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By Joseph C. Kieffer

THE Duquesne property of the Callahan Zinc-Lead Co. is about 20 miles east of Nogales, in southern Arizona. One mine is near the mill, but most of the mill feed is hauled in by truck from a number of small mines. The same sulphides are found in all the ores, in general, but the amounts vary considerably. All ores contain silver, copper, lead and zinc minerals but one mine ships ore high in silver and lead and low in copper and zinc; while another mine ships ore high in copper and zinc, and low in silver and lead. The common sulphides are galena, carrying most of the silver; chalcopyrite; sphalerite, carrying iron in solid solution; and pyrite, in a gangue consisting of limestone, quartz and garnet. Mineralization is fairly coarse. At the present grind of about 66 per cent minus 200 mesh most of the sulphides are liberated. A small amount of chalcopyrite is locked up with the sphalerite and cannot be liberated at an economic grind, and the copper carried into the zinc concentrate with the sphalerite accounts for the comparatively poor recovery of copper in the copper-lead concentrate. PRODUCTION OF TWO CONCENTRATES The milling problem, which was complicated by the extreme variation in the grade of the feed, was first attacked with the idea of producing a silver-copper-lead concentrate and a zinc concentrate, both with satisfactory grades and recoveries. By February I94I, it was felt that these objectives had been attained, when the grades of the various products and the recoveries were as shown in Table I. [ ] A rough outline of the flowsheet and reagents used is as follows: Minus ¾ -in. feed to a 7-ft. by 36-in. Hardinge ball mill working in closed circuit with a 36-in. Wemco classifier. The classifier overflow passes to the second cell of an 8-cell bank of No. 18 Special Denver Sub-A flotation machines (volume, 22.5 cu. ft. per cell). A rougher concentrate is removed from the second to the fifth cells inclusive, and returned to the first cell, which is the cleaner. A scavenger concentrate is removed from the sixth, seventh, and eighth cells, and returned to the third cell. Consump

Jan 1, 1942

By Morris Muskat

A theory is presented for calculating the performance history of complete water-drive systems producing from idealized stratified formations. The general equations are applied to systems where the permeability stratification is either of the exponential or linear type. Calculations were carried through for different degrees of permeability stratification, but with special emphasis on the effect of the mobility ratio between the produced oil and the invading water on the resultant performance. These results are also expressed graphically as curves for the initial water breakthrough recovery, for the different degrees of stratification, as a function of the mobility ratio, and of the composition of the produced fluid stream as a function of the cumulative oil recovery. For several typical cases the latter has also been plotted as a function of the cumulative oil and water throughflow. The general result is that when the mobility of the oil is lower than that of the invading water the channelling tendency resulting from the permeability stratification becomes aggravated as the higher permeability zones become flooded out. Situations of this type would obtain when producing low gravity or highly viscous oils. Conversely, if the mobility of the oil is high compared to that of the invading water, the flooding of the high permeability zones will lead to a retarding and choking effect, and the gross bypassing phenomena will be partially suppressed. These conditions would correspond to those of flooding high gravity or low viscosity oils. A discussion is given of the various basic assumptions made in the analysis, including that of ignoring the stripping phase of the production history as implied by relative permeability concepts. INTRODUCTION The physical ultimate recoveries from oil reservoirs are basically determined and limited by the physical oil displacement processes associated with the reservoir producing mechanism. In practice, however, the economic ultimate recoveries are further limited by the mobility of the reservoir fluids and the uniformity and continuity of the producing formation. In fact, it is the differential depletion between the component parts of the composite reservoir which ultimately determines the total recovery at the time of field abandonment. While this observation applies to both the solution gas drive and gravity drainage mechanisms, in which use is made only of the energy contained within the original oil-bearing reservoir, it is of even more paramount importance under operations wherein the energy associated with extraneous fluids provides the ultimate oil expulsion mechanism. Whether the invading fluid is the water from an edgewater drive, water injected for pressure maintenance, gas injected for pressure maintenance, or gas returned to the formation in a cycling program, it is often the continuity and uniformity of the producing section which will control the economic efficiency of the operations. The importance of the problem of reservoir non-uniformity does not, of course, lessen its complexity or the difficulties of its solution. In fact, these are inherently such that the concept of a "general" solution is virtually meaningless. About all that can be reasonably hoped for is the analysis of specific and well-defined types of non-uniformity which may give some degree of approximation to actual reservoir conditions. Since variations in the nature of the reservoir which depend only on the position along the streamlines will not lead directly to major differential depletion development within the reservoir, the types of non-uniformity considered thus far have involved stratification assumptions. That is, the producing section has been replaced by a multi-layer "sandwich," each uniform areally, and differing from the others only in its basic physical constants as to thickness, porosity and permeability. The fluid motion in the composite system is thus approximated by a parallel superposition of the independent fluid movements in the individual strata. For the specific application to cycling operations the theory of the effect of permeability stratification has been developed for both discontinuous' and continuous types of permeability stratification. Among the latter, treatments have been given of systems in which permeability distributions are governed by exponential, linear' or probability3 functions. In all these studies complete dynamical equivalence was assumed between the injected dry gas and the displaced wet gas. The overall effective permeability of each stratum was therefore considered as constant and independent of the degree of invasion of the injected fluid. In the case of the displacement of oil by water, the assumption of dynamical equivalence between the water and oil will be strictly valid only by accident. Even if the oil viscosity should be the same as that of the water, the effective permeability to the oil in the presence of the connate water will in general be quite different from that of the water behind the water-oil interface flowing past the trapped residual oil. As a result the effective permeability for the stratum as a whole and rate of water invasion will change with time as the intrusion continues. The differential fluid motion in the individual strata will thus also vary with time. Qualitatively, it is easy to predict the resultant effects. If the permeability to viscosity ratio of the invading fluid exceeds that of the fluid displaced, the stratification and bypassing effect of the perme-

Jan 1, 1950

By Paul A. Beck, M. N. Parthasarathi

The vecrystallization texture. formed by selective growth of random nuclei in an 80 pct volled 99.997 pct A1 crystal of initial orientation mear (123) (41.21 was found to consist of components related to the single-component rolling texture by 40 deg. rota-tiows around [111]axes. The relative-volume fractiovz of the various recrystallization-texture componezts may be accouzted for 012 the basis of the Lou) mobility of twist boundaries, if it is assumed that the mobility of the tilt boundaries also varies with their orientation. Similar results with a, aluminum-alloy cystal of the (110) [112] orientation, containing iron, silicon, and zinc, show that these solute contents do not impair the effectivezess of the oriented growth mechanism of re cry s-tallization- texture formation. In a previous investigation1,2 it was found that a sharp recrystallization texture is formed as a result of the oriented growth of random artificial nuclei in an aluminum crystal rolled to 80 pct RA, on the (110) plane in the [ 112] direction. Four recrystallization-texture components were found to occur, with orientations corresponding to 40-deg rotations around [111 1 axes of the deformation texture. Reorientations of this type were already found in earlier work,3,4 where the presence of random nuclei could be reasonably assumed, but was not rigorously documented. The same orientation relationship was found also by Lucke and Liebmann, who actually measured the orientation dependence of boundary-migration rates in the recrystallization of A1 crystals slightly deformed in tension.5,6 The occurrence in the recrystallization texture of only four of the eight crystallographically equivalent orientations of the type referred to above remained unexplained,1,2 although it was clearly not a result of the absence of suitable nuclei. Recently Burgers7 suggested that this effect may be due to the aniso-tropy of boundary mobility observed2'6; it was found that the recrystallized grains of the 40-deg [111]-rotated type grow much faster in directions perpendicular to the [ 111] they have in common with the matrix than parallel to this direction, i.e., the tilt boundaries have much higher mobility than the twist boundaries. The four orientations corresponding to

Jan 1, 1962

By R. C. Ferguson, Harlowe Hardinge

Oscar Johnson—In my opinion, the effect of mill speeds on grinding costs must be studied along with capital investment and dollars gathered together as profits. Comparing the entire groups of operators with those who have had the opportunity to make slow-speed mill studies, I think you will find the latter small in numbers. Most managers want the equipment worked to its maximum output. There are, however, some installations where plant and mill sizes are such that they can do the job with reduction of mill barrel speeds. The past and the present installations of the industry are laid out to get the most capacity for the least capital outlay. This is the case even with the plants of Chile Exploration, International Nickel, Morocco, and Anaconda, now under construction or being changed. The industry recognizes that most all equipment it buys today is good and can be depended upon for efficient performance. Under this scheme of things, I am doubtful that slow-speed ball mill operation will be generally applicable. With reference to the U. S. Bureau of Mines laboratory tests, I think table II could have been omitted. It is inconclusive as to maximum efficiency for the low-pulp level mill on hard ore. There should be no question about this point. However, data on mill speeds can be found to substantiate various theories as well as refute them. Gow, Guggenheim, Campbell and Coghill, in their paper on Ball Milling,' believe their 2 x 2 ft laboratory mill reflects results that can be expected from large mills. If so, then referring to their table 11, they state, "The conclusion to be drawn from this second series is that high speed, not exceeding 72 pct of the critical, favors capacity, as before, but that with proper conditions of operation high speeds may give as good efficiency values as low speeds. In this case the efficiency values are nearly constant. A horizontal curve would indicate that the amount of grinding was directly proportional to the power expended, and these tests suggest that such a coildition can be made to exist in commercial operations." Table II (From Paper by Gow et a1)2 Speed. Pot Critical 32 42 52 62 72 82 Capacity: Surface tons per hr (65- mesh) 266 42.1 54.4 65.9 74.3 74.1 Surface tons per hr (200- mesh) 56.1 87.4 112.7 137.1 154.2 153.0 Efficiency: Surface tons per net hp hr (65-mesh) 35.7 36.3 36.3 35.4 34.3 32.3 Surface tons per net hp hr (200-mesh) 75.3 75.3 75.1 73.7 71.0 66.0 Ore in mill, 1.b. 98 100 100 113 122 165 The field performance data, table 111, represents much effort in its collection and preparation. But, one must realize that there are many variables that effect the efficiency of grinding mill operation, and too much must not be assumed as to the effect of some specific change. Possibly with changes in mill speed, the results might be more consistent by also a change in ball rationing, type of ball, volume of ball charge,. p.ulp level and amount of pulp in the mill, pulp consisting, design of liner, circulating load, etc. Also, changes in ore character must be reckoned with when evaluating grinding performance. At present the Climax Molybdenum Corp. is running at much reduced capacity. Mr. James Duggan informs me that at mill speeds of 17 rpm, they save a $0.025 per ton on liners and $0.025 per ton in power, but, if the demand for molybdenum increased, he would go back to higher speed to obtain maximum tonnage, as the values from the increased tonnage would far more than offset the one half saving at the slower speed. The Jnspiration ran a six months' test between mills running 21 rpm and 23.5 rpm. The slower mills ground 10 pct less ore with a slight saving per ton, but when the reduced plant tonnage was checked back into the actual cost figures of concentration, the high-speed mills with their greater tonnage showed considerable advantage. To be convinced of possible practical results from the predictions in the conclusions, I think we would have to rely on the analysis of expert cost accountants to furnish the necessary proof figures. Hardinge and Ferguson are to be commended for the work in preparing this paper. I am convinced that our Massco engineers should go into higher speeds with our equipment. Harlowe Hardinge (authors' reply)—For one, I heartily agree with Mr. Johnson's opening statement that the effect of mill speeds on grinding costs must be studied along with capital investment and dollars gathered together as profits. It was on this basis and for this reason the paper was written. Mr. Johnson, on the other hand, takes the position that, on the whole, low speeds are not justified from the economic standpoint, basing his principal reason on the fact that lower mill speeds cut mill capacities and hence reduce the gross income from the product produced. There is no denying this point. It is almost axiomatic. It is for this very reason that the overall advantage of lower mill speeds has been discounted and even overlooked. It was for this reason mainly that the paper was written in the first place. It is one thing to plan an efficient operation at the outset, basing one's figures on the tonnage requirements at the time, and it is quite another to be confronted with the problem of increasing the output of an existing installation at a minimum of capital expenditure. Economic consideration of a new installation is greatly influenced by referring to an old one. Too often, the analyst assumes that if this practice is followed in the new installation, one would not go wrong. It is just here that he may be wrong. Past practice and low capital expenditure are all too frequently given priority over the engineer's analysis of operating costs. When we are able to start fresh, we should give proper weight to other economic factors which do not exist in an old installation. It is these economic factors that make it possible to spend at the outset just a little more money and get it back in a matter of months and effect big savings for years to come. F. C. Bond—This paper is of considerable importance in that it emphasizes a modern trend to operate ball mills at somewhat slower speeds than formerly. We have checked the data in the paper with that obtained

Jan 1, 1951

By Harlowe Hardinge, R. C. Ferguson

Oscar Johnson—In my opinion, the effect of mill speeds on grinding costs must be studied along with capital investment and dollars gathered together as profits. Comparing the entire groups of operators with those who have had the opportunity to make slow-speed mill studies, I think you will find the latter small in numbers. Most managers want the equipment worked to its maximum output. There are, however, some installations where plant and mill sizes are such that they can do the job with reduction of mill barrel speeds. The past and the present installations of the industry are laid out to get the most capacity for the least capital outlay. This is the case even with the plants of Chile Exploration, International Nickel, Morocco, and Anaconda, now under construction or being changed. The industry recognizes that most all equipment it buys today is good and can be depended upon for efficient performance. Under this scheme of things, I am doubtful that slow-speed ball mill operation will be generally applicable. With reference to the U. S. Bureau of Mines laboratory tests, I think table II could have been omitted. It is inconclusive as to maximum efficiency for the low-pulp level mill on hard ore. There should be no question about this point. However, data on mill speeds can be found to substantiate various theories as well as refute them. Gow, Guggenheim, Campbell and Coghill, in their paper on Ball Milling,' believe their 2 x 2 ft laboratory mill reflects results that can be expected from large mills. If so, then referring to their table 11, they state, "The conclusion to be drawn from this second series is that high speed, not exceeding 72 pct of the critical, favors capacity, as before, but that with proper conditions of operation high speeds may give as good efficiency values as low speeds. In this case the efficiency values are nearly constant. A horizontal curve would indicate that the amount of grinding was directly proportional to the power expended, and these tests suggest that such a coildition can be made to exist in commercial operations." Table II (From Paper by Gow et a1)2 Speed. Pot Critical 32 42 52 62 72 82 Capacity: Surface tons per hr (65- mesh) 266 42.1 54.4 65.9 74.3 74.1 Surface tons per hr (200- mesh) 56.1 87.4 112.7 137.1 154.2 153.0 Efficiency: Surface tons per net hp hr (65-mesh) 35.7 36.3 36.3 35.4 34.3 32.3 Surface tons per net hp hr (200-mesh) 75.3 75.3 75.1 73.7 71.0 66.0 Ore in mill, 1.b. 98 100 100 113 122 165 The field performance data, table 111, represents much effort in its collection and preparation. But, one must realize that there are many variables that effect the efficiency of grinding mill operation, and too much must not be assumed as to the effect of some specific change. Possibly with changes in mill speed, the results might be more consistent by also a change in ball rationing, type of ball, volume of ball charge,. p.ulp level and amount of pulp in the mill, pulp consisting, design of liner, circulating load, etc. Also, changes in ore character must be reckoned with when evaluating grinding performance. At present the Climax Molybdenum Corp. is running at much reduced capacity. Mr. James Duggan informs me that at mill speeds of 17 rpm, they save a $0.025 per ton on liners and $0.025 per ton in power, but, if the demand for molybdenum increased, he would go back to higher speed to obtain maximum tonnage, as the values from the increased tonnage would far more than offset the one half saving at the slower speed. The Jnspiration ran a six months' test between mills running 21 rpm and 23.5 rpm. The slower mills ground 10 pct less ore with a slight saving per ton, but when the reduced plant tonnage was checked back into the actual cost figures of concentration, the high-speed mills with their greater tonnage showed considerable advantage. To be convinced of possible practical results from the predictions in the conclusions, I think we would have to rely on the analysis of expert cost accountants to furnish the necessary proof figures. Hardinge and Ferguson are to be commended for the work in preparing this paper. I am convinced that our Massco engineers should go into higher speeds with our equipment. Harlowe Hardinge (authors' reply)—For one, I heartily agree with Mr. Johnson's opening statement that the effect of mill speeds on grinding costs must be studied along with capital investment and dollars gathered together as profits. It was on this basis and for this reason the paper was written. Mr. Johnson, on the other hand, takes the position that, on the whole, low speeds are not justified from the economic standpoint, basing his principal reason on the fact that lower mill speeds cut mill capacities and hence reduce the gross income from the product produced. There is no denying this point. It is almost axiomatic. It is for this very reason that the overall advantage of lower mill speeds has been discounted and even overlooked. It was for this reason mainly that the paper was written in the first place. It is one thing to plan an efficient operation at the outset, basing one's figures on the tonnage requirements at the time, and it is quite another to be confronted with the problem of increasing the output of an existing installation at a minimum of capital expenditure. Economic consideration of a new installation is greatly influenced by referring to an old one. Too often, the analyst assumes that if this practice is followed in the new installation, one would not go wrong. It is just here that he may be wrong. Past practice and low capital expenditure are all too frequently given priority over the engineer's analysis of operating costs. When we are able to start fresh, we should give proper weight to other economic factors which do not exist in an old installation. It is these economic factors that make it possible to spend at the outset just a little more money and get it back in a matter of months and effect big savings for years to come. F. C. Bond—This paper is of considerable importance in that it emphasizes a modern trend to operate ball mills at somewhat slower speeds than formerly. We have checked the data in the paper with that obtained

Jan 1, 1951

By Ligon Johnson

. Only the acute phase of the smelter fume problem is new. The problem itself is older than the Christian era. While both lead and copper were mined and crudely smelted some 3000 years ago, it was not until the Roman occupation of the Iberian . Peninsula and the British Isles, which occurred but shortly before the beginning of the Christian era, that there was any evidence of smelting operations on a scale sufficiently large to permit a fume problem. Around Huelva, Spain, are found more than 30 million tons of slag from lead smelting conducted there by the Romans. Pliny tells US that more than 20,000 slaves were employed in the Iberian mines. Extensive mining and smelting by the Romans in England and Wales were coincident with the Iberian proceedings. These metallurgical operations were upon a sufficiently large scale to produce marked results both upon the surrounding country and the smelter workers, but, as they were those of a conqueror upon conquered soil, conducted by slaves, imperial Rome failed to recognize that such a thing as a smoke problem did or could arise, and whatever fume question there may have been at that time remained a question only to those who had no chance to answer any phase of it. The smelting operations of the Romans extended over about 400 years, and little is recorded of lead and copper smelting from that time until the 16th century. From the revival beginning at this period up to the present century, the growth of smelting has been comparatively gradual. In Great Britain, smelting was conducted almost wholly in localities where metallurgical operations were of paramount importance, and the communities .that grew up in smelter localities were due to and dependent upon the mines and smelters. This fact had much to do with the comparative freedom of British smelting from burdensome fume litigation and legislation. To a lesser degree these conditions applied to the German operations which, when coupled with the further fact that most of the early German operations were to a greater or less degree fiscal workings of Prussia, Saxony and Brunswick-Hanover, accounts for

Jan 1, 1918

By W. A. Clark

THE production of sand in an oil well increases operating costs because of abnormal wear in subsurface equipment, the necessity for frequent cleanouts, and the need for a means of disposing of the sand. Moreover, removal of sand from the zone can bring about the creation of cavities from which bodies of formation, sand or shale, may slough into the hole, endangering the shutoff, impeding production or collapsing the liner. The procedure known as gravel packing is attracting attention as a means of controlling these factors and contributing to the productive life of a well. That gravel packing is now substantially beyond the preliminary stage on the Pacific Coast is reflected in the 191,000 bbl, of oil produced monthly by the 66 gravel-packed wells in 11 different producing sectors. REASONS FOR GRAVEL-PACKING Gravel packing, if properly carried out, can be expected to provide the following benefits: 1. Prevent the movement of sand and thus eliminate sand production and sand fills, and prevent the formation of cavities. 2. Provide a practical, relatively inexpensive, large-diameter hole, which will provide well-known theoretical advantages. 3. Support the walls of the hole by completely filling the space between the liner and the formation, regardless of its irregularities, and afford a support for liners. 4. Provide for more efficient pumping operations in wells by: (a) possibly utilizing the gravel as a gas trap in pumping gaseous fluids, (b). allowing deep submergence of the pump into the oil zone.

Jan 1, 1939

By Thomas M. Drown

THE means relied on to attain uniformity in Bessemer steel may be enumerated as follows I. The appearance of the flame. II. The appearance of the slag. III. The spectrum of the flame. IV. Examination of the steel itself. At present, I wish briefly to bring forward a few considerations with reference to the last two mentioned, namely, the conditions favoring the employment of the spectroscope and examination of the steel. From the amount of careful investigation which has been devoted to the examination of the Bessemer flame by the spectroscope, both on the part of scientists and practical metallurgists, one might reasonably expect some results definite and satisfactory in their nature, first, as regards the nature of the flame, and second, as to the practical value of the spectroscope as a guide in conducting the process. We find, in fact, however, that uncertainty and confusion still exist. In Germany, where this subject has received the greatest attention, it is now very generally conceded that manganese is the cause of the well-known groups of dark bands that characterize the Bessemer spectrum. Nor is it easy to see how we can avoid accepting this conclusion, when Wedding and Von Lichtenfels have produced the manganese spectrum and found it to correspond closely with that shown by the Bessemer flame. But it is evident, on a moment's reflection, as Roscoe has recently brought forward, that manganese cannot be the only cause of the Bessemer spectrum, for we notice the characteristic bands quite as

Jan 1, 1873

By Masayuki Otagawa

THE mining methods adopted in Japanese mines are less known to the mining world than those of other countries, owing to the geographical remoteness, but they present many features of interest to mining engineers. The Ashio copper mine is at the village of Ashio, in Tochigiken, about 109 mi. (175 km.) from Tokyo by the Imperial Government railroad. The area of the concession owned by the Furukawa Mining Co. is 5000 acres (5023 ha.). The mine was formerly divided into three, viz.. Honzan, Kotaki, and Tsudo, which are distant 3 mi. (4.8 km.) from each other as shown in Fig. 1. However, in 1914, when the writer was general manager, the three mining plants were amalgamated into one with the result of simplifying the working projects and increasing the operat-ing efficiency. The mine was visited-by the Institute party in November, 1911, when Mr. K. Inouye was the general manager. Shortly afterward, the writer was appointed manager, and, in 1915, he was succeeded by Dr. K. Asano. At the end of 1917, Mr. K. Kibe became general manager and, after two years, was succeeded by the present manager, Mr. I. Sugimoto-. For some time Dr. J. Kojima was acting general manager. It is needless to say that the gentlemen mentioned are all members of the Institute, as is also Baron T. Furukawa, president of the company. Since the discovery of the enormous masses, called "kajika" or "bullhead" deposits; which the writer has described elsewhere,' the mining methods have been varied to meet the different conditions presented by these deposits.

Jan 2, 1922

By Paul Foote

MOST of the treatises on metallurgy intimate that simultaneously with the development by the atomic physicist of a really satisfactory theory of the atom will be inaugurated a new epoch in the science of metals. Metallurgically and metaphorically, we shall dwell in the Utopia of Sir Thomas More. It is my privilege this afternoon to demonstrate that this state has not arrived. An atom is a miniature planetary system consisting of a positively charged nuclear sun about which revolve electrons each carrying the negative charge e. The charge on the nucleus is + Ze where Z is the atomic number and the number of planetary electrons in a neutral atom is equal to Z. These electrons are arranged in several groups having different binding energies. Ordinary x-ray phenomena relate to processes occurring deep within the atom, usually with electrons in the so-called K or L shells. Such electrons in the heavier atoms are so closely bound to the nucleus that the forces exerted by neighboring atoms in a solid are relatively inappreciable. For most practical x-ray investigation, the atom may, be considered as in the gaseous phase completely isolated from its neighbors. The K radiation from an element in the gaseous state, in the solid or liquid phase, or even in combination with other elements in all its possible valences, is almost identical. ? Visual and ultraviolet spectroscopy is concerned with disturbances of the most loosely, bound outer or valence electrons of the atom, always in the vapor state. The remarkable progress of the last year in both theo-

Jan 2, 1926

By Richard E. Chism

I have thought it well to lay before the Institute some account of the Vallecillo Mines, now, I believe, the only paying ones in American hands in northeastern Mexico, including the States of Nuevo Leon, Coahuila and Tamaulipas. The authentic history of these mines dates from their ownership by an American Company in the year 1851, when they were bought by the Vallecillo Silver Mining Company of New York. They had been worked before by the Spaniards, but had been abandoned for many years, on account of the heavy expense of drainage and the constant incursions of the Indians. The company commenced work with several well-known New York capitalists among its stockholders, and had a large fund of both money and enthusiasm. The first point of attack was at a shaft on a mine known as the Jesus Maria, which had the most favorable traditions. Extensive buildings were put up, and two sets of pumps were successively tried. After the second pump, with a steam-cylinder 5 feet in diameter and 10 feet stroke and a plunger 20 inches in diameter, had failed to do more than hold the water, with infinite labor, at the 250 feet level, and after a thorough exploitation of the whole mine above that level had failed to yield more than some $30,000 worth of ore, it was resolved to abandon the effort. Operations were accordingly transferred to the old Dolores shaft, at a point about 21/2 miles to the

Jan 1, 1885

By H. H. Clark

ELECTRICITY must be safeguarded everywhere that it is used. The conditions that exist underground make the use of safeguards more essential there than almost anywhere else. Electric Shock Electric shock is the greatest danger in connection with the use of electricity in mines, because conditions existing underground are so favorable to its occurrence. Men are often obliged to work in more or less uncertain light near bare wires that are carrying dangerous potentials. The fact that the men are standing on the earth practically connects them to one terminal of the electric generator. The most dangerous piece of electrical equipment underground is the trolley wire. It is necessarily bare and extends for long distances throughout a mine, often less than a man's height from the track rail. Sometimes the making up of trips of cars must be done near low-hanging trolley wires. All bare wires offer the same danger that trolley wires do, although not to the same extent. Apparatus that has accidentally come in contact with the ungrounded side of an electric circuit is almost as dangerous as the trolley wire. A severe and even fatal shock may be obtained by coming in contact with the frame of a motor or a switch box that has become charged with electricity, or "alive," as it is usually termed. It is also possible to obtain shocks from the frames of locomotives and cars if track. sanding, poor bonding or a similar cause has put a high resistance to earth in the path of the current.

Jan 4, 1914

By Wayne A. McCurdy

Seldom in history has any industry undergone such radical and rapid change as that experienced by coal. Since 1947, when bituminous coal production reached an all-time high of 631 million tons, the industry has faced market problems not believed possible prior to the build-up of the great market demand occasioned by the wartime emergency and post-war recovery period. Subsequently, it suffered practically complete loss of the formerly huge railroad fuel market to dieselization; natural gas expansion ate into many markets; and oil took a heavy toll. Although anthracite, on the other hand, did not have a record year in 1947, it did attain a production figure of 57 million tons. Competitive forces since then have hit this fuel harder than bituminous coal. As we are aware, most prognosticators have pointed to a glowing long-range future for coal, with some forecasters estimating coal production by 1975 to be as high as 800 million tons. The largest increase in the use of coal in future years is expected to come from expansion of the industry's two largest growth markets-steel and the electric utilities. Optimists would have us believe that coal need merely bide its time to be carried to prosperity by the increased demands of these two basic customers. But the coal industry knows from bitter experience that even "assured" markets-as the railroads and domestic consumers once were-can be lost through lack of progress and lack of research. And coal's projected growth markets are not “assured.”

Jan 9, 1962

For the convenience of members who may be traveling from place to place, the Secretary has compiled a list of libraries or other places in the United States and foreign countries where MINING AND METALLURGY or the Transactions may be consulted. This list will be sent to members if they so request. LIST OF THE MEETINGS OF THE INSTITUTE AND THEIR LOCALITIES FROM ITS ORGANIZATION TO MARCH, 1920 [ ]

Jan 1, 1925

By Guy Bjorge

IN recent years the Homestake mine has been served by three shafts, the B. &. M., the B. & M. No; 2 and the Ellison, supplemented by an inside shaft, the Milliken, extending from the 2000-ft. level to the 3200-ft. level. In 1932, when a new operating shaft was under consideration, the bottom of the mine was at the 3200-ft. level. The B: & M. and the B. & M. No. 2 shafts were down to the 1550-ft. level and the Ellison was being deepened from the 2600 to the 3200-ft. level. All ore was hoisted at the B. & M. and-Ellison shafts. Levels below the 2600 level, which were under development only, were served by the Milliken shaft. Below the 1550-ft. level, the mine was served only by the Ellison shaft from the surface. Within a few years, when ore reserves above the 1550-ft. level would be depleted, operation would be limited to the Ellison shaft and the auxiliary underground shaft. The Ellison shaft alone was not adequate for hoisting the entire output from the deeper levels and also handling all men and supplies. Further-more, assurance of safety and uninterrupted operation required- two fully equipped shafts to the deeper levels. Therefore a new operating shaft was authorized in November, 1932, and was named for A. J. M. Ross, the mine superintendent.

Jan 1, 1935

J. B. MCGRAW, New York, N. Y. (written discussion*).-In Mr. Burke Baker's description of the process of the American Briquet Co., he speaks only of the attractive features, but every process which uses a compound or emulsified binder has certain undesirable features which must be considered. In making an emulsion, the success of which depends upon the introduction of the various ingredients at certain fixed temperatures and the complete intermixing of a soluble solution with an oil which has absolutely no affinity for it, considerable difficulty is found in keeping the various factors in strict accordance with the formula. To serve its purpose properly or, in other words, to be right for easy mixing with the coal, it should be of a certain predetermined density. Among the controlling factors of this ate the proportion of moisture contained and the temperature of the oil when introduced. If the latter is higher than intended, a greater proportion of moisture will be evaporated than is proper, and if the oil is not sufficiently hot the process of emulsification is retarded. These various factors can be controlled with more or less certainty where working in a laboratory or in a small experimental way, but when it is attempted on a large commercial scale, certain obstacles not otherwise apparent are likely to be encountered.

Jan 5, 1918

By Thomas Fraser

BECAUSE of the present interest in the subject of sulfur in coal and its removal, such information as is available in the coal-washing literature on the various factors that determine the adaptability of a coal for wash- FIG. I.-COAL-WASHING TABLES OF ONE-FOURTH COMMERCIAL SIZE. ing have been collected and are presented here together with some observations based on results of experimental work carried out in the coal-washing laboratory of the mining department of the University of Illinois, and investigative work at Illinois washeries in connection with the work on reduction of the sulfur content of coal, being carried on at the Urbana Station of the.U. S. Bureau of mines. This investigative

Jan 9, 1919

By Charles R. Keyes

PAGE. I. IntRoduction,...........139 11. Four Phases of Primary Ore-Genesis,......141 1. Extraction of Ore-Materials from Sea-Water,....141 A. Early Views,........141 B. Metals in Sea-Water,.......142 C. Metallic Content of Sedimentary Rocks,... 142 D. Adequacy of Metal-Percentage to Form Ore-Deposits, . 143 E. Derivation of Metallic Elements in Sea-Water,.. 144 2. Metallic Content of Igneous Rocks,...... 145 A. Two-Fold Meaning of Term,.....145 B. Significance of Ordinary Rock-Analyses,... 146 C. Wide-Spread Occurrence of Rare Rock-Forming Minerals,.........146 D. Occurrence of Metalliferous Minerals in Rocks,.. 146 E. Metallic Content of Igneous Rocks Generally,.. 147 F. Metals in Volcanic Rocks,......148 G. Originality of Metal-Content of Rocks,...148 H. Physical Condition of Metallic Minerals,... 149 3. Magmatic Origin of Metals,.....,.149 A. Association of Ores with Cooled Magmas,... 149 B. Deep-Seated Origin of Metals,.....150 C. Magmatic Waters in Ore-Deposition,.... 150 D. Ore-Materials of Volcanic Emanations,... 151 E. Exportation of Metals from Magmas,.... 152 F. Ores of Magmatic Differentiation,.... 152 4. Meteoritic Derivation of the Metals,.....- 153 A. Planetesimal Hypothesis,...... 153 B. Number of Meteorites,.......154 C. Abundance of Meteorites in Desert-Regions,.. 156 D. Petrologic Character of Meteoric Falls,... 159 B. Metals in Meteorites,.......159 F. Incorporation of Meteoritic Materials in Ores, , .160 811. RecapitulatioN,..........161 I. Introduction. If the long controversy waged between those who, on the one hand, advocated a strictly deep-seated origin of ore-deposits, and, on the other hand, those who argued for an ore-genesis by

Jan 1, 1911

By C. M. Weld

Attention has been turned recently to the exploration and development of certain large blanket-deposits of brown iron-ore in Cuba. The most conspicuous of these to-day, and the one upon which the most light has been shed, is the Mayari deposit, situated about 15 miles south of Nipe bag. Here the Spanish-Aniericau Co. has sole control over 18,500 acres of ore-bearing lands, reported by its engineers to contain 500,000,000 tons of ore. The necessary plant and equipment, with docks and railways, is now under construction for the early marketing of this ore. A similar deposit, and undoubtedly the next to be exploited, is the ore-field at Moa bay, where from 13,000 to 15,000 acres of ore-lands, immediately adjacent to the shores of an excellent harbor, have been generously covered by numerous mining-claims, practically all controlled by four large interests;. This deposit is now estimated to contain approximately 350,000,000 tons, on the basis of dried ore ready for shipment, a figure which may be increased when the western limits of the ore-deposit have been more accurately defined. Other deposits of the same type, but smaller and less accessible, are those at Cubitas, situated from 12 to 15 miles north of Camaguey city,

Jan 1, 1910

Discussion of the paper of R. H. RICHARDS and BOYD DUDLEY, JR., presented at the New York meeting, February, 1915, and printed in Bulletin No. 97, January, 191.5, pp. 67 to 72. R. H. RICHARDS, Boston, Mass.-I believe that the manner of working for efficiency in almost all lines is to study the conditions of highest efficiency, and then to measure what is being clone. We can then see how near we have approached the highest efficiency. Spigots in practice often use many times the water theoretically needed. There are places where that is necessary for safety reasons. There are, however, places where it is unnecessary, and in these places it seems to me that this work of Mr. Dudley's will be a great help to the mill man to arrive at the greatest economy of water and highest efficiency. ALBERT R. LEDOUX, New York, N. Y.-A good many years ago I received a telegram from that distinguished engineer, Hamilton Smith, which simply said in substance: "I have discovered that liquids will flow faster from a square orifice than from a round orifice of the same area, under the same head." I wondered why he sent me the telegram, but some time afterward he told me that he had been making experiments along that line in Montana; that he thought the discovery was interesting

Jan 5, 1915