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By J. Redstone, A. R. Laplante

Sidbec-Normines operates six large iron ore concentrate regrinding mills in parallel and open circuit at its Port-Cartier pelletizing plant. Grinding kinetics in these mills were characterized for slurry densities varying between 70 and 89% solids, using a lumped parameter size discrete model. Optimum grinding conditions were encountered at 83.5 to 84% solids. Higher densities decreased the normalized selection function and increased slurry short-circuiting, yielding a sharply coarser mill discharge. At lower slurry densities, the normalized selection function decreased and the mill discharge coarsened slightly. The grinding kinetic model predicted particle size distributions within the mill. These were found to vary significantly from the feed to the discharge end. This is likely to cause nonlinear breakage kinetics.

Jan 1, 1985

By Milton C. Neul

As recently as the mid-1930's, steam and rail haulage were still the primary means of moving large quantities of rock. However, 2- to 5-ton standard on-highway trucks were beginning to be used in the mining industry's efforts to lower haulage costs. It was quickly obvious that rubber-tired equipment was more flexible, faster and more maneuverable. The trend towards haulage trucks had begun. Now while savings were being realized, the severe operating conditions encountered in open pit operations proved too much for the lightly constructed frames, gasoline engines and highly inflated tires. As a result, a few years later, the first 10 to 15-ton, two-axle heavy duty trucks were designed specifically to operate under off-highway conditions.

Jan 3, 1966

By Frederick Laist

The ores received at the Washoe Smelter come almost entirely from the mines in Butte and contain the following minerals : Chalcocite, Cu2S; covellite, CuS; chalcopyrite, CuFeS2, (trace); bornite, Cu3FeS3; enargite, Cu3AsS4; malachite, Cu2CO4 + H2O (trace); pyrite, FeS2; sphalerite, ZnS; rhodo-chrosite, MnCO3, (less than 1 per cent.); rhodonite, MnSiO3, (less than I per cent.). The country-rock of Butte is of the granite family and is a quartz-monzonite containing a little less silica than typical granite. It is made up of the following rock-minerals in approximately the proportions indicated: Minerals. Composition. Per Cent. Quartz SiO2 20 Andesine 1/2 NaAlSi3O8; 4 CaAI2Si2O8 42 Orthoclase KA1Si308 23 Hornblende 1/2 Ca(MgFe)3Si4O12; & (MgFe)2(AlFe)4Si2O12 6 Biotite (HK)2(MgFe)2A12Si3O12 9 Titanite CaTiSiO5 0.1 Apatite (CaF)Ca4(PO4)3 0.05 Magnetite (FeO)(Fe2O3 0.15 Pyrite FeS2 0.02 99.32 The main country-rock (quartz-monzonite) is cut by dikes of aplite, a granite having the following composition: Quartz, 30; andesine, 20; orthoclase, 45; ferro-rnagnesian minerals, 3; pyrite, 0.1; total, 98.1 per cent. Closely associated with the copper-deposits are dikes and bodies of " Modoe" porphyry, technically known as quartz-

Jan 1, 1913

By H. C. Babbitt

The Effect of Arsenic.—A question involving the temperature of precipitation of ammonium phospho-molybdate, which was brought to my attention some time ago, led to the following experiment :*

Jan 1, 1893

In the Texas Panhandle 277 oil wells and 60 gas wells were completed during 1942, as compared with 647 oil and 52 gas wells completed in 1941. Fourteen dry holes were drilled in the Texas Panhandle in 1942, of which five were wildcats, resulting in four failures and one gas-field discovery in Sherman County; the latter being Hazy-Herrington-Marsh No. I Bivins completed for 5,600,000 cu. it. ol gas from 2989 to 3226 feet. During the year 1942 the Texas Panhandle produced, by counties, the following quantities of oil:

Jan 1, 1943

In the Texas Panhandle 277 oil wells and 60 gas wells were completed during 1942, as compared with 647 oil and 52 gas wells completed in 1941. Fourteen dry holes were drilled in the Texas Panhandle in 1942, of which five were wildcats, resulting in four failures and one gas-field discovery in Sherman County; the latter being Hazy-Herrington-Marsh No. I Bivins completed for 5,600,000 cu. it. ol gas from 2989 to 3226 feet. During the year 1942 the Texas Panhandle produced, by counties, the following quantities of oil:

Jan 1, 1943

By D. M. Spratt, O. R. Bell

In Australia's remote northwest are located the operations of Cliffs Robe River, one of the world’s largest iron ore projects. initial project cost was $US300 million and required the construction of a deepwater port, two towns for 3000 people, a 105 MW power station, and 170 km of railroad, all in harsh, arid country over 1300 km from the nearest industrial center. The ore occurs as goethite cappings on scattered mesas and averages 57% iron. All aspects of the project are reviewed from pre-operational research, through project construction to current operation.

Jan 1, 1982

By S. Feuerstein, L. Rice

The effect of low pressures on the flow and fracture behavior of molybdenum is described. For poly crystalline samples, room-temperature tensile tests indicate greater ductility under 10 Torr than under intermediate pressures up to and including atmospheric pressure (760 Torr). In addition, tests conducted at 760 Torr under atmospheres of air, dry nitrogen, and purified argon exhibited no apparent difference in mechanical properties. Critical tests involving baking in situ as well as those involving single-crystal deformation further imply that the ductility effect is a pressure-dependent phenomenon related only to the fracture process. This dependency is discussed in terms of adsorption and diffusion contributions. THE effect of very low pressures on material properties has heretofore been presumed to be important only for substances possessing relatively high vapor pressures at ambient temperatures. Research has therefore been concentrated primarily on organic solids and liquids, and in some instances on metals such as zinc and cadmium. Most vacuum-effect studies' on the mechanical behavior of metals have been performed under conditions of either cyclic loading or creep rupture at elevated temperatures, i.e., over extended time periods. These studies were not restricted to high vapor pressure materials but also encompassed such metals as gold, copper, and nickel. Very little concern, however, was placed upon the importance of a vacuum environment on the mechanical behavior of metals subjected to a simple unidirectional deformation at ambient temperatures. A tension test is generally of short duration as compared to a creep test, and at room temperature vacuum effects if any would be expected to be surface-limited. In early 1963, Kramer and podlaseck2 reported a change in the bulk flow behavior of aluminum single crystals during room-temperature tension tests. The deformations were performed under pressure conditions of 760 to 3.4 X 10-8 Torr and indicated for the first time a vacuum surface effect contributing to the bulk tensile behavior of metal specimens. As a consequence, an experimental program was initiated in this Laboratory to study the effects of ultrahigh-vacuum conditions on the mechanical behavior of metals. The results of a preliminary study on poly-crystalline molybdenum3 revealed, unlike Kramer's observations of changes in the stress-strain behavior, only an increased ductility under ultrahigh vacuum. Flow behaviors were nearly identical for all tests re- gardless of pressure. This paper presents comprehensive results obtained in this area of research. 1) EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE Three material categories were used in this study: sintered and are-cast polycrystalline molybdenum of nominal purity 99.93+ pct and single-pass electron-beam zone-refined molybdenum single crystals having a nominal purity level of 99.99+ pct. The interstitial levels (weight percent) as determined by the Materials Testing Laboratories, Division of Magnaflux Corp., were as follows: sintered molybdenum (C— 0.005, H—0.0004, O—0.015, N—0.008); and arc-cast molybdenum (C-0.0038, H-0.0003, O-0.015, N-0.023). Single-crystal molybdenum obtained from Materials Research Corp. had a typical interstitial analysis of C-0.0015, H-0.00007, O—0.00045, and N-0.0001. Tensile specimens having a 5 mm diam by 50.8 mm length were prepared from these materials. An average grain diameter of 0.059 mm was obtained for the sintered specimens following a 4-hr, 1600°C heat treatment. Grain sizes from 0.019 to 0.149 mm were obtained in the arc-cast specimens following heat treatments from 1100° to 1600°C for 1 hr. This series of specimens was used exclusively for the grain-size effect studies. All samples were electrolytically polished in 97 pct sulfuric acid solution prior to testing. Experiments were performed at room temperature in an ion-pumped ultrahigh-vacuum system positioned in an Instron tensile machine, Fig. 1. A constant strain rate of 4.2 x 10-4 sec-1 as derived from crosshead displacement was assumed for the deformations. Starting vacuums ranged from 2 to 0.5 X 10-10 Torr. These pressure measurements were made using corrected values4 of an NRC Redhead gage. Comparative readings were also made against a G.E. triggered dis-

Jan 1, 1967

By F. E. Rizzo, L. R. Bidwell, D. F. Frank

THE use of galvanic cells for the determination of oxygen activities has spread rapidly since the suitability of calcia-stabilized zirconia as a solid electrolyte material was first demonstrated by Kiukkola and Wagner.' In many of these investigations:-7 including several at ARL, the free-energy changes for various oxidation-reduction reactions involving the oxides FexO, NiO, and Cu2O have been measured as a means of assuring that a cell apparatus is functioning properly. As a result, a large quantity of data pertinent to the calculation of the high-temperature standard free energy of formation (?GO) of these oxides has been accumulated. AGFexo has been carefully measured in many independent investigations, using a variety of techniques, and consequently is accurately known. chipmans has used this informa-

Jan 1, 1968

By Carl G. Schwenk

Rocks of the Precambrian Shield of Rusk County, Wis., were recognized as a favorable host for volcanogenic base metal deposits by personnel of Bear Creek Mining Co. Most of the county is covered by a thick layer of glacial drift: consequently, geophysical techniques played a prominent role in the exploration program conceived and initiated there in 1966. The original work on three Precambrian exposures was followed by an airborne electromagnetic survey and subsequent ground follow-up. A geophysical evaluation of air-borne anomaly F-22 defined a target which was interpreted as a massive sulfide body. Numerous potential field and electrical tools were utilized to describe the geometry and physical properties of the target. Drilling confirmed the massive sulfide interpretation and eztentually outlined a 6 million-ton copper deposit.

Jan 1, 1977

By Henry Souther

It is generally admitted that a god, practical and commercial set of specifications for the use of the many purchasers of cast-iron does not exist. A few good sets are in the hands of large buyers, but even these are very different, contradictory, and not intended to cover a wide range of product. Furthermore, most of them have been prepared to cover but one branch of the industry. It is strange that purchasers of cast-iron have not looked into this question long ago and demanded good, uniform cast-irou. Probably cast-iron has been discarded from many uses because of its failure in a few instances, even though the failure was due to ignorance of the quality of the iron, or perhaps to abnormally bad iron. Some foundrymen seem to consider all gray iron from a given foundry as uniform, especially if they know that it has been made from certain well-known brands of pig. It is likely that with standard specifications and the increase of knowledge necessary for their intelligent employ-

Jan 1, 1905

By L. D. Fetterolf

The New Jersey Zinc Zompany operates at Depue, Illinois, an integrated zinc smelting plant using tie vertical retort reduction process. The overall operation comprises green concentrate roasting, sintering, vertical retort smelting and metal refining. In the roasting operation, the fine concentrate is pelletized, the dried pellets fluidized and autogenously roasted with air in a “fluid column” with minimal formation of dust requiring recirculation. The roasted pellets and any associated roaster dust are agglomerated in a rotating drum and laid down, in combination with coal for fuel, on a Dwight-Lloyd sintering machine which converts to a semi-fused mass - a physical state more suitable for vertical retort smelting. The smeltins plant of 27 vertical retorts rated at 8 T zinc each per day on average requires the following major processing steps - mix preparation and briquettine, briquet coking, vertical retort reduction, vapor condensation and slab casting of metal. A portion of zinc production is converted to 99.99+ percent purity by boiling and fractional distillation in columns consisting of externally heated, superimposed trays of high-conductivity refractory.

Jan 1, 1970

By John Fulton

The Connellsville coal-field is a separate strip of the upper coal measures, flanking the Chestnut Ridge along its western side. It extends from a point a few miles south of Uniontown, in Fayette County, following a northeasterly course parallel to the trend of Chestnut Ridge, through Fayette and Westmoreland counties, with its terminal prongs resting 011 the southern portion of Indiana County, north of the town of Blairsville. This belt of coking coal will average about three miles in width and over sixty miles in length, affording nearly, if not quite, two hundred square miles of this large coal-bed.

Jan 1, 1885

By Peter L. Swanson

A microcrack process zone is frequently suggested to accompany macrofractures in rock and play an important role in the resistance to fracture propagation. Attenuation of surface waves propagating through mode I fractures in wedge-loaded double-cantilever beam specimens of Westerly granite has been recorded in an attempt to characterize the structure of the fracture process zone. The ultrasonic measurements do not support the generally accepted model of a macroscopic fracture that incrementally propagates with the accompaniment of a cloud of microcracks. Instead, fractures in Westerly granite appear to form as gradually separating surfaces within a zone having a width of a few millimeters and a length of several tens of millimeters. A fracture process zone of this size would necessitate the use of meter-sized specimens in order for linear elastic fracture mechanics to be applicable.

Jan 1, 1984

By C. E. Wood

THIS paper is a brief report of experimental work undertaken to determine whether barium oxide in any quantity increases the desulfurizing action of blast-furnace slags. Industrial furnace operation with slag containing small quantities of barium oxide, referred to later, interested S. A. Sanford of the Commercial Chemical Co., Youngstown, Ohio, to conduct experiments to furnish comparative results on desulfurization with normal slag and slag containing small quantities of barium oxide. The U. S. Bureau of Mines agreed to assist on the problem because of the possible saving in fuel if the desulfurizing action of blast-furnace slag can be substantially increased, also because the experiments would yield new information on sulfur elimination in general, a matter of economic importance in furnace practice. A more complete and fundamental study of desulfurization of iron by slag is in progress.

Jan 1, 1929

By Henry J. Sandri

The use of economic models for forecasting purposes is an inexact yet necessary tool for mineral decision making. One method not commonly used is cyclical analysis because of its "non-scientific approach". However, under certain circumstances a modified cyclical approach can provide useful insight to mining companies. The current paper discusses mineral modeling, the type of economic models and the use of cyclical forecasting for mining firms (not speculators) involved in precious metals.

Jan 1, 1984

By T. W. Turk, S. A. Sass

The engineering design features of the Mercur Gold Project crushing, grinding, carbon-in-leach, bullion, reagent, and tailings disposal areas will be discussed in this paper. It presents a project overview and flowsheet along with selected design alternatives. During the engineering phase, major equipment and other features were selected to optimize design within site location and environmental constraints. The project team organization and procedures were adopted to accommodate multiple optimization studies while maintaining a tight engineering schedule.

Jan 1, 1985

By E. A. Anderson

IN another paper1 the writer has shown that the low permissible maximum fiber stress in a loaded zinc sheet demands a much closer support spacing than is used for steel. The limiting fiber stress in 13-gage (0.032 in.) sheets having a 1-in. depth of corrugation was found to be about 5000 lb. per sq. in. on a 37-in. span under a load of 40 lb. per sq. ft. Corrugated steel sheets are commonly laid with spans varying from 48 to 60 in. In order to increase the span in 13-gage zinc to 54 in. (a common spacing) the metal must be capable of withstanding, under long-continued loading, a maximum fiber stress of about 10,000 lb. per sq. in. This is known to be impossible with unalloyed zinc. In this paper the writer describes a series of experiments leading up to the development of an alloy capable of safely sustaining this fiber stress. The effect of alloying on the slow creep of zinc was studied by means of static tensile tests, accurate determinations of apparent elastic limits and finally by means of loading tests on full-size roof sections. Two industrial buildings roofed with alloyed zinc sheets on spans involving fiber stresses in excess of 10,000 lb. per sq. in. have been under observation for over two years without signs of sagging.

Jan 1, 1929

By H. W. McCue

In 1944, in the Texas Panhandle, 245 oil wells were drilled with a total daily initial production of 32,886 bbl., representing an average initial production of 134 bbl, per well. This was an increase over 1943 of 121 wells drilled, and an increased initial production of 13,861 barrels. On Dec. 31, 1944, the field was operating on an allowable of 113,567 bbl. per day, but actually was producing 85,539 bbl. per day from the 5901 oil wells. The tota1 production for the year was 33,439,436 bbl., bringing the cumulative total to 5.04,537,048 barrels. Gas Sixty-three gas wells with a combined open flow of 992 million cu. ft., were drilled during 1944. This was an increase of seven wells over 1943, but a drop of 216 million cu. ft. in initial open flow. The

Jan 1, 1945

By Oswald J. Heinrich

AT the Baltimore meeting of the Institute in February, 1879, Mr. Eckley B. Coxe, then president of the Institute, called attention in his address to the subject of Secondary Technical Education, and

Jan 1, 1881