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By Hans Lundberg

IN last year's report on the progress of geophysics, the airborne magnetometer was the featured new development. At that time only a relatively small number of surveys had been made. During 1947, the airborne magnetometer was used in making many surveys and is again one of the high lights of the year in geophysics. This report is mainly concerned with geophysics as applied to the search for minerals exclusive of petroleum. In 194,5 and 1946, the use of the magnetic method reached a peak, partly because of an active period of prospecting brought on by an active mining market, particularly in Canada.

Jan 1, 1948

By H. Leslie Bullock

From aluminum to zirconium, the quantitative preponderance of quartz as a gangue material is well recognized. lf this material is to be efficiently removed, its variations must be understood. Variations with temperature are especially important. Too little attention has been given to the thermal polarization of quartz. Under closely controlled conditions, electrostatic upgrading is very reliable. For efficient separation, contact charges must be fostered and charges due to radiation, surface coatings, or thermal polarization avoided. This paper lists thermal transition points of quartz and shows their effect on actual separations. Simple separation tests with all factors except temperature held constant are recommended for determining transition points. With silica making up more than 27% of the earth's crust, its oxides comprising more than 59% of all igneous rocks, and quartz accounting for most of the main free oxides, the mining engineer is in constant contact with quartz, which may occur as a valuable mineral to be purified or, far more frequently, as a gangue material to be removed as completely and economically as possible. As a means of effecting such purification or removal, dry beneficiation is becoming more and more desirable owing to local water scarcities, wet waste disposal problems, or freezing conditions. One method that has been gaining particularly rapid acceptance is electrostatic beneficiation, or the separation of dry free-flowing materials by means of opposite surface charges, differences in potential, or differences in conductivity. Electrostatic beneficiation dates back to the 1870's, but only in recent years have newly developed methods and apparatus and a growing knowledge of solid-state physics widened the field for its economical application. Because the term "electrostatic beneficiation" has been rather loosely used in the literature, it has come to include both electrostatic and electrodynamic procedures. Attracting type separators, however, in which oper- ation is based on differences of surface charge or potential, are truly electrostatic, because the separation occurs in a substantially static field set up between oppositely charged surfaces. Separations with this type of equipment may occur at potentials as low as 1000 v and seldom require potentials as high as 30,000 v. In the new contact charge dielectric separators1 the variation in charge is produced by continuous contact and separation of the particles in the moving feed stream and these charges are fostered by the use of non-conducting support and feed surfaces and by handling the feed in the form of streams of appreciable depth. This favors uniformity of feed and allows higher production rates. The distinctive surface charge differences are set up on the separation of the particles according to Coehn's Law,2 which states that equal and opposite charges are generated on the separation of any two materials in contact and that the substance having the highest dielectric constant will be positively charged. The basic contact charge concept is reliable, but all electrical charges are transient and modified by the electrical conditions of the surroundings. Pyro-electric, photoelectric and radiant effects may modify or totally destroy the contact charges necessary for efficient separation, or contact with conducting surfaces may neutralize them. Such hostile conditions must be carefully guarded against, since they have led to many costly failures in the past. The most consistent difference in surface charges to insure good separation is produced by repeated uniform contact and separation of particles in the moving stream. The thickness of the feed stream possible with this method reduces the effect of contact with the supporting surfaces, but as some contact is inevitable, the best results may be assured by having the dielectric constants of the supporting surfaces between the dielectric constants of the substances to be separated. In general, the hard smooth surface of quartz makes it an ideal substance for electrostatic separation from most minerals. For instance, with calcite, starting with a feed containing 1.9% acid insolubles, one can produce a concentrate containing 0.30% acid insolubles with a tailings containing 21.7% acid insolubles and a yield of 92.8%. The color can be held at 92 or above and the tint at 1.7 or lower. Working with specularite iron ore, laboratory work has given a concentrate of 68.8% Fe., with an iron unit recovery of 96.7%. Excellent results are also in pros-

Jan 1, 1969

By William F. Boericke

THERE was a time when the selection of fire brick was .left to the judgment of the head bricklayer of the plant, whose choice was not unaffected by a box of Christmas cigars from a friendly salesman. But the days are past when it was generally believed, with complacent philosophy, that bricks were bricks without much distinction, and should be bought on a price basis alone. Gone, too, is the belief that in certain types of industrial work the eventual failure of refractories was assured. Modern metallurgical practice, with its trend toward handling larger tonnages at higher temperatures, demands the use of refractories that cannot be supplied by random guess. The logical development is to inquire into the properties of the brick to be purchased, and this resolves itself into the use of specifications. In 1925, the General Refractories Co., with the active support and hearty cooperation of some of its larger customers, established a laboratory, at its Baltimore plant, for testing and research in refractories. This was the outgrowth of a growing appreciation of the value of research in the refractory field. Since then the work has become more involved' and the aims more ambitious, so that the present laboratory now employs a staff of 11 men working, under the direction of trained refractory technologists, on problems of research as well as the routine control of manufacture. It is believed s that `this type of laboratory is a comparative novelty among refractory manufacturing plants. It handles the testing and research work for all the 15 plants of the organization. Being at one of the works has the advantage of making it possible to carry on large scale plant tests on new products after the preliminary laboratory tests have been successfully completed.

Jan 1, 1929

By M. W. BERNEWITZ

ALTHOUGH many persons know that a lot of type metal and etchings are used in the U. S. Government Printing Office few would expect to find anything on metals in the annual report of the Public Printer, George H. Carter. Yet the report for the fiscal year ended June 30, 1931, contains many interesting items. For example: Among the 57,500,000 lb. of materials and supplies delivered to the printing office was little new metal, but the metal in circulation is 6,000,000 to 7,000,000 lb. In the cost of production $31,523 is charged against metal, nearly one-third for salaries and wages. In miscellaneous sales were $4,696 from waste metal and $1,147 from waste gold (from books). Electrotype and stereotype covered 11,438,314 sq. in. The vaults and storage rooms contain 1,700,000 plates and 130,000 pages of type containing 4,600,000 lb. of metal valued at $275,000. In what was known as the Congressional Globe vault were 46,000 stereotype plates; these were salvaged by remelting for other platemaking service. The Congressional Record superseded the Congressional Globe in 1873.)

Jan 1, 1932

By AIME AIME

CORROSION of tanks, pipes and other equipment in the oil fields is becoming worse as the production of high- sulfur crudes in the Texas panhandle and west Texas areas increases. It has been estimated that .in certain fields of that State one tank out of every five has to be replaced every year because of the high sulfur content of the crude. One suggested method for combating tank corrosion is the use of .materials which have a high resistance to the corrosive action of hydrogen sulfide and high-sulfur crudes; aluminum is one of these materials. As a result, the United

Jan 1, 1929

Your committee's secretary submits the following report, or summary, to the- members of the committee, in an endeavor to lay before them a general review of the information so far received and also his own knowledge .of the work as carried on at a number of plants, this being done in part to secure further information and suggestions from members and lead to a more effective means of furthering the work of the committee. It is suggested that more detailed data be compiled regarding engineering features involved, and that papers be contributed which will deal with the safeguarding of underground electrical installations. There are few operating companies which have not started a more or less systematic campaign to safeguard their employees from accidental injuries and unhealthful surroundings, but a great deal is to be gained by experience. All may welcome the advice and cooperation of those who have been actively engaged in the work and have demonstrated the results obtainable by organized effort, and it is, therefore, exceedingly gratifying to note the ready assistance and hearty cooperation rendered by the companies that may be truly termed pioneers in the movement. No solution of the safety problem is to be found in a strict standardization of methods, rules or devices, as' the various mining, milling and metallurgical practices present too' many conditions differing broadly in general principles, but some standard system embodying principles, already proven to be efficient should be created, which may be modified or elaborated to meet specific requirements of each individual. company, or to fit working conditions as they exist in the various mining camps throughout the country. An industrial plant is -primarily a business undertaking, therefore the economic side-of a safety or welfare campaign is of importance. Many small operators have been deterred from undertaking the work by their belief that it involved an expense beyond their means, and one that could not be counterbalanced by greater efficiency or saving along other lines. This idea is generally clue to a lack of knowledge of the actual costs of such work, and of the results secured by judicious selection of a method commensurate with the. size and nature of the opera-

Jan 1, 1917

By AIME AIME

T HE Executive Board of the American Engineering Council held its fourth meeting at St. Louis on the first anniversary of the organizing conference which met in Washington on June 3,1920. Representatives of a number of the leading engineering organizations in the vicinity of St. Louis were present by invitation. The members of the Executive Board were guests of the Associated Engineering Societies of St. Louis. They were given a delightful ride about the city and were entertained at the Glen Echo Country Club at dinner. The special committee that had been appointed to draft resolutions to Mr. Hoover submitted the following, which were adopted : WHEREAS, our President, Herbert Hoover, has been appointed Secretary of Commerce in the Cabinet of the President of the United States, and WHEREAS, in consequence of his acceptance of this high public office, he has deemed it necessary to tender his resignation as President of The Federated American Engineering Societies.

Jan 1, 1921

By C. G. Massey, L. C. Acton

A first-class haulage level railroad was considered of prime importance during planning of San Manuel because successful operation of the mine would hinge heavily on the ability to move large tonnages of ore rapidly, safely and efficiently. These principles, plus certain techniques developed from experience on the 1475 level, are being employed in preparation of the 2075 level. At full production, twelve 23-ton trolley locomotives, each pulling fifteen 12-ton capacity ore cars, and fifteen 8-ton battery locomotives engaged in development, service and supply, will be in operation on the 2075 level 24 hours per day, seven days a week. More than 35,000 tons of ore will be transported every 24 hours. GENERAL DESCRIPTION The rail haulage system is designed to comfort- ably move twelve 180-ton payload trains per hour through the rotary dumps pulled by 23-ton trolley locomotives. The rail system is laid out as a simple double loop with one-way traffic of continuous haul as shown in the above diagram, and is comprised of about 30 miles of track on the 2075 level.

Jan 3, 1962

By Robert H. Richards

(Pittsburg Meeting, March, 1910.) THIS is in part a review paper, indicating the various steps that have been taken in developing hindered-settling apparatus, some of the standard data that have been obtained, and some of the conclusions one is led to as to the effect of it in improving concentrating-methods and machinery, and in part it brings in some unpublished work. CAUSES OF LOSS IN ORE-CONCENTRATION. In making a study of the separation of valuable minerals from the waste gangue, particularly by water concentrators, it is necessary to define, first of all, what are the causes of-loss that are likely to interfere with the concentration. Having made this definition; we can then study to see in what way the machines make their losses, and plan remedies for them in an intelligent way. Losses may be stated to occur as included grains, as flat or long grains, as fine free mineral, and as absolute slime. We will take, these up one by one, as follows: Included Grains.-Fig. 1 shows by a set of diagrams how included grains may occur: first, where the heavy mineral grains attached to the quartz are of large size; secondly, where they are of small size ; and thirdly, where very fine particles of heavy mineral are included in the quartz. We have to decide in regard to included grains whether they are rich enough to go direct to, the furnace, or poor enough to throw away, or whether they lie between these two points and require recrushing as the only means of severing the values from the waste. This last case is the only one requiring special treatment at our hands. We will therefore consider that next. * By mutual consent, this paper has been presented also before the Colorado Scientific Society, and the Canadian Mining Institute, Montreal.

Feb 1, 1911

By Joseph Hodgson

Introduction SINCE about 70 per cent. of the total cost of mining is due to underground work which is out of sight, it is essential that expenditures should be made here to the best advantage. A great many mistakes have been made which were expensive, but perhaps these have not even been detected by mine owners. In the future these may be minimized to some extent, especially if there is cooperative effort on the part of each employee. I have been interested in this subject for some years and have tried to deduce principles and methods. These have proved highly advantageous and may also be of help to others. Some corporations, like the United States Steel, and the Cleveland-Cliffs Iron Co., have done a great deal in this field by having stated meetings of their organizations, with the view to interchanging ideas among their men and educating them along the lines of concerted effort. Since no man knows all about the various branches of mining, it is advisable that frequent meetings of the operating department be held for the interchange of ideas and that all members of the organization have an opportunity to express themselves on the various subjects. It has often been found that in discussions between heads of departments, foremen and bosses, many valuable suggestions may be obtained which promote the best interests of the company. The method regarded as the most conducive to cooperative effort, and pursued by the organization, is to analyze and develope the different phases of various mining subjects at regular meetings.

Jan 5, 1916

By J. D. Vincent, Paul A. Weyler

Climax Molybdenum's plan for the Henderson 30,000 tpd molybdenite plant didn't just happen. It slowly evolved over a period of 3% years. Many plants cannot afford similar delays, but the Henderson project will take about 10 years to complete from the time the orebody was first discovered until production begins. Pilot plant testing results with both the single stage and two-stage semi-autogenous grinding circuits were highly favorable in terms of operating costs reduction-so much so, that the Amax subsidiary made the decision to go with semi-autogenous grinding for the Henderson mill.

Jan 5, 1972

By A. C. Fieldner

IN the Wall Street journal for March 1, 1941, was a tabulation of the construction under way or under negotiation by thirteen iron and steel companies for a predicted increase in annual coke production of 3,165,600 tons. That even this figure was short of the mark is indicated by other plans, then being considered, for a later expansion of 2,610,000 tons additional. Considerable progress has already been made on thin program, for approximately 500 new ovens were put in operation in 1941. and well over 200 should be completed in 1942. These figures include a number of units that replace older and obsolete equipment.

Jan 1, 1942

By Harry H. Power

INDUSTRY has the right to expect the petroleum engineering schools to supply more than the minimum technical qualifications necessary to obtain or discharge the responsibilities of a particular job. The basic training, social and economic orientation, should go far beyond these minimum requirements. Petroleum engineering students should also be well grounded in the history of the oil business so that they may understand the industry's progress since the advent of the Drake well. Furthermore, according to P. H. Bohart, the schools "have a definite duty to help the students form a workable philosophy of life, which includes an appreciation of the service of science to mankind, and a belief in the obligation of the individual who enters a profession to exalt himself by continuing his studies and growth so that he may never cease making contributions to the advancement of science and industry."

Jan 1, 1948

By Robert F. Mehl

Jan 1, 1944

By Robert F. Mehl

Jan 1, 1944

By Pol Duwez

The effect of the rate of cooling on titanium, zirconium, and thallium has been measured. For titanium-molybdenum alloys, it has been shown that for molybdenum concentration up to 8 pct the rate of cooling has no effect on the transformation temperature, but this temperature decreases progressively with increasing molybdenum content. HIGH strength to weight ratio and remarkable corrosion resistance have often been advanced as the main reasons for the present widespread interest in titanium. For the physical metallurgist, the existence of an allotropic transformation in titanium is another important factor. As in the case of iron, an allotropic transformation may be the fundamental property upon which the response of Ti-base alloys to heat treatment will depend. It is therefore important to study the mechanism of the allotropic transformation in pure titanium and the effect of alloying elements on this transformation. The existence of an allotropic transformation in titanium was reported in 1931 by Schulze.' Later, De Boer et al.' determined the transformation temperature from a discontinuity in the electrical resistivity at 882"42O°C. According to recent work," the transformation temperature is 882.5"&1°C. The crystal structure of the room temperature a phase is hexagonal close-packed and the high temperature fi phase is body-centered cubic.' It is well known that the high temperature /3 phase of pure titanium cannot be retained by quenching to room temperature. Several investigators'-' have shown that in alloys of titanium with metals which are soluble in the @ phase (for example, nickel, molybdenum, chromium, or manganese), the /3 structure can be retained, providing the concentration of the alloying element is greater than a certain critical value. Below this critical value, the alloys transform during quenching, at least partially, into a supersaturated solid solution having the a. structure. This behavior is very similar to that found in some iron binary alloys (Fe-Ni and Fe-Mh, for example) and is an indication that the transformation might occur by means of a shear mechanism analogous to that observed in the austenite-martensite reaction. The present investigation is mostly concerned with the effect of the rate of cooling on the /3 to a transformation. In the first portion of this paper, the results obtained on pure titanium are described. Two other pure metals, zirconium and thallium, were also investigated, because they both have an allotropic transformation like titanium, from an hexagonal close-packed to a body-centered cubic structure. For purposes of comparison, the effect of rate of cooling of the y to a transformation of iron was included in the experimental program. The second part of this paper deals with Ti-Mo alloys. The equilibrium phase boundaries involving the solid state reactions on the Ti-rich side of the system were determined and a study was made of the effect of the rate of cooling on the transformation of the high temperature /3 solid solution. Experimental Procedure Since the main object of the present investigation was the determination of the effect of the rate of cooling on a transformation temperature, the best technique available was that used by Greninger" in his study of the martensite arrest in carbon steels. This method consists of heating a very small sample of metal to which fine thermocouple wires are .attached, cooling the sample rapidly by means of a blast of helium, and recording the temperature vs. time curve on an oscillograph. The apparatus used in the present experiments was very similar to that described by Greninger, except that the heating coil was made of molybdenum wire (0.040 in. in diam) and the assembly was placed in a bell jar under vacuum of 10" mm Hg or less. The specimen con-

Jan 1, 1952

By William P. Lohden

INTRODUCTION It is recognized that, for a variety of reasons, some companies in the mineral industry today are by no means cash-rich and, in fact, are reporting a growing proportion of long-term debt in their capital structures. A review of recent balance sheets of small, medium-size, and some larger companies, indicates that a fair number still have substantial positions in cash equivalents such as U.S. government issues and other short-term money market instruments. In part, this paper concerns itself with companies which have sufficient cash and equivalents and/or cash generation to internally finance mining projects or expansions but which, for some reason, choose to borrow funds. Misconceptions which appear to frequently underlie so-called "leveraging" decisions are explored in this paper. Also considered arc' those circumstances under which any company, including one that is cash rich, should consider borrowing for a project in an amount beyond what would otherwise be necessary based upon its internal financing ability. I do not attempt to cover the raising of equity capital in public markets in this paper. OVERALL RETURN ON INVESTABLE CASH If you approach an individual with an investment which can be financed from savings, or by borrowing at a rate higher than one is earning on savings, that individual will quickly tell you that to pay interest at a rate higher than is being earned on savings would reduce overall income. Assuming that additional investment opportunities are not currently being considered, the individual concludes that a draw-down on savings, leaving a cushion for contingencies suited to individual circumstances, is the correct financial decision. For reasons discussed later, the simple mathematical logic leading to this conclusion tends to become obscured at the corporate level. When Leveraged Studies Are Inappropriate or Premature Surprisingly, I have heard of a number of companies that could afford to finance an investment solely with internal funds, which have made DCFROR (i.e. discounted-cash-flow rate-of-return) studies not only on a 100% equity basis but also on a leveraged basis. Certainly, a leveraged study would be appropriate if additional projects were competing for more capital than was available internally. Often, however, other projects are not far enough along to warrant a leveraged study and there is some danger that a project may be undertaken because it has an estimated acceptable rate of return, on a leveraged basis, that is not ultimately earned because some of the other projects are postponed or abandoned and borrowing is less than expected. For the above reasons, until it has been determined that (1) borrowing is a reasonable certainty for a particular project and (2) the timing and amount to be borrowed has been determined within a reasonable range of accuracy, I believe it is inappropriate and misleading to calculate DCFROR for a project other than on a 100% equity basis. Even when there are several projects currently competing for funds and borrowing will be required to finance one or more of them, using the common yardstick of calculating DCFROR on a 100% equity basis is a safer method to initially evaluate and compare the attractiveness of the projects. Many companies, whether they would have to borrow or not, will reject projects that on a 100% equity basis do not meet their minimum rate of return standards. Some companies which have to borrow will undertake a project provided the project's DCFROR on a leveraged basis meets its minimum return standards. The danger of this approach is that even moderate shrinkages of estimated cash flows could plunge return below

Jan 1, 1985

By AIME AIME

SIR HENRY CORT HAROLD CARPENTER, F. R. S. professor of metallurgy at the Royal School of Mines, was presented with his Honorary Membership certificate in the A.I.M.E. on Oct. 18, at a luncheon in his honor in the Abraham Lincoln room of the Savoy Hotel in London. The presentation luncheon was attended by some thirty distinguished representatives of the academic and industrial British metallurgical world, all friends and acquaintances of Sir Harold. Frank W. Harbord and

Jan 1, 1938

By Roberto Fernandez

Want of knowledge on the part of experts from abroad respecting the amalgamation-system, known as the Mexican or patio process, has been the cause in this country of trouble to many foreign mining companies. This process has not been looked upon by their managers as a satisfactory method of treating silver-ores, and they prefer to employ others, which, although more modern, and often more profitable in other countries, have not proved to be so under the exceptional conditions of this country, where labor is cheap and paid in silver, while fuel is very dear. The cause of this error of judgment is probably the inexact information which has been furnished by several authors respecting the economical results of the patio process. This treatment is not suitable for silver-ores of every kind. Simple sulphides of silver are best adapted to it, and, next to these, the combinations of complex sulphides, viz., pyrargyrite, polybasite, stephanite, proustite, etc. Chlorides, bromides and iodides of silver are considered rebellious ; argentiferous galena, blende, bournonite, as also argentiferous arsenical pyrites of iron and copper, are absolutelg unsuited to this treatment. Experience has proved that high-grade ores do not give as satisfactory results as those of mediurn grades, as, for instance, carrying from 1 to 2 kilos of silver per metrical ton. The patio process, as actually practiced in this district, comprises the following operations: 1. The ore is crushed in a dry state in a roller-mill, reducing it to pea-size, from which uniform samples, and, in consequence, correct assays, can be obtained. 2. It is then thrown into the arrastra, and pulverized with water, so fine that it will pass through an 80-mesh screen.

Jan 1, 1900

By Allan J. Clark

It is nearly three years since the metallurgy of the Homestake ore was discussed with considerable thoroughness, in a paper1 read before the Institution of .Mining and Metallurgy. Certain changes have been made in this period which are perhaps of sufficient interest to justify a brief description, and it is chiefly with such details and miscellanies that this paper will deal. In the circumstances, a certain amount of repetition is inevitable, but matter treated of in the former paper will be referred to here only when it is necessary for the sake of coherency. For full descriptions of equipment and technique, the former paper should be consulted. The mineralized slates and schists which constitute the ore vary considerably in composition, but the unoxidized ore, perhaps constituting the major part of the reserves, contains either chlorite or hornblende (cummingtonite), with quartz, carbonates of lime, magnesia and iron, and arsenopyrite, pyrite, and pyrrhotite. Ferrous minerals predominate, and this fact has been an important factor in determining the metallurgical treatment. With one or two exceptions the minerals noted are of relatively high specific gravity, and the ore as a whole is exceptionally heavy, many determinations giving an average specific gravity of 3.00. This high specific gravity presents one decided advantage, when the cost of treatment is compared with operations elsewhere, in that the ton, almost universally the basic unit, represents a volume probably less by 10 per cent. than that of many gold ores. On the other hand, this high gravity renders more difficult the discharge of pulp from mortars, its distribution on amalgam tables, and its transportation in launders. In the same way, as attesting the usual balance of such variations of different ores, it may be noted that the needle-like fibers of hornblende (cummingtonite), interlacing throughout the mass, render the ore more difficult to crush than would be anticipated, but on the other hand assist

Jan 1, 1916