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By AIME AIME

LAST month we published (p. 440) the first half of the L discussion by O. E. Kiessling of the paper on copper by Mr. Vogelstein that appeared in the same-issue, but lack of space made it necessary to hold the remainder for this number. Mr. Kiessling now asks to have the last " sentence of the part already published revised to the form given in the first sentence which follows, and also asks that the two parts, though necessarily published separately, be read together, as a mistaken impression may be derived from the first Dart unless it is read in connection with the statement of the Bureau of Mines policy respecting secondary metals which is here published. .

Jan 1, 1931

By Roy J. Helfinstine

One of the most urgent needs in the field of coal combustion is the ability to predict the performance of a coal from knowledge gained from small-scale tests. Numerous types of analyses and tests are conducted on coal, including the proximate and ultimate analyses, heating value, varieties of sulphur, ash analysis, ash fusion temperatures, free swelling index, petrographic analysis, and Gieseler plasticity. The Illinois Geological Survey has made an intensive study of the value of these tests for judging the performance characteristics of the coal as actually utilized. To date, three reports 1 2 3 have been is- sued, and another is being prepared. The present paper briefly summarizes some of the results found in the studies.

Jan 1, 1949

General Aurelio Blanquet,* the best known of living Mexican soldiers, formerly the trusted friend of Porfirio Diaz and organizer of the old Federal Guard of Mexico City, who as a sergeant commanded the squad that executed sentence on Emperor Maximilian, and. more recently was Minister of War in the Cabinet of Victoriano Huerta, landed in Mexico early in April and joined the forces of Felix Diaz. His landing in the state of Vera Cruz, it was stated, was for the definite purpose of aiding the movement now under way to overthrow Venustiano Carranza and to place in power a government that will be "pro-Ally" in its sympathies and will promulgate and enforce laws that will guarantee the rights of life and property in Mexico. The New York Tinges says of the revolution editorially: "Whatever may be the success of General Aurelio Blanquet's attempt to overthrow the Carranza Government in Mexico, admiration cannot be withheld from the General's publicity manager. No enterprise awning at the overthrow of a Government ever had more favorable and widespread advertising. Felix Diaz, whom Blanquet is going to reinforce, supersede, or overthrow, as the case may be-Mexican precedent in these matters offers opportunity for considerable speculation-has been conducting his revolution, at the old stand for some time, but without much success. But, says General Blanquet's representative, the landing of Blanquet will send a thrill to the heart of every true republican.' Meanwhile a biographical booklet is published, adorned with photo¬graphs illustrating the General's record, including such varied matters as the General in favor, receiving a decoration from Victoriano Huerta, and the General in exile, feeding the birds in Central Park."

Jan 5, 1919

By Sydney H. Ball

AMERICAN consumption of industrial diamonds has increased five fold in the past 25 years and today accounts for 15 to 20 percent of the world's sale of rough diamonds. In another decade the value of industrial diamonds sold may well equal or exceed that of gemstones. It is generally understood that industrial diamonds are one of the strategic minerals being stocked by the Government in the present crisis to ensure rapid and efficient armament production. Diamond die making is a trade largely confined to artisans in Switzerland and in certain parts of France. Today, in addition to turning out pilots, we should train expert artisans in diamond die making, for thousands of miles of tremendously small-gauge wire will be needed to make the instruments by which the efficiency and safety of these pilots is assisted.

Jan 1, 1941

By W. M. Weigel

The general term "sand" applies to a multitude of similar materials consisting of fine granular mineral. As usually understood, it means the ordinary natural product used for structural purposes and made up largely of grains of quartz. Quartz sand constitutes by far the greater bulk of the production, but there are other grades used for industrial purposes, such as molding sand, glass sand and many others, that may be grouped under the general name of special sands. Under this general group would fall filter sand, sand-blast sand, engine sand, potter's sand, abrasive sands of all kinds, sand for pulverizing, roofing sand, flooring sand, fire or furnace sand, standard sand, burnishing sand, sand for magnesium oxychloride cement-plasters and sand for chemical and metallurgical purposes. Sources of Supply Sand is a widely distributed natural product and even the better grades are low-priced commodities. For these reasons development has occurred near points of consumption where sand meeting the requirements is available. Some special grades, however, cannot be prepared from any sand bed and shipments are often made over considerable distances when the only developed deposit is remote from the consuming center. This is true of filter sand, sand-blast sand, sand for pulverizing and some of the others when chemical purity or grain size, coupled with the need of a properly equipped plant for preparation, are required. New Jersey is a large producer of filter, engine, sand-blast, fire, and pulverizing sand. Pennsylvania, and West Virginia produce special sands for pulverizing, fire sand, abrasive sand, engine sand and sand for chemical and metallurgical use. Ohio produces much sand-blast, fire and abrasive sand, and some filter sand. Illinois and Minnesota produce

Jan 1, 1926

In May 1952, a total grant of $750 was made for the establishment of a scholar- ship in petroleum engineering for the academic year of 1952-1953, to be ad- ministered by AIME and to be known as the AIME-Socony-Vacuum Scholarship in Petroleum Engineering It will be given In the general field of petroleum engineering The scholar selected must be an undergraduate who is expected to complete academic work during the period of the award In other words, upon completion of the award period, the recipient is expected to be ready to enter industry The establishment of this Scholarship and the selection of the Scholar there under will Impose no ob1igation upon the Scholar or upon Socony- Vacuum with respect to employment The Scholarship is being administered by the Mineral Industry Education Division of the AIME

Jan 1, 1952

By Arthur S. Dwight

THE professional career of Thomas Septimus Austin, who died at El Paso, Tex., August 23, 1906, was contemporaneous with the growth of the silver-lead smelting-industry of the Far West, to which his talents and zeal contributed in no small degree. Born at Stratford, Conn., December 7, 1853, he was the seventh son in a family of thirteen. His parents were well-to-do; and he received a thorough preliminary training at the Hopkins Grammar School, New Haven, Conn., passing thence to the Columbia School of Mines, in New York, where he was graduated in 1876. His first professional work was that of analytical chemist with a Cuban sugar company. In this position he spent a year, and, whatever else of benefit he may have acquired during that year in Cuba, he gained a facility of speech in the Spanish language which was of inestimable value in his subsequent work in Mexico and the southwestern United States. In 1877, he went to the Rocky Mountains, and, under the firm name of Murphy & Austin, opened an assay-office in Leadville, Colo., which was just then coming into public notice as a rich silver-lead camp. The next year, however, he entered the service of the Germania Smelting & Refining Co. at Salt Lake City, Utah, where he remained until 1882, first as assayer and chemist, and later as Assistant Superintendent. The Germanic bears the honorable distinction of being one of the first of the large " custom " lead-smelters erected in the West. Its founders may be called the pioneers of the modern lead-smelting practice, and the Germania served, to a large extent, as a model for the many plants that sprang into existence during the next few years in Utah, southern Idaho, Colorado and other lead-producing districts. The formulation, for the first

Jan 1, 1908

Data about shipments in this county are more plentiful than in most others. Canal records, although not complete, are available for 1837-1840, 1856-1857, 1859 and 1864. The census figures, and those of the reports of the Secretary of Internal Affairs, are very evidently too .low. Local consumption within the county has always been large, mainly due to the Cambria Iron Company, and other manufacturing plants, in Johnstown; here a large coke supply was made from coal directly from the mines, neither coal or coke being handled by any outside transportation agency. All available data is shown in Table 35.

Jan 1, 1942

By Felix A. Vogel

I (New York Meeting, February, 1912.) FLUE-DUST, to most blast-furnace operators, means a troublesome by-product, the formation of which should be curtailed, if not prevented entirely. However, with the increasing use of fine ores, larger furnaces, and high-pressure blast, the production of flue-dust is constantly increasing, and amounts annually in the United States to from 3,000,000 to 3,500,000 tons, An exceedingly high tonnage, of which a large part has been discarded as valueless. As a result of greater economy in the iron industry, the attention of our furnace-men has been directed towards the utilization of this enormous amount of waste material, a problem which had also been given due consideration by metallurgists abroad. Flue-dust is generally a fine material containing considerable coke and iron-ore, with a small admixture of lime and silica, depending upon the burden. The iron-ore is partly reduced, which shows that the dust originates largely in the reducing-zone of the blast-furnace. In the United States this dust usually contains 20 per cent. of coke and more than 40 per cent. of iron. Estimating coke to be worth $3.25 per ton, and iron-ore 7 cents per unit, a ton of flue-dust, unless made available, represents a loss to the furnace-man of $3.50. This accounts for the first efforts to recharge the flue-dust into the furnace, either by moistening it clown with an excess of water, or mixing it with clay to form balls of pulp, or treating it with lime-water. These methods, however, have been practically discarded, as they failed to produce the desired economies. To recover, in the blast-furnace, all the values represented by the material contained in the flue-dust, the following con¬ditions should be complied with

May 1, 1912

By P. H. G., Durville

ANY metal which contains even a small percentage of aluminum possesses certain peculiarities of appearance and properties which are exhibited both when the metal is melted and after it solidifies. Pure aluminum, or an alloy containing a small proportion of aluminum, can be melted without flux-except for a layer of charcoal-because a film of aluminum oxide and metal forms at the surface of melted aluminum. Although very thin, this film is air-proof, and it prevents the metal underneath from oxidizing. This oxidized film does not move easily on account of its toughness and high surface tension. One very important point in connection with this process of still casting has not been strongly enough stressed, namely, that the same kind of surface film with the same peculiarities forms over the surface of all melted alloys that contain even a small proportion of aluminum. Experienced foundrymen know how desirable it is to cast aluminum under its "skin" or under the surface of the film which tends to remain still. In the case of red copper, when in fusion, the surface shows pure copper only. This' is due to the fact that liquid copper constantly absorbs the copper oxide which forms on the surface. By closely examining melting copper the oxide can be seen dissolving in the bath, and going into solution just as pulverized sugar dissolves in water. When copper is cast in the open, either in wire bars or cakes, the surface of metal exposed to the air is covered by a film of black oxide that cannot be absorbed by the metal.

Jan 1, 1927

The industrial might of the Bowen Basin is primarily the result of Utah Development Co.'s work- which has opened up the Blackwater, Goonyella, Peak Downs, and Saraji mines; built the Hay Point port; and is now developing the Norwich Park mine.

Jan 1, 1977

By John T., Ryan

THE subject assigned me, "Safety in Mining," is a very broad one and only the high spots can be covered in this short paper. As this is a meeting of the Coal Division, these remarks will be directed largely to coal mine safety, although the principles of safety and effective accident prevention methods are relatively the same in every branch of mining or industrial work. The coal mining industry should take pride in the part it has played in the development of the accident prevention movement, and there is ample proof for the statement that the first real organized accident prevention, work, both abroad and in this country, was con- ducted in the coal mining industry.

Jan 1, 1930

The 140th meeting* of the American Institute of Mining and Metallurgical Engineers was held in New York, Feb. 16 to 19, 1931. It consisted of the annual business session, twenty-six technical sessions at which 149 papers were presented, two round table discussions, two meetings of the Board of Directors, three meetings of Section Delegates, two formal lectures, four group dinners and 11 group luncheons, luncheon daily for members and guests, 20 committee meetings and conferences, the annual reception and dinner dance, an informal dance, a smoker-dinner, two meetings of the Woman's Auxiliary and a special program of entertainment for the ladies. Former members of the Rocky Mountain Club and friends lunched together at the Engineers Club on Tuesday. The proceedings of the Iron and Steel Division included four general technical sessions, an Iron Ore Round Table, the Howe Memorial Lecture, the Division luncheon at the Engineers Club Wednesday noon, a session each of the Executive Committee and the Committee on Nondestructive Testing, a luncheon each of the Committee on the Manufacture of Alloy Steel and the Blast-furnace Conference Group, and a dinner of the Committee on Physical Chemistry of Steelmaking. Dr. F. F. Lucas delivered the Howe Lecture, the title of which was "On the Art of Metallography." The Institute of Metals Division held three general sessions, its annual lecture, which was delivered by Dr. Arne Westgren and entitled "X-ray Determination of Alloy Equilibrium Diagrams," and a Division dinner at the Hotel New Yorker Thursday evening, at which Dr. G. W. Thompson was the principal speaker. The Executive Committee assembled at a luncheon on Thursday. A round table on Coal Land Valuations, a general technical session and a Division luncheon were held by the Coal Division. C. E. Bockus, President of the National Coal Association, made an informal talk at the luncheon which was held at the Engineers Club Monday noon. The Petroleum Division held six general sessions, including its annual production symposium. The annual dinner was held at the Engineers Club Thursday evening. A Gold Supply Symposium was the feature of the proceedings of the Committee on Mining Geology. This Committee also held a general session and a luncheon meeting. Sessions were held by other Technical Committees as follows: Mining Methods, 2; Mine Ventilation, 1 (besides which the Committee on Mine Ventilation Code held a meeting); Ground Movement and Subsidence, 1; Milling Methods, 1; Nonferrous Metallurgy, 1; Engineering Education, 1 (also a Committee luncheon); Non-metallic Minerals, 1, and Geophysical Prospecting, 2.

Jan 1, 1931

By N. S. Wagner

The production of lightweight aggregates in Oregon is a new industry, and, like all new enterprises, it is suffering from growing pains characterized by numerous, small operations some of which flourish for a short time and then cease altogether. Normally all industrial mineral products are produced in a highly competitive atmosphere. At the present time this condition does not exist to a very marked degree in the state because as yet producers have not saturated the constantly expanding market. This paper has been prepared with the intention of outlining very briefly the current status of the various products now being used as lightweight aggregates in Oregon. The present picture will surely change, perhaps quite radically within even a short space of time.

Jan 1, 1949

By Franklin H. Sharp, Kenneth L. Clifford

During the last few years the New Lead Belt of Southeastern Missouri has become the main source of lead in the United States. It also produces significant amounts of zinc, copper and silver. The mines are located on a narrow, mineralized trend extending southward from Viburnum, MG. for about 35 miles. The ore occurs as replacement deposits in the Bonneterre lime- stone formation which is about 1000 ft below the surface. In most of the mines, enough water is produced to supply the milling requirements without any reuse. There are dry areas, however, and at least two mills must rely on water reclaimed from their tailings lake to augment the mine water. These mills have no choice but to utilize recycled mill water.

Jan 7, 1973

By W. B. Clark

IN OPERATING the Alpha mine of the Consolidated Coppermines Corp., Kimberly, Nev., it was necessary to pump out approximately 1200 gallons of waiter per minute to prevent the mine being flooded. There were three levels in the mine at which water accumulated and from which it was pumped, the 1200, 1400 and the 1800- ft. levels. At each, the pumping equipment was installed in duplicate so that if for any reason one unit was out of commission the other would be available to prevent flooding. The two centrifugal pumps at the 1200-ft. level were 600 hp. each; at the 1400-ft. level, 100 hp. each; and at the 1800-ft. level, 300 hp. each.

Jan 1, 1933

By R. L. Bowron

GROWING use of basic slag in the agricultural industry is of special interest and importance to the iron and steel industry of the Birmingham district, providing an increasing outlet for this by- product. Such use of basic slag was first developed in England about fifty years ago where it soon became wide- spread. About twenty years ago the Tennessee Coal, Iron & R. R. Co. began its production in the United States after exhaustive tests had demonstrated its high value here as in Eng- land. It is particularly valuable on heavy clay and acid soils, improving their physical condition, increasing their alkalinity where that is desirable, and providing soluble phosphate and small amounts of manganese to soils deficient in these respects. Its use in agriculture is growing as its advantages are becoming more widely known.

Jan 1, 1937

By George C. Bateman

WE in Canada want to see industry get back to a normal economic basis as soon as possible but wartime controls cannot be dispensed with immediately the war is over. Perhaps never again will we be entirely free from some of the types of controls such as those set up during the war. Certainly the taking over and disposal of surplus materials contemplates the continuation of some form of control for many years to come. However, to the extent that it is possible, the Allied nations are exponents of free enterprise.

Jan 1, 1944

By Otto Wartenweiler

AFTER the phenomenal development of the new mine, the United Eastern Mining Co., with Mr. Frank A. Keith as President, decided to install a reduction plant. The character of the ore, closely resembling the product of other mines in the district, did not offer any particular metallurgical problems, since these neighboring mines had been operating milling plants very successfully for several years. Thus, with the general metallurgical treatment fairly well-defined, the matter of next importance was to design and construct a plant as economically as possible, that would give the best results obtainable. The ore consists of a mixture of calcite and quartz in about equal quantities with some decomposed andesite, while the average value of mill heads were calculated to be $20 plus in gold, no silver being present. The tonnage to be treated at ,the start was fixed at 200 tons, but, in view of the favorable condition of the mine, it was considered advisable to arrange facilities, for increasing the capacity to 400 tons. . While it is best in some cases to adopt a distinct independent unit system where future enlargement is contemplated, in this instance the plans worked out differently. Summarized, the treatment adopted consists of coarse crushing, coarse grinding, fine grinding and cyanidation. For coarse crushing the selection of the No. 6 size gyratory crusher was governed not so much by its capacity as by the size of the feed openings to properly receive the run-of-mine material, which was too coarse for a No. 5 crusher. To accomplish the coarse grinding to. best advantage, a careful comparison was made between the modern steel ball mill-the last word in crushing and grinding-and one of its older, and, at that time better-established, competitors, the rolls.' The following conclusion was reached: While it is possible that for the sized plant under consideration the cost of operating rolls might be a little cheaper, it is preferable to use ball mills because a simpler arrangement is possible, and1 because. the handling of, ball mills is preferred by the operator.

Jan 11, 1917

By H. Stigzelius

FINLAND'S recent mining history is both dramatic and pitiful in its shifting fortunes, dominated as it has been, by the country's proximity to the border zone of opposing dictatorships and social traditions; Fascism to the south, Communism to the east, and Democracy to the west. After 108 years under Russia's more or less harsh rule, Finland gained its democratic independence during the 1917 revolutionary strife in Russia with the official help of Germany and spontaneous help of other neighbors. The young nation was attacked by Russia in 1939 and again in 1941. It is common knowledge how the Finns fought with everything they had and everything they could get against their overwhelming adversary, and how by force of circumstances they landed in the Axis camp in 1941. Finland has never been known as a mining country in the same way as near-by Sweden, whose abundant iron and copper smelters during long periods so greatly contributed to the nation's welfare. Its largely barren, Archaean-granite geology long seemed forbidding. Some mining was done, to be sure; copper and tin at Pitkaranta near the Russian border, and lead and copper at Orijarvi. But towards the end of the last century the absence of a single producing mine cast a pessimistic shadow of truth over the Finnish poet Runeberg's words, that

Jan 1, 1946