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By Lauren A. Wright

SINCE the early nineteen-thirties the production of talc* in California has increased five-fold to a yield in 1947 of about 76,000 tons (fig. 1); conse- .' Unless otherwise qualified, the term "talc" in this paper will imply a mixture of the pure talc with such related minerals as commonly occur in the commercial material. quently the state is now one of the nation's three principal talc producers. The 1947 output, which represented about one-sixth of the national total for that year, was approximately equal to production from Vermont, and was second in value to that from New York. New York has an annual output of about 130,000 tons. Three factors have been mainly responsible for the expansion of talc production in California. (1) Technical advances and innovations, particularly in the ceramic industry, have increased the demand for certain California talcs. The nation's high-qual- LAUREN A. WRIGHT, Junior Member AIME, is Associate Geologist, California Division of Mines, San Francisco, Calif. Los Angeles Meeting, October 1948. San Francisco Meeting, February 1949. TP 2622 H. Discussion of this paper (2 copies) may be sent to Transactions AIME before Feb. 28, 1950. Manuscripts received Dec. 7, 1948; revision received Aug. 29, 1949. This paper is Contribution No. 508 of the Division of Geological Sciences, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, Calif. the industry, mainly through demand for the urgently needed steatite. Fibrous talc, used as a paint extender by the armed forces, also was produced in quantity. (3) Expanding western industry has continued to draw heavily on California talc deposits, and has extended the upward production trend into the postwar period. Considerably more than half of California's current talc output is used as ceramic raw material. The paint, rubber, paper, and textile industries are the more important consumers of the remainder. Smaller amounts are used as insecticide carriers, and in cosmetics, and various minor industrial applications. During World War I1 the principal steatite deposits were studied in detail by members of the U. S. Geological Survey; other sources of commercial talc in the state have in the past received but scant geologic attention. The following discussion is essentially a preliminary report based on research currently in progress by the California Division of Mines, and includes a brief outline of previous steatite studies by the U. S. Geological Survey. Distribution of California Talc Deposits: The principal talc resources of both California and Nevada are confined to an elongate belt that extends from the vicinity of Baker, in north-central San Bernardino County, northwestward to include the southern Death Valley region, the Inyo Range, and the Palmetto-Oasis district of western Nevada (fig. 2). This belt, of which all but the northernmost tip lies in California, is approximately 200 miles long and 30 miles in average width. Included in the belt are four contrasting areas. The deposits within each area are geologically similar and yield talcs that have characteristic properties and applications. Three of these local "talc provinces" lie within California's portion of the talc-

Jan 1, 1951

By Lauren A. Wright

SINCE the early nineteen-thirties the production of talc* in California has increased five-fold to a yield in 1947 of about 76,000 tons (fig. 1); conse- .' Unless otherwise qualified, the term "talc" in this paper will imply a mixture of the pure talc with such related minerals as commonly occur in the commercial material. quently the state is now one of the nation's three principal talc producers. The 1947 output, which represented about one-sixth of the national total for that year, was approximately equal to production from Vermont, and was second in value to that from New York. New York has an annual output of about 130,000 tons. Three factors have been mainly responsible for the expansion of talc production in California. (1) Technical advances and innovations, particularly in the ceramic industry, have increased the demand for certain California talcs. The nation's high-qual- LAUREN A. WRIGHT, Junior Member AIME, is Associate Geologist, California Division of Mines, San Francisco, Calif. Los Angeles Meeting, October 1948. San Francisco Meeting, February 1949. TP 2622 H. Discussion of this paper (2 copies) may be sent to Transactions AIME before Feb. 28, 1950. Manuscripts received Dec. 7, 1948; revision received Aug. 29, 1949. This paper is Contribution No. 508 of the Division of Geological Sciences, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, Calif. the industry, mainly through demand for the urgently needed steatite. Fibrous talc, used as a paint extender by the armed forces, also was produced in quantity. (3) Expanding western industry has continued to draw heavily on California talc deposits, and has extended the upward production trend into the postwar period. Considerably more than half of California's current talc output is used as ceramic raw material. The paint, rubber, paper, and textile industries are the more important consumers of the remainder. Smaller amounts are used as insecticide carriers, and in cosmetics, and various minor industrial applications. During World War I1 the principal steatite deposits were studied in detail by members of the U. S. Geological Survey; other sources of commercial talc in the state have in the past received but scant geologic attention. The following discussion is essentially a preliminary report based on research currently in progress by the California Division of Mines, and includes a brief outline of previous steatite studies by the U. S. Geological Survey. Distribution of California Talc Deposits: The principal talc resources of both California and Nevada are confined to an elongate belt that extends from the vicinity of Baker, in north-central San Bernardino County, northwestward to include the southern Death Valley region, the Inyo Range, and the Palmetto-Oasis district of western Nevada (fig. 2). This belt, of which all but the northernmost tip lies in California, is approximately 200 miles long and 30 miles in average width. Included in the belt are four contrasting areas. The deposits within each area are geologically similar and yield talcs that have characteristic properties and applications. Three of these local "talc provinces" lie within California's portion of the talc-

Jan 1, 1951

By F. C. Clapp

Although many oil fields have been, and still are being, discovered in Oklahoma, the geology and structure of most of them have not become familiar to the general public because of the delay in securing government geological surveys and the reluctance of oil companies and other intercsted parties to give out their "inside information " Therefore, until official surveys are available, it behooves us to publish geological results as soon as possible. Fortunately the writer has been authorized by the Cement Field Oil Co. to publish his data on the Cement field, Caddo County, at this time. Locality and Description The Cement field is situated in the part of Oklahoma known generally until recently, as "Healdton fields," and lies 60 mi. (96 km.) northwest of the Healdton field proper. Like the Healdton field, it forms an approximate ellipse, trending northwest and southeast through the village of Cement on the St. LouisSan Francisco Railroad, on which it is reached in 21/2 hours from Oklahoma City. In its geological structure, the field constitutes an anticline over 13 mi. (21 km.) long and from 1 to 3 mi. wide; the point of greatest width being not far from its intersection by the above-named railroad. The major axis trends north 75' west from the village of Cement; but eastward appears deflected (if field interpretations are correct) to about south 45" east. About 5 mi. south lies an approximately parall el syncline, which may be conveniently called the Cyril syncline, the south and west boundaries of which may be distant many miles, but forming a closed basin south of the Cement anticfine. The positjon of the offsetting synclinal axis, which is believed to lie north and east of-Cement, has not been discovered. TOPOGKAFHY In the southwest part of the state, nearly all maps of Oklahoma show two mountain areas—Arbuckle and Wichita—which are conspicuous geological and topographic landmarks. In addition, some maps show a third, and smaller, range, named the Keechi Hills, in the vicinity of Cement. These hills also form a conspicuous feature in the landscape; but for some reason they have been neglected by geologists, and the

Jan 1, 1921

By Donald Cummings

MEASURES appropriate for the control of the silicosis hazard in mining cannot be formulated precisely, but sufficient knowledge1-19 has accumu-lated during the past quarter century to permit the suggestion of useful, though partly empirical, rules for its alleviation. The industrial hygienist today recognizes that the peril incurred by the inhalation of harmful dust is a function of two variable factors-the degree of harmful exposure and the specific susceptibility of the exposed individual to pulmonary injury. Con-trol of the danger arising out of prolonged contact with pernicious air-borne particulate matter is consequently best exercised by influencing both of these recognized variables. Obviously the problem has two broad aspects-one, medical; the other within the province of the engineer.

Jan 1, 1938

By R. S. Rickard, M. C. Fuerstenau

Anodic polarization curves for iron dissolution and cathodic polarization curves for copper deposition and ferric and hydrogen ion reduction were studied. These results were used to predict the relative rates of the reactions: The rates of the first two reactions were found to be first order with respect to the reacting ion, and the rale-controlling step was diffusion of the ions to the callzode surface. The rate of hydrogen ion reduction in an oxygen-free solution is dependent on the reciprocal of the square root of the hydrogen ion activity. In solutions containing oxygen, the rate of hydrogen reduction becomes dependent on the square root of the partial pressure of oxygen. At equal concentrations copper precipitation occurs about twice as fast as ferric ion reduction. In an air-saturated solution containing 0.01 M cupric ion at pH 2, the rate of hydrogen ion reduction zs about 10 times slower than that of copper precipitation. At pH values below 3, the rate of hydrogen reduction in oxygen-free solutions is very slozu. COPPER cementation has been utilized industrially for many years as a means of recovering copper from aqueous solutions. There are many different types of cementation plants, but all simply provide a means of contacting iron with relatively dilute copper solutions. In the past little or no attention has been paid to rates or mechanisms of the reactions involved. As a result, this and other studies'-3 have been undertaken recently to establish the important parameters in this system. The reactions involved in copper cementation by iron are: Since transfer of charge is involved in every case, these reactions should be considered from an electrochemical point of view. In any electrochemical system involving electrolytic conduction, passage of electrons necessitates ion transfer to the respective electrodes according to Faraday's law. The current in the system will be proportional to the rate of ion transfer, and, therefore, when the current in the galvanic cell is known, the rates of the reactions involved can be determined. Galvanostatic electrode measurements5" are applicable for these electrochemical studies, in that with this technique polarization curves (current density vs electrode potential) are established by impressing a constant current through an electrode and measuring the electrode potential. Once the current density, electrode potential, and reacting area are known for each reaction in this cementation system, the rates of the iron-consuming reactions can be determined. EXPERIMENTAL MATERIALS Several metal electrodes were used in this investigation; they are shown in Table I. Solutions were made with reagent-grade salts and conductivity water. Air, nitrogen, and oxygen were employed. All of these gases were saturated with water and degreased prior to use. EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE The experimental work was divided into two general areas. The first area involved galvanostatic measurements, which were used to determine the rates of reactions as a function of various parameters. The second area comprised actual cementation experiments to check the rates predicted from the electrode measurements. Galvanostatic Electrode Experiments. Polarization curves were obtained using a standard galvanostatic technique5'= with the apparatus shown in Fig. 1. The various electrode polarization experiments were run the same way except for changes in solution composition, polarity, and type of measured electrode. The general procedure involved the following steps: 1) a solution was made 0.5 M in sulfate ion and to the desired cation concentrations; this solution was placed in a constant-temperature bath and saturated with the desired gas; 2) the electrodes were cleaned and placed in the electrode holder; 3) the previously cleaned apparatus was assembled and immersed in a constant-temperature water bath (temperature controlled to ± 0.05"C); 4) the electrode was then positioned; the solutions were introduced, and the polarization meas-

Jan 1, 1969

By E. Sengier

At the Director's dinner of the A.I.M.E. on. April 22, Mr. Sengier of the Union Minière du Haut Katanga was a guest. Though a member of the Institute for sev-eral years this was the first occasion on which he had had opportunity to meet with it, and in response to an invitation from President DeGolyer, after expressing his pleasure at being present, he told informally of the present development of the Congo with which he has been so closely related. From his remarks the follow-ing has been prepared.-EDITOR. AS you know, the Belgian Congo, a fairly large colony compared with the territory of Belgium, is in the center of Africa. Natural waterways, railroads now built and new railroads under construc-tion, give increasing means of transportation and are helping toward development. The mining industry is by far the most important part of our colonial activity. Considering that we are all engineers, I will confine my figures to mining enterprise. First I will show you the relative importance of the mining industry com-pared with the total exports of the Belgian Congo. During 1925 there was exported 100,000 tons of cop-per, valued at about $25,000,000; 900,000 carats of diamonds, 8000 lb. of gold, 1700 tons of cassiterite, 300 .tons of cobalt, and 20 grams of radium, of a total value of about $35,000,000. Other products to a value of about $12,000,000 and consisting mainly of palm nuts, palm oil, cotton, ivory, copal, rubber, were also exported. From this you will see that mineral products account for about 72 per cent of the total exported value. Copper alone amounts to 52 per cent of the total and 72 per cent of the mineral exports. All minerals, with the exception of gold, which is mined by the government, belong practically toy two mining companies in which American and British capi-tal is interested with Belgian. These two companies (one called Forminière, interested in the diamond busi-ness, and the other called the Union Minière, interested in copper, cobalt, tin and radium) were formed twenty-five years ago. They started producing in 1911, but the war prevented normal operations, and active de-velopment could only be carried on after the Armistice.

Jan 5, 1927

By Arne F. Westgren

X-ray analysis and single-crystal study have been utilized in recent years as a new means of following constitutional changes in alloys. If such transformations can be suppressed by rapid cooling, they can be followed at room temperature in a particularly convenient manner. In the following we shall consider changes in solubility and polymorphic transformations with particular reference to phenomena of the age-hardening type. Finally a thermodynamic viewpoint is developed for examining such transformations. Changes in Solubility 1. Determinations of solubility limits in the solid state which show decreasing solubility with falling temperature are made as follows: A series of alloys extending into the heterogeneous region is prepared and quenched fromas high a temperature as possible, whereupon their lattice parameters are determined. Then one or more alloys are quenched from temperatures at which they are heterogeneous and their lattice parameters likwwise determined. For the purpose of determining the parameter the apparatus shown in Fig. 1 has been very useful for it produces sharp films in a short time which can be accurately read. High-order reflections (interferences) from the object are recorded on a film which is placed exactly perpendicular to the X-ray beam. The specimen usually has the shape of a small round bar.l Fig. 2 shows a selection of such exposures of silver-rich Cu-Ag alloys, and Fig. 3 gives the measurements made from these films. Fig. 4 gives the solubility curve which results.2 This curve is shifted to lower concentrations than the curve that is obtained from metallographic or physical methods. The X-ray method unquestionably gives more reliable data

Jan 1, 1931

Separates of all the Technical Publications published in 1930 are available at Institute headquarters. All the papers are on file in public, university and technical libraries, and when so indicated in the list, may be found in the TRANSACTIONS. Copies of these papers have been mailed to those members of the Institute who are registered in Classes A-Mining Methods; B-Milling and Concentration; C-Iron and Steel Division; D-Non-ferrous Metallurgy; E-Institute of Metals Division; F-Coal Division; G-Petroleum Division; H-Non-metallic Minerals; I-Mining Geology; K-Mining Administration; L-Geophysical Prospecting, respectively. Other members may obtain copies by writing to the Secretary. Additional copies are sold at the rate of 1 cent per page; minimum charge, 25 cents. METAL MINING TECH¬ NICAL PUBLI- TITLE AUTHOR MEETING TRANS CATION VOLUME No. AND PAGE* 264-A.29. Quicksilver Industry in 1929. Im- L. H. Duschak San Francisco T30, 283, 312 provements in the Metallurgy of C. G. Maier and Oct., 1929 Quicksilver and Symposium on The others Present Status of the Quicksilver Industry (With Discussion) (37) 271-A.30 Observation on Ground Movement R. E. Palmer New York T30,168 and Subsidences at Rio Tinto Feb., 1930 Mines, Spain (20) 274-A.31 Development and Installation of the C. L. Berrien New York T30, 139, 166 Hawkesworth Detachable Bit (29) . Feb., 1930 276-A.32 Protective Measures Against Gas O. A. Glaeser New York T30, 129, 187 Hazards at United Verde Mine (11) Feb., 1930 287-A.33 Use and Cost of Compressed Air (12) R. S. Lewis New York Feb., 1930 314-A.34 Miami Copper Company Method of F. W. Maclennan New York T30, 39, 80 Mining Low-grade Orebody (44) Feb., 1930 319-A.35 How Human Beings Respond to W. J. McConnell New York Changing Atmospheric Conditions Feb., 1930 (9)

Jan 1, 1930

By A. B. Cox, L. W. Wark

In an earlier paper1 measurements of contact angles due to the effect of xanthates on mineral surfaces were reported. The solutions in which these measurements were made differed widely from those of modern flotation circuits. It is intended, however, by introducing, one at a time, the other principal reagents of flotation, to approach gradually the solution composition of flotation liquors. The work now described is an attempt to determine the effect of one of the most important of these reagents—namely, sodium cyanide—on the establishment of air-mineral contact. The work has been carried out for the following companies: Broken Hill South, North Broken Hill, Zinc Corporation, Electrolytic Zinc of Australasia, Mount Lyell Mining and Railway, and Burma Corporation. Since the effect of cyanide is inseparably connected with the alkalinity, the results cited below deal with the mutual effects of alkalis and cyanide. Alkalis alone exert a significant effect on the air-mineral contact but comparatively large amounts are required. Since the addition of a small amount of cyanide greatly decreases the degree of alkalinity necessary for the suppression of contact at surfaces of any of the minerals experimented with (except galena) and since alkalis are rarely used alone in practice, little attention has been paid to cyanide-free solutions. It was shown in the previous paper that, excluding the dixanthogen effect, whenever contact was practicable at all in an ethyl xanthate solution the angle of contact was 60". There is, therefore, less necessity to measure equilibrium contact angles; in fact, the experiments herein described have generally been conducted with a view to determining whether contact is possible and not to measuring the actual value of the contact angle. The separations which have generally to be effected in dealing with complex sulfide ores are: (1) galena from sphalerite, pyrite, etc.; (2) sphalerite from pyrite and/or gangue minerals; (3) copper minerals from pyrite and gangue minerals; (4) pyrite from gangue minerals; (5) chal-

Jan 1, 1935

By H. A. Stacy

THE ability of galvanized sheet steel to withstand severe bending is of very great importance as relates to all such sheet material which, in service, is not used in the flat condition in which it is purchased. A "bend-test" clause is found in, all specifications for material of this kind. In the attempt to draw up a specification for galvanized sheet steel the subcommittee of the Federal Specifications Board having this work in charge, soon found that there was a surprising lack of published data and apparently very little available from manufacturing sources upon which to sustain or reject the various requirements embodied in the tentative specification which, in turn, had been based largely upon other specifications submitted to the subcommittee for this class of material. Specifications from 25 sources were received; 10 Government specifications, 10 from private users of such material, and five from manufacturers. The main points raised were: (1) The minimum mandrel thickness, expressed in terms of the thickness of the sheet tested, over which sheets with different weights of coating can be bent 180°, without serious damage to the coating; (2) the minimum radius of curvature on the inside of the angle in 90°-bends in such material; (3) effect of double seaming on the coating; (4) uniformity in the thickness of coating over a sheet, particularly as relates to the results of bend tests. In view of the uncertainty existing, it was considered very desirable for the subcommittee to conduct a series of tests in order to secure reliable information.

Jan 10, 1926

By E. P. Miesch, P. B. Crawford

A study was made of the effect of permeable and impermeable lenses in a reservoir on the production capacity of a well. Both steady-state and unsteady-state data were obtained. An electrical resistivity model was used to obtain the steady-state data and thermal models. were constructed to obtain the unsteady-state data. The productivity of a well is affected very greatly only when the lenses are close to the well. The effect of circular lenses on the productivity ratio can be correlated with the distance from the center of the lens to the center of the well divided by the radius of the lens. When this dimensionless distance is equal to six or greater, the effect of the lenses on production capacity will be negligible. The pseudo steady-state productivity of a heterogeneous reservoir can be predicted using steady-state data. INTRODUCTION Many analytical solutions of reservoir behavior assume that reservoir rock is uniform and homogeneous. Although this assumption is used, all of the data from core analyses and well logging indicate that the reservoirs are heterogeneous. Very little work has been done on the performance of heterogeneous reservoirs. The work of Landrum,l et al. showed that transient phenomena in oil reservoirs could be studied with thermal models. Pickering and Cotman2 used thermal models to study flow in stratified reservoirs and investigated the effect of inhomo-geneities in oil reservoirs on transient flow performance. Loucks3 made a mathematical study of the pressure build-up in a system composed of two concentric regions of different permeability. Root, Silberberg and Pirson4 studied the effect of the growth of the flooded region on water influx predictions using a thermal model consisting of three concentric cylindrical regions of different thermal properties which simulated the aquifer, the flooded region and the unflooded portion of the original hydrocarbon region. Tomme, et a1.5 made a mathematical study of vertical fractures. The object of this investigation was to study the effect of highly permeable and impermeable lenses in the vicinity of the wellbore on the pressure depletion history of the well. Steady-state data were obtained for both conductive and nonconductive lenses that completely penetrated the formation. The lenses were symmetrically located at various distances from the wellbore. The unsteady-state data were obtained on seven thermal models. EXPERIMENTAL EQUIPMENT AND PROCEDURE STEADY-STATE DATA The steady-state data were obtained from an electrical resistivity model 30 in. in diameter and approximately 11/2 in. deep. The outside of the model was lined with a 30-in. diameter copper strip, which served as the outer boundary of the reservoir. The bottom was covered with a sheet of plexiglass so that it would be nonconductive. The model was filled with a slightly saline solution. The well size was varied from an 0.064-in. diameter copper wire to a 10-in. diameter copper cylinder. Readings were taken with an impedance bridge using AC current to prevent polarization at the contacts. Copper and wax lenses were used to represent infinitely conductive and nonconductive lenses, respectively. The resistance was first measured for each well diameter with no lenses in the reservoir. Then the conductive and nonconductive lenses were spaced symmetrically at various distances from the well and the resistance read from each lens location. The diameters of the conductive lenses were 3, 1.022 and 0.624 in., and those of the nonconductive lenses were 3, 2.25 and 1.563 in. The ratio of each resistance reading to the resistance reading with no lenses in the reservoir

Jan 1, 1965

EARLY this year the Board of Directors announced that, through the generous gift of past-president W. L. Saunders, a gold medal to be awarded for distinguished achievement in mining had been estab-lished. At the December meeting of the Board the medal committee reported that it recommended that the first medal be awarded to David William Brunton for "development and exposition of the principles and prac-tice of ore sampling; for systematic daily mapping of mine geology; for the Brunton mining compass; and for engineering achievements in connection with great tunnels." The formal presentation of the medal will be at the din-ner, on Feb. 16, in connec-tion with the annual meet-ing. Mr. Brunton, like several other prominent Institute members, was born in Can-ada, and came to the United States when he was twenty-four years old. He had then been in civil en-gineering work for three years and after a year more of it, deciding that mining was more attrac-tive he spent two years at the University of Michigan doing advanced work in geology a n d chemistry. His first mining engage-ment was with the Dakota and San Juan Mining Co., at Mineral Point, Ouray County, Colo. That was in June, 1875, and the young engineer had to travel 230 miles by trail from the then nearest railroad station at Pueblo. Having to come out because the company did not get in enough supplies to last through the winter he became metallurgist for the Hunt, Douglas & Stewart Co., at Georgetown, Colo. When the Hunt and Douglas plant proved a success, H. A. Taylor, the father of Mr. Brunton's later partner, Frank M. Taylor, engaged him to build the Clear Creek Reduction Works. Eighteen months later he built the Native Silver Mining Co. mill at Caribou and a year later a mill at Silver Peak, Nev., that was so successful that the principal owner shut it down to freeze out the minority stockholders. The winter of 1879 found him at Leadville where he did engineering work for the Robert E. Lee, Duncan, Wolftone, A. Y. & Minnie, and Dinero mines, eventually becoming manager of the Colonel Sellers. In 1886 he was called in on apex-side-line litigation at Aspen with the result that he went there to develop the mines for economic and legal pur-poses, and later became the manager of three of them. His most notable piece of work there was the driving of

Jan 2, 1927

By Arthur Taggart

THE major portion of the work described in this paper was performed by R. W. Young,+ a graduate student in the department of Mining and Metallurgy, Sheffield Scientific School, Yale University, working under a cooperative agreement between the Hardinge Conical Mill Co., the Sheffield Scientific School, and himself. Since this cooperative scheme is at present in effect in the case of a considerable number of other students in the department and since it is the hope of the school that the privilege thus extended may be utilized even more freely in the future by mining and manufacturing companies, it may not be amiss at this point to give a summary of the general plan. Briefly it is as follows: A graduate student, whose undergraduate work in this or other universities shows promise of ability to handle research work, is chosen by conference between the company and instructor involved. The aim of the company in the agreement then entered into is to obtain the solution of one or more of the technical problems with which it may be confronted, or, at the end of 1 or 2 years, to obtain as an employee a man especially trained in its work. As. a means to accomplish one or both of these ends, the company furnishes the machine, apparatus, or material to be tested and pays the student during his graduate work a small salary, usually just sufficient to cover his living expenses, tuition and fees. The aim of the student is special training along a line in which he is particularly interested, the attainment of his advanced degree, and the chance to show to his future employer ability to handle such problems as may be presented to him. In return for the financial aid which he receives he agrees to devote at least half of his working time to the special problem submitted by his company. The other half is devoted to study of the collateral subjects required by the department for the granting of the degree which the student seeks. The student further agrees to enter the employ of the company in question at a wage not greater than that paid in like positions to recent graduates not specially trained and to remain with his employer at such wage for at least 1 year. If the student is to obtain a degree, the special work forming the basis of his investigation must be such as will involve real research and not mere routine manipulation. The subject is chosen by conference between the three parties to the agreement. The work is carried on under the direct supervision of the instructor involved. The school furnishes the general laboratory and library equipment essential to the pursuit of any extended investigation, In

Jan 4, 1917

By Ernest G. Enck

"The Rockets' Red Glare" of the Fourth of July is produced by strontium compounds. However, strontium has a number of less spectacular uses; i.e. in, or in connection with, the manufacture of ceramics, caustic soda, glass, railway and truck signal flares, beet sugar and steel. The principal ore of strontium for use both as the mineral and for production of compounds is celestite (SrSO4). This mineral varies in color from white to pink or blue depending on presence of impurities. It has a hardness of about 3.5 and specific gravity of 3.9. It is brittle and has perfect basal and prismatic cleavages. The high grade ore is obtained from England, hence it has become the standard for all other producing areas. (See analyses, Table 1.) The most objectionable impurity in English celestite is iron, coming mostly from adhering clay. On the other hand, Mexican celestite, while no higher in strontium sulfate content, is extremely low in iron (less than 0.2 pct), hence it is more desirable for certain uses. Most of the celestite in Spain and in the United States is high in calcium and barium, and commonly high in iron, and requires some form of beneficiation in order to be equal to English ore. The natural carbonate (SrCO3), or strontianite, is less important than celestite as a source of strontium, because it is less abundant and is not so widespread in its occurrence. Furthermore, it generally occurs with calcite (CaCO3) and lead sulfide (PbS), and for most uses these impurities are detrimental. This mineral is generally white or yellowish, forming needle-like crystals. It has a hardness of about 3.7 and a specific gravity of 3.68-3.8. The mineral is brittle and has an imperfect cleavage. A typical analysis of German strontianite is shown in Table 1. [ ] Distribution of Deposits UNITED STATES Occurrences of strontium minerals are known in Arkansas, Arizona, California, Illinois, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, and Washington. Celestite occurs in the Vulture Mountains, Maricopa County, Arizona in beds three to ten feet thick associated with sandstone, gypsum, and barite. Because of the low strontium content, approximately 86 pct SrSO4, it has no commercial value. A large deposit of celestite occurs in San Bernardino County, California, in the Cady Mountains near Argus Station, about eight miles west of Ludlow. The celestite here is interbedded with shaly and clayey tuff in a zone about 300 ft thick. Massive, finely crystalline ore has been recovered with an analysis

Jan 1, 1960

By Dale I. Hayes

Combined loader and transport, the Gismo is now built for sale in one size, 5 to 6 tons. It will operate in a minimum opening of 7x7 ft and can be built to operate at lower heights. Where space limitations are not a factor it could be designed with much greater carrying capacity-12, 18, or 25 tons-to be powered with a standard heavier tractor. The Gismo is mounted on crawler tracks of the same design as the tracks of the small Allis- Chalmers HD-6B tractor used to power it. With the HD-6B tractor it will negotiate upgrades of 12 pct and downgrades of 20 pct. The next tractor size would make the device feasible for steeper grades or for a machine of larger capacity at moderate grades.

Dec 1, 1956

By R. P. Aikman, F. G. Miller, J. M. Podgursky

As part of a larger study of the mechanism of froth flotation of coal, the rates at which coal particles of various size and specific gravity react to froth flotation were investigated. Results of this study show that in flotation: I) recovery rate increases, but selectivity decreases with a decrease in particle size down to 100 mesh, and 2) recovery rate is constant for all sizes between 100M and 325M. n response to the growing demand for low-sulfur coking coal for iron making, the coal industry is continually striving to perfect methods for cleaning coal to acceptable ash and sulfur levels while maintaining maximum product yield. By present standards the industry has adequate processes for cleaning coarse coal, i.e., + 28 mesh, at almost any desired specific gravity. However, in the case of fine coal, i.e., —28 mesh, neither of the two existing processes - froth flotation or hydrocycloning — in its present state of development yields products that are comparable in ash and/or sulfur content to products normally obtained from coarse coal processes. The work outlined in this paper is part of a larger study directed toward maximum exploitation of froth flotation for fine coal processing. The concepts and data presented are now serving as a basis for designing fine-coal circuits in which improved efficiency is obtained by optimum use of froth flotation with other fine-coal processing methods. The paper includes: 1) A discussion of the value of a detailed wash-ability study as a method of assessing the problems associated with fine coal processing, 2) A general discussion of hydrocyclone principles, included to serve as a basis for understanding the mechanism of coal flotation, and 3) A detailed discussion of the mechanism of coal flotation, as well as the research leading to the optimum use of froth flotation in combination with other fine-coal cleaning methods to provide efficient fine-coal processing. Our study of the rates at which coal particles of various size and specific gravity react to flotation shows that in flotation: 1) recovery rate increases but selectivity decreases with a decrease in particle size down to 100 mesh, 2) recovery rate is constant for all sizes between 100 mesh and 325 mesh, and 3) the flotation process effectively rejects only those extremely fine particles which do not contain surface carbon. (Because of this feature, froth flotation is an excellent method for rejecting clays - the only extreme fines in - 325-mesh coal that are always carbon free.) Washability studies of flotation products are used to assess flotation efficiency. These studies show that: 1) the increase in percent sulfur in flotation products above the theoretical sulfur content as defined by the washability study is due almost entirely to flotation of fine high-specific-gravity particles that are part coal and part pyrite, and 2) in a given size range particle floatability decreases with an increase in particle specific gravity. Error curves are explained and are used to compare the mechanisms of coal flotation and hydrocycloning. These comparisons show that hydrocyclone performance is affected primarily by particle mass, i.e., particle specific gravity and size, whereas coal flotation performance is dependent on both the particle mass and the coal surface available for bubble attachment. Since the error curve is a basic tool for rating the efficiency of any coal processing system, it will be useful to quickly review the principles of error curve construction. RATING COAL-PROCESSING EFFICIENCY BY THE ERROR CURVE The organic component of coal is of lower specific gravity than its impurities, and the most effective principle for coal concentration is therefore separation on the basis of specific gravity. However, since there is no sharp dividing line between pure coal and pure ash components, specific gravity must be closely controlled if the product is to have acceptable quality at maximum yields. In turn, the basis for close control in any coal processing system is the reference standard provided by precise laboratory washability studies. In these studies, coal is carefully separated into a series of progressively higher specific gravity fractions to establish a relationship

Jan 1, 1968

By L. A. Panek

During the past three years, USBM has developed an apparatus and technique for direct measurement of existing pressure and change of pressure in mine rock. This relatively simple and inexpensive monitor is reliable for months after being installed. It is used to determine shift of ground pressure created by different sequences of mining, to ascertain the cause of rock failures, and to evaluate the need for artificial support. The technique has been employed to measure pressures in limestone, greywacke, concrete, diabase, and soft iron ore. When rock is subjected to a load it is deformed. Ordinarily this is observed in a mine as the displacement of one point with respect to another—the deflection of the roof, which may be observed as a convergence between roof and floor; or the extrusion of material from the rib, which may be observed as a decrease of the distance between the rib and the post of a timber set. The effect of excessive pressure may be a rockburst if the rock is strong, or it may be squeezing ground if the rock is soft. Some desirable effects of high stress (high in relation to strength) are the caving of roof in a longwall mining operation, the caving of ore in block caving, and the decrease in mechanical energy required to break down the mineral seam in a retreating pillar-robbing operation. In any case, whether the observable effect of rock load is desirable or undesirable, it is a displacement, and depends on the following four factors: 1) The structure—the size and shape of openings, pillars, and linings, the geologic bedding and jointing. 2) The mechanical properties of the rock—prin-cipally the strength, modulus of elasticity, and flow characteristics. 3) The load or applied stress—primary sources are the weight of superincumbent rock, which increases with depth, and unrelieved tectonic stresses; secondary sources are redistributed pressures caused by other nearby openings, especially large mined out zones (rock pressure depends partly on the rock structure created by mining). 4) Duration of load, related to the length of time the opening is exposed. CONTROL OF ROCK DISPLACEMENT Rock displacement can be controlled by control of these four factors. Consider now the means of exercising such control over these factors. Control of the structural features is obviously possible to a great extent, as such control is exercised largely by choosing the method of mining and the methods of natural and artificial support. Rock properties vary, even within a particular mine, but they are controllable only in the limited sense that control may be exercised by choosing the beds or zones to be mined so that rocks with undesirable properties will not occupy critical positions within the rock structure created by mining. Rock pressure is the most complex of the four factors through which ground control can be achieved because it is invisible, difficult to measure, and poorly understood. Rock pressure is controllable only to the extent that control is exercised on the rock structure created by mining. Considering openings within a particular mine, time of exposure varies, and is readily controllable because it is easily measured and easily understood — the longer an opening stands, the greater the likelihood of failure or excessive convergence. Control is exercised by choice of an appropriate sequence of driving openings of different classes, such as haul-ageways and rooms, which are required to remain well supported for different lengths of time under different conditions. Again, control is exercised through the method of mining. All controllable factors can be controlled by proper design of the mining method. The orientation and relative positions of the mine workings and the sequence of their excavation are likely to be much more important to ground control than is the design of artificial support. This implies that the major decisions in regard to ground control are made, knowingly or not, at the time the mining method is chosen. WHY MEASURE ROCK PRESSURE In addition to restrictions on the several factors, control implies the measurement of these factors in some sense, whether only qualitatively by visual observation, or by actual quantitative determination with a measuring instrument. Rock pressure is the most difficult of these factors to measure, largely because of the interaction between the measuring device and the rock. Nevertheless, the quantitative

Jan 1, 1961

By W. N. Marchant, P. T. Brooks, P. B. Altringer, R. O. Dannenberg

The US Department of the Interior, Bureau of Mines conducted laboratory tests to devise a process for recovering a marketable grade of tungsten from the brine of Searles Lake, Calif. The brine contains only 56 ppm W (70ppm WO3). Using ion exchange resins synthesized by USBM chemists, 98% of the tungsten was extracted from the brine and 92% of the tungsten was recovered as a marketable iron-tungsten concentrate containing 44% tungsten as tungsten trioxide. Although major technical problems have largely been resolved, research is progressing to escalate testing in a process research unit to provide more reliable data for an economic appraisal

Jan 1, 1980

By B. DE MARE

THE No. 6 open-hearth furnace at the plant of the Worth Steel Co., Claymont, Del., is the first to be rebuilt according to the Kuehn system. This as well as the other five furnaces at Claymont, has a nominal capacity of 75 tons, but the actual charge is about 242,000 lb. No hot metal being available, the pig-iron is charged cold. Oil of low grade with an asphalt base is used as fuel. These two items have to be kept in mind when discussing the actual fuel consumption. Careful records have been kept covering a five weeks run and the following is a brief summary of them The time required to heat the furnace preparatory to charging from the time a wood fire was started until charging commenced was 36 hours. This, I understand, is much less than with furnaces of standard design. The draft of the furnace, as shown by a gage in the stack-flue, is 1.25 in. The maximum draft with new checkers on former runs was 1.50 in., this draft gradu¬ally decreasing as the checkers closed up. Both of the first helpers claim the present draft is all they need for the proper working of the furnace, and, as with the Kuehn regenerators the draft remains practically the same from beginning to end of a run, this is satisfactory.

Jan 1, 1929

By Arthur F. Taggart

The major portion of the work described in this paper was performed by R. W. Young, † a graduate student in the department of Mining and Metallurgy, Sheffield Scientific School, Yale University, working under a cooperative agreement between the Hardinge Conical Mill Co., the Sheffield Scientific School, and himself. Since this cooperative scheme is at present in effect in the case of a considerable number of other students in the department and since it is the hope of the school that the privilege thus extended may be utilized even more freely in the future by mining and manufacturing companies, it may not be amiss at this point to give a summary of the general plan. Briefly it is as follows: A graduate student, whose undergraduate work in this or other universities shows promise of ability to handle research work, is chosen by conference between the company and instructor involved. The aim of the company in the agreement then entered into is to obtain the solution of one or more of the technical problems with which it may be confronted, or, at the end of 1 or 2 years, to obtain as an employee a man especially trained in its work. As a means to accomplish one or both of these ends, the company furnishes the machine, apparatus, or material to be tested and pays the student during his graduate work a small salary, usually just sufficient to cover his living expenses, tuition and fees. The aim of the student is special training along a line in which he is particularly interested, the attainment of his advanced degree, and the chance to show to his future employer ability to handle such problems as may be presented to him. In return for the financial aid which he receives he agrees to devote at least half of his working time to the special problem submitted by his company. The other half is devoted to study of the collateral subjects required by the department for the granting of the degree which the student seeks. The student further agrees to enter the employ of the company in question at a wage not greater than that paid in like positions to recent graduates not specially trained and to remain with his employer at such wage for at east 1 year. If the student is to obtain a degree, the special work forming the basis of his investigation must be such as will involve real research and not mere routine manipulation. The subject is chosen by conference between the three parties to the agreement. The work is carried on under the direct supervision of the instructor involved. The school furnishes the general laboratory and library equipment essential to the pursuit of any extended investigation. In

Jan 1, 1918