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By G. E. d’Aquin

Sources of sulfur have varied based on technology and societal needs. It has been mined in its elemental form for centuries. Twentieth century technology brought thermal mining (Frasch, 1894) to the forefront of sulfur extraction. Then, by the 1980s, petroleum processing generated almost 40 percent of the 50 Mt (55million st) of sulfur in all forms (SAF) produced in the world. Metals processing (the reclamation of effluent gas by various means as “sulfur in other forms,” or SOF) followed at 30 percent of all sulfur values produced and then Frasch at 22 percent. Petroleum and gas processing now generate most of the elemental sulfur produced in the world. Single Two Frasch mines remain, one each in Iraq and Poland. Conventional mining of small to insignificant volumes also survives in Russia, Latin America and Indonesia. The volume of “recovered” sulfur (the name commonly given by the industry to hydrocarbon-derived material) generated will increase faster than energy consumption as oil and gas with greater amounts of sulfur are used and environmental restrictions on the sulfur content of the fuel consumed become more stringent.

Jan 1, 2005

By William M. Gleason

The war in Vietnam stretched into another decade, an American President was at the brink of impeachment, the earth was given its own day, twin tower monuments of American ingenuity were completed in New York and would stand high above the Manhattan skyline for 31 years. Inflation, oil shortages, low commodity prices and America’s 200th birthday were part of the decade — it was the 1970s. For the mining industry, the demands of the decade would be high and the challenges would be significant. Because of the many challenges that lined up in front of it, the mining industry was forced to work smarter and more efficiently. The industry also expanded its borders in search of new resources and struggled along with the rest of the world through a fuel crisis, inflation and a recession.

Jan 1, 2007

By J. G. Croeni

The titanium-iridium alloy system was investigated to determine whether alloys of this system would merit further development as control-rod material for nuclear reactors. A study was made to determine the titanium-iridium phase diagram by using melting-point, thermal analyses, X-ray diffraction, dilatometric, electrical resistivity, and metallographic techniques. The titanium-iridium alloy system was investigated between 500° and 2,400° C. Results indicate the formation of two intermetallic compounds, Ti3Ir rind TiIr3, and one intermediate solid solution centered about the 50 atomic percent iridium composition. A eutectic reaction occurs at 1,475° C, and 19 atomic percent iridium. The Ti3Ir decomposes peritectically at 1,520° C. The intermediate solid solution exhibits a maxima of 2,140° C. at 50 atomic percent iridium. This phase is also believed to undergo an order-disorder transformation at 1,750° C. Another eutectic reaction takes place at 2,000" C. and 60 atomic percent iridium. The compound TiIr3 formed at 75 atomic percent iridium decomposes peritectically at 2,115° C. Further increases in iridium content result in the formation of an iridium-rich terminal solid solution. Information obtained below 900° C. in titanium-rich alloys indicates that iridium acts as a beta stabilizer in titanium, and the authors believe that a eutectoid decomposition of beta-titanium occurs near 500° C. and 10 atomic percent iridium.

Jan 1, 1962

By Donald E. Scheck, Syed F. Abbas

Public domain ventilation simulation programs have been well accepted by the mining engineers, but preparing the input and interpreting the results are labor intensive tasks. High performance personal computers and versatile CAD packages provide the means to quickly create the network and display the results. The enhanced simulators work from computerized as-mined map, the projected mine layout and timing maps. Using on screen displays of these maps and the snap-on feature of AutoCAD, the planner designates nodes in the ventilation network, connects them into branches and selects the branch characteristics from a side bar menu. The color coded ventilation network appears with the parameters shown along each branch. The software then calculates the length of airways and computes the branch resistances where needed and converts the input into the required format and passes the data to the Pennsylvania State University or U.S. Bureau of Mines ventilation programs. Output is available in graphical as well as report format. The color coded graphs include pressures at the nodes and flow quantities on the branches. Since the networks come from the mine maps, the ventilation displays are to scale and can be plotted separately or superimposed on the mine maps.

Jan 1, 1991

By AIME

BILL BREWSTER was a natural for the steel business. His family lived at Iron Mountain, Mich., when Bill was born on June 14, 1889, so that he had iron in his blood. Always he has looked toward the finished product, rather than the raw material, so that it was a fore-gone conclusion that he should work toward the steel end of the business. After preparing for college at Hotch-kiss Academy he entered the Sheffield Scientific School of Yale University from which he graduated in 1910 with the degree of Bachelor of Philosophy. No reunion of his class would be complete without Bill Brewster. Unlike many of us who try several jobs before settling down, Bill shot straight for the mark. After a summer's work at Iron Mountain, making sure of his background in the production of the raw iron ore, he entered the employ of Wisconsin Steel Works of the International Harvester Co. in September 1910 and has been there ever since. It wasn't much of a job to start with, just a laborer in the billet dock department, but soon there was an opening in the blast-furnace department, where he started as superintendent's clerk in December 1910.

Jan 1, 1946

By R. M. Brick

The etched mierostructures of cold-worked alpha brasses, after reductions in excess of about 20 per cent, exhibit dark lines or markings, which have been termed "deformation bands," "etch bands," and "strain markings." The terms will be used synonymously in this report. The markings are similar in their general appearance to etch figures found in cold-worked iron, aluminum and other cubic metals but in certain respects may differ noticeably. At reductions of from about 20 to 50 per cent in brass, they appear as straight dark lines of irregular spacing and at random directions in different grains, but apparently intimately associated with definite crystallographic planes, usually {ill), in each crystal. At higher reductions, the markings on the rolling plane tend to appear in a direction transverse to the rolling direction in all crystals but may bend away at considerable angles, particularly near grain boundaries. Samans,1 on the basis of X-ray and micrographic studies of two single crystals of brass, rolled to a 50 per cent reduction, showed that the lines of deformation were the edges of thin mechanical twins parallel to octahedral planes. Barrett and Levenson2-4 have made comprehensive studies of the deformation of iron and of aluminum. They show that in these two metals the deformation markings originate by division of the original homogeneous crystal into banded areas differing in orientation by an amount that increases with the degree of deformation. The markings thus cannot be twin bands, and Barrett, in a review of this subject,2 attributed Samans' results on brass to an accidental choice of deformation that left the bands in approximately a twinned relationship. On the other hand, Mathewson6 has suggested that in some cases mechanical twinning offers a better rationalization of the coverage of some (111) pole figures of worked brass than the assumption of band rotation into symmetry positions. Considering next a deformed and annealed alpha brass, the most striking aspect of its microstructure is the multiplicity of twin bands.

Jan 1, 1940

By R. M. Brick

The etched mierostructures of cold-worked alpha brasses, after reductions in excess of about 20 per cent, exhibit dark lines or markings, which have been termed "deformation bands," "etch bands," and "strain markings." The terms will be used synonymously in this report. The markings are similar in their general appearance to etch figures found in cold-worked iron, aluminum and other cubic metals but in certain respects may differ noticeably. At reductions of from about 20 to 50 per cent in brass, they appear as straight dark lines of irregular spacing and at random directions in different grains, but apparently intimately associated with definite crystallographic planes, usually {ill), in each crystal. At higher reductions, the markings on the rolling plane tend to appear in a direction transverse to the rolling direction in all crystals but may bend away at considerable angles, particularly near grain boundaries. Samans,1 on the basis of X-ray and micrographic studies of two single crystals of brass, rolled to a 50 per cent reduction, showed that the lines of deformation were the edges of thin mechanical twins parallel to octahedral planes. Barrett and Levenson2-4 have made comprehensive studies of the deformation of iron and of aluminum. They show that in these two metals the deformation markings originate by division of the original homogeneous crystal into banded areas differing in orientation by an amount that increases with the degree of deformation. The markings thus cannot be twin bands, and Barrett, in a review of this subject,2 attributed Samans' results on brass to an accidental choice of deformation that left the bands in approximately a twinned relationship. On the other hand, Mathewson6 has suggested that in some cases mechanical twinning offers a better rationalization of the coverage of some (111) pole figures of worked brass than the assumption of band rotation into symmetry positions. Considering next a deformed and annealed alpha brass, the most striking aspect of its microstructure is the multiplicity of twin bands.

Jan 1, 1940

By R. M. Brick

THE etched microstructures of cold-worked alpha brasses, after reduc-tions in excess of about 20 per cent, exhibit dark lines or markings, which have been termed "deformation bands," "etch bands," and "strain markings." The terms will be used synonomously in this report. The markings are similar in their general appearance to etch figures found in cold-worked iron, aluminum and other cubic metals but in certain respects may differ noticeably. At reductions of from about 20 to 50 per cent in brass, they appear as straight dark lines of irregular spacing and at random directions in different grains, but apparently intimately associated with definite crystallographic planes, usually {111}, in each crystal. At higher reductions, the markings on the rolling plane tend to appear in a direction transverse to the rolling direction in all crystals but may bend away at considerable angles, particularly near grain boundaries. Samans,1 on the basis of X-ray and micrographic studies of two single crystals of brass, rolled to a 50 per cent reduction, showed that the lines of deformation were the edges of thin mechanical twins parallel to octahedral planes. Barrett and Levenson2-4 have made comprehensive studies of the deformation of iron and of aluminum. They show that in these two metals the deformation markings originate by division of the original homogeneous crystal into banded areas differing in orientation by an amount that increases with the degree of deformation. The markings thus cannot be twin bands, and Barrett, in a review of this subject,2 attributed Samans' results on brass to an accidental choice of deformation that left the bands in approximately a twinned relationship. On the other hand, Mathewson5 has suggested that in some cases mechanical twinning offers a better rationalization of the coverage of some (111) pole figures of worked brass than the assumption of band rotation into sym-metry positions. Considering next a deformed and annealed alpha brass, the most striking aspect of its microstructure is the multiplicity of twin bands.

Jan 1, 1940

By Changyoon Kim

Technological advances in mobile systems, such as smartphones and tablet computers, provide engineers with new opportunities to enhance the current facility management processes. Equipped with powerful system processors, touch screens, and wireless communication capabilities, mobile systems enable the experience of omnipresence of facility information. Building information modeling (BIM) also enables improvements in facility management. With an advanced data structure and visualization capacity, BIM can be used in numerous applications for facility management. This study aims to incorporate the strength of mobile systems and BIM in facility management. The proposed system, which utilizes smartphone technology, allows engineers to conduct facility management functions, such as maintenance planning, inspection, and assessment, irrespective of a user?s location. The integration of building information modeling in a system provides detailed visual information of the building components. A case study was conducted to verify the applicability of the mobile system in terms of the hardware functions, system design, and user interface. This proposed system, with its study results, provides a guideline as to how mobile systems can be effectively integrated with BIM for improved management of facility information.

Aug 1, 2013

By Robert F. Jenkins, King G. Robertson

This paper presents a practical approach for utilizing a computer model to determine the mass balance for a typical UBC recycling complex - starting with raw materials input, through scrap preparation, delacquering, melting, alloy adjustment and casting. This model is especially concerned with metal unit losses throughout the recycling complex with emphasis on metal losses at the melting furnace. The model also addresses the application of hardener alloys, metallurgical salts, chlorine for demagging, and reagents for acid gas emissions control. Other issues addressed are dross generation, acid gas emissions and dirt and fines to landfill. One benefit of the model is the conversion of annual production objectives to hourly production rates and resource requirements taking into account production schedules, maintenance downtime, and operations inefficiencies.

Jan 1, 2000

By G. S. Hansford, J. W. de Kock, C. D. Levy

Rheological measurements on pulps from South African gold mines by G. s. HANSFORD, Ph.D. (Pennsylvania), M.Sc. (Cape Town), C. D. LEVY, B.Sc. (Eng.), and J. W. DE KOCK, Ph.D. (Cantab.), B.Sc. (A.I.C.) (Visitors) A method is described for the determination of the rheological parameters of a fast-settling slurry with conventional viscometric measuring equipment. The effect of concentration, temperature, and pH on these parameters is investigated. The results agree with those obtained by previous workers using different viscometers, but this method allows a more detailed characterization of all the properties. From a literature survey, two semi-empirical equations were found that allow the effect of concentration, temperature, or pH on the rheological parameters to be correlated.

Jan 3, 1976

By O. G. Rivera, R. D. Moser, P. G. Allison, W. R. Whittington, P. Rivera-Soto, Z. McClelland, D. Francis

This research examined the evolving microstructure of quasi-static and dynamically loaded fully annealed metastable 301 austenitic stainless steel (SS). Experiments were performed to an interrupted strain value of 20% and to failure using a tension Kolsky bar (1000/s) and an electromechanical load frame (0.001/s). Electron Backscatter Diffraction (EBSD) identified the microstructural evolution from the as-received condition to the 20% strain level for the high and low rate interrupted samples. This material achieved over 60% elongation to failure with increasing strength as strain rate increased, as expected. Fractography analysis using SEM showed particles in the microstructure and a ductile failure mode. The 301 SS exhibited a greater amount of phase transformation from parent austenite to -martensite at the dynamic strain rate when compared to the quasi-static strain rate during the interrupted experiments. This result is indicative of the increased propensity for austenite to -martensite phase transformations at the high strain rate.

Jan 1, 2016

By Maureen D. Carmen, Joseph L. Zaluski, Gladys Beck Green

The Federal Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act (SMCRA) requires a surface mine operator to post a performance bond before a mining permit can be issued to that operator. Release of that bond is contingent upon the completion of all required reclamation, restoration, and abatement work on the permit area. This paper explores the requirements of each of the three phases of reclamation under SMCRA, as well as provisions of four exemplar state regulations of four states that have been granted "primacy" under SMCRA. Successful completion of these requirements is a condition pre cedent to the release of performance bond liability. Failure to secure a timely bond release will have an ad verse impact on an operator's other mine permitting activities throughout the United States.

Jan 1, 1991

By Walter Miller

Developments in oil refining were so varied during 1938 that a refiner had to be alert or be left behind. The long-talked-of conversion of oil refining into a true chemical industry using petroleum as a raw material was hastened, particularly in the realm of motor-fuel manufacture, by the increased understanding and use of catalytic processes. The petroleum refiner's vocabulary has been extended to include alkylation, cyclization, aromatization, and isomerization. There are other devel: opments of a similar nature, but these are now considered commercially feasible under proper conditions. New Equipment Less expensive equipment and processes encouraged new construction and replacement. Estimates of money spent in the United States on building new plants and remodeling existing installations during 1938 place the sum at not less than $200,000,000, a noteworthy amount in a year marked by a business recession. The commercial application of small-scale catalytic polymerization of refinery gases made one of the latest advances available to the smaller operators, who usually are faced with unit installation and production costs higher than the large refinery enjoys. Competition was thereby fostered. Outstanding in this respect was the construction of two or more polymerization plants in small refineries at extremely low installation costs, with amortization measured in months instead of years. Houdry Processes Bursting like a bombshell late in the year was the disclosure of the extent of the development of the Houdry processes of catalytic cracking, viscosity breaking, gasoline treatment, desulphurization, and polymerization, said to be applicable to almost any raw petroleum stock and yielding gasoline of exceptionally high octane number. This process is claimed to be particularly adapted to once-through cracking of aliphatic hydrocarbons, and when combined with any of the conventional thermal

Jan 1, 1939

By Walter Miller

Developments in oil refining were so varied during 1938 that a refiner had to be alert or be left behind. The long-talked-of conversion of oil refining into a true chemical industry using petroleum as a raw material was hastened, particularly in the realm of motor-fuel manufacture, by the increased understanding and use of catalytic processes. The petroleum refiner's vocabulary has been extended to include alkylation, cyclization, aromatization, and isomerization. There are other devel: opments of a similar nature, but these are now considered commercially feasible under proper conditions. New Equipment Less expensive equipment and processes encouraged new construction and replacement. Estimates of money spent in the United States on building new plants and remodeling existing installations during 1938 place the sum at not less than $200,000,000, a noteworthy amount in a year marked by a business recession. The commercial application of small-scale catalytic polymerization of refinery gases made one of the latest advances available to the smaller operators, who usually are faced with unit installation and production costs higher than the large refinery enjoys. Competition was thereby fostered. Outstanding in this respect was the construction of two or more polymerization plants in small refineries at extremely low installation costs, with amortization measured in months instead of years. Houdry Processes Bursting like a bombshell late in the year was the disclosure of the extent of the development of the Houdry processes of catalytic cracking, viscosity breaking, gasoline treatment, desulphurization, and polymerization, said to be applicable to almost any raw petroleum stock and yielding gasoline of exceptionally high octane number. This process is claimed to be particularly adapted to once-through cracking of aliphatic hydrocarbons, and when combined with any of the conventional thermal

Jan 1, 1939

By Pierre DePasquale, Ricardo Chavez

Lowering of quarry energy consumption participates to answer both environmental and financial issues. The “EE-Quarry” European project, supported by the European Commission (EE stands for Energy Efficient), develops a new and highly effective modelling and monitoring Energy Management System technique to improve Energy Efficiency and move to a low CO2 emission rate in the nonmetallic mineral industry. Within this global quarry project, blast design, as the first link in the chain, has to be optimized in order to satisfy requirements of downstream operations. The authors have been developing and implementing an operational methodology using continuous field measurements and field adaptation methods for blast design. It drives the drilling and blasting work, aiming at a more energy efficient and environmentally friendly operation. Based upon actual local conditions (rock-mass assessment, face geometry, borehole deviations, etc.), blast patterns are optimized through a specific hole-by-hole blast design software. It provides a better and more consistent energy distribution, to achieve a better rock fragmentation, while avoiding explosive overconsumption. The software also calculates total energy inputs and the drilling and blasting contribution to Greenhouse Effect. Coupled with methodical fieldwork and variable density explosives, it has been leading to a real reduction in energy costs and greenhouse gas emissions. As the project is now reaching its final stage, demonstrations were conducted in various quarries around Europe. Several simulations were carried out and compared to the site data, in order to propose enhancements for the different phases (extraction, loading, hauling, crushing and transport) while bearing in mind the environmental impact of the quarry. This blasting methodology allows to assess the carbon footprint of drilling and blasting in conjunction with the downstream operations, thus to evaluate the global carbon footprint of quarrying. Copyright ©

Jan 1, 2015

By D Thomas

Geochemical data related to AMD for the West Coast and Southland regions have been collated into a relational database and GIS system. The types of information include; rock geochemical data, water chemistry data and aquatic macro-invertebrate abundance data. This information will be combined with eco-toxicology experiments to determine impact thresholds on aquatic ecosystems. Ultimately these datasets will be combined with remediation investigations to produce a Framework to assist decision making related to mine planning, consent and compliance.   Current geochemical research examines the controls on As concentrations downstream of gold mining areas and the variability of AMD from Brunner Coal Measure rocks. Assessment of factors that control the chemistry of Brunner Coal Measure AMD such as mine type, hydrogeology, geology, geochemistry and climate is in progress. Minerals that control the concentration of aluminium downstream of AMD point sources include alunite, jurbanite and various forms of Al(OH)3.

Jan 1, 2005

Under date of Sept. 30, the following open letter was addressed to the Members of the Colorado Section of the American Institute of Min-ing and Metallurgical Engineers by a Colorado Committee: At a meeting of the Colorado Section of the American Institute of Mining and Metallurgical Engineers, held on Friday, Sept. 19, a reso-lution was unanimously passed condemning the Engineers' Licensing Bill passed at the last session of the State Legislature, and requesting the Chairman to appoint a Committee to act in conjunction with the other National Engineering Societies and the Colorado Metal Mining Associa-tion, with a view to securing its repeal at the extra session of the Legis-lature which the Governor has expressed his intention of calling. It may be within your knowledge that the bill in question was passed by the Legislature and signed by the Governor without the knowledge of any of the National Societies, and of few if any of their members. Under its provisions residents of other states cannot even come into this to examine a mine without securing a license, and aliens (among whom are many honored members of, the profession in Colorado) cannot obtain such a license at all. The mining industry in this state needs the coopera-tion of outside engineers, and we should welcome any assistance from them that will tend to develop our resources. To attempt to discourage the activity of visiting engineers will inevitably react on us, and brand the state as being hostile to brains and capital from outside. The difficulty of securing a license will prove a serious handicap to young engineers starting out in the independent practice of their profession. Moreover, a license issued to au engineer qualified in one branch will entitle him to practice in any other: so that the license is apt to mislead the public.

Jan 11, 1919

By Merline W. Van Dyke

The Surface Mining and Reclamation Act of 1977, PL 95-87 (The Act) granted the Office of Surface Mining (OSM) the duty of collecting fees from the active coal mining activities to be used in abating the hazards associated with abandoned coal mines. Since the passage of the Act, OSM has been instrumental in closing a multiple of mine hazards and in full cooperation with the states involved. Complete mine closures range from simply filling a subsidence hole to exodic designs costing thousands of dollars, such as in the case of the Portal Park swimming pool in Colorado Springs, Colorado. The Portal Park olympic sized swimming pool was built over an abandoned coal mine by a group of local citizens and given to the city of Colorado Springs. This pool receives the largest number of users each year. During the past four years, OSM has abated six mine related hazards in and around the pool. During the summer of 1982, the pool started tipping causing the pool waters to run out the west end. This pool tipping and the associated cave-in problems caused great concern to the city and the local users. This citizens concern generated a request from the city for OSM to assist in checking out the pool problems. Early in 1983, OSM initiated a driling program to investigate the subsurface voids. This drilling effort revealed several large voids within a few feet of the pool deck, with all voids inundated with ground water. Therefore, the void filling method favored the hydraulic backfilling needed to be confined to the area under the pool. This confining problem lead to the development of the gravel bulkhead cutoff walls to confine the backfilling effort to the areas under the swimming pool.

Jan 1, 1985

By Charles T. Chislaghi

An economical, remotely operated (automated), temporary roof support (ATRS) has been developed by the Bureau of Mines for use on a single, fixed-head roof-bolting machine (squirmer) that operates in low coal seams (less than 42 in thick). The ATRS eliminates the need for squirmer operators and helpers to go under unsupported roof to set or remove temporary support prior to or during the roof-bolting cycle--a task that annually accounts for approximately 20 pct of all roof fall fatalities. The ATRS can be adapted to any squirmer used in the U.S. low coal fields. A prototype ATRS was field-tested at Imperial Colliery Co.?s Mine No. 20 in Eskdale, W. Va. The Mine No. 20 amended roof- control plan, which requires the use of the Bureau?s ATRS as temporary support during face bolting, has been approved by the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA), U.S. Department of Labor.

Jan 1, 1982