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By R. C. Amero

FULLERS earth is a general name applied to claylike minerals that have high natural adsorptive powers. They are usually distinguished from ordinary clays by a higher content of combined moisture and a lower apparent density. The definition is based on the ancient use of the material for fulling, or cleansing woolen cloth of oil and grease; a more modern definition should mention the ability to decolorize oil and should differentiate between fullers earth, which is naturally active, and certain bentonites which only develop decolorizing power after being leached with strong mineral acids. The distinction between fullers earth and activable bentonite is not a sharp one, since all types of intermediate clays can be found that are more or less naturally active, yet more or less responsive to acid treatment. The differences seem to depend somewhat on the amount of leaching that has been effected by natural ground waters.

Jan 5, 1951

By Henry F. Hebley

In preparing this paper it has been the aim of the writer to keep the problems of both producers and consumers in mind. Until now, no attempt has been made to familiarize each group with the other's practice and limitations. This paper is an effort to acquaint the readers with some of the factors pertaining to the problem and cost of mining and preparing steam coal, and also to the economics of producing steam with such coal. In recent years all lines of endeavor have turned to intensive mechanization in order to lower the unit cost of production. The average fuel consumption in steam electric generating stations has dropped in 20 years from 4.0 lb. to 1.4 lb. per kilowatt-hour; while the modern power station can generate 1 kw-hr. on a fraction under 1 lb., or 13,000 B.t.u. coal. Also, the amount produced per man has in that same period risen from 3.8 to 8.2 tons, owing to the use of modernized equipment below ground for coal cutting, drilling, shooting, loading, hauling and hoisting. Unfortunately, the rapid speed of 5 tons per minute of operation at which the coal is loaded mechanically precludes any appreciable removal of impurities at the coal face, so that the raw coal is hoisted containing a markedly higher percentage of impurities than the hand-loaded coal, which was subjected to the scrutiny of the miner during loading. Also, during the past 20 years, certain seams of coal lying close to the surface have been made economically available by the improved design of electrically operated shovels and draglines for the removal of overburden running as high as 56 ft. This strip coal frequently contains so much ash in the raw state (Table 1) that it would have no sales value. Therefore, coal preparation must be adopted to beneficiate the raw product. Some seams in the United States have a decreasing ash content with decreasing size, owing, in all probability, to the fact that the coal is friable while the impurities are hard, causing a concentration of the low-ash material in the fine sizes. Illinois No. 6 coal being rather hard, naturally the reverse is true.

Jan 1, 1938

By Henry F. Hebley

In preparing this paper it has been the aim of the writer to keep the problems of both producers and consumers in mind. Until now, no attempt has been made to familiarize each group with the other's practice and limitations. This paper is an effort to acquaint the readers with some of the factors pertaining to the problem and cost of mining and preparing steam coal, and also to the economics of producing steam with such coal. In recent years all lines of endeavor have turned to intensive mechanization in order to lower the unit cost of production. The average fuel consumption in steam electric generating stations has dropped in 20 years from 4.0 lb. to 1.4 lb. per kilowatt-hour; while the modern power station can generate 1 kw-hr. on a fraction under 1 lb., or 13,000 B.t.u. coal. Also, the amount produced per man has in that same period risen from 3.8 to 8.2 tons, owing to the use of modernized equipment below ground for coal cutting, drilling, shooting, loading, hauling and hoisting. Unfortunately, the rapid speed of 5 tons per minute of operation at which the coal is loaded mechanically precludes any appreciable removal of impurities at the coal face, so that the raw coal is hoisted containing a markedly higher percentage of impurities than the hand-loaded coal, which was subjected to the scrutiny of the miner during loading. Also, during the past 20 years, certain seams of coal lying close to the surface have been made economically available by the improved design of electrically operated shovels and draglines for the removal of overburden running as high as 56 ft. This strip coal frequently contains so much ash in the raw state (Table 1) that it would have no sales value. Therefore, coal preparation must be adopted to beneficiate the raw product. Some seams in the United States have a decreasing ash content with decreasing size, owing, in all probability, to the fact that the coal is friable while the impurities are hard, causing a concentration of the low-ash material in the fine sizes. Illinois No. 6 coal being rather hard, naturally the reverse is true.

Jan 1, 1938

By Henry Hebley

IN preparing this paper it has been the aim of the writer to keep the problems of both producers and consumers in mind. Until now, no attempt has been made to familiarize each group with the other's practice and limitations. This paper is an effort to acquaint the readers with some of the factors pertaining to the problem and cost of mining and preparing steam coal, and also to the economics of producing steam with such coal. In recent years all lines of endeavor have turned to intensive mechani-zation in order to lower the unit cost of production. The average fuel consumption in steam electric generating stations has dropped in 20 years from 4.0 lb. to 1.4.1b. per kilowatt-hour; while the modern power station can generate 1 kw-hr. on a fraction under 1 lb., or 13,000 B.t.u. coal. Also, the amount produced per man has in that same period risen from 3.8 to 8.2 tons, owing to the use of modernized equipment below ground for coal cutting, drilling, shooting, loading, hauling and hoisting. Unfortunately, the rapid speed of 5 tons per minute of operation at which the coal is loaded mechanically precludes any appreciable removal of impurities at the coal face, so that the raw coal is hoisted containing a markedly higher percentage of impurities than the hand-loaded coal, which was subjected to the scrutiny of the miner during loading. Also, during the past 20 years, certain seams of coal lying close to the surface have been made economically available by the improved design of electrically operated shovels and draglines for the removal of overbur-den running as high as 56 ft. This strip coal frequently contains so much ash in the raw state (Table 1) that it would have no sales value. There-fore, coal preparation must be adopted to beneficiate the raw product. Some seams in the United States have a decreasing ash content with decreasing size, owing, in all probability, to the fact that the coal is friable while the impurities are hard, causing a concentration of the low-ash material in the fine sizes. Illinois No. 6 coal being rather hard, naturally the reverse is true.

Jan 1, 1937

By William A. Edmiston, R. E. Grace

A simplified model for the theory of reaction rates near equilibrium has been applied to the reduction of wustite. A linear relationship between the net rate of reaction and the Gibbs free-energy change, ?F, is predicted. The reduction of wustite in H2 -H2O gas mixtures was studied with a microbalance technique at temperatures from 850° to 950 °C. The predicted model was found to be valid to -?F/RT = 0.1 or approximately -200 cal per mole away from equilibrium. ThE theory of reaction rates near equilibrium has been developed by a number of authors. Prigogine, Outer, and Herbo1 have studied the catalytic hydrogena tion of benzene in an attempt to deduce some intrinsic connection between reaction rates near equilibrium and thermodynamics. Manes, Hofer, and weller2 have derived more general expressions for reaction rates near equilibrium from classical thermodynamics. Hollingsworth3,4 has commented briefly on the work of Manes et al. Benson5 has summarized in a general way the results of the earlier contributions. It is the purpose of this paper to apply the theory of reaction rates near equilibrium specifically to the reduction of wustite in H2-H2O gas mixtures. The basic premise is that the reduction of wustite proceeds by a surface reaction, rather than by solid-state diffusion ,or gaseous diffusion. Richardson and Dancy6 and Gellner and Richardson7 have suggested that the reduction of wustite may be governed by iron diffusion in wustite. Mckewan8-11 has proposed that reduced iron layers on various oxides are sufficiently porous to offer a negligible impedance to the reducing gas. The linear motion of interfaces reported by McKewan and discussed by Themelis and Gauvin12 indicates the lack of diffusive control during reduction. The reduction studies of magnetite reported by Quets, Wadsworth, and Lewis13 give additional evidence that reduction rates are linear when the reaction products are porous and nonprotective. The interpretation of measurements reported in this paper is predicated upon a surface-controlled reduction reaction, at least in the earliest stages of reduction when the reduced iron layer is thin.

Jan 1, 1967

By Arthur Braid

The war has caused an increasing scarcity of phosphorus and its well known alloys with copper and tin. At the same time, the production of brass and bronze, nickel-silver, cupro-nickel, and other non-ferrous alloys, has considerably increased. The manufacturers of these products had therefore to secure other materials which would serve their purpose; principally that of a deoxidizer, which could be obtained promptly and regularly. Fortunately these materials, pure carbon-free manganese metal and manganese-copper alloy, were not hard to find—in fact, they were never lost. Manganese in various forms has been used in Europe for more than a century; in this country, however, when manganese was first used, and indeed for a long time thereafter, it was consumed mainly in the manufacture of manganese-bronze. Many foundrymen at that time used manganese-copper with the same freedom as phosphor-copper. Although iron enters into the composition of certain grades of bronze, it is very detrimental to non-ferrous mixtures in general; consequently ferromanganese is not applicable, and therefore pure manganese metal, or the alloy of manganese and copper, technically free from iron and other impurities, is now being generally used. The following are the principal elements having an affinity for oxygen: 1, Sodium. 2, Potassium. 3, Calcium. 4, Strontium. 5, Barium. 6, Magnesium. 7, Aluminum, 8, Phosphorus. 9, Silicon. 10, Manganese. 11, Iron. 12, Zinc. 13, Lead. Each metal has its natural flux, or deoxidizer, in the form of a metal or non-metal which will alloy with it, and has a strong affinity for oxygen. For example, phosphorus, as is well known, acts very beneficially in copper alloys that contain tin. Within the last few years, and particularly since the war began, the .great value of mangancse in nickel alloys has been demonstrated, and one by one the manufacturers of these products have adopted its use. While manganese has not so strong an affinity for oxygen as magnesium, aluminum, or silicon, it is nevertheless sufficiently powerful to reduce any oxide of nickel, copper, or zinc that may be present in the nickel alloy to be purified.

Jan 1, 1919

By Arthur Braid

THE war has caused an increasing scarcity of phosphorus and its well known alloys with copper and tin. At the same time, the production of brass and bronze, nickel-silver, cupro-nickel, and other non-ferrous alloys, has considerably increased. The manufacturers of these products had therefore to secure other materials which would serve their purpose; principally that of a deoxidizer, which could be. obtained promptly and regularly. Fortunately these materials, pure carbon-free manganese metal and manganese-copper alloy, were not hard to find-in fact, they were never lost. Manganese in various forms has been used in Europe for more than a century; in this country, however, when manganese was first used, and indeed for a long time thereafter, it was consumed mainly in the- manufacture of manganese-bronze. Many foundrymen at that time used manganese-copper with the same freedom as phosphor-copper. Although iron enters into the composition of certain- grades of bronze, it is very detrimental to non-ferrous mixtures in general; consequently ferro-manganese is not applicable, and therefore pure manganese metal, or the alloy of manganese and copper, technically free from iron and other impurities, is now being generally used. The following are the principal elements having an affinity for oxygen: 1, Sodium. 2, Potassium. 3, Calcium. 4, Strontium. 5, Barium. 6, Magnesium. 7, Aluminum, 8, Phosphorus. 9, Silicon. 10, Manganese. 11, Iron. 12, Zinc. 13, Lead. Each metal has its natural flux, or deoxidizer, in the form of a metal or non-metal which will alloy with it, and has a strong affinity for oxygen. For example, phosphorus, as is well known, acts very beneficially in copper alloys that contain tin. Within 'the last few years, and particularly since the war began, the great value of manganese in nickel alloys has been demonstrated, and one by one the manufacturers of these products have adopted its use. While manganese has not so strong an affinity for oxygen as magnesium, aluminum, or silicon, it is nevertheless sufficiently powerful to reduce any oxide of nickel, copper, or zinc that may be present in the nickel alloy to be purified.

Jan 11, 1918

By George Smith

THE Secretary of the Interior in his recent report to the President has defined the new public-land policy, which is in fact "but a new application of an old policy." His words may be more acceptable on this subject of land classification than the repetition of phrases which have served some of us for several years. Secretary Lane says of the past: "Congress has always been most generous as to the disposition of the national lands. . . . There was land for all, and it was the government's glad function to distribute it and let those profit who could. . . . And this generous donor was not so petty as to discriminate between kinds of lands, the uses to which they could be put, or the purposes which those might have who got them. Land is land, save when it contains minerals; this was roughly the broad principle adopted. To classify was a task too difficult or not worth while. The lands would classify themselves when they arrived in individual ownership. And so the door was opened for monopoly and for fraud. Of the reaction and the evolution of a new policy, the Secretary continues: "A reaction was inevitable. If lands were to be withdrawn from public service, why might not the government do the withdrawing itself? The old philosophy that `land is land' was evidently unfitted to a country where land is sometimes timber and sometimes coal; indeed, where land may mean water-water for tens of thousands of needy neighboring acres. For the lands of the West differ as men do, in character and condition and degree of usefulness. We had not recognized this fact when we said `land is land.' Lands fitted for dry farming and lands that must forever lie unused without irrigation; lands that are worthless save for their timber; lands that are rich in grasses and lands that. are poor in grasses; lands underlain with the non-precious minerals essential to industry or agriculture; lands that are invaluable for reservoir or dam sites these varieties may be multiplied, and each new variety emphasizes the fact that each kind of land has its own future and affords its own opportunity for contributing to the nation's wealth.

Jan 6, 1914

By Persifor Frazer

The rocks which cover the east flank of the South Mountain are chloritic schists typical in character. A specimen of this rock from near the Bechtel shaft, Hamilton Ban Township, Adams County, Pa., was selected and analyzed in my laboratory by Mr. C. Hanford Henderson, with the following results: Ignition,........2.740 CaO,..........7.040 SiO,,..........41.280 MgO,.......... 7.486 AI,O,,.........18.480 K,O,..........2.208 Fe,Os,.........9.440 Na,O,.........3.523 FeO,......... 8.200 100. As one penetrates the range by moving westvard, these schists are replaced either by epidotie quartz or by orthofelsite. In the former case, a belt of copper-bearing rock is traversed, but not in the latter case. Inasmuch as this junction of the chloritic schists on the southeast and orthofelsite on the northwest, separated by the epidotic quartz, is several times repeated, we find two or three copper belts arranged in general parallelism to the axis of the chain, because the copper horizon is generally at this junction. Thus, in going west from Fairfield, after entering the low spurs on the South Mountain, one is fairly within the chlorite measures. At the " Virginia Mills " a chlorite schist comes in with a dip of S. 1.5 E.-74 Half a mile up Middle Creek, large numbers of fragments of chlorite schist, decoruposed epidotic matter, and quartz are encountered. The former rock, where in place, dips E. 40" S.-57o. About 4000 feet west of the intersection of this road with the so-called Tape-Worm Railroad, near the house of one Singly, large masses of chloritie schist are found loose on the road. A hundred yards farther west, near a triangle in the road, the latter is less in quantity and much epidotic quartz appears, after which a very large display of orthofelsite succeeds on the left bank of Middle Creek. All these last-mentioned rocks, however, are in fragments. Crossing the stream again a few hundred yards farther On, the chlorite fragments at first preponderate, and then large numbers of both rocks

Jan 1, 1884

By George Otis Smith

The Secretary of the Interior in his recent report to the President has defined the new public-land policy, which is in fact "but a new application of an old policy." His words may be more acceptable on this subject of land classification than the repetition of phrases which have served some of us for several years. Secretary Lane says of the past: 1'Congress has always been most generous as to the disposition of the national lands.... There was land for all, and it was the government's glad function to distribute it and let those profit who could.... And this generous donor was not so petty as to discriminate between kinds of lands, the uses to which they could be put, or the purposes which those might have who got them. Land is land, save when it contains minerals; this was roughly the broad principle adopted. To classify was a task too difficult or not worth while. The lands would classify themselves when they arrived in individual ownership. And so the door was opened for monopoly and for fraud." Of the reaction and the evolution of a new policy, the Secretary con. tinues: • ' " A reaction was inevitable. If lands were to be withdrawn from public service, why might not the government do the withdrawing itself? The old philosophy that land is land' was evidently unfitted to a country where land is sometimes timber and sometimes coal; indeed, where land may mean water—water for tens of thousands of needy neighboring acres. For the lands of the West differ as men do, in character and condition and degree of usefulness. We had not recognized this fact when we said 'land is land.' Lands fitted for dry farming and lands that must forever lie unused without irrigation; lands that are worthless save for their timber; lands that are rich in grasses and lands that are poor in grasses; lands underlain with the non-precious minerals essential to industry or agriculture; lands that are invaluable for reservoir or dam sites— these varieties may be multiplied, and each new variety emphasizes the fact that each kind of land has its own future and affords its own opportunity for contributing to the nation's wealth.

Jan 1, 1915

By Y. C. Kim, S. L. Barua

Underground coal mine planning has traditionally focused on the mine design aspects concerning safety and efficiency in the quest to produce low cost coal. Very little attention has been given to coal quality control aspects of mine planning at most US underground coal mines. With the enactment of the Clean Air Act of 1970, the generally high sulfur content of coal has become a major concern for the coal-fired power plants in the east. Similarly, the ash and the Btu content of coal are equally important for boiler efficiency. Coal mine planning must incorporate coal quality control aspects as well as traditional safety and efficiency aspects. According to an article in Coal Age (March, 1982), nearly one-half of the US coal exported to Europe does not meet the contract specifications regarding ash, sulfur and Btu contents. Although one of the reasons cited for this problem was "inadequate sampling at the US ports," the more fundamental cause probably lies in the inadequate quality control of run-of-mine (ROM) coal at the source. To perform adequate quality control of ROM coal, mines need predicted short-term in-situ coal quality information. Such predictions are generally based on whatever available sampling information is around the mine workings. Unfortunately, the closest sampling information, in the form of diamond drill hole assays, is often several thousand feet away in most underground coal mines and is inadequate for short-term coal quality prediction purposes. This is because the diamond drill holes (DDH) were traditionally placed in the coal deposit during the mine development phase to determine coal seam continuity and overlying roof conditions. They were not placed for short- term mine planning. A study was undertaken by the University of Arizona for the Homer City Owners in Pennsylvania to show that there is a need for more closely spaced samples, if the short-term coal qualities are to be predicted with any "reasonable" degree of accuracy. Prior to this study, a short-term quality prediction model, STPM, had to be developed. This model uses not only DDH, but also other sample information obtainable during face development work to predict the qualities of in-situ coal that are available in the immediate future.

Jan 1, 1985

By A. Hamilton Garner

Northern Venezuela has been divided into three provinces, as follows: The Llanos, the Andean, and the Maracaibo Basin and Falcon. The first and third are large sedimentary basins offering, possibilities for oil accumulations. Oil is known to occur in many formations ranging in age from Cretaceous to Quaternary. The most prolific source of oil is probably the Cretaceous shales and limestones, from which the oil appears to have migrated into overlying porous beds. Faulting or fracturing, folding, and porosity are governing factors in the localization of commercial deposits. THE occurrence of oil seepages in Venezuela has been known since the early days of Spanish occupation. It was not until 1912, however, that any serious exploration work was undertaken. In that year, the Caribbean Petroleum Co., then a subsidiary of the General Asphalt Co., employed a large staff of geologists to make a systematic survey, of large areas in eastern and western Venezuela, selecting the most, desirable localities out of the immense area covered by the Valladares concession. This preliminary work was completed in the fall of 1913, and in February, 1914, the company completed its first commercial well at Mene Grande. Development work has progressed slowly, for various reasons, but petroleum in quantity has been encountered in nine widely separated localities. The Mene Grande field has been put on a producing basis and approximately 4,000,000 bbl. of oil are being shipped annually. Increasing quantities of oil are now being drawn from El Mene and La Rosa. In the light of these developments, the world's need for oil reserves, and the proximity of Venezuela to the United States, American capital is being attracted more and more to Venezuela. Although considerable careful geological work has been done in Venezuela by the various oil companies now operating, most of the data is. buried in the company,, files, and the published literature has been extremely meager. The most valuable contribution to date has been a map and report by Jahn, which, as it was printed in Spanish, is not. generally available to the American oil public.

Jan 10, 1924

By C. A. Mitke

The United Verde Extension mine is located in the Jerome mining district, on the eastern slope of the Black Hills, approximately northeast of the town of Jerome, Yavapai County, Arizona. The ore deposit may be termed a replacement in Yavapai schist. This schist is one of the oldest formations in the district, being probably of volcanic origin, and has been folded and faulted and contains intrusions of diorite and quartz porphyry. It is believed that the mineralization followed the porphyry intrusions and replaced the country rock; this was followed by erosion and a period of secondary enrichment, all completed in pre-Cambrian time. Later sediments of sandstones and limestones, to the depth of approximately 600 ft. (182 m.), were laid down, followed by volcanic flows. Faulting and erosion again took place, resulting in the present complicated arrangement of the strata. Prospecting, therefore, is very difficult, because the sediments practically cover the mineralized areas. This necessitates the sinking of deep shafts, cross-cutting, and, in some instances, diamond drilling to learn something of the various relations of the different formations and the occurrences of intrusions associated with ore deposition. The locating of new orebodies, therefore, is beset with innumerable difficulties. EARLY MINING METHODS The two orebodies constituting the principal resources of the company are known as the small orebody and the Bonanza, or large orebody. These are about 150 ft. (45 m.) apart, and while they appear to be distinct orebodies may later prove to be connected. The character of the ore, the general associations of the porphyries adjoining the orebodies, and other characteristics, both in the ore and general environment, are very similar. The small orebody was the fist to be discovered and was mined for some time before the Bonanza was found. At first, a large amount of ore was extracted by means of development work, but as the smelters treating this class of ore were located from 60 to 400 mi. (96 to 643 km.) away, only the highest grade yielded a fair profit and it became necessary to do selective mining. The main workings

Jan 1, 1920

By Martin A. Mayers

It has long been recognized that it would be highly desirable to be able to predict the temperatures at various points in a burning fuel bed and their variations with changes of the properties of the fuel and the rate of air supply. Experimenta1 investigations of fuel-bed temperature1-4 have not been lacking, but the absence of any theoretical background has made it impossible to use the results of these tests as a basis for prediction, except in a very general may. A mathematical analysis", based on a somewhat simplified theory of the distribution of lieat in a fuel bed, lias recently been completed by the author. Even though numerical values of some of the coefficients are not known, the calculations result in some conclusions of general significance. Thus, for example, it appears that when the temperatures throughout the fuel bed can be calculated, the rate at which ignition of the fuel by underfeed action can be maintained can also be calcu1ated. The uncertainty concerning the values of the coefficients referred to above is serious limitation on the use of that method. The following paper presents a discussion of these coefficients and includes estimates of their values based on the data now available. A brief description of the theory on which the analysis is based, and some results of the calculations showing their degree of agreement with experimental results, are presented by way of introduction to the discussion of the coefficients. For a more. extended discussion of the theory, see the A.S.M.E. paper5. Theory and Comparison with Experiment The theoretical analysis is similar to that used in the calculation of the stationary temperatures in a conducting solid in the classical theory of heat concluction. The fuel bed is pictured as a uniform, continuous, porous solid through the interstices of which air can be blown and ill which combustion can take place. The solid lias a finite thermal conductivity, so that heat may be transported in any direction, against the flow of air as well as in the same direction. While it is true that nothing

Jan 1, 1938

By Martin A. Mayers

It has long been recognized that it would be highly desirable to be able to predict the temperatures at various points in a burning fuel bed and their variations with changes of the properties of the fuel and the rate of air supply. Experimenta1 investigations of fuel-bed temperature1-4 have not been lacking, but the absence of any theoretical background has made it impossible to use the results of these tests as a basis for prediction, except in a very general may. A mathematical analysis", based on a somewhat simplified theory of the distribution of lieat in a fuel bed, lias recently been completed by the author. Even though numerical values of some of the coefficients are not known, the calculations result in some conclusions of general significance. Thus, for example, it appears that when the temperatures throughout the fuel bed can be calculated, the rate at which ignition of the fuel by underfeed action can be maintained can also be calcu1ated. The uncertainty concerning the values of the coefficients referred to above is serious limitation on the use of that method. The following paper presents a discussion of these coefficients and includes estimates of their values based on the data now available. A brief description of the theory on which the analysis is based, and some results of the calculations showing their degree of agreement with experimental results, are presented by way of introduction to the discussion of the coefficients. For a more. extended discussion of the theory, see the A.S.M.E. paper5. Theory and Comparison with Experiment The theoretical analysis is similar to that used in the calculation of the stationary temperatures in a conducting solid in the classical theory of heat concluction. The fuel bed is pictured as a uniform, continuous, porous solid through the interstices of which air can be blown and ill which combustion can take place. The solid lias a finite thermal conductivity, so that heat may be transported in any direction, against the flow of air as well as in the same direction. While it is true that nothing

Jan 1, 1938

By G. H. Clevenger

The reagents now used in flotation consist of various acids or salts, which may be either electrolytes or non-electrolytes, dissolved in water and some substance or combination of substances which function as collecting or frothing agents. At times the only dissolved salts present are those naturally occurring in the water used. The general effect of the electrolyte is to greatly sharpen the separation between the gangue and the concentrate. Examples of this are: The use of sulphuric acid with zinc ores; and of sodium carbonate or calcium oxide (lime) with silver-gold ores. Crude pyroligneous acid is also sometimes used when avail able. Various oxidizing agents, such as permanganates, bichromates, etc., are added in the selective flotation of lead-zinc ores. Many other reagents for performing certain specific functions, either real or imaginary, have been proposed, and a number of them have been tried upon a working scale. The wild orgy of experimentation which is now going on in flotation exceeds even that which followed the introduction of the Washoe process for the treatment of Comstock ores, when, among other things, sage-brush tea and tobacco juice were reagents added to the pans. Out of all this will, of course, eventually come a more or less standard practice for the treatment of each class of ore. Omitting a discussion of the functions of frothing and collecting agents, the reagents used in flotation for this purpose may be classified under five general heads: (1) Essential oils; (2) fixed or fatty oils; (3) alcohols and their combinations with organic acids; (4) coal tar and its refined products; (5) petroleum and its refined products. A flotative agent of some kind is required in flotation as now practiced. A single reagent, as, for example, certain of the essential oils, may perform the dual function of frothing and collecting agent, or a mixture of substances may be required. In this country, the essential oils used have been wood products, and have been almost exclusively confined to the steam-distilled pine oils. At the present time, the supply of these is limited, and the cost almost prohibitive, so that their use has been dispensed with as far as possible. The oils and tars resulting from the destructive distillation of

Jan 1, 1917

By John Birkinbine

Much has been contributed to the Transactions of the Institute concerning the construction and operation of American blast-furnares ; but the following compilation is offered as possibly furnishing additional information upon the general features, dimensions, locations, capacities, etc., of the blast-furnaces of the United States; while, incidentally, the ores upon which they rely are noted in a general way. The paper is presented chiefly as a compilation, and the figures given are selections from most reliable sources, or averages calculated from official statistics, placed for convenient reference, with a view of assisting those who consult the Transactions in determining the present relative merits and importance of various sections of the country. The scope of the paper has been restricted to as few topics as possible, and all the details of special plants, or notable outputs have been ignored. While every effort has been made to give correct figures and data, the changes which are constantly taking place in the iron-producing industry, will, undoubtedly, by the time the paper is in print, develop some errors. It is difficult to determine which of the blast-furnace plants of the country should or should not be considered as upon the active list. A number which have not been in operation for years are still reported as active, some of which will scarcely be put in blast again, and others are handicapped so that they can only operate in times of abnormal profits. It is therefore scarcely probable that there are over 600 blast-furnaces in the United States which can properly be considered as active; but so many considerations affect the various plants, that, it being impossible to determine the exact number, I have relied upon the annual reports presented to the American Iron and Steel Association. Concerning the number of plants which could be stricken from the list, the Secretary of this Association says: "In January last (1885) we enumerated 669 furnaces, which included many stacks which had not been in blast for a very long time, and others which could not be operated except during short periods of exceedingly high prices for pig iron. We have gone over this list very carefully and have eliminated 10 anthracite, 19 bituminous, vol. xiv.—36

Jan 1, 1886

By H. F. Easter

The lead department of the El Paso Smelting Works at El Paso, Tex., is operated strictly on a custom basis. The ores treated are drawn from the surrounding territory, comprising New Mexico, Arizona, western Texas, and northern Mexico. Ores received from the last-named section originally amounted to a very large tonnage, but. of recent years have dwindled into comparative insignificance so far as this plant is concerned. This has been due partly to the establishment of a lead-smelting plant at Chihuahua, which is much closer than El Paso to most of the important mines, and partly to the recent revolutionary troubles in Mexico. There are no mines of either lcad or copper in the immediate vicinity of El Paso. In general, it may be said that the lead-ore supply of recent years has been uncertain and precarious, with a general tendency toward an excess of silica and a shortage of iron. This latter requirement has been met in large part by the use in El Paso lead furnaces of considerable amounts of roasted leady copper matte from the Chihuahua smeltery and of converter slag from the El Paso converters. These two materials, coupled with complex lead-copper ores from Bisbee, Ariz., have introduced into the lead-smelting operations a most unusual amount of copper, which has had an important bearing upon the smelting practice of the plant. his matter will be discussed later. The ore, loaded in either box cars or gondolas, enters the storage yard on four tracks elevated about 8 ft. above the ground. As all unloading is done by hand, unloading platforms at the height of the car floor parallel the tracks on each side to afford a runway for wheelbarrows. At frequent intervals these lengthwise platforms are joined together by others running crosswise to facilitate the distribution of the ores evenly over the beds, which are located below and between the tracks. At present much of the bedding space formerly used for lead ores is given over to the copper department, but 20 bins of various sizes are retained for the use of the lead furnaces and the Huntington & Heberlein roasting plant. The largest of these holds about 1,000 tons, while the smallest holds not over

Jan 1, 1916

By Edwin M. Chance

During the past 10 years, the safe and efficient lighting of the coal mines of this country has received an ever-increasing amount of attention. Several States have passed laws attempting to regulate the type of lamp to be used and the nature of the fuel to be burned, and the mining departments of coal-mining States have generally shown a keen and intelligent interest in this subject. The passage of the recent Employers' Liability Act in Pennsylvania has made it necessary for many coal-mining companies to take out liability insurance, and the companies underwriting such insurance have made it desirable for the insured to permit the use of none but illuminants of established worth. While these conditions have not obtained for a sufficient length of time to permit the statement that the illumination of coal mines by portable lamps has been standardized, still, considerable progress has been made and the direction of future practice in this branch of coal-mining technology is very evident. Under these conditions it seemed that a review of the methods now used in coalmine illumination, together with a brief consideration of the principles underlying these methods, might be of some interest. Miners' lamps may be divided into three classes: The open light, the electric cap lamp, and the flame safety lamp. It will be desirable to consider each of these classes separately, as each has properties peculiar to itself and one class is hardly comparable with another. In this country, without question, the open light is the most generally used of all miners' lamps. This fact is explained by the relative freedom of a large proportion of our mines from gaseous conditions, and by the admirable systems of ventilation installed in those that show a tendency toward such conditions. In the metal mines, the miner's candle has had and still has considerable vogue. Because of the small amount of ventilation usually supplied in metal mines, the freedom of the candle from any tendency to produce noxious gases or offensive odors, and the small amount of air it consumes, are valuable assets, while, because of the light color of the rocks in which workings are driven, the meager light is not a serious handicap.

Jan 1, 1918

By R. W. Raymond

In my paper on " End-Lines and Side-Lines in the Mining Law," read at the New York meeting of February, 1889 (Trans., xvii., 787), I discussed certain points involving the rights of a locator, B, who had located and surveyed a piece of ground, X + Y, of which only Y was properly subject to location, X being already held by another claimant, and had applied for and received a patent, granting X + Y, " excepting and excluding X." The paper concluded with the following questions : " Is there any difference in effect between the grant to him of Y simply and the grant of X + Y, ' excepting and excluding X' ? Why should any mining locator stake out his boundaries upon another location, and thus appear to assert a claim which he immediately withdraws? What is the legal force of such boundaries, established upon the land of another?" After calling attention to the fact that the entrance upon another's land for such a purpose is a trespass, and the principle that no trespasser can create by his trespass any right which he would not have without it, I reserved to another occasion a review of the history of the absurd practice of imaginary boundaries for mining claims, and a discussion of their legal effect. This practice is founded, of course, in the regulations and decisions of the United States General Land Office. There is nothing in the Revised Statutes which hints at it. On the contrary, the terms of Section 2322, giving to a locator " the exclusive right of possession and enjoyment" of the surface of his claim, seems clearly to forbid the use of that surface for the boundary-stakes of another locator. But the Act of 1866, though it provided for the issue of patents upon payment to the Government of so much per acre, and really by implication (as I have always believed) involved the absolute grant of the surface, was not so construed by the courts generally, or by the Land Office. Surveys were laid one over another in inextricable confusion, and the United States sold at $5 per acre the

Jan 1, 1890