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By P. Linzer, L. M. Linzer

The gravity method is often applied in mining-related scenarios such as geological and mineral exploration, detecting subsurface cavities and voids (“receptacles”) that may become sinkholes, siting of surface structures, fault-mapping, and more. It is also widely applied in geotechnical engineering to map subsurface karst profiles and to detect subsurface cavities, such as can occur in open pit mines. While it is widely acknowledged that, compared with other available geophysical methods, this method is the most applicable to the karst profiling problem, survey geometries applied in the field are often far from optimal. The gravity surveying specifications prescribed in SANS 1936 omit some key requirements for optimal survey outcomes, and this paper is intended to fill those gaps. The authors have seen scopes of work that require only a few measurements over the footprint of a proposed structure, indicating a lack of understanding of the nature of the gravitational field. A single gravity measurement is subject to the camouflaging effects of several influences, many of which can be larger than the anomaly caused by the subsurface density variation itself. Papers in the body of literature show an awareness of the need to map the regional field so that it can be subtracted to unmask the residual gravity anomaly, but rarely do they examine how instrument sensitivity governs the size of detectable anomalies or discuss how a detailed terrain correction can be instrumental for isolating faint targets. This paper aims to explain how to apply the gravity method correctly to mining and geotechnical problems, specifically in the detection of subsurface cavities. It discusses various factors to assist with optimising the acquisition of gravity data and its processing so as to maximise the practical value of gravity surveys.

Sep 1, 2025

By Benjamin C. Craft

A review of development in North Louisiana during 1936 centers around the Rodessa field, in Caddo Parish. Continued extension of the

Jan 1, 1937

By O. F. Brown

Excavation and loading are primary operations in the surface mine production chain, constituting a significant component of production costs. This makes excavation and loading important cost centers that need to be improved to lower production costs. Optimizing the design and use of excavators will improve energy efficiency in earthmoving operations, and this requires a thorough understanding of the soil-tool interaction process. Modeling the interaction process accurately is the key to this optimization. Experimental and analytical methods have provided limited information on the behavior of soils during excavation. Finite element (Fe) analysis of soil-cutting blade interaction produces some advantages over experimental and analytical methods. However, the soil constitutive equations used in most of the available Fe analyses fail to adequately model the plastic behavior of the soil. This work uses Fe modeling to study the behavior of formation-cutting blade interactions in dozer excavation. The formation is modeled as a nonlinear elastoplastic material using the modified cam-clay (mCC) model. The model accounts for soil-tool interface friction, and progressive and continuous cutting at the blade tip. The results provide soil forces, a progressive developed failure zone and soil displacement fields. The sensitivity analysis of changes in blade angle on cutting force shows that the cutting force increases with increasing blade angle. The cutting depth of the blade had a similar effect on blade cutting force. Increasing the depth of cut increases the required cutting force. Increasing the coefficient of friction at the soil blade interface increases the blade cutting force. Reducing the coefficient of friction at the soil blade interface from 0.3 to 0.05 reduces the cutting force by 22.3%. The percentage represents the maximum potential savings in blade cutting force. This research initiative advances the frontiers of soil-tool interactions during excavations to expand the limited knowledge in this critical area.

Jan 1, 2012

By Chen-Luh Lin, Jan D. Miller, Sindhoora Puvvada

Most of the future phosphate resources in Florida, which accounts for 70  percent of production in the United States, are contaminated with too much dolomite that is difficult to remove with existing industrial practices. The low-grade ore quality coupled with increased phosphate demand is of concern to the Florida phosphate industry. In order to resolve the dolomite issue, various beneficiation technologies were designed and evaluated, but none have been sufficiently successful [1]. 

By C. Allen Born

INTRODUCTION As the title of this paper suggests, the author does not believe that risk can be managed. Rather, the objective is to identify the risk which will be present in a given venture and assess the level of that risk which is acceptable. More often than not, the risk which is present is subject to little or no modification. After identifying and measuring the risk a corporation will decide to accept it and proceed in such a way that it will be less exposed, or it will decide not to proceed at all. The exercise for a corporation is different only in degree from everyday judgements made by average people in average situations. However, that word "degree" means that it is considerably more complex on the corporate level. There is good reason for the additional complexity of corporate risk evaluation. The variables influencing a company's decision can be more numerous and the penalties for miscalculation much greater than those normally encountered by an individual. It should be understood that no analysis of risk, certainly not one as brief as the following, can do more than touch on some of the high points. Before examining the sorts of risk which affect the development and operation of specific mines, let us consider the broader aspect of the term with which mining companies, and all other business corporations, must deal. Companies must determine their long-term objectives and strategies within the context of a constantly changing world. To plot their direction they must attempt to read the future by seeking answers to questions such as: How will society evolve? Which businesses will thrive? In which of these should we place our emphasis? If a company hopes to be around five or ten years from now it must make the attempt to answer such questions in order to judge the impact of changing patterns in the evolving business environment. Information is available to allow the lessons of the past to be projected on the future. We have data on birth rates, economic booms and busts, patterns of conflict within and between nations, drought and other forces of nature as well as individual events which cannot be predicted, but which over time, do seem to occur in regular cycles. Ultimately the question "where will we be and what will we be doing a decade from now?" must be answered by one or more senior people with responsibility for the company's future. The compilation and interpretation of hard data by competent support staff, can only be used up to a certain point in determining future corporate strategy since there will be alternative possible futures and a high degree of risk will always remain. At this point those elusive qualities of experience, instinct, and - "gut feeling" - become important factors in choosing a long-term corporate direction. The goals of a company have a significant bearing on its attitude towards risk. This in turn dictates the "hurdle rate of return on investment" which a project decision-maker will require. The hurdle rate is the minimum-discount-percentage-rate applied to forecast cash flows to give a present value of zero to the All-Equity-Funded Investor. The feasibility study for a project is a fundamental tool in the management of risk. An experienced team has an established and well-understood set of ground rules for the preparation and assembly of a feasibility study. The necessary degree of conservation is built in at all levels of study data and, if the project is technically feasible, the hurdle rate becomes a catch-all measure of risk in a base-case project cash flow.

Jan 1, 1985

Low-grade ore bodies, increase in rock competency, finely disseminated valuable minerals in the ore bodies, ore variability and water scarcity are among the technical challenges faced by the mining industry. These challenges have increased the business risk, capital investment and operating cost of the mining projects. Since the last 20 years, many large-scale concentrators have been built to cope with the above-mentioned challenges. Comminution, especially the fine grinding is an energy-intensive process. For example, the ball mill has a limitation in the fine grinding regime where the energy consumption increases exponentially when the product size is below 45 µm. The industry has been seeking for solutions that have a minimum risk and total cost of ownership. The stirred milling technology such as the TowerMill is well accepted by the industry as it has demonstrated the attributes required for fine grinding. TowerMill is a matured technology that has been adopted since the 80s for regrinding duty. Recently, this technology was installed in secondary and tertiary grinding duty to prepare a finer feed to rougher flotation. Four units of TowerMills were installed in a magnetite concentrator in Western Australia in tertiary grinding duty. Recently, Nippon Eirich has conducted process performance evaluation on the TowerMill circuit. The outcome of the exercise had indicated that the circuit is consuming 3.4 kWh/t to reduce from 55 µm to 35 µm with a narrow product size distribution. The effect of operating variables such as the specific energy, grinding media size, mill content % solids and mill feed configuration on the grinding efficiency were evaluated at the plant scale. Furthermore, the scale-up methodology was validated. The scope of this paper includes the performances of TowerMill and the validation of scale-up methodology.

Jan 1, 2018

By P. R. Geoffroy

Extensive and Intensive Prospecting As often pointed out, the search for new ore deposits may be carried on along two widely divergent lines. It may be either extensive or intensive. By extensive prospecting we mean a search for mineralized outcrops conducted over large and more or less virgin tracts of land, followed by a test of the practical value of any discovery made, the test being limited to the immediate vicinity of the outcrop. Extensive prospecting, was, in fact, the only policy known to the early prospectors. of the American continent and is still the rule in the remote sections of the Canadian Shield and in the African wilderness. It can be further characterized by the lack of emphasis placed on geological and other technical means as an aid to the search for ore. However, very little virgin ground is left, nowadays, for a man or a company to test their luck, and whatever is left is so remote from the necessary means of development that any new discovery will require considerable delay and expenditures to be amenable to profitable mining. On the other band, a great many of the favourable and still unexplored areas (and this is particularly true in Canada) are overburdened to such an extent that outcrops of bed-rock are extremely scarce and extensive prospecting is nearly impossible. Intensive prospecting, to the contrary, must be understood as a detailed search for ore carried on over limited areas in districts already known to be mineralized and covering regional structures whose relation to mineral deposits bas been estahlis.hed with a fair degree ot certainty. The search for deep-seated deposits in the vicinity of successful mines is a perfect example of intensive prospecting. As a matter of fact, the majority of the geologists employed by the mining industry are engaged in some kind of intensive prospecting.

Jan 1, 1950

By B. K. Larkin, H. R. Bailey

A model Of heat flow in an underground combustion process is studied. This model includes convection effects and thus is more general than previous studies which considered conduction as the only mechanistn for heat transfer. Both linear (tube run) and radial (field application) geometries are considered. The effects of ignition heaters, vertical losses and finite source width are considered for the linear case. The results are in the form of equations and are presented in graphical form for a number of cases. Convection effects increase frontal temperatures about 25 per cent over those computed for conductive transfer for typical field operating conditions. This increase in temperature is a result of heat being transported toward the front by the injection gas. Even greater temperature increases are realized as the per cent oxygen in the injection gas decreases. It is well known that compression costs are of considerable importance in estimating the economic feasibility of underground combustion. By assuming an ignition temperature for the combustion fuel, predictions of limiting conditions on fuel density and injection rate necessary to sustain the combustion zone are made. For typical field conditions, at least 0.75 lb/cu ft of fuel are needed with air as the injection gas. If the injection gas is 10 per cent oxygen and 90 per cent nitrogen, this figure is 0.69 lb/cu ft. INTRODUCTION The possibility of increasing oil recovery by underground combustion has been considered for many years. Recent field tests indicate that the underground combustion process is technically feasible. The economic feasibility depends to a large extent on the amount of air which must be injected to sustain combustion. Prediction of the success of employing underground combustion in a particular reservoir must be based on existing field tests, laboratory tube runs"' and solutions of mathematical or analog models. Vogel and Krueger5 devised an electrical analog of the heat transfer problem in an underground combus-ion process. They considered the problem of heat conduction from a cylindrical source with increasing radius assuming no vertical losses. Bailey and Larkin and Ramey solved the corresponding problem including vertical losses by considering a mathematical model of the conduction process. Ref. 9, 10 and 11 also present information related to the subject study. The present paper generalizes these results to include both conduction and convection mechanisms for heat flow. A model of the conduction-convection process is described. The partial differential equations governing this model are written and solved for a number of cases of interest. The formulas are evaluated and the results are presented graphically. A CONDUCTION-CONVECTION MODEL Description of the Model A number of models are employed in this paper, each of which approximate a particular physical situation depending on the geometry, i.e., linear or radial flow, the type of vertical heat losses, the nature of the source, etc. The geometry for both the linear and radial case is shown in Fig. 1. A particular linear model is described in this section, and variations from this model are described in later sections of the paper. Consider a homogeneous, semi-infinite porous prism with lateral sides insulated as shown in Fig. 1. The left end, x = 0, is heated for a time t, with a plane heater supplying a constant heat flux and during this time; gas (nitrogen) is passed through the pores of the prism at a constant mass flux. At time t, the heater is turned off and air is injected in place of the nitrogen. This causes combustion to take place, and a uniform source of width 1 is formed which moves at a constant velocity v, to the right. The frontal velocity v, is related to the gas velocity v,, through stoichiometric considerations

By J G. Dunn, S M. Thurgate, A C. Chamberlain, P Franzmann, M Jeffrey, L J. Warren, G E. Poinen, T Williams

Gold has always fascinated mankind. From Tutankhamen's mask to the huge nuggets that have been found in the Australian outback, gold has quickened the pulse and fevered the eye. But in recent years, governments around the western world have shown a singular lack of interest in research into gold processing, with many programs being cut. There are some notable exceptions, fortunately, and this paper summarizes a large research effort that is well supported by the Australian government and the Australian gold industry. The AJ Parker Cooperative Research Centre for Hydrometallurgy is an unincorporated joint venture between the CSIRO Division of Minerals, Murdoch University, Curtin University of Technology and the Western Australian Department of Minerals and Energy. The Australian Mineral Industry Research Association (AMIRA) is the Parker Centre's broker for generic R&D contracts with industry. Each of the partners makes available staff, students and equipment to further the work of the Parker Centre, and the Australian Government provides additional funding. The Parker Centre is nearly five years old and has grown spectacularly in that time. There are now about 30 full-time-equivalents of effort from 50 scientists and engineers, as well as about 40 postgraduate and honours students. The fundamentals of the key operations in hydrometallurgy are studied in three programs: leaching (which includes pretreatment by roasting etc), precipitation (or crystallisation), and surface processes (which includes solid/liquid separation, adsorption, solvent extraction, etc). A large part of the Parker Centre's R&D is directed towards gold processing technology. In Australia, a dramatic increase in gold production, from about 30 to nearly 300 tonnes per year (1977-1997), has been made possible largely as a result of a brilliant metallurgical innovation, the carbon-in-pulp process. However, falling head grades eg 2.56 to 1.84 g(Au)/t over the last 10 years, and environmental concerns, are squeezing profit margins. There is increasing pressure to reduce costs, and the Parker Centre program is focussed on providing the scientific understanding required to do this. A selection of research highlights will be given, to indicate the depth and breadth of the R&D at the Parker Centre.

Jan 1, 1997

By Enrique Touceda

As in the case of steel and the non-ferrous alloys in general, the use of the microscope in connection with the manufacture of malleable cast iron has proved of inestimable value to the industry. Had its use not been invoked, many facts either would not be known at all or, if suspected, would be confined to the realms of conjecture. No fairer statement could be made than that the start of real progress in the industry was coincident with the application of metallography to the product, though the full significance of this statement can hardly be appreciated except by those who not only are conversant with conditions as they existed at the time referred to, but are familiar with the character of works' practice at the present time.. A few years ago, about the only test made to ascertain the physical properties of the product, except in the case of certain plants, was the bending of a casting to destruction, not only with the object of discovering whether or not the metal was ductile, but for the purpose of inspecting the fracture. The characteristics of the fracture, if correctly interpreted, were known to be of value in locating the trouble in castings that were inferior. In general, it was found that if a casting of medium or heavy section would bend through a wide angle before failure took place, the fracture in the majority of cases would have a black velvety appearance; while if it was held at different angles to the direction of the rays of light, it would show a change of color and an iridescent sheen. But an inferior air-furnace heat or anneal might yield castings which, if thin and consequently largely decarburized, could be bent double on themselves and still not possess the fracture described. If, on the other hand, a casting broke short, its fracture might have one of a great many different color and structural peculiarities. Depending on the cause of the trouble, such castings might have any of the fracture characteristics, of which the following is but a partial list.

Jan 1, 1922

By J. T. Duce

There were no important changes in the producing situation in Colombia in 1930, because the emergency bill passed by the Colombian Congress in 1927 is still in effect, and therefore no change has taken place in the law governing petroleum. At the close of 1930 the Colombian Congress began to consider a new petroleum bill. This measure is an improvement on the preceding bills which had been the subject of so much debate in the Congress. However, it cannot by any means be regarded as perfect, and a number of criticisms may be justly leveled at it. The most substantial one probably is that the royalties on public lands, and the taxes on private lands, while apparently low, are deliverable at seaboard, or payable based on seaboard price at the option of the government. If the government exercises its option to take the oil at the mouth of the well, the cost of the transportation figured back into oil is also deliverable to the government. This phase of the law has the effect of making seemingly low royalties a burden on the operator. The fact that taxes on private properties are deliverable in kind is also an unusual provision for which there is no good precedent. The pipe line provisions are also noteworthy, and the government has authority to fix rates and also to deny permits to construct pipe lines for reasons affecting national economy. There are also clauses enforcing unit operation on both public and private lands, and collecting a tax of 1 c. per 1000 ft. of gas wasted. It remains to be seen whether this bill will be enacted, or whether it will be substantially modified. This much may be said, however, that unless it is modified, it will defeat its own purpose; i. e., promotion of petroleum development in Colombia. Company Activities The South American Gulf Oil Co. shut down its operations during the year, and now employs only watchmen at its camps, Las Monas and El Tigre. The Standard Oil Co. of California continued operations on the Coast at Repelon and Gualapa. At the close of the year Repelon

Jan 1, 1931

By Pengfei Pan, Lianjun Guo, Houguang Sun, Donglin Xu, Chi Yang, Lihua Luan, Daning Zhang

"Based on the introduction of production technology of Anqian mining company, the stope ore mass distribution was analyzed in detail. The processability indexes of different grade ores were obtained with magnetic tube whereas the grinding time, concentrate grade and concentrate yield were measured. On the basis of digital ore deposit model which integrates ore natural attributes and processing attributes, two stages of ore blending optimization models were established. The first stage model sought the minimum of stope ore transportation cost under the restraints of output ore grade and stope production. The second stage was a system optional model that aimed at the furthest use of resources meeting not only the production constraints of mining field and process field but also ore beneficiability and the system output requirements of the concentrate grade. Lastly, the solving method of big M simplex algorithm was discussed and used in production. 1. Foreword China is the biggest iron ore consumption market. But most of iron ore deposits in china possess such features as low grade, complex compositions, weak magneticity and refractoriness. Under the current economic and technical conditions, rational utilization of low-grade and refractory iron ore is strongly needed to improve the utilization ratio of mineral resources and keep mine development sustainable (Lei 2011). In recent years, the domestic research institutions and mines made a lot of achievements of rational development and utilization of low grade iron ore resources in the beneficiation technology and equipment, high and low grade balance, cost and tax analysis (Wang and Zhao 2013, Zhang 2014, Zhu and Li 2014), laying the foundation for reasonable utilization of low grade iron ore. In this paper, Anqian mining company is taken as an example in which the production conditions, raw ore quality control, different grade of ore processability, and ore blending optimization mode in mining pit and processing plant were discussed to achieve the maximum utilization of low-grade refractory ores under the economical and reasonable conditions. This will ensure the stable operation of mining joint ventures and maximize the enterprise's production life and therefore, maximize the economic and social benefits in the enterprise life cycle."

Jan 1, 2017

By Enrique Touceda

As in the case of steel and the non-ferrous alloys in general, the use of the microscope in connection with the manufacture of malleable cast iron has proved of inestimable value to the industry. Had its use not been invoked, many facts either would not be known at all or, if suspected, would be confined to the realms of conjecture. No fairer statement could be made than that the start of real progress in the industry was coincident with the application of metallography to the product, though the full significance of this statement can hardly be appreciated except by those who not only are conversant with conditions as they existed at the time referred to, but are familiar with the character of works' practice at the present time.. A few years ago, about the only test made to ascertain the physical properties of the product, except in the case of certain plants, was the bending of a casting to destruction, not only with the object of discovering whether or not the metal was ductile, but for the purpose of inspecting the fracture. The characteristics of the fracture, if correctly interpreted, were known to be of value in locating the trouble in castings that were inferior. In general, it was found that if a casting of medium or heavy section would bend through a wide angle before failure took place, the fracture in the majority of cases would have a black velvety appearance; while if it was held at different angles to the direction of the rays of light, it would show a change of color and an iridescent sheen. But an inferior air-furnace heat or anneal might yield castings which, if thin and consequently largely decarburized, could be bent double on themselves and still not possess the fracture described. If, on the other hand, a casting broke short, its fracture might have one of a great many different color and structural peculiarities. Depending on the cause of the trouble, such castings might have any of the fracture characteristics, of which the following is but a partial list.

Jan 1, 1922

By George S. Austin

Perlite is rhyolitic glass with 2 to 5 percent by weight (wt.%) bound water held within the silicic-glass structure. It is often distinguished by vitreous, pearly luster and concentric perlitic fractures ("onionskin"). Occurrences worldwide are associated with Tertiary to middle Quaternary volcanic rocks. Perlite is in silicic domes, plugs, laccoliths, flows, vitric tephra, chill margins of dikes and sills, and welded ash-flow tuffs. It is a hydrated volcanic glass formed through secondary alteration of obsidian by the incorporation of water into the glass/silica structure. Post-emplacement hydration (weathering) of cooled glasses by meteoric water is the principal alteration process, but some hydration by magmatic or meteoric water during or shortly after emplacement, or hydration by water exsolved during cooling may occur. Commercial "perlite" is any volcanic glass that expands or "pops" when heated quickly to plasticity while evolving steam and thus forming a lightweight, frothy material. The expansion temperature typically ranges from 1,100 to 1,500°F. An expanded volume increase of 10 to 40 times the original volume yields expanded densities of 1.5 to 11 pounds per cubic foot (lbs/ft3). Perlite is mined by eight companies at 10 operations in six western states. New Mexico accounts for more than 80% of the total tonnage mined. The rest comes from Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, and Nevada. In 1992, domestic production was 571,000 short tons (st), domestic apparent consumption was 591,000 st, and the value of crude perlite was $15.3 million. In 1991, with about the same production and price of crude perlite, the gross value for expanded perlite was $101.7 million. Perlite exports in 1992, primarily to Canada, are estimated an 30,000 st; and imports, from Greece, are an estimated 50,000 st. In 1992, 70 plants in 33 states expanded crude perlite. Construction uses of expanded perlite accounted for 66% of total domestic sales. Expanded perlite used as filter aid accounted for 15%. All other markets, including use as a filler and in agriculture, accounted for 19%. Leading states for expanding perlite, ranked by order of sales, were Mississippi, Pennsylvania, California, Illinois, and Georgia. Domestic perlite encounters transportation disadvantages in some areas of the eastern United States compared to perlite imported from Greece. However, western U.S. perlite exports to Canada offset this in large part, and net import reliance for perlite is about 3% of domestic consumption. Perlite grab samples were tested at the New Mexico Bureau of Mines and Minerals Resources (NMBMMR) for their basic suitability in horticulture, construction, filter aids, and fillers/extenders using Perlite Institute techniques modified by the NMBMMR. Most commercial perlite ranged from 2.5 to 3.0 wt.% bound water for all major types (classical, granular, and pumiceous). Expanded density varied widely, but the lowest density of 1.9 lbs/ft3 was for granular. Average brightness of expanded perlite was 47.6 to 69.3%. Nonexpansibles, commonly obsidian or "dead" perlite, ranged from 18 wt.% to less than 1 wt.%, with granular perlte generally the lowest. Compacted density was not related to either perlite type or nonexpansibles present. Sieve analyses of the -50+100 mesh product showed that, in general, pumiceous perlite produces more fines and classical and granular perlite average 60 to 80% -30+100 mesh after expansion. Samples were tested for crystalline silica that ranged from below the detection limit of 0.5 wt.% to nearly 0.2 wt.%, but most tested below 0.5 wt.%. Although quartz content can be lowered in the expanded product by the expansion process, producers can further lower crystalline silica in the product by mixing low-quartz crude with high-quartz perlite before expansion. Chemical analysis by x-ray fluorescence confirms the rhyolitic composition of perlite, but indicates that surface weathering may increase the concentration of some elements, such as potassium and calcium, by infilling cracks or fissures developed during or after perlite emplacement.

Jan 1, 1995

By Theron Wasson

Discoveries in Michigan, which at the beginning of the year 1934 indicated possible new areas, did not develop into fields of market-breaking proportions. Hart, Oceana County, developed small production from the Traverse lime. Edmore, Montcalm County, proved a small area for oil from the Traverse. West Branch, Ogemaw County, previously reported as Ogemaw, had quite a drilling campaign but was somewhat disappointing because wells were small and erratic. During the year, 30 wells were completed at West Branch, and at the end of the year 15 others in and around this field were under way. At West Branch the Traverse lime, found at 1800 ft., has thin porous streaks near the top, which make small wells; the Dundee lime at 2800 ft. produces from a porous zone of varying thickness. Over the entire field the Dundee wells average 10 to 20 bbl. per day. Acid treatment has materially increased production from some Dundee wells in this field. About 3000 acres have been proved productive from the Traverse and Dundee. At the close of the year the well in Beaverton township, Gladwin County, is probably the most discussed of any in Michigan and may be opening a new field of some proportions. It had an initial production of 70 bbl. daily from the Dundee lime at 3830, which has decreased to 25 bbl. per day. Deeper drilling into the lime may increase production. During 1935 the area around this test will probably be the most active in the state. Structural conditions in Gladwin County, as in other parts of Central Michigan, are obscured by a thick mantle of glacial drift and it will take considerable drilling to outline subsurface conditions accurately. The most important new shallow gas area of the year is around Edmore in Mecosta and Montcalm counties. Eight wells have been drilled to the Michigan stray and the upper Marshall sand, having a combined initial production of 30 million cubic feet. These gas wells are scattered over so wide an area that an estimate of proven territory cannot be made until more drilling is done. At the present time no gas is being sold from Edmore.

Jan 1, 1935

By John A. Gann

THE Iron and Steel Division has shared in the general increased activity of the industry. The fall meeting at Chicago was not only well attended but particularly characterized by the virility and scope of the discussions at the various sessions. The program for the February meeting indicates a similar interest in technological developments. The Blast-Furnace Committee continues to have the hearty support of the industry with discussions of such a nature as to be of real help to the operator as well ass the technologist. The work of the Open-Hearth Committee continues to be outstanding, with ever increasing attendance and ever mounting interest in the meetings. Formation of a conference on the physical chemistry of steelmaking has given those interested in this phase of work an organization allowing the same

Jan 1, 1936

By Samuel G. Lasky

The writer has been interested in determining the mineralogic dis-t,ribut.ion of silver in the base-metal ore of thc Ground Hog mine of the Asarco Mining Co. in the Central mining district of New Mexico.' This ore consists of a varitextured mixture of sphalerite, chalcopyrite, galena and pyrite in a quartz gangue. The average ore contains 14 per cent of zinc, 9.5 per cent of lead, 5 per cent of copper, and 10 oz. of silver per ton. Generally it is accepted that the silver in ores of this type, in which no definite silver minerals can be recognized, is contained in the base-metal minerals. Published assays of pure mineral specimens from many districts show that each of the base-metal minerals contributes in some degree to the total silver content of the ores, and to determine the proportionate amount contributed by each mineral in any specific ore it has been the practice to assay selected specimens of each mineral, the purity of which has been determined microscopically. There being no such assays available for the Ground Hog ore, and it being impracticable to have enough of them made to give average results, the writer resorted to a mathematical attack upon composite assays of large quantities of ore and concentrates. Surprising results were obtained, and it is the threefold purpose of this paper to present these results, to describe the mathematical method used, and to point out the value of using this method even when assays of pure specimens are available. Value of the Mathematical Method The obvious way of attacking the problem would be to separate cleanly large quantities of ore into its component minerals and then to determine the average silver content of each mineral by assay of representative samples. Since an absolutely clean separation is not feasible, it has been the practice, as mentioned above, to assay pure specimens of the different minerals. No one will contend seriously that the silver content of a base-metal mineral is constant throughout any particular deposit, and it will

Jan 1, 1935

By Samuel G. Lasky

The writer has been interested in determining the mineralogic dis-t,ribut.ion of silver in the base-metal ore of thc Ground Hog mine of the Asarco Mining Co. in the Central mining district of New Mexico.' This ore consists of a varitextured mixture of sphalerite, chalcopyrite, galena and pyrite in a quartz gangue. The average ore contains 14 per cent of zinc, 9.5 per cent of lead, 5 per cent of copper, and 10 oz. of silver per ton. Generally it is accepted that the silver in ores of this type, in which no definite silver minerals can be recognized, is contained in the base-metal minerals. Published assays of pure mineral specimens from many districts show that each of the base-metal minerals contributes in some degree to the total silver content of the ores, and to determine the proportionate amount contributed by each mineral in any specific ore it has been the practice to assay selected specimens of each mineral, the purity of which has been determined microscopically. There being no such assays available for the Ground Hog ore, and it being impracticable to have enough of them made to give average results, the writer resorted to a mathematical attack upon composite assays of large quantities of ore and concentrates. Surprising results were obtained, and it is the threefold purpose of this paper to present these results, to describe the mathematical method used, and to point out the value of using this method even when assays of pure specimens are available. Value of the Mathematical Method The obvious way of attacking the problem would be to separate cleanly large quantities of ore into its component minerals and then to determine the average silver content of each mineral by assay of representative samples. Since an absolutely clean separation is not feasible, it has been the practice, as mentioned above, to assay pure specimens of the different minerals. No one will contend seriously that the silver content of a base-metal mineral is constant throughout any particular deposit, and it will

Jan 1, 1935

The writer has been interested in determining the mineralogic dis-t,ribut.ion of silver in the base-metal ore of thc Ground Hog mine of the Asarco Mining Co. in the Central mining district of New Mexico.' This ore consists of a varitextured mixture of sphalerite, chalcopyrite, galena and pyrite in a quartz gangue. The average ore contains 14 per cent of zinc, 9.5 per cent of lead, 5 per cent of copper, and 10 oz. of silver per ton. Generally it is accepted that the silver in ores of this type, in which no definite silver minerals can be recognized, is contained in the base-metal minerals. Published assays of pure mineral specimens from many districts show that each of the base-metal minerals contributes in some degree to the total silver content of the ores, and to determine the proportionate amount contributed by each mineral in any specific ore it has been the practice to assay selected specimens of each mineral, the purity of which has been determined microscopically. There being no such assays available for the Ground Hog ore, and it being impracticable to have enough of them made to give average results, the writer resorted to a mathematical attack upon composite assays of large quantities of ore and concentrates. Surprising results were obtained, and it is the threefold purpose of this paper to present these results, to describe the mathematical method used, and to point out the value of using this method even when assays of pure specimens are available. Value of the Mathematical Method The obvious way of attacking the problem would be to separate cleanly large quantities of ore into its component minerals and then to determine the average silver content of each mineral by assay of representative samples. Since an absolutely clean separation is not feasible, it has been the practice, as mentioned above, to assay pure specimens of the different minerals. No one will contend seriously that the silver content of a base-metal mineral is constant throughout any particular deposit, and it will

Jan 1, 1935

By Samuel G. Lasky

The writer has been interested in determining the mineralogic dis-t,ribut.ion of silver in the base-metal ore of thc Ground Hog mine of the Asarco Mining Co. in the Central mining district of New Mexico.' This ore consists of a varitextured mixture of sphalerite, chalcopyrite, galena and pyrite in a quartz gangue. The average ore contains 14 per cent of zinc, 9.5 per cent of lead, 5 per cent of copper, and 10 oz. of silver per ton. Generally it is accepted that the silver in ores of this type, in which no definite silver minerals can be recognized, is contained in the base-metal minerals. Published assays of pure mineral specimens from many districts show that each of the base-metal minerals contributes in some degree to the total silver content of the ores, and to determine the proportionate amount contributed by each mineral in any specific ore it has been the practice to assay selected specimens of each mineral, the purity of which has been determined microscopically. There being no such assays available for the Ground Hog ore, and it being impracticable to have enough of them made to give average results, the writer resorted to a mathematical attack upon composite assays of large quantities of ore and concentrates. Surprising results were obtained, and it is the threefold purpose of this paper to present these results, to describe the mathematical method used, and to point out the value of using this method even when assays of pure specimens are available. Value of the Mathematical Method The obvious way of attacking the problem would be to separate cleanly large quantities of ore into its component minerals and then to determine the average silver content of each mineral by assay of representative samples. Since an absolutely clean separation is not feasible, it has been the practice, as mentioned above, to assay pure specimens of the different minerals. No one will contend seriously that the silver content of a base-metal mineral is constant throughout any particular deposit, and it will

Jan 1, 1935