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By H. Rush Spedden, A. M. Gaudin

IN the belief that a critical study of its operating problems might be a sound investment, the Cuban American Manganese Corporation initiated an ore-treatment research in cooperation with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. One of the early objectives of this research naturally became the relationship of the microscopy of the Cuban ores of the Corporation to their flotation treatment. The operations in Cuba have already been described by F. S. Norcross, Jr.7 and the laboratory study of manganese oxide flotation goes back a number of years .4 Broadly speaking, the difficulties encountered in the flotation of manganese ores are that the consumption of reagents is extremely high, the concentrate contains more silica than is desirable and the tailing losses are relatively high. An appreciable betterment on any of these scores would achieve a definite betterment in costs, quantity of minable ores, and quality of product. The microscope study discussed in this paper was made on samples from the Quinto mine, from the Ponupo mine, and from mill products at various stages of passage of the ore through the mill. The writers have had access to Company records and in particular to the petro¬graphic studies made on thin sections of ore by the late Professors R. J. Colony and Philip Krieger, of Columbia University. They acknowledge their debt to both of these men for the help derived from the reports. Manganese oxides are black, friable, smudging. It is, therefore, very difficult to judge operations by inspection. The mineralogy of manganese compounds seems to be confused, and the authors believe that many more minerals have been described than actually exist. Much of this difficulty is due to the prevalence of the structural conditions that will be discussed further in this paper; namely, the porosity and the friability of the ores, and the extremely intimate association of minute manganiferous mineral crystals with impurities of various sorts. By all odds the most important manganese mineral in Cuba is the one that in this paper is called "psilomelane." The name "psilomelane" has been used in so many different ways that the choice of it for this ore may not be approved by all. However, it seems to be the best under the circumstances. This mineral accounts for about 97 per cent of the manganese in the ores of the Quinto and Ponupo mines and in the mill feed. The remaining odd 3 per cent consists mostly of pyrolusite together with minor amounts of other manganese oxide minerals. DESCRIPTION OF PSILOMELANE Aggregate Structure In grains or lumps, psilomelane has a characteristic fibrous appearance and seems

Jan 1, 1942

By H. Rush Spedden, A. M. Gaudin

IN the belief that a critical study of its operating problems might be a sound investment, the Cuban American Manganese Corporation initiated an ore-treatment research in cooperation with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology One of the early objectives of this research naturally became the relationship of the microscopy of the Cuban ores of the Corporation to their flotation treatment The operations in Cuba have already been described by F S Norcross, Jr 7 and the laboratory study of manganese oxide flotation goes back a number of years 4 Broadly speaking, the difficulties encountered in the flotation of manganese ores are that the consumption of reagents is extremely high, the concentrate contains more silica than is desirable and the tailing losses are relatively high An appreciable betterment on any of these scores would achieve a definite betterment in costs, quantity of minable ores, and quality of product The microscope study discussed in this paper was made on samples from the Quinto mine, from the Ponupo mine, and from mill products at various stages of passage of the ore through the mill The writers have had access to Company records and in particular to the petrographic studies made on thin sections of ore by the late Professors R J Colony and Philip Krieger, of Columbia University They acknowledge their debt to both of these men for the help derived from the reports Manganese oxides are black, friable, smudging It is therefore, very difficult to judge operations by inspection The mineralogy of manganese compounds seems to be confused, and the authors believe that many more minerals have been described than actually exist Much of this difficulty is due to the prevalence of the structural conditions that will be discussed further in this paper, namely, the porosity and the friability of the ores, and the extremely intimate association of minute manganifeous mineral crystals with impurities of various sorts By all odds the most important manganese mineral in Cuba is the one that in this paper is called "psilomelane " The name "psilomelane" has been used in so many different ways that the choice of it for this ore may not be approved by all However, it seems to be the best under the circumstances This mineral accounts for about 97 per cent of the manganese in the ores of the Quinto and Ponupo mines and in the mill feed The remaining odd 3 per cent consists mostly of pyrolusite together with minor amounts of other manganese oxide minerals DESCRIPTION OF PSILOMELANE Aggregate Structure In grains or lumps, psilomelane has a characteristic fibrous appearance and seems

Jan 1, 1942

By Robert U. Richards

THE spitzlutte, as described by Rittinger, is an instrument by which sand is sorted in a continual upward-flowing stream of water. Its usual form is that of a pointed box, placed with the point downward, the box receiving its feed of sand and water on one side and discharging its tailings on the other. The sorted product or concentration is discharged at the bottom, at the apex of the box, through which it falls against an upward current -of water, which current serves to effect the sorting and separation. To make this exposure to the quicksand condition still more effective, an inverted dam is placed across the spitzlutte, which forces the sand in its passage from the feed side to the discharge to pass down into the more active portion of the upward-flowing current of water. In the form adopted for small tests in the mining laboratory of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (see accompanying sketch) the feed is through a central funnel instead of being at the side, and the apex of this funnel, extending down nearly to, the apex of the cone, takes the place of the inverted dam in the large spitzlutte. To keep the experiment perfectly under control a bulb or bottle is attached by a rubber connecting-tube to receive the concentrations, and between this bottle and the apex of the spitzlutte is placed -1 glass tube of conical form, with a side tube for the admission of water. By regulating the admission of water through this tube the concentration may be allowed to go down into the bulb as fast or as slowly as the richness of the ore seems to demand. This spitzlutte may be used on products that have been previously sized to take out the heavy mineral. As, an example of this a test was made upon a' sample of ore where the galena, blende, and quartz were much mixed up, but separated fairly when crushed. The sample of ore was from Newburyport, and assayed 16.50 per cent. lead.. After sizing through a series of sieves the ore yielded concentrations and tailings to the spitzlutte as follows

Jan 1, 1881

By R. H. Richards

The spitzlutte, as described by Rittinger, is an instrument by which saud is sorted in a continual upward-flowing stream of water. Its usual firm is that of a pointed box, placed with the point downward, the box receiving. its feed of sand and water on one side and discharging its tailings on the other. The sorted product or concentration is discharged at the bottom, at the apex of the box, through which it falls against an upward current of water, which current serves to effect the sorting and separation. To make this exposure to the quicksand condition still more effective, an inverted dam is placed across the spitzlutte, which forces the sand in its passage from the feed side to the discharge to pass clown into the more active portion of the upward-flowing current of water. In the form adopted for small tests in the mining laboratory of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (see accompaaying sketch) the feed is'throogh a central funnel instead of being at the side, and the apex of this funnel, extending down nearly to the apex of the cone, talks the place of the inverted dam in the large spitzlutte. To keep the experiment perfectly under control a bulb or bottle is attached by a rubber connecting-tube to receive the concentrations, and between this bottle and the apex of the spitzlutte is placed a glass tube of conical form, with a side tube for' the admission of water. By regulating the admission of water through this tube the concentration may be allowed to go down into the bulb as fast or as slowly as the richness of the ore seem.; to demand. This spitzlutte may be used on products that have been previously sized to take out the heavy mineral. As an example of this a test was made upon a sample of ore where the galena, blende, and quartz were much mixed up, but separated fairly when crushed. The sample of ore was from Newburyport, and assayed 16.61) per cent. lead.. After sizing through a series of sieves the ore yielded conceutrations and tailings to the spitzlutte as follows :

Jan 1, 1881

By James E. Gingrich

The new Track Etch technique for uranium exploration has been utilized in several survey programs conducted during the last few years. The results from these programs have been very encouraging, and new uranium ore bodies have been discovered by using this new technique. The method is being used in several exploration programs in various locations around the world. This exploration technique utilizes small pieces of special radiation-sensitive plastic film to detect the presence of radon gas which is released by uranium ore bodies. Because of the selectivity and sensitivity of the technique, ore bodies not normally detected with other surface or airborne monitoring methods are found. Since no large equipment or special training of personnel is needed, the technique is easily used in field operations. The basis for the Track Etch method, its application in field exploration programs, and the results obtained to date in locating uranium ore bodies are discussed.

Jan 1, 1976

The Australian bulk explosives industry has matured significantly over the last five years and it would appear that the rest of the world is following suit. This maturity is characterised by the technical sophistication of modem bulk explosives, an increase in the technical competence of the explosives consumer and a greater openness in the debate on the quality and performance of explosives. The principal mechanism by which these advances have been made is undoubtedly commercial competition in the market place although a new element, technical competition between manufacturers and independent professionals, has and will continue to play an important role in the development of the industry. The relationship between the explosives manufacturer and consumer is necessarily both complementary and competitive. This paper identifies the need for the consumer to take a more prominent role in the critical analysis of the performance of explosives and to use his commercial influence to direct explosives manufacturers at least in the direction required for the future technical development of the industry.

Jan 1, 1990

By W. A. Scheuch, J. Walter

Ordinarily secondary copper, unless electrolytically refined, is reclaimed directly as foundry ingots used in the manufacture of copper-rich alloy castings. This use does not require the elimination of the impurities to the degree required if the recovered'metal is to be used for electrical purposes where a high electrical conductivity is of prime importance. However, as a part of the general policy of reusing its own scrap and by-products wherever possible, the Western Electric Co. at its Hawthorne Works is recovering its secondary copper as wire bars which are delivered to its own rod and wire mill and there processed into wire of high electrical conductivity. This departure from the usual recovery scheme has been accomplished through the careful classification and sorting of the material entering the furnace charges and the careful control of the subsequent melting and refining in a reverberatory furnace. Tests conducted over a period of approximately four years have shown that the quality of wire bars produced from selected secondary copper is equal to that of wire bars produced by the electrolytic refineries. The interest which has been exhibited in the process by those who have seen it has prompted the following general description. It is the authors' opinion that the recovery of secondary copper will become more and more an important factor in the copper production industry. The description is largely of the refining furnace and its operation, but it must be remembered that careful classification and sorting of the scrap materials to eliminate impurities are just as important as the furnace operation toward obtaining a satisfactory final product. Classification and sorting do not lend themselves easily to description; they must, just be done. It should also be recognized at the outset that constant intelligent supervision is requisite to the success of the process because there are so many ways in which impurities can find their way into the final product. Secondary Copper Used for Wire Bars Only clean secondary copper of the grades known to the trade as Numbers 1 and 2 are melted for wire-bar manufacture. This material, supplemented by that obtained from various manufacturing processes

Jan 1, 1930

By Castle. J. E., J. L. Gillson

In this chapter there is a wide difference in the meaning of some words used for rock and mineral names as defined by scientists and tabulated in the "Glossary of Geology and Related Sciences," published in 1957 by the American Geological Institute, and the meaning as used by the commercial producers of feldspar. It is necessary, therefore, to define these terms giving both the "scientific" and the "practical" definitions. There is no ambiguity about the name feldspar itself. This is a general term for a group of related minerals which are silicates of aluminum, combined with sodium, potassium and calcium. The feldspars are the most abundant minerals of the igneous rocks, and since these rocks make up the largest proportion of the earth's crust by volume (although not of the actual surface area of the continental land masses) the feldspars are the most abundant minerals of all. The igneous rocks themselves are classified on the basis of the variety of the feldspar present. The potash feldspars, which are called orthoclase and microcline, are the dominant minerals of the granites and syenites, and of their fine grained equivalents, the rhyolites and trachites. The plagioclase feldspars form an isomorphic series, of which the sodic endmember is called albite, and the lime endmember, anorthite. The members near the sodic end, albite, oligoclase and andesine are the characteristic feldspars of the granodiorites and diorites, and of their fine grained equivalents, the dacites, and andesites. These feldspars-orthoclase, microcline, albite oligoclase and andesine-are the feldspars used commercially. Labradorite, a member of the plagioclase group, in which the lime exceeds the soda in the chemical composition, is the common feldspar of the gabbros, anorthosites, norites, basalts and other so-called "basic" rocks. Although some attempts have been made to use labradorite as a commercial feldspar, none is now used except as an ornamental stone. The mineral anorthite is very rare. Since the feldspar in most of the common igneous rocks is relatively fine grained, and mixed intimately with other minerals, from which it can be separated cleanly only with difficulty, most masses of the common rocks cannot be used as sources for the feldspar contained in them. It is only the rarer types of rocks in which the feldspar is very coarse-grained, or ones containing very little of the iron-bearing minerals which are objectionable impurities in commercial feldspar, that are quarried to yield an acceptable product. The most widespread type of such a rock from which commercial feldspar can be produced, is that called "pegmatite." These rocks are dikes and bodies of irregular shape and of a size measured in feet or yards in most cases, rather than in miles. They are more commonly associated with granites, rather than with other coarse-grained igneous rocks. Many of them contain crystals of various minerals, including the feldspars, that are much larger than are found in the host rock, the granite, and in many there are large masses of feldspar that are sufficiently free from iron-bearing silicates so that products acceptable to the ceramic industry can be produced, in some cases simply by hand sorting. Most of this feldspar in pegmatites, however, does contain intergrown quartz up to 25 pct. Pegmatites are so important, not only as commercial sources of feldspar, but also of other minerals which are produced com-

Jan 1, 1960

By W. S. Ayres

The protractor here to be described embodies several important improvements that have been suggested by the use of other protractors and by observing the errors occurring in practice with them. It is more particularly an improvement

Jan 1, 1896

By Howard Eavenson

EARLY in 1917, the United States Coal & Coke Co. secured options on several tracts in Harlan County, Ky., aggregating about 1.9,000 acres in area, and after careful prospecting by outcrop openings and diamond drilling, completed the purchase late in July of that year. This property is situated in the eastern end of Harlan County, south of the Poor Fork f Cumberland River, and extending across Big Black Mountain to the Clover Fork of Cumberland River, a distance of about 7 mi. (11.3 kg.). It extends from the Kentucky-Virginia line westward for about 6 mi. Looney Creek, which empties into Poor Fork, crosses the property for about 4 mi. (6.4 kg.), and as several of the seams within the property outcrop along this stream, it afforded an easy, and the logical, place for development. The property is on the northern side of the geological trough formed by the uplifting of Stone Mountain, on the southern, and Pine Mountain, on the northern side; the northern boundary along Poor Fork is practically at the base of Pine Mountain. This, area has been described in various geological reports.1 The main seam on this property is the one known variously as the "C," Benham, Keokee, Taggart, and Roda; it is, also called, by the Kentucky Geological Survey, the Kellioka seam of the western portion of Harlan County. This seam averages, in this property, about 5 ft. (1.5 m.) in thickness, although local rolls reduce this thickness considerably over small areas; and at the extreme western end of the property the seam splits. It is usually clean, although occasionally a small parting occurs within a few inches f the bottom f the seam; it is one f the best

Jan 9, 1921

By Woo-Zin Choi, Ting Chuen Pong, Roe-Hoan Yoon, James R. Craig, Robert M. Haralick

Detailed analysis by conventional techniques and by the General Image Processing System (GIPSY) has revealed that the conmunution of base metal-containing, complex, fine-grained sulfide ores results in the selective concentration of some ore minerals as a function of size fraction. The ores studied are massive, metamorphically recrystallized, pyrrhotite-rich masses with 10-30 percent pyrite and several percent each of sphalerite, chalcopyrite, and magnetite; gangue minerals - amphibole, mica, and quartz - constitute approximately 10 percent of the ore mass. Examination of samples from laboratory grinding experiments, - from +35 to -250 mesh - produced by both Impact and attrition grinding, reveals that there are significant differences in the mineralogical content of the various size fractions. No single fraction is representative of the bulk mineralogy of the sample. Pyrite is highly enriched in coarser fractions, whereas chalcopyrite, sphalerite, magnetite, and gangue minerals are concentrated in the finer size fractions. Concentration of the ore minerals in the finer fractions is attributed to their common presence as interstitial, grains along the grain boundaries of the more dominant pyrrhotite and pyrite. As such, they tend to be somewhat preferentially liberated as small fragments during the initial stages of crushing and grinding. The relatively coarse-grained pyrite, up to 1 cm cubes, is brittle and readily fractures into coarse fragments which are seen in larger size fractions.

Jan 1, 1984

By Thomas R. Bur

The amplitude of the first peak of an ultrasonic pulse which has traversed the diameter of a sphere is obtained for many directions in the sphere. This amplitude is relative to an input which is held constant for all measurements on a given sphere. Since the boundary conditions, distance of travel, and the controllable experimental factors are constant for all measurements, variations in this amplitude reflect variations in the attenuation or absorption with direction. The data are plotted and contoured as an equal area projection. The attenuation symmetry is the symmetry expressed by the contour pattern. Analysis of the data from several rock types indicates that the amplitude expresses a higher percentage of anisotropy than the velocity. In most cases the attenuation symmetry appears to be of the same system as the elastic symmetry expressed by the velocity. Results are shown for three rock spheres.

Jan 1, 1969

Exploration by Cyprus Minerals Australia Company (formerly Amoco Minerals) has successfully outlined significant Au-(Cu) mineralisation at Starra, 150 kilometres south-east of Mt. Isa. Mineralisation is stratabound and localized in deformed and metamorphosed ironstones (B.I.F?) and iron-oxide bearing schists of the mid-Proterozoic Staveley Formation. Over 90% of the presently outlined potential ore occurs in 4 discrete zones within a strike length of 3.5 kilometres. The inferred geological resource in these zones is approximately 6 million tonnes grading 5 grams per tonne gold and 2% copper. Roughly half of this is open-pittable, but more rigidly applied mining criteria will probably reduce the exploitable tonnage. Detailed infill drilling is in progress and a pre-feasibility study has commenced. The joint venture partners, Cyprus Minerals (75%) and Elders Resources (25%) expect to make a development decision by the end of this year.

Jan 1, 1986

By Coxhead B. A, Brandt B. A

The geological exploration and evaluation of coal reserves involves the appraisal of very large amounts of data. Computers afford an ideal means of handling and manipulating the data, thereby avoiding the laborious and expensive method of manually compiling the logs in full descriptive language. The Minad system of computer storage and retrieval of geological and analytical data is particularly suited to the description of cores and cuttings from exploration drill-holes. The encoded data is arranged in a 120-column computer output sheet format; descriptive geological information in a 54-column geolog and analytical information in a 64-column assaylog. The acquired data is quantitative, uniform and relatively complete and can be selectively retrieved for processing by a wide range of specialized computer programs developed for the coal mining industry. Visual retrieval of data for manual processing is facilitated by the use of simple codes and logical word abbreviations.

Jan 1, 1977

By F. F. Aplan

INTRODUCTION The production of coal is a major part of the mining industry. In recent years the production of clean coal has exceeded 600 million tons per year and is reported to have reached 660 million tons in 1977. Some data on the magnitude and utilization for the year 1975 is given in Table I. In that year 648 million tons of soft coal were produced and of this 267 million tons or 41% approximately was produced by mechanical cleaning. Of the 374 million tons of raw coal sent to the preparation plant, 28.6% or 107 million tons was discarded as refuse. In the same year approximately 6 million tons of anthracite were produced and nearly all of this was cleaned. Table I also gives coal utilization statistics for 1975. Excluding the approximately 20% that goes to the coke ovens or to export, the vast bulk of our production is used for steam power generation and a lesser amount for captive production of industrial power and process steam. While much of the nation's coal (e.g. strip mined western, sub-bituminous coal) may be removed from the ground in relatively pure form by modest selective mining techniques, other coal requires preparation in order to remove ash and sulfur constituents and produce an acceptable steam or coking coal. Preparation is often a valuable adjunct to mining in that rather non-selective, low cost, bulk mining techniques may be used underground while the preparation plant is used to reject refuse at low cost above ground. The principal reason for the use of coal preparation is to convert raw coal into an acceptable commercial product by removing the high ash and high sulfur refuse material.

Jan 1, 1979

By L. C. Uren

Field studies and laboratory research have established the fact that the expulsive force which drives petroleum into wells, from the reservoir sands in which it is stored by nature, is primarly an expression of the energy latent within compressed natural gas dissolved or occluded in, or otherwise associated with the oil. Each barrel of oil produced is forced into the recovery well by the expansive energy of a certain volume of compressed gas, originally stored with the oil in the pores of the reservoir rock; and each cubic foot of gas so produced with the oil and expanded to atmospheric pressure reduces by so much the total natural energy available for oil expulsion. This relationship between the volumes of gas and oil produced has seemed so important that petroleum production technolo-gists have come to regard the "gas-oil ratio," or the "gas factor" as it has been more conveniently termed, as a measure of oil-production efficiency. Different methods of oil recovery and production devices are now Com pared on this basis and estimates of ultimate recovery obtainable through their use are considered by many to be inversely proportional to the values of their respective gas factors. The writer has been among those who have given support to a widcspread movement toward a proper recognition of the significance of the gas factor as a guide in the control of producing oil wells, and does not wish to oppose its more extended application. It seems necessary, how-cvcr, in view of the almost elemental faith with which the principle of the gas factor has been received in many quarters, to point out that it is a most complex factor, and one which cannot be regarded as an absolute index of production efficiency without due regard to other contributing factors by which it is influenced to an important degree. Variables Influencing Gas Factor The mere recording of a low gas factor, obtained through the use of some method or device, does not necessarily imply efficient oil production; and conversely, a high gas factor does not always signify inefficient recov-

Jan 1, 1928

By Victor F. Hollister

Porphyry copper deposits can be categorized into three models for purposes of prospect evaluation: Breccia-pipe, modified Lowell and Guilbert, and diorite models. The modified Lowell and Guilbert model is normally associated with a quartz-bearing intrusive and a potassic, phyllic, argillic, and propylitic alteration sequence. Variations can occur in the alteration zones of this model that range from orthoclase-rich (Kalamazoo, Silver Bell, and Mineral Park) to ortho- clase-deficient (Petaquilla and Bougainville) potassic zones. The unifying features of the model are the presence of a phyllic zone and a quartz-bearing intrusion. The breccia-pipe model (Toquepala) is characterized by structure and alteration related to or controlled by breccia. Where tourmaline occurs in the breccia, the identity of the model is usually clear. However, if tourmaline is not commonly developed in the breccia (La Caridad), the deposit can be misidentified as to model. Porphyry copper deposits associated with quartz-deficient intrusives, whether these are calc-alkalic diorites or alkalic plutons, are characterized by alteration suites distinct from those of the modified Lowell and Guilbert model. These have been generalized as diorite model porphyry deposits. Because alteration and mineralogical development in diorite model deposits is distinct from that of the modified Lowell and Guilbert, ore guides and exploration tactics differ for the two models. The reprint that follows describing the three prospecting models summarizes their features. It is to be emphasized that these are models used in exploration for specific deposit types and are not genetic, tectonic, or geographic models. Porphyry copper deposits can be metamorphosed. Gibralter is an example of a Lowell and Guilbert model deposit that has undergone regional metamorphism.

Jan 1, 1991

By J B. Farrow

The AJ Parker Cooperative Research Centre for Hydrometallurgy carries out research on behalf of, and in collaboration with, the Australian mining industry. As might be expected, much of its research is directed towards improving the efficiency of alumina and gold processing plants. However, the Centre also carries out research of relevance to base and other metal producers. A key element in its work is the successful transfer of its technology to the companies with which it is working. In general, this is achieved in the following five steps:definition of the problem through discussions with the company commissioning the research; execution of the research; assessment of the research findings; testing of the research findings by pilot plant or on-site trials; and implementation of the results on the full-scale. This pattern is exemplified by the work carried out by the Centre to improve the performance of gravity thickeners which are used throughout the minerals industry for solid-liquid separation. The research has focussed mainly on ways to optimise the use of flocculants (long chain polymers) to enhance thickener performance. It has been shown that the way the flocculant is mixed with the slurry is of profound importance. Computational fluid dynamics modelling of the feedwell region of thickeners and laboratory and plant flocculation studies have been used to determine better ways to contact the flocculant with the feed slurry. Implementation of these and other findings on the full-scale confirmed that improvements in thickener performance were indeed possible. As a result of this AMIRA funded thickener technology work, there have been considerable savings to a number of Australian mineral processing companies, through improved operation, higher throughputs and flocculant savings.

Jan 1, 2000

By W. R. Shimer

(New York Meeting, October, 1913.) THE investigation herein described was carried out for the purpose of studying, both by chemical and metal-lographical means, the extent of over-oxidation of steel that can be accomplished by excessive over-blowing in a Bessemer converter. In addition there are appended some results of basic. open hearth and crucible steels. Remarks on Chemical Methods. The test block used was hemispherical in shape, 4.5 in, in diameter and 2 in. thick. Drillings for analysis were obtained by drilling through the entire solid part of the. block, carefully avoiding all cracks anti blow-holes and mixing these drillings thoroughly. Drillings were carefully examined for scale and the finest were gone over with a microscope to be sure all scale from whatever source had been. removed. Oxygen was determined by the well-known method of Ledebur, modified according to Cushman,1 with, however, the removal of the preheating tube, which was found unnecessary. This method has been found to give concordant results. Blanks run from 0.0003 to 0.0006 g. Duplicate determinations varied not more than 0.001 to 0.003 per cent. It seems to be generally supposed that the hydrogen method gives only that oxygen which is combined with iron. Whether this be true or not, the content of oxygen existing as iron oxide no doubt predominates sufficiently, so that the result obtained is sufficient to indicate whether the steel is over-oxidized or not.

Jan 9, 1913

By J. P. Zannaras

If we assume that testing of the model started at time t1, that time t2 was the instant at which the elastic limit of the material was passed at the points of the maximum stress, and that at time t3 the failure of the model was completed as shown in the typical photograph (Fig. I), then actually the photograph shows the final results of what took place between time t2 and t3. By the principle of similitude all conclusions drawn from the behavior of the model were applicable and valid for actual mine roofs up to the time t2 after time t2 motions and friction came into play during the destruction of the model. The events between t2 and t3 and the photograph itself are not representative of the events expected in an actual mine roof unless corrections imposed by the principle of similitude are made. It can therefore be stated that all conclusions and observations of the author from the photographs are applicable only to his small-scale experiments and not to actual mine roofs. Without investigation of the true stresses or the combined maximum stress induced in the beds it has been assumed by the author that failure occurred solely due to bending stress caused by loading of the beds. (The author states that D was taken to be the theoretical strain given by elementary beam theory.) Fig. 1 shows that the beds were clamped together. This clamping was necessary to prevent slipping of the beds due to the horizontal shear. However, this clamping caused an uncontrolled and undertermined com-pressive stress S at the end of the beds, and this com-pressive stress caused a true tensile stress ?S (? PoiS-son ratio). This true tensile stress combined with the tensile stress produced at the end of the beds due to loading (fixed beam uniformly loaded), and the horizontal shear which is maximum at the end appears to be the most probable maximum stress produced in the beds. It is therefore evident that the author in performing this experiment has introduced stresses in the model not existing or dissimilar to actual mine roofs, and therefore his conclusions may be applicable to his small-scale experiments but inapplicable to actual mine roofs. Louis A. Panek (author's reply)—The discusser's difficulty is related to mechanics of materials rather than similitude. The effect of time did not enter into the tests in any way, being simply excluded from consideration in this study, because all quantitative results entering into the design equations are based on measured (between time t1 and time t2) bending strains that are well below the breaking strain (i.e., in the elastic range) for the model material. Time does not become a significant factor until the rock stress reaches 80 to 90 pct of the breaking stress." The objective of this investigation was not to predict that bolted roof will fail after time t, but was instead to develop a safe roof, that is, roof in which the bending strain is much less than (say less than 50 pct of) the breaking strain. The models tested to failure had no direct bearing on the design equations. Although for some rocks time may influence the magnitude of stress or strain at which fracture occurs, breaking stress or breaking strain values were not employed for any purpose in this investigation. Tests to failure were made only to obtain additional evidence regarding the behavior of the bolted laminae' as evinced by the locations of the cracks. As stated in the last paragraph of the paper, if one wishes to predict the time or stress conditions for which the roof will fail, additional information is required. The reason for clamping the laminae is to make them behave liked clamped beams, which closely approximate the clamped-plate condition of the actual mine roof beds (Ref. 5, p. 1; Ref. 6). The writer has previously demonstrated that the bending stresses induced by centrifugal loading in a clamped model beam are in agreement with those predicted by theory;' hence clamping has no significant effect on the bending ,trains measured during a test. Moreover, actual ,in, roof beds are likewise subject to a clamping effect due to weight of superincumbent strata carried by the pillars or ribs on each side of the opening. It is emphasized that this study was restricted to evaluating only the reinforcing effect produced by the bolts. Procedures employed in the experiments and in the data analysis were such as to deliberately exclude the effects of other factors. The objections offered are therefore invalid,

Jan 1, 1957