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By Paul Weir

FOR the first time in 1938, bituminous coal production for the week ending Nov. 19 surpassed that of the corresponding week in 1937, and indexes of industrial activity indicated the possibility that the remaining weeks of 1938 would run ahead of the corresponding weeks of the preceding year. But regardless of this year-end pickup, total production in 1938 was approximately 25 per cent less than in 1937. The estimate of 340 million tons for 1938 places the bituminous industry slightly above the production level of 1933 and approximately 10 per cent above the modem low of 1932. Anthracite production is not subject to the same extent as is bituminous coal to fluctuations arising out of the rate of industrial activity, hence the decline from 1937 has not been so great being approximately 14 per cent under 1937. The estimate for 1938 production is approximately 45 million tons, but this represents the lowest level reached in the last fifty years with the possible exception of several strike years.

Jan 1, 1939

By C. N. Savage

An industrial minerals review involves an attempt to assemble field and statistical data which are obscure, elusive and incomplete. Often, when me statistical data are available, combining or lumping of commodity values conceals the value of specific items. Personal knowledge of the minerals known to occur in the area of concern, combined with whatever available published data may be compiled, together with careful use of several extrapolation methods, may yield an acceptable summary review of the industry. However, it is particularly hazardous to speculate on future trends and economic aspects because of the many unpredictable variables which may affect the industrial minerals business. Among these variables are the effects of diverse geological conditions, the impact of technological changes (including new uses for minerals not formerly considered industrial types), changing socio-economic factors (including growing environmental controversy), use of substitutes and even recycling of some of the industrial minerals (for example, building materials, lime, etc.). My main objectives are to reveal, as accurately as I can, the state of the in¬dustrial minerals situation, and the effects of possible future developments on this industry in Idaho. Where the words...industrial-tyke minerals, .are used in this discussion, reference is made to selected metallic and nonmetallic minerals and related materials, as well as rock (Table I). Industrial minerals known to be present in Idaho may be listed under general use categories as in Table 1. Some of these commodities are being marketed, have been marketed in the past, or occur in potentially marketable quantities. Mineral fuels are neither mentioned, nor are they considered important in Idaho. Based upon our present knowledge and lack of known, economically valuable occurrences of these commodities, they are considered insignificant (Idaho Bur. Mines and Geology, 1964). Information used for this study is from several sources. Most of the statisti¬cal information should be credited to the U.S. Bureau of Mines Minerals Yearbooks,

Jan 1, 1971

By [F. P. ] Stambaugh

Results of research on the hydrothermal precipitation of zirconium oxide from the Bureau of Mines' zirconyl chloride-sulfate strip liquors indicate that nuclear grade material can be prepared by this process. Greater than 99% of the zirconium value can be precipitated at 250-260°C in short (5-10 minutes) reaction time without consumption of acid value of the liquor. Thus, precipitation of zirconium dioxide on a continuous basis, i.e., the zirconium dioxide is precipitated in a continuous mode of operation by pumping the strip liquor through a heated pressurized reactor and recycle of the acidic (spent) liquor to the process stage are favored. The results of accompanying studies of liquod/solid separation, product washing and dewatering, product purity, and chlorination of the product are presented and discussed.

Jan 1, 1980

By R. R. Sayers

That the maintenance of proper air conditions is a most important factor in the control of occupational hazards is shown by the large amount of material presented each year through the technical journal's on the effects on workers of injurious dusts, gases, and variations in temperature and humidity.. SUMMARY OF RECENT LITERATURE ON EFFECTS ON WORKERS OF EXPOSURE TO DUSTS The subject of the control of dust and dust diseases continues to be a matter of serious concern in most of the industrial countries of the world, as indicated by the following summary of reports published in a number of foreign countries as well as in the United States. Australia. The Workmen's Compensation Act of 1920 for New South Wales3 provided for the promulgation of schemes for the compensation of workers dis- abled by silica or other dust. In 1924 the prevalence of silicosis and tuberculosis among Sydney stonemasons, quarrymen, sewer miners and rockchoppers was investigated by a Technical Committee of Inquiry, appointed upon the recommendation of the New South Wales Board of Trade. The findings of this committee were published by the Government in 1925. No scheme was promulgated by the Government and in 1926 the Act was amended limiting its scope to workmen disabled by disease caused by silica-dust. This was promulgated and gazetted on September 16, 1927, and applies to men working in sandstone as stonemasons, quarrymen, rockchoppers, and sewer miners in the County of Cumberland.

Feb 1, 1931

By Ruth F. Brinkley

Principle activities of the Bureau of Mines Explosives Research Laboratory from July 1, 1960 to June 30, 1961 are reviewed briefly in Part 1. Part 1 also includes data obtained in connect ion with several minor investigations which are not sufficient to warrant separate publications. Part 2 gives brief abstracts of publications that appeared during fiscal year 1961; in general, the research reported in these publications antedates this period.

Jan 1, 1963

The first metal-mine accident-prevention course was prepared and published in 1942-45 as a series of seven miners' circulars (Nos. 51-57). The scope of the course has been broadened, revised, and brought up to date, and it is being published as a similar series of seven miners' circulars on accident prevention in metal and nonmetallic mines. These circulars are: 1. Accident Statistics (Miners' Circular 51), dealing with general statistics on accidents and injuries at metal and nonmetallic mines, including causes, costs, and the uses of investigations and reports of all accidents.

Jan 1, 1957

By John J. Laffin

"IN THE BOOK that has been rated the best seller of all time, it is predicted that man will earn his livelihood by the sweat of his brow. Apparently man has accepted the statement as a challenge and has been attempting to refute it ever since, as he continues to transfer the workload to his inanimate servants - the many types of machines and other labour-saving devices that are available to assist or perform for him in the normal tasks of the day. The history of the evolution of the use of energy takes us back to primitive man, who existed in a very low energy environment, the only energy available being his own muscle power. Although man took a great leap forward when he discovered fire, which was used for lighting, heating and cooking, he still depended upon his own muscles for power. Early man's greatest achievement was probably the invention of the wheel, which permitted him to utilize the muscle power of animals. While still in a very primitive state when viewed from the perspective of the twentieth century, man, with fire and the wheel, had achieved a standard of life far exceeding that of his predecessors. Looking beyond the very basic elements of human energy, fire and the muscle power of animals, we find the next additions of energy coming from man's mastery of other elements of nature. The Phoenicians utilized the power of the wind and the Romans adapted the energy of falling water to the water wheel."

Jan 1, 1972

By William R. Barton

Dimension stones, with their almost infinite variety, have a broad range of properties and uses. Natural stone was beyond doubt the first mineral commodity used by man. Today dimension stone has widened to encompass building exteriors and interiors, decorative and ornamental modes, statuary, monuments, paving, curbing, flagging, roofing, and miscellaneous categories such as blackboards, surface plates, and honestones. For many purposes, it competes with greater or less success with alternate materials such as concrete, metal, brick, plastic, or glass. The almost ubiquitous geographic distribution of stone resources is the basis for a dimension stone producer industry in almost every State and in almost every land. In the United States, alone, dimension stone sold or used by quarries is valued at 2 million to 3 million dollars annually. Mining, finishing, transportation, and use technology have been modernized, resulting in a broader spectrum of stone products and new adaptions in use. Increased efficiencies also have been reflected in costs and prices and, coupled with gains that should be realized from current research, auger well for continued vitality of the ancient and honorable dimension stone craft.

Jan 1, 1968

By Roger F. J. Adam

This report summarizes the principles of safely working steep coal seam using longwall mining methods. It presents the state-of-the-art and identifies the problems which result from seam inclination. Details are given on foreign longwall faces achieving good records of safety and productivity when mining on 30 degree and 50 degree inclined seams. Recommendations for further research are suggested.

Jan 1, 1981

By J. Keith Seidler, David R. Lentz, Douglas C. Hall, Nicholas Susak

Abstract - The Ta-Nb-Zr-REE-rich McKeel Lake alkali granite pegmatite-aplite dike swarm is hosted within the late Silurian multiphase alkali granite intrusion (Welsford) near Browns Flats in southwestern New Brunswick. A steep easterly dipping series of pegmatite-aplite dikes trending 170º can be traced 150 m along strike; they are up to 40 cm wide, closely spaced (10-20 cm apart), and interconnected by narrow branching dikelets that generally trend perpendicular to the overall strike direction. The Welsford intrusion has mantle A-type affinities characterized by enrichment of Zr, Ta, Nb, Th, and rare earth elements (REE). Two separate sets of dikes have been identified: (1) an unmineralized fine-grained porphyry, which occurs at depth and seems to be the youngest intrusive phase; and (2) a mineralized pegmatite-aplite dike swarm (419 ± 20 Ma) that crops out at surface. The mineralized pegmatite-aplite dikes likely represent a late magmatic, highly fractionated phase of the Welsford intrusion. XRF and INAA data indicate that the Welsford intrusions and related pegmatite-aplite dikes show elevated levels of Ta (74-220 ppm), Nb (750-3,040 ppm), Zr (1,450-36,000 ppm), Y (540-3,070 ppm), Th (170-870 ppm), U (60-250 ppm), Ce (430-1,950 ppm) and Yb (110-290 ppm). Electron microprobe analysis of two samples identified Ta-Nb- and REE-rich phases: euxenite, fergusonite, aeschynite, (Y)-aeschynite, and a REE carbonate.

Jan 1, 2005

By J. MURRAY RIDDLELL

AN increase of 18 per cent in the production and consumption of all metals last year was readily met by the mines, but more than an average amount of development work was made necessary. Mining methods were improved appreciably; open-pit operations ad¬vanced more than underground practice: and the transportation phase of mining progressed to a greater extent than the other related functions. A new belt-conveyor system of mining was placed in operation at the Spruce open-pit iron ore mine at Eveleth, Minn. The gathering portion of the belt system was installed beneath the surface of the open pit, following closely the bottom rock, in especially provided drifts; beyond it inclined upward to the surface and finally discharged into a 500-ton shipping pocket. Length of the belt was 4500 ft. net vertical lift 386 ft. and capacity 750 long tons per hour. The mined ore found its way to the belt through one of three vertical raises, whose horizontal section was 10 by 10 ft. Each raise was equipped with a grizzly, crusher, pan-type feeder, and auxiliary equipment. Transportation of the ore from the working faces of the pit was accomplished as follows: (1) Two raises were equipped with tower and anchor stations, 3-cu.yd. drag scrapers, and related power units; (2) the remaining raise was provided with electrically driven power shovels and 20-ton trucks mounted on pneumatic tires. This installation has entirely replaced railway pit haulage and partly eliminated power shovels. In a similar

Jan 1, 1938

By Henry Wurtz

HERACLITUS, a sage of antiquity, called the dark philosopher, who refused a throne, preferring a hermit's cell, propounded, twenty-four centuries since, the maxim : [ ] War (or strife) engenders all things. This, though probably intended by Heraclitus to apply especially to the internal forces of nature, is often said, with equal reason, of the affairs of men. Controversial strife, whether fortunately or unfortunately, is a crucible through which all new discoveries in science, and all technical applications of science must pass-a test which they must all endure before they can become so vitalized as to germinate, so to speak, take root in the human mind, grow tip, and overspread the earth. The greater the number and the power of the elements arrayed against such a growth, and of the influences hostile thereto, the greater should be the inherent vitality of the germ, the more strenuous, skilful, and persistent its cultivators and upholders. During the decade last past we have had, in spite of the severe stringency of the times, an active growth of this kind in progress, whose prospective importance it would now be difficult to overrate. This is the movement which has for its motive the idea that, generally speaking, fuel should be gaseous in form, and which has for its goal the introduction into general public use of gaseous products, made by cheap and rapid processes and on a gigantic scale, distributed throughout our cities and towns in distribution-systems which shall be proportionately gigantic, and sold at prices which will bring such fuel within the means of the poorest householders. Personally, for ten years past, the writer has never failed, on occasions public or private, to urge his belief that the realization of this idea, deemed by him a certainty of the future, will bring about

Jan 1, 1880

By K. Anim, C. Calderon-Arteaga

Located in Mojave, CA, The Soledad Mountain mine is an Open pit Heap-Leach gold Mine, which is operated by Golden Queen Mining Company LLC. under private capital. Open pit mining began in 2015 while full production was reached in 2016. The open pit mine feed a processing plant that can process more than 13K tons per day of ore which is sent to a heap leach pad. The Soledad Mountain project is a poly metallic deposit with Au and AG being recovered as payable metals. As the mine became bigger after moving to the east pit phases, Golden Queen was facing new challenges to control the production and accurately determine KPIs to improve/increase the production. To maximize returns and asset value, a new fleet management system (FMS) was adopted and implemented. The new FMS has enabled the mine to interconnect the different stages of the mining, as well as to recognize issues and implement the necessary corrections. With the associated increase in complexity in the process, the requirement of the ore control system to accurately predict ore feed characteristics is critical to maximizing metal recovery. Implementation of new daily and weekly plans were needed to ensure the ore delivery and meeting the tonnage goals, while allowed the equipment operators to better geolocate and to maximize the equipment production. These conditions alongside with Golden Queen’s drive to increase profitability and maximize net asset value has created challenges. These challenges are numerous and multifaceted. However, the ability to accurately route the material from the mine, is critical to site success and some of these challenges have been overcome by the adoption of the new FMS, the implementation of daily and weekly plans and upgrades in the ore control workflow. Examples of how the integration of the new systems allowed golden Queen to improve production strategy, are discussed in this article.

Mar 2, 2022

By Eric R. Bauer

This Bureau of Mines manual is intended to provide a better understanding of ground movement and the technology available for measuring it, The manual deals with convergence, strata separation, lateral roof movement, stress, and support load in underground mines. The instruments that measure these ground control parameters are described in detail. Step-by-step procedures for selecting the appropriate instrument are presented, which consider such factors as approximate cost, installation procedures, data collection, and data interpretation; and an instrument selection worksheet is provided to facilitate the instrument selection process. Actual instrument case studies and a list of instrument suppliers are presented in the appendixes.

Jan 1, 1985

By I. Gombköto

To sustain the growth of industrial production necessitates the increasing of the amount of processed mined raw and secondary materials. As a side effect of raw material production, the amount of tailings material, - coming from mineral processing operations ? increases as well. Using wet technology, these tailing materials are generally transported and stored with the water used for previous operations. This habit could lead to dangerous situations. Enough to remember the disasters had happened to the last decade, safe tailings operations need to remove as much water from the solid as possible. Environmental, technical and economical needs should meet, therefore using a technology combining these specific needs could be necessary. Paste technology was introduced generally into tailings operations at the last ten years, as an answer to the call of the above mentioned challenges, however there are still many questions to answer within the frame of using it. The Institute of Raw Materials Processing and Environmental Process Engineering of the University of Miskolc has been dealing with mechanical process engineering, especially by the support of the EU project TAILSAFE Contract nº EVG1-CT-2002-0066 and the NKFP 3A/068/2004 Hungarian fund extensive research has been carried out about paste technology. Different test methods and materials were applied. Tested tailings materials were as follows: different fly ashes from coal power plants from Pécs ? Hungary, Gyöngyös ? Hungary, Neyvil ? India, different Croatian ashes, hazardous waste incineration plant ashes from Dorog ? Hungary, different kind of sands from Hungary, fine glass sand from Fehérvárcsúrgó ? Hungary, flotation ore processing tailing from Gyöngyösoroszi ? Hungary. Different additives, as gypsum, bentonite and cement were tested as well. The applied test methods were as follows: physical material testing (laser sizer, piknometer, different microscopes), X-ray diffraction analysis, settling columns, the three measuring pipes tube viscometer (16~27 mm pipe diameter), a hydraulic test loop with different pumps (40~53 mm pipe diameter, 0.2~4 m/s average slurry velocity range, 0%~52 % volumetric concentration range), rotational viscometer, Cassagrande yield locus tester and the slump cone test. This paper summarizes and systematizes the results of the aforementioned research as well as reports about the developed paste pipe transport design method based on the fine suspension ? coarse mixture model. The paper also reports about a systematic experimental series with different materials to establish criteria when high concentration suspensions behave like paste.

Jan 1, 2014

By Yushuai Xian, Youjun Tao, Fangyuan Ma

This study compared particle size distribution and density distribution of crushed products for waste printed circuit boards (WPCBs) before and after heat treatment. The crushing process for heat-treated WPCBs is a selective crushing process; more metal is concentrated in the coarse particle range of 1.0–0.5 mm and high density range of 2.8–2.96 g/cm3. WPCBs were separated using the Falcon separator to recycle useful metals. The Box-Behnken module of Design-Expert was used to obtain optimal separation parameters, namely, rotational frequency of 25 Hz, recoil water pressure of 0.025 Mpa and feed speed of 34 ml/s. On this basis, the separation indexes for WPCBs with and without heat treatment were compared. Experimental results show that the recovery effect is better for heat-treatedWPCBs than for thosewithout heat treatment. Comparedwith the non-heattreatedWPCBs, the product grade of heat-treated WPCBs is 1.95% higher, and its recovery is improved by about 14%. Finally, characteristics ofWPCBs before and after heat treatment were analyzed on the basis of stress experiments and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), respectively. Results of mechanical characterization indicate that the stress experiment for non-heat-treated WPCBs has a maximumpressure load of 212 N and displacement of 20mm, but heat-treatedWPCBs only need 140 N stress and 14 mm displacement. SEM shows that copper foil and fiberglass cloth are deformed in different directions and sizes after heat treatment to form gaps, which promote liberation of copper foil and fiberglass cloth.

Sep 10, 2020

By Georges Croisé, Les-Lee Thompson, Adrien Debergé

Membrane filtration systems have regained focus in recent years as an effective means of liquid-liquid separation to increase the concentration of valuable elements, recover reagents or remove impurities. ORANO Mining (formerly AREVA) investigated this cost optimization process opportunity as early as 2011 for implementation at the Trekkopje project (Namibia). The key focus was to separate and recycle bicarbonate from the uranium bearing eluate solution. The performance targets were successfully achieved at lab- and pilot scale with an ultrafiltration and nano-filtration configuration system. Early 2015, ORANO Mining further launched an investigation into the use of membranes for acid recycling at the KATCO In Situ recovery mine in Kazakhstan based on the favorable results from the original bicarbonate application. KATCO is the world leader in ISR uranium mining with an eluate processing capacity of 80 000 m3/yr. This site consists of two processing plants namely, Muyumkum and Tortkuduk, located 40 kilometers apart, both operating under acidic conditions whereas precipitation and packaging are based in Tortkuduk only. This paper serves to present the results from the integration of a nano-filtration system at the Muyumkum satellite processing plant. The project consisted of screening laboratory bench studies conducted at ORANO-CIME followed by process validation at KATCO through further bench and pilot test work. The feasibility study assessments were successfully concluded which led to the implementation at an industrial scale in Muyumkum of a nano-filtration process to reduce eluate volumes being sent to the uranium precipitation section whilst achieving effective separation of uranium from sulfuric acid. Nano-filtration technology has drawn significant attention due to the efficiency and reproducibility of the process and its moderate capital cost relative to operational savings. The reliability of the previous results is a great opportunity to reduce operative expenditures within ORANO’s next ISR mining project in Mongolia.

Jan 1, 2020

By P. Worley

Installation of UP& Is monitoring system was planned to be completed in three stages: Environmental Monitoring, ConveyorBelt Interface, and Power Distribution Interface. With Phases 1 and 2 completed and Phase 3 initiated, massive amounts of valuable information have been obtained. From this information, many benefits where recognized and the decision was made to expand the system. This provided monitoring and control capabilities in a variety of new applications from ventilation fan and pump interface to innovative installations such as ground control monitoring. All current uses as well as future plans for expansion and data manipulation will be discussed.

Jan 1, 1990

By Arthur M. Miller

FROM the time of its establishment in 1933, the Tennessee Valley Authority has been active in the field of phosphates. Under the T.V.A. Act it has a broad Congressional mandate to guide a unified development of the resources of the region for the long-range benefit of the people. As one phase of this function, it is directed to co-operate with farmers in the experimental large-scale use of improved fertilizers and development of better fertilizer practices. Following careful study, it was concluded that the objectives of this phase could best be attained by soil rebuilding through the use of phosphatic fertilizer and lime in an improved farm management sys- tem. This activity was launched through a program of test and demonstration on farms and simultaneous technical investigations to develop new and improved phosphatic fertilizers. Phosphorus has since become a keystone of the Authority's resource development and conservation program. Human effort is being conserved by phosphate utilization on the farm, and mineral conservation has been promoted by technical developments in phosphate mining and manufacturing operations.

Jan 1, 1944

MR. McKEEVER: I think we had to start some- where. The proceeds of the beltbuckles and hard hat stickers will certainly be a beginning in a scholarship for some of our young people. And maybe, you know we might even get one of them sometime to go to the University of Oklahoma. A few years ago the luncheon speaker for tomorrow, Brooks Mitchell, got a few of the mine presidents together and we spent a full five hours of just dedicated listening to Carl Terzian. We listened basically on three subjects: how to work with the media, how to work with image, and how to identify with our political systems and those who are in them. I remember that as one of the turning points in my perspective on how our system really works. This gentleman who will be addressing you today, Mr. Terzian, will be conducting about a three-hour session tomorrow. And it's a shame that our other activities will not allow some of the golfers to probably be there. Those of you who can come to the session tomorrow morning will find it most rewarding. A little bit later on we will also have a panel session. And I see all of the panelists are here except for Bob Golten, but I understand that he is registered. We should have a full afternoon session with Charlie and his panel. When we started working on this, we naturally went back to Carl Terzian to give us some guidance. If there is anything wrong with your session, it's my fault because he knows how these should be done and he guided us along the way. One thing that I am sorry, it wasn't his fault necessarily, is that Harry Reasoner will not be with us for lunch tomorrow. Brooks Mitchell is going to make all of the PR he can out of the fact that Harry got scratched and he got in place for him. Brooks gave me one comment along that line. He said, "Do you know what you get when you cross a gorilla with a computer"? Of course I bit on that. He said. "Well, you get a Harry Reasoner." A little over a month ago I was invited out to California to Woodbury University at Carl Terzian's insistence. I happened to be sitting by one of his vice presidents. It was a formal affair. We had to wear tuxedos and everything and Mr.Green was sitting there and he said, "You know," he didn't know who I was at that time, but he said, "You know Carl really didn't want this formal affair. Said he had a couple of friends coming from the coal mining industry and they wouldn't know what to do with tuxedos." So with that Carl, we will start this little session and it's your mike. MR. TERZIAN: Thank you very much Ira. Let me begin by expressing my appreciation to the men and women of the Institute for allowing me to be here. I'm deeply concerned about my reputation, my image and don't want you to get the inference that I am responsible for Ira McKeever's image. Nobody could be responsible for that! But it is a great case in point that we all should be concerned about our images. I guess tomorrow morning from about 8:30. a.m. to about 11:30 a.m. we are going to do a? hopefully, a productive and very pleasant expertence for all of us in this growing field and great interest that people have in the area of image. I happen to be from Los Angeles. I have a national firm which has handled about 600 corporations', over the years through the areas of public relations,' community, civic involvement all built around a strengthening and safe guarding our precious, free enterprise system. And the message that I hope to give you, as you will be eating your lunch today, is really not so much about the image of individuals but as the attitudes built on what Bill Banowsky

Jan 1, 1982