Search Documents

By Arnold Hoffman

A RESPONSIBLE steel executive recently declared that scrap shortages, despite fantastic prices reaching up to $50 per ton, are responsible for the loss of 140,000 tons of steel a month and that in March 1947 alone 25 more steel furnaces could have been operating were it not for scrap scarcities. His answer to this serious situation was to ask for a speedier flow of scrap and also abolition of Government control over pig iron distribution. It would be more logical, perhaps, if an answer to this growing problem of scrap deficiency were sought within the steel industry itself. As long ago as 1933, L. B. Lindemuth, a consulting steel metallurgist, warned the steel industry that a shortage of scrap was inevitable and that beyond 1938, adequate supplies for open-hearth furnaces could not be expected. The outbreak of war, with consequent phenomenal demands on the industry, accelerated production of steel and further worsened the scrap situation. Today we are suffering from a condition which could have been prevented had the industry been more far-seeing and provided for an inevitable contingency. However, better late than never, and measures can now be taken to alleviate permanently scrap shortages in the future. This can be done by greater utilization of heavy sinter which experience proved is an excellent substitute for scrao and lump ore.

Jan 1, 1947

By PHILIP N. MOORE

PHILIP NORTH MOORE was born on July 8, 1849, at Connersville, Ind. His father, a civil engineer, was descended from Henry Moore who came from Ireland in 1773 to live in Washington, Pa. Through his mother, Philip Moore was descended from John North, who came to America in 1635 and settled in Connecticut. The story of Mr. Moore's life as told by himself is given on pages 373-386 of T. A. Rickard's "Interviews with Mining Engineers." He studied at Miami University, where he gained the degree of A.B. in 1870, and A.M. in 1873. In 1920 his alma muter conferred on him the honorary degree of LL.D. He, as a special student, was a member of the class of 1872 at the School of Mines of Columbia University.

Jan 1, 1930

By J. Cervik, P. C. Thakur, S. D. Lauer

Methane drainage by cross-measure boreholes on retreat longwall faces can be a viable alternative to the vertical gob degas boreholes under favorable circumstances. The research was done in a mine working Pittsburgh coal seam in northern West Virginia under USBM Cooperative Agreement No. 14-09-0050-3252. The study was the first application of this technique to Pittsburgh coal seam. A total of 14 small diameter, inclined boreholes were drilled over a retreat longwall panel from gate roads, to intersect the overlying coal seams. All boreholes were manifolded to a pipeline and the gob gas was extracted by a surface exhaust fan. The methane capture ratio was poor at 7% to 18% at various stages of the longwall panel. A vertical gob degas borehole captured an additional 20% gas. Poor results were due to premature failures of the cross-measure boreholes leading to air leakage. For better performance, the boreholes should be drilled from a point 30 to 45 m (98 to 148 ft) from longwall pillar over the largest chain pillar. The standpipe should be grouted for at least 6 m (20 ft), and the entry containing boreholes and the pipeline must be supported to ensure access for maintenance and optimization of methane capture. Coursing the ventilation air around longwall such that it forces methane migration toward cross-measure boreholes can further improve methane capture. The optimum vertical inclination is 45º ± 10º.

Jan 1, 1986

"The Murray Plant of the American Smelting & Refining Company is situated seven miles south of Salt Lake City, and has a fine view of the Salt Lake Valley with its fertile farms and orchards.It is located on the Los Angeles & Salt Lake and Denver & Rio Grande Western Railroads, and has a fine electric car service, cars running every 15 minutes.The beautiful and majestic Wasatch Range lies about five miles to the east and the Oquirrh Range to the west, and from these mountains a large proportion of the ores treated are obtained.The location is very central, ores coming to the plant from all directions. Park City, where a large tonnage of high grade silver-lead ore is obtained, lies to the east and the camp of Alta is just across the mountains from Murray.To the west is the wonderful camp of Bingham, which produces a large tonnage of lead ores, in addition to its immense tonnages of copper ores, which are treated at Garfield.Tintic, to the south, sends in quantites of dry silicious ores, as well as silver-lead ores.Besides the above, ores are shipped to the plant from Stockton, Ophir, Milford and other camps in Utah, as well as from Nevada and Idaho, and also some ores from Cali¬fornia, Oregon, Washington, Wyoming and Colorado.The American Smelting & Refining Company took possession in 1899 of its Utah properties which consisted of the following plants, all of which have been dismantled:"

Jan 1, 1925

By R. W. Nelson

The theoretical basis is presented for energy dissipation methods of measuring permeability in saturated heterogeneous media. Analysis starts with the equation for single-phase flow in heterogeneous porous media which is a first-order partial differential equation in the unknown permeability. This equation is reduced to a system of characteristic equations useful in deriving a differential expression for the permeability as a function of the known potential distribution. For steady flow systems the expression is integrable, giving the permeability integral for direct calculation of the distribution along successive streamlines. The boundary condition in permeability is presented and includes a discussion of the special requirement to assure uniqueness. Theoretical results and necessary computations are incorporated into two general computer programs capable of determining the permeability distribution in two- and three-dimensional steady flow systems. Results are then presented for an energy dissipation analysis using the methods and soltware to determine a field permeability thickness distribution. INTRODUCTION Theoretical work leading to the description of fluid flow in heterogeneous porous media has developed slowly and somewhat sporadically, although the areas of engineering applications predominantly involve flow in nonhomogeneous media. The lack of accurate and economical methods for measuring field permeability distributions has been a major limitation to realistic description of natural flow systems. The economical measurement of permeability using energy dissipation methods may overcome this limitation. Among other things, any permeability measurement method involves consideration of energy dissipation; as used here, "energy dissipation method" denotes the following general approach. The areal energy distribution is measured on an existing flow system in porous media. Then through appropriate analysis of the dissipation of energy in the flow system, the permeability distribution is determined throughout the region using the minimum boundary conditions required to assure a mathematically unique result. This paper presents the theoretical basis for such a method, as well as the techniques and computer software needed to carry out the analysis. The method and techniques are then used in a preliminary field application. EQUATIONS DESCRIBING FLOW IN HETEROGENEOUS MEDLA Heterogeneous as used here implies differing in kind, having unlike quantities or possessing different characteristics. Accordingly, a heterogeneous porous medium has unlike quantities or differing characteristics at different locations. More precisely, if a porous medium is heterogeneous with respect to some property, then that property is functionally dependent on the spatial location. (Media properties are considered here as macroscopic.) Specifically considering permeability k,** then k = G(x, y, z) ,............(1) or the permeability is a scalar function G of the location (x, y, z). Spatial variation of several other properties, of which porosity, dispersivity and medium compressibility are but a few, is implied by the broad title of heterogeneous porous media. The term will be used hereafter to imply only heterogeneity with respect to permeability. The porous medium is considered isotropic as implied by G being only a scalar function. Anisotropy

Jan 1, 1969

By G. F. Olsen

ON superficial consideration a technical library might be considered a luxury to the business institution that possesses one. After all, public libraries and research institutions probably contain all the data that would be found in a private technical library, and able consultants are available both within and without a company. In all probability the technical men of a company have in their combined personal libraries sufficient information to answer most inquiries. Nevertheless, possession of such a department is of real economic benefit because of the time it saves its users, because it prevents expensive duplication of technical literature in a company, and lastly, but most important, be- cause it makes readily available a central storehouse of technical facts classified and indexed to meet the demands of the industry or industries concerned.

Jan 1, 1940

By P. J. Conroy, E. A. Curth

INTRODUCTION In June 1962, the first attempt at longwall mining in Illinois was initiated by Old Ben Coal Company in their No. 21 Mine. Longwalling was continued intermittently using various supports until April 1970. During this period, longwall mining techniques were used on separate occasions at six faces within Mine No. 21. However, due to various problems that developed at each location the faces were eventually terminated. The most significant problems concerned the support systems and roof conditions that were present in the mine during each attempt. Between 1965 and 1972, similar conditions were met by Freeman Coal mining Company during four attempts at longwall mining in their Orient No. 5 and Orient No. 6 mines. In 1975, the U.S. Bureau of Mines and Old Ben Coal Company entered into a cost-sharing agreement to demonstrate the application of longwall mining in Illinois. The first phase of the demonstration was to conduct a premining investigation to review previous attempts at longwall mining, perform rock mechanics tests, and establish support requirements based on the lnvestigation results. The information obtained during the demonstration at Old Ben's No. 24 has been utilized to optimize subsequent face equipment and panel geometry. Mining of the first panel began in September 1976 and was successfully completed in May 1977, and two additional panels were mined under the cooperative agreement. Currently, Old Ben Coal Company is the only longwall mining operator in Illinois. In addition to the face in Mine No. 24, five longwall faces are being operated in four other mines.

Jan 1, 1981

By AIME AIME

THE non-ferrous alloys have been placed in the same class with steel by metallurgical research on hardening, and hardenable alloys of all metals except zinc are now manufactured. The hardening of the non-ferrous alloys is accomplished by a process of heating, quenching and ageing. R. S. Dean, head of the research department of the Western Electric Co., told of the results of this research in 'a lecture on "Recent Advances in the Art and Science of Fabricating Metals," given before the Missouri Mining and Metallurgical Association on Jan. 24, 1929.

Jan 1, 1929

By AIME

WILLIAM WALLACE MEIN, known to his intimates as "Will" or "Billy", is a mining engineer who has taken the fundamentals of successful mining--operating, engineering, and financial-and applied them to the founding of new industries. Born in Nevada City, Calif., in 1873, Will Mein grew up in an atmosphere of mining, and began to develop his sound judgment in a practical way before starting his formal technical education. As a young man he supplemented his early observations by helping his father, Captain "Tom" Mein, on mining work in California and Alaska. He then went with his father to the Rand, and after a period of milling experience as operator and shift boss he became, in 1894, manager of the chlorination of gold ores at the Robinson mine.

Jan 1, 1947

By F. S., Mc Nicholas

A practical discussion of the theory of A block caving is presented which applies particularly to the physical conditions of the Climax orebody although the conditions are sufficiently characteristic of caving ore-bodies to provide valuable information applicable elsewhere.

Jan 1, 1950

A GIFT of $10,000 to the endowment of Engineering Foun-dation, made by the Central Hudson Gas and Electric Corporation, has been announced. In transmitting this gift T. R. Beal, president of the corporation, made the follow-ing interesting statement: "You may be interested to know that this amount was in fact earned by our employees by their more efficient opera-tion of the physical properties under their care. It rep-resents $10,000 of return premiums paid during the past year on accident insurance, as the result of the company's excellent record in preceding years, so that we take greater satisfaction in making this gift as it is related, in some degree at least, to the higher standards of engineering and operating practice to which the work of the Foundation per-tains."

Jan 4, 1928

By V. T. BERNER

THIS apparatus was designed primarily to meet the demand for a quick, efficient stopping to seal off the burning area temporarily during a mine fire, but it can be used in any circumstance where an immediate brattice is required for ventilation control. In using the old style brattice, mine-rescue workers have found it difficult, in smoke-laden drifts and stopes, to erect an effective stopping with wooden frame and canvas. Stulls must first be cut to the proper length, the canvas tacked in place, and the numerous irregularities of the walls and back must be caulked. This operation requires the employment of axes, saws, and hammers, which cannot easily and safely be handled in dense smoke. The fire fighters have often been forced to abandon their brattice, unfinished, because of the rapid approach of the fire, or because of the exhausted sup- ply of oxygen in their breathing apparatus. It is neces-

Jan 1, 1930

By John G. Hall

The unstable metal market during 1949, with resulting lower metal prices, has focused every mine operator's attention on the problem of reducing operating costs. Improvement in mining, methods, use of modern mechanical mining equipment, and increasing the efficiency of the labor force are the tools with which we will have to work. Careful planning is necessary to coordinate all phases so that no one phase is overdone. A mine may become over-mechanized if, for instance, capital charges against new equipment exceed the savings in labor costs, or where a large enough tonnage is not produced. The cooperation, of labor is essential to any mechanization program. There have been too many instances where mechanization and improvements have done nothing more than make up for a decrease in labor efficiency, thus bringing the production of labor back to its old standard. The operator has gained little and labor has gained only a "softer job." In any mechanization program there are gains to be had by both the operator and labor. By the efficient application of modern equipment and improved mining methods the operator should gain by decreased costs, and labor may profit by receiving a share of these decreased costs.

Jan 1, 1950

By ALBERT F. J. BOARDEAUX

(Canal Zone Meeting, November. 191(j.) I. GENERAL INTRODUCTION. 1. Historical. ALLUVIAL gold was first discovered in Guiana in 1852, in the sands of the Arataye river; by Paulino, a Brazilian convict. During the following years, gold was found also in the rivers Orapu, Cirubé, etc. In 1873 the famous placers of the Sinnamary system were opened: Saint-Elie, Dieu-Merci, Adieu-Tat, and Couriége. This group of mines has produced nearly $10,000,000, according to official records, not including the gold that escaped the taxes. The discoverer was a mulatto named Vitalo. Except in a few rich spots, the gold was rather evenly distributed along the creeks. In one instance, gold was found in the red dirt from the slope of a hill, which, after transport to the creek, gave an amount of 150 kilograms. The placers of the Mana system, Enfin, Elysée, Pas-Trop-Tot, date from 1878, and their production has been about $5,000,000. In 1888, the Awa placers, along the boundary between the French and Dutch Guianas, on the Maroni and its tributaries, were discovered. They have yielded $12,000,000. The only industrial company,, the Dutch Guiana French Mining Co., produced in 15 years about 2,500 kg. of gold, worth $1,500,000. From 1893 dates the famous Carsewene discovery, in territory then in dispute between France and Brazil. A settlement was made recently in favor of Brazil, by arbitration of the Switzerland State Council. Carsewene is said to have pro-duced about $18,000,000 in six years (1894-1900), but not even one-fourth of the production went through French Guiana and

Nov 1, 1910

By James B. Graham, Earle E. Smith

The value of all minerals produced in the United States for the years 1930 to 1932 averaged $3,460,000,000 annually, according to Bureau of Mines reports. Of this amount, approximately $1,280,000,000 represents nonmetallic substances, such as petroleum, gas, sulfur and salt produced as fluids. Thus, about.37 per cent of the country's mineral wealth is procured through wells drilled in the earth, which require casing to keep them open throughout their life. Deep well drilling has increased greatly in the last few years. Several strings of casing have been set deeper than 9000 ft.—one, a string of 7?-in. O.D. casing, 10,301 ft. long, run in a well drilled by the Gulf Production Co. in West Texas, holds the record up to this time. These are longer strings than were contemplated when the American Petroleum Institute Specifications were adopted 10 years ago, therefore it is necessary to consider whether the present joint standards are adequate for such strings, or for even longer strings that may be called for in the future. Petroleum engineers are asking: Is there a possibility that stronger joints can be designed without going to stronger and more costly steels than offered in present specifications? Without sacrificing too greatly the tensile properties of the joint, can its design be changed to allow more clearance in the open hole below the next larger string of casing, and thus avoid costly underreaming? What can manufacturers offer for drilling through heaving shale? Fundamentals of the Problem During the last few years considerable study has been given to casing joints and their limitations, and since attention must be given to this subject by those who will be required to drill deeper holes, it is timely to review the fundamentals of the problem. These will be recognized generally as the following: 1. No threaded joint can be stronger than the area of metal under the root of the first perfect thread, and this area must be large enough

Jan 1, 1935

By E. A. Moulder

The mining industry is continually faced with problems involving dewatering, pollution, water supply, leaching and hydrochemical mining and prospecting. Greater application of the principles of ground-water hydrology to solution of these problems promises improved operating efficiency, increased safety and better public relations. Estimating the magnitude of dewatering for a proposed mine may be a major factor in determining the feasibility of proceeding with mine development. Diverting the source of ground water to an abandoned mine may save costly treatment of acid-mine drainage. Development of a large ground-water supply near an ore deposit may enhance the possibilities of a leaching operation. Detection of certain dissolved minerals in water from springs or wells may lead to hitherto unknown mineral deposits. Current efforts of industry, educational institutions and government are making these kind of events more commonplace. Dewatering of Mines The magnitude of dewatering problems was dramatized by a flooding that occurred last year in a gold mine in South Africa. During drilling operations at the West Driefortein mine, a major fracture was encountered from which large volumes of water issued necessitating evacuation of 1350 men from the mine. Dewatering required an increase in pumping of more than 80 million gpd. Models of ground-water systems are being used to test alternate plans for dewatering mines. Using the models in conjunction with computer optimization programs may lead to minimizing costs of operation. In addition to computer simulation of aquifers associated with phosphate deposits in North Carolina mentioned in last year's report, two USGS employees developed a model to estimate the amount of pumping required to dewater a mine site in Colorado.

Jan 1, 1970

By Nathan C. Rockwood

BASIC mineral commodities may be divided into two general classifications in their market or price characteristics. In one class are commodities sold on a world-wide basis, as gold, silver, nickel, asbestos and petroleum, and in the second are those produced and sold locally. Of course, no precise line of demarcation exists between the two; coal, for instance, belongs more or less in both. If there are enough producers of any commodity to prevent control of production by any one person or group, a free market then exists and the price in a buyer's market is determined by the most favored producer-meaning the producer, with the lowest production cost or the lowest cost of transportation, or both, to the particular market, or place of use. With minerals in the first classification, their high intrinsic value far outweighs the transportation cost and a uniform market price is accepted as an essential element in the economy of distribution. But with common minerals of small. intrinsic value and relatively high transportation costs, economists are reluctant to admit that a uniform price may also be an essential element in distribution.

Jan 1, 1940

(Under this heading will be published notes sent to the Secretary of the Institute by members or other persons.) The position of converter blower at a side-blow Bessemer steel casting plant is vacant. The State Legislature of Utah has provided for the establishment of a metallurgical research department at the State School of Mines, Salt Lake City. Applications will be received for, the position of head of this laboratory, and further details may be obtained by applying to Prof. Joseph F. Merrill, Director, University of Utah, Salt Lake City. An engineering company owning patents for improvements in steel manufacture which have been adopted at many works in America, desires. to secure the services of a technical iron and steel metallurgist as assistant to its chief metallurgical engineer.

Jan 6, 1913

By S. Wallden, R. Lindstrom

The electrolytic copper refining process is an excellent method for producing high-purity metal for electric conductors and other demanding applications. However, the process involves very high capital expenditure, especially the amounts of metals bound in the process. Efforts have therefore been made for many years to increase the production rate by increasing the current density, without impairing the quality of the copper. One of the approaches has been to diminish the polarization by mechanical means, while another was to "polish" the cathode surface by periodic brief reversals of the current. Reversed current electrolysis was first developed for electro- plating purposes and in 1952 Boliden AB and the Dept. of Electrochemistry at the Royal Inst. of Tech., Stockholm tested the method for copper refining with good results. However, no suitable electrical equipment for current reversal was then available. The thyristor-controlled silicon rectifier became available during the '60s and provided the scope for industrial application of the process and the first large-scale development was made by the Bulgarian copper refinery in Pirdop. Many copper refineries are now studying or adapting the reverse current process. Further lab and pilot investigations have been carried out at Boliden AB during the past 4 years and these were mainly aimed at studying the optimization of factors influencing the quality of copper. A production unit containing two tank sections with a total of 56 cells and equipped with a rectifier for cur- rent reversal has been installed and will be started during 1973.

Jan 1, 1973

The term "timbered stope" is here meant to denote stopes in which timbering is the predominant feature of the mining method. Stopes with stull sets, as in the Hecla mine, are types of timbered stopes; these types are probably the best-known. Timbering stopes by means of square sets is not as common as formerly, as the system is not often necessary, yet there are good examples and large tonnages are being mined by the method. The square set may be utilized in ordinary overhand stopes if the orebody is suitable. At some mines, square sets have been abandoned in favor of top-slicing; and at others, the square set has superseded horizontal cut and backfilling. A drift, either in the wall or orebody, is necessary before opening the sill floor. In wide deposits, there may be a grillage of drifts and crosscuts, and at least one raise to the level above is needed in each stope for ventilation and handling timbers and filling. The square sets are filled with waste rock from the hanging wall, sorted from the ore, from development work, or from the level above. As a rule, little timber is recovered. The examples include the Butte district, Mother Lode of California, Bunker Hill & Sullivan, Hecla, and Morning mines.

Jan 1, 1925