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By D. W. Fuerstenau

In recent years, various advances have taken place in the flotation recovery of fine mineral particles. A number of new approaches to recovery of fine particles have been proposed. In this paper, the background and performance of some of these tech- niques for fine particles processing are reviewed. A brief sum mary of the problems associated with fine particles in flotation and related processes is presented.

Jan 1, 1980

By D. G. Westlake

Alloys of poly crystalline Nb-H have been tensile tested at 77" and 120°K after slow-cooling and after quenching from room temperature. A rationale has been developed to explain the effect of cooling rate on ductility in terms of microstructure. The inferior ductility of the slow-cooled alloys in this temperature range can be attributed to the precipitation of coarse hydride particles that fracture in the early stages of plastic deformation. Quenching Produced much smaller hydride particles and a decreased tendency for initia-tion and popagation of cracks. Prismatic dislocation loops, punched into the matrix of quenched alloys, eliminate the yield point and may Play some role in the low temperature ductility of the quenched alloys. The difference in ductility between quenched and slow-cooled V-H alloys was even greater than that observed in the N b-H alloys. It is well known that the ductility of Nb-H and V-H alloys decreases with increasing hydrogen concentra-tion and with decreasing temperature.1-l1 The follow-ing are some of the numerous mechanisms that have been adopted in attempts to explain these observations: 1) hydrogen-dislocation interarction,4'6 2) lowering of the crack surface energy by adsorbed hydrogen,9'10 3) localized lowering of the niobium bond strength,9 and 4) exertion of pressure inside voids by molecular hydrogen.6 A recent study1' indicates that, in some way, the embrittlement is related to the precipitation of a hydrogen-rich phase, because embrittlement and hydrogen solubility have the same temperature dependence. Most of the investigators observed that at very low temperatures there was a return of the ductility. Thus, hydrogenated niobium and vanadium may be said to exhibit a low temperature ductility minimum."1'8'9 It has been reasoned by most observers that diffusion is required for the embrittlement mechanism to be operative, and that as hydrogen becomes immobile at very low temperatures, the ductility increases. This investigation of the mechanical behavior of Nb-H al-loys under various conditions is an attempt to gain a better understanding of the low temperature ductility minimum. EXPERIMENTAL Tensile specimens, with gage length dimensions 20 by 3 mm, were machined from sheet stock" and both faces were ground on wet 600 grit Sic paper to obtain a final thickness of 0.5 mm. Annealing as described earlier12 resulted in average grain diameters of 0.3 mm. The recrystallized niobium tensile specimens were electropolished in 90 parts H2S04, 10 parts HF (48.9 pct) by volume, at 287°K and 30 v. Hydrogen, which may have been present in the starting material and/or added during specimen preparation, was removed by annealing at 1073°K in a dynamic vacuum of 2 X 10-6 torr. Hydrogenated specimens (1.15 at. pct H) were prepared by reaction with a known quantity of pure hydrogen (obtained by thermal decomposition of UH3) at 1073oK, followed by cooling at the rate of 100" per hr. These were vacuum encapsulated, homogenized at 573°K for 3 to 5 hr, and furnace-cooled. Tensile tests were conducted on an Instron machine at a strain rate of 4 x l0-5 per sec. The gripping device was such that the specimen was positioned below the crosshead. Thus, subambient test temperatures could be obtained by immersion of the device in a cooling bath of either liquid nitrogen or Freon-12. The temperature of the Freon-12 was controlled within ± 0.1°K of the desired temperature by automatically monitoring the flow of liquid nitrogen through a copper coil in the bath. Slow-cooling to 77°K was accomplished as follows. The testing device was surrounded by a rubber jacket, open at the top and with small holes in the bottom. Liquid nitrogen, brought up to the bottom of the jacket, entered the holes and vaporized quickly. The temperature was monitored at the specimen with a copper-constantan thermocouple, and a constant cooling rate of 2 deg per min was easily achieved by controlling the level of the liquid nitrogen outside the jacket. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION Low Temperature Ductility Minimum. Resistometric studies of both Nb-H12 and V-H13 indicated that at tem-peratures less than 150°K, virtually all of the hydrogen

Jan 1, 1970

By Magnus Troilius

INTRODUCTION BY C. P. SANDBERG. SINCE the discussion On steel rails in America has forcibly drawn attention to the value of chemical analysis, if not as a necessary stipulation, at least as a guide to control the usual mechanical tests, some doubt has been thrown upon the accuracy of the analytical results Obtained by different chemists. To any One having the least acquaintance with chemistry., it is quite clear that if exactly similar results are to be obtained from the same borings of steel, exactly the same methods must be used by the different analysts. Hence the necessity (if complications are to be avoided) of establishing what I may call standard or normal methods, to be used both by the inspectors and by the chemists at the works. Remembering that the application' of chemistry to steel-rail inspection is yet in its infancy, it is of great importance to possess a perfect acquaintance with the best methods in use. Being myself a grateful pupil of Professor Eggertz, of the School of Mines in Sweden, it Occurred to me, two. years ago, that I could not do better than start a laboratory of my. own, and engage One of his pupils, Mr. Troilius, for the purpose of analyzing the steel borings from mechanically-tested rails, so that I might thus Obtain without delay thoroughly accurate determinations. Moreover, in Order to carry on the, operations in perfect accordance with the methods used at the steel works in England and Germany, where I had to control the manufacture, I deemed it desirable to allow Mr. Troilius to go through a course of training at these works; and I gladly seize this opportunity of expressing my grateful acknowledgments to several works in England and in Germany for affording every facility for such an exchange of information as was found necessary in arriving at the best analytical methods to be used.

Jan 1, 1882

By Nigel B. Pearson

INTRODUCTION Chingola Division of Nchanga Consolidated Copper Mines Limited is situated in the Copper- belt of Zambia, approximately 30 kilometres south of the border with Zaire. It is the country's leading producer of copper and its principal foreign exchange earner, and has been, in its time, the largest single copper producer in the British Commonwealth and the second largest in the world. There are two 'primary' copper sources at the Division, namely Underground producing approximately 100 000 tonnes of contained copper annually, and the Open Pits, producing approximately 200 000 tonnes annually. Following the commissioning of the Tailings Leach Plant in 1974, treating final tailings, metallurgical recovery increased from approximately 70% to in excess of 80%. Extensive deposits of cobalt are present and following the rise in the market price in 1979 and 1980, plans were made to extract this separately. Cobalt production commenced in 1980 from Underground and will increase substantially when the Open Pit cobalt reserves become available in approximately 2 years time. This paper covers the development of the production method of the principal Underground Orebody, known as the Lower Orebody, and the control systems applied to it. HISTORY The Lower Orebody, formerly known as the Nchanga West Orebody, was discovered by extensive Diamond Drilling operations in the late 1920's. Development of the Shaft complex and the orebody commenced and continued until 1931 when flooding from development on the 480 foot horizon necessitated closure. The mine remained closed until 1937 and production commenced from the Lower Orebody in 1939. Various expansion schemes of the Metallurgical Plants and the Underground workings were completed over the years with the result that Underground production increased steadily to in excess of 150 000 tonnes copper annually in the 1960's. In recent years production has levelled out at slightly less than 100 000 tonnes annually. This decrease is as a result of producing from a lower grade reserve, available within a more limited production front, and the application of production constraints in the light of experience gained. GEOLOGY Within the Nchanga Mining Licence Area of Chingola Division, there are a total of 14 known copper orebodies in the basal part of a thick succession of sediments of Pre-Cambrian age. The sediments rest on a Basement Complex of granites, gneisses and schists. Three superimposed stratiform orebodies, known locally as the Lower, Intermediate and Upper Orebodies, occur over a vertical interval of approximately 150m. Current annual copper production is approximately 300 000 tonnes. The ore originates from four different mining operations, one Underground mine and three Open Pits. Approximately 9 million tonnes of ore grading between 3 and 3.5% copper are milled annually. The two largest sources of ore, the Under- ground mine and the Nchanga Open Pit are on the gently dipping south limb of the Nchanga Syncline (Figure 1). In the Nchanga Open Pit the major source of ore is the Upper Orebody with lesser tonnages from the Intermediate and Lower Orebodies. In the Underground mine the Lower Orebody is the only orebody being mined, underground mining of the Upper Orebody being suspended for economic reasons in 1978. The typical stratigraphic column is illust- rated in the legend on Figure 1. The footwall rocks comprise either Nchanga Red Granite or the Arkose formation, both of which are hard competent rocks, offering generally good mining conditions for footwall development. Copper mineralisation of the Lower Orebody extends from the upper part of the Arkose to the top of the Lower Banded Shales. Overlying the Arkose is the Transition zone (0-18111 in thickness). The Transition zone comprise a lower member, Transitional Arkose, consisting of incoherent kaolinised sandstone, and an upper member, Transitional Lower Banded Shales consisting of normally soft bleached and silicified shale. The soft nature of the Transitional rocks is

Jan 1, 1981

By F. D. Rosenthal, F. J. Dunkerley, G. J. Mills

Activities, free energies, and heats and entropies of mixing of liquid Pb-Zn alloys have been obtained by the electrode-potential method between 400° and 650°C. The large positive deviations observed from Raoult's law are in agreement with the phase diagram, which indicates a wide immiscibility field. A vapor-pressure method was used to extend the activity measurements to 900°C, allowing the maximum of the immiscibility gap to be estimated by thermodynamic calculation. Data on the mono-tectic and eutectic points compare favorably with previously existing work. SEVERAL long-standing methods have been in use for the study of phase diagrams from measurement of the activities of the component metals.' The use of thermodynamic analysis for interpreting equilibria data is comparatively recent, however. Such analysis is usually undertaken by first evaluating the principal thermodynamic functions as, for example, the enthalpy, entropy, and free energy of the alloy constituents. These, in turn, quite often can be correlated with the interatomic potential energies and atomistics of the system, from which a clearer understanding of the causes leading to deviations from ideal behavior is gained. The present study of liquid Pb-Zn alloys is concerned with a determination of these quantities by electrode-potential and vapor-pressure measurements, using these values in calculations involving phase equilibria and to obtain a theoretical insight into an alloy system exhibiting strong positive deviations from ideal metallic solution. A considerable portion of the previously reported work is based on thermal analysis. Supplemented by optical studies of solid alloys, these techniques have revealed the essential nature of the immiscible mixtures that are formed. It is difficult, however, using the phase-

Jan 1, 1959

By O. L. Kowalke

During the last few years the use of base-metal thermocouples has increased very considerably in various industries, due to the necessity for more precise control of temperatures. The base-metal couple has the advantages of being robust to a surprising degree, cheap as compared with platinum couples, sufficiently accurate for most operations, rapid in indicating changes in temperature, easily renewed or repaired, and of generating a much higher electromotive force than the noble-metal couples. There are, however, some factors, such as indicating and recording instruments, the insulation on the elements, the constancy and homogeneity of the wires, and the resistance to oxidation in the furnace, that limit the. Usefulness of the temperature-measuring device. It is the purpose of this paper to discuss in what manner these factors affect the usefulness of the couples.

Jan 9, 1919

By R. A. Breitrick, J. N. Swinderman, J. J. Cooper, H. L. Bauer Jr.

The Robinson Mining District, near Ely, Nev., is one of the major porphyry copper districts in the world. Within the district is an eight mile long east-trending zone of altered porphyry, metamorphosed sedimentary rocks, and sulphide mineralization surrounded by Paleozoic limestone, dolomite, shale and sandstone, Tertiary volcanics, and Quaternary alluvium. Six major disseminated ore deposits have been exploited in this zone. About 20% of the district production has come from disseminated ore in metamorphosed sedimentary rocks found adjacent to altered quartz-monzonite porphyry. The following brief statements summarize some of the relations between porphyry alteration, metamor-phism, and mineralization: 1) Disseminated copper ore does not occur in unaltered porphyry or in m-metamorphosed sedimentary rocks. 2) Sedimentary rocks have been only weakly metamorphosed where intruded by unaltered porphyry. 3) Intensely metamorphosed sedimentary rocks are found only adjacent to altered porphyry. 4) Many hydrothermal minerals are common to both altered porphyry and adjacent metamorphosed sediments. 5) Disseminated ore is found in altered porphyry and adjacent metamorphosed sedimentary rocks. 6) In general, there is a direct correlation between grade of ore in porphyry and copper content in the adjacent rocks. 7) Chemical changes in the altered porphyry and metamorphosed rocks appear to be related. The foregoing relations support a hypothesis that the porphyry alteration, the metamorphism of the sedimentary rocks, and the ore deposition were all part of a continuous hydrothermal process which probably closely attended the porphyry intrusion. The Robinson Mining District, most often referred to as the Ruth or Ely District, is located in eastern Nev. and is one of the major porphyry copper districts of the world. Production from 1908 through 1962 was nearly 250 million tons of ore averaging a little over one percent copper with a total metal value of nearly one billion dollars. The ore has been produced from six major disseminated-type deposits with the Liberty Pit deposit accounting for 70% of the total district production. Less than one million tons of base metal and gold ores have been produced from the replacement-type deposits of the district. Approximately 20% of the district production has come from underground mining operations; the pit ore has been mined with shovels and removed by train haulage, truck-train haulage combinations, truck haulage, and presently by a combination truck-skip system. Many of the ore deposits formerly worked by underground methods have been and are being exploited by open pit methods. (See Fig. I.) Two co.'s have accounted for virtually the entire production from the district. In 1958 Kennecott Copper Corp. acquired the district assets of Consolidated Coppermines Corp. and is now the sole ore producer in the district. Present operations are confined to the Liberty Pit where 22,500 tons of ore averaging a little less than 0.8% copper is mined per day. Cutoff grade is 0.4% copper, and the stripping ratio is three to one. The ore is hauled by rail 23 miles to the McGill Reduction Plant where it is concentrated to about 20% copper. Molybdenite is recovered as a by-product in the mill. The copper concentrates are smelted in McGill, and the blister copper is shipped for refining to Balt. where gold, silver, platinum and palladium are recovered. The Robinson Mining District has been well known as a porphyry copper district for the past fifty years, but many geologists are unaware of the fact that a large portion of the production has come from disseminated ore found in metamorphosed sedimentary rocks. The scope of this paper describes the occurrences of disseminated ore in the various metamorphosed sedimentary rocks, and presents evidence for the hypothesis that these ores are genetically, spacially, and coevally related to the disseminated ore in the porphyry rocks. Publication of this paper was granted by the management of Kennecott Copper Corp. A. H. James suggested and encouraged the writing of the manuscript. Special mineralogical and spectrographic analyses were performed by the Kennecott Research Center. The deposits of the district have been studied by many geologists since the turn of the century, and

Jan 1, 1964

By J. W. Halley, T. S. Washburn

RIMMING steels derive their name from their action during solidification in the molds. As a result of incomplete deoxidation, gas is evolved during freezing, and the metal has a characteristic rolling action. The metal rises along the mold walls and descends in the center of the ingot. This action keeps the top of the ingot open and the advancing rim of solid metal can be seen. The rim grows until the rolling action is insufficient to prevent the top of the ingot from freezing or until the action is stopped by capping the ingot with a heavy plate. The violence of the reaction and its characteristics, such as growth or drop in the molds, are determined by the composition, the furnace practice, and the deoxidation in the ladle and in the molds. Though rimming steels represent a large proportion of the amount of plain carbon steel made, they have received comparatively little attention in the technical literature. The manufacture of rimming steels has been described by Hibbard, 1, 2 Fleming,3 Pierce4 and Jackson.5 The reactions occurring during rimming have been considered from the theoretical point of view by Chipman and Samarin.7 The structure of rimmed-steel ingots has been discussed by Nead and one of the present authors.6 Meyer,8 in studying segregation, investigated the distribution of carbon, sulphur and phosphorus in rimmed-steel ingots by analyzing the rim and core of blooms. In their studies of segregation, the Joint Committee of the Iron and Steel Institute and the British Iron and Steel Federations studied distribution in one billet and one ingot of rimmed steel.. A detailed study of the distribution throughout the ingot has not been published. The present investigation was undertaken to determine accurately the distribution of carbon, manganese and sulphur in normal rimmed ingots and the general distribution of other common elements present. The study included some work on the effect of pouring conditions and furnace practice on the distribution, though there is still much to be done in this direction. The structure of a rimmed ingot that has been split by dynamiting and a schematic diagram of the zones in the ingot are illustrated in Fig. 1.

Jan 1, 1938

By G. W. Thomas

A mathematical tnodel of forward combustion in an oil reservoir is treated in this paper. The model describes a radial system having a vertical section of essentially infinite thickness, all of which is permeable to gas flow. Combustion, however, is presumed initiated over a limited thickness of the total vertical section. In the interval supporting cotnbustion, the mechanisms of radial conduction, convection and heat generation are taken into account. Above and below the burning interval, heat transport in the radial direction is by cottduction and convection. Vertical heat losses from the ignited interval are accounted for by conduction alone. A general solution is presented for the temperature distribution caused by radial movement of the combustion front. The results show that no feedback of heat occurs into the ignited interval when convection and conduction are acting in the bounding media. Peak temperatures are also 5 to 10 per cent higher than in the case where heat transport in the bounding media is by conduction alone. We arbitrarily define vertical coverage to be that fraction of the total ignited interval which is at 600F above atnbient, or greater, at any given time. The radial distance at which the vertical coverage becomes zero is the propagation range of the combustion front. It was found that an increase in vertical coverage results when the oxygen concentration, fuel concentration or gas-injection rate is increased. Moreover, the combustion front can be propagated 10 to 15 per cent further than in the case where only conduction is acting above and below the ignited interval. INTRODUCTION In the theoretical treatment of forward combustion in a radial system, one of the problems encountered is the determination of the transient temperature distributions caused by an expanding cylindrical heat source. Bailey and Larkin' and Ramey' simultaneously presented analytical solutions to the problem assuming heat transport by conduction alone. In a subsequent publication, Bailey and Larkin3 included the effects of both conduction and convection while treating linear and radial models. In this latter work, however, vertical heat losses were largely neglected. Selig and Couch' dealt with a radial model in which both conduction and convection were acting. Only a limiting case involving vertical heat losses was considered, however. Namely, temperatures on the boundary of the bed of interest were set equal to zero. Solutions thus obtained were representative of a system having a maximum vertical heat flux. Chu5 recently treated a more general case in which a permeable bed was considered bounded by impermeable media. Conduction and convection took place within the bed, and only conduction outside of the bed. The effects of vertical heat losses were included in his study. Solutions were obtained by numerical techniques. This paper is an extension of the theoretical work of other authors pertaining to forward combustion in a radial system. In particular, a mathematical model of the process is treated in which heat generation occurs over a small vertical interval of a larger permeable section. In the interval supporting heat generation, and above and below this interval, the mechanisms of radial conduction and convection are also presumed acting. Heat losses from the ignited interval are accounted for by vertical conduction. An analytical solution for the temperature distribution caused by radial movement of the burning front is presented. The effects of certain process variables are indicated and comparisons with Chu's results are made. THEORY To render the mechanism of forward combustion tractable to mathematical treatment, we idealize the problem to the extent of assuming continuous reservoir media possessing homogeneous and isotropic properties. The following additional assumptions are implicit in this analysis. 1. The thermal parameters, i.e., heat capacities, thermal conductivities and thermal diffusivities are invariant with temperature and pressure. Moreover, the bounding media possess the same thermal properties as the bed of interest. 2. The temperatures of the porous media and its contained fluids at any point and at any time are equal. 3. The reaction rate between the oxidant gas and the fuel is infinite. This assumption implies that the incoming oxygen concentration instantaneously goes to zero within an infinitesimal distance, i.e., the width of the combustion zone is negligible. 4. The rate of gas injection is constant and corresponds to the average rate throughout the lifetime of the project. 5. The fuel concentration is constant throughout the volume of rock swept out by the burning zone. 6. There is complete burnoff of fuel. This assumption demands that the rate of propagation of the burning front equals the rate of fuel burnoff. In a radial system, with a

By Harlowe Hardinge

The sound made by ball, pebble and rod mills has long been used by the operator as the "telltale" of their operation. The nature of this sound depends upon local conditions and the type of mill used. By experience an operator can tell whether the mill is running properly or not. Some operators are able to detect the difference in sound much better than others and get better results running the same mill under the same conditions. The automatic operation of a mill using sound as the fundamental means for maintaining control presents many problems. The satisfactory solution of these problems requires, for given operating conditions, a greater average output, with improved product for subsequent processing, than can be obtained by manual control. Relation of Sound to Useful Grinding Energy Experience has taught us that there is a difference in character as well as in intensity of sound between a mill grinding wet and one grinding dry, in open or closed circuit, to obtain a coarse or fine product, on the same material, to say nothing of the effect with a variety of different materials. Broadly speaking, a wet-grinding mill operates best at a lower sound level than the same mill grinding dry, with other conditions the same. Several reasons for this variation in sound intensity under these conditions can be advanced, but the important point is that there is a difference, based upon practical results. Since these reasons may be more or less involved, and may be subject, to much discussion, only one will be considered here. It is apparent that two balls hitting together or a ball striking the lining, if there is no intervening material, will produce the maximum sound. If a complete cushion of material is placed between the balls or ball and liner, so that the energy is dissipated without doing useful work, the balls will be unable to create enough pressure or force to fracture the particles, and the sound will be at a minimum. At some point in between—that is, where there is sufficient material between the balls or ball and liner so that the ball will fracture the particles without mashing them unduly—the sound

Jan 1, 1939

By Harlowe Hardinge

The sound made by ball, pebble and rod mills has long been used by the operator as the "telltale" of their operation. The nature of this sound depends upon local conditions and the type of mill used. By experience an operator can tell whether the mill is running properly or not. Some operators are able to detect the difference in sound much better than others and get better results running the same mill under the same conditions. The automatic operation of a mill using sound as the fundamental means for maintaining control presents many problems. The satisfactory solution of these problems requires, for given operating conditions, a greater average output, with improved product for subsequent processing, than can be obtained by manual control. Relation of Sound to Useful Grinding Energy Experience has taught us that there is a difference in character as well as in intensity of sound between a mill grinding wet and one grinding dry, in open or closed circuit, to obtain a coarse or fine product, on the same material, to say nothing of the effect with a variety of different materials. Broadly speaking, a wet-grinding mill operates best at a lower sound level than the same mill grinding dry, with other conditions the same. Several reasons for this variation in sound intensity under these conditions can be advanced, but the important point is that there is a difference, based upon practical results. Since these reasons may be more or less involved, and may be subject, to much discussion, only one will be considered here. It is apparent that two balls hitting together or a ball striking the lining, if there is no intervening material, will produce the maximum sound. If a complete cushion of material is placed between the balls or ball and liner, so that the energy is dissipated without doing useful work, the balls will be unable to create enough pressure or force to fracture the particles, and the sound will be at a minimum. At some point in between—that is, where there is sufficient material between the balls or ball and liner so that the ball will fracture the particles without mashing them unduly—the sound

Jan 1, 1939

By Helmer Hedstrom

The purpose of this paper is to direct attention to the importance and the usefulness of phase measurements in electrical prospecting for ore, a subject about which virtually nothing has been published. The paper describes a new field method for ore prospecting, the "Turam" method, which makes use of phase measurements, and which has been used with great success for five years. Of the principal geophysical prospecting methods, the gravimetric and magnetic methods determine the direction and strength of the static fields of force of the earth. By seismic and electrical methods, fields of force are applied to the block of ground under investigation. By these methods a third parameter can be measured, besides the direction and strength of the field; namely, the time of arrival of the applied field at the different observation points. This time of arrival has been practically the only parameter measured in seismic work, while in electrical prospecting it has generally not been considered, the measurements having been limited to determination of direction and strength of the applied field. Phase Measurements In the most widely used of the electrical prospecting methods, those using alternating current, the time of arrival of the "electrical vibration" at the different observation points can be carried out as phase measurements. The phase angle measured then expresses, in part of one "vibration," or one cycle, how much the electrical vibrations at the observation point are out of step with those close to the source of the field. A phase lag of 45", for instance, means that the alternating field in the observation point is one-eighth of one complete " vibration," or cycle, out of step behind the field at the source. If the frequency is, say, 500 cycles per second, a frequency often used in electrical prospecting, a phase lag of 45' then means that the time required for the field of force to travel from the source to the observation point is 1/8 ' /500 = 1/4000 sec. Since the phase angle can be measured with an accuracy of a fraction, say one-tenth, of a degree, and the frequency can be considerably higher than 500, it is readily seen that the time of arrival can in this way be measured

Jan 1, 1940

By Helmer Hedstrom

The purpose of this paper is to direct attention to the importance and the usefulness of phase measurements in electrical prospecting for ore, a subject about which virtually nothing has been published. The paper describes a new field method for ore prospecting, the "Turam" method, which makes use of phase measurements, and which has been used with great success for five years. Of the principal geophysical prospecting methods, the gravimetric and magnetic methods determine the direction and strength of the static fields of force of the earth. By seismic and electrical methods, fields of force are applied to the block of ground under investigation. By these methods a third parameter can be measured, besides the direction and strength of the field; namely, the time of arrival of the applied field at the different observation points. This time of arrival has been practically the only parameter measured in seismic work, while in electrical prospecting it has generally not been considered, the measurements having been limited to determination of direction and strength of the applied field. Phase Measurements In the most widely used of the electrical prospecting methods, those using alternating current, the time of arrival of the "electrical vibration" at the different observation points can be carried out as phase measurements. The phase angle measured then expresses, in part of one "vibration," or one cycle, how much the electrical vibrations at the observation point are out of step with those close to the source of the field. A phase lag of 45", for instance, means that the alternating field in the observation point is one-eighth of one complete " vibration," or cycle, out of step behind the field at the source. If the frequency is, say, 500 cycles per second, a frequency often used in electrical prospecting, a phase lag of 45' then means that the time required for the field of force to travel from the source to the observation point is 1/8 ' /500 = 1/4000 sec. Since the phase angle can be measured with an accuracy of a fraction, say one-tenth, of a degree, and the frequency can be considerably higher than 500, it is readily seen that the time of arrival can in this way be measured

Jan 1, 1940

By Harlowe Hardinge

THE sound made by ball, pebble and rod mills has long been used by the operator as the "telltale " of their operation. The nature of this sound depends upon local conditions and the type of mill used. By experience an operator can tell whether the mill is running properly or not. Some operators are able to detect the difference in sound much better than others and get better results running the same mill under the same conditions. The automatic operation of a mill using sound as the fundamental means for maintaining control presents many problems. The satisfactory solution of these problems requires, for given operating conditions, a greater average output, with improved product for subsequent processing, than can be obtained by manual control. RELATION OF SOUND TO USEFUL GRINDING ENERGY Experience has taught us that there is a difference in character as well as in intensity of sound between a mill grinding wet and one grinding dry, in open or closed circuit, to obtain a coarse or fine product, on the same material, to say nothing of the effect with a variety of different materials. Broadly speaking, a wet-grinding mill operates best at a lower sound level than the same mill grinding dry, with other conditions the same. Several reasons for this variation in sound intensity under these conditions can be advanced, but the important point is that there is a difference, based upon practical results. Since these reasons may be more or less involved, and may be subject to much discussion, only one will be considered here. It is apparent that two balls hitting together or a ball striking the lining, if there is no intervening material, will produce the maximum sound. If a complete cushion of material is placed between the balls or ball and liner, so that the energy is dissipated without doing useful work, the balls will be unable to create enough pressure or force to fracture the particles, and the sound will be at a minimum. At some point in between-that is, where there is sufficient material between the balls or ball and liner so that the ball will fracture the particles without mashing them unduly-the sound

Jan 1, 1939

By Charles S. Barrett, Hermann F. Kaiser, Robert F. Mehl

THE copper-silver system presents several points of special interest in the study of segregate structures. The system is simple eutectic, with limited solid solutions terminal with the pure component metals. The extent of solid solubility decreases with decreasing temperature for both the copper-rich and the silver-rich alloys, thus offering a possibility for the formation of Widmanstätten figures and also a possibility for aging after quenching. In contrast to the structures studied previously the structures in this system are unique in their origin, for one terminal solid solution will precipitate the other, and vice versa. In most of the other systems for which crystallographic data on the precipitation (or transformation) process are available, either intermetallic compounds or intermediate phases partake in the decomposition process; the absence of such phases thus distinguishes this system. The lattice structures of the two solid solutions are identical in type, differing in lattice spacing by approximately 10 per cent; because of this it seems difficult if not impossible to predict on the basis of present theory either the outward form of the precipitate or the lattice orientation relationships between matrix and precipitate. The eutectic temperature in the copper-silver system1 is 779° C. At this temperature copper dissolves 4.3 atomic per cent (7.0 weight per

Jan 1, 1935

By L. J. Howell, A. S. Roy, H. H. Kellogg

KNOWLEDGE of the phase diagram of salt systems is important for selection of the optimum con- ditions for electro winning of the refractory metals from fused salts. This note summarizes the studies of the NaC1-rich portion (0 to 22 mol pct HfC14) of the NaC1-HfC14 phase diagram. Melts in this composition range have vapor pressures well below one atmosphere and melting points between 548° and

Jan 1, 1959

By T. F. Baily

During the period of the war, in both this country and Canada, a number of attempts were made to make pig iron from steel scrap in the electric furnace, and a considerable tonnage of white pig iron was produced, the silicon and manganese additions being made with ferroalloys; but it is believed that the experiments conducted. at Canton, Ohio, in

Jan 1, 1930

By Guy R. Johnson

In working brown iron-ore mines on the system employed at Longdale, namely, stoping from the top down, the usual procedure is to drive a succession of upraises from the lowest adit to the highest, or to the top of the deposit, as the case may be. These up-raises are usually driven 120 feet apart., along the strike of the vein,. As the work goes on, they are connected by levels, 10 feet spa* (vertically), and then serve as chutes. A transit is useless in surveying these chutes, and the writer has for several years made use of a hanging compass. The method of using this instrument, described in a former paper (Trans., xx.,.105), embracing as it does the use of a cord and several strips. of wood,

Jan 1, 1894

By W. L. Kendrick

At Henderson, Nev., Manganese Inc. is mining by open pit methods a low grade manganese ore averaging 21 pct Mn, concentrating it to 42 pct by flotation, and agglomerating it to produce nodules of metallurgical grade-about 48 pct Mn. The striking aspect of the whole operation, and one that has considerable effect on nodulizing, is the use of approximately 250 lb of reagent per ton of mill feed. For many years rotary kilns have been used for drying, calcining, clinkering cement and other products, and burning lime. Their use for nodulizing or agglomerating a metallic ore is new-first reported in this country in 1904, when a small rotary kiln at South Chicago was employed to nodulize flue dust from a blast furnace. After a short time this process was replaced by sintering.

Nov 1, 1956

By Arthur F. Colombo, Donald W. Frommer

With the opening of the Tilden mine near Ishpeming, MI, a new era in iron ore beneficiation was begun. A description of a U. S. Bureau of Mines investigation is summarized to illustrate the selective flocculation-deslime-flotation process developed by the Bureau and used at the Tilden concentrator, which is also briefly described. The operating parameters for the selective flocculation-cationic flotation of an oxidized taconite from the Mesabi range are discussed. A water reclamation system using lime and a cationic flocculant was applied to reclaim the effluents from a 900-pound-per-hour flotation pilot plant. About 80 percent of water requirements were recovered, and the calcium content of the reclaimed water was found to be more important than clarity in influencing the selective flocculation and flotation processes. Although reclaimed waters with about 10 ppm calcium registered turbidities of approximately 5,000 ppm SiO2 equivalents, the concentrates produced using these waters contained 64 percent Fe and 55.0 percent SiO2 and had accompanying iron recoveries of 75 percent. Lower grade concentrates resulted from using reclaimed water with higher calcium contents and lower turbidities.

Jan 1, 1976