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By E. A. Gulbransen, J. W. Hickman

In a previous paper' the authors have investigated the structure of the oxide films formed on most of the metals that make up the alloys of this study. The metals were studied in order to provide basic information on the structures, both physical and chemical, of the oxide films and to determine how these structures are effected by the temperature, time of oxidation, and surface preparation. It was felt that an understanding of the physical and chemical structure as well as the stability of the oxide film might furnish clues as to the nature of the reaction process and the protective quality of the film. The oxidation of the metals was studied over the temperature range 300' to 7o0°C. except for copper, wherc the range selected was 100' to 500°C. The results of these studies were presented in graphical form as existence diagrams of the oxides on a time-temperature scale. For some of the metals the existence diagrams were simple and showed few chemical transitions, but there were numerous cases where the physical state of the oxide surface was a function of time and temperature. In general the physical state of the oxide surface changed with increasing temperature so as to increase the sharpness of the diffraction patterns and to cause orientation effects to be more pronounced. Deviatiois in lattice Darameters from X-ray values were noted. In general these deviations were of positive nature and may be due to solid solution of the metal in the oxide lattice. This effect might be expected in thin oxide films. In a study of the oxidation of alloys containing two or more metals, there may arise the complicating factor of identification of the oxides formed. A thorough understanding of the oxides formed on the pure metals, therefore, was, essential before investigation of the oxidation of alloys. In this paper it is our purpose to present a study of the following problems: 1. The existence diagrams of various alloys. 2. The effect of the structure of the alloying metal on the existence diagram of iron. 3. The effect of the percentage of chromium on the oxides formed on Fe-Cr alloys. 4. The relationships, if any, between the oxides formed and the protective quality of the oxides. The following alloys are included in this study: alloys of iron with body-centered cubic, face-centered cubic and other metals, 13 Cr-Fe, 18-8 stainless steel, K4²B, Nichrome V, Hipernik, Inconel, Stellite "²I," Refractaloy, Kovar, mild steel, a series of Cr-Fe alloys and a series of Co-Fe alloys. Since many of the commercial alloys in this list contain more than two metals, various complicating factors in the identification of the oxides formed may arise.

Jan 1, 1947

A 2-year moratorium on accreditation of curricula bearing new designations has been declared by Engineers' Council for Professional Development at its Executive Committee meeting on July 29, 1952. Reason: a more definitive description of what the contents of a curriculum should include to be appropriately designated as "engineering" is needed. This action was brought on by the Committee of Evaluation of the American Society of Engineering Education which had become perturbed over the extension of the name "engineering" to numerous fringe curricula. The 2-year period will permit time for the Committee on Evaluation to study the question and make a recommendation for further action by ECPD. ECPD action also provided that the following curricula should only be given provisional accreditation for one year upon either inspection or reinspection; such provisional accreditation to be extended annually for not more than two successive years pending the report: Engineering Physics, Engineering Mechanics, Geological Engineering, Geophysical Engineering, and Textile Engineering. There are 22 such curricula now accredited.

Jan 1, 1952

By M. L. Young

Hindered settling columns are used throughout the minerals industry for both size and density separations. In this study, the performance of a continuous, laboratory-scale hindered-settling column was evaluated for various particle systems. The test variables included solids composition, water rate, and column height column performance was evaluated using partition curves and corresponding performance parameters.

Jan 1, 1999

By Edward Martinez

Laboratory studies had shown that the magnetite contained in serpentine asbestos ore was not uniformly distributed. Ore particles containing chrysotiye fiber responded to a magnetic f field; particles containing little or no chrysotile were essentially non-magnetic. Larger-scale tests, run with a magnetic pulley being fed various asbestos samples ranging in size from 1/4 inch to 5 inches, confirmed that magnetic separation could be used as a concentration step in an asbestos mill. Magnetic concentration was installed at the Black Lake and National mills of Lac d'Amiante du Quebec and has allowed the extraction of lower-grade ore, increasing the life of the mines. In addition, preconcentration early in the flowsheet increased the value of the feed to the fiber recovery section. An increase in fiber production was achieved, as well as a decrease in maintenance costs due to removal of flow-grade tailings early in the flowsheet. Magnetic concentration of a coarse tailings from the mill resulted in recovery of additional fiber previously discarded to tailings.

Jan 1, 1979

By G. P. Conard, E. H. Rennhack

The creep behavior of hot-rolled, hypoeutectic Zn-Ti alloys was investigated in the temperature range from 0.43 to 0.53 TM. Secondary flow was found to originate primarily from strain-induced gvain growth where grain boundary )nigvation served to relieve the strain energy of distortion introduced by slip, grain boundary sliding, and subgvain formation. The extent to which this recovery mechanism operated was determined by the ratio of grain width to the spacing between planar fibers of TiZn,, compound particles generated in these alloys during rolling. When this ratio was unity, creep resistance demonstrated a marked improvement. In this condition, which was fulfilled by annealing following rolling, structural stability was enhanced with decreasing grain size below the equicohesive temperature (-0.5Tm), while the reverse was true above this temperature. TITANIUM concentrations approaching the eutectic composition of 0.23 wt pctl have been shown to promote a significant increase in the creep resistance of rolled zinc,2 The alloying effect created with titanium is somewhat unique; a structure closely resembling that of a fiber-reinforced metal composite can be developed which selectively modifies creep strength in preference to other mechanical properties. In an earlier investigation,~ the present authors found that, while the fiber network, composed of individual TiZn,, compound particles, had a distinct influence on rolled texture, the crystallographic variations produced were of minor importance with respect to creep. Rather, creep resistance seemingly increased when the grain size appeared to coincide with the in-terfiber spacing. The work described here was undertaken to explore this effect in greater detail. EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE Three zinc-base alloys containing 0.05, 0.12, and 0.16 wt pct Ti were prepared from CP zinc and iodide titanium in the form of 4 by 2 by f in. chill-cast ingots. The melting and casting procedures for these alloys have been detailed el~ewhere.~ Individual ingots of each alloy were hot-rolled at 200°C (392°F) to total reductions of 10, 25, 50, 75, and 90 pct in from one to five passes, respectively, employing a 10-min reheat prior to each rolling pass. With grain, tensile-type creep specimens with a 1-in.-long, -in.-wide gage section were machined from the rolled strips for test purposes. Annealing studies to explore the influence of grain size on secondary creep flow were carried out at 400°C (752°F) in argon for times extending up to 60 min. The grain-size effect was evaluated in terms of average grain width and length values statistically derived from lineal intersection measurements.4 A similar method was applied in establishing the average interfiber spacing, i.e., average perpendicular distance between adjacent planar fibers. The creep characteristics of the alloys were investigated by means of constant-load and constant-stress creep tests. The former tests were conducted at 25°C (77°F) under an initial stress of 10,000 psi, while the latter were performed in the range from 25°C (77°F) to 90°C (194°F) at stress levels varying from 8000 to 22,000 psi. Total specimen strain, as determined with Budd HE-1161-B strain gages, was in excess of 0.10. Maintenance of constant stress was achieved through periodic load reductions made at 0.01 strain intervals to compensate for the attendant incremental reduction in specimen cross-sectional area. The maximum indicated error in the applied stress at these strain intervals was less than 3.0 pct. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION Constant-Load Creep. In an effort to clarify the in-terrelation between interfiber spacing and grain size with respect to the creep resistance of the Zn-Ti alloys, their separate effects on secondary creep rate were determined as a function of titanium content and rolling reduction. These results are set forth in Figs. 1 and 2, respectively. The average grain diameter plotted in Fig. 2 was resolved from average grain width and length values. No data are presented for reductions of less than 50 pct because of the inability to obtain consistent measurements on these strips. The curves of Fig. 1 indicated that, for a given titanium content, a decrease in interfiber spacing, as produced with increasing reduction, promoted a decrease in creep rate. Depending on titanium content, however, wide variations in creep rate occurred at the same interfiber spacing suggesting that interfiber spacing, by itself, has little or no influence on creep resistance. Grain size, on the other hand, decreased progressively with both increasing rolling reduction and titanium content, the effect of which led to a pronounced decrease in creep rate, particularly when the average grain diameter became smaller than 3.0 x 10"4 in., Fig. 2. The continuity of this relationship tended to support the view that grain size rather than interfiber spacing was predominant in controlling secondary creep. Annealing Effect. The observed dependence of creep flow on grain size suggested that a further contribution to creep resistance would result when the alloys were annealed to effect a coincidence between grain width and interfiber spacing, see Fig. 3(b). ~eiides creating an immediate barrier to grain boundary movement, annealing offered the possibility of providing increased structural stability by eliminating many high-energy, mobile grain boundaries.= To test this hypothesis, specimens from the Zn-0.16 Ti strips reduced 75 and

Jan 1, 1967

By Darrell Wilder

The Trenton Water Treatment Facility in Trenton, New Jersey, is expanding to upgrade existing facilities and to meet the increasing demands of the public. The facility sits uncomfortably between the northern bank of the Delaware River and Route 29, a busy traffic corridor. Flooding along this bank of the river occurs frequently and disrupts traffic along Route 29. The expansion plans for the facility call for several large clarifying tanks on a mat foundation covering an area of about 100 x 350 ft. The original design was to remove and replace up to 20 ft of existing fill and soft materials. Due to the close proximity to the existing structures and the Delaware River, it would be necessary to use sheet piles and tiebacks to support the proposed excavation, as well as the existing structures. The solution adopted consisted of the installation of vibro-replacement stone columns to improve the in situ soils and eliminate the need for excavation and replacement. This approach was tremendously successful. It mitigated the significant risk of flooding of the excavation, and provided a cost-effective alternative to mitigate settlement of the proposed tanks on the poor soft subgrade soils. This paper presents the details of the criteria for selection and design of the stone columns, and the process followed for installation of the stone columns and for verification of the level of soil improvement achieved. It also includes a back analysis of the results of a large scale, 10- by 10-foot plate load test performed on a group of stone columns using numerical procedures and recommendations for design and construction.

Jan 1, 2008

By Woodcock J. T, Sparrow G. J

Activated carbon particles obtained from a number of Australian CIP operations were examined with an optical and a scanning electron micro- scope and an electron microprobe. External surfaces, and polished sec- tions through individual particles, were examined with special reference to materials on the surface and to calcium and gold distributions. Photographs are presented of surface contamination of the particles by salts precipitated from the pulp such as calcium carbonate (calcite), calcium sulphate (gypsum), and a magnesium salt; ore minerals such as quartz, hematite, pyrite, arsenopyrite, pentlandite, and various alumino- silicates; and other substances such as grinding media and a fungus. Calcite was very abundant but the other materials were less common. Contamination in the interior of carbon particles was almost exclu- sively calcium carbonate, and extensive contamination extended to the centre of some particles. A possible mechanism for the formation of cal- cium carbonate inside the carbon particles is noted. Gold X-ray dot maps of sections through carbon particles indicated that gold was distributed throughout coconut shell carbons and that although gold was more concentrated near the outer surfaces of extruded peat carbon particles, it was also present to depths of at least 500 ¦m. The gold distribution throughout the carbon particles was similar to that rf alrit~

Jan 1, 1988

By J. Fletcher Smoak

Consumption of abrasive materials in the United States increased 22% in value over that of 1982 to $320 million; of which, 59% was manufactured abrasive, 35% was industrial diamond (natural and synthetic), and 6% was natural abrasive. Production value of natural abrasives, excluding industrial diamond, remained virtually unchanged. Production of crude tripol, a porous siliceous rock, decreased slightly; however, shipments of processed tripoli increased 13% in quantity and 32% in value. Production of garnet, an abundant iron-aluminum silicate, continued to increase primarily because of further increases in production from one plant that had completed an expansion program in late 1981. Production of special silica stone, both crude and finished, decreased in 1983 because of reduced demand for oilstones

Jan 1, 1984

By J. Lindbo, B. Vigeholm

IN transmission electron microscopy, specimen thicknesses quoted are frequently based upon either traditionally familiar values or a few evaluations representing the whole material. Taking aluminum in 100 kv TEM as an example, average and maximum values are widely accepted as being 2000 to 2500 and 6000 to 7OOOÅ, respectively. It is the purpose of this note to revise these figures and to point out the importance of evaluating individual specimens carefully. All evaluations have been based upon slip trace widths and lattice orientations as determined from diffraction patterns. In many cases where two or more slip systems have been operating the geometrical method described by Crocker and Bevis1 has been applied as a check. The foils were usually oriented to within 2 deg from the exact Bragg angle. Kikuchi patterns were used as indications of correct orientations but not applied in the evaluations. The tilt of the foil surface relative to the beam normal may with certain geometrical relations between the tilt axis and the operating slip plane lead to substantial errors.2'3 Where these geometries were inevitable the samples were omitted in the investigations. Various measures were taken in order to overcome ambiguities, e.g., comparison with neighboring grains, tilts, evaluations based upon two or three slip systems,' and comparison with extinction contour evaluations where s = 0 conditions were obtained. Errors caused by misinterpretation of the slip traces on a micrograph are easily avoided by considering the bright-dark sequence on opposite surfaces and by taking into account the tapering of the foil usually leading to a distinguishable divergence of the pair of traces. In the investigations described here the interpretation was further facilitated as the slip trace formation was observed on the microscope screen and sketches taken down. In a few observations slipping was so violent that the distinction of pairs was considered dubious and consequently given up. To assess average values, thickness evaluations carried out in two independent investigations were analyzed: I) 99.998 pct A1 extruded, cold-drawn, and recrys-tallized to grain sizes between 35 and 500 um were deformed in tension at room temperature. In order to determine the dislocation densities as a function of strain,4 specimens prepared by spark machining and electropolishing in a PTFE holder were analyzed in the electron microscope at 100 kv. Thicknesses were evaluated for 569 selected areas. Histogram I in Fig. 1 shows the results, the average thickness being 4900Å. II) Electropolished specimens prepared from 99.9999 pct A1 with magnesium contents from 0.005 to 0.5 pct rolled to foil and annealed were subjected to fission fragment irradiationa2 For volumetric dose and defect concentration determinations thickness evaluations were performed on 123 areas. Histogram II in Fig. 1 shows the thicknesses of these areas averaging 4250Å. Whereas in investigation I no selection related to thickness has been made, some thin as well as thick areas have been omitted from I1 for experimental reasons. This and the application of two different microscopes although of the same type may account for the difference in average thickness. Assuming a mean error of 10 pct for a single evaluation, the error of the average should be negligible. In order to investigate the maximum transmissible foil thickness in aluminum, specimens were prepared from single crystals with (111) and (110) orientations parallel to the beam, and from polycrystalline material. Maximum values of thickness that could be measured were given by the stopping of the dislocations. The visibility often extended far beyond the end of the slip trace, but with no means of knowing the

Jan 1, 1970

By Charles L. Kimbell

Bulk carriers, freighters, and tankers are the three classes of marine vessels engaged in transporting mineral commodities. However, vessels in each of these categories are not devoted wholly to mineral commodity transport. Bulk carriers move agricultural products as well as crude minerals and mineral fertilizers, as ore/bulk/oil carriers also do. Freighters, owing to their great variety, can be devoted wholly to hauling mineral products or wholly to moving nonmineral goods, as well as carrying mixed mineral and nonmineral cargoes. They include general cargo carriers, full containerships, partial containerships, roll-on/roll-off ships, and barge carriers. Tankers, although largely engaged in moving crude oil and refinery products, also transport liquid chemicals, molasses, wine, liquefied natural gas, and other fluids. Although physical characteristics of vessels, such as sue, draft, crew requirements, and type of propulsion system, as well as fuel costs, have an undeniable influence on shipping industry performance, problems of and changes in the quantity and quality and types of material moved also significantly affect the shipping sector of the world economy. Unfortunately, comprehensive data in this regard are not available.

Jan 1, 1992

By J. C. Norman

The boron review arrived too late to appear in the June issue. The United States was the world's second largest producer and the largest consumer of boron compounds during 1991. According to the US Bureau of Mines, boron mineral concentrate and chemical production in the US totaled about 1.1 Mt (1.2 million st), yielding about 608 kt (670,000 st) of BO, in 1991. Total estimated value was $440 million. That level of production was equal to 1990 revised production figures. Value was greater by $37 million, however, reflecting a strengthening of boron product prices. The US continued to supply essentially all its own boron while maintaining a strong position as a source to foreign markets of sodium borate products and boric acid. Domestic employment in the mining and beneficiation of boron products in 1991 remained at 1100 people, about the same level as in 1989. The Bureau of Mines estimated total world production of boron in 1991 - mineral concentrate and chemical - at about 2.9 Mt (3.2 million st). That corresponds to about 1.2 Mt (1.3 million st) of BO ,. World production in 1991 was about equal to revised 1990 levels. US production Mines and processing operations in southern California were the only domestic sources of boron mineral concentrates and chemicals in 1991. US producers, in order of quantity of production, were US Borax and Chemical Corp., North American Chemical Co., and American Borate Co.

Jan 1, 1992

W. P. Blake, Shullsburg, Wis.: I desire to express my admiration of Prof. Posepny's memoir, and particularly of the charming manner and spirit of the introduction. With respect to his mention of the ore-deposits of Missouri and Wisconsin, reference may be made to my paper presented at this meeting (Trans., xxii., 621)) showing the existence of dislocations and breaks in the bedding, and their apparent close relation with the localization of the ore-deposits as claimed by Dr. James G. Percival, and also so claimed by Dr. Jenney in his paper before us (Trans., xxii., 171). I have in my paper given reasons for believing that the zinc- and lead-ores in the strata above the compact Trenton limestones were formed by lateral secretion and concentration from above downwards, substantially as shown by Prof. J. D. Whitney, and not by the ascent of solutions through the fissures, as Prof. Posepny (p. 304) seems inclined to believe. In regard to the contemporaneity of the ore and the rocks, and in favor of a later introduction of ore through fault-fissures, Prof. Posepny (p. 310) cites the influence of these fissures. In my paper, already referred to, I have endeavored to show how faults may have influenced the deposition of ore without being themselves channels for the flow of mineral solutions, and how they may have caused the contemporaneous formation of metallic sulphides from sea-water in the body of a forming rock; the faulting fissure being formed at an early period in the foundation rocks, and probably continuing to be a plane of break and movement in the deposits of later formation.

Jan 1, 1894

By G. C. Waterman, W. E. Hawes

Mr. Grieves' paper on "Shaft Sinking Today --A Boring Business Tomorrow" in the Dec. 1981 issue of MINING ENGINEERING is an excellent description of recent improvements in speed and costs of shaft sinking. However, shaft boring techniques are not a recent development. In 1935-36, the Idaho Maryland Co. (gold), Grass Valley, CA, bored the vertical 1.5-m-diam Idaho No. 2 ventilation and supply shaft to a depth of 346 m. The equipment was designed and perfected by Branner Newsome and was, I believe, described in "Transactions." Pickands Mather later bored a 1.8-m-diam shaft to a depth of about 305 m using Newsome's design. The Idaho No. 2 shaft cut through hard gabbro, diabase dikes, soft serpentine, very incompetent ankeritized serpentine and a strong fault zone. The completed shaft did not require timber support; the fault zone was cemented. Equipment consisted of a rotating 1.5-m or 3-m core barrel with a slotted bottom which cut a 76-mm kerf. The cutting agent was chilled steel shot introduced into the slot as needed. The driving mechanism and core barrel were lowered into the shaft, the former secured to the wall and the inshaft "engineer" operated the motors which controlled core barrel rpm and advance. After an advance of 1.5-3 m the equipment was lifted out of the shaft, a half(?) stick of powder cut off the drilled core, and it was hoisted to the surface with a cable attached to an eye bolt at the tope of the core. A "shift" consisted of three men: hoistman, equipment operator (down the shaft), and a surface laborer. Advance was variable as equipment and techniques were perfected. Near the end of the job advance was, as I remember, 1.5-3 m per shift. Costs were, as I recall, about $115/m. Up to 4 m cores were lifted out in one piece and swung to the dump by a stiff leg derrick. The Newsome equipment was relatively inexpensive to build and operate and his method should be (more than?) competetive with the methods described by Grieves.

Jan 1, 1983

By T. S. Bomar, C. J. Wood

Heavy media cyclones (HMCs) are efficient, high-tonnage devices suitable for upgrading run-of-mine coal in the 50 to 0.5 mm size range. Unfortunately, industrial HMC circuits are often not optimized due to problems such as incorrect operating pressures, poor feed distribution, excessive media contamination, mismatched components, and improper density control. To avoid these problems, operating guidelines have been provided in this article that are useful for optimizing the performance of HMC circuits. The validity of these guidelines has been assessed by means of density tracer tests carried out at several coal preparation plants.

Jan 1, 2002

By Caleen E. Kilby

A program of surveying and studying the surficial sediments of northern Juan de Fuca Strait was undertaken between 1988 and 199 1. Detrital sediments were mapped from the intertidal zone down to 100 m depth along the slopes of a series of shallow coastal marine terraces. The sand heavy mineral content was examined over this region and sediment geochemistry and assays were performed on selected samples both offshore and from beaches along the coast. The coastline of southwestern Vancouver Island has numerous streams, with a history of small Au placer extraction, which empty into the strait to the south. Only very minor evidence of this was seen in values from isolated locales. However, one beach presented a remarkably different mineralogy and geochemistry from the remainder of the coastline. From the beach to 800 meters offshore heavy mineral contents were greatly elevated and Ti values were as high as 1.4% of the sand fraction. Minerals were relatively fresh and angular, with mineral percents distinctly different than those found elsewhere along this coastline. No stream of substantial size crosses this largely sandy-gravel beach. A series of studies identified the source of this small marine placer as having its origins n the tailings from a submarine pipe broken short in the next bay. A Cu-Au mine 1.5 km upstream, closed by the mid 1970's, had processed its ore underground and piped the crushed tailings to the submarine discharge pipe. The crushed material has been transported and concentrated with the longshore current and been sorted by strong coastal swells. Ilmenite/titanomagnetite from the homblendized basalt of the mine is the source of the Ti enrichment.

Jan 1, 1994

By Stanley D. Michaelson, Norman Weiss

This was a year of realization. Some years are for planning and development, some for designing and building, others for fulfillment. With greater hopes and plans for the future than ever before, the year 1954, nevertheless, will be remembered principally because of project completion. Among copper mines, for example, there were Silver Bell, Copper Cities, Bisbee, Yerington, and White Pine. In iron, there were the Humboldt, Coleraine, Cerro Bolivar, and Eagle Mountain. In asbestos, Johns-Manville's new mill at Asbestos, Que. In uranium, completion of the ninth mill on the Colorado Plateau-Kerr-McGee's at Shiprock, N. M. In research, 1954 marked the completion of Kennecott's Research Center in Salt Lake City, one of the historic forward strides in the science of minerals beneficiation. The year was fruitful in other directions as well. Investigations of a fundamental nature were on the upswing, and pilot plant projects have also increased in size and number. Progress in new reagents and equipment was greater than normal. It can already be conservatively predicted-from the technological point of view-that 1955 and 1956 will be tremendous years.

Jan 3, 1955

By N. W. Johnson

Two analysis tools which have been applied to problems in industrial Flotation processses are the application of kinetics and detailed mineralogical or liberation data, both on a size-by-size basis. The paper describes practical examples of the application of kinetics to examination of the entrainment recovery mechanism, the retardation of valuable minerals at the commencement of flotation sections and the resolution of problems related to valuable species with reduced rate constants at the end of sections. Examples of the usefulness of size-by-size liberation data for monthly composite samples of products from a concentrator are also described.

Jan 1, 1985

By Charles L. Kimbell

While the statistical summary focuses on 1991 data, this update and outlook section draws on information available to the author as of the date of final preparation in early 1993. For all the press notoriety associated with the shift in the Near East crisis from the defensive posture of Desert Shield to the restoration of Kuwaiti sovereignty through Desert Storm, this was not the dominant event governing global economic thinking in 1991 and the first half and more of 1992. From the global perspective, the momentous political changes in the area that was the U.S.S.R. and in the smaller emerging transitional economy states of Eastern Europe will have even greater current and long-lasting effects on world mineral industry activities than the crisis in the Near East.

Jan 1, 1993

By Fathi Habashi

METALS COMMONLY leached may come from one of the following sources: 1) Occurring in nature in the native state, e.g., gold, silver, platinum metals, copper. 2) Produced as by-product of a metallurgical process, e.g., gold, silver, platinum metals, selenium. 3) Produced by reduction of an oxide ore, e.g., copper, nickel. GOLD AND SILVER Cyanidation According to Mellor (1923) the alchemists of the eighteenth century knew that gold was soluble in aqueous solution of potassium cyanide, and the early jewelers probably utilized this fact in gilding. He also mentions that Scheele in 1783 and later Bagration in 1843 noted the solvent action of aqueous solutions of alkali cyanides on gold. Yet it was not until 1887 that the value of this observation was recognized, when MacArthur and Forrest (1887) made use of it in leaching gold from its ores. Since then, the process has spread to every gold and silver mining district in the world.

Jan 1, 1970

By John Watson

New Technologies, New Challenges and New Opportunities For quite some time now, numerous explosive manufacturers have spent untold man-hours and millions of dollars trying to develop a blast initiation technology that would “once and for all” provide users with what was once believed to be only a theoretical possibility...nominal timing. Zero “cap scatter” (the amount of variation of delay timing from the targeted nominal) has been the industry’s goal ever since delays were first introduced into the marketplace. Just as adding delay time between blast-holes improved blast performance since their introduction, having the wrong delay or a poorly timed blast has proven to be very inefficient and in many cases hazardous. The question of how precise a blast initiation system needs to be still remains unanswered, but electronic detonator systems being used today indicate that significant improvements can be achieved over conventional pyrotechnic detonators. These systems can typically provide single digit millisecond ranges of variability, if not sub-millisecond in some cases.

Jan 1, 2003