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By William F. Boericke

RESEARCH in the modern refractories laboratory has two practical ends in view-to develop refractory materials for the metallurgist that will meet particular operating difficulties more effectively and to ?manufacture these refractories at a cost sufficiently low to make their use economical to the metallurgist. At the research laboratories of E. J: Lavino and Co., at Plymouth Meeting, Pa., the technical staff, under Dr. Gilbert E. Seil, is giving principal attention. to an. exhaustive investigation of the following factors in refractories:

Jan 1, 1931

By W. E. Curran

For years the geographical isolation of the Southern iron-ore district from the great producing centers in the North and East enabled it to meet its conditions and solve its own problems without regard to the practices and policies of other districts, but during the past few years distances have been shortened, practices and wages are being standardized, .and these changing conditions have brought new problems to the South.

Jan 1, 1937

BESIDES air -water, sulphur, salt, coal, and lime-stone are the key nonmetallic raw materials used by the chemical industry and each came in for attention at the AIMF, Industrial Minerals Division meeting at Morgantown. W, Va., Sept. 13 to 15. West Virginia is a growing chemical producing area with sites along the Ohio and Kanawka Rivers being favored because of power, accessibility of raw materials (many in the State), water supply, and transportation.

Jan 10, 1951

Jan 11, 1951

MIXED emotions were produced by the announcement that the buildup of weapons will be stretched out till mid-1954 instead of the previous 1953 deadline. Reason: government assistance programs will be tougher to get but there will be easement in materials allocations. Earlier in February, DPA had announced that tightening up on regulations governing rapid tax -amortization would become effective March 1. In the future, DPA will have to certify amortization contracts for all construction and permanent installations costing more than $100,000. This action was necessary according to DPA's James F. King, so that new industrial expansions already approved could be assessed in the light of the changing critical mineral picture. When DMPA inherited the backlog of government assistance, requests from DMA, it moved in fast. The results of DMPA's work is described in the article on p. 351 by James K. Richardson; The speed with which these requests were approved and the lengthening of the military program have made a reappraisal of the critical mineral list necessary. It looks as though the consumer industries will be getting more metal soon and, led by steel, there is an industry push toward the abandonment of CMP. Relaxing of materials controls appears imminent but discontinuing CMP is in the "let's talk this thing over" stage.

Jan 1, 1952

DESPITE strikes, domestic production of copper and zinc in 1951 rose about 3 pct and 10 pct, respectively. Lead output fell only about 7 pct. Primary refined, including processed scrap and imported concentrates, was somewhat higher for zinc, and slightly lower for copper and lead. Prospects are for moderately larger mine and refined production in 1952 according to Standard & Poor's analysis of nonferrous metals. The survey goes on to report domestic copper prices averaged 14 pct higher in 1951, lead prices 30 pct higher, and zinc prices 32 pct higher. The 2¢ rise in zinc and lead ceilings in October will lift the average price in 1952 over 8 pet, assuming no further price change. Currently, OPS appears opposed to raising the 24 ½ ¢ copper ceiling to the 24 ½ ¢ maximum on imported metal. The steep premiums in world markets are likely to be reduced in 1952. Sales in 1951 were at new peaks. A further moderate rise is indicated for 1952. Earnings of the industry were at a new high in 1951. The increase for companies covered in the survey was perhaps 25 pet, despite a tax rate of about 53 pet, against about 40 pct. in 1950. Relatively maintained to moderately higher earnings are currently indicated for 1952. About two thirds of the companies covered in the survey raised dividends, including extras, in 1951. In general, maintained payments appear probable in 1952.

Jan 1, 1952

THE iron and steel industry spent $1,170,000,000 in 1952 for improvements and expansion, with an accompanying rise of 9 million net tons in capacity to 117.5 million tons of ingots and steel for castings. More than $4,600,000,000 has been invested in the seven years following World War 11. An average of $1260 has been laid out every minute during those seven years for an increase in capacity of 25.6 million tons.

Jan 3, 1953

By J. G. A. Stevenson

"IntroductionDURING the past quarter of a century diamond drilling, in all its phases, has increased in Canada to a very impressive total of more than 10,000,000 feet annually. Since the art of diamond drilling became recognized, some seventy-five years ago, there has been considerable improvement in both equipment and technique. The steam-powered drill rig and the hand-set diamond bit are things of the past.The purpose of this paper is to review some drilling trends •and practices over the past few years. In the preparation of the paper, the author wishes to acknowledge kind assistance of Mr. J. D. Cumming, Dr. C. H. Hitchcock, Mr. Robert H. Quintal, and many others, including staff members of the Longyear organization.Figures provided by the Dominion Bureau of Statistics for the year 1954 show that Canadian production of metallic and non-metallic minerals and structural materials had a value of $1,454.2 million, excluding radioactive products for which figures are not available. Approximately 61 per cent of this valuation comprised production of nickel, copper, gold, coal, asbestos, zinc, lead, and iron. It is certain that diamond drilling played a major role in the discovery and development of the orebodies from which these minerals were obtained.After the surface examination of an ore deposit, diamond drilling will automatically follow, in order to determine structure, grade, and tonnage.Footage drilled by mining companies and contractors on mineral exploration and blast-hole work since 1945, as reported by the Do-minion Bureau of Statistics, is shown in Figure 1."

Jan 1, 1955

By George E. Aiken

Agglomeration developments in the iron ore industry of North America are closely related to shifting patterns in commercially acceptable ore grades and even the definition of iron ores. These relationships have occurred mainly during the last 20 years. Many of these changes are an outgrowth of events which involved the history of the Mesabi Range. Although magnetic taconites had been discovered in the Lake Superior area about 1870, they remained unvrorked in part for lack of concentration methods and a generally unfavorable economic climate. Some 20 years later the rich Mesabi hematites were found beginning the era of direct shipping ores which continued through World War II. These Lake Superior iron ores included reserves of an estimated three billion tons. Following World War II, decreasing ore grades and rising costs began to force the closing of many underground iron mines. The early 50's saw the beginning of the decline in direct shipping ores and a spurt in produc- tion of natural iron concentrates. However, the market for unprocessed concentrates began to decline in the early 60's as agglomerated products and foreign ore s began to dominate the U. S. market.

Jan 1, 1973

By Lyman GJ

Systems for the routine on-line determination of ash content of process streams in coal preparation plants and handling systems have been in use in Australia for over four years. More recently, monitors for on-line moisture measurement have been developed to complement the ash measurement function. The technology for these systems is reviewed briefly. The development of reliable ash and moisture monitors has made the implementation of automatic systems of coal quality control practical. The emerging philosophies of automatic control in Australian preparation plants are examined with particular emphasis on systems involving dense medium circuit regulation. Related developments in flotation control and coal sorting are noted to complete this overview.

Jan 1, 1987

By G. R. Robinson

Aggregate resources consist of sand and gravel, and crushed stone. They are large-tonnage, bulk-minable mineral commodities that are used in construction and industrial activities (Tepordei, 1999, 2001).Rates of aggregate production, use and mine permit approval in the mid-Atlantic region differ by population density. These rates are influenced by economic and human factors, such as demand, costs, land availability and community opposition. In some areas, the local availability of aggregate is limited. This is due to the lack of suitable local source materials for aggregate, the loss of potential high-quality aggregate resource production sites by preemptive land development and restrictive zoning (resource sterilization), and the difficulty of developing and permitting production sites for aggregate.

Jan 1, 2004

By Jeffrey J. Daniels

Advances in borehole geophysical research for mineral assaying, and remote detection of mineralization away from the borehole. Nuclear activation measurement research has provided accurate in situ assays of economic metals with neutron-gamma activation, using a high resolution intrinsic-germanium detector. Although nuclear activation analysis is the present "best-hope" for obtaining in situ assays for some elements, gamma-gamma and magnetic susceptibility measurements can provide accurate assays for lead-zinc and magnetite, respectively. Borehole optical spectroscopy and x-ray fluorescence are being investigated as possible in situ assaying techniques for some minerals. More laboratory and field calibration research is needed before nonlinear complex resistivity (NLCR) can be routinely used as a quantitative assaying tool. Field tests have shown that variations in the local geologic environment can affect the quantitative accuracy of assay values from downhole NLCR measurements. Deeply penetrating borehole geophysical methods are increasingly being used for mineral exploration as drilling costs and exploration have increased. Borehole electrical measurements have been shown to be useful for detecting conductive orebodies that are not interesected by a drillhole. Hole-to-surface resistivity, and surface-to-hole time-domain electromagnetics are demonstrated to be particularly effective for defining mineralized zones in a massive sulfide environment. Borehole gravity meters and three-component magnetometers have been developed and should prove useful for defining geologic anomalies away from the drillhole.

Jan 1, 1985

By L. H. Thorleifson

Demand for both gem and industrial diamonds is very strong. Synthetic production supplies industrial uses, but synthetic gems remain inferior and expensive, so the large gem market is supplied by mining. Several major mines have been depleted, and the market is receptive to new sources of high quality gems. Canada's Precambrian terrane, extending across the Canadian Shield and under the Phanerozoic cover of the Plains and Hudson Bay, has excellent potential for diamonds, but exploration conditions are difficult due to recent glaciation. Early world exploration relying on recognition of diamond in alluvial sediments was adequate to launch pre- 1900 production from India, Brazil, and Africa. Exploration success in Canada, as was the case in Russia and other more recently discovered sources, however, had to await large investments in effort supported by advanced science and technology. Canadian exploration in many ways is similar to that in other regions, relying on analysis of tectonics, indicator minerals, geophysical surveys, and multiple stages of drilling and sampling. Very different from other regions, however, is Canada's surficial environment, in which recent glaciation has caused fresh indicator minerals to be transported hundreds of km. Exploration accelerated in Canada after 1960, first in Ontario and the Arctic Islands, then in Saskatchewan in 1988, and most importantly after the Chuck Fipke - Stew Blusson discovery at Lac de Gras, Northwest Territories, in 1991 that led to the billion-dollar BHP - Dia Met Ekati Mine that opened in 1998. In 2003, production from Ekati will be supplemented by that from the similar and nearby Diavik Mine of Rio Tinto and Aber. These mines will bring Canadian output to over 10% of world supply, and will position Canada with Botswana and Russia as world leaders in production of high quality gem diamonds. There could be other mines as well, as sites across the Arctic and in the south from Alberta to Québec are being explored by an array of companies, including De Beers, other majors, and several juniors.

May 1, 2003

By Carroll F. Hardy

THE position of the coal industry has been affected by a wide variety of developments in the production and use of energy. The tempo of development and change has been increasing and the end is not in sight. Legislation is currently being proposed for commercial use of atomic power, and the employment of atomic energy in significant quantity will probably occur about the same time as the decline in production of petroleum and natural gas. But these developments are in the future and have little immediate effect on utilization and marketing of coal. While no one should try to suppress or retard the development of a new and economical source of energy, both the coal and private utility industry should be allowed to question how the nuclear power is to be used, who is to use it, and who is going to pay for it. The taxpayers have a monopoly on fissionable material and the knowledge to employ it. Any commercial use must stem from this source. It is not hard to visualize either taxpayer- subsidized private utility atomic power plants on one hand and super TVA's on the other. In view of the gains of gas and oil in the home heating field, it is interesting to compare the 1940 and 1950 census reports on the kind of fuel used for heating in occupied dwelling units. Table I shows that whereas coal provided 77 pct of the fuel for central heating (furnaces and boilers) in 1940, it was down to 45.4 pct in 1950. However, only about 1 ½ million units were lost in this 10-year period.

Jan 3, 1954

By Harrison R. Cooper

Approximately 40 concentrators throughout the world have successfully adopted computer control for flotation circuit operation since 1969. Successful use of flotation control, gaining up to 2% efficiencies, has largely derived from effective employment of on-stream slurry analyzers and integration of key measurement data through digital processors. Requirements for reliable measurement have also led to improved functional reliability in magnetic flow meters, pH, reagent feed, and other key elements. Methods used in computer control of flotation will be reviewed and variations in operating philosophies will be described with reference to the approaches taken to flotation automation.

Jan 1, 1979

By K. V. Konigsmann

"Concentrate dewatering operations have a significant influence on the economics of base metal beneficiation. The expenditures f or energy and labour per tonne of product are high. The relatively low efficiencies of standard techniques present inducements for process modifications. Development efforts at several Noranda concentrators led to process changes which improved productivity, namely, agitated pulp storage in large vessels, process automation and pressure filtration.IntroductionA program was initiated in 1968 with the aim of improving utilization of manpower and equipment in dewatering operations. The following considerations motivated us in this effort: Firstly, filters and dryers had traditionally been operated continuously and in step with grinding and flotation circuits. The demand for labour and equipment operating time was fixed and was not determined by the rate of concentrate production.Secondly, dewatering equipment had usually been designed to handle the concentrate tonnages which were produced when mill feed grades were high; therefore the equipment operated at less than capacity when treating ores of average metal content. The first goal was the separation of the flotation process from concentrate dewatering by development of a practical storage system for concentrate pulps . A second objective was the gradual introduction of dependable automatic controls. The steep increase in energy costs after 1973 added urgency to the search for dewatering processes which were highly energy efficient."

Jan 1, 1984

By R. Marrill

Mining is a complex and intensive industry. Extracting raw material with different shapes, sizes, chemistry from the earth?s crust and transform them into a standardized and high quality final product is a big processing challenge - which involves energy and control on large scales. Not only is the physical work challenging, the mining industry today is facing unprecedented challenges: Decline of mineral grade and reserves, cost escalation for new developments and modernization, regulations, safety, lack of skilled people, and market uncertainty are the new constant. It is clear that process control and management of electrical power will be of increasing importance to the recovery rates the mine will achieve. The objective of this paper is to provide a quick vision about future trends and evolutions in technology related to these fields and their impact on Electrical Safety and Control of the mineral recovery. The paper will cover trends in safety, energy management and efficiency, communications of data, control room evolutions, plant integration, other control technologies, and we will examine how these technologies provide information and the benefits of aligned reporting systems to address current industry challenges. More than just the trends or breakthrough concepts, current technologies are available today that can be applied in the mineral recovery operations now to help overcome anticipated future challenges will be presented later in this document. Finally, a brief discussion to look at some real tools to help make real time changes to the process while maximizing recovery and optimizing cost.

Feb 27, 2013

By R. Stenne

This paper presents the trends in deep foundations in Europe, both in terms of design and construction. Eurocode 7 which is a design code for geotechnical engineering will be introduced in the European Union member countries, and will oblige geotechnical engineers to abandon traditional methods based on a global factor and adopt a new approach based on partial factors of safety. Execution codes (for construction of foundations and other geotechnical processes) are currently being introduced without problems. Ever more demanding environmental constraints push foundation contractors to adapt old techniques and develop new ones to comply with new regulations.

Jan 1, 2000

By Anthony T. Jones

Deep seabed mining requires technology to collect materials and transport them to the surface. An international patent search was conducted to define the state of the art in seabed mining technology. Over 350 patents were identified from 12 patent systems. The majority was from the United States, Japan, and the former USSR. Patent activity in this field peaked in 1983 when 34 patents were issued. Since 1984, on average 6 patents have been issued annually. The technology represents ten major classifications. With the exception of Deepsea Ventures, Kawasaki and International Nickel, it appears that much of the technology developed and tested in the 1970s by consortia active in seabed mining was never patented. Over the past two decades, identifiable trends in marine technology could influence seabed mining application such as more sophisticated communication systems, advances in hydraulic manipulators, improved computational technology in navigation, modeling of vessel ? ocean interactions, and improved materials. The most significant recent activity has been in European applications, which disclose remotely controlled subsea vehicles for mining diamonds.

Jan 1, 2001

By V. M. Paretsky

Recent developments made in the Gintsvetmet Institute in the field of autogenous smelting processes have confirmed that autogenous smelting continues to be the main prospective technology for pyrometallurgical processing of sulfide raw materials. This technology ensures energy conservation and environmental safety conforming to the current world standards for production of heavy non-ferrous metals. Two alternative processes of single-stage autogenous smelting producing white metal as well as high-basic ferrite-calcium slags have been developed and can be recommended for technical modernization of Russian copper smelters.

Jan 1, 2002