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By Ralph W. M. Lai, D. W. Fuerstenau

In aqueous solution, an oxide surface is considered to consist of positively charged surface sites, MOH, neutral surface sites MOH, and negatively charged surface sites MO-. From the mass action law, equations for the distribution of these sites have been derived in terms of the hydrogen ion concentration in solution and the point of zero charge of the oxide. Experiments on the flotation of futile were carried out with sulfonates and amines which are collectors that physisorb, and with oleate, which is a collector that chemisorbs. Flotation response was found to correlate with the site distribution model. A similar correlation was found with published data on iron oxide potation.

Jan 1, 1977

By A. Bleier, E. D. Goddard, R. D. Kulkarni

The influence of the collector structure on the amine (RNH2, R=alkyl) flotation of quartz has been systematically investigated using a modified Hallimond microflotation cell. This study focuses on the effect of varying chain length, branching in the alkyl group R, polyfunctionality of the collector molecule, and alkyl substitution on the nitrogen atom. In addition, adsorption at the solution/air interface and electrokinetic results for the solid/solution interface were employed to further elucidate the role ad the interrelation of the structural parameters in the flotation process. Estimates of an electrical double layer attractive energy between the bubble and the solid particle are made.

Jan 1, 1976

By William S. Dershowitz

INTRODUCTION Numerical methods commonly used in rock mechanics, such as finite element, displacement discontinuity, and boundary integral equation methods, offer solutions to problems which can be described by differential equations subject to boundary conditions. These numerical methods use approximations leading to solutions in terms of matrix algebra and numerical integration. Many rock mechanics problems which are beyond the scope of such approximations can be treated effectively by application of techniques developed in the field of artificial intelligence (AI). Among the possible applications are: site characterization (Duda, 1975), geological interpretation (Smith and Baker, 1983), solution of problems involving rock joint networks, and underground construction. Each of these applications utilize particular features of Al. Here we shall present results of AI applications which utilize primarily search and to lesser extent learning or pattern recognition. Specific examples presented are in the field of rock fracture network problems and underground construction. ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE Artificial intelligence techniques attempt to achieve human-like reasoning and learning capabilities. This reasoning capability is valuable in applications where repetition, complexity, or tediousness makes human-like intervention impractical. In rock mechanics this occurs, for example, in stochastic rock mass modeling applications where some complex decision-making is required for each of a large number of iterations.

Jan 1, 1984

By M. E. Wadsworth, P. H. Yu, C. K. Hansen

A study of the rate of dissc5lution of chalcopyrite (CuFeS2) in acidic solutions under oxygen overpressures was carried out by measuring the rate of formation of cupric ions in solution. Effects of temperature, oxygen partial pressure, surface area, and concentration of sulfuric acid were evaluated. A sized batch of chalcopyrite was leached in the temperature range of 125° to 175°C and in the pressure range of 75 to 400 psi of oxygen. In 0.5 N H2SO4 all products of reaction went into solution except for trace amounts of elemental sulfur. The dissolution of chalcopyrite followed linear kinetics and was essentially independent of hydrogen ion concentration for H2S04 concentrations between 0.2 and 0.5 N. The oxygen dependence indicated adsorption approaching limiting values with increasing oxygen pressure. The linear mechanism was explained in terms of steady-state adsorption of oxygen at the chalcopyrite surface followed by a surface reaction. The enthalpy of activation for adsorption of oxygen was found to be approximately 33 kcal per mole. An activation enthalpy of approximately 9 kcal per mole was observed for the surface reaction. Charge transfer reactions are not rate controlling in the process.

Jan 1, 1973

By Christopher J. Bise

Introduction In August 1977, the federal Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act was signed into law. It stated that: "The Congress finds and declares that because of the diversity in terrain . . . and other physical conditions in areas subject to mining operations, the primary governmental responsibility for developing. authorizing, issuing, and enforcing regulations for surface mining and reclamation operations subject to the Act should rest with the States." Section 516 of Title V (Control of the Environmental Impacts of Surface Coal Mining) of the Act deals with the surface effects of underground coal mining operations. "Each permit issued under any approved State or Federal program pursuant to this Act and relating to underground coal mining shall require the operator to adopt measures consistent with known technology in order to prevent subsidence. causing material damage, to the extent technologically and economically feasible, maximize mine stability, and maintain the value and reasonable foreseeable use of such surface lands, except in those instances where the mining technology used requires planned subsidence in a predictable and controlled manner: Provided, that nothing in this subsection shall be construed to prohibit the standard method of room and pillar mining." This section raises many questions. Precisely what is the "reasonably foreseeable" future as far as land use is concerned? And what is the "standard method of room and pillar mining"? The first part of the paragraph seems to rule out longwall mining, but isn't longwalling a "predictable" manner of "planned subsidence"? Does the Act take into account variations among mining methods in differing regions or coal seams? With these questions and the need to comply with the Act's provisions in mind, many states may turn to the Pennsylvania Bituminous Mine Subsidence Act of 1966- the only comprehensive subsidence act passed by any state-as a model for their own programs. Thus, it is very important to evaluate Pennsylvania's Act to see whether its basic assumptions can accommodate national application. This paper will note the Subsidence Act's provisions and guidelines, briefly analyze the current state-of-the-art in subsidence damage prevention and control, and list several recommendations for altering the Act's application guidelines for different mining areas.

Jan 1, 1982

By P. R. Bradley

This paper gives a brief history of the mining and milling operations in the Juneau gold belt, and a general description of the geology of the district, followed by a suggestive discussion of the general problem of sampling gold ores and a detailed description of the mining methods used in the Alaska Juneau mine. The paper indicates that variations in assaying ore similar to that from the gold belt are unavoidable on account of the erratic distribution of the gold. A caving system that accepts dilution was adopted for the Alaska Juneau mine; the ore is sorted and the final mill feed has nearly twice the assay value of the ore trammed. THE property of the Alaska Juneau Gold Mining Co., covering the Juneau gold belt for over a mile in length, consists of 136 claims and 24 mill sites; these are near Juneau, Alaska, in what is known as the Harris mining district.

Jan 3, 1924

A record $19.7 billion in minerals was produced by United States industries in 1963. This was some $800 million above the previous high established in 1962. Preliminary statistics compiled by the U.S. Bureau of Mines show that most metals, nonmetals, and fuels gained both in value and volume of production. The 1963 total represents the largest value increase since 1956 and continues an upward trend begun in 1959. Product.ion and value of all mineral fuels rose, with anthracite registering a remarkable 20% value increase. Nonmetals advanced 591 in value, gains exceeding losses by 213 to 1 among individual commodities. Heavier industrial demand and the settling of labor difficulties were among the factors contributing to increased output of such materials as iron ore, bauxite, molybdenum, lead, and zinc, which accounted for most in€ the growth in metal output. Silver prices continued to rise and, as a result, production value of that metal gained 132,.

Jan 2, 1964

By W. R. Wardner

During 1928 low prices in the East greatly restricted the Atlantic market for California petroleum. The situation was made difficult by only partial control of production. The month of December is estimated in the figures presented here and it is hoped that the differences in the final figures will be immaterial. Daily averages are used throughout. Production Daily average crude production for 1928 was 633,942 bbl., very little more than 1927. Natural gasoline production was 35,453 bbl. daily and the supply (crude and natural gasoline) was 669,395 bbl. However, potential supply was 785,621 bbl. daily, 47,436 more than that of 1927. This is accounted for by more production being shut in so that 116,000 bbl. daily was conserved in 1928 which would otherwise have been produced. Fig. 1 shows production by months for 1928. It will be noticed that while crude production held fairly uniform from January to October, the

Jan 1, 1929

By F. A. Loving

This paper describes experiments which represent an effort to measure preciscly the pressure-time history in detonating condensed commercial explosives. The performance of explosives in mining has been a favorite subject for experimentalists and theorists for many decades. Much useful empirical information has been developed; but it has not yet been possible to predict, or even to account for, the behavior of explosives in mining on the basis of fundamental physical principals. A basic piece of information that would appear necessary for any rigorous analysis is the pressure-time history in the detonating condensed explosive. The experiments described here represent an effort to measure this relationship precisely in commercial explosives. THE EXPERIMENTAL METHOD The experimental method, first described by Cowan and Jacksonl has been extensively evaluated by Cowan and Balchan for relatively simple explosives. The experimental procedure involves the detonation of a layer of explosive between metal plates whose external surfaces are polished to a mirror finish (Fig. 1). Precise measurements of the deflection of

Jan 1, 1967

A national budget system, which engineers have long regarded as essential to the proper conduct of our fiscal affairs is at last being seriously considered by. Congress and seems likely to be adopted in some form. Several, bills and joint resolutions have already- been introduced but the measure that seems how to attract the 'most attention is H. R. 1201 introduced by. Representative Good, Chairman of the House Committee on Appropriations. This ,bill provides for the creation of a Bureau of the Budget in the office of the President, to which full information shall be furnished by all Departments and other Governmental agencies concerning powers, duties, financial transactions, business method's, etc. A change, is made in the fiscal regulations in that the Departments shall hereafter submit their fiscal estimates to the President instead of to the Secretary of the Treasury, while the latter official shall submit estimates of the public revenues and the condition of the Treasury. Two budgets are, provided for:, The first, or regular, budget shall contain a balanced statement of the resources and liabilities of the Government and the revenues and expenditures, actual or estimated as the case may be, for the preceding, current, and ensuing fiscal years. The President is further, authorized to submit his recommendations as' to how the heeds of the Government should be met, and such further data regarding the financial affairs of the, Government as he deems proper. The second or alternative budget shall make known the essential facts regarding the condition of the Treasury and what, in the opinion of the President. are the revenue, and expenditure needs for the ensuing fiscal year, to be prepared in such form as the President shall deem most appropriate. The bill' abolishes-the offices. of Comptroller of the Treasury and all -the Auditors for the several Departments, and substitutes therefore an Accounting Department, an establishment independent of the Executive Departments, under the direction of newly created officer to be known as the "Comptroller General of the United States" whose powers shall comprise all those now conferred on the Comptroller of the Treasury and the several Auditors and, in addition thereto, the investigation at the seat of Government or elsewhere of all matters relating to the receipt or disbursement of public funds, concerning which report shall be made to Congress at the beginning of each regular session, containing recommendations concerning the legislation deemed necessary to the accurate rendition and settlement of accounts.

Jan 8, 1919

By D. A. Lyon

Discussion of the paper of DORSEY A. LYON and ROBERT M. KEENEY, presented at the San Francisco meeting, September, 1915, and printed in Bulletin No. 104, August, 1915, pp. 1707 to 1730. LAWRENCE ADDICKS, Douglas, Ariz.-I think papers of this character, while general in, nature, are of particular value and interest, because when we figure on competing with the East in electrometallurgical industries, on account of the cheap power on the Pacific Coast, we have to take two or three things into account. In the first place, power very rarely amounts to more than 20 per cent. of the total cost of an operation, even .though it be electrometallurgical, and I think it is the common opinion among those who are not familiar with those particular industries, that it amounts to more than 50 or 60 per cent. Take copper refining; we may say that it is 15 per cent. of the total cost. In the second place, around New York City, with 100 per cent. load factor and a reasonably large load, say 10,000 kw., we can generate from a certain class of coal 1 kw.-hr. for about 0.3c. I might say, however, that 0.3c. does not include overhead charges, interest on the investment, etc. The third factor we have to consider out here is that any product to be salable, must command a retail market. It would be useless to produce wire bars here on the Pacific Coast because there is no place to roll them. If we were going to establish a copper refinery, that part of its output which goes into wire bars would have to be taken care of by building a rolling mill alongside of it to turn it into wire and finally make a product that is salable. I do not think, however, that Mr. Lyon need have excluded copper refining from his industries. There are perhaps 50,000,000 lb. of copper a month refined in this country on a custom basis. I think the smelting companies would be very glad to build refineries here if conditions warranted it. The recent extensions of the Great Falls refinery and of the Tacoma refinery in the last few months give evidence of that.

Jan 12, 1915

By John Fritz

MEMBERS of the American engineering societies who were in London and Paris during the last days of. June and early July were present at many interesting gatherings. The official delegates of the Founder societies were the specially honored guests of the foreign engineering societies, but other American engineers took part in the meetings. The members of the delegation were: Arthur S. Dwight, Charles F. Rand, William Kelly, representing A. I. M. E.; Ambrose Swasey (general chairman of deputation), Ira N. Hollis, Jesse M. Smith, representing A. S. M. E.; F. B. Jewett, A. E. Kennelly, G. O. Squier, representing A. I. E. E.; Charles T. Main, Robert A. Cummings, John R. Freeman, D. C. Henny, representing A. S. C. E.

Jan 1, 1921

By D. M. Dunbar, H. C. SCHLILTZ

HE Chile Exploration Co.'s mine and reduction plant are at Chuquicamata, Chile, on the eastern edge of the Atacama Desert, 163 miles northeast of Antofagasta, 80 miles from the Pacific Ocean, and 70 miles from the Bolivian border and at an altitude of 10,000 ft. Guggenheim Brothers started prospecting in -4pri1, 1912, and purchased the main property, in October of that year; the property is now controlled by the Anaconda Copper Mining Co., which acquired it in January, 1923. The orebody strikes north 10" east, and has a dip of about 64" west. The length, as far as developed, is approximately 1% miles; the width averages sightless than mile.

Jan 1, 1925

By H. R. Spedden, A. M. Gaudin, M. P. Corriveau

A preliminary study of silver ion adsorption by sphalerite in ion exchange column with influent electrolyte marked with radiosilver is described. Rapid ion exchange occurs at first followed by slow reaction controlled perhaps by solid state diffusion. One experiment with radiocopper instead of radiosilver is reported briefly. IT has been known for many years that sphalerite is floated after it has been activated by a metallic cation, particularly copper.' The activation of sphalerite by copper is known to be an exchange of an atom of copper for an atom of zinc at the surface of the sphalerite.2,3 It has been estimated from various guesses of the available mineral surface that the depth of the copper-bearing coating is of the order of thickness of one atom. However, the exact mechanism of the activation process is unknown. A number of metals other than copper act in the same general manner."' " In particular, it has been known that silver replaces zinc at the surface of sphalerite. As copper is usually divalent, whereas silver is monovalent, it may well be assumed that there are differences, perhaps major differences, in the detailed scheme of activation by these two cations. Furthermore, since silver has unusual photoelectric properties and may be a contributor to the fluorescence of sphalerite, a study of its activating mechanism might open up some interesting avenues for exploring these other phenomena. The choice of silver as an activator of sphalerite was suggested also by the fact that its radioactive tracer, silver 110, is particularly convenient in that it has a long half-life and is energetic enough to permit counting through a counter window. The experimental technique selected, therefore, included the preparation of solutions of silver nitrate con- taining a proportion of active silver nitrate sufficient to give convenient counting data. In further considering the method to be used, a desirable choice seemed the use of batch experimentation in which a given solution was allowed to act on a certain lot of mineral for a given length of time at a given temperature, this period of mutual reaction being followed by analyses of the separated solid and solution. But an alternative method seemed more attractive. This is the method now so familiar to the users of ion-exchange resins, which was first made famous by the Russian chromatographer, Tswett.6-8 It consists in forming the mineral into a porous column through which the solution is allowed to flow at a constant rate. The usual method of allowing a batch of solid to react with solution is the equivalent of a single plate distillation operation while the chromatographic or ion-exchange column is a multiple-plate method—the multiplicity of the plates being represented by the reciprocal of the rate of flow of solution through the column. It seemed to us that the chromatographic method had such

Jan 1, 1952

By M. A. Jones

Performance of a pilot flood in eastern Kansas indicates improved recovery and accelerated production resulting from mobility ratio control obtained by adding a high moleculur weight polymer to injected water. Ultimate pilot flood recovery of the 75-cp reservoir oil is anticipated to he 350 bbllacre-ft during the six-year flood life. Cumulative recovery to date totals 242 bbl/acre-ft after 30 months of injection. Reservoir parameters and flood performance are disc~rssed in detail to provide a case history relating to the feasibility of polymer flooding. INTRODUCTION The Vernon Polymer flood of the Brazos Oil & Gas Co., located in Sec. 2, 24 S., 16 E., Woodson County, Kans., was begun in late Oct., 1963. Injection of a 500 ppm solution of Pusher* polymer was initiated in a 15-acre pilot to determine feasibility of improving oil recovery by mobility ratio control. Performance to date and the anticipated recovery of 115,000 bbl from the 329 acre-ft pilot indicate efficient displacement of the viscous reservoir oil. Dependence of flood recovery on the displacing fluid-displaced oil mobility ratio has long been recognized. Displacement efficiency of the reservoir oil decreases with increasing mobility ratio. Therefore, economic reduction of this parameter is an attractive approach to improving oil recovery. particularly from viscous oil reservoirs where mobility ratios are often quite high. Waterflood mobility ratios can be controlled by dilute solutions of certain polymers'; which provide a displacing fluid with considerably reduced mobility. Reservoir parameters and flood performance are emphasized in this paper to provide data relating to polymer flood applicability. THEORY The polymer used in the Vernon pilot exhibits the property of unusually high resistance to flow through porous media.'.' A small concentration in injected water effects a mobility reduction considerably beyond that predicted from increases in bulk viscosity as measured in a capillary or rotating cup viscosimeter. Water mobility in the subject flood is reduced by a factor of 7.55 with the addition of 500 ppm Pusher chemical to injected water while the bulk viscosity is increased from 1.03 to only 1.40 cp at 75F. The exact flow mechanism causing resistance to flow has not been established; however, it is observed only in tortuous flow systems and appears to be influenced by brine properties, rock properties and oil saturation. Consequently, mobility reduction is estimated from flow studies for a given sample of reservoir rock and is expressed in terms of a "resistance factor".' This parameter is defined as the ratio of brine mobility to polymer solution mobility measured at residual oil saturation: RF= ?m/?p= (km/µm)/(kp/µp)M.......(1) where RF = resistance factor (dimensionless) k*. and A, = mobility of water and polymer solution, respectively k,,, and k,, = water and polymer permeability, respectively (darcies) µie and µp = viscosity of water and polymer, respectively (poise). Eq. 1 is similar to the expression commonly used to relate the relative mobility of the water bank at residual oil saturation to oil-bank mobility at irreducible water saturation: where M =mobility ratio of water to oil (dimension-less) A, = mobility of oil k, = permeability to oil (darcies) )i* = oil viscosity (poise). From Eqs. 1 and 2 it is apparent that the polymer-solution-to-oil-mobility ratio can be approximated by dividing the brine-to-oil ratio by the resistance factor RF: Mpn=M10/RF...........(3) where M,-, = mobility ratio of polymer solution to oil (dimensionless). This simplified presentation assumes no dilution of the polymer solution by connate water. Also, the presence of a connate water bank separating the polymer solution from the displaced oil is not considered. Displacement of oil by waterflooding is increasingly dominated by viscous forces as the viscosity of the oil displaced increases. When the oil mobility is less than that of the injected water, the oil-water interface is not a piston-like front.3,' Instead, instabilities occur at the flood front in the form of viscous fingers which tend to penetrate the less mobile oil bank. The magnitude of these protrusions, or the degree of channeling, increases

Jan 1, 1967

By S. D. Michaelson

Open pits and quarries are the major sources of all "hard rock" tonnage mined today. Normally, ore is fractured from the pit face by blasting and then truck-hauled to a primary crusher where pro- cessing begins; overburden (or waste) is generally truck-hauled from the pit to dump areas. Truck haulage of blasted ore and overburden accounts for some 25 to 50% of total mining costs in a typical open pit and commonly is the largest single cost factor. Obviously then, cost reduction efforts should properly focus on improving existing haulage systems and developing new breakthrough techniques for material transport. Continuous flow systems for large tonnages ordinarily will result in a lower cost than batch systems such as truck or rail haulage. Continuous flow with pipelines for liquids and slurries, or conveyors for medium to coarse dry materials (in the -8-in. range) are the economic answers for bulk materials handling over reasonable distances.

Jan 11, 1968

By ALFRED KAUFFMAN

NO matter what position we hold, workman, foreman, superintendent, manager, president, or what not, let us fail to give or to make good products, then see how quickly we'll be called to account for- our work by the buying public. The waves of progress taught us that millions were wasted in unnecessary strikes-we also learned that many losses were due to neglect on the part of manufacturers to give the same consideration and attention to the human element of their factory as they gave to their machinery. The employees learned also that the employer was their agent who found purchasers for the product of their labor. So between the two we learned that many years of labor were needed in order for a worker to recover his wasted savings, or for the manu¬facturer to replenish his loss. Treat 'em rough, and tell 'em nothing, was not very far from the true relationship between management and employees in manufacturing plants in the early days. Today just exactly the opposite views are held by executives whose function is the handling of employees. Men today want to know what it is all about. They are intelligent enough to comprehend the facts, and to use them constructively, and it is good business to give them the information.

Jan 1, 1929

By Horace V. Winchell

PERHAPS the matter of greatest interest to all mining men at the present time is the question of income and excess profits taxes on mines. Every producing mine in the United States is called upon to render to the government an account of its operations and to pay a graduated tax upon its earnings. It is manifestly a matter in which every mine owner, every stockholder in a mining corporation, every mining and metallurgical engineer, every person employed by a mining company and every one engaged in an industry which in any way depends upon the continued operation of our mines or who consumes their products is financially, to a greater or less extent, involved. In view of this fact it is surprising to see how little attention is paid to it and how few of our members have taken the pains to investigate and understand the provisions of recent enactments by Congress and the ways in which these enactments are being applied to mining industries.

Jan 1, 1920

By Thomas N. Walthier

ROSPECTING for uranium in the East is hampered by the lack of bedrock exposure due to extensive overburden and residual soil. But, despite the problems of this physiographic province, it has not been ignored in the search for radioactive materials. Since 1951 both the U.S. Geological Survey and the Atomic Energy Commission have had field parties in the eastern U.S. Tempo of private prospecting is increasing, and many discoveries have resulted. AEC work so far has been concentrated in the areas of most numerous discoveries-Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and New York. Accounts of uranium mineralization in the eastern U.S. are found in the old literature and one site in the Mauch Chunk area of Pennsylvania has been known since 1874. In 1949 McKeown examined the original occurrence there and found another southeast of the town. The deposit appeared to have commercial possibilities and a short period of production began in July 1954

Jun 1, 1955

Herewith are transmitted the joint report of the Treasurer and Finance Committee for 1934 and the reports for the same year of the Chairmen of the following Committees: Admissions, Membership, Papers and Publications, Library, and MINING AND METALLURGY. TO these reports you are referred for details of the year's activities. Finances.-Income for 1934 from all sources totalled $134,967 com- pared with $121,689 in 1933. The increase is accounted for principally by four items: $6000 increase in initiation fees and dues of new members; $1800 in current dues; $4000 in "back" dues; and $2800 in the sale of publications, including TRANSACTIONS volumes and technical papers in the form of "separates." In passing, it may be remarked that income from back dues during 1935 will be less than in 1934, for the obvious reason that the total amount of dues in arrears has shrunk and consequently there is less to draw from. Income from

Jan 1, 1934