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LATEST estimates of Russian steel production for 1951 give rise to the belief that on at least one vital front, the Western bloc of nations has maintained a definite advantage. On the surface, we are outproducing the Eastern bloc by more than twice. The United Nations Economic Commission for Europe estimates Russian output at 31.30 million tons, a 15 pct increase over the previous year. Production for the entire Iron Curtain is figured at 40.93 million tons. Western Europe alone produced 17 pct. more steel during the same period. The figures are misleading in one sense. We have no precise idea of how much steel is being used for arms. The Western nations are still expending much of their production for consumer goods, and you cant throw washing machines in a shooting war. It is significant to note that Russian production is well, beyond estimates made by world authorities prior to the current international situation. INTERIOR Secretary Oscar L. Chapman warns that the United States must make use of the resources of other nations or face mineral impoverishment once the time of struggle is over. He pointed out that the present struggle between two ideologies can leave the United States in such a state as to preclude anything but political' victory-with an accomp anying economic loss that will be irreparable. Chapman scored the attitude whereby conservation programs are looked upon as a luxury, pointing out that the nation faces an ever increasing need for action on that front. He also announced that the Bureau of Mines doubled its facilities for producing pure zirconium during 1950-51 at the request of the Atomic Energy Commission. Zirconium may be an important structural metal for atomic power devices. The Interior Secretary also said that the AEC has provided the Bureau with funds for the study of radioactive minerals and to help test and evaluate about 9000 ore samples believed to contain uranium.

Jan 1, 1952

By Ronald D. Hill, Elmore C. Grim

1. Potential groundwater pollution resulting from large-scale surface mining in western states should be evaluated. 2. Criteria should be developed for the design, construction, operation, and abandonment of sediment ponds for maximum removal of suspended solids. 3. Methods should be developed for reducing suspended solids discharges from surface mines to less than 30 milligrams per liter. 4. A manual should be developed in the form of guidelines for sediment and erosion control planning and implementation. These guidelines must be designed to cover all phases of the coal surface mining operation (i.e., before, during and after mining). 5. A mine road manual should be developed for use by surface mine operators and State and Federal Agencies. Erosion, water control, and dust control should be covered in detail. 6. The block-cut, head-of-hollow fill, and mountain-top removal methods and techniques of contour mining should be evaluated, designed, and ultimately demonstrated in steep, mountainous terrain. Designs should be prepared for single and multiple seam applications. The demonstrations must show that these mining systems will secure rapid achievement of reclamation require¬ments and provide maximum, safe, economic coal recovery in an environmentally safe manner. 7. A Blasting Manual should be developed for use by industry and enforcement agencies. Stress should be placed on how to keep vibration levels and air blast pressures well below accepted safe criteria. Also, methods that can be used to control noise should be listed. 8. Investigations should be conducted on the effect of continued vibrations from blasting on structures that are near quarries. 9. Additional guidelines need to be developed for sampling and analysis of overburden material and associated coals for trace elements and noxious strata. Samples are extremely sensitive, and the source and manner of their collection, handling, storage, and treatment, as well as the techniques of analysis, need to be developed and described. This information can be used to predict possible future problems.

Jan 1, 1974

By R. G. Knickerbocker, A. G. Starliper, H. Kenworthy, C. H. Gorski

This report describes the progress made in the research work on the development of a new method for preparing lower-cost titanium tetrachloride and preparing titanium oxide pigment. One of the requirements for the commercial production of ductile titanium in the process used by the Bureau of Mines is a source of lower-cost titanium tetrachloride. The production of ductile titanium by a modification of the Kroll1 process, recently developed by the Bureau of Mines, requires such a source of lower-cost titanium tetrachloride to make it commercially feasible. This report describes the progress of work done at the Mississippi Valley Experiment Station at Rolla, Missouri, on the development of a new method for preparing titanium tetrachloride. During the course of this research a new method for preparing pigment-grade titanium oxide was developed. At present, the price of technical-grade titanium tetrachloride is $0.32 a pound, which makes the price of the contained titanium $1.28 a pound.2 In addition, the titanium tetrachloride must be purified further before it is suitable for processing into metal, thus making its cost still higher.3 There were 8,562 tons of rutile produced in the United States in 1947, which was 900 tons in excess of that consumed. In addition there were 13,937 tons in various stocks, exclusive of the stocks in the Government strategic stock pile. No estimates of the domestic production of rutile are given for any of the prewar years. However, in 1939, 442 tons of rutile were imported as compared to 14,307 tons in 1947. One of the reasons for the large increase in the production of rutile is the working of the Florida beach sands for ilmenite, during which a considerable amount of rutile is produced as a by-product. It would be of value to determine methods for utilizing the excess production of rutile. The Arkansas titanium deposits in Hot Spring County produced commercial-grade rutile concentrates from 1933 to 1942. These were sold mainly to England, Germany, and Russia.

Jan 1, 1950

By Frank C. Smith

The following article covers the history of a metallurgical campaign, commenced in March, 1905, at the mines of the Socorro Bold Co., in the so-called desert region of Yuma county, Arizona. The results obtained were simply a function of necessity, as will be seen from the description of the local economic conditions and the character of the ores treated. The mines and mill of the Socorro Gold Co. are located near the small village of Harrisburg, about 60 miles from Congress Junction, Ariz., which, at the time this work was undertaken, was the nearest railroad station, and from which all supplies were brought by wagon through the desert, at a cost varying from $10 to $15 per ton in addition to the railroad freights. Wood, the only available fuel, cost $7 per cord. Water for all purposes was pumped to the plant from a well in the valley about 4 miles away. Under the Arizona law, a working-shift is 8 hr. Wages were $6 per day for foremen and mill-men, $4 per day for blacksmiths and engineers, $3.50 per day for miners, and $3 per day for shovelers and trammers. The ore consisted of quartz, in which, above the 250-ft. level, the iron-minerale were largely oxidized and some free gold was visible; below that level few traces of oxidation occurred, and pyrite constituted the principal mineralizer in the quartz, together with occasional pockets of galena and a few eccentric specks of covellite. The 20-stamp mill was equipped with plates for amalgamation, and three Standard tables for concentration. The tails from the tables mere elevated by a centrifugal pump to a launder, by which they were conveyed to a 60-ton cyanide-mill for further treatment. The cyanide-mill was erected at so great a distance from the stamp-mill that a separate crew of workers and a separate power-plant were necessary. No arrangement had been made for the treatment of the concen-

Jan 1, 1907

OLIVIA'S recent revolution, by hindsight, seems to have been inevitable. The misery of the majority of the people, coupled with the economic crisis engendered by the refusal of the United States to meet Bolivian demands for a higher tin price, gave the National Revolutionary Movement party all the excuse it needed for overthrowing the government. Most of the mines in Bolivia are owned by three families. Precisely what it will mean to the United States is still a moot question. Argentina, with a mixture of Marxism, Fascism, and few twists created by the Perons, is in a position to grab off much of the tin we need. Because of the contingencies of geographical location, language and a natural simpatico, Argentina may be able to continue its efforts to oust the United States from its South American markets. Point Four aid was supposed to be given to Bolivia, but only for agriculture. Even this was entirely too slow. Mining, Bolivia's other major source of income was forgotten by the Washington planners. Primary aim of the new power will be to diminish its dependence on the world tin market. At a time when the free world is fighting a battle for control of metal, it stands a chance of losing an important source of supply. With the accent placed on agriculture and other industries, mining in Bolivia is certain to suffer. Argentina will be in a position to get the available supply of tin, make a strong ally in the world order of things, and add to its power play against the United States in South America. Ten labor groups have formed the Bolivian Central Workers Union. The first item on their list for immediate action is the nationalization of the mining and railroad industries. They also came out for agrarian revolution and diversification of industry. President Victor Paz Estenssoro has promised to appoint a committee for the investigation of nationalization of the mines. At least, this is indicative of a feeling for the need for caution.

Jan 1, 1952

By M. J. Marcinkowski, R. M. Fisher

The flow stress-grain size relationship has been determined at room temperature in both a disordered and a fully ordered FeCo for plastic strains up to 30 pct. The results are in agreement with a Hall-Petch relation of the type given by Of =a,+kd-1/2 where of is the flour stress and a, increases mono-tonically with increasing strain to a maximum value which is much higher for the ordered than for the disordered alloy. The slope, k, is found to increase FOLLOWING the original work of Halll and petch relating the effect of grain size to the lower yield stress of iron and steel, it has been generally found that the yield stress oy.s. of polycrystalline metals with strain to a maximum and then decrease for both ordered and disordered alloys. However, k for the ordered alloy is in general higher than that for the disordered alloy and the critical strain for k max somewhat larger. All of these observations can be satisfactorily accounted for quantitatively and in some cases semiquantitatively by using a slip band-grain boundary intersection model, and by taking note of the fact that, in general, moss slip, while quite common in the disordered alloy, is extremely difficult in the ordered alloy. obeys a relation of the form oy.s.=a0+kd-1/2 [1] where a, and k are constants and d is the mean grain diameter. For convenience, and in accord with prevailing custom, Eq. [I] will be referred to simply as the Petch relation. Tjerkstra3 and Armstrong, Codd, Douthwaite, and petch4 showed that the flow stress af of iron or steel measured at strains of up to at least 20 pct also obeyed a relationship of the type given by Eq. (11. The latter investigators have also shown that Eq. [I] applies to fcc and hcp metals and alloys.

Jan 1, 1965

By George Scott

MANY requests for information as to the possibility of washing coals to some predetermined percentage of ash or sulfur have suggested that the producers aim to satisfy some degree of purity set by the user of the fuel, rather than to attain the greatest economic benefit to all concerned. This paper is written to show that the highest economic purity of washed coal can be determined from washability studies of the raw coal, costs of mining and washing coal, and data on the effect of ash and sulphur on the value of the coal for the particular use for which it is intended. COKE FOR BLAST-FURNACE USE For purposes of illustration, we take the case of coal washed for coke to be used in the iron blast furnace. The method outlined can be made general in its application by substituting for the figures used here the actual operating figures for the particular case under consideration. In general, it costs the blast-furnace operation from 8 to 25 c. per ton of pig iron to slag out each 1 per cent. of ash introduced into the blast furnace by the coke. This figure depends on which one per cent. of ash is removed, and decreases with decrease in ash: When blast furnaces and coal mines are considered as a whole, the figure decreases to zero and then becomes negative, on account of low recovery of washed coal. Various figures1 have been given by different investigators: These figures necessarily differ, not only on account of the differences in operating costs but on account of the difference in the respective fuels as well. For the purpose of this paper, which, as explained, is to point out a method of attacking a certain problem, the figures used in the exposition of the method are of secondary importance. It is apparent that no universally applicable figures can be used, because there are none. Each plant has its own coal,2 its own operating cost, and its own conditions.

Jan 1, 1929

By Howard L. Hartman

6.1-1. Introduction. Of necessity, the first of the unit operations conducted during the exploitation phase in surface mining is production drilling. It precedes blasting, with which it is associated as the two unit operations employed to break or fragment consolidated material (usually rock) in place. The purpose of production drilling is to provide the cavity for placement of the explosives. So far, no alternative to blasting has been devised for fragmenting very resistant rock in situ, although some forms of excavation (ripping, bucket wheel) are suitable without prior blasting for softer rock, such as weathered shale or mudstone, decomposed sediments, etc. For the vast majority of surface mines, however, drilling and blasting are pre- requisite to excavation and essential to the production cycle. Drilling is also used in surface mining for purposes other than providing blastholes. It finds application during exploration for obtaining samples and during development for drainage, slope stability, foundation testing, etc. Only in the exploitation phase of surface mining, however, are unique or specialized drilling methods and equipment employed; and the discussion in this Section is directed primarily to that application of drilling. Drilling is the most common means of rock penetration, the operation of placing a directed hole in rock. Closely akin to drilling for exploitation purposes is the cutting or freeing of dimension stone in quarrying. This operation, usually termed channeling or sawing, also takes the form of directional penetration of rock; but instead of producing a cylindrical hole, it yields a kerf or cut. The material thus freed from the solid is both a shaped and sized product, an objective of vital importance in the dimension stone industry. In sawing, holes are sometimes drilled to insert tools, but this drilling is a minor part of the sawing operation and employs conventional methods. Cutting, as a unit operation for freeing stone in quarrying, may be considered equivalent in purpose to drilling and blasting in other forms of surface mining.

Jan 1, 1968

By A. D. Neuman, C. C. Davis, M. R. Lopez, A. C. Martinez, T. A. Nothwang, S. L. Voit

"One of the thrust areas for the Global Nuclear Energy Partnership (GNEP) program is the development of actinide bearing fuels for transmutation in a fast reactor. Mixed Oxide (MOX) fuel has an extensive fast reactor irradiation history and thus is being considered for use as a baseline composition from which minor actinides (MA) can be incorporated for use as a transmutation fuel. This study involves characterization of precursor powders and pellets to be inserted into the Advanced Test Reactor in Idaho. These pellets will have three compositions: one standard MOX composition, (U80Pu20)O1.98, and two compositions of MA-MOX with oxygen to metal ratios (O/M) of (U75Pu20Am3Np2)O1.98 and (U75Pu20Am3Np2)O1.95. The precursor powders, which consisted of, highly enriched uranium oxide, HEUO2, depleted uranium oxide, DUO2, neptunium oxide, NpO2, americium oxide, AmO2, and plutonium oxide, PuO2, were characterized using a field emission gun scanning electron microscope (FEG-SEM) for particle morphology, size, and size distribution prior to pellet production.IntroductionThe Global Nuclear Energy Partnership (GNEP) was created in order for “fuel-cycle supplier” nations to provide assured supplies of nuclear fuel to “fuel-cycle customer” nations. The customer nations would utilize the fuel for electricity generation and subsequently return it to the supplier nation after it is spent. This spent fuel would then be reprocessed by the supplier nation in order to recycle the actinide constituents, mainly uranium and plutonium, in advanced nuclear power reactors, and thus reducing waste volumes [1, 2]. Nuclear materials would also be strictly controlled through the International Atomic Energy Agency. One of the thrust areas for the GNEP program is the development of these actinide bearing fuels for transmutation in a fast reactor under the U.S. Advanced Fuel Cycle Initiative (AFCI) in order to transmute long-lived transuranic actinide isotopes into shorter-lived fission products [3]."

Jan 1, 2008

By F. H. Newell

Measurements of the amount of water flowing in many of the larger rivers of the west have been made by the United States Geological Survey, and by this means the daily discharges of these rivers have been computed for a period of over two years. These measurements have been confined mainly to that part of the country commonly known as the arid region, where the rainfall is insufficient for the needs of plants most useful to man, and the supply of water, not only for agriculture, but also for mining and all other purposes, falls below the demands made upon it. In such localities flowing water has a great value, for without it many industries are impossible. Experience has shown that in the western part of the United States, over an area a little less than two-fifths of the whole extent of the country, there are great bodies of fertile land enjoying a genial climate, and in every way adapted to the support of a large population, except in the one particular of water-supply. By utilizing the water available, portions of this rich land can be rendered valnable. In other words, the laud-values rest directly upon the prospects of a continuous artificial water-supply. The same is true of many mineral lands, which require for hydraulic mining, or for the supply of concentrating-works, stanip-mills, etc., a certain water-supply, and are impaired in value if this supply is inadequate or irregular. The pressure of this need upon the mining industry is not so widespread, or in the first instance so severe as upon agriculture; but as different regions become more thickly settled, and the two industries compete for a water-supply not sufficient for both, it, is probable that the miner will suffer. But he can snspend operations with less inconvenience than the farmer. Agricuitural land, if the watersupply is not continuous, becomes a desert; on the other hand, the profit of mining is greatly enhanced by the presence of agricultural

Jan 1, 1892

Zinc alloy castings continue to account for a very large, world-wide end-use market for zinc. However, an ever expanding multitude of other materials and processes are increasingly providing viable, cost-effective alternatives to designers, many of whom have no particular allegiance to any one industry. In order to meet this challenge, innovation of and for the zinc hot chamber pressure die casting process, in concert with sustained and inventive market development, is clearly required. While 'Quality' is now the watchword, and the goal of zero defects is being rigorously pursued, other important goals which must be addressed include net shape casting, enhanced productivity and increased energy efficiency. The paper gives an overview of several practical, process-orientated, projects designed to help achieve these goals. For example, a project designed to understand and precisely measure dimensional changes of castings with time has provided some of the critical information needed for net shape casting. A second study is looking anew at surface quality in relation to process conditions as an important step toward the goals of zero scrap rate and increased productivity. Developing the correct die casting machine parameters for achieving optimal quality and properties of zinc (ZA) die castings is a further example of research designed to benefit both the die caster and his customer, chiefly the original equipment manufacturer (OEM). A project on die soldering or galvanising in response to varying process parameters is similarly being considered in order to foster increased understanding and avoidance of problems, with a special interest in the use of special coatings. The maintenance or expansion of the future market for zinc die casting alloys also depends on design for functional applications, as an adjunct to their traditional decorative use. The role that alloys with enhanced properties can play, such as ZATEC, a new high creep resistant alloy developed specifically for elevated stress/elevated temperature applications, will be briefly discussed.

Jan 1, 1993

By James Tuer, John R. Goode, Jim Cambon

"Hudson Resources Inc. (Hudson) has defined a major resource of high purity anorthosite (calcium feldspar) assaying about 30% Al2O3 at the White Mountain (Naajat) deposit in Western Greenland. Extensive beneficiation and evaluation testwork has shown that the material can be simply beneficiated to produce a feed material ideal for the production of low-alkali E-glass used for making glass fibre. An offtake agreement is in place with a major US fibreglass manufacturer and, subject to the mine construction schedule, shipments are scheduled for late 2016 or early 2017. In parallel with the E-glass program, Hudson has completed an initial program of metallurgical testwork which shows that the White Mountain anorthosite can be processed by hydro- and pyro-metallurgical processes to yield either smelter-grade alumina (SGA), suitable for conversion to aluminium metal, or a high purity, chemical/specialty-grade alpha-alumina (CGA) commanding a premium price. The process includes dissolution of the anorthosite in hydrochloric acid, HCl sparging to precipitate aluminium chloride hexahydrate (ACH), recycle of the ACH filtrate to leaching with a bleed stream processed for HCl regeneration from CaCl2, and two-stage calcination of the ACH to regenerate HCl and produce SGA and/or CGA. Calcium silicate and amorphous silica are marketable by-products. This paper discusses the White Mountain anorthosite deposit; the process testwork completed to develop production processes for SGA and CGA; production plans, and indicative economics.INTRODUCTIONHudson Resources Inc. (Hudson) holds a 100% interest in the Naajat Exploitation Licence in Western Greenland that cover the White Mountain high-calcic anorthosite deposit. Anorthosite is a calcium aluminosilicate of slightly variable composition but generally containing about 30% Al2O3. The alumina content is similar to that in bauxite and anorthosite has long been studied as a feedstock for the production of alumina. Other potential uses include feedstock for the high-end fiberglass (E-glass) industry and as a filler for use in paint and plastics."

Jan 1, 2016

By Linda Dufour

"Autoclaves have been in commercial use in the mining industry since the early 1950's the initial applications included tin, uranium, cobalt, nickel and copper extraction under both acidic and alkaline conditions. These circuits varied in batch or continuous operation. The geometry has been spherical, vertical, and horizontal type with up to six agitators, with throughput as high as 1000 stpd.Presently autoclaves are a good process selection for many refractory sulphide gold bearing ores. The first application of pressure oxidation in the gold industry was at the Homestake Mcglaughlin's Mine which was commissioned in 1985. This was an acidic pressure oxidation process treating 3000 stpd in three four compartment horizontal autoclaves 14' diameter and 53' long. Since the initiation of autoclaves for the treatment of gold bearing sulphides, there are presently 16 gold autoclaves operating worldwide varying in size up to 18'4"" inside diameter. There are seven autoclaves for the treatment of refractory sulphide gold bearing ores to be commissioned in 1997 and 1998.Autoclave technology has progressed extensively since the mid-eighties. Operational experience has made rapid progress and the result is much smoother and safer autoclave operation. There have been many advances in autoclave technology design. For example, the use of exotic materials for corrosion resistance to reduce down time for maintenance. The instrumentation involved in autoclave operation is very sophisticated which allows for many safety features. The advanced design has allowed for greater availability and as a result operating costs and maintenance costs have decreased. These technological advancements have made autoclave technology more safe and this has resulted in a greater acceptance of this type of operation. Many of the gold autoclave facilities operate up to 9 months continuously without shutdowns. The advancement of autoclave technology has inspired many new applications.Because of the outstanding operation of autoclaves in the gold industry, many other applications for autoclave technology are being considered. The following is a list of autoclave applications:"

Jan 1, 1997

By H. E. Cook

The Ising model for the internal energy of a binary alloy has been used to obtain a general equation for the critical resolved shear stress of partially ordered crystals. The equation expresses the stress in terms of the Warren "alphas " and can be used to estimate the variation in strength with order without the assumption, present in the original formulation of this problem in terms of domain size, that order is complete within each domain and that the domains are of ungorm size and shape. In addition, it is the general equation, according to the Ising model, for strengthening by short-range order. Two applications of the equation are considered: One is an estimate of the variation in strength of CkAu with long-range order. The other is an estimate of the variation in strength of FeCo with quench temperature. Reasonable agreement is found with the variations reported in the literature. When the internal energy of an alloy crystal depends upon the distribution of solute, the strength of the crystal will also depend upon it because a portion of the applied stress for plastic deformation will be: where V is the volume of the crystal and E(E) is the energy change associated with the solute redistribution caused by the plastic strain, E. We expect T to equal zero for a crystal having a random arrangement of solute because the arrangement would remain random after plastic deformation. Likewise, we expect it to equal zero when the crystal is perfectly ordered because the motion of paired dislocations found in such crystals does not disrupt order. However, when short-range order exists or when long-range order is incomplete, plastic deformation will decrease the amount of order and additional work, proportional to the ordering energy, will be expended. Fisher' estimated T for crystals having short-range order by assuming an interaction energy between neighboring atoms and estimating the change in the number of unlike neighbors as a dislocation moved through the crystal. (His analysis was limited and several workers2"6 have since given more complete ones.) Fisher minimized the importance of a strengthening mechanism of this type for paired dislocations in a structure having long-range order. ~ottrell,' however, pointed out that T could be appreciable for ordered crystals having antiphase domains. He attributed the strengthening to the increase in surface energy of the domains as they were cut by paired dislocations. Ardley,' in his test of Cottrell's theory, found that r for Cu3Au crystals obeyed the equation: for 1 > t where 1 is the domain size, t is the domain wall thickness, and y is the surface energy of an antiphase boundary. His experiments represent the classic confirmation of the strengthening mechanism proposed by Cottrell. However, the assumptions involved in using Cottrell's theory are valid only for large domain size in CU~AU,~"~ i.e., when Eq. [2] reduces to: For small domains, ~linn~ has questioned Ardley's assumption that order was complete, and, indeed, Stoloff and ~avies" fpnd it incomplete until a size of approximately lOOA was reached. Even when the order within a domain is complete, it is not obvious how one determines the appropriate value for I in a structure where domains vary in size and are irregularly shaped. The purpose of this paper is to estimate T without restrictions upon the degree of order and domain shape. Our major assumption will be the use of a generalization of the model proposed by Bethe" (the Ising model) for the internal energy. This will in fact allow us to combine the theories for strengthening by short-range order and by antiphase domains into a single, general formalism. We will use the results to estimate the variation in strength of Cu3Au crystals with long-range order8 and the variation in flow stress of FeCo crystals with quench temperature.12'13 INTERNAL ENERGY For simplicity, we restrict our considerations to those binary solid solutions which can be described as an arrangement of atoms on a Bravais lattice. An atom site will be indexed by three numbers (PI, pz, p3) determined by the vector: from the origin fixed at atom (0, 0, 0) to the atom site where a', an, and a, are the lattice translation vectors. We write: For the energy of the crystal where pi(p) is the probability (either zero or one) of finding an atom of type i (i = 1, 2) at site (p), which is shorthand for (pl, pz, p3) and pj(p + r) is that for an atom of type j (j = 1, 2) at the site (p + r), which is shorthand for (pl + rl, The coupling parameter, resents the energy associated with the pair Pi(p), Pj(p + r). The crystal is assumed large enough so that surface effects can be neglected; therefore, trans-lational and inversion symmetry require the coupling parameters to obey the relations

Jan 1, 1969

By L. L. Handy

Solvent floods using slugs of solvent have been found to show continuity in behavior from the vapor pressure of the solvent to the critical pressure for the two-component driving gas-solvent system. In the pressure region between the solvent vapor pressure and the critical pressure for the gas-solvent system, the gar and solvent are only partially miscible. Although complete miscibility cannot be obtained at these pressures, complete oil recovery is possible in principle. In two-phase solvent floods the solvent is propagated tllrough the reservoir, primarily, in the vapor phase. The carrier gas requirements constitute a significant factor in the economics of the process. A qualitative theory is proposed for estimating the amount of dry gas required to move the solvent through the reservoir. The theory shows that for two-phase solvent floods the total gas needed is a minimum at the vapor pressure of the solvent and at the critical pressure for the gas-solvent system, and is a maximum at some intermediate pressure. The predictions of the theory are supported by experimental studies using methane, butane and decane or methane, propane and decane in a natural sandstone core. INTRODUCTION Previously, solvent slug processes have been found effective for oil recovery in two pressure ranges. First, conventional miscible displacements are possible at pressures greater than the critical pressure for the gas-solvent system. Second, Jenks, et al,' have shown that, at pressures slightly in excess of the vapor pressure of the solvent, a solvent slug can be propagated through a reservoir by a gas essentially insoluble in the liquid solvent. The solvent bank displaces the oil ahead of it. Both of these processes, at least ideally, are capable of recovering all of the oil in the swept regions. Slug processes for which the gas and solvent are partially miscible have not been considered; that is, those systems for which the solvent and driving gas form two equilibrium phases in which the vapor phase contains a significant amount of solvent and the liquid phase an appreciable amount of the driving gas. Welge and Johnson' have shown that the gas needed to movc a solvent slug through the reservoir increases with increasing pressure above the vapor pressure of the solvent. It will be shown that solvent slug processes can, theoretically, recover all of the oil at any pressure greater than the vapor pressure of the solvent. But the amount of gas required to move the solvent through the reservoir depends very much on the pressure and temperature. In the present study a maximum in the gas requirements was both predicted theoretically and observed experimentally. This result has not been reported previously, and would not have been predicted from the Welge and Johnson model. The gas requirements are a minimum at the pressures corresponding to the vapor pressure of the solvent and again at the critical pressure for the gas-solvent system, and are a maximum at some intermediate pressure. AN APPROXIMATE THEORY FOR TWO-PHASE SOLVENT FLOODING The differences and similarities between conventional solvent floods and two-phase solvent floods are best understood by referring to concepts developed for miscible displacement in which miscibility is generated in the reservoir. In Fig. 1(A), a ternary diagram is shown for a hypothetical gas-solvent-oil system. To be rigorous the three components should each consist of a single molecular species. The pressure for Fig. 1(A) is greater than the critical pressure for the binary gas-solvent system at the specified temperature. Diagrams of this type are the ones most frequently referred to in discussions of enriched-gas drive and miscible displacement. A limiting tie line is shown tangent to the two-phase envelope and intersecting the gas-solvent line at Point A. To obtain generated miscibility with this type system, others have shown that, for an oil of Composition D, a mixture of gas and solvent must be injected which is richer in solvent than that composition indicated by A. An oil repeatedly contacted with a gas phase richer than A changes toward a composition which would be at equilibrium with the injected mixture, that is, a composition lying on a tie line which passes through the injected-gas composition. Since no such tie line exists, the oil is enriched to the point at which it becomes directly miscible with the injected mixture. At pressures lower than the critical pressure for the gas-solvent system, other types of phase diagrams are observed. The ones of interest in this paper are for pressures greater than the vapor pressure of the solvent, but less than the critical pressure of the gas-solvent system. Such a ternary diagram is shown on Fig. 1(B). In this case, two-phase behavior is observed not only for gas-oil mixtures, but also for certain compositions in the gas-solvent system. If a gas of Composition A (a dew-point vapor) is injected, once again the original oil is enriched by successive

By J. L. Kenty, J. P. Hirth

The concept of a critical super saturation, below which the nucleation rate is essentially zero and above which it is essentially infinite, is discussed with reference to vapor-solid nucleation. The necessary and sufficient conditions deduced for observations of this type of behavior are: 1) the nucleation rate must exhibit a sharp dependence on super saturation, 2) the growth rate must be sufficiently large that nuclei become observable in the time period of the experiment, and 3) the number of highly preferred nucleation sites must be small. Experiments reveal that the nucleation of silver on sodium chloride is visually detectable at all experimentally accessible super saturations and does not exhibit critical nucleation behavior. Failure to observe a critical super saturation is attributed to the insensitivity of nucleation rate to supersaturation as a consequence of the particular values of the contact angle and the surface free energy for this system. THE concept of a critical supersaturation, below which the nucleation rate is essentially zero and above which it is essentially infinite, arises naturally in homogeneous nucleation theory. Experimentally this type of behavior has been found by Volmer1 and others for water and other low surface tension liquids, as reviewed by several authors.2'3 The same type of behavior has been predicted and observed for heterogeneous nucleation of solids by Yang et al.4 and others,596 as also recently reviewed.2,7,8 In the work reported here on the heterogeneous nucleation of silver on NaC1, however, no critical super-saturation was found. Similar observations have been made recently for other systems.9-11 These results led to a reexamination of nucleation theory which revealed that there are conditions for which critical behavior is not predicted, either for homogeneous or heterogeneous nucleation. Although heterogeneous nucleation is of primary importance in this paper, some insight into critical behavior for such a case can be gained by considering homogeneous nucleation. Accordingly both types of nucleation theory are reviewed briefly. The requisite conditions for critical supersaturation behavior are then considered. The experimental results for the nucleation of silver on NaCl are presented and interpreted in terms of the theoretical presentation. REVIEW OF NUCLEATION THEORY There are essentially two approaches to nucleation theory, the so-called classical theory involving the concepts of bulk thermodynamics, and the statistical mechanical theory in which nuclei are regarded as macromolecules. The classical theory is based on the work of Volmer and Weber12,13 and Becker and. Doring14 and has been extended by Pound et al.15 The crucial assumption in the classical theory is that the small clusters or nuclei can be characterized by the same thermodynamic properties as those of the stable bulk phase. Thus, the nuclei are assumed to have a surface free energy, y, and a volume free energy of formation (relative to the vapor phase), ,, identical to that of the bulk. For deposition under low super-saturation conditions, the nuclei are large and this assumption is satisfactory. However, in many cases of interest, the nuclei contain only a few atoms and this assumption is highly questionable. The statistical mechanical models originated, for the specific case of a dimer as the critical nucleus, with the work of Frenkel16 and were extended later to larger sizes by Walton,17,18 Hirth19 and, more recently, Ht Zinsmeister. These models describe the nucleus in terms of a partition function, the estimation of which is tractable for clusters of 2 to 10 atoms, but extremely difficult for clusters larger than 10 atoms. Although the classical and statistical mechanical models are expected to apply for the limiting cases of large and small nuclei, both are uncertain for intermediate sizes. In this paper we shall treat only the classical model, recognizing that it is exact only for large nucleus sizes and regarding it as a phenom-enological description for small nucleus sizes. When analyses of experimental data using bulk properties show the nucleus size to be small, the resulting parameters should be regarded as largely empirical parameters describing the relative nucleation potency of the system. Considerable justification for the continued use of classical theory is provided by its general success in predicting nucleation behavior as a function of supersaturation and temperature. We emphasize that the qualitative features of the statistical mechanical models, particularly the critical super-saturation behavior that is central to the present work, are the same as those of the classical model. Of course, potential energy terms and surface partition functions replace the volume and surface energy terms of the latter model. The most recent versions of classical nucleation theory have been extensively reviewed.2,3,7 so that only the results are presented here. For homogeneous nucleation of a condensed phase from the vapor phase, the volume free energy change is ?Gv=vrT = =^ln£ [1] where v is the molecular volume of the condensing species. The supersaturation ratio,

Jan 1, 1970

By Lennart Mukka

The Kiruna Mine in Sweden currently has three ventilation systems. The first two (a new and old system) serve the production areas. The third system is used for the facilities on the former main haulage level 775. That area includes offices and workshops for load haul dumpers (LHD) and drill rigs. The third ventilation system also covers the crushing and haulage on level 1045. At the present time, the total airflow for the mine is 1,600 m3/sec(3.4 million cfm). The current system serves the levels above the 775 level. The new one is for the levels between 775 and 1,085 m (2,540 and 3,560 ft), which are needed for the new ore body. When all of the production is below level 775, the old ventilation system will be closed down.

Jan 1, 2002

By S. P. Singh

Drifts are an integral component of underground mining. They provide access for men and material, means for transporting ore and rock and serve as air passageways. In view of their importance on the overall safety, economy and productivity of mines, empirical guidelines for controlled blasting design in drifts have been developed in this study. The application of the proposed concept was described by generating blast hole patterns for a mine with the help of a computer program. The mechanism of blast damage and the need for controlled blasting to alleviate ground control problems in underground mines have been outlined in this paper. The economic analysis between normal-and controlled blasting was performed based on the information from an operating mine. In addition, the review of drift blasting practices and problems in Canadian mines was also carried out in this study.

Jan 1, 1990

By T. C. Davis

Nine organic derivatives of fluorine, silicon, boron, and aluminum were purified for thermodynamic studies using distillation, zone melting, and gas liquid chromatography, The unusual properties of these compounds required the development of special techniques for handling and purification. To determine purities of purified samples, new techniques for analyzing spectral data were developed.

Jan 1, 1965

By R A. M Maddever, P Jeanneau, V Flahaut

Over the entire life cycle of a mine, from early resource evaluation to the blasting of benches, the collection of geochemical data is crucial for the site operator, who must routinely and intensively drill and sample the orebody. This produces huge numbers of physical samples, in turn requiring significant cost and time for their preparation and assay. Moreover, despite best efforts, the sample recovery process is prone to error, which limits the quality of data.The pulsed neutron gamma technique has been used for decades in various industries, in particular oil logging, for its ability to provide direct identification and quantification of elemental concentrations. However, its implementation in logging tools for the mining sector is relatively recent. Built around the latest in technology for optimal spectrometric measurement, a commercial tool referred to as FastGrade™ 100 has been available for a few years and used with increasing success in the mining environment, specifically the iron ore industry, resulting in a reduction in the amount of collected samples. Relying on the physics of neutrons and gamma photons, both of which are particles that penetrate the surrounding bedrock through several tens of centimetres, such spectroscopy tools measure in real-time the composition of a much larger volume than the delimited volume of the drilled material traditionally used for geochemical mapping. Better statistics and reliability of the estimated composition increase the ability to properly and quickly measure drilled holes and allow the substituting of all or part of the sampling and assaying efforts by geochemical log data. Our paper focuses on this technology, known as pulsed fast and thermal neutron analysis (PFTNA). It reviews the main drivers for the design of such a logging tool and discusses how the fundamental characteristics of the technology, in terms of neutrons and gamma interactions, translate into interpretation of the analytical output.CITATION:Jeanneau, P, Flahaut, V and Maddever, R A M, 2017. Iron ore benefits from neutron pulsed geochemical tools, in Proceedings Iron Ore 2017, pp 387–396 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne).

Jul 24, 2017