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By F. Leclerc, V. Rebeyrolle, M. Revil-Baudard, A. Jardy, M. Založnik, H. Combeau

"Since the quality of Vacuum Arc Remelted ingots is linked to their chemical homogeneity and metallurgical structure, a modeling study of the solidification during VAR has been undertaken. It is based on the solution of the coupled transient heat, momentum and solute transport equations during the remelting of a cylindrical ingot. Solidification mechanisms implemented in the model include a full coupling between energy and solute transport in the mushy zone, and accounting for nucleation and finite diffusion of solutes at the microscopic scale, in both solid and liquid phases. This modeling can be applied to actual multi-component alloys. In this paper, the macrosegregation in Zircaloy 4 ingots is investigated. To validate the model, one single melt of a homogeneous electrode has been specifically performed. The comparison between the predicted macrosegregation and the experimental results shows the importance of accounting for solutal convection to forecast properly the macrosegregation in remelted ingots.IntroductionVacuum Arc Remelting of zirconium alloy ingots is a key step in the manufacturing process of fuel assembly components in nuclear reactors. The control of the chemical homogeneity is indeed fundamental to ensure the quality and the in-reactor performance of the final products. Despite the use of electromagnetic stirring to homogenize the liquid melt composition, chemical heterogeneities develop in the mushy zone during the solidification stage. One of the main challenges for zirconium producers, as well as titanium producers, is to master the VAR process in order to control the macrosegregation in remelted ingots. Macrosegregation results from the association of microsegregation and transport phenomena. The latter are primarily due to the flow in the liquid and mushy parts. It is now well established [1-4] that the hydrodynamics of the melt pool in a VAR ingot depends on the combined action of the followings: thermal and solutal buoyancy, self-induced electromagnetic force and the periodic centrifugal force caused by the angular movement generated by the stirring. However, for zirconium alloy ingots, the effects of thermal and solutal buoyancy forces on macrosegregation through their influence on the flow in the mushy zone have not been clearly identified."

Jan 1, 2012

I.T.H. Drilling has been accepted as a tool used daily for both production and service work in Australian underground mines. For this reason, it is of interest to examine the rigs and drilling equipment in use to do this work, also to review the technique necessary to ensure that this drilling is done efficiently.

Jan 1, 1978

By Eugene A. Mizikar

A mathetnatical model of heal transfer in continuously cast steel slabs is described. The model, consisting of a unidimensional transient conduction equation and boundary condition equations, has been pvogrammed for computer solution. Temperatuve and solidification profiles calculated for a 6-in. slab, being cast under several conditions of secondary cooling, are presented and compared. Calculated solidification profiles are in agreement with reported expevinle~ztal values. For the mold zone, the predicted slab shell thickness can be described by: Resuilts of the study indicate that multibank spray cooling followed by radiant cooling should be employed when solidifying thick slabs with minimum surface temperature of 1600°F. Under these conditions, a 6-in. slab can be expected to solidify in about 8.3 min. Computer results also indicate that radiant cooling can replace spray cooling during solidification of the final 30 pct of slab with little increase in overall solidification time. CONTINUOUS casting has come to the forefront of the steel industry in recent years because of economic advantages resulting from increased yields and elimination of several processing steps. Considerable work, however, remains to be done regarding modifications to the process and operating procedures. Both a lack of operating plants in this country and the experimental difficulties associated with direct measurements on moving castings have made determination of solidification rates and temperature distributions difficult. An alternate approach is to mathematically simulate heat transfer in a continuously cast section, and then calculate the temperature distributions as a function of the controllable variables of the process. Simulation of heat transfer during solidification requires that a nonlinear mathematical problem be solved. As pointed out by Ruddle,' there are two mathematical approaches to the problem- the analytical approach and the numerical approach. While the analytical approach is certainly the more elegant of the two, it does require a number of inexact assumptions because of the complexity of the problem. For example, noteworthy analytical treatments of heat transfer in continuous casting have been developed by Savage Hills,3 and pehlke4 only by making one or more simplifying assumptions such as invariant thermophysical properties, constant heat-transfer coefficients in the mold, and linear temperature profiles in the shell. Simplifying assumptions such as these can introduce considerable uncertainty in the validity of results calculated with analytical solutions. Numerical solutions, which are considerably more versatile, appear to be better suited for solving solidification problems. Complex variations in the boundary conditions and variable thermophysical properties can be handled readily with this technique. Whereas numerical computations can be long and tedious when done by hand, results can now be obtained quite rapidly with the use of either the digital or analog computer. Several numerical models of heat transfer in continuous casting have been published. In 1963, Adenis, Coats, and Ragones published a numerical model used to calculate temperature distributions in direct-chill-cast magnesium billets. More recently, Donaldson and Hess 6 presented results obtained with a numerical computer model of heat transfer in continuously cast steel billets. In the present study, a model of unidimensional heat transfer in continuously cast slabs is presented. The method of solution on a digital computer is also included. Calculated temperature distributions and solidification profiles for various schemes of secondary cooling along with attempts to verify the model are also discussed. MATHEMATICAL MODEL The schematic representation of the slab continuous casting process in Fig. 1 illustrates that the slab passes through three distinct zones of cooling. Accordingly, the mathematical model consists of three parts: 1) solidification in the mold; 2) solidification in the spray cooling zone ; 3) solidification in the radiant cooling zone. Heat-Transfer Equations. The model was developed bymaking a heat balance on a horizontal slice of slab over the time period required for the slice to proceed from the liquid metal meniscus in the mold to the cutoff station. As shown in Fig. 2, the imaginary slice extends from the center line to the surface of the slab. As the slice moves downward, heat is conducted from the center line to the surface of the slab at a rate governed by the surface boundary condition and thermophysical properties of the metal in the slice. The following partial differential equation describes the conduction of heat in a medium moving at velocity U in direction Z:

Jan 1, 1968

By G. Wang, L. R. Moore, Y. Xiong, A. Gorken

"Feldspar may represent 60% of the earth’s crust, but the mineral does not exist in a pure state. It is generally associated with quartz, iron containing minerals such as mica, and titanium containing minerals such as rutile. Feldspar itself can even exist in different lattices from those containing sodium to various divalent ions. As such, its beneficiation has become a process that is quite complicated, when compared to the beneficiation of other minerals. It is this complexity that has made feldspar beneficiation dependent on tailor made reagents to successfully yield the industry specified feldspar products. This paper reviews the mineralogical variations found from two feldspar mines and the development of collectors to specifically target a Fe+Ti concentration of < 0.05%, while maintaining a feldspar recovery greater than 90%.INTRODUCTION Feldspar is a class of aluminum silicates that represents the most abundant mineral on earth (Vidyadhar, 2002). This class of mineral can further be defined by the types or concentrations of cations present in the crystal lattice, MAlSi3O8 (M = K, orthoclase and microcline; M = Na, Albite; M = Ca, Anorthite) (Heyes, 2012). Feldspar is most commonly mined and processed for either the alumina used in glass making or for the alkalis used in ceramics. The alumina is known to improve product hardness, durability, and resistance to chemical corrosion. The alkalis act as flux, which means they not only lower the melting temperature of the mineral mixture, but also assist in connecting the other components present in ceramics. It was stated in 2009 that the world production of feldspar was in excess of 18.3 million tons produced, with the majority coming from China, Italy, and Turkey. Raw feldspar is typically found with quartz, iron containing minerals such as mica, titanium containing minerals such as rutile, and other feldspar minerals (Celik, 2001). Quartz is stated as having a negative effect on the melting point of the feldspar, whilst the iron and titanium based mineral contaminants are known to have negative effects on color and quality of the product produced; these mineral contaminants must therefore be separated prior to application (Barns, 1997 & Celik, 2001). Mineral flotation and magnetic separation are the most common means of feldspar beneficiation. However, conditions vary greatly from mineral contaminant to mineral contaminant (Table 1). Some literature suggests feldspar can be floated with an amine, but this generally yields lower than acceptable recoveries and often still requires the magnetic separation of iron based minerals to achieve the desired grade (Amarante, 1997 & Heyes, 2012). Feldspar flotation can be further improved with the addition of hydrofluoric acid (HF) as a silica depressant and feldspar surface modifier, but this still requires the removal of some of the other minerals first. Rutile can be floated with an anionic fatty acid collector at a pH range of 7-8 or with a petroleum sulfonate at a pH < 4 (Celik, 2001), while mica can be floated with a petroleum sulfonate or an amine collector at a pH of 3.5."

Jan 1, 2016

By Federico Pagliacci

"Many existing dams are subject to underwater seepage due to subsoil conditions, like deep alluvial deposits or pervious rocks or karst. Remedial works are necessary in order to install new cut-off walls to stop the water flow. In some cases the cut-off walls have to be executed at depths never reached so far, and difficult to reach with traditional foundation techniques. In many cases the Hydromill technology proved to be the best system to overpass rocky layers and ensure the required verticality. The maximum depth reached by the industry was in the range of 120-150 meters. This article describes the test performed to excavate and cast in place a 3.2x1.5 m panel to a depth of 250 m. The article will also describe the stratigraphy of the site down to 250 meters, as well as the technique adopted to achieve the said depth with deviations from verticality of 30 cm along the longitudinal axis (0.12%) and 20 cm along the transverse axis (0.10%), measured at the bottom of the excavation. The concreting of the panel, for about 1,100 m³, with plastic concrete in the lower portion and conventional concrete in the upper portion will be illustrated. Finally, the tests performed during the excavation and after concrete casting will be also described, with special attention to the continuous directional core drilling that was performed along the whole length of the panel to verify the results of the deviation from verticality, through the onboard instruments, and to control the quality of concrete at a depth never reached before. IntroductionMany existing dams are subject to underwater seepage due to subsoil conditions, like deep alluvial deposits or caves and cavities or acid solutions in the bedrock formations.Conventional remedial works generally consist in the construction of an additional cut-off wall throughout the dam body and the subsoil, in most cases being deeper than the original one. Today, many examples of successful remedial cut-off walls allow the engineers to design the most suitable solution according to the dam and subsoil characteristics and nature.The real difficulty stems from the depth at which the new cut-off wall has to be socketed in competent rock or soil, so as to eliminate underwater seepage. The maximum depth ever achieved with a cut-off wall is 122.5 m for the remedial work of Mud Mountain Dam, Washington, USA, in 1988-1990. This 0.85-1.0 m thick cut-off wall was realized by means of a Hydromill, by excavating single 2.8 m-wide secant panels."

Jan 1, 2017

"Boston’s Central Artery passes beneath nine active railroad tracks carrying commuter and Amtrak trains into South Station, the City's busiest rail terminal. These railroad operations had to remain in service throughout the construction of the “Big Dig”. The solution was to jack the tunnel under the tracks, rather than build the tunnel by more conventional means.Jacking of utility pipes is fairly common, but jacking boxes as big as a highway had never been done in North America, until the Big Dig came along.Soil freezing was decided upon as a means of stabilizing the soil under the tracks. This allows the tunnels to be jacked into place without soil caving when the soil is excavated at the leading face of the advancing tunnel boxes. Hundreds of pipes were driven into the ground between the tracks. Inside the steel pipes were smaller plastic pipes. A freezing plant near the railroad tracks pumped refrigerated brine into the inner plastic pipes. The brine ran out the bottom of the inner pipe, flowed up to the top inside the outer pipe, and was re-circulated to the freezing plant and back again into the ground. Over several weeks the circulating brine drew the heat out of the soil little by little, and froze the ground outward from the pipes. Soil FreezingThe plan required the construction of jacking pits in which the tunnel boxes could be constructed, and from which they could be jacked forward to their final locations, as described in the accompanying article. Once the jacking pit was built and the tunnel box constructed inside the pit, crews made an opening in the headwall of the pit to allow passage of the tunnel sections, excavated about three feet of the frozen soil, pushed the tunnel box ahead, and repeated the procedure again and again."

Jan 1, 2003

By L. E. Djingheuzian

"ForewordTHE FOLLOWING excerpt is taken from Fine Grinding Investigations at Lake Shore Mines (C.I.M., Trans., Vol. XLIII, 1940, p. 307):""MacCalman, who has carried out exhaustive testing on the accuracy of screen analysis, makes the following statement in his report, The Accuracy of Sieving Tests, Industrial Chemistry (London, England), Vol. XIV, p. 231:"" 'It will be shown that, as no specific relationship between the sieving value and the various dimensional features of the sieve is evident, though there is an apparent tendency for the sieving value to follow the average aperture size, it is apparently impossible to define the sieving value of a screen from dimensions alone, and the calibration of sieves for important tests on a specific material, whereby the sieving values of these sieves are related to that of an arbitrarily chosen master sieve by correction values, will be recommended."" 'It will be emphasized that these correction values are probably not applicable to other materials, or the same material of different size composition. Sieve users, for important tests or in cases of dispute, will be recommended to calibrate their sieves against a mutually acceptable standard with specified conditions of test, and to recalibrate at intervals' ""."

Jan 1, 1953

By Stanley Dempsey

Mine developers commonly undertake projects that require more funds than they can invest themselves. From that point until they are able to complete a "bankable" feasibility study, they require access to venture capital. In the United States, most venture capital has been provided to the small mining segment of the industry through tax advantaged limited partnerships. Recent changes in Federal tax law makes other forms of financing competitive, and the use of corporations and private and public offerings of shares may soon become more popular ways of securing venture capital. A number of new financial services firms have entered the mining finance business in recent years. They provide mine developers with access to venture capital.

Jan 1, 1987

By R. W. Chadwick

Coal was discovered in South Africa in the mid 1830&apos;s. The earliest exploitation of modern times was probably in Natal where, in a letter dated 20 August 1842, a Captain Smith mentions that a wagonload of coal brought to Pietermaritzburg, was sold. Until the discovery of diamonds in 1867 and the Witwatersrand gold in 1886, coal mining satisfied a very small domestic demand. By 1889, at least four collieries were operating in the Middelburg-Witbank district, some 120 kilometres East of Johannesburg, and mining had star- ted at Vereeniging, about 50 kilometres to the South of Johannesburg. A map of South Africa is shown in Figure 1 and an enlargement of the main coal mining areas in Figure 2.

Jan 1, 1982

By Robert B. Francini

Longwall mining and pipelines have coexisted since longwall mining was introduced into the United States. How the pipeline operator reacts to longwall mining under their line depends on many factors. This paper outlines the process the pipeline operator goes through to determine the appropriate response when their pipeline is being undermined. Typical mitigation procedures are reviewed. Finally, the paper looks at current design practices for new pipelines that are expected to be undermined during their lifetime.

Jan 1, 2011

By John C. Robbins

A new technique for the determination of trace levels of uranium in solution has been developed. A compact laser emits short, but intense, ultraviolet pulses to excite the green fluorescence of a uranyl-complex formed by the addition of a proprietary reagent to the sample. Organic species present in most natural waters also fluoresce quite intensely, but their emission does not last appreciably longer than the excitation pulse, in contrast to the relatively long persistence of the uranyl fluorescence . Electronic &apos;gating&apos; is employed to separate the long-lived contribution, rejecting substantially the organic emission. Results using the laser fluorescence method on many sets of natural waters of various origins have been compared against corresponding values generated by independent laboratories. Correlation has been generally good over a range from less than 0.1 to more than 100 ppb U. Solid samples have also been analyzed after extraction of the uranium into solution. Accuracies adequate for most exploration purposes have been achieved, but further work is required to determine effects of interferences in samples with complex matrices. The transport and deposition of uranium in natural waters is controlled by the organic and inorganic chemistry of the waters involved. It is suggested that interpretation of very low uranium levels will be aided by additional measurements of conductivity and organic content, with subsequent statistical treatment.

Jan 1, 1978

By Helvio P. G. Santafé Jr., Ruben J. S. Rodriguez, Sergio N. Monteiro, Teresa E. Castillo

"The coir fiber extracted from the husk of the coconut fruits are worldwide available in tropical regions as a low cost lignocellulosic by-product for many applications including composite filler in automobile parts. Possible uses above room temperature require information on the thermal behavior of these coir fiber composites. Therefore, the objective of this work was to perform thermogravimetric, TGA and DTG, analysis on polyester matrix composites incorporated with different volume fractions of coir fiber. In general, it was found that thermal degradation associated with weight loss occurred in three stages. Changes were also observed in the DTG peaks that could be attributed to the coir fiber participation through the decomposition of its lignocellulosic structure.IntroductionThe development of new materials has always been motivated by the need of improved properties. This was the case of modem composites with combination of properties that surpass those of conventional monolithic metallic alloys, ceramic or polymers, from which composites are made. A typical example is the synthetic fiber reinforced composite with specific strength i. e, ultimate stress divided by density, higher than any other monolithic material. Today, however, our global society is concerned with serious environmental problems and thus demanding that new materials be developed with distinct characteristics. They are known as environmentally correct and are expected to be sustainable, which corresponds to the condition of being biodegradable, renewable, recyclable and neutral with respect to C02 emission, considered the main responsible for global warning [1]. Synthetic fiber composites cannot meet these requirements. Consequently, new composite reinforced with cellulose-based natural fiber are being developed [2-8] and are already replacing the synthetic ones in several engineering fields including the automobile industry [9-11]. These composites have additional advantages owing to the lignocellulosic fiber benefits of being diversified, abundant, less expensive, lighter and of societal interest [8]. In some cases even technical advantages such as non-abrasive effect to processing equipments and more flexibility exist in comparison to synthetic fibers."

Jan 1, 2011

By D. Shuck

Incorporation of a 2,727 mtpd, $5.7 million flotation circuit into the Mclaughlin flowsheet was completed in November 1991. This capital addition reduced overall operating costs and improved the gold recovery of the low grade refractory reserves over that expected for direct cyanidation. In addition, flotation provided a means to generate a sulfide concentrate which is utilized to supplement feed to the pressure oxidation circuit.

Jan 1, 1994

By A. W. Asman

The problem of balanced design in a belt conveyor has been under constant study. Increased use of this method of transport in recent years has stimulated investigations. Conveyor belt, power transmission and other machinery should be adequate to perform the required service. All components of the belt conveyor should work as an efficient unit moving its load continuously between terminals. As part of a long term research project on belt conveyors, Hewitt-Robins established in 1954 a 2-year grant at Pennsylvania State University. Under terms of the grant, certain fundamental phenomena were to be studied. This work evolved a new concept in belt conveyor power determination based on the principle of belt tension. The Penn State contract furnished the foundation for later more detailed studies. From these most recent investigations, more specific factors were defined. In the final analysis, all of the data collected has been worthwhile in belt conveyor design. Units now operate over long distances at speeds of over 800 fpm. Long high lifts are commonplace. Where vertical or inclined shafts were the rule, belt conveyors receive first consideration. Although belt conveyors have moved forward rapidly, the future will see a tremendous gain in their use. The ideal test belt conveyor would be several thousand feet in length and have a maximum tension of at least 70,000 lb., Also, this conveyor should be horizontai and have a variable feed rate of more than one material. Data from such a field belt conveyor combined with laboratory information would permit accurate analysis. Since this type of conveyor was not available, many field locations were visited: An alternate would have been to erect a closed circuit system in the laboratory. Either method had limitations and the first was selected as having the best possibilities. Manufacturers of conveyor belting and machinery basically have been using the same horsepower formula. As more information became available from field installations, factors in the basic formula were modified. Practically all conveyors are designed today by adding together the horsepowers required to move the empty belt, move the load horizontally, and elevate the load. In selecting size of drive motor, the first two elements are relatively unimportant if the last is large. However, it is the combination of

Jan 1, 1961

With the continued implementation of stricter limitations on the discharge of excess process water from all existing and future mining and metallurgical operations, the design and operation of the entire process water circuit must form an integral part of any total operational package. It is far better to æanticipate and circumvent the problemÆ rather than be forced into an expensive remediation program after the event. By far the greatest problem relates to the treatment and disposal of what is generically known as acid drainage. In simple terms, an acidic metal sulfate solution is generated by a series of chemical and biological reactions as soon as most sulfide minerals are exposed to air and water. Treatment of this solution by one or more of a wide range of chemical and physical options can involve substantial capital and operating costs, although there are recent processing options that yield saleable by-products, thereby reducing the financial liability of what is effectively a waste stream. This presentation provides an overview of the Australian situation compared with the rest of the world and outlines the basic features of a number of the more advanced passive and active acid drainage options.

Jan 1, 2004

By C. S. Smith, Chih-Chung Wang

TURNBULL and his collaborators1,2 have developed the theory of homogeneous nucleation as applied, inter alia, to solidification of liquid metals. Vonnegut³ and Turnbull4 have shown that if a liquid metal is subdivided into small droplets a vast majority of them will undercool very considerably before solidification, generally to as low as about 0.8 of the freezing temperature on the absolute scale. The nuclei effective at small degrees of supercooling in bulk metal seem to be internal or surface heterogeneities, relatively small in number. If the metal is subdivided, those droplets that happen to contain such nuclei will solidify at a temperature not greatly below the true freezing point, but only a small part of the whole volume will be affected and the majority of the drops will under-cool to the much lower temperature at which homo- geneous nucleation occurs as a result of fluctuations. It occurred to one of the authors that an appropriate subdivision to give effective freedom from random nuclei is produced during the solidification of many alloys that contain a minor amount of a phase of low melting point, and that one might then expect marked undercooling of the distributed phase. Experimental: The alloys selected for initial study were copper with minor amounts of lead and bismuth, and aluminum with tin. In all these alloys, the major component freezes at a temperature not much below that of the pure metal, and there is little further change in constitution on cooling until the lower melting point constituent freezes in an almost pure state. Cooling curves were taken using the controlled heat flow method permitting approximate specific heats to be obtained. Chromel-alumel thermocouples were used, with the standard emf tables, since extreme precision was not needed. The crucible (3/4 in. id, 5/16 in. wall) was made of B & W K-20 insulating brick. It held about 10 cc of the alloy being investigated. The cooling rate was 2.5" to 2.9°C per min under a controlled temperature difference of 20°. Approximate specific heats were computed from the inverse rate curves together with data from a blank run and from a standard run with a copper cylinder of known heat capacity. The alloys for investigation were made from high-purity metals (99.99+pct) and cast into graphite molds. The castings were machined to fit the crucible and to provide a hole for the inner thermocouple. Cooling curves were taken after heating to a temperature about 50" above the melting point of the minor, lower melting-point, constituent. Results The lead phase in an alloy of copper with 5 pct lead did not undercool more than 3" below the melting point of lead (327°C) either as cast or after annealing to produce a new dispersion of the liquid phase. A copper-zinc-lead alloy with 23.75 pct zinc and 5 pct lead undercooled more but showed no thermal effect below 319°C. A cast alloy of copper with 5 pct bismuth undercooled to 249°C (M.P. bismuth 27l °C), but once solidification started it was completed at the same temperature. This was anticipated, since the bismuth forms a nearly continuous phase between the grains of copper, and a solid crystal nucleated anywhere would rapidly* con- sume the entire network of liquid, unless the physical continuity of the liquid were broken through volume changes, inadequate fluidity, or gas evolution. Similar arguments apply in the case of copper-lead alloys, where the lead-rich liquid forms a network along grain edges, though not grain faces. In both cases there would be a few isolated particles

Jan 1, 1951

The Precambrian Eastern Creek Volcanics comprises spilitic basalts with interbedded sediments and tuffs which were extruded and deposited during Middle Proterozoic time. The rocks have undergone low-grade regional metamorphism.The Eastern Creek Volcanics are approximately 17,000 ft thick and have been divided into four units.The rocks were laid down in a geosynclinal basin elongate to the north. The main structural features are the northerly trending Mount Isa and Gorge Creek-Quilalar fault systems.Major east-west faults cause repetition of the sequence.Copper and uranium mineralization is known within the formation. Copper mineralization is confined to quartz-filled shears anp basalts. Nothing of economic importance has been found in the area though ore deposits have been found elsewhere in this type of environment.

Jan 1, 1968

By Akira Yazawa

The similarities and differences in copper, nickel and lead smelting processes are discussed based on the sulfur-oxygen chemical potential diagrams and the free energy minimization assessments using a thermodynamic software. The prominent features of copper smelting are ascribable to the fact that copper has a strong affinity for sulfur but weak for oxygen and the liquid phase immiscibility between Cu and Cu2S. During the oxidation of sulfides, nickel metal is not stable except at temperatures higher than 1500°C, well miscible with its sulfide, and is oxidized more easily than copper. Metallic lead looks as stable as copper during the oxidation of the concentrate but Pb and PbS. are much more miscible with each other and the vaporization loss is considerable. In the reductive smelting of oxides, the effects of oxygen potential and temperature on the copper contents in slag are not significant due to the monovalent character of copper and the reduction of copper content in slag is not easy in practice. The effect of the slag compositions on the oxidic metal contents of slag is much more significant for lead than either copper or nickel. Due to the immiscible nature between Pb and Fe, high grade lead bullion is easily obtained and lead is more tolerant to impurities.

Jan 1, 1998

THE Executive Board of The American Engineering Council met in Pittsburgh, May 26 and 27. Its actions on the licensing of engineers and on the Employment Bureau are printed at length elsewhere in this issue. The board announced plans purposing the solution of the national problems of water power and forestry, upon which "the industrial development of the nation and the standard of living of future generations largely depends. The whole Federal water-power situation is in so critical a condition that immediate constructive action by the Government to conserve the public interests, involving vast consequences of economic and Federal policy, is necessary. After a long discussion during which the water-power problem as it affects Government reorganization was reviewed and Henry Ford&apos;s Muscle Shoal&apos;s plan was discussed, the board decided to lay the entire question before President Harding. A national movement to conserve the nation&apos;s forests, in which engineers, the U. S. Forestry Service, the forestry services of the states, universities and technical schools, and other groups such as the farmers, the railroads, and lumbermen, shall pool their efforts, was set in motion by the engineers. The work will be in charge of a Reforestation Committee of the Council, headed by Charles H. MacDowell of Chicago. Mov-ing picture interests will be asked to aid. The board pledged its support to President Harding in his plan for Government reorganization. In adopting the report of its Committee on Public Affairs, headed by J. Parke Channing of New York, the Executive Board of the council determined, in the event of the failure of the President&apos;s efforts to bring about greater economy and ffieciency in national affairs by regrouping of Federal functions, to press independ-ently a nation-wide movement for the establishment of a Department of Public Works. Progress in a national survey of the two-shift day in American industries was reported by the Council&apos;s Committee on Work Periods in Continuous Industries. This survey, called the most extensive of its kind ever made, has been in progress for more than a year; and purposes an exposition of industrial conditions which shall form a basis for establishing the relative merits of three shifts of eight hours each and two shifts of twelve hours each.

Jan 7, 1922

While ring-blasting techniques offer substantial benefits, there are intrinsic problems that are exacerbated when large blocks of ore are mined in attempts to improve the production economics. These problems relate to both the convergence of holes around the ring drive and the charging of up-holes. The size and shape of the ore block concerned should be carefully considered so that good drilling, patterns can be achieved. The hole diameters chosen, both affect and are affected by the size of the ore block. The explosive selected depends on the hole diameter and together with the diameter, determines the nominal drilling pattern. Ring-drilling patterns are best derived through the use of computer software together with engineering judgement. The loading of explosive is necessarily high, and charging patterns require careful thought if overcharging is to he minimised and adequate energy is to be available at all parts of the ore block. Initiation systems are critical to the blasting results, but sub-optimal systems must be adopted if collar priming is practised. In view of all these factors, idealised guidelines can be given for ring design, but it should be recognised that developments in technology may in time change some of these parameters.

Jan 1, 2000