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By H. Foster Bain

The recent admirable paper on the general subject of coalcutting machines presented to the Institute by Mr. E. W. Parker* leaves but little to be desired so far as the well-proven and widely-used machines are concerned. The general character of the machines in use and the range of their adaptabilities have been very well stated. It will be noted that in all cases these machines are being used in room-and-pillar work, and indeed (though attention was not directed especially by Mr. Parker to that point) they are practically confined to that work. It is probable that neither the chain breast- nor the pick-machine is, or can be, used to any great advantage in long-wall work.

Jan 1, 1900

By Howard L. Hartman

The past 15 years have seen rapid advances in the metallurgy of materials for drill machinery and bits, but rock drilling itself continues to be largely an art. Jet piercing, roller bit rotary drilling, and rotary percussion are all promising new techniques, but the percussion rock drill, still used for 90 pct of the blastholes in U. S. hard-rock mining, has under- gone no major modification since pneumatic machines were first used successfully in the 1860's. This singular lack of progress stems directly from ignorance of the nature of impact failure of rock and the fundamentals of rock penetration in general. For nearly three-quarters of a century, mining engineers did not know what went on at the bottom of a drillhole.

Jan 1, 1959

The 48th convention of the International Union of Mine, Mill and Smelter Workers, held in New York City recently, saw delegates vote funds for a new organizational drive expected to begin immediately. John Clark, union president, told members in his keynote speech, that the union would be in a better position to make demands if it extended its membership to all phases of the nonferrous -industry. He told the 250 delegates that union leaders have already laid extensive groundwork for the campaign. Clark said: "I am proposing here that we concentrate on organizing during this coming year. I am proposing that we throw a heavy amount of re sources in organizing. That means financial resources as well as re- sources of staff ."

Jan 1, 1952

By Thomas R. Couzens

This chapter covers certain aspects of open pit production planning based on experience, pointing out approaches to planning that may help produce a realistic picture for evaluation and operation The subjects discussed are roads, preproduction stripping, dump planning, dewatering, the relationship of production planning to equipment selection, and computer methods for the short-range or operational pit planning process Actual determination of ore limits, pit design, and production schedules are covered in other chapters This discussion is somewhat general. Specific problems that occur in mine planning are extremely varied, and it is not possible to cover many of them in a chapter, therefore, only some of the principles that are important in the approach to open pit production planning problems will be discussed.

Jan 1, 1979

By Walter R. Hibbard, Robert I. O’Herron, Fred D. Rosi, Howard T. Clark

INTRODUCTION AND PREVIOUS WORK IN the search to find a copper-base alloy with high strength properties, it was considered that the addition of a small amount of an age-hardening element to a binary system with useful strength properties might result in a series of alloys of theoretical and practical importance. [ ] The copper-nickel system was selected for its basic properties and chromium was added as the age-hardening element in view of the small percentage involved and its decreasing solubility with decreasing temperature. A study of the Cu-Cr binary alloys was undertaken as a preliminary investigation. However, in view of the response of these alloys to heat treatment, the scope of this phase of the investigation was widened. [ ]

Jan 1, 1948

By S. R. du Toit, W. J. Oberholzer, M. I. Watson, D. G. Krige

The objectives, essential features and implications of the 'random' and 'deterministic' types of ore value surfaces are examined as well as the basic requirements for a satisfactory prediction model. The 'random' method used on the South African gold mines and based on observed auto-covariance patterns is briefly discussed as well as its justification in preference to the 'deterministic' approach. Various mathematical models for auto-covariance patterns are examined for the one-dimensional case. It is also shown that these patterns as estimated for ore values in certain mines agree closely for various sizes of ore unit. In two case studies the variations in gold, uranium and ore thickness covariance patterns are examined and compared with certain geological features established independently from sedimentological studies.

Jan 1, 1969

By Strathmore R. B. Cooke, Iwao Iwasaki, C. S. Chang

PYRRHOTITE has long been considered a gangue mineral to be eliminated as tailing in the treatment of various sulphide ores. However, in recent years the world-wide lack of sulphur resources has called attention to this mineral as a potential source of both sulphur and iron. Its importance as an economic mineral, however, has not been particularly emphasized. For this reason very little is known about its response to flotation, except that it can be depressed easily in alkaline circuit, by long aeration,1,2 addition of oxidizing agents3 or by starch.4 The object of this work was to study the floatability of pyrrhotite. This includes the effect of oxidation by aeration, of copper activation, and of change in pH.

Jan 2, 1954

By T. N. Andersen, K. J. Richards, C. N. Wright

The kinetics of the important reactions occurring in an electrowinning cell have been determined. This information has been used to quantify relationships between the operating variables of current density, solution composition, agitation, and temperature and the resulting current efficiency and deposit quality. Analysis of these results has shown (1) the importance of dissolved iron in determining maximum possible current efficiency and corrosion rate at the cathode suspension loop, (2) the role of agitation, current density, inert salts and temperature in*determining deposit quality and (3) the effects of non-uniformity in the hydrodynamic conditions from the bottom to top of the cell. The significance of the results of this study to the operation of a commercial plant directly treating acid leach solutions is discussed.

Jan 1, 1973

By J. Richard Kyle

Lead-zinc ore bodies in the upper part of the Pine Point carbonate barrier complex are localized in paled-solution structures that developed as the result of post-middle Givetian subaerial exposure. Detritus-filled dolines host prismatic ore bodies, and macropores and stratabound permeable zones contain tabular ore bodies. Sulfides are concentrated in these transgressive paleosolution structures that acted as natural bypasses between aquifers and loci for mixing of fluids of different character. Complex ore textures indicate rapid early sulfide precipitation followed by slower sulfide growth. Evidence for both sulfide-carbonate equilibrium and disequilibrium conditions suggest fluctuations in ore fluid composition, perhaps related to periodic supply of reduced sulfur. District and ore body metal distribution pattern may reflect the nature and movement of mineralizing fluids.

Jan 1, 1981

By R. W. Raymond

In a former paper (Trans., xvi., 770) I gave the text of the archaic mining law of the State of New York, together with some comments upon its curious provisions. In that connection I pointed out two facts : first, that the law seemed to have originated in the schemes of private parties, who were satisfied with those parts of it which concerned them particularly; and secondly, that the remaining provisions had been hitherto quite inoperative, for the reason that mines of the character to which they referred had not been discovered in the State. Since 1888, when that paper was written, the New York Legislature has passed several acts relating to mines as follows: 1. Chapter 394, Laws of 1890. This provides for an inspection

Jan 1, 1895

APPROXIMATELY 90 per cent of the steel that is melted and refined in the United States and poured into ingots is made in basic open-hearth furnaces, as shown in Table 1-1. The annual ingot capacity of the steel industry reported January 1,1950, by the American Iron and Steel Institute8* was 99,040,160 tons, of which the basic open-hearth process accounted for 85,896,580 tons, 86.7 per cent of the total. The capacity of the individual furnaces varies over a wide range, a large majority falling within limits of 50 to 200 tons (Fig 1-1). Most of the units constructed [ ] since 1942 are in the larger size groups, between 175 and 225 tons capacity.

Jan 1, 1951

By Harry E. Cross

Kiln Products commissioned a Waelz kiln 4 metres in diameter by 75 metres long, in South West Africa in March, 1969, to recover nine in a form suitable for the production of electrolytic zinc. The raw material consists of a mixture of zinc silicate concentrates and zinc rich tailings purchased from an adjacent zinc mine - the mixture containing 20% to 25% zinc. The chemical composition of the ore is tabulated and the initial test results are described. Due to the comparatively low temperature at which the ore starts softening the kiln has certain unusual features to enable the temperature to be controlled within the necessary limits. A detailed description of the kiln, the starting-up problems and present operating conditions and results are presented.

Jan 1, 1970

Occasionally it is interesting, and sometimes useful, to review the past for early references to our industry, and to learn of the trials and travail passed through before it arrived where it now is- and the results of such a review follow. Some time ago one of our modern playwrights and poets, Arthur Guiterman, turned to coal, with the following result: Afar in the Carboniferous time I grew in Paleozoical slime, A lepidodendron with boughs on my stem And lepidostrobuses grew out of them. My roots in the mud of the ages I spread And up to the heavens I vaunted my head, I throve in the heat of tropical sun, And now I am coal at two dollars a ton

Jan 1, 1939

By J. D. Livingston, J. J. Becker

A MAJOR difficulty in the experimental study of precipitation-hardening is the measurement of particle sizes too small to be easily resolved with the microscope. It has been shown recently, however, that magnetic measurements on copper-cobalt al- loys in the aged state can be used to determine the average volume, total volume, volume distribution, and shape of the ferromagnetic cobalt-rich particles, even though the particles are submicroscopic in size. r' These alloys also are known to exhibit considerable precipitation hardening. This paper reports some results on the dependence of the mechanical properties of such an alloy on the particle size, determined magnetically. It further illustrates the use of other magnetic measurements in interpreting structure changes occurring during deformation.

Jan 1, 1959

Occasionally it is interesting, and sometimes useful, to review the past for early references to our industry, and to learn of the trials and travail passed through before it arrived where it now is - and the results of such a review follow. Some time ago one of our modern playwrights and poets, Arthur Guiterman, turned to coal, with the following result : Afar in the Carboniferous time I grew in Paleozoical slime, A lepidodendron with boughs on my stem And lepidostrobusea grew out of them. My roots in the mud of the ages I spread And up to the heavens I vaunted my head, I throve in the heat of tropical sun, And now I am coal at two dollars a ton.

Jan 1, 1935

By Herbert Clark Hoover, Lou Henry Hoover

PREVIOUSLY I have given much information concerning the miners, also I have discussed the choice of localities for mining, for washing sands, and for evaporating waters; further, I described the method of searching for veins. With such matters I was occupied in the second book; now I come to the third book, which is about veins and stringers, and the seams in the rocks1. The term "vein" is sometimes used to indicate canales in the earth, but very often elsewhere by this name I have described that which may be put in vessels2; I now attach a second significance to these words, for by them I mean to designate any mineral substances which the earth keeps hidden within her own deep receptacles.

Jan 1, 1950

APPROXIMATELY 90 per cent of the steel that is melted and refined in the United States and poured into ingots is made in basic open-hearth furnaces, as shown in Table 1-1. The annual ingot capacity of the steel industry reported January 1, 1950, by the American Iron and Steel Institute3* was 99,040,160 tons, of which the basic open-hearth process accounted for 85,896,580 tons, 86.7 per cent of the .total. The capacity of the individual furnaces varies over a wide range, a large majority falling within limits of 50 to 200 tons (Fig 1-1). Most of the units constructed [ ] since 1942 are in the larger size groups, between 175 and 225 tons capacity.

Jan 1, 1964

By S. A. Braley

DRAINAGE water from coal mines is probably the most serious water pollution problem today, varying in importance according to location of the mines and geological structure. Drainage may be either acid or alkaline in character. Acid discharge, the most severely detrimental to a stream, is caused by natural oxidation of the sulfuritic material (FeS2) in the strata associated with the coal seam. Since the acid is the result of a natural reaction the acid water differs because it does not cease with abandonment of the mining operations. There is no known economical method of neutralizing acid mine water or any practical method to prevent oxidation of exposed pyrite. Since production of acid from a mine does not stop when mining stops, the total quantity produced depends entirely upon the excavated areas. The increasing volume of acid water in manv mines has greatly increased operating costs. Pumping is expensive and acid mine waters are destructive of all equipment, especially metals in pumps and piping, and necessitate the use of corrosion-resistant materials. Discharge of the acid mine drainage into streams neutralizes their normal alkalinity, causes them to become acid, and produces an environment unfavorable for aquatic life and unsuited for industrial or domestic use without costly treatment. Mine drainages vary in percentage composition over wide limits, although the usual dissolved substances are ferrous and ferric iron, aluminum, calcium and magnesium sulfates, and lesser amounts of sodium, potassium and manganese sulfates and chlorides. Some alkaline discharges may contain heavy concentrations of iron as iron bicarbonate. These waters may produce iron hydroxide deposits in the receiving stream but do not cause it to become acid. In the extensive literature on acid mine water there appears to be a great deal of confusion about the importance of various components and the methods for their determination. In many instances faulty conclusions have been drawn from use of unsuitable methods of analysis. It is desirable that the factors and terms used in evaluation of analyses of mine waters should be so clearly defined that any interested person could properly appraise any analytical report. Some analysts report complete chemical analyses of mine waters and neglect to record drainage volumes. Others report only a minimum of analytical data after taking no precautions to preserve the original composition of the water during the time elapsing between collection and analysis. Some use methods of analysis intended for so-called pure waters of the potable and boiler water classes. These methods are not applicable to highly buffered waters such as mine water. Probably the most common criteria for evaluation are pH, free acidity, or acidity or alkalinity to methyl orange or methyl red, total acidity or acidity to hot phenol-phthalein, and the sulfate content. If these determinations are made on carelessly collected samples after a few days to weeks standing in warm rooms, they do not in any way represent the character of the water flowing from the mines. It is hoped that a brief discussion of the fundamental value of some of these factors may lead to a bettqr understanding of the need for more careful evaluation of mine water discharges. The term pH is one used by chemists to express relative acidity or alkalinity in terms of concentration of effective hydrogen ion in a solution. It is defined as the negative logarithm of the hydrogen ion concentration or activity in equivalents per liter. pH = logarithm A neutral solution, which is one containing the same number of hydrogen and hydroxyl ions, has a pH of 7. As the hydrogen ions increase and the solution becomes more acid, the pH decreases toward zero; and as the hydroxyl ions increase and the solution becomes more alkaline, the pH approaches 14. When dissolved in water to a dilute solution acids like sulfuric and hydrochloric, commonly known as strong acids, ionize completely, and the pH or hydrogen ion concentration varies with molar concentration of the dissolved acid. However, in high concentrations of such acids, the pH or hydrogen ion concentration is less than the acid concentration because the acid does not completely ionize. In only very dilute solutions does the pH represent the total amount of acid that can be neutralized by an alkali. All ionization reactions are equilibrium reactions. If other chemicals are added to the solution of an acid and the added chemical produces an ion that is the same as one of the ions of the acid, the degree of ionization of the acid is altered and the pH changes to some value that represents the active hydrogen ion of the new solution. Thus if iron sulfate is added to a solution of sulfuric acid the pH increases, since the common sulfate ion suppresses the degree of ionization of the sulfuric acid and decreases the effective hydrogen ion. However, the total acidity of the solution is increased. There are two salts composed of iron and sulfate— ferrous and ferric sulfate. In these salts there is no hydrogen ion that can ionize to give an acid solution, but when they are dissolved in water, the pH is less than 7 and the solution becomes acid. This is caused by a reaction known as hydrolysis and is represented by the equations FeSO4 + 2H2O ? Fe(OH)2 + 2H + SO,: or Fe,(SO,)3 + 6H2O ? 2Fe(OH)3 + 6H+ + 3504 A solution with a total acidity of 5000 ppm according to the first equation will have a pH of 4.40 but one with an acidity of 75 ppm, according to the sec-

Jan 1, 1958

By F. C. Frischknecht

Most early development and application of electromagnetic prospecting methods took place in Scandinavia, where geological conditions favor their use. In other parts of the world these methods have aroused cycles of interest, but in Scandinavia they have been used continuously and successfully since the 1920's. Electromagnetic methods may be classified into two general groups. One group includes methods in which the source of the electromagnetic field remains stationary while the receivers are moved about to explore the area. The other includes procedures in which the energizing and receiving systems are moved together. Other classifications could be based on the size of the energizing source, the particular components of the electromagnetic field which are measured, or the mode of transporting the equipment. The difference between fixed-source and moving-source methods, however, is of such great fundamental importance that it will be emphasized in this discussion. FIXED-SOURCE METHODS Essentially, a fixed-source method consists of the measurement of electromagnetic fields about the source. The mutual coupling between the source and the earth is constant, but the mutual coupling between the receiver and the earth (unless the earth is homogeneous) and also between the source and the receiver changes at each station. The results are usually normalized by relating the field data to the calculated free space or primary field. Turam and Radio Reference Signal Methods: The turam or two-frame* (see Fig. 1A) is probably * Turam means two-coil. the most common fixed-source method. The energizing source is an insulated cable grounded at both ends or formed into a large rectangular loop. Measurements are taken along a traverse at 5 to 50-meter intervals using two small receiving coils, the lagging coil being placed at the position previously occupied by the leading coil. The complex ratio (i.e., inphase and out-of-phase ratios) of the voltages induced in the two coils is measured. Operating frequency range is about 100 to 800 cps. In a typical turam survey a straight, grounded cable several kilometers long is laid out parallel to the probable strike of the ore deposits or conducting strata being sought. An area extending 1 or 2 km on each side of the cable, and within 1 or 2 km of the ends of the cable, is surveyed. Measurements are made at stations 5 to 25 m apart along traverses perpendicular to the cable. Measurements may be made along lines parallel to the cable to serve as base lines for the traverses or for other special purposes. Commonly the receiving coils are oriented with their planes horizontal so that only the vertical component of the field is measured. If additional information is required, one of the hori- zontal components may also be measured by orienting the coils with their planes vertical. In a modified turam technique developed recently for both ground and airborne measurements (Fig. 1B) the amplitude of the complex voltage induced in a single receiving coil is measured and its phase compared with that of a reference signal transmitted from the energizing system by a radio frequency carrier. Thus the un-normalized field is obtained directly, whereas with the turam method it is obtained by calculation from the ratios. The turam method and its modifications have a greater working depth than the other electromagnetic procedures used in ore prospecting. Under favorable conditions conductors have been located at depths of 200 to 300 m. A modified turam method with one of the electrodes grounded in the upper end of a plunging orebody was used to follow the extension of this body to a depth of 200 m beneath a layer of conducting schists. Straight grounded cables are usually preferred to insulated loops because they are easier to lay out and because they often make the method more sensitive. The greater sensitivity of a grounded cable is a result of ground return currents which may flow in the orebodies in addition to the eddy currents caused by induction from the current in the cable. Anomalies in the vertical field due to eddy currents are characterized by a correspondence between high values for the inphase component and positive out-of-phase components and/or low values for the inphase component and negative out-of-phase components. Also the inphase component may approach zero, but it does not become negative. In very long continuous conductors that are parallel to a grounded cable the effect of ground return currents may far exceed the effect of eddy currents. These ground return currents cause a lack of correspondence between the inphase and out-of-phase components and may cause negative inphase or anti-phase components. It becomes difficult to carry out the measurements and often difficult to interpret the results. Such results immediately suggest the presence of graphitic strata, however, since ore deposits are rarely extensive enough to accumulate sufficient ground return current to cause these results. A cable laid out perpendicular to the strike or an insulated loop is sometimes used in areas where graphitic schists and slates are present. Anomalies are then completely or almost entirely due to eddy currents and are easier to interpret. The measured voltage ratios are normalized by either subtracting or dividing by normal field ratios calculated from free space considerations. The normalized ratios are then plotted as individual profiles. When significant anomalies occur in the ratio measurements, the actual normalized fields are calculated by beginning with a measured or an assumed value for the field at a point near the cable and successively multiplying this value by the normalized ratios. There is a similarity between this process and a numerical integration of the ratio curve. Conversely, in many respects the ratio curve is similar to the first derivative of the field curve.

Jan 1, 1960

By L. W. Saperstein, Y. J. Wang

The development of computer programs to solve complex ventilation networks has reached a point of refinement where these programs become a necessary tool of the ventilating engineer. Such a program is presented. This program has an increased efficiency over its predecessors; it also includes the important facility of fixed quantity branches. This is in addition to the earlier capabilities of free-splitting, internal or external fans, and natural ventilation pressures. The program is written in Fortran IV with double-precision arithmetic and is listed here. Sample problems with input and output are also given. The recent, and presumably continuing, official interest in mine safety is bound to result in more stringent control requirements for ventilation. Anticipating this requirement, the Dept. of Mining, The Pennsylvania State University, has developed a computer program for the solution of complex mine ventilation networks. It is the opinion of this department that the program has sufficient merit to warrant its use in normal industrial operating conditions. Although the undergraduate mining engineering students of this department are routinely trained to use the program, it was felt that this training did not present a fast enough means of dissemination; consequently, this paper was written. The conception of the program is not new;1; however, the present version incorporates features that changes it from a scientific endeavor to a useful operating tool. These features include those of earlier programs, such as free-splitting, external or internal fans, and natural ventilation processes plus the important ability of handling fixed quantity branches, and of increased efficiency giving reduced cost. The facility for fixed quantities will be discussed in more detail. The solution of any network depends upon satisfying Kirchchoff's laws. These state that the sum of flow at any junction is zero, and that the sum of the pressure drop in branches totals the pressure drop in the mesh constituted by those branches, that is that the pressure drop around any mesh is zero. The terminology is derived from Synge," and is, in fact, that used by Topologists. A branch is any airway of uniform characteristics; a junction is where two or more airways meet (the minimum number of two airways is useful for describing the point where a low resistance airway changes into a high resistance one due to some physical constriction); a mesh is a path, along some branches, that returns on to itself, but does not need to traverse the same branch twice in order to do so; and a tree describes all those branches in a network which, while connected through all the junctions, do not form any meshes. Obviously the branches-in-tree are open-ended and can be shown to be one less than the number of junction (J-1). The branches-out-of-tree, also called basic branches, are equal to the number of basic meshes and are M = N — J + 1, where M is the number of meshes and N is the number of branches. The major difference between this network and an electrical one is that the law attributed to Atkinson for pressure drop is utilized rather than Ohm's law. Atkinson stated that the pressure drop (potential) is equal to a resistance factor multiplied by the quantity squared. This is written H = RlQlQ where H is the head loss. Q? is written in this factored fashion so that H will always have the same sign as Q. A negative sign is used to indicate that flow in a branch is opposite to that of its containing mesh. A mesh takes the direction of its basic branch. Utilizing Atkinson's law in Kirchchoff's second law and bearing in mind that the first law must remain satisfied, the program will determine all quantities, or head losses as they are related, for the branches of the network. The program uses a Geuss-Seidel form of in-teration, starting from an arbitrary Q and using a correction factor of the type first suggested by Professor Hardy Cross' that will handle the nonlinear equation of Atkinson's law. A fuller description of the interative process is included in Wang and Hartman.' Iteration continues until the correction factor is less than or equal to a preset error (E) or until a maximum number of iterations (MAXIT) have been reached. Utilizing an E of 50 cfm, sample problems have had rapid solutions. Rapidity of solution is also ensured by the method of selecting meshes and basic branches. This is done by the computer, which chooses the highest resistance branches, fixed quantity branches, and those containing fans, as basic branches. Natural ventilation pressures are handled as fans of constant pressure and may be assigned to any branch. The computer will generate a fan characteristic by polynominal fitting if a few operating points from the desired fan are input. A fan may be placed in any branch of the network, except those with fixed quantities. The strength of the present program over its earlier versions is its ability to handle fixed quantity branches. This means that certain branches can have their quantity determined, or preset, by the ventilating engineer. Operating under this constraint, the program will analyze the network and output the pressure change necessary to achieve this desired quantity. A call for positive head loss would require an auxiliary fan; negative head loss would require a regulator. This represents a powerful tool for the ventilating engineer who must insure that certain quantities of air pass across the operating faces or through working stopes. McPherson6 suggested that a ventilation program would be useful for determining in advance which branches were receiving inadequate air, and that subsequent calculations would then indicate the necessary corrections. The present program makes these corrections. Thus the mine manager can know immediately the consequences of changes to his system;

Jan 1, 1971