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By Homer S. Frankhouser

Materials may be dredged, processed, stored and loaded for shipment at a single site in water depths ranging from 250 to 1200 ft. Solution mining may also be accomplished in deep sea situations. And, open air subsea mines with direct surface access may be developed and worked under the ocean floor. These concepts for deep sea mining are the results of extensive testing of individual components of the proposed systems by Dravo Ocean Structures, Inc., a subsidiary of Dravo Corp. A basic structure in these systems is the articulated platform. The platform consists of a gravity- type base and a buoyant cylindrical column which is constructed at an onshore location, towed to the offshore site and installed in a matter of days without use of heavy equipment. The base is also buoyant for towing purposes. This allows for gradual flooding to the point of negative buoyancy for positioning and anchoring to the ocean floor.

Jan 1, 1971

By R. W. Drier

THE conductivity of copper wire is of prime importance to the electrical industry and consequently to the copper refiner and wire manufacturer. Annealed copper wire has a higher conductivity than hard-drawn wire, but, on the other hand, its tensile strength is lower. In an attempt to explain the reasons for these changes in property or at least to study the conditions existing in these two types of copper wire, the experiments described here were carried on in the Department of Metallurgy of the Michigan College of Mining and Technology. This is only a partial and preliminary report on some of the work done to date on a research program of which the object is an intensive study of copper. It is offered with the hope that, though it is not an exposition of the most rigorous of conclusions, the general trend of inferences which may be drawn will be of value and interest.

Jan 1, 1929

These springs arc situated on the south bank of the river about four miles below the City of Great Falls. In addition to the spring on the bank there are several in the bed of the river. Estimates on the flow of all these vary from 350 to 600 cubic feet per second, and as the temperature is practically constant at 53° F. throughout the year, the effect on the river water is to prevent the formation of anchor ice at the Rainbow Fails power development below, trouble of this source being in evidence every winter at the Black Eagle Falls above. Geologists claim that the water of the Giant Springs is derived from seepage through an old pre-glacial channel of the Missouri River now occupied by Sand Coulee, five miles up-stream from Great Falls. The water in this buried channel seeps through the flat-lying sandstone of the region and again unites with the present stream at the site of the springs.

Jan 1, 1913

By C. M. Haight

The mines of the New Jersey Zinc Co. in New Jersey, are situated in the northern part of Sussex County, at Franklin, formerly Franklin Furnace, and also at Ogdensburg. The mine at Ogdensburg is still in the development stage, but the, mine at Franklin, with which this paper deals chiefly, has been a steady producer of high-grade zinc ores for many years. The town is about 50 miles from New York City, among the foothills -of the Kittatinny Mountains. It is equipped with water supply (filtered and chemically treated), good roads, electric lights, efficient police protection and excellent schools, including a new vocational high school. For a mining community, the conditions and location are far above the average. Franklin Furnace Folio, No. 161 of the U. S. Geological Survey, describes the geology and mineralogy of the district in detail, so that merely an, outline of the main characteristics of the orebody need be given. The

Jan 10, 1917

By H. A. Tobelmann

age Introduction ............................. 22 Crushing............................... 25 Leaching............................... 28 .Reduction.............................. 47 Electrolytic Deposition..............a.......... 51 Discard for Purification of Electrolyte.................. 60 Recovery of Copper from Discard Solution .............. 62 Resolution of Cement Copper...................... 64 Summary............................... 64 Appendix............................... 66 Discussion............................... 69 Introduction The location, mode of occurrence of ore, and preliminary tests leading to the development of the present leaching process and the building of the present plant on the property of the New Cornelia Copper Co. at Ajo, have been described in previous papers presented to the Institute and in the discussions thereof.l It is sufficient to say that these tests began early in July, 1912, and were continued to the close of January, 1916; that small tests at Douglas were followed by the construction of a 1-ton plant at the mine; and this was followed by the operation of a 40-ton plant for 11 mo. In all about 15,000 T. of ore were treated experiment-

Jan 1, 1919

By Zay Jeffries

A. G. WORTHING, Nela Park, Cleveland, Ohio (communication to the Secretary*).-The paper by Mr. Jeffries is very interesting. He is to be commended for his pioneer work in the study of equilibrium systems at the very high temperatures which one obtains with tungsten and molybdenum. There is one statement, however, to which I must take exception. On page 1227, a statement is made which would seem to indicate that the Nela Research Laboratory joined Dr. Langmuir in the recommendation of 3,300°C. as the most probable melting point of tungsten. This is not the case. In. the paper referred to by Mr. Jeffries, I have given 3,630°K. or 3,357°C. as the melting-point temperature for tungsten. Confirming observations by other workers in our laboratory justify the belief that this latter value is correct to within a small part of the discrepancy between the two values quoted.

Jan 12, 1916

Through the courtesy of Mr. J. H. Batcheller, we are able to give the following extracts from a letter written by Mr. Caetani: It has been a nice idea of yours to collect for me all those scraps of news I received a few days ago and to send me such a long interesting letter. In four years war I have had practically no news. Burch wrote several times but several of his letters were lost and so mine. I believe I even wrote to you. Much has changed since our last days in Telluride; here and there many have disappeared. Of myself I will tell you in a few words: for a year I was in Cadore(?), where I had the good luck to do to the others what they wished to do to me, and had good luck on my side. Then I went to Macedonia for 5 months, did little fighting but lost my faithful fellow officer and companion.

Jan 6, 1919

The State School of Mines, University of Utah, is this year giving-a four weeks' course for prospectors-Jan. 8 to Feb. 3, 1917-covering the fundamentals of geology, mineralogy, mining and the metallurgical treatment of ores. There will be 36 lectures of 1 hr. each and about 20 laboratory periods, each 3 hr. in length. It is the purpose of the School of Mines to make the course entirely a practical one, and purely theoretical considerations will be omitted. The laboratory work is designed to supplement the lectures and-to give those taking the course a working knowledge of the principles involved. In order to bring the course within the reach of all, no laboratory fees will be charged, and the only fee will be a nominal one for registration in the University, of $1.00, but it is expected that those who attend will be genuinely interested in the work.

Jan 2, 1917

F. McMillan Stanton was born in New York City on May 23, 1865, the son of an English father and of a mother whose family was linked with that of Peter Stuyvesant. Mr. Stanton took his degree from the School of Mines of Columbia University in 1887, worked for two years as an assayer and surveyor and then went into the mining field on his own account. After a few years, he was offered a position with the Atlantic Mining Co., and began the work which was to continue with marked success for twenty-three years. In 1910, Mr. Stanton retired and went to Europe for a rest. Upon his return in 1914, he was elected treasurer and director of the Mohawk Mining Co., the Wolverine Copper Mining Co. and the Michigan Copper Mining Co., to which group was later added the White Pine Extension, Copper Co., and continued to serve these companies until the time of his death, Sept. 12, 1916.

Jan 12, 1916

In high-volume mining operations, preventive maintenance programs that include standardized replacement wear parts can boost equipment availability and lower unit costs. Meeting the daily production targets depends heavily on keeping equipment working as close to full time as possible. This is the case at one medium-sized western surface coal operation producing approximately 2.7 million t/y (3 million stpy). The mine, located in western Wyoming, removes in excess of 8 million m3 (10.5 million cu yd) of highly abrasive overburden each year. According to the mine superintendent, "Abrasion at this mine is some of the worst I've ever seen. Shovel points can wear out in little more than one shift. Dozer blades some- times last two weeks, but can wear out sooner. And ripper points really take a beating. If we can replace this fast-wearing iron with small pieces that go on quickly, we think that's the way to go."

Jan 3, 1978

By H. V. Fairbanks

This report covers a study of three different methods for drying ultrafine coals by sound waves. Ultrafine material is classified as coal which passes through a 100-mesh sieve. During the investigations, it was found that the addition of acoustic radiation to the drying of ultrafine coal is effective in increasing the rate of drying; the effect of acoustic radiation to improve drying decreases with an increase in the temperature of the system; the drying rate increased 10-40% when acoustic radiation was introduced into a rotary kiln but was dependent upon the environmental conditions; the application of vertical vibrations to multi-tiered drying screens increased the rate of moisture removal ten times over that obtained in the rotary kiln; the formation of coal balls in any of the drier systems retards the rate of drying; the higher the initial moisture content of the coal the greater the amount of coal balls formed.

Jan 1, 1970

Birmingham - A City With a Future COURTING new industries is the time honored duty of the chambers of commerce; but Birmingham, until recently, has done its courting without the benefit of troubadors. This is all changed now for the iron and steel industry is singing an enticing song about steel priorities for new industries from Birmingham's own mills. Along with the increasing industrialization of Birmingham there has been a marked influx of industry into the Southeast and neighboring areas in the south central states which augurs well for business in Birmingham. This important stronghold of the foundry industry (consuming 95 pct of Birmingham's merchant pig iron in 1950) has been the source of important announcements about additions to steel ingot capacity. The virtual abolition of basing point pricing gives the Birmingham iron and steel industry an advantage in the South's new markets. This means more business for Birmingham, but the problem of raw materials supplies is posed.

Jan 12, 1950

The paper describes a cyclic method for processing manganese ores using sodium sulphate as the basic reagent. Sodium sulphate is electrolyzed in a diaphragm cell to give an anolyte sodium sulphate acid and a catholyte containing caustic soda, a part of which is carbonated in a cyclic manner to Form ash. and reduced ore is leached with the anolyte to dissolve the manganese and the impurities are precipitated by addition of catholyte. Manganese in the pregnant solution is precipitated as synthetic rhodochrosite with a carbonated catholyte, and sodium sulphate is regenerated. Calcining the manganese carbonate site a high-grade product and the carbon dioxide is returned to the carbonation step. the results of laboratory tests using cells equipped with synthetic fiber diaphragms and permselective membranes which permit transfer of using or cations during electrolysis are described. The article from which the above abstract is reprinted appears in Trans. AIME (1955) 203, p. 51; Journal op Metals (January 1955).

Jan 1, 1956

(Under this heading will be published notes sent to the Secretary of the Institute by members or other persons introduced by members.) Experienced mining engineer, Columbia School of Mines graduate, practical experience in drifting, shaft sinking and development work, also in mining, operating and equipping iron, copper and zinc properties. Married, age 32, available at once. Open for position as superintendent or assistant. No. 462. Member, mining engineer, age 39, married, technical graduate, 12 years' experience in gold mining and milling; past four years as superintendent of large properties. At present employed but open for engagement after July 1; will consider no position not offering a future. Salary $4800. No. 467. Member, mining engineer, age 46, married, desires a position as superintendent, or an opening with an industrial company of permanency. Western and Alaskan experience in mining, cyanidation anti concentration. At present manager of an Eastern property, but desires a change. Available on thirty days' notice. No. 468.

Jan 7, 1918

IT is not very necessary for those who work ores to return the litharge to lead, because they use litharge in place of lead ore and they use it the more willingly when it still contains some trace of silver. For the cupeling hearth can never be so well made or so cleanly operated that some little bit of silver does not remain in it, and some particle of it is also necessary by its very nature. But for one who has to use very much lead at one time, like someone who smelts sweepings or cements, or for someone who wishes to bring his operations to a conclusion and withdraw his investment, it is possible to have the lead again. In order to do this, the litharge is taken and ground. Cupeling hearths are washed in addition to being ground. Then these powders are made into a paste by wetting them with salt water, and they are made into large

Jan 1, 1942

The Lead-Line Update held in conjunction with the 1977 SME-AIME Fall Meeting in St. Louis provided sessions on mining, mineral processing, extractive metallurgy, and economies to brief the record on the industry's activities and developments since the 1970 World Symposium on Lead and Line convened, also in St. Louis. Changes in the industry since 1970 have not been profound, notes the program committee, consisting of D. O. Rausch, F. M. Stephens, and B.C. Mariacher, cochairmen; and H. L. Clifford, S. C. Fall), and M. Snedeker. However, various environmental and conservation factors have had a direct impact on process consideration and operating practice; the result has been new mines, improved technology, and changing market opportunities. The general consensus of the participants is that the future for the Lead-zinc industry looks promising as new applications are found and new products resulting from intensive research reach the marketplace. The highlights of the HS technical papers presented at the 1977 session follows.

Jan 11, 1977

J: H. POLHEMUS, New York, N. Y. (written discussion*).-The Joplin .mining and milling practice has largely influenced operating methods in the Wisconsin district. Milling equipment is essentially of the same type with the notable exception that no tables are used. The treatment of the flue 'sands has been attempted several times but without commercial success. Table material coming from any one mill is low both in tonnage and zinc content. The iron is comparatively high as the pyrite-line "chat" is much more prevalent than the zinc-lime attached particle. In the finer sizes the zinc occurs mainly as free mineral. These condi-tions make the production of good-grade table concentrates very diffi-cult. The accompanying tabulated results from several mill tests indi-cate the character of the mill tails. I think the average mill tails in the district assay nearer 1.5 per cent. zinc than under 1 per cent., as stated by Messrs. Boericke and Garnett.

Jan 10, 1919

On Jan. 1, Harvard opened its reorganized School of Engineering and will continue the work during the summer to enable the entrants to complete a full year's work by the opening of the next academic year in September. Some time ago Harvard University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology agreed to combine effort in engineering instruction, making use of funds provided under the will of the late Gordon McKay. The agreement was objected to and the Massachusetts Supreme Court held that the arrangement was not in accord with the provisions of the will. The new arrangement has been approved both by the trustees of the McKay estate and by the governing boards of the university. Instruction will be offered in the following subjects; mechanical engineering, civil engineering, sanitary engineering, electrical engineering, mining and metallurgy, and industrial chemistry. Henry Lloyd Smyth has been appointed professor of mining and metallurgy, Albert Sauveur, professor of metallurgy and metallography, and Louis C. Graton, professor of economic geology.

Jan 2, 1919

By P. Barnes

Some statements have already been made to the Institute in reference to the cost of other departments of the above-named works, and some details have been given in tabular form.* For the purpose of the present paper it may be sufficient to say that this converting works is made up of three buildings, a cupolahouse, an engine-house, and a converting-house. The machinery and fixtures comprise two blowing-engines, two pressure-pumps, two five-ton converters, five hydraulic cranes, three pig-iron cupolas, four spiegel cupolas, two lifts for the cupolas, together with the usual arrangements of smaller parts. Every effort was made in the construction to combine efficiency of operation with durability, and the general course of the operation of the works during two and a half years seems to warrant the belief that the large outlay has been fully justified. * In the accompanying tabular statement all items on vouchers less than ten dollars, and all freight items have been omitted.

Jan 1, 1879

By Richard C. Timberlake

The disposal of phosphatic clays has presented a problem to the phosphate industry since the mining of phosphate rock first began in Polk County. As the flotation process was introduced in the late 1920's the problem of clay disposal was increased significantly since clay is present in proportionally greater quantities in reserves yielding flotation concentrates. Because of their physical character and the tremendous surface area per unit volume, these clays have the characteristic of retaining large volumes of water as they are slurried during processing. The disposal of clay and the recovery of a portion of the water require settling areas with a capacity ranging up to 2 cu ft for each cubic foot of phosphate matrix mined. According to a recent study by the Bureau of Mines, the average cost for disposal of these wastes is 24.5[c] per ton of product. This is a major cost of phosphate rock production.

Jan 12, 1969