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By Lewis V. Wade

U.S. Bureau of Mines efforts under longwall research programs to develop the capability to predict support requirements for longwall/ shortwall support systems are discussed. Ground control studies are being conducted in conjunction with several longwall/shortwall demonstration projects. Geologic, support performance, and strata behavior are being documented on these projects. A hypothesis is presented for the prediction of support requirements.

Jan 1, 1978

By J. L. Stuck

Geological investigation and research have contributed greatly in making industrial minerals the basis of an important industry in the state. North Carolina contains a wide variety of industrial minerals and rock. Mica, feldspar, kaolin, halloysite, talc, pyrophyllite, silli-manite, and spodumene are used to illustrate the progress being made. IN a previous paper1 an attempt was made to indicate the importance of industrial minerals in North Carolina and the wide variety of such materials present. The present paper is concerned with geological investigation and research which have made industrial minerals the basis of an important industry in the state. Geological mapping has gone through three stages in North Carolina during the present century. The first stage is represented by excellent reports of which Corundum and the Peridotites of Western North Carolina,2 Volume I, now a classic, is representative. In this report, a geologic map of the western third of the state is shown on a scale of 10 miles to the inch. The next stage is represented by folios" of the U. S. Geological Survey published between 1902 and 1932. Most of these contained 30 min quadrangle maps on a scale of 2 miles to the inch. The third step is represented by reports prepared during the past 10 years which contain geological maps4 on scales varying from 500 ft to 1 mile to the inch, while many mine maps have been prepared on scales varying from 20 to 150 ft to the inch. As the scale on which geological mapping has been done has decreased, the amount of information secured has increased. Pratt and Lewis did excellent work on the peridotites of western North Carolina, but their maps lacked details. Keith and others added

Jan 1, 1952

By Douglas R. Shaw

Normal dodecyl mercaptan was evaluated as a collector for flotation of sulfide minerals and precious metals. The reagent is from the class of normal mercaptoalkanes (n-alkyl thiols), and is commercially available in the form of a mixture of n-dodecyl mercaptan, the primary constituent, and a water-soluble dispersant, under the trade name Pennfloat™ 3. * Reported are results of bench-scale flotation experiments on many commercially treated base metal and precious metal sulfide ores. Dosages, points of addition, and flotation pH were among the variables studied. Most notable results were increased copper, molybdenum, and precious metals recoveries. Dosages of dodecyl mercaptan on some ores were considerably lower than required for conventional collectors. The reagent was shown to be a highly effective and versatile collector on virtually all of the more than 30 sulfide ore types examined.

Jan 1, 1982

By Paul H. Rydlund

Substantial priming was a considered necessity for proper initiation of ammonium nitrate-fuel oil mixes as ANFO began to carve its niche in the mining industry in the latter fifties. Heavy priming accompanied the introduction of prills and oil to many blasting operations, large charges of high explosives were commonly used at the bottom, top and frequent intervals throughout the column. As the quality of ammonium nitrate improved and operators became more experienced, primer costs began to diminish. Increased experimentation continued with reduced primer costs a main objective. Cast primers were introduced and became accepted as an excellent companion for ANFO. Although the trend toward larger diameter boreholes became increasingly popular, emphasis on lower and lower priming costs continued. A primer was simply required to produce any type of initiation within the ANFO column to be considered adequate. Suddenly ANFO priming had digressed from excessive to marginal. Early experimental data from test site and laboratory indicated that ANFO had a tendency to react inefficiently in the initiation region of the column unless substantially primed. This was evidenced by the presence of unstable reaction rates detected with newly developed detonation velocity measuring equipment. These low order or "transient" velocities were believed to originate because of inadequate primer strength or a primer diameter to column diameter mismatch. However, the nature of this experimental work was generally confined to small diameter column charges detonated in iron pipe simulated bore-holes. It was questionable whether the smaller scale laboratory data was applicable to large 12 1/4 and 15-in. boreholes.

Jan 3, 1973

T. S. FULLER, Chairman C. H. MATHEWSON, Past-chairman W. A. SCHEUCH, Vice-chairman J. L. CHRISTIE, Vice-chairman E. M. WISE, Secretary International Nickel Co., Bayonne, N. J. W. M. CORSE, Treasurer Executive Committee H. A. BEDWORTH W. M. PEIRCE D. K. CRAMPTON A. J. PHILLIPS E. H. Dix JR. GUY C. RIDDELL R. F. MEHL J. WALTER SCOTT JEROME STRAUSS Finance Committee C. H. MATHEWSON, Chairman W. M. CORSE H. S. RAWDON ZAY JEFFRIES SAM TOUR Data Sheet Committee R. S. ARCHER Chairman N. B. PILLING Vice-chairman L. W. KEMPF JEROME STRAUSS A. J. PHILLIPS F. L. WOLF'

Jan 1, 1932

By H. S. Munroe

THE native copper of Lake Superior occurs in the form of fine grains and scales, disseminated in small percentage through the copper-bearing rock ; and in large and small masses, from a few pounds to several hundred tons in weight. Formerly the bulk of the copper came from the mines of Ontonagon and Keweenaw counties, producing mass copper. At present these mines furnish less than one-tenth of the total product, and fully one-half of this is from a single mine. The masses are usually found irregularly distributed in nearly vertical fissure veins, and require much dead work in sinking, drifting, and stoping for their development. The risk and expense attending the working of these mines have made them, with few exceptions, anything but profitable. * Read at the Montreal meeting, September, 1880.

Jan 1, 1880

By W. L. Austin

At the Steptoe metallurgical plant, where ore of the Nevada Consolidated Copper Co. is beneficiated, a small copper-leaching annex has been in operation treating flue dust from roasting-furnace dust chambers, together with a siliceous oxidized ore. This leaching plant was designed to obviate smelting low-grade siliceous flue dust, which interfered with the operation of the reverberatories by forming a blanket on the charge. The major portion of the copper content of the flue dust accumulating in the upper chambers of the roaster flue, and at the stack, is water soluble, and also contains much free sulphuric acid and soluble sulphates. It was found that sufficient acid could be obtained by mixing this material with water to provide a lixiviant for leaching the siliceous copper ore mentioned. This was the sole source of the lixiviant used in the operation to be described. An analysis of the flue dust showed it to be composed as follows : Per Cent. Copper.............................................. 3.00 siO2................................................. 23.41 Fe................................................... 4.08 CaO + MgO......................................... 2.72 Al203................................................ 0.07 Free H2S04........................................... 19.94 SO3 combined as sulphate.............................. 25.10 H2O combined with the sulphates....................... 10.67 0................................................... 2.50 Total................................... 97.49 Copper soluble in dilute H2SO4.......................... 2.56 The oxidized ore, locally known as carbonate, has the following composition:

Jan 1, 1915

By W. L. Austin

AT the Steptoe metallurgical plant, where ore of the Nevada Consolidated Copper Co. is beneficiated, a small copper-leaching annex has been in operation treating flue dust from roasting-furnace dust chambers, together with a siliceous oxidized ore. This leaching plant was designed to obviate smelting low-grade siliceous flue dust, which interfered with the operation of the reverberatories by forming a blanket on the charge The major portion of the copper content of the flue dust accumulating in the upper chambers of the. roaster flue, and at the stack, is water soluble, and also contains much free sulphuric acid and soluble sulphate It was found that sufficient acid could be obtained by mixing this material with water to provide a lixiviant for leaching the siliceous copper o mentioned. This was the sole source of the lixiviant used in the operatic to be described. An analysis of the flue dust showed it to be composed as follows: Per Cent. Copper 3.00 SiO2 23.41 Fe : 4.08 CaO + MgO : 2:72 Al203 6.07 Free H2SO4 19.94 S03 combined as sulphate 25.10 H2O combined With the sulphates 10.67 0 2.50 Total 97.49 Copper soluble in dilute H2SO4 2,56

Jan 7, 1914

By Freeman Bishop

Senator Henry M. Jackson t D. Wash.) recently tossed a live grenade into the hardrock mining industry with proposed legislation to change provisions of the law governing Federally owned mineral values. Title Two of the measure would place hardrock mining agreements on a leasing basis similar to that which has applied to oil and gas since 1920. Known as the "Public Domain Lands Organic Act 01 1971" or S.921, the bill would monitor exploration by heavy machinery which ran destroy fragile ecology without any requirement for restoration or rehabilitation." Jackson said. Abandoned mining claims, lie continued, dot the public domain, "casting clouds upon the title to property which belongs to all the people.” and a minerals leasing system is "the most practical way of achieving the proper balance."

Jan 1, 1971

By Robert C. Collins, Clifford L. Jewett

The development and production of artificially colored roofing granules have been key factors in the success of the asphalt roofing industry. They provide protection for the asphalt from solar radiation and satisfy the home-owner's desire for a wide range of attractive colors. As a result, the asphalt shingle has become the most commonly used roofing material today. In addition to providing a stimulus to the asphalt roofing industry, artificial methods of coloring granules completely changed the nature of granule production from one of quarrying, crushing, and screening to a complex technical operation. Today's roofing granules are the result of many years of research, and they are produced in modern plants to exact specifications. History Asphalt roofing materials available today are the product of a long evolution of technological development. Forerunners of the present bituminous products, appearing as early as 1780, were primitive constructions of burlap saturated with crude tar or pitch. An early improvement to this basic effort was the dusting of talc, mica, or other finely ground material on the coated surfaces to keep the roofing from sticking to itself in storage. At times some pigmentation was added with the dusting material for initial color, but this was far from satisfactory. In fact, this early product possessed none of the qualifications of a good roof surfacing material. It was not economical; it was difficult to handle and apply; it was not attractive; it provided no resistance to fire; and it would not withstand the elements as well as other products then in use. Methods and machines were soon devised to saturate endless webs of felt with asphalt from the fast-growing petroleum industry. Even though saturated felt became available, this product of rags and wood fiber had almost the same limitations as burlap and tar. Even with heavier coatings of asphalt applied to both sides of the sheet for rigidity and longer life, the product still lacked color and fire resistance. Further, it was found that constant exposure to the sun soon caused the asphalt to become brittle, and it eventually cracked and leaked. This led to the first important use for crushed mineral products on asphalt-coated shingles and provided the key to the subsequent growth of the asphalt roofing industry. When a layer of crushed mineral was embedded in the surface exposed to the weather, the asphalt coating was protected from ultraviolet light and retained its elasticity over a much longer period of time. In addition to this protection, the mineral surfacing provided some resistance to fire. Fire resistance in the past had been found only in the expensive slate or tile roofs and the unattractive and expensive metal roof coverings which were then available. The most common mineral granule applied to the early asphalt roofing products as they began to make their first significant advances after 1900 was screened waste from slate quarries. Slate granules being available in dull shades of red, green, black, purple and a few other miscellaneous colors did provide a degree of color. Since slate has a flat platelike cleavage, it provides a cheap protective cover for the asphalt-coated sheets. Records show that coarse slate screenings were used for asphalt roofing as early as 1906. As the asphalt roofing industry developed, many other natural colored rocks and minerals were used to coat the surfaces of the roofing. The list included silica

Jan 1, 1975

By R. S. Hooper

In attempting to describe recent mining developments at the Bunker Hill mine, it may be well to recall first the old days of hand mining when holes were laboriously drilled by hand to a maximum depth of three feet, and were shot one or two at a time, in order that the miner could take advantage of every slip, crack or bedding plane, and so save as much drilling as possible. Broken muck, of course, was loaded by hand shoveling into wheelbarrows or small cars, and heading advances or stope tonnages were governed by the number of men that could find room to work in any given place. The first big improvement over these old methods was the introduction of the reciprocating type of air-powered rock drill. This innovation, crude as it was, enabled the miners to set up a machine and drill a complete round of holes in one shift; but broken muck was still loaded by hand, and the size and rate of advance in headings were limited by time required to remove the broken rock. The next improvement of consequence was the appearance of the hammer-type rock drill, which greatly increased drilling speed over the reciprocating type, and made possible the completion of a full cycle in one shift, by the use of crossbars in headings, and permitted drilling and mucking to be carried on at the same time. Rock drills continued to improve as time passed, and finally the smaller and more efficient mucking machines appeared on the scene, and it became possible to muck out a round of broken rock and have a clean setup for one or more drill columns and machines. A complete cycle of mucking, drilling, and blasting was completed in one shift with an average advance of five feet. These conditions prevailed for several years, but as the mine grew deeper, the distances to transport the workers grew longer, and this fact together with the shortening of the working day, soon presented the problem of attempting to complete a cycle of operations in a shift of only six hours at the working faces. Anticipating this condition, the operating heads at the Bunker Hill had started an intensive study of more and better mechanization, and over a period of comparatively few years have adopted and placed in service methods and machines that make it possible for a three-man crew to consistently advance headings seven by nine feet in cross section, at the rate of eight feet, and more, per shift, doing all the mucking, switching, drilling and loading. These improvements consist of the following major items: I. The development of a light, flexible, easily transported jumbo equipped with pneumatic columns (Fig I), that has decreased the "setting up" and "tearing down" time an average of 11/2 hr per shift, Or 25 PCt of the available working time. These jumbos were developed at the Bunker Hill mine by members of the staff and consist of two pneumatic columns attached to a suitable carriage. They fold

Jan 1, 1949

COLUMBIA SECTION Holds four sessions during year. Annual meeting in September or October. S. S. FOWLER, Chairman, J. C. HAAS, Vice-Chairman, LYNDON K. ARMSTRONG, Secretary-Treasurer, 720 Peyton Bldg., Spokane, Wash. W. H. LINNEY, J. F. MCCARTHY. A special meeting of the officers of the Columbia Section was held in Spokane, Wash., Jan. 10, 1918, for the purpose of organizing and nominating members to the principal committees of the Section. Present: J. C. Haas, Vice-chairman; W. H. Linney, Past Chairman; and L. K. Armstrong, Secretary. J. F. McCarthy, Wallace, Idaho, was appointed fifth member of the Executive Committee. The following were appointed to the Membership Committee: R. M. Betts; for Oregon; W. J. Hall, for Idaho; J. M. Porter, for Washington. A member for British Columbia will be appointed later. The following were appointed to the Committee on Papers: Prof. F. A. Thomson, Moscow, Idaho; Prof. L. 0. Howard, Pullman, Wash.; H. S. Lee, Rye Valley, Ore. A fourth member, representing British Columbia, is to be appointed later. The following members were appointed representatives on the Executive Committee of the Spokane Engineering and Technical Association: J. C. Haas, W. H. Linney, F. A. Ross, L. K. Armstrong. The Treasurer reported a deficit, resulting from the participation of the Section at the Northwest Mining Convention in 1916. It was recommended that the Institute be petitioned to make good this deficit, in addition to the usual annual allowance. The members of the committee who were present expressed their desire to be of greater service in the present war, and discussed at some length the possible means of carrying out their desires. It was later decided to reopen the subject at a subsequent meeting of the Section, or to present it to the Executive Committee of the Spokane Engineering and Technical Association for discussion and cooperative action. L. K. ARMSTRONG, Secretary.

Jan 3, 1918

By C. E. Shoenfelt

The deepening of the General Crude Oil Company's No. 1 Meyers, NE. NE. SE. of sec. 22, 24S., 36E., in the Cooper area of Lea County, in April, 1934, resulted in the discovery of an oil field of major importance. The discovery well is an old well drilled by Cranfill $ Reynolds and completed in July, 1929, in limestone at 3438 ft. for an initial production of 90,000,000 cu. ft. (estimated) of 'gas. Deepening operations were started early in April, 1934, and cores were taken from the old total depth of 3438 to 3508 ft. A Haliburton test taken through the drill stem at 3439 to 3460 ft. showed 50,000,000 cu. ft. of gas with an increase of 5,000,000 cu. ft. between 3461 and 3474 ft. When completed the well tested 12,000,000 cu. ft. of gas and 5000 bbl. of oil at 3474-3508 feet. The new oil field—the result of this discovery—is between the Eunice and the Jal fields, closer to the productive area of Jal than to that of Eunice but far enough away from both to be considered a separate area. Eventually, all of these pools may be joined together by productive oil wells to form a single unit of large size. They lie in a general northwest-southeast alignment and the intervening areas have not been condemned by dry holes. In the drilling campaign that followed this discovery, 24 wells were drilled, of which 23 were oil wells with combined initial productions of

Jan 1, 1935

By Francis Laur

BAUXITE, at first considered as a mineralogical curiosity without importance, now attracts daily increased attention from mineralogists, geologists, and manufacturers. The metallurgy of aluminum, which has entered with the advent of electrolysis upon a new phase within the last few years, requires every day larger quantities of pure alumina, and this can only be obtained from bauxite, which is, of known substances, the richest in free alumina. Bauxite has been mined since 1872 in France, whereabout 200,000 tons have been produced, and where, as a natural consequence, its deposits, qualities, and applications have become known. Within a few years past, discoveries of important deposits of bauxite have been made in the United States and Canada, and this almost entirely new subject has thus acquired an additional interest for the mining engineers and metallurgists of the American continent. A brief summary of the available data concerning it appears likely, therefore, to be appropriate and valuable.* I.—HISTORICAL. It was in 1821 that the famous chemist Berthier discovered at Baux (Bouches du Rhône) a hydrate of alumina (varying from 66 to 79 per cent. in its contents of the oxide) mixed with silica and

Jan 1, 1895

By R. P. Ehrlich, D. A. Dahlstrom

In the hydrometallurgical circuit, many phase separation steps are usually necessary. Typical steps are pregnant liquor - leach residue separation by counter- current decantation or continuous vacuum filtration, clarification of liquids prior to precipitation, ion exchange or solvent extraction, dewatering of final product, etc. The paper discusses the more recent advances in these areas and considers general operating parameters and cost factors. In addition, emphasis is placed on future needs because of the growing importance and necessity of hydrometallurgical processing of minerals.

Jan 1, 1973

By AIME

COAL, its acquisition and consumption, has loomed large enough in the lives of many of us at one time or another, not from a technical standpoint, perhaps, but on a utility basis, to keep the house warm and the plant going. The Chairman of the Coal Division was much like many of us in that respect until after his graduation from Northwestern in 1928. Then he went to work as geologist for the Zeigler Coal Co., investigating strip coal possibilities in western Illinois, and also did research in the microscopy of coal at the Illinois Geological Survey. His interest in coal was originated and stimulated by Gilbert H. Cady, of the Illinois Geological Survey. With his advice, and with the co-operation of M. M. Leighton, Survey chief, the results of his research work on the mineral constituents of coal at the Survey were accepted as a thesis for his doctorate which he received from Harvard in 1935. Nine days before the Christmas of 1906, Clayton Garrett Ball was born at Wauconda, Ill. His father was professor of geology at Northwestern until he retired in 1946; retirement didn't lessen his active interest in his profession; he's still teaching geology at the University of Kansas City. So it was only natural for Clayton to study at Northwestern. In 1937, following a year's connection with the Bell &

Jan 1, 1948

By H. I. Aaronson, H. A. Domian

ELectvon-probe analgsis has been used to in7:estigatr the partition ot alloying- elements between aus-tenite and proeutectoid ferrite (or the Jerritic component of bainite) in high-purity Fe-C-X alloys, lsuully at tzco levels of carbon content fca 0.1 and 0.4 pct in ntost steels) at temperatures between the M, and the Ae3 in Si, mn, Ni, mo, Co, Al, Cr, Cu, and PI steels. No partition ous found during the early stages of transformation at any temperature studied in the Si, ,mo. Co, Al, Cr, and Cu steels. Partition did take place, Jrowel'er, in Ihe Mn, ATi, and Pt steels, occurring in lewtperature. regions below the Ae3 of ca 130°, 65", UNDERSTANDING the mechanisms through which alloying elements influence the kinetics of austenite decomposition reactions which proceed by nucleation and 35c respectively. A break was discovered in the TTT curve for the initiation oj the proeutectoid ferrite reaction in the latter steels at the temperature at which partition began. The alloy content in ferrite at the a:y bondavy remained at constart lecels, shown experimentally to be significantly above those corresponding to eqiilib+iu??l, e'en at the longest reaction times investigated (ca 1o6sec). The partition and the TTT curve observations foere rationalized on the basis of the thermodynamic treatment developed in an accompany ing paper. and diffusional growth has been a major research objective of physical metallurgy since the latter part of the 19th century. The measurements made on the dif-fusivities of carbon and of substitutional alloying elements in austenite during the 1930's and 1940's seemed to provide a useful clue as to the nature of these mechanisms. These measurements showed that the diffu-sivity of carbon is several orders of magnitude higher than that of the alloying elements at a given tempera-

Jan 1, 1967

By John W. Cabot

THE following series of analyses, which may, be of interest to Bessemer-steel makers, is submitted as a contribution to the much-vexed discussion of manganese in Bessemer steel. They were made by the writer in the spring of 1881, at the works of the Pittsburgh Bessemer Steel Company Limited, during a period of about eight days, part of, which time the rail-steel showed great variation in rolling qualities. During the first part of the time in question, it rolled well; later on it began to roll worse until, finally, it cracked very badly, reaching its worst stage. After this it rapidly improved until it again rolled smoothly. During this .time of transition 'from. good rolling to bad, and back to good again, the course of the manganese was followed' quite closely. It is the striking correspondence between these varying manganese contents and the differences in rolling which is here presented as worthy of notice. The other ordinary elements were determined occasionally, but showed no unusual variation Tim steel, in question, was ordinary rail-steel of about "the following composition : C=.35.P=.08.Mn=.98. Si=.08. S=.05. The samples for manganese determinations were taken at first from an average of two days' work, and later on, when the steel

Jan 1, 1882

By E. V. Kleber, V. F. Novy, R. C. Vickery

The constitutional diagram has been determined for the system gadolinium-nickel. Nine intermetallic compounds have been found at compositions corresponding to the following gadolinium-nickel ratios: 3:1, 3:2, 1:1, 1:2, 1:3, 2:7, 1:4, 1:5, 2:17. The GdNi and GdNi5 compounds have congruent melting points of 1300' and 1500°C, respectively while the remaining compounds melt in-congruently. Eutectics exist at 15 wt pct Ni, 31 1/2 wt pct Ni and 87 wt pct Ni with melting points of 6703 8803 and 1220°C, respectively. IN a continuing investigation of the properties of rare earth alloys, a study has been made of the gadolinium-nickel system. Previous work encompassed the iron containing alloys and a subsequent paper will deal with the constitution of the gadolinium-cobalt system. Vogel,1 examined alloys of nickel with lanthanum and cerium. R3Ni, RNi, RNi2, RNi3, RNi4, and RNi5 compounds were found. Endter and Klemm,2 Fulling et al.3 Heumann,4 and Nowotny5 found the 1:2 compositions of this series to exist in a C-15 (face-centered cubic) structure, and the 1:5 compositions in a hexagonal system. Jepson and Duwez6 more recently examined these 1:2 and 1:5 compositions and generally confirmed earlier data while Wernick and Geller7 most recently have given additional data on the GdNi5 compound. Comparisons with our results will be made in the appropriate section of this report. EXPERIMENTAL Methods of alloy preparation, annealing procedures, and experimental techniques have been given in our earlier paper.8 Chemical analyses of the alloy samples were made by dissolving the specimen in nitric acid, precipitating the gadolinium as hydroxide and the nickel with dimethylglyoxime. Both precipitates were ignited to oxide and weighed. RESULTS Microstructure— Metallography of alloy specimens in this series has been conducted on both arc-melted and annealed materials. Etchants used have been 5 pct nital with approximately 10 pct distilled water added, for high gadolinium samples; Carapella's ferric chloride solution for intermediate compositions; and Marble's (copper sulfate) reagent for high nickel content alloys. Because of difficulties encountered in the grinding and polishing of specimens containing 40 to 75 wt pct Ni, no photomicrographs were made of such specimens. The microstructure of an arc-melted 5.3 wt pct Ni alloy is shown in Fig. 1. Light etching primary grains of gadolinium are embedded in an eutectic matrix. The microstructure of an alloy of 9.55 wt pct Ni alloy, Fig. 2, annealed 50 hr at 700°C, consists almost entirely of the intermetallic compound Gd3Ni. The structure of an arc metal alloy of approximately 19 pct Ni, Fig. 3, consists of grains of the compound GdNi embedded in the Gd3Ni2-Gd3Ni eutectic. The arc-cast structure of the 38.7 wt pct Ni alloy is shown in Fig. 4. Large primary grains of a compound rest in a matrix structure of coarse GdNi-GdNiz eutectic. Because of the occurrence of several peritectic compounds in the central region of the diagram, identification of the primary structure in this alloy is not certain. As has been indicated above, microstructures of alloy specimens containing between ca 40 and 75 wt pct Ni have not been photographed. These specimens were highly brittle, and macro- and micro-cracking were impossible to control in the grinding and polishing procedures. Prolonged annealing did not alleviate this condition. Visual observations in small specimens did, however, provide evidence for a multiplicity of phases and peritectic dissociations of compounds although rationalization of structures was not possible.

Jan 1, 1962

By Paul Gemmill

Production was first recorded from the Pioche district in 1864, and it has continued to show an inherent ability to take on new life after periods of depression in the metal markets. Production from replacement leadsilver- zinc sulfide ore bodies in limestones of Cambrian age now accounts for several times the gross value of silver production from rich fissures in Lower Cambrian Quartzite. Aggregate production of some 6 million tons represents a gross value over $100-million. Future output is expected mostly to be from limestone replacement deposits of which the most productive are "channels" of ore up to several hundred feet wide and several thousand feet long with thicknesses from a few feet up to 50 feet. Such channels are restricted to the lowermost limestone bed of the district, about 250 feet above the basement quartzite. The "blotter-like" characteristic of this highly productive Jimesto~e bed in absorbing mineralization is believed to be, at least in part, due to lithology, including free carbon in the bed, which has created a unique set of conditions for delicately balanced mineralizing solutions that rejected any tendency to replace siliceous wall rock and were properly constituted for replacement of Limestone. All recognizable orogenic history is considered to be related to the Basin and Range faulting that created the mountain ranges. The faults developed after mid-Tertiary time and after widespread extrusives that are themselves involved in the faulting. Flat faults, formerly believed to be part of regional thrust faulting, are now interpreted as gravity slide faulting that can be shown to be large in magnitude and not simply local landslides. Large slide faults generally have concealed the great magnitude of mountain-bordering faults. Mineralization that accounts for ore is later than the faulting. Most faults are pre-mineral since they influence the shape of ore bodies, and some clearly have been offset by fault fissures containing ore. Post-mineral movement probably has been an important component of some large, initially pre-mineral faults. A single period of mineralization was begun by the introduction of large quantities of ironmanganese carbonate, and, in places, carbonate manganese with minor values in sulfides. Closely following the carbonate invasion, massive sulfides were brought in, usually replacing part of the carbonate body though in some places the massive sulfides replaced limestone that was not previously mineralized. Manganese mineralization is not a "halo" but leaks of manganese to higher formations and to the surface are the most significant exploration guides. The Pioche district is expected to be long lived with technological developments in ore treatment being important to the exploitation of low-grade manganiferous ores, while aggressive exploration is expected to find important quantities of bedded lead-silver-zinc ores of the massive sulfide type.

Jan 1, 1968