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By Dart Wantland, C. A. Heiland

There once was a little kid, whose lot was a very tough one until he grew up. His parents did not have much in common; from all indications, it is probable that the child was not wanted. His father Geology and his mother Physics separated shortly after his birth, which occurred during the World War amid a smoke screen of mathematics. He was kicked around a great deal. His parents could not agree on a name, and they finally christened him "Geophysics," for short. His relatives insisted that the name should be "Geophysical Prospecting," "Geophysical Exploration" or "Exploratory Geophysics"; though the youngster has grown up by now, this battle is still going on. His father did not think the child would amount to much until he began to show some unexpected talents, which were acquired, no doubt, from his mother Physics. His progress caused his father no little worry, and he began to wonder whether his offspring would help him in his business when he grew up or would set up shop in competition with the old man. His aunt Petroleum watched his growth with benevolent interest; his uncle Mining remained rather skeptical and cousin Civil Engineering not only assumed the attitude of the man from Missouri but was not much convinced even after he had been shown. Making a long story short, the kid decided that he had to stand on his own feet and get along as best he could. Having come from a good family he possessed some outstanding characteristics such as resourcefulness and a reasonable amount of business ability. He therefore decided that it would be to his advantage to follow in his father's and mother's footsteps as much as possible, and develop the good qualities of both. As a result, the youngster did fairly well for himself, and his relatives decided that it might be to their advantage to be on better terms with him. Father Geology had come to the conclusion that the boy could be very helpful to him and now wanted him to live in his house. His mother, who had brought him through the teething and measles stages, felt quite capable of bringing up the boy without the help of his father; and, as the fairer sex will do, would confide to a neighbor every now and then that his

Jan 1, 1940

By C. A. Heiland, Dart Wantland

There once was a little kid, whose lot was a very tough one until he grew up. His parents did not have much in common; from all indications, it is probable that the child was not wanted. His father Geology and his mother Physics separated shortly after his birth, which occurred during the World War amid a smoke screen of mathematics. He was kicked around a great deal. His parents could not agree on a name, and they finally christened him "Geophysics," for short. His relatives insisted that the name should be "Geophysical Prospecting," "Geophysical Exploration" or "Exploratory Geophysics"; though the youngster has grown up by now, this battle is still going on. His father did not think the child would amount to much until he began to show some unexpected talents, which were acquired, no doubt, from his mother Physics. His progress caused his father no little worry, and he began to wonder whether his offspring would help him in his business when he grew up or would set up shop in competition with the old man. His aunt Petroleum watched his growth with benevolent interest; his uncle Mining remained rather skeptical and cousin Civil Engineering not only assumed the attitude of the man from Missouri but was not much convinced even after he had been shown. Making a long story short, the kid decided that he had to stand on his own feet and get along as best he could. Having come from a good family he possessed some outstanding characteristics such as resourcefulness and a reasonable amount of business ability. He therefore decided that it would be to his advantage to follow in his father's and mother's footsteps as much as possible, and develop the good qualities of both. As a result, the youngster did fairly well for himself, and his relatives decided that it might be to their advantage to be on better terms with him. Father Geology had come to the conclusion that the boy could be very helpful to him and now wanted him to live in his house. His mother, who had brought him through the teething and measles stages, felt quite capable of bringing up the boy without the help of his father; and, as the fairer sex will do, would confide to a neighbor every now and then that his

Jan 1, 1940

By M. King Hubert

The growth of human knowledge is an evolutionary process. Historically our separate sciences came into existence as people became interested in various apparently unrelated domains of phenomena, and in this manner we acquired the sciences of physics, chemistry, astronomy, biology and geology. As various of these sciences became established, cognizance of them came to be taken by the universities and in this manner there arose the traditional departments of physics, astronomy, chemistry, biology and geology of our American universities. As there was no particular rationality in the boundaries separating the various sciences, in the university departments the jurisdiction of each has assumed quite arbitrary limits. In the domain of earth phenomena the first science to grow up was that of geology, which arose originally from the activities of the collectors of rocks, minerals and fossils. Thus geology evolved as a descriptive science dealing with directly observable terrestrial phenomena for which elementary rational explanations were offered. The traditional treatment of phenomena by the science of geology has rarely been with more than an elementary regard for the fact that these phenomena were also phenomena of physics and chemistry. Since the latter part of the nineteenth century, a new approach to terrestrial phenomena has been emerging and becoming of so great a significance that it can no longer be ignored. This approach has been made by people trained primarily in the sciences of physics and chemistry, who have investigated terrestrial phenomena as constituting phenomena of their respective sciences. In this manner we have acquired the so-called "borderland sciences" of geophysics, the physics of the earth, and of geochemistry, the chemistry of the earth. Neither of these fields is new, having arisen chiefly at the hands of European investigators during the latter part of the nineteenth century. The European universities have long since given official recognition at least to geophysics, by the establishment of departments or institutes of geophysics, which are on a par with the university departments of the other sciences.

Jan 1, 1940

By M. King Hubert

The growth of human knowledge is an evolutionary process. Historically our separate sciences came into existence as people became interested in various apparently unrelated domains of phenomena, and in this manner we acquired the sciences of physics, chemistry, astronomy, biology and geology. As various of these sciences became established, cognizance of them came to be taken by the universities and in this manner there arose the traditional departments of physics, astronomy, chemistry, biology and geology of our American universities. As there was no particular rationality in the boundaries separating the various sciences, in the university departments the jurisdiction of each has assumed quite arbitrary limits. In the domain of earth phenomena the first science to grow up was that of geology, which arose originally from the activities of the collectors of rocks, minerals and fossils. Thus geology evolved as a descriptive science dealing with directly observable terrestrial phenomena for which elementary rational explanations were offered. The traditional treatment of phenomena by the science of geology has rarely been with more than an elementary regard for the fact that these phenomena were also phenomena of physics and chemistry. Since the latter part of the nineteenth century, a new approach to terrestrial phenomena has been emerging and becoming of so great a significance that it can no longer be ignored. This approach has been made by people trained primarily in the sciences of physics and chemistry, who have investigated terrestrial phenomena as constituting phenomena of their respective sciences. In this manner we have acquired the so-called "borderland sciences" of geophysics, the physics of the earth, and of geochemistry, the chemistry of the earth. Neither of these fields is new, having arisen chiefly at the hands of European investigators during the latter part of the nineteenth century. The European universities have long since given official recognition at least to geophysics, by the establishment of departments or institutes of geophysics, which are on a par with the university departments of the other sciences.

Jan 1, 1940

By Sherwin F. Kelly

The Geophysics Education Committee was organized in 1938 and presented its first report at the A.I.M.E. annual meeting in February, 1939, at a session held jointly with the Committee on Geophysical Methods of Exploration. REPORT OF 1939 The first task the Committee set itself was to find out in which universities the subject of geophysics was being taught, and the manner in which such instruction was given. A questionnaire was drawn up and sent out to 147 universities in the United States, Canada, and abroad. Of these 100 replied. Their answers were then tabulated and analyzed, yielding the information summarized in the following pages. Two universities, Colorado School of Mines and St. Louis University, actually maintain departments of geophysics, while 3 Canadian and 31 American universities give courses on the subject. In other institutions, 45 in the United States and 5 in Canada, more or less extended reference is made to geophysics in lectures on other subjects. Altogether, there are at least 86 universities in the United States and Canada at which students may obtain instruction of some kind in geophysics. To enter the courses in geophysics given by 33 American universities, certain prerequisites are demanded, varying with the level at which the subject matter is treated. In analyzing the prerequisites, some assumptions had to be made: one year of college mathematics was taken to mean up to, but not including, calculus, while three years was presumed to embrace a course in differential equations. On this basis, 16 per cent require only elementary college mathematics, 40 per cent require differential and integral calculus, and 31 per cent require differential equations. A few demand even more advanced mathematics, while some list no prerequisite mathematics beyond high school. Evidently a student contemplating the study of geophysics should ground himself in calculus and differential equations. In physics, similar assumptions have been made as to time required in the subject. All of the universities giving geophysics require their students to take physics first, and 34 per cent require a standing in

Jan 1, 1940

By Sherwin F. Kelly

The Geophysics Education Committee was organized in 1938 and presented its first report at the A.I.M.E. annual meeting in February, 1939, at a session held jointly with the Committee on Geophysical Methods of Exploration. REPORT OF 1939 The first task the Committee set itself was to find out in which universities the subject of geophysics was being taught, and the manner in which such instruction was given. A questionnaire was drawn up and sent out to 147 universities in the United States, Canada, and abroad. Of these 100 replied. Their answers were then tabulated and analyzed, yielding the information summarized in the following pages. Two universities, Colorado School of Mines and St. Louis University, actually maintain departments of geophysics, while 3 Canadian and 31 American universities give courses on the subject. In other institutions, 45 in the United States and 5 in Canada, more or less extended reference is made to geophysics in lectures on other subjects. Altogether, there are at least 86 universities in the United States and Canada at which students may obtain instruction of some kind in geophysics. To enter the courses in geophysics given by 33 American universities, certain prerequisites are demanded, varying with the level at which the subject matter is treated. In analyzing the prerequisites, some assumptions had to be made: one year of college mathematics was taken to mean up to, but not including, calculus, while three years was presumed to embrace a course in differential equations. On this basis, 16 per cent require only elementary college mathematics, 40 per cent require differential and integral calculus, and 31 per cent require differential equations. A few demand even more advanced mathematics, while some list no prerequisite mathematics beyond high school. Evidently a student contemplating the study of geophysics should ground himself in calculus and differential equations. In physics, similar assumptions have been made as to time required in the subject. All of the universities giving geophysics require their students to take physics first, and 34 per cent require a standing in

Jan 1, 1940

By David A. Keys

Applied geophysics is the youngest child of that old branch of learning that has been known from Aristotle's time as physics—the constitution and laws of nature. The mother science, with the help of mathematics, has given birth to many children, who, on becoming of age in the scientific sense, wedded more practical applications which later became known as electrical engineering, physical chemistry and acoustical engineering. Some vigorous sons still retain the family name, among which the most recent to take its place as a division of science is geophysics, which deals with the physics of the earth. Geophysics in its broad sense has many departments—meteorology, oceanography and seismology, to mention only three. Within the past 20 years, however, a special interest has arisen in the application of physical principles to problems in geology, mining and civil engineering, with the consequent rapid growth of what has now been called "applied geophysics." Applied geophysics in this narrower sense is the application of experimental and theoretical physics to determine variations and discontinuities in underground structures that cannot be ascertained from surface inspection. It seems evident, then, that the physics department is the natural place in a university where the principles and methods involved should be taught and developed, for the physicist will also have had the requisite training in mathematics that the proper understanding of many methods now used will require. A knowledge of the procedure and principles, however, is not sufficient for the successful application of geophysical methods. One may know the dynamics of flight of golf balls and of impact and yet not play a par game of golf! The proper selection and use of the right club to suit the circumstances of the lay of the ball and an acquaintance with the possibilities and limitations of the strokes as well as the practical execution of the play is essential to a successful game. So, also, in the application of geophysical methods, it is important for the geophysicist to use the best device under the conditions presented, to know the limitations of the conclusions deduced from his physical measurements and to make the proper interpretation of the results. A knowledge of geology will be of great aid in coming to the correct con-

Jan 1, 1940

By David A. Keys

Applied geophysics is the youngest child of that old branch of learning that has been known from Aristotle's time as physics—the constitution and laws of nature. The mother science, with the help of mathematics, has given birth to many children, who, on becoming of age in the scientific sense, wedded more practical applications which later became known as electrical engineering, physical chemistry and acoustical engineering. Some vigorous sons still retain the family name, among which the most recent to take its place as a division of science is geophysics, which deals with the physics of the earth. Geophysics in its broad sense has many departments—meteorology, oceanography and seismology, to mention only three. Within the past 20 years, however, a special interest has arisen in the application of physical principles to problems in geology, mining and civil engineering, with the consequent rapid growth of what has now been called "applied geophysics." Applied geophysics in this narrower sense is the application of experimental and theoretical physics to determine variations and discontinuities in underground structures that cannot be ascertained from surface inspection. It seems evident, then, that the physics department is the natural place in a university where the principles and methods involved should be taught and developed, for the physicist will also have had the requisite training in mathematics that the proper understanding of many methods now used will require. A knowledge of the procedure and principles, however, is not sufficient for the successful application of geophysical methods. One may know the dynamics of flight of golf balls and of impact and yet not play a par game of golf! The proper selection and use of the right club to suit the circumstances of the lay of the ball and an acquaintance with the possibilities and limitations of the strokes as well as the practical execution of the play is essential to a successful game. So, also, in the application of geophysical methods, it is important for the geophysicist to use the best device under the conditions presented, to know the limitations of the conclusions deduced from his physical measurements and to make the proper interpretation of the results. A knowledge of geology will be of great aid in coming to the correct con-

Jan 1, 1940

By Guy W. Jordan, David P. Hale

High-iRon cements have a number of advantages over cements carrying little or no iron. The presence of iron in Portland cement aids in the manufacture of the cement and also imparts certain advantageous physical properties to the finished product. In manufacture, the presence of iron lowers the fuel consumption, increases the ease of proper"burning, and lessens the destructive action of the charge on the kiln refractories. In the finished cement the presence of iron reduces the expansion and contraction, adds strength, adds increased resistance to"freezing and thawing, and increases the resistance of the cement to sea "or sulphate waters. [" During the past few years the construction of numerous dams through- "out the Southeast by the Tennessee Valley Authority has stimulated the "production of high-iron cements. At present a great number of specifica- "tions call for an iron cement, and the industry is supplying this demand "with a Portland cement carrying approximately 5 per cent iron oxide. "Several manufacturers are now making practically all of their cement "of this type and a number of others manufacture it as a special cement "over short periods to meet demands from the Tennessee Valley Authority "and other buyers. " The recent increase in the use of iron in Portland cement has created "a market for iron products that previously was nonexistent. The chief "sources of supply for the cement manufacturers at present are iron sand, "iron sinter and slag, and ocher. The Copperhill mining district, Ten- "nessee, supplies both iron sinter and slag for use in cement. The Carters- "ville district supplies iron sand, ocher, and some iron resulting from the "magnetic separation of iron from barite. The advantages of these "products vary according to the chemical properties of the raw materials "and the methods of handling used by the different manufacturers. Where "the iron is to be handled by conveying belts and in hopper cars, the iron"sand and sinter and slag are preferable. Where the silica content must "be raised, the iron sand is doubly advantageous because it supplies both

Jan 1, 1942

By David P. Hale, Guy W. Jordan

High-iRon cements have a number of advantages over cements carrying little or no iron. The presence of iron in Portland cement aids in the manufacture of the cement and also imparts certain advantageous physical properties to the finished product. In manufacture, the presence of iron lowers the fuel consumption, increases the ease of proper"burning, and lessens the destructive action of the charge on the kiln refractories. In the finished cement the presence of iron reduces the expansion and contraction, adds strength, adds increased resistance to"freezing and thawing, and increases the resistance of the cement to sea "or sulphate waters. [" During the past few years the construction of numerous dams through- "out the Southeast by the Tennessee Valley Authority has stimulated the "production of high-iron cements. At present a great number of specifica- "tions call for an iron cement, and the industry is supplying this demand "with a Portland cement carrying approximately 5 per cent iron oxide. "Several manufacturers are now making practically all of their cement "of this type and a number of others manufacture it as a special cement "over short periods to meet demands from the Tennessee Valley Authority "and other buyers. " The recent increase in the use of iron in Portland cement has created "a market for iron products that previously was nonexistent. The chief "sources of supply for the cement manufacturers at present are iron sand, "iron sinter and slag, and ocher. The Copperhill mining district, Ten- "nessee, supplies both iron sinter and slag for use in cement. The Carters- "ville district supplies iron sand, ocher, and some iron resulting from the "magnetic separation of iron from barite. The advantages of these "products vary according to the chemical properties of the raw materials "and the methods of handling used by the different manufacturers. Where "the iron is to be handled by conveying belts and in hopper cars, the iron"sand and sinter and slag are preferable. Where the silica content must "be raised, the iron sand is doubly advantageous because it supplies both

Jan 1, 1942

By Donald F. Irwin

Amid the violent economic changes of recent years that have affected Canadian gold-mining operations so deeply, the discovery and early developments of Kirkland Lake might easily be overlooked. There was more than one "false dawn" for the district before developments finally established the fact of a superb mineralized zone extending through the present operating properties. Never far from the railway, Kirkland Lake has had the benefit of direct rail service for many years. The pioneer discovery on which the first mill and cyanide plant was erected was the "Tough-Oakes," this property being on what is now the eastern end of the producing area; some time later, the "Lake Shore" was discovered at the present center of the district, and a small plant was built upon it also. Both of these early treatment plants were of pre-war design. Progress in gold metallurgy has caused a gradual change in cyanide practice since the early days at Kirkland Lake, which may be observed in the various plants now operating there. From the beginning, it was recognized that Kirkland Lake ores were more responsive to cyanidation than to alternative recovery methods, and that their mineralization contained gold in very finely divided form. Although sulfides and tellurides are present, the quantity is small, being in the order of 1 or 2 per cent by weight, so that gravity concentration is undesirable, since gold is not confined to the sulfides. Some complication is offered by the presence of tellurides, which have caused lengthy controversy over their importance in recovery methods, but which are now generally regarded as less harmful in the light of increasingly high recoveries being obtained. Nevertheless, finely divided gold intimately associated with sulfides in the presence of tellurides; and occurring in the hard Kirkland Lake porphyry ore, substantially free from natural slime-forming constituents, indicates fine grinding. This has been the universal practice although the degree of grinding has varied a little among the different mills and is considerably finer now than formerly. The natural condition as outlined caused the establishment of fine grinding at an early stage in the development of Kirkland Lake, during the period of valuation of gold at, $20.67 per ounce. With the arrival

Jan 1, 1935

By W. E. Crawford

The Fresnillo Company's mill at Fresnillo, State of Zacatecas, Mexico, treats oxide ores from the Fresnillo mine, dump ores and underground ores from the Plateros district, company leases and custom ores from the Zacatecas district, custom ores from other districts and tailings from old dumps at Fresnillo. The normal capacity of the mill is approximately 2600 dry short tons per 24 hours (a ton of 2000 lb.). The final product of the mill is a precipitate containing gold and silver, which is smelted and shipped as doré bullion to the refinery of the Compania Minera de Penoles, S.A., at Monterrey, State of Nuevo Leon, Mexico. The geology of the district was described in 1923, by T. C. Baker,' from whose paper the following data have been taken: The mineralization of the district was effected in the Tertiary period, following the intrusions and preceding the appearance of the flows. The area within which productive veins have been found is 1 mile long by 1/2 mile wide. The important units of each of the four general fracture systems meet in the central portion of Proano hill, which is an outcrop of graywacke, and where the rock was also intensely fractured by subsidiary movements, resulting in a shattered zone 1200 ft. long by 400 ft. wide. The mineralization was more intense in the immediate vicinity of the principal channels through which the solutions rose. The valuable metals are silver and gold, the ratio by weight of the former to the latter being 1000 to 1.5. Argentite is the predominant silver mineral, and is associated with pyrite and manganese mineral. The sulfides are primary throughout. A slight secondary action is represented by small quantities of native silver and silver halides, principally cerargyrite, which are found in the upper part of the mine. Oxidation has penetrated with great thoroughness to the lowest horizon so far exposed, this being 420 ft. below the present ground-water level. The shattered mass within the central portion of the hill and near the surface was sufficiently mineralized to produce a large stockwork

Jan 1, 1935

By F. Wartenweiler

Much has been written on milling and cyanidation as practiced on this gold field, therefore the purpose of this paper is to record its development only briefly and to describe in more detail the contemporary state of the science and art of this branch of metallurgy. It is a pleasing task, because a steady evolution is to be recorded. Definite trends influenced the development. Some have the stamp of original thought and observation; many have been achieved from a logical sequence of planned experimentation and research; while others have resulted from the drive of sheer necessity. The large scale of operations and capital outlay has compelled conservative progress. Banket ORe For a better understanding, a review of the characteristics of the ore may not be out of place. The Witwatersrand gold ore is named "banket" from the similarity of the oxidized outcrop ore to the Boer almond cake of that name. The inter bedded orebody is commonly called "reef." It is a conglomerate composed of various sizes of pebbles, principally non-gold-bearing white quartz, which constitute about 70 per cent of the bulk, within a matrix of cementing material consisting of fine-grained quartz, sericite, chlorite and chloritoid and containing the precious metals and mineral sulfides. Argillaceous components in the mil pulp may be as high as 32 per cent. Of the sulfide minerals, pyrite and pyrrhotite are predominant. Most base-metal sulfides are present, but sporadically and generally only found in highly concentrated mill products. In the latter, osmiridium is recovered in varying amounts; from 1 oz. in 3000 tons to 1 oz. in 10,000 tons of ore. Most of the oxidized ore has been mined, so milling is confined principally to the sulfide ore. A typical analysis of sulfide ore is: silica (SiO2), 86.76 per cent; pyritc (FeS2), 2.75; ferric oxide (Fe2o3), 2.65; alumina (Al2o3), 6.91; lime (CaO), tr.; magnesia (MgO), 0.70; sp. gr., 2.7. Milling grade at present price of gold (137 shillings per ounce) varies from 3.5 to 8.5 dwt., with one mine milling ore as high as 16 dwt. The

Jan 1, 1935

By Norman Hedley, George Barsky, S. J. Sawinson

The cyanidation of precious-metal ores is a complex chemical process. Numerous reactions occur, some of which cause an undesired consumption of alkali and of cyanide. A knowledge of these reactions, their products, and the factors that influence the rates at which they proceed should be of value in working out the most economical conditions for cyanidation; but at present, much of this knowledge is lacking. This paper is confined to a study of some of the fundamentals of cyanidation. At the start of such an investigation it is necessary to simplify the problem under consideration by eliminating as many variables as possible. The results are then, of course, not immediately applicable to practice, but it is hoped in further work to round out the information and thereby make it of more practical value. For convenience in presentation, the paper has been divided into two parts, one devoted to a study of the reaction between cyanide and gold or silver, the other to a consideration of the factors that determine the rate of dissolution. I. REACTIONS INVOLVED IN DISSOLUTION OF GOLD AND SILVER IN DILUTE CYANIDE SOLUTIONS Ever since the cyanide process for gold and silver extraction was introduced there has been discussion of the equation representing the reactions involved. In undertaking a detailed study of these factors, it was felt that the most logical first step was to determine, if possible, what reactions could theoretically take place when gold and sill-er are dissolved by dilute cyanide solutions. It is possible to determine whether or not a given reaction will theoretically take place by calculating the free energy of the reaction. This free-energy value for any given reaction is the algebraic sum of the free energies of formation of each of the reactants and products, and, if these values are known, the calculation is simple. (A chemical change always involves an energy change and the amount of energy change involved is the factor determining whether a given reaction will take place or how far it will go. In chemistry we consider what is known as the "free energy"; that is, the maximum amount of energy that can be utilized as

Jan 1, 1935

By A. W. Allen

Progress in the art of amalgamation in recent years has been negligible, partly because a copper plate, though it occupies extensive floor space, requires frequent attention and invites theft, is a simple piece of apparatus that gives visible results; partly because the impression prevails that amalgamation is too primitive a process to merit consideration by an up-to-date metallurgist. Both these objections can be overruled. Plates can and will be superseded by more efficient, theft-proof amalgamating units. Improved methods of application other than by settlement or by impact, neither of which is effective for removal of fine gold, will be developed, and the process given wider opportunity. As A. F. Crosse aptly remarked, neglect to utilize amalgamation when free gold can be recovered thus is comparable to the decision of a storekeeper to deal only with credit customers. Usual practice is to follow amalgamation with cyaniding. Rarely is attention paid to the possibility of reversing the order—of extraction of the fine gold first by cyaniding; the coarse, subsequently, by amalgamation. Such a sequence avoids the alleged hazard that amalgamated gold particles may be unacted upon by cyanide, whereas cyanided gold particles are readily amalgamated. Research has indicated, however, that the mercury coating on a gold particle is easily soluble in cyanide solution, probably because such coating is a compound of gold and mercury. Comparative-test results at one plant, of cyaniding a ground concentrate before and after amalgamation, showed total extractions of about 90 and 100 per cent, respectively, indicating high solubility of the mercury-gold particle, if present, or the advantage of preliminary impoverishment before cyaniding, or both. The contention that a loss in residue from an amalgamation-cyanidation plant is occasioned by presence of amalgamated gold that escapes action by solution is not supported by adequate evidence. The function and scope of mercury as an aid to extraction of gold by cyanide is deserving of attention. It is a powerful desulfurizer. To restrict an extractive process to a concentrated product is logical and economical, if preliminary concentration will segregate a high per-

Jan 1, 1935

By G. C. McLachlan

Two papers dealing with Noranda's milling operations have already been presented. The first1 of these covered the initial metallurgical problems connected with the treatment of the ore, while the second2 described the development of the mill from a 500-ton unit in 1928 to one with a daily capacity of 3000 tons less than six years later. At the time the second paper was written the equipment whirh had been installed to bring the mill capacity up to 3000 tons was being tuned into production and for this reason, though each step had previously been tested by a large-scale pilot operation, it was thought advisable to withhold metallurgical data until any starting-up difficulties had been overcome and anticipated requirements fulfilled. These requirements called for an improvement in gold recovery without any lowering of the previous ratio of concentration, and the pages that follow deal with the methods by which this result was obtained. An idea of the character of Noranda concentrating ore will be gained from an inspection of the following mineralogical analysis of the ore treated by the mill during 1933: MineRal Content Mineral ConteNt Chalcopyrite, per cent..... 6.8 Silica and silicates, per cent............ 18.3 Pyrite, per cent........... 22.1 Gold, native and as telluride, oz. per ton 0.15 Pyrrhotite, per cent....... 51.5 Silver, probably as argentite, oz. per tou 0.35 Magnetite, per cent....... 0.5 Thesr figures, which are typical, show that over 73 per cent of the ore treated consists of pyrite and pyrrhotite. Determirnation of the proportion of unrecovered gold associated with each of these minerals was therefore of primary importance in developing a suitable method for improving gold recovery. As pyrrhotite is magnetic, this information was obtained by making magnetic sorting tests on samples of the mill tailing and screening the material thus segregated. This showed that the magnebtic material finer

Jan 1, 1935

By R. R. Byran, M. H. Kuryla

The Compania de Real del Monte y Pachuca started a 10-ton pilot plant in March, 1906. The distinctive features of the first cyanide installations at Pachuca were: grinding in cyanide solution, all-sliming and filtration of ore in which silver constituted the major value. Loreto started with a 300-ton " all-sliming" plant, using jaw crushers, grinding in stamps, Chilean mills and pebble mills in cyanide solution, concentrating with Wilfley tables and Johnson vanners, classification by cones and Dorr classifiers, intermittent thickening by decantation, mechanical agitation in flat tanks by stirrers and centrifugal pumps, filtration in Butters filters and precipitation by zinc shavings. The "San Francisco" mill No, 1 was contemporaneous, using a rather similar flow sheet. We shall trace the main developlnents in the three large mills of the district to their present practice. Developments in Large Mills of District Crushing and Grinding.—The trend of development in this part of the work has been the same as throughout the milling world; via., all increase in the degree of comminution of the ore in dry-crushing machines, the advance from pebble mill to rock mill and then to ball mill and the elimination of the stamp battery through the encroachment upon its field on the one side by finer dry crushing and on the other by more efficient wet grinding. The single-stage crushing in jaw type crushers, used at the start, has been replaced by two stages; at first, both stages by gyratory type and later the present practice, which is the same in all three mills, consisting of gyratory as primary followed by cone as secondary and delivering a product that may be rated at 56 to 1 inch. Primary wet grinding, at first performed by stamps and Chilean mills, is now by hall and/or rod mills; present practice differing widely in the three mills. Santa Gertrudis uses a 7 by 15 ft. rod mill, San Rafael

Jan 1, 1935

By Russell Spry, Paul Schutz

The property of Pioneer Gold Mines of B.C. Limited is in the Lillooet mining district of British Columbia. It is on Cadwalleder Creek, 54 miles distant by motor road from Shalalth, a station on the Pacific Great Eastern Railway. Interests identified with the present company installed a small amalgamation plant on the property in 1924, consisting of a jaw crusher, Bryan mill and amalgamation plates, in which 75 per cent extraction was made on mill feed averaging 1.0 oz. gold per ton, the tailing being stacked for future treatment. That plant was operated until 1928, when the present company was formed and a 100-ton continuous counter current decantation cyanide plant was built. A second unit, having a nominal capacity of 200 tons daily, was added in 1932 and put into operation during September of that year. When handling ore comparatively free from slow-settling material, the combined capacity of the two units is 400 tons, the original plant now handling about 140 tons maximum. Production to date, from Pioneer, has been about $6,500,000, the present monthly production being better than $250,000 from about 370 tons ore daily, the recovery being 97 per cent. During the fiscal year ending March 31, 1934, a total of 112,936 tons ore and old amalgamation tailing was milled, the mill feed averaging 0.7670 oz. gold and the recovery amounting to 0.7422 oz. gold per ton, or 96.77 per cent. Milling costs, including refining and mint charges, during this period, amounted to $1.45 per ton of ore. Since the building of the first unit of the cyanide plant in 1928, direct cyanidation has been employed, no attempt being made to remove coarse gold from the circuit, other than that cleaned up from the grinding mills during relining and from the classifiers, as occasions permit. In the hope of still further increasing recovery, researches are going forward at this time with the view to removing some of the sulfides after primary grinding, the expectation being that selective treatment of this more refractory portion of the ore may hold economic possibilities.

Jan 1, 1935

By Van Dyne Howbert, Fred E. Gray

The Presidio mine of The American Metal Co. of Texas is situated 45 miles south of Marfa, Texas, a town on the Southern Pacific R. R., and lies approximately 20 miles north of the Mexican border. Communication with the railroad is maintained over a state highway. All supplies for mine and mill are hauled in by truck from Marfa and precipitates and concentrates are freighted to the railroad by the same means and shipped to Selby and El Paso, respectively. The mill is at the town of Shafter, 1 mile from the mine and at approximately 350 ft. lower elevation. The ore is conveyed to it by an aerial tramway which requires practically no power on account of the difference in elevation. The mill is a countercurrent decantation cyanide and gravity concentrating plant of 200 tons daily capacity. Coarse and fine crushing are done at the mill. Two neal-by shallow wells in the bed of Cibolo Creek furnish an abundance of water. Power is generated for the mill and town by a Diesel engine plant. Ore Treated The ore is oxidized and siliceous. The greater part contains approximately 16 oz. of silver per ton, but mixed with this are many particles of ore of much higher grade, assaying in many instances 100 oz. or more. In the 16-oz. material there is an almost constant amount of silver which is difficult to recover by cyanidation. The high-grade material contains a much greater proportion of silver which is easily amenable to cyanide treatment. Thus, as the grade of ore becomes higher, the percentage of recovery of silver increases rapidly, under equal milling conditions. The silver minerals contained in the ore are principally argentite and cerargyrite, the former predominating The lead minerals, all of which are argentiferous, are chiefly cerussite and galena, with occasionally a little anglesite. The gold is free; most of the ore contains merely a trace

Jan 1, 1935

By W. A. Binsacca

The concentrator treats sulfide ore containing lead, copper, zinc, gold and silver, at the rate of 850 tons per 24 hr., and produces lead, copper, zinc and iron concentrates by selective flotation methods. The ore occurs below the oxidized zone along a main fracture, the wall rock of which is either greywacke or calcareous shale. The predominating sulfide minerals are galena, sphalerite, pyrite and chalcopyrite; the others are quartz and calcite. In minor amounts, arsenopyrite, pyrrhotite and hematite occur, and such secondary minerals as smithsonite, chalcocite, covellite, bornite, cerussite and anglesite are detected in the ore, the last two named occurring principally as surface alterations of the galena. The ore is hauled from the mine bins in 10-ton cars which pass over the track scales before entering the car dumper ahead of the crusher plant.' A conveyor belt delivers the crushed ore to the sulfide bin, which has a capacity of 2800 tons. The primary grinding unit consists of two 6 by 12-ft. Marcy rod mills operating in parallel and in open circuit, each taking 425 tons per day. One rod mill discharges into an 8 by 25-ft. Dorr classifier with a 12-ft. bowl and the other into a 6 by 25-ft. Dorr duplex classifier. These classifiers are arranged so that each unit rakes the sands into a 6 by 14-ft. Traylor ball mill, which discharges to the bowl classifier only. The duplex classifier therefore operates in open circuit and the bowl classifier in closed circuit, the overflow of both classifiers furnishing the feed for the flotation section. Other groupings have been tried, but this has been found the most satisfactory. The Marcy mills are driven by 150-hp. slip-ring induction motors with speed reducers to give 17 r.p.m. The Traylor mill operates at a speed of 24 r.p.m. and is driven by a 200-hp. slip-ring induction motor, direct connected to pinion and gear. The bowl classifier operates at a speed of 22 r.p.m., with the bowl rake making 4.5 r.p.m. and the duplex classifier at 31 r.p.m. High-carbon steel rods of Mexican manufacture, 12 ft. long by 3-in. diameter, are used in the Marcy mills, with a resulting consumption of 1.52 Ib. per ton ore. The Traylor mill is fed 3-in. cast-iron balls cast in

Jan 1, 1935