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By Arno C. Fieldner

METALLURGICAL coke and the by-products of the carbonization of coal continue in strong demand. Nearly 500 new by-product ovens were constructed in 1943. Output of by-product coke in the first ten months of the year was about 2 1/2 percent higher than in the corresponding period of 1942, but beehive production remained on approximately the same level as last year and constituted about 11 per cent of the total coke output.

Jan 1, 1944

By O. J. Hollister

Jan 1, 1888

By J. R. Guard

Development of electrical power in coal mining has been an outstanding example of adaptability. It has accommodated itself to new inventions, changing mining methods, increasing demands, increasing safety requirements and many other new conditions. With the appearance of the continuous miner in the mining machinery picture, those engineers interested in the application of electricity to mining have been thinking about what new combination of electrical apparatus will best suit this newcomer. It is the purpose of this paper to discuss the relative costs of supplying d-c versus a-c power to mining equipment with particular reference to continuous miner setups. Assume that a-c power will be delivered to the mine at some high voltage suitable for transmission to the various substation locations. Typical voltage for this purpose is 4000 volts. The problem then is to change the power to some kind of power suitable for driving the motors of mining equipment. For safety and other reasons the voltage to be delivered to the motor terminals must be under 600 volts.

Jan 1, 1950

By AIME AIME

IN times of stress nations pick strong men to lead them. Similarly the Coal Division selected forceful Larry A. Shipman, fuel engineer for the Southern Coal and Coke Co., Knoxville, Tenn.. to lead it through the year 1945. He was born in Indianapolis May 13, 1891. Following graduation from a technical high school in that city Larry began his fuel career approximately 35 years ago attached to one end of a scoop shovel, firing locomotives for the Pennsylvania Railroad. At the end of two years he transferred to the New York Central Lines and held these jobs successively: locomotive fireman, engineer, fireman instructor, supervisor of instructors, and fuel engineer.

Jan 1, 1945

By Oliver M. W. Sprague

THIS gold problem is full of complications and can hardly be handled adequately or comprehensively in any short period of time. Perhaps I might begin by mentioning a few aspects of the subject about which I suppose there will be no disagreement. The first of these is that we already have a stock of monetary gold in the United States far in excess of what is needed to support any desirable increase in the present volume of currency and credit. The second is that this already superabundant gold stock is certain to be considerably enlarged during the course of the war, and presumably during the months of readjustment following its conclusion. Some billions of additional gold, we may reasonably presume, will come into the country during these next few years, thus increasing the aggregate monetary gold stock from the present eighteen billions to perhaps twenty- two or even twenty-five billion dollars.

Jan 1, 1940

By Frederik W. de Klerk

INTRODUCTION During the past 40 years, there has been in the United States of America and other industrialised Western countries a distinct displacement in the procurement of minerals from domestic sources towards an increased dependence on imported minerals. This was caused in part by one or each of the following: a lack of local supply of particular minerals, domestic source depletion or exhaustion and the relative ease and inexpensiveness of obtaining minerals from comparatively unexploited sources in underdeveloped and some developing countries, notably in the Middle East, South America, Southern Africa, and Australasia. Governments of the industrialised nations, concerned about the reliance of their economies on imported raw minerals examined both the degree of reliability and the extent of mineral resources in the countries and regions supplying the essential minerals. This brought a painful awareness of the vulnerability of industrialised countries as a result of the possible interruption of their mineral imports. In this regard, the United States of America may be quoted as a case in point: a report by a House of Representatives Subcommittee on Mines and Mining (Santini Subcommittee)1 revealed that the United States in 1980 was dependent on foreign sources for more than 50 per cent for 24 of the 32 minerals essential for national survival. The Subcommittee also acknowledged that although the United States may develop its own alternative energy sources, there are in many cases no substitutes for the strategic + minerals imported from foreign sources, from countries which are often unstable at best, hostile at worst. This resulted in various policy responses as well as contingency measures, amongst other, renewed emphasis on the utilisation of domestic mineral resources, an intensified search for substitutes of critical minerals and increased stockpiling programmes. Increased attention was devoted to analyses of the political and economic conditions prevailing in the regions from which strategic and other minerals are exported to the industrialised countries, and the formulation of policy measures vis-a-vis those regions. One region which attracted a considerable degree of attention has been Southern Africa, and in particular South Africa.2 The Santini Subcommittee affirmed that while the bulk of the minerals imported by the United States is supplied by a number of source countries, a host of critical[t] minerals vital to the well-being of that country (and this includes all the Western industrialised countries) originates from Southern Africa, a region, deservedly referred to as the "Persian Gulf of Minerals". Apart from the Republic of South Africa the mineral-rich countries concerned are Angola (diamonds, iron ore, oil), Botswana (diamonds, coal), South West Africa/Namibia (diamonds, uranium), Zambia (copper, cobalt), Zaire (industrial diamonds, copper, cobalt) and Zimbabwe (gold, nickel, chromium, asbestos). The Subcommittee however noted that, with the exception of cobalt, the greatest portion of the reserves of the critical minerals listed, lies within the borders of South Africa. SOUTH AFRICA A RELIABLE PURVEYOR OF MINERALS In view of the continual instability and political risk, along with the nationalisation of mineral industries in third world countries, importing industrialised nations have in recent years become more and more concerned about security of long-term supply, and have in consequence begun to diversify their mineral enquiries to areas where the following conditions prevail: • Long-standing record of consistency of supply; • An economic system of private enterprise; • Political stability; • A well integrated infrastructure, with a maintenance of transportation and development costs at realistic levels, and • Attractive investment opportunities, with security of the return of profits.

Jan 1, 1982

By A. C. Rubel

WHAT does management expect of W and from an engineer? First and foremost, it expects that he should become, and therefore should fit himself in every way to be, a part of management so that he may assume as much and as many of the responsibilities of management as his ability and the opportunities of the job permit. Let me make clear at the start that the profession of pure, technical engineering offers but limited opportunities at the top levels because of the inherent organization of engineering work. The line of succession to top jobs may be likened to a cone with a broad base and an extremely sharp point. Consider any oil company, large or small, or any operating function of that company, and you will find few top engineering jobs in the organization. This is true by the nature of the work handled. There will be a few district engineers depending on the spread of operations, a chief petroleum and production engineer, perhaps a few research engineers, possibly some technical executive assistants, and that is usually all. The road to these jobs is a long one and the competition is tough. The larger the organization the greater the opportunity, but always the ratio of engineers to top engineering jobs is only a small one.

Jan 1, 1947

By Bradley Stoughton

AT THE meeting of the Board of Directors on May 20, the resignation of Bradley Stoughton as Secretary of the Institute was presented and regretfully accepted by the Board. The letter of resignation follows : Gentlemen: About two years ago, I indicated to the President and some members of the Board my belief that the office of Secretary of the Institute should not be a permanent one. It is my observation of events, not only in our own Institute, but also in several sister societies, that too long a tenure of office by the Secretary inevitably leads to a situation which is not good either for him or for the society. After submitting this in writing to the Directors on February 17, 1920, I was overpersuaded by members of the Board to defer resignation until a more convenient time for the

Jan 1, 1921

By Don Masson

MUCH has been written and many prophecies made on the subject of plastics as a replacement for metal, and the extent to which these materials will compete with each other for peace- time markets. (Metal is used in a broad sense to include all types.) But although certain synthetic resin materials have made considerable headway in war production, this change to plastics can hardly be regarded as a serious threat to the mining and metallurgical industries. Even today, the total yearly tonnage of plastic materials is approximately only 1 per cent of that of steel, and only a small fraction of this might be considered as actually replacing steel. However, these figures must not be taken as indicating that the importance of plastics in fields hitherto considered exclusively the territory of metals is negligible-far from it. Considering the comparatively minute tonnage of plastics now being produced in comparison to the output of metals, the number of applications where plastics have augmented or aided the sale of metals is considerable.

Jan 1, 1944

By K. D. Jacob, W. L. Hill

Fluorine recovery in the United States has been restricted chiefly to manufacture of ordinary superphosphate and wet-process phosphoric acid. However, there is an expanding use of fluorine by industry in the form of hydrofluoric acid. Improved methods for recovering fluorine from phosphate rock would yield an adequate supply of fluosilicates and a substantial contribution to the hydrofluoric acid requirement. THE bulk of natural phosphates is comprised of calcium phosphates, which are usually apatites;' calcium aluminum phosphates such as pseudowavel-1ite; and aluminum phosphates, which occur in extensive deposits, notably on Grand Connetable Island." Nearly all deposits of current commercial value are apatite, often with admixed material of other classes. In the trade coarsely crystalline material, mainly fluorapatite of igneous origin, moves as apatite, whereas the fine-grained material of sedimentary origin is marketed as phosphate rock. The latter classification includes the phosphate shales in western North America. Although several genetic varieties of phosphate rock are recognized, most known reserves are of marine origin. Calcium phosphate is concentrated from Florida land pebble and Florida hard rock deposits and from Tennessee brown rock deposits. Phosphate Rock as a Fluorine Carrier: More than two decades ago Reynolds and Jacob surveyed the fluorine content of commercial phosphate rock from various parts of the world. Later these samples were re-analyzed by a new and more reliable method of determining flourine. The revised results with interim additions of new samples, published a few years ago in a brief summary," are shown in Figs. 1-3. Through the points representing the respective varieties of rock medial straight lines are drawn. In some instances the lines are well defined by the points; in others, where scattering renders the position of the best line uncertain, the greater weight is given points near the end of the covered range. Wherever distinct varieties are not recognized among regional deposits the custom is to identify the sample with the geographical location of the deposit. Although all rock varieties cannot be classified with certainty, the plotted results exhibit three distinct types of rock in which the F to P2O5 ratio diminishes, remains sensibly constant, and increases, respectively, as the grade of rock increases. Existence of two types of Florida land pebble, Fig. 1, is supported by additional results recently supplied by a producer." Generally speaking, phosphate rock from continental deposits carries considerably more fluorine, and apatite and insular phosphates less, in proportion to the phosphorus content than is required by the formula for fluorapatite. Exceptions to this are apatite from Canada and certain samples of Florida waste-pond phosphate. The manner in which excess fluorine is held and the nature of the carbonate in carbonate apatite are discussed in recent articles. High-grade calcium phosphates with F to P2O5 ratios less than 0.05 have been found in Curacao, Christmas Island," Mexic,13 and elsewhere. The calcium aluminum phosphates and aluminum phosphates aften carry notable amounts of fluorine. The F to P2O, ratio for one sample of pseudowavel-lite concentrate was 0.05." Aluminum phosphate from Grand Connetable Island is very low in fluorine, whereas some aluminum phosphate minerals" carry as much fluorine as highly fluorinated phosphate rock. Fluorine in Domestic Phosphate: The curves shown in the figures permit interpolation of the F to P2O5 ratio corresponding to the midpoint of selected ranges in grade of any one of the several varieties of phosphate. Multiplication of the interpolated ratio by the mid-range grade (P2O5) yields a figure for the percentage of fluorine in this grade. Then, with the use of the mid-range grade, the amount of fluorine held in phosphate reserves can be estimated, see Table I. Accordingly, on Jan. 1, 1950, the fluorine complement of known domestic reserves exceeded 420,000,000 long tons of the element. A previous figure," deduced in 1940 by a simpler procedure

Jan 1, 1955

By J. L. Schroeder, W. G. Talman

EXPERIENCE has shown that certain known natural conditions and other indefinite characteristics combine to make a mining area vulnerable to mountain bumps. Some of the known conditions are heavy overburden, an overlying stratum of strong non-elastic rock, a structurally strong coal seam that does not crush easily and yet is the weakest stratum in the series, and a floor stratum of more than ordinary firmness. The indefinite characteristics could include resistance of top or bottom of a coal seam to lateral flow, effect of immediate top and bottom strata, nature of the coal seam, and other factors about which very little is known. It is in this area that exhaustive study is needed to achieve positive control of the dreaded mountain bump hazard. In the Gary district, West Virginia, two of the five operating mines have areas known to be vulnerable to mountain bumps.These are the No. 2 and 6 mines, which are working the Pocahontas No. 4 coal seam. In this area the seam is overlain at a zero to 10-ft interval by the massive Eckman sandstone, which is about 100 ft thick in the vulnerable areas. Total overburden, consisting of shale, coal seams, and sandstones, ranges from 700 to 1400 ft where bumps have occurred (Fig. 1). The coal seam is 4 to 8 ft thick and has a weak columnar structure of very soft and spongy or woody coal. The immediate top is either the Eckman sandstone or hard shale, both of which provide generally good roof conditions for mining operations. The bottom ranges from medium to hard gray shale. The incidence of bumps in the Gary district dates from about 1930 and can be correlated to some degree with the increased rate of extraction attained with mechanical mining. During early years of operation at the No. 2 and 6 mines, most of the work was development and under comparatively light cover. As overburden became heavier, together with an increasing percentage of coal coming from pillar extraction, mountain bumps began to occur. Before 1945 they were much less severe than in later years, and because there were no injuries or fatalities, no records were kept. But by 1951 the incidence of bumps had increased to such extent that it became evident a mining system would have to be designed to eliminate or at least minimize these occurrences. Drawing on experience with modified versions of old systems and certain characteristics peculiar to the Pocahontas No. 4 coal seam, the district mining engineer, Martin Hayduk, outlined the essential factors for bump control in the Gary district. These control factors indicated: 1) The highly stressed area, which lies within the limits of convergence effects, moves at approximately the same rate as the retreating pillar line. 2) There is a decided softening of the periphery of blocks which is greatest and deepest on the gob side. 3) Blocks less than 45 ft wide never have been known to bump in the Pocahontas seams. Fig. 2 shows the mining plan based on these observations—a thin-pillar system with a minimum of secondary development. It was recognized from the start that the Hayduk system had certain limitations. When pillar work backed up to an inevitable surrounded block it was no longer applicable; also, burnt bottom and/or unknown factors reduced the system's effectiveness in certain headings. Since there was no way to eliminate the loaded block, it was decided to experiment with auger drilling to attain controlled release of this stored-up energy. The decision to auger was made after consideration of three separate plants, which were: 1) To cut the solid block into pillars of maximum size by driving away from the fracture line and at such a distance outby that development

Jan 1, 1959

By W. R. Ingalls

THE following chronology presents the history of lead-mining in the United States in a brief form and is a useful reference in connection with the statistics of production 1621. Lead was mined and smelted near Falling Creek, Va., to supply the local demand for bullets and shot. This was the first mining and smelting of lead in what is now the United States. 1632. In a report made on the minerals of New England, lead-ore is mentioned. (Bishop, I., 470.) 1650. Supposed beginning of mining by Jesuits in Pima county, Ariz. 1651. Grant of lead-mine at Middletown, Conn., to Gov. John Winthrop.

Jan 9, 1907

Question 1—1s Structural Deformation of Some Character Always Necessary for the Migration of Mineralizing Solutions. Especially in Limestone or Other Dense Rocks Discussion by: A. M. Bateman.........120 S. F. Kelly........... 125 C. H. Behre. Jr........118.123 G. B. Langford......... 123 T. M. Broderick.........121 H. E. McKinstry......... 116 R. H. Clarke.......... 123 D. H. McLaughlin........ 118 J. D. Forrester for M. H. Gidel . . 11.4 W. H. Newhouse......... 123 G. M. Fowler......112. 116. 121 R. H. Sales.......... 116 L. C. Graton..........121 Edward Sampson......... 122 R. D. Hoffman.........120 J. 8. Stevenson.......... 117 I. B. Joralemon.........121 L.B.Wright........... 112 Question 2—What Are Some of the Chemical and Physical Characteristics in Certain Beds within a Limestone Formation that Determine Their Favorable or Unfavorable Aspects as Reservoirs for Ore and Other Introduced Minerals? Drscussion by: G. W. Bain....... 127 G. M. Fowler....... 131 C. H. Behre, Jr. ..... 131 L. C. Graton....... 128 J. S. Brown. ...... 126 G.. F. Loughlin...... 128 E. L. Bruce ....... 129 R. H. Sales........ 129 R. H. Clarke...... 130 A. K. Snelgrove....... 130 Question 3—Are There Any Criteria by Which One Can Determine When Mining Operations Have Reached the Roots of an Ore Deposit? Discussion by: J. M. Boutwell...... 139 G. B. Langford..... 139 T. M. Broderick..... 138 . G. F. Loughlin...... 135 E. Y. Dougherty..... 137 R. H. Sales...... . 134 G. M. Fowler....... 132 F. A. Thomson..... 136 I. B. Joralcmon...... 132 Edward Wisser:..... 140 General s. F. Kelly................. . ...........145 References...............................146

Jan 1, 1941

Question 1—1s Structural Deformation of Some Character Always Necessary for the Migration of Mineralizing Solutions. Especially in Limestone or Other Dense Rocks Discussion by: A. M. Bateman.........120 S. F. Kelly........... 125 C. H. Behre. Jr........118.123 G. B. Langford......... 123 T. M. Broderick.........121 H. E. McKinstry......... 116 R. H. Clarke.......... 123 D. H. McLaughlin........ 118 J. D. Forrester for M. H. Gidel . . 11.4 W. H. Newhouse......... 123 G. M. Fowler......112. 116. 121 R. H. Sales.......... 116 L. C. Graton..........121 Edward Sampson......... 122 R. D. Hoffman.........120 J. 8. Stevenson.......... 117 I. B. Joralemon.........121 L.B.Wright........... 112 Question 2—What Are Some of the Chemical and Physical Characteristics in Certain Beds within a Limestone Formation that Determine Their Favorable or Unfavorable Aspects as Reservoirs for Ore and Other Introduced Minerals? Drscussion by: G. W. Bain....... 127 G. M. Fowler....... 131 C. H. Behre, Jr. ..... 131 L. C. Graton....... 128 J. S. Brown. ...... 126 G.. F. Loughlin...... 128 E. L. Bruce ....... 129 R. H. Sales........ 129 R. H. Clarke...... 130 A. K. Snelgrove....... 130 Question 3—Are There Any Criteria by Which One Can Determine When Mining Operations Have Reached the Roots of an Ore Deposit? Discussion by: J. M. Boutwell...... 139 G. B. Langford..... 139 T. M. Broderick..... 138 . G. F. Loughlin...... 135 E. Y. Dougherty..... 137 R. H. Sales...... . 134 G. M. Fowler....... 132 F. A. Thomson..... 136 I. B. Joralcmon...... 132 Edward Wisser:..... 140 General s. F. Kelly................. . ...........145 References...............................146

Jan 1, 1941

By A. H. Tousley

The cement industry is on the horns of an economic dilemma. Within the last ten years, its over- capacity in the United States has varied from 139- 127% of demand (Fig. 1). The most direct effect of this is seen in cement prices, which reached a peak in 1960, retreated steadily through 1966 and only recently climbed back to the 1960 level again. With prices in a slump and production costs estimated to be up almost 30%, there has been a steady drain on cement profits. Since 1960, labor costs have increased 86% while fuel costs have risen 18%. Meanwhile, customer service costs have also soared owing to the competition for cement customers and the wider variety of available cement products. This search for sales advantage has in turn led to a higher Blaine number, which means more grinding and hence bigger mills, more power, and, once again, higher costs. New plants as well as expansions and revisions to existing plants are also costing more owing to higher

Jan 1, 1971

By Paul M. Tyler

THE winning of metals from Nature has been advanced to a degree of efficiency that commands admiration even in this Machine Age. Economy of human effort underground, in surface plants, and in treatment works, and better means of performing all manner of operations have cut costs and im¬proved products to an extent that seems far beyond the wildest imagin¬ings of those that labored in the days of hand mining and muscular metallurgy. Principles and methods borrowed from other professions and sciences - mechanical engineering, chemistry, and physics-all have con¬tributed to the rapid development of ore production and treatment, but no small part of the achievements must be credited to the free exchange of ideas within the industry itself and mass attack upon problems of mutual concern. The esprit de corps or class consciousness that has contributed so effectively to the progress of the metal industries has been less apparent among nonmetallic mineral producers. As a class they have been handicapped by inadequate contact with the metal-mining fraternity as well as among themselves.

Jan 1, 1935

H. Van F. Furman, Denver, Colo. (communication to the Secretary): There are some statements in Dr. Carpenter's interesting paper which appear to require explanation, if not modification.

Jan 1, 1901

By J. L. Bray

ACCELERATED programs, as discussed in this paper, refer to the year-around operation of a college or university with three sixteen-week or four twelve-week terms per year, with pauses between sufficient only to allow the administrative group to perform their functions. In most engineering schools, under such conditions, the conventional four-year course can be condensed to two years and eight months. These accelerated programs of study, which now exist in most of our technical institutions, were forced upon us under the influence of the outburst of wartime patriotism, perhaps one might go so far as to call it hysteria. Many of us felt and hoped that these programs were temporary expedients, but the cold hard threat of permanency now rears its head; consequently we should examine the merits and shortcomings of the new order, and evaluate its effect on our educational system, since it may persist in some form in the postwar years, because of the changing political and financial situation. Many engineering students are being educated in state supported institutions

Jan 1, 1944

By Bernard MacDonald

Introduction. OF the treatment of the slime-pulp of gold- and silver-ores by cyanidation, agitation is an essential part. When prepared for treatment, this pulp, consisting of ore reduced to such fineness that approximately 80 per cent. of it will pass through a 200-mesh screen, is mixed with a certain proportion of water, carrying in solution the quantity of cyanide (KCN) and other chemicals required. The water-constituent of the pulp thus prepared usually ranges from 1 to 2 parts by weight to 1 of the dry ore. Thus constituted', the pulp is charged into treatment-tanks, the shape and capacity of which vary, according to the quantity of pulp to be treated daily and the method of agitation to be employed. Tanks have no other function in a cyanide-plant than that of being economical and convenient containers or receptacles for holding the pulp, solution, or water used in the operations. It is by agitation that the solids in the pulp charged into the tanks are kept in suspension in, and mixed with, the solution in the proper proportions required for the treatment. If the proper mixture of solution to solids be determined to be 2 to 1 by weight (which is, approximately, 5 to 1 by volume), this proportion should be maintained in every part of the charge ; -that is, each solid particle of the pulp, whether it be of 180- or 400-mesh size, should, be surrounded by five times its own volume of solution throughout the whole period of treatment. The reason is, that the amount of chemicals ascertained to be necessary for dissolving the gold and silver contained in the solids, is held in uniform solution in the water-constituent of the pulp, and, therefore, the determined proportions of solution and solids must be maintained at all times during treat-

Apr 1, 1912

By William P. Blake

The salt-beds at Salton, on the line of the Southern Pacific railway, in San Diego county, California, have been successfully worked for many years by the corporation known as the East Liverpool Salt Co., and the salt has been largely used upon the Pacific coast generally and in the interior. But the industry has lately been destroyed by the overflow from the Colorado river. The salt is dissolved, and the waves of the Salton sea now roll 50 ft. above the site of this once thriving and growing business. The salt-bed was evidently the residual accumulation from the waters of an ancient lake, which I have named Cahuilla, from the name by which a large part of the valley—the home of the Cahuilla tribe of Indians—is known. The deposit covered a comparatively small area in the lowest part of the valley, 280 R. or more below the sea-level. This depressed area is now generally known as the Colorado desert, but has a soil of wonderful fertility wherever water can be had on its surface. The deserted beaches, and the water-lines, only a few feet above tide-level, upon the rocks of the bordering mountains, as well as a great abundance of shells in the soil, all bear decisive testimony to the former occupation of the valley by water. The depression is topographically the northern end of the Gulf of California, from which it is now separated by the delta of the Colorado river, extending practically from the mouth of the Gila river across the valley to the coast mountains on the

Jan 1, 1908