indicated all the new mines would be underground. Except to the extent they might replace existing under-

Jan 1, 1970

Albin, B. R. Billings, Mont. 28 Amster, Nathan L 25 Broad St., New York, N. Y. '28 Bache, Jules S. 42 Broadway, New York, N. Y. 28 Barrett, C. P. 5338 Harper Ave., Chicago, 111. '28 Baum, Frank G., Cons. Hydro-Electric Engr Cassel, Shasta Co., Cal. '28 Bayless, William S. Russ Bldg., San Francisco, Cal. '28 Bean, Louis H.60 E. 42nd St., New York, N. Y. '28 Beatty, Roes J. 1105 First National Bank Bldg., Chicago, Ill. '28 Benwell, Oswald F. Hold Mags. '28 Beymer, Albert S., V.P., Keystone National Bank Pittsburgh, Pa. '28 Blumenthal, Hugo 44 Pine St., New York, N. Y. '28 Boettcher, Charles Ideal Cement Bldg., Denver, Colo. '28 Bowlus, Thomas H. Iola, Kan. '28 Brown, Colvin B. Chamber of Commerce, Washington, D. C. '28 Bart, Maxwell Struthers Southern Pines, N. C. '28

Jan 1, 1932

Albin, B. R Billings, Mont. '28 Amster, Nathan L 25 Broad St., New York, N. Y. '28 Bache, Jules S. 42 Broadway, New York, N. Y. '28 Barrett C. P. 5338 Harper Ave., Chicago, Ill. '28 Baum, Frank G., Cons. Hydro-Electric Engr Cassel, Shasta Co., Cal. '28 Bayless, William S. Russ Bldg., San Francisco, Cal. '28 Bean, Louis H. 60 E. 42nd St., New York, N. Y. '28 Beatty, Ross J. Room 604, 6 N. Clark St., Chicago, Ill. '28 Benwell, Oswald F. Hold Mags. '28 Beymer, Albert S., V.-P., Keystone National BankPittsburgh, Pa. '28 Blumenthal, Hugo. 44 Pine St., New York, N. Y. '28 Boettcher, Charles Ideal Cement Bldg., Denver, Colo. '28 Bowlus. Thomas H. Iola, Ken. '28 Brown, Colvin B. Chamber of Commerce Washington, D. C. '28 Burt, Maxwell Struthers Southern Pines, N. C. '28

Jan 1, 1932

By Scott Turner

PRESIDENT SCOTT TURNER officiated as chairman of the opening session on mining methods, Monday morning, Feb. 15. The first paper was that of Max H. Barber on open-pit mining in the Lake Superior district, read by C. F. Jackson. W. L. Taylor stated that liquid-oxygen explosive had been tried but that the operators are satisfied with the explosives used; lb. of dynamite breaks one ton of rock. Although black powder is considered the most effective explosive, the factor of safety has decided in favor of high explosives. Lucien Eaton told of the Michigan Lime and Chemical Co.'s large L. 0. X. plant at Rogers City, Mich. Mr. Turner referred to this plant, also said that the Bureau of Mines is shortly to issue Bulletin 349 completely covering the use of L. 0. X. from its inception. W. D. B. Motter, Jr., gave some items concerning Chuquicamata, Chile. Twelve years ago the blasts moved 850,000 to 1,000,000 tons, but average shots now move 250,000 to 300,000 tons. One pound of L. 0. X. breaks 3.7 tons, against 3.1 tons by dynamite. Another speaker told of some large dynamite blasts in open pits, one of 360,000 Ib. in March, 1931, and another of 430,000 lb. to be shot in 1932. Tests have been made to determine the effect of large shots on the surrounding country. Mr. Taylor said that 4- and 5-yd. shovels were preferable to those of 8 yd.; their performance is better and cost is lower.

Jan 1, 1932

By Christopher W. Schram, Allan B. Tanner, Frank E. Senftle, George R. Boynton, Philip W. Philbin

A borehole sonde using a 252Cf neutron source and a Ge(Li) gamma-ray detector was field tested in a coal bed in Belmont County, Ohio, to ascertain whether such a device could be useful as a coal-exploration tool. As the sonde was lowered into the borehole, successive spectra were accumulated over short time intervals. The intensities of the capture gamma rays from hydrogen and of decay gamma rays from aluminum were determined simultaneously in each spectrum. A log of the intensities versus depth shows the depth and thickness of the coal bed. With the sonde stationary at points above, in, and below the coal bed, capture gamma rays were measured to show the variation in concentration of certain elements. From the spectrum recorded in the bed, a complete ultimate analysis, the percent ash content, and the heat content were determined without recourse to an external standard. Delayed gamma-ray analyses of the core were also made on the surface in the vicinity of the borehole in a fixed-geometry irradiation facility wing the detector in the borehole sonde. The concentrations of 10 elements were determined by this method on a coal split from the drill core. These experiments show that it is feasible to use a 252Cf- Ge(Li) borehole sonde as an aid in coal exploration.

Jan 1, 1979

By Thomas D. West

The occasional reports of progressive furnace-men, giving the results of physical tests to prove the superior qualities of their pig-irons, have encouraged the writer to believe that the time is ripe for the discussion of such work, and the inauguration of some correct system by which the furnace-man and the founder could make intelligent comparison of the elements of strength, deflection, contraction, and chill presented in pigmetal. In most cases the physical tests now made by furnace-men define but one quality in the iron, and are generally too vague to permit any true comparison. For example, one furnaceman tells us he can punch holes in his cast-iron, wishing it to be inferred that the iron is very soft and strong. Another furnace casts a long wedge, the thin end running to a knife's edge, which is supposed to prove the fluidity of the iron, for the founder's benefit. Another casts in square-cornered " chills," to define the hardness or softness of the metal. To the writer's knowledge these tests are not advocated by their originators as suitable for standards; and they are, to his mind, but evidence of unrest on the part of progressive furnace-men, who feel that something should be done in the line of physical tests. The writer knows of no furnace-men who make and keep records of the strength of their iron obtained by means of tests made on recognized standard testing-scales ; but he does know of a prominent furnace-salesman, who, not long ago, came into possession of a 1-inch square bar that stood 1400 pounds

Jan 1, 1897

By G. G. Luther, C.E. Jackson

The relationship between hardenability and weldability has been mentioned many times. The ease of making a hardness survey has led to its wide use as a criterion of weldability and with a given class or series of steels for which the ductility under weld heat-treatment is known the test is entirely suitable. However, in studying a new steel the hardness survey is of less value, since it is based on the assumption that there is a correlation between hardness and ductility. Several attempts have been made to derive indices for weldabilityl and hardenability from the chemical analysis. In most of these proposals the effects of the different elements were considered to be additive, but recently Grossmann2 proposed a novel method of calculating the hardenability of a steel from its chemical composition. In the method proposed, a steel is considered as having a base hardenability due to its car- bon content and grain size, and this base hardenability is multiplied by a factor for each chemical element present. The final product is the hartlenability. The purpose of the present study is to point out the possible relationship between hardenability and the effect of welding on hardness and ductility for a number of plain carbon and low-alloy steels. The composition of the 25 steels reported in this paper as determined by chemical analysis is given in Table I. To eliminate the effect of variations in finishing temperatures, the 1/2-in. plates were normalized after heating for one hour at 1650°F. in a con-trolled-atmosphere furnace. In making comparative tests, it is essential to hold conditions as Constant as possible; hence full automatic weltling control was used. The electrodes, all supplied by

Jan 1, 1943

By G. G. Luther, C. E. Jackson

The relationship between hardenability and weldability has been mentioned many times. The ease of making a hardness survey has led to its wide use as a criterion of weldability and with a given class or series of steels for which the ductility under weld heat-treatment is known the test is entirely suitable. However, in studying a new steel the hardness survey is of less value, since it is based on the assumption that there is a correlation between hardness and ductility. Several attempts have been made to derive indices for weldabilityl and hardenability from the chemical analysis. In most of these proposals the effects of the different elements were considered to be additive, but recently Grossmann2 proposed a novel method of calculating the hardenability of a steel from its chemical composition. In the method proposed, a steel is considered as having a base hardenability due to its car- bon content and grain size, and this base hardenability is multiplied by a factor for each chemical element present. The final product is the hartlenability. The purpose of the present study is to point out the possible relationship between hardenability and the effect of welding on hardness and ductility for a number of plain carbon and low-alloy steels. The composition of the 25 steels reported in this paper as determined by chemical analysis is given in Table I. To eliminate the effect of variations in finishing temperatures, the 1/2-in. plates were normalized after heating for one hour at 1650°F. in a con-trolled-atmosphere furnace. In making comparative tests, it is essential to hold conditions as Constant as possible; hence full automatic weltling control was used. The electrodes, all supplied by

Jan 1, 1943

In cooperation with the United States Bureau of Mines and the Idaho Bureau of Mines and Geology, the University of Idaho offers in the School of Mines a number of fellowships. These fellowships are open to college graduates who have had good training in mining, metallurgy, or chemistry, and who are qualified to undertake research work. The income of each fellowship is $720 a year for the 12 mo. beginning July 1, 1919. Fellows will register as students in the University of Idaho and become candidates for the degree of Master of Science in Mining or Metallurgy (unless this or an equivalent degree has been earned). Their class work-will he directed by the heads of the departments of instruction, but the greater portion of their time will be spent in research work under the direction of the Bureau of Mines staff resident at the University. The purpose f this work is to undertake the solution of definite problems confronting the mining and metallurgical industries of the State of Idaho. For 1919-20 the following subjects are being considered: 1. Flotation-with especial reference to differential separation of various minerals. 2. Availability of western wood oils for flotation purposes. 3. Treatment of the complex gold-silver ores of southern Idaho. 4. Ore-dressing problems. 5. Mining problems. Applications, with certified copy of collegiate record, statement of professional experience, and names and address of three references, should be addressed to The Dean. School of Mines. Moscow Idaho_

Jan 6, 1919

By George Norman

A NUMBER of methods have been developed for the determination of the dust concentration in air, some of which have been reported as very efficient and for research may be more satisfactory than the method about to be described. In practical mine use, however, the accurate research equipment is unwieldy and requires a high degree of technical skill to manipulate it. Also, it gives less general practical information to the operator in the same length of time than the method described here. Moreover, it is doubtful whether at the present stage of affairs the results obtained from the precise methods have any more practical significance than those obtained with simpler and more portable appara-tus, which can rapidly give a sufficiently reliable indication of the rela-tive dust hazard.

Jan 1, 1937

INCREASING realization that pouring and ingot-mold practices involve many factors of fundamental importance to ingot quality and general steel-mill operations has caused these phases of steelmaking to become major concerns of operators and metallurgists engaged in control of quality and costs. Methods of pouring steel from the ladle into the ingot molds have some direct effects on ingot quality. The mold itself governs solidification and dimensions of the ingot and in so doing exerts some very tangible influences not only on ingot quality but also on product yields and general steel-mill processing. In addition, practices are employed in the handling of molds during daily open-hearth operations that are important to quality and production costs. Therefore, pouring and mold practices must be considered highly specialized and important steps in steel-mill operations. MOLD DESIGN Mold design is difficult to discuss in a precise manner because it varies greatly throughout the industry, both in theoretical concepts and practical application, and few well developed data are available. Most ingot molds are designed to meet conditions peculiar to a given plant wherein quality standards are dictated by end-use requirements, which may differ considerably even for the same grade of steel. The mold designer must also consider the equipment available to process ingots and the product obtained from them. Such equipment, used for stripping, heating, blooming and finishing operations, is seldom, if ever, exactly the same in any two steel plants. Thus, pronounced contrasts in mold designs can be expected to continue, even among plants making strictly comparable types of product, particularly because some producers are just beginning to realize the benefits possible from specialized designs. Certain fundamentals are used in mold design but even these

Jan 1, 1964