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By Edward Wichers

THE purpose of this paper is to set forth the matters of principal interest in connection with work done in the past few years on the purification of the metals of the platinum group, including the study and modification of methods already in the literature and the development of new procedures. For the most part, the results will be given in summary form, reserving the publication of detailed data and directions for a forthcoming paper to be issued by the Bureau of Standards. In recent years increasing interest has been shown in the preparation of the pure platinum metals, both by those concerned with the manufacture of the metals and their alloys for scientific and industrial purposes and those who are engaged in the study of the chemical or physical properties of the elements. The purification of the metals usually has been regarded as a matter so involved and difficult as to require the attention of specialists. It is hoped that this paper will show that any of the metals can be prepared in any desired degree of purity by relatively simple straightforward chemical methods. For the most part, it is thought that the methods given are suitable for small-scale refineries as well as for the laboratory; also, that they will bring the time required for the purification of any of the metals within reasonable limits. The new procedure suggested for purifying platinum should prove to be much shorter than any methods described in the literature.

Jan 1, 1928

By Charles Prasky

This report describes bench-scale studies and pilot-plant development of the Bureau of Mines process for roasting iron ores with a ferrous scrap reductant, such as discarded automobile hulks, to yield artificial magnetite. Quality magnetic concentrates containing about 66 percent iron and 6 percent silica with iron recoveries of over 90 percent were obtained after roasting fine-grained oxidized or nonmagnetic taconite with unburned, sheared automobile hulks in a rotary kiln. The relatively complete oxidation of the lighter gage metal in the automobile during roasting resulted in a metallic byproduct consisting of the unconsumed heavier gage metal scrap. This residual or tailored scrap is potentially useful as heavy melting stock and has more value than the original automobile hulk.

Jan 1, 1970

By Edward Wichers

THE purpose of this paper is to set forth the matters of principal interest in connection with work done in the past few years on the purification of the metals of the platinum group, including the study and modification of methods already in the literature and the development of new procedures. For the most part, the results will be given in summary form, reserving the publication of detailed data and directions for a forthcoming paper to be issued by the Bureau of Standards. In recent years increasing interest has been shown in the preparation of the pure platinum metals, both by those concerned with the manufacture of the metals and their alloys for scientific and industrial purposes and those who are engaged in the study of the chemical or physical properties of the elements. The purification of the metals usually has been regarded as a matter so involved and difficult as to require the attention of specialists. It is hoped that this paper will show that any of the metals can be prepared in any desired degree of purity by relatively simple straightforward chemical methods. For the most part, it is thought that the methods given are suitable for small-scale refineries as well as for the laboratory; also, that they will bring the time required for the purification of any of the metals within reasonable limits. The new procedure suggested for purifying platinum should prove to be much shorter than any methods described in the literature.

Jan 1, 1928

By R. E. Pollard

The National Bureau of Standards received, in August 1940, a number of samples of bridge wire taken from the cables of the General U. S. Grant suspension bridge over the Ohio River at Ports- mouth, Ohio. These cables were 7% in. in diameter under the wrapping and each was made up of 1458 ungalvanized wires of No. 8 gage in 3 parallel-wire strands. The choice of ungalvanized wire was based on the previous satisfactory performance of similar wires in other bridges over periods of 20 to 50 yr. of service(1).2 After about 12 yr. of service a number of breaks were discovered in the Portsmouth bridge cables, most of them at the anchor- age shoes, and they were replaced by cables made up of galvanized wire(2).

Jan 1, 1945

By V. Voller

A relatively simple model of grinding which incorporates both the Bond grindability equations and the population balance equations has been extended to form a comprehensive simulation package that can describe most kinds of conventional grinding circuits. The package has two programs, with the first consisting of an input program which helps the user to specify the prescribed circuit, while the second program performs the actual simulation. The package serves two main purposes - i) as a check on mill design, with the output providing not only predictions for the product passing size but also of the full product size distribution, and ii) as a means to assess the likely effects on the product size distribution of operating under different sets of conditions.

Jan 1, 1981

By Craig M. Jensen

A laboratory assessment of prompt and delayed neutron activation analysis with 252Cf and 14MeV neutron sources, for use as an in-situ method of determining low-level copper concentration has been performed. A simulated borehole using porphyry ore was constructed and varying copper concentrations were simulated using copper rods. Prompt neutron activation analysis experiments were consistant with earlier work and do not appear to be feasible fur copper concentration of 1.5% or less. Delayed neutron activation analysis experiments indicate that copper ore concentrations of less than 0.1% are detectable using either the 511-KeV gamma-ray of copper-64 or the 1039-KeV gamma-ray of copper-66, with high resolution detectors such as Ge (Li) or intrinsic germanium.

Jan 1, 1977

By Edward Pesout

The McGill smelter started operations in the year 1907. The smelter furnaces were fired with run-of-mine coal on grates until April 1911, when oil firing was introduced. Oil firing continued until April 1918, when the initial coal-pulverizing plant was started.' Early Pulverizing Plant Various alterations were made to that plant during its operation, one of the more important being in connection with the system for delivering pulverized coal. In order to minimize coal-dust explosions and fires, the return portion of the main delivery line was eliminated in the year 1928. Thereafter coal-dust explosions and fires were greatly reduced. Pulverized coal was prepared at this plant primarily for the reverberatory furnaces, but for several years it was also delivered to the converting plant, roasters and power-plant boilers by a system of auxiliary fans and delivery lines. During the period March 29 to April 8, 1929, one reverberatory furnace was fired with pulverized coal produced by an Aero, type J, unit coal pulverizer with a rated capacity of 5 tons per hour. This machine actually pulverized its rated capacity but the product was too coarse. After certain regulations, a her product was obtained but the pulverizer capacity decreased and this resulted in insufficient coal for efficient furnace operation. Table I gives a comparison of the average screen analyses of the pulverized-coal products from the impact-type unit pulverizer and the regular coal-plant installation. It was definitely proved that this size and type of unit pulverizer could not furnish sufficient coal of proper fineness to give smelting results comparable to that obtained with the regular coal-pulverizing plant. The coal from this unit pulverizer was so coarse that it did not ignite or burn properly and thus did not produce the proper heat for efficient smelting. During the latter part of 1929 and the early part of 1930, experimental work was conducted with a 7-ft. o-in. by 48-in. Hardinge conical ball-mill coal-grinding unit, which was installed alongside a furnace in the reverberatory building. Results obtained from the test run indicated that this unit would furnish sufficient coal of proper fineness for good smelting.

Jan 1, 1947

By W. F. Holbrook

IN a previous paper1 a method for the measurement of the comparative desulphurizing power of slags was described and data were presented covering the range of likely slags containing up to 10 per cent MgO In the present work the range is extended to include slags containing up to 20 per cent MgO, and the effect of temperature on 5 per cent and 15 pen cent MgO slags over the range 1475° to 1525° C is included The method used was that described in the previous paper except that some of the temperature measurements were made with a noble-metal thermocouple instead of a tungsten-graphite thermocouple Twelve-gram charges of 0 8 per cent sulphur-metal and 5-gram charge-, of slag were subjected to heating for 30 nun at a prescribed temperature The charges were analyzed for sulphur content For purposes of comparison, desulphurizing power is defined as the ratio of the percentage of sulphur found in the slag to that found in the metal Six slag and metal charges were made coincidentally in 5/8-in holes in a section of an electrode graphite rod One slag and metal charge was used as a control by means of which adjustment in the desulphurization value could be made for small variations in temperature and other factors For convenient presentation of the data, the slags are arranged in groups in each of which one of the four main slag components is constant Thus, the 15 per cent MgO slags are presented separately from those containing 20 per cent MgO SLAGS WITH MAGNESIUM OXIDE CONSTANT 15 Per cent MgO -The data on slags containing 15 per cent MgO cover a composition range of 24 to 50 per cent SI02, 5 to 27 per cent A1203 and 24 to 53 per cent CaO Variation in composition has been in steps of 2 per cent over much of the area Because the change in desulphurization power is generally gradual with gradual change in composition, certain sections have been covered m steps of 4I per cent and even

Jan 1, 1938

By R. A. Spurling, C. G. Rhodes

SATISFACTORY metallographic sample preparation of very soft metals, such as lead and its alloys is generally difficult. The prime requisite of any technique must be that the result gives an undis-torted microstructure for the microscopist to examine. A small amount of mechanical polishing followed by a chemical or electrolytic polish is usually the most desirable way to obtain an undis-torted surface. Several chemical-4 and electrolytic3-' polishing solutions have been developed for dilute lead alloys. Perchloric acid mixtures (with acetic anhydride, ethyl alcohol, or water) are among the most prominent electropolishing solutions used for lead; however, the presence of bismuth in the alloy precludes the use of any perchloric-containing solution. The other solutions1-7 were found to be unsatisfactory on alloys ranging from 10 to 65 wt pct Bi in lead. With increasing bismuth content, the microstructure shows a lead (terminal solid solution), 0-6 mixture, E (peri-tectically formed hexagonal phase), and E bismuth mixture (eutectic at 56.7 wt pct Bi).9 The metallographic samples were mounted in "Araldite" epoxy (the heat generated during polymerization does not alter the microstructure), ground by hand on well-waxed silicon carbide papers (400 and 600 grit), and polished with 3- and 0.25-CL diamond paste on billiard and microcloths, respectively. The use of the various polishing and etching solutions reported in the literature resulted in the formation of irremovable reaction products on the sample surface when applied to "as-ground" or "as-polished" surfaces. The E phase was the most difficult to clean chemically and in the development of an etchant for this system several solutions which satisfactorily etched the bismuth or a phase were unacceptable because of their reaction with the E. It was found that a mixture of 50 ml lactic acid 30 ml nitric acid 20 ml (30 pct) hydrogen peroxide (Solution #1) was a satisfactory etchant for the a-matrix alloys. The samples were prepared as before and etched after 1 min of polishing with 3-p diamond paste. The etchant was applied by swabbing (light pressure) for 30 sec to 1 min and the sample was then rinsed in running water. The E has a slight stain and the a is fairly bright, Fig. 1.

Jan 1, 1965

By Edward Pesout

The McGill smelter started operations in the year 1907. The smelter furnaces were fired with run-of-mine coal on grates until April 1911, when oil firing was introduced. Oil firing continued until April 1918, when the initial coal-pulverizing plant was started.' Early Pulverizing Plant Various alterations were made to that plant during its operation, one of the more important being in connection with the system for delivering pulverized coal. In order to minimize coal-dust explosions and fires, the return portion of the main delivery line was eliminated in the year 1928. Thereafter coal-dust explosions and fires were greatly reduced. Pulverized coal was prepared at this plant primarily for the reverberatory furnaces, but for several years it was also delivered to the converting plant, roasters and power-plant boilers by a system of auxiliary fans and delivery lines. During the period March 29 to April 8, 1929, one reverberatory furnace was fired with pulverized coal produced by an Aero, type J, unit coal pulverizer with a rated capacity of 5 tons per hour. This machine actually pulverized its rated capacity but the product was too coarse. After certain regulations, a her product was obtained but the pulverizer capacity decreased and this resulted in insufficient coal for efficient furnace operation. Table I gives a comparison of the average screen analyses of the pulverized-coal products from the impact-type unit pulverizer and the regular coal-plant installation. It was definitely proved that this size and type of unit pulverizer could not furnish sufficient coal of proper fineness to give smelting results comparable to that obtained with the regular coal-pulverizing plant. The coal from this unit pulverizer was so coarse that it did not ignite or burn properly and thus did not produce the proper heat for efficient smelting. During the latter part of 1929 and the early part of 1930, experimental work was conducted with a 7-ft. o-in. by 48-in. Hardinge conical ball-mill coal-grinding unit, which was installed alongside a furnace in the reverberatory building. Results obtained from the test run indicated that this unit would furnish sufficient coal of proper fineness for good smelting.

Jan 1, 1947

By Wilhelm Borchers

In all special branches of the chemical and metallurgical industries, in which large electric furnaces became necessary for carrying out new processes or for the improvement of old ones, the development of the electric furnaces took place on much the same lines. The endeavors to make a success of a new idea brought forth many ingenious designs, which, however, almost without exception, furnished the proof that the safest and shortest way to practical success is the utmost simplicity of construction of the necessary apparatus. Our knowledge of the qualities of materials for building electric furnaces and of the constituents of the furnace-charges, especially their electric conductivity and their chemical affinity towards one another at high temperatures, is still far from being complete, and from this fact we must conclude that the smaller the number of elements in the construction of a furnace, the fewer the number of unreliable factors both in the construction and in the operation of the electric furnace. This conclusion deserves special attention when an electric furnace for making steel has to be chosen from the constantly-growing number of inventions, inasmuch as the chief constituent of steel, the element iron, is a substance which in its liquid phase has so great an affinity for those elemen'ts which are to be removed from the charge, that it is very difficult to comply with the following conditions: 1, to heat the refining-slag to the highest point of its chemical activity ; 2, to prevent the iron from entering the slag, or, where this cannot be done, to make it enter so that it finally appears in the end-product

Jan 1, 1911

By Bryan J. Travis, Thomas L. Cook

INTRODUCTION Our growing concern for adequate and secure sources of energy and minerals has stimulated vigorous exploration for new sources, research toward a better understanding of geological processes, and development of new extraction technologies. The need for control, or at least prediction, of subsurface fluid flow is important for many of these technologies for example: primary, secondary and tertiary recovery of oil; ground water and waste management; in-situ fossil energy extraction (oil shale, coal, tar sands); and solution mining of uranium, copper and other minerals. These technologies, especially the last two, are characterized by highly complex systems. A partial list of the physical processes occurring would include flow in porous/fractured media, multi-phase and multi-component flow with heat transport, chemically active fluids and soils, tracers, diffusion and dispersion, fracturing and dissolution. A great deal of understanding of how these processes behave and interact can be obtained from models. MODELS Theoretical models are valuable because they: 1) provide a frame of reference for interpreting results of laboratory and field experiments; 2) once validated by experiments, allow a variety of geometries, injection/production strategies, etc., to be examined (at relatively low cost) for efficiency and stability; 3) can provide guidance to the design of experiments and field operations. Most models are based on the fundamental principles of mass, momentum and energy balance. But from this starting point, many paths can be taken. For example, there is the theory of Payatakes (1973) which concentrates on the microscale dynamics. In this approach, the rock or soil matrix is represented by a complex of characteristic channels (such as periodically constricted smooth tubes). Detail of flow within the characteristic channel is calculated very accurately. A difficulty with this model is that description of a representative channel can require several parameters which may not be easily measured. Also, it is not clear how the channels can be combined practically to model a large scale flow. Another type of model is the "global" one described by Bear (1972). Here, the continuum equations for conservation of mass, momentum and energy are averaged over a distribution of pore channels, resulting in a set of conservation equations in which the small scale structure of the medium is replaced by quantities such as porosity, permeability, dispersion coefficients and tortuosity. This approach allows computation of large scale flows. However, additional constitutive equations are needed which relate averaged quantities such as permeability to observables such as local saturation, particle size distributions, and others. An important difference between models is the way they handle the momentum equation. Payatakes' model solves the full equation. In others, it is replaced by a simpler relation such as Darcy's law (valid for slow flow rates) or by Forchheimer's equation which extends Darcy's law to higher flow rates. These simple relations can nevertheless match a great deal of experimental data (Dullien 1975). The permeability term which appears in Darcy's law and in Forchheimer's expression has been related to other quantities such as porosity and particle surface area. The Kozeny-Carmen equation is a well-known example, valid for some ranges of porosity and particle sizes and for some materials. Several other semi-theoretical, semi-empirical formulations have been devised, none of which are entirely satisfactory. One goal of researchers has been the ability to predict permeability of a porous material from basic measurable quantities such as grain size distributions without recourse to adjustable parameters. This effort has proceeded from consideration of distributions of idealized, non-intersecting channels, to intersecting channels, to consideration of both distributed pore radii and pore neck radii. This last approach has been used successfully to predict permeabilities (ranging over several orders of magnitude) in sandstones (Dullien 1975). Additionally, studies on explicit networks of channels (e.g., Fatt 1956) and percolation theory (e.g., Larson et. al. 1981) have been used to examine interconnectivity effects in porous media with the hope of eventually being able to predict permeability accurately. To be of more than theoretical interest, a model must be compared s controlled laboratory conditions where boundary and initial conditions and relevant material properties can be accurately determined. Also, extraneous forces can be eliminated so that the interactions between processes of interest can be clearly seen and flow models can be vigorously tested. In contrast to the well-defined environment and

Jan 1, 1982

A construction material based on plasticized sulfur and mineral aggregate, that is superior in corrosion resistance and strength to portland cement concrete. The material can be used in the chemical, metallurgical, and fertilizer industries, and will also provide an attractive market for by-product sulfur resulting from compliance with pollution regulations. How It Is Made Sulfur concrete is thermoplastic material. Plasticized sulfur is mixed with sand and gravel aggregate heated to 375-400° F. The sulfur melts and acts as the binder or cement. The sulfur concrete is poured hot and sets at a temperature of 200° F. Full strength is attained in a few hours, compared to several days for portland cement concretes. Sulfur concrete even pours and sets in freezing weather. Although unmodified sulfur with aggregate will produce a sulfur concrete with good initial properties, it undergoes crystallographic modifications, and deteriorates with time, particularly when exposed to moisture or freeze-thaw conditions. The Bureau of Mines has developed plasticizers which, when reacted with the sulfur, give sulfur concretes with excellent moisture and freeze-thaw resistance. The plasticizers are based on mixtures of dicyclopentadlene (DCPD) and ollgomers of cyclopentadiene. About 5 percent by weight of the plasticizers is reacted with molten sui fur for several hours. The sulfur cement can be used directly or allowed to solidify for easier handling and storage.

Jan 1, 1981

By H. Conrad, V. V. Damiano, G. J. London

A method is described for producing single crystals of high-purity beryllium, Be-4.37pct Cu, and Be-5.24 pct Ni. These crystals were prepared for testing in compression parallel to the [0001] by orienting and lapping to within ±3' of arc of the (0001). Microstrain testing apparatus is described along with c axis compression results for ingot purity beryllium, twelve-zone-pass material, and the above-mentioned alloys. Results show no measurable plasticity for the ingot purity material from -196" to 400°C, although some surface traces of (1122) slip was observed at 200°C and above. The twelve-zone-pass material shows substantial microstrain plasticity at 220°C with slip on (1122). Both alloys show significant plasticity at room temperature and above with slip also on (1122) planes. THE two slip systems which normally operate during the plastic deformation of beryllium in the vicinity of room temperature are:' basal slip (0001)(1120) and prism slip . Pyramidal slip with a vector inclined to the basal plane has been reported for elevated temperatures,'-a but occurs near room temperature only at very high stresses.~ A summary of the available data on the effect of temperature on the critical resolved shear stress for slip on these systems has been compiled by Conrad and Perlmutter.~ It has been postulated6'7 that one of the principal factors contributing to the brittleness of poly crystalline beryllium at temperatures below about 200°C is the difficulty of operating pyramidal slip with a vector inclined to the basal plane. Hence, detailed information on the operation of such a slip system is important to understanding the brittleness of beryllium. The operation of pyramidal slip with a vector inclined to the basal plane is best accomplished in beryllium by compressing single crystals in a direction parallel to the c axis. In such a test the resolved macroscopic shear strzss on the basal and prism planes is zero and (1012) twinning which is favored by tension along the c axis does not occur. Hence, in c axis compression of beryllium the normal deformation modes are inhibited and the operation of pyramidal slip with a vector inclined to the basal plane is favored. In the present investigation, c axis compression tests were performed on beryllium single crystal as a function of temperature (77" to 700°K), purity (commercial and twelve zone pass), and alloy content (4.37 wt pct Cu and 5.24 wt pct Ni). Presented here is a description of the test techniques employed and the gross mechanical behavior observed. A detailed analysis of the slip traces developed on the surfaces of the deformed specimens during these tests and the results of electron transmission studies of the deformed crystals are given in a separate paper.B PROCEDURE 1) Materials and Preparation. Single crystals about 1 in. diam were prepared of the following materials: commercial-purity beryllium, high-purity beryllium, and two beryllium alloys, one with 4.37 wt pct Cu and the other with 5.24 wt pct Ni. The commercial-purity single crystals were obtained by cutting specimens from large-grained ingot of Pechiney SR material, which is approximately 99.98 pct pure. The high-purity crystals were prepared by floating-zone refining (twelve passes) a rod (7 in. by 1 in, diam) of Pechiney SR grade cast and extruded beryllium. Although an absolute chemical analysis of the zone-refined material was not established, mass spectro-graphic analysis, emission spectrographic analysis, and y activation analysis indicated that it contained in atomic fractions about 5 to 10 ppm each of carbon and oxygen, 1 to 5 ppm each of nickel and iron, and about 1 to 2 ppm of copper, with the remaining residual impurities being less than 1 ppm. Further indication of the purity of this material is provided by the critical resolved shear stress for basal slip, which was approximately 300 psi. The starting material for the alloy single crystals was 1-in.-diam floating-zone-refined (six passes) rod of Pechiney SR grade beryllium. Two such rods were wrapped respectively with sufficient weight of wire of high-purity copper (99.999 pct) or nickel (99.999 pct) to yield a 5 wt pct alloy. A seventh floating-zone pass was then applied to each of the rods to accomplish the initial alloying and an eighth pass for homogenization. Analytical samples were taken from regions of the rod immediately adjacent to where the mechanical test specimens were cut; these indicated 4.37 wt pct Cu and 5.24 wt pct Ni. 2) Crystal Orientation. To avoid the occurrence of basal slip during c axis compression testing, it is necessary to load the crystals as nearly parallel to the c axis as possible. Preliminary c axis compression tests indicated that plastic flow and/or fracture occurred at stresses of the order of 300,000 psi; hence on the basis of a critical resolved shear stress for basal slip of 300 to 400 psi, the maximum crystal misorientation permitted is about 4 to 5' of arc. Since this accuracy cannot be obtained using the usual back-

Jan 1, 1969

By L. R. Hossner

Chemical and physical properties of surface soils and overburden materials must be evaluated prior to strip mining activities. This information can be used to assess whether subsurface overburden can be equal in quality to the existing surface soils, especially when these soils are classed as prime farm lands. In Texas, materials from the Carrizo, Calvert Bluff, Simsboro, and Hooper Formations overlie the lignite. The Carrizo Formation consists of thick clean sands with poor water and nutrient retention capabilities. These materials are least suited for placement of the surface of reclaimed land. The oxidized, medium textured overburden from the Calvert Bluff and Simsboro Formations possess adequate water and nutrient properties and are better suited for sustained plant growth. Non-oxidized Calvert Bluff and Hooper sediments generally have acceptable properties for reclamation. However, caution must be exercised in vegetating these materials since they may contain acid forming sulfide minerals.

Jan 1, 1982

By Gordon C. Hicks

Prior to 1950 most fertilizer manufactured in the United States was produced in a nongranular form. In such form, the material caked when stored and was extremely dusty when applied in the field. About this time a wide interest developed in the fertilizer industry for the manufacture of a granular, high-analysis fertilizer of improved physical properties. Thus, TVA began work on fertilizer granulation about 1950 using both a pugmill (double-shaft paddle mixer) for a thick slurry of nitric phosphate and a continuous ammoniator-granulator drum for superphosphate-base mixed fertilizer. Granulation in these units was mainly by agglomeration. The liquid phase generated by the moisture and by the heat of reaction of ammonia with acidic materials, such as superphosphate and sulfuric or phosphoric acids, resulted in agglomeration of the solid ingredients. About 1956, TVA began studies of the use of a pan or disk granulator for production of ammonium nitrate or other fertilizers containing a large proportion of ammonium nitrate, such as 30-10-0 ammonium phosphate nitrate. This is the layering method of granulation. More recently, TVA has demonstrated pan granulation of urea from a highly concentrated solution and granulation of ammonium polyphosphate melts in a pugmill. The bulk of TVA studies throughout the years has related to use of the drum granulator. About 200 granulation plants in the United States have been licensed and built to use the TVA continuous ammoniator-granulator; it is estimated that more than half of the 20 million tons of mixed fertilizer used in the United States in 1974/1975 was produced in these plants. Some other granulation processes developed for use in the drum granulator include diammonium phosphate, monoammonium phosphate, urea- ammonium phosphate, ammoniated superphosphate, and most recently, NPK fertilizers by melt granulation using a pipe reactor.

Jan 1, 1977

By Paul A. Lahti

Independence Mining Company, Inc. (IMC) has for the past several years processed refractory gold ores at its Jerritt Canyon operation near Elko, Nevada. The ore is typical of those of the Carlin Trend and is refractory due to physical encapsulation of gold in carbon, pyrite, and arsenopyrite. It is also "preg robbing" due to the contained organic carbon that acts as a gold adsorber. Refractory ores require some form of pretreatment before cyanidation to enable economical recovery of gold. The metallurgical facility at Jerritt Canyon is unique in that it consists of two distinct pretreatment methods for the recovery of gold: a chemical process utilizing chlorine and a pyro-metal­lurgical process employing oxidative roasting. This paper pro­vides a comparison of the two methods highlighting flow sheets, pretreatment operation detail, performance comparisons, and pertinent environmental data.

Jan 1, 1996

By Greg S. Williams, David L. McDorman, Richard W. Givens

This paper examines the effect of prill size consistency, internal particle density, and oil absorbency on Ammonium Nitrate Fuel Oil (ANFO)-emulsion blends. By analyzing these physical properties of prill and the nature of the blending process, a mathematical model has been developed to theoretically predict blend densities. Calculated densities can now be compared to actual field densities to give an operator a basis for comparing various manufacturers' emulsions and Ammonium Nitrate (AN) during bid solicitation. The lowest priced emulsion and/or AN may not be the most economical, due to the impact of specific physical characteristics. These factors dictate the blending mechanics and resulting density yields for various mixes. The research was driven from observed 'field' mixing relationships and data. Ultimately, such a model can be an effective tool in evaluating blends from a cost and performance basis.

Jan 1, 1990

Reverse circulation (R.C.) drilling or the dual tube method as it is quite commonly known, has a unique place in conventional mineral drilling. It can be classified half-way between open hole drilling at the lower end of the scale and diamond drilling at the upper end. The system basically consists of two tubes, one inside the other, with compressed air flowing between the inner and outer tubes. Sample cuttings return up the inner tube through the head of the rig and via a hose to a cyclone where the sample is collected. This system means that the cuttings are free of contamination as they are at no time in contact with the outside formation of the hole.Reverse circulation drilling is divided into two areas: R.C. Roller and Blade for softer formations; and R.C. Percussion for harder formations.

Jan 1, 1986

By T. G. Carnahan

The Federal Bureau of Mines investigated, on a laboratory scale, a technique for recovery of silver from pregnant solutions generated in the hydro-metallurgical treatment of complex base-metal sulfide concentrates with oxidizing chloride media. This technique provides a means for recovery and simplified reduction of accessory silver to metal from chloride solutions. The method consists of adding NaI or KI to the solution to precipitate AgI, which is then contacted with Na2S to produce Ag2S and to regenerate the iodide salt solution. Silver recoveries range from 99 pct with 20 pct excess iodide precipitant, to 92 pct when the theoretical stoichiometric amount of precipitant is employed. The Ag2S product can be reduced to silver metal by contact with aluminum chips in NaOH solution followed by purification with conventional fire refining techniques.

Jan 1, 1980