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By Clayton R. Morlock

Airblasts have been monitored at four coal strip mines and at a limestone quarry. Thirty-seven production blasts have been monitored with three seismographs, resulting in one hundred and eleven complete air pressure records. Instrumentation selection use is described. Data analysis includes an assessment of the predictability of peak overpressures by means of the cube root scaled distance law. It is found that predictability for the cases studied here is not good. An extensive discussion of possible explanations is included. A detailed analysis of the frequency content of the observed airblasts, of considerable importance in evaluating potential annoyance problems, has been made for all records. A computer program has been written to simulate airblasts induced by multiple-hole blasts. A series of small experimental blasts have been detonated and monitored in order to allow an assessment of the program. It is clear that airblasts, especially when induced by very small charges and monitored at very close distances, are highly sensitive to detonation times. Retrofitting of airblast records occasionally was possible, but considerably improved field work is required to validate or refute the computer model.

Jan 1, 1983

By G. T. Horne, P. J. Wray, S. Kinoshita

CONSIDERABLE evidence exists for a strengthening mechanism operative at intermediate temperatures in bee metals containing interstitial solute atoms. The strengthening is indicated by a maximum in the ultimate tensile strength1 as well as the fatigue

Jan 1, 1965

By Gary M. Larwood

A study was conducted to determine the amount of transportation equipment required to move 1.2 billion tons of coal in 1985. The Federal Bureau of Mines has investigated a majority of the various practices associated with coal transportation and has gathered information on the regional origin-destination patterns, methods of movement, equipment stocks, rate structures, and operational capacities of the most important modes of coal haulage currently in use. Models employing this information were developed to establish the origin-destination pattern for 1985 coal shipments, estimate practical tonnage capacities for selected coal hauling rivers, develop modal shares for both unconstrained (by river capacity) and constrained cases, and present a range of coal transportation equipment requirements for given sets of constraints. Projected transportation shares for rail ranged from 63.7 to 72.3 percent, and for river, from 8.8 to 16.4 percent. Other coal transportation modes (truck, conveyor, Great Lakes, and tidewater) are expected to retain their historic shares of coal traffic. Equipment estimates were made for 1985 rail and water transportation based on 1973 average and best practice. Average practice estimates ranged from 675,000 to 710,000 hopper cars (100-ton) and 3,100 to 5,940 barges (1,400-ton equivalent). Best practice estimates ranged from 126,000 to 142,000 hopper cars and 1,750 to 3,450 barges. Full implementation of 1973 best practice by 1985 is unlikely.

Jan 1, 1976

By J. C. Uy, A. A. Burr

IN the primary solid solutions of zirconium-base alloys, there is a striking regularity of the effect of solute valence on the stabilization of the allotropic phases.1 The valences derived by pauling2 are for elements as they are bonded in the solid metallic state. Effects of variations in isotopes, alloying elements, and allotropes on their valences are difficult to determine and such data are presently unavailable. Pauling's values are somewhat empirical and approximate, but if some definite correlations can be found between those values and experimental observations, this will lend support to the tacit assumption that the possible variations in valence mentioned above are small. Pauling has amassed a large amount of evidence of such correlations. It is the purpose of this technical note to show another application of the Pauling valences and to offer a possible explanation for this observation. The relationship between the Pauling metallic valence of the solute and the stabilization of allotropic phases in zirconium is shown in Table I, which has been compiled from available data in the literature3 plus the results of work done at Rens-selaer Polvtechnic Institute.' The chemical valences are included for comparison. It can be seen that a solute whose metallic valence is lower than that of the solvent tends to stabilize the a phase while one whose metallic valence is higher than that of the solvent tends to stabilize the 0 phase. It should be noted that, inasmuch as the Pauling valences are periodic with atomic number, this is tantamount to saying that the elements in groups I-A, 11-A, III-A, III-B, IV-B, V-B, and VI-B are a stabilizers while those in groups IV-A, V-A, VI-A, VII-A, VIII-A, I-B, and 11-B are ß stabilizers. The chemical valences do not show such consistency. Although the zirconium-rich end of the Zr-Au diagram is not available, it call be expected that gold, having a metallic valence of 5.56, would stabilize the ß phase. At absolute zero, the Fermi energy level is the criterion of equilibrium, i.e., the structure having the lower Fermi level will be more stable. Conse- quently, allotropic transformation occurs in a metal when thermal excitation raises the Fermi level to a point at which the atoms can be better accomodated by a different structure which yields a lower Fermi level.4-6 Thus in allotropic transformation, a change in structure occurs as a result of the change in the energies of the bonding electrons. Since the Pauling valence is the number of bonding electrons per atom, and these are the only electrons whose energies are affected by thermal excitation,* it can be inferred that the introduction of a solute which has a higher Pauling valence than that of the solvent raises the initial Fermi level; consequently, the transformation temperature is lowered. The converse is also true. The fact that at the transformation temperatures this statement is still fairly valid implies that the contribution due to the difference in specific heat terms of the two allotropes is comparatively small.

Jan 1, 1962

By J. C. Zachariades, D. M. Fraser

The leaching of pyrolusite in acidic ferous sulphate solution was studied so that the important factors governing the kinetics of the reaction could be determined. The reaction is very rapid, and was monitored by continuous measurement and logging of the redox potential in solution by use of a microcomputer. The relationship between redox potential and manganese extraction was established empiricaly for each set of conditions by the use of a technique in which a calibration run was conducted in paralel with each leaching run. The study involved a number of batch leaching runs, and demonstrated that, of the variables investigated, only the initial ferous ion concentration and the reaction temperature afect the rate of manganese extraction. The final extraction did not vary. The reaction was modeled from the results by use of the shrinking-core model and Britan's activation-energy model. The later was found to provide a significantly better fit to the data.

Jan 1, 1991

By A. F. Taggart, Nathaniel Arbiter

The chemical reaction occurring in collection of nonmetallic minerals with amine-type collectors was early postulated by students of flotation phenomena to be metathesis between the mineral and the collector, involving exchange between the amine-bearing (aminium) ion and the cation of the mineral, and formation at the mineral surface of an oriented film of the amine salt of the mineral anion. Qualitative evidence of exchange has been obtained on several occasions at Columbia. Thus 1000 C.C. of a solution containing 495 mg of laurylamine hydrochloride was shaken 17 min. with 100 grams of barite and ground in a porcelain mill to pass a 200-mesh screen; the mixture was then set aside for 48 hr. Filtrate therefrom analyzed 476 mg. per liter of laurylamine hydrochloride. There was no substantial loss of chloride ion (78.4 mg. per liter in the original; 74 in the filtrate). No successful analyses were concluded for barium ion. Earlier, confessedly rough work with scheelite indicated a solution gain in Ca++ equivalent to about one-half the aminium ion lost. Real quantitative roof of the exchange, in the form of an established stoichiometric balance, is unknown to the authors. The data of the present paper, however, obtained from experiments designed on the basis of the exchange hypothesis, constitute strong evidence of its truth, and at the same time point the way to economic utilization of the expensive nitrogen-bearing collectors in concentration of the low-priced nonmetallic minerals. The basic postulate underlying the experiments performed was that, if the collecting reaction is of the type R+ + Y- + MX = RX + M+ + Y- where R = aminium ion, Y = the anion of the amine salt, and M and X are, respectively, the cation and anion of the mineral, the reaction should obey qualitatively the implications of the mass-action and solubility-product laws. This is to say that coating and collection should be aided by the addition to the solution of either ion (R+ or X-) of the collector-coating compound, and hindered by the addition of either of the ions M+ or y-. Experimental work comprised determination of (,) the relative solubilities of the laurylammonium salts of a variety of nonmetallic-mineral anions; and (21 the contact angles' of various minerals in solutions containing different concentrations of the postulated controlling ions. Semiquantitative flotation tests were run With barite as checks on the diagnostic character of the contact angles. The amine

Jan 1, 1947

By Nathaniel Arbiter, A. F. Taggart

The chemical reaction occurring in collection of nonmetallic minerals with amine-type collectors was early postulated by students of flotation phenomena to be metathesis between the mineral and the collector, involving exchange between the amine-bearing (aminium) ion and the cation of the mineral, and formation at the mineral surface of an oriented film of the amine salt of the mineral anion. Qualitative evidence of exchange has been obtained on several occasions at Columbia. Thus 1000 C.C. of a solution containing 495 mg of laurylamine hydrochloride was shaken 17 min. with 100 grams of barite and ground in a porcelain mill to pass a 200-mesh screen; the mixture was then set aside for 48 hr. Filtrate therefrom analyzed 476 mg. per liter of laurylamine hydrochloride. There was no substantial loss of chloride ion (78.4 mg. per liter in the original; 74 in the filtrate). No successful analyses were concluded for barium ion. Earlier, confessedly rough work with scheelite indicated a solution gain in Ca++ equivalent to about one-half the aminium ion lost. Real quantitative roof of the exchange, in the form of an established stoichiometric balance, is unknown to the authors. The data of the present paper, however, obtained from experiments designed on the basis of the exchange hypothesis, constitute strong evidence of its truth, and at the same time point the way to economic utilization of the expensive nitrogen-bearing collectors in concentration of the low-priced nonmetallic minerals. The basic postulate underlying the experiments performed was that, if the collecting reaction is of the type R+ + Y- + MX = RX + M+ + Y- where R = aminium ion, Y = the anion of the amine salt, and M and X are, respectively, the cation and anion of the mineral, the reaction should obey qualitatively the implications of the mass-action and solubility-product laws. This is to say that coating and collection should be aided by the addition to the solution of either ion (R+ or X-) of the collector-coating compound, and hindered by the addition of either of the ions M+ or y-. Experimental work comprised determination of (,) the relative solubilities of the laurylammonium salts of a variety of nonmetallic-mineral anions; and (21 the contact angles' of various minerals in solutions containing different concentrations of the postulated controlling ions. Semiquantitative flotation tests were run With barite as checks on the diagnostic character of the contact angles. The amine

Jan 1, 1947

By Nathaniel Arbiter, Arthur F. Taggart

THE chemical reaction occurring in collection of nonmetallic minerals with amine-type collectors was early postulated by students of flotation phenomena to be metathesis between the mineral and the collector, involving exchange between the amine-bearing (aminium) ion and the cation of the mineral, and formation at the mineral surface of an oriented film of the amine salt of the mineral anion. Qualitative evidence of exchange has been obtained on several occasions at Columbia. Thus 1000 c.c. of a solution containing 495 mg. of laurylamine hydrochloride was shaken 17 min. with 100 grams of barite and ground in a porcelain mill to pass a 200-mesh screen; the mixture was then set aside for 48 hr. Filtrate therefrom analyzed 476 mg. per liter of laurylamine hydrochloride. There was no substantial loss of chloride ion (78.4 mg. per liter in the original; 74 in the filtrate). No successful analyses were concluded for barium ion. Earlier, confessedly rough work with scheelite indicated a solution gain in Ca++ equivalent to about one-half the aminium ion lost. Real quantitative proof of the exchange, in the form of an established stoichiometric balance, is unknown to the authors. The data of the present paper, however, obtained from experiments designed on the basis of the exchange hypothesis, constitute strong evidence of its truth, and at the same time point the way to economic utilization of the expensive nitrogen-bearing collectors in concentration of the low-priced nonmetallic minerals. The basic postulate underlying the experiments performed was that, if the collecting reaction is of the type [R+ + Y- + MX =± RX + M+ + Y¬] where R = aminium ion, Y = the anion of the amine salt, and M and X are, respectively, the cation and anion of the mineral, the reaction should obey qualitatively the implications of the massaction and solubility-product laws. This is to say that coating and collection should be aided by the addition to the solution of either ion (R+ or X-) of the collector-coating compound, and hindered by the addition of either of the ions M+ or Y-. Experimental work comprised determination of (1) the relative solubilities of the laurylammonium salts of a variety of nonmetallic-mineral anions; and (2) the contact angles1 of various minerals in solutions containing different concentrations of the postulated controlling ions. Semiquantitative flotation tests were run with barite as checks on the diagnostic character of the contact angles. The amine

Jan 1, 1944

By Ali M. Ghazi, Ronald J. Goble, Lowell S. Whiteside

"Geerite (Cu1.6S) is a rhombohedral copper sulphide which occurs naturally in epitactic replacement of sphalerite; cell dimensions closely approximate those of the host sphalerite.Geerite-type structures can be produced by leaching digenite (Cu1.8S) in ferric sulphate solutions. X -ray diffract ion and electron microprobe studies indicate that eight metastable geeritetype structures can be produced, depending upon the concentration of f erric sulphate solution used and the duration of the each. Although compositions cluster on or near values observed for natural phases, optical properties indicate that we are dealing with polymorphs of these phases. Leaching of chalcocite (CU2Sj in dilute f erric sulphate solutions produces similar results. In contrast, leaching of chalcocite in more concentrated solutions seems to produce true analogues of natural minerals.During froth flotation, sphalerite is activated with a monolayer of floatable copper sulphide with the composition, CuS, of the mineral covellite. However, covellite is not significantly more floatable than sphalerite, and has an incompatible structure because of the presence of covalently-bonded atoms of sulphur. Leaching ofdigenite was used to produce a polymorph of covellite with a geerite-type structure, compatible with that of sphalerite. This polymorph has a flotational behaviour similar to copper-activated sphalerite, suggesting that the monolayer has a geerite-type CuS structure. IntroductionIn an ideal close-packed sulphide structure the distance between sulphur layers, D, is equal to 2R 2/3, where R is the radius of the sulphur atoms. In sulphides with covalently-bonded sulphur layers, such as covellite (Fig. I), D will be an average of the number of covalentl y-bonded and close-packed sulphur layers, weighted as to the relative number of each type of layer. Both D and R are spacings which are readily identifiable structurally and on X-ray diffraction patterns. Goblel has shown that for copper-iron sulphides with metal-to-sulphur ratios between 0 and 2 and copper-to-total metal ratio s between 113 and I there are strong correlations between composition and measured D and R distances (Fig. 2). D can be represented by a single empirical equation relating interlayer spacing to composition; R must be represented by three equations relating the radius of sulphur atoms to composition. One of these equations (R, in Fig. 2) represents ideal close-packed behaviour, the other two represent sulphur radii greater than (R1) or less than (Rh) the ideal."

Jan 1, 1988

By W. C. Peters, M. W. Pullen, C. A. Bays

During the past three and a half years considerable improvement in the techniques of solution extraction of salt has been made by the use of wells which are cross-connected by hydraulic fracture at the base of the salt. Fracture is initiated by the application of hydraulic pressure. Underreaming and perforating techniques are used to control initiation. The fracture is then extended by continuous pumping until a pressure communication is obtained. Pressure communication is followed by washing-through to obtain a low-pressure connection. Well construction using non-shrinking cements that will bond with the salt and with associated strata is essential to the process. The connecting procedure described permits solution to attack the salt deposit from its base upward, thereby permitting greater recovery, fewer well repairs, better saturation of brine, and overall economy of development and operation. The fracture method of cross-connection requires special pumping of the fluid and is limited by present experience to initial well spacings up to about 1200 feet. The method has been used in bedded salts and is applicable for wells in salt domes. Since spring of 1956, new developnents in salt extraction wells have followed procedures substantially different from those in prior use. Although multiple well systems, connected either by the natural consequence of the solution process or by undercutting under protective pads, have been used previously, the past three and a half years have brought about new designs and new operation procedures based on cross-connection of the wells using hydraulic fracture. To date these techniques have been applied largely in the bedded salt deposits of Michigan, Ontario, Ohio, West Virginia, and New York. To the writers' knowledge they have not been used in salt dome wells. The methods have not yet been in use for a sufficient period to permit any statistical comparison with the older methods. It is evident from experience to date that the methods result in higher recoveries, lower capital and operating costs, better saturation of produced brine, reduced well maintenance and repair, and in considerably fewer production units to insure

Jan 1, 1961

By A. Roberts

This paper reviews progress in equipment design and in the techniques applied to mine lighting in Great Britain. The incidence of the disease miner's nystagmus, which was a major source of concern only a few years ago, has now diminished, largely owing to improvements in standards of lighting in mines. The reorganisation of the coal mining industry, involving increasing mech-anisation, together with new safety legislation, has brought about the widespread use of mains electric lighting underground. An account is given of some of the results of research to determine the lighting conditions needed for compliance with the compulsory legal requirement of "sufficient and suitable" general lighting at specific localities in British mines. Some details are given of the techniques applied and the results of recent research in the problem of glare from miners' cap lamps. Of the various factors in the working environment of the miner, it is true to say that lighting is seldom given attention comparable with that devoted to other factors, such as dust, heat and humidity, or atmospheric gas content. No doubt one reason for this lies in the ability of the human eye to adapt itself to low brightness levels. Be that as it may, the fact is that at the turn of the 20th century the miner's working light improved little throughout the centuries during which mining technology has developed. Indeed, in coal mines which encounter a methane explosion hazard, flame safety lamps, with a luminous intensity less than one candle power, were virtually the sole means of lighting during almost the whole of the 19th century. The 20th century has witnessed a substantial improvement in lighting techniques underground in coal and metalliferous mining. In Great Britain the general pattern has been one of standards periodically raised by the implementation of Statutory Regulations imposed under successive hlines Acts, but it is fair to add that the more progressive mining companies usually anticipated the Statutory Regulations, which when they have been put into effect have served to turn into general practice what was already being done at the better mines. In earlier years, official requirements were limited to the specification of approved lamp designs, with stipulated minimum values of luminous intensity and light output, but more recently the necessity of satisfactory maintenance of standards during service has been recognized, and the current regulations not only require that a maintenance organisation should exist, but also specify a maximum permissible depreciation below initial approval standards.'

Jan 1, 1961

By P. R. Sperry

In an investigation of the decomposition of the solid solution in a cold worked high-purity aluminum alloy containing 7 pct Mg, aged at temperatures from 30o to 82°C, the nucleating sites at the earliest stages of precipitation were observed to be of two types. Nucleation occurred at the high angle grain boundaries both when the alloy was initially cold worked and when solution annealed. Nucleation also occurred at certain unique deformation markings which began to appear in abundance at approximately 30 pct reduction in thickness by cold rolling. These deformation markings were identified as deformation (kink) bands rather than as the usually assumed "slip planes." Zn material that was cold rolled 15 pct, only the grain boundary Fig. 2—A1-7 pct Mg alloy, cold worked 60 pct and heated at 230° C for 5 min. Etched with Perryman's reagent. X500. Reduced approximately 25 pct for reproduction. (a) Bright field illumination, precipitate deeply pitted. (b) Phase contrast, showing slip markings.

Jan 1, 1962

By Canterford J. H, Bologiannis F, Smith A. N

The Mutooroo copper mine is one of a number of deposits that have been evaluated by Adelaide and Wallaroo Fertilizers Ltd as a source of feed for the production of high- purity copper oxide at their Burra plant. For this deposit, the technique of solution mining or in-situ leaching appeared ideal. The Mutooroo production circuit and the results of the process optimization and environmental monitoring programmes are outlined. At the end of the experimental period described here, the production liquor typically contained I g/litre copper, yield- ing in excess of 5 t/month of cement product containing about 80 per cent copper. The environmental monitoring programme provided clear evidence that there had been no un- acceptable alteration to the properties of the groundwater in the country rock surround- ing the mineralized zone. It is anticipated that the experience gained at Mutooroo will be of considerable help in the development of other solution mining operations.

Jan 1, 1983

By G B. Gnoinski

The Skorpion Zinc Mine and Refinery is situated approximately 25 km north of Rosh Pinah, south-western Namibia. The supergene zinc oxide deposit at Skorpion is hosted in a volcano-sedimentary succession within the para-autochthonous Port Nolloth Zone of the Gariep Belt. Rock types hosting the ore deposit include altered and metamorphosed volcaniclastic and clastic sediments, limestone and rhyolite. At Skorpion, the metallurgical process is unique and the plant design requires minimal fluctuations within a selected feed grade. In addition, the presence of limestone inter-fingered with ore in some areas of the deposit results in dilution problems which may increase gangue acid consumption and therefore processing costs. Hence, selective mining is necessary to ensure the delivery of suitable ore to the processing plant, in order to keep the overall operating costs at a minimum. A complex control system is in place and is capable of a high degree of selectivity. The paper describes the grade control system in place at Skorpion Mine which ensures that the qualities of the blocks planned for mining and the material being mined meet the stringent process requirements of the refinery, i.e zinc grade, gangue acid consumption and deleterious elements that may impact on the efficiency and costs of the metallurgical process. Keywords: Skorpion zinc, zinc oxide, supergene, volcano-sedimentary, grade control

Jan 1, 2007

By E. Amini

"While methods exist to allow the simulation and optimization of existing flotation operations, there is a deficit in the ability to predict the performance of a new ore type pre-processing. A laboratory scale batch flotation testing methodology has been developed to assess the flotation potential of ores (known as the JK Floatability Index or JKFI). Previous work conducted by Alexander and Collins (2008) showed that the test could be used to predict full scale results in base metal ores. In this work, JKFI tests were applied to three different types of ore and one blend from a greenfields gold deposit to show the test applicability to flotation of precious metals. The results from the JKFI test on one ore type were then used to predict the response of all ore types (including the blend). To validate the predicted kinetic parameters, a comprehensive survey was performed on a pilot plant where each of ore types was processed in the circuit. An acceptable agreement was found between the experimental recoveries and predicted recoveries which indicate the potential of this method for use in predicting the flotation response of an ore.INTRODUCTIONOver 100 years, flotation has been considered an efficient method to concentrate different types of sulphide and oxide minerals and coal. Thus, numerous research studies have been undertaken to find an appropriate model to predict the behaviour of particles in flotation circuits (Barnwal et. al., 2006; Bascur and Herbst, 1983; Cecile and Villeneuve, 1991; Deng et. al., 1996; Zheng et. al., 2006). Most methods are based on the ore flotation response in an industrial plant which is expensive and time consuming to characterise. It is difficult to reliably predict flotation response for new types of ores in industrial scale plants.The floatability component modelling (FCM) approach, developed within the Australian Minerals Industry Research Association (AMIRA) P9 project, has been used to derive models of operating flotation plants for the purpose of simulation and optimisation (Alexander and Morrison, 1998; Alexander et. al., 2000; Varadi, 2006). This approach has been applied at a large number of operating sites treating a wide variety of ores. The approach requires metallurgical surveys to be undertaken in conjunction with batch flotation tests and cell characterisation. This allows ore and machine parameters to be derived, which are then used in the P9 Flotation Model. The development of a FCM generally requires a large commitment of resources and time. While there has been significant support of this approach in industry, the FCM approach is limited to ores already being processed (Runge, 2004; Wightman, 2006)."

Jan 1, 2009

By Jerry Danni

In order to remain viable today, corporations must view the environment as a strategic issue, and integrate environmental management throughout the organization. Corporate programs that used to be based primarily on regulatory compliance now must emphasize strategic environmental management systems, and must integrate these environmental systems with basic business functions. The mining industry today is global, and must have an organizational structure that can embrace different cultures, physical settings, and regulatory regimes. Sound environmental management practices are not different from good management principles. An effective environmental management system should be a complementary system to an organization?s overall management framework, integrated and aligned with the existing management structure. Integrating environmental management into core business functions is just good business. An effective environmental management system is a critical component of a company?s commitment to environmental, social and economic accountability. This paper presents the elements of the Kinross Gold Corporation strategic environmental management system and discusses the integration of the environmental management system into the core business functions throughout the Company

May 1, 2003

The University of Illinois, by Prof. H. H. Stock, professor of mining engineering, sent out to its mining students a long letter urging them to attend a Chicago meeting of the Institute. It stated that the University Council authorized the remission of the registration fee for sophomore, junior and senior mining engineers who would attend the meetings and present a written account of the sessions and excursions attended. Young engineers are rarely flushed at the beginning of their careers but if they ever expect to amount to anything at the end of 10-years-they are going to regret that they have not long been a member of the Insti-tute. So that the slogan "Do it now" is snore than particularly appli-cable in their cases and nothing will better indicate to them the scope of the Institute's work and the advantages which they are to get from mem-bership than attendance at one of the big meetings of the Institute and the preparation of a written report on the sessions and excursions attended to be returned to the University.

Jan 11, 1919

By Roswell Johnson

To know the rate of decline of oil wells is very important, yet ordinarily we are prevented from getting this rate because the oil from several wells is put into one or a few tanks as soon as the wells have been connected to the power. The object of doing this is economy of tanks, pipes, labor and accounting. FIG. 1. But we are making a great sacrifice for this small economy. The advantages of the individual records are that we would know better: 1. When the well has ceased to be profitable. 2. When a well has gotten into bad condition. 3. The real record of the yield per acre and the rate of decline of the wells. The lease total is too mixed as to age of the wells for existing records to have much significance. To obtain such individual well records and more accurate logs are the great desiderata of satisfactory management of oil properties. 4. Which wells show the slowest decline-information which is valuable in locating new wells or purchasing adjoining leases.

Jan 6, 1917

By Bell LC

Overburden removal, mining and reclamation are now accepted as the basic operational steps involved in the winning of coal by open cut methods. To attain the lowest operational cost, the recontouring and revegetation of spoilpiles must be planned concurrently with the planning of overburden removal and mining. The earthworks associated with reclamation work on spoilpiles often account for 75 - 90 per cent of total reclamation costs. Experience at Callide Mine has shown that the way that spoilpiles are contoured does influence water retention and can reduce erosion from rainfall run-off. However, provided the recontoured slopes meet'Mines Department specifications, the quality of reclamation work is judged not by the quality of the earthworks but by the plant regrowth on the reshaped surface. Thus it is the quality of the revegetation which is of prime importance. For vegetation to be successful, time must be spent on planned research into methods of overcoming plant nutrient deficiencies and selection of suitable grass and tree species. The research programme undertaken at Callide Mine consists of three stages :- laboratory studies glasshouse trials field trials

Jan 1, 1978

By C. R. Fettke, Bela Hubbard

During the summer of 1916, while on a visit to the United States Agricultural Experiment Station at Mayaguez, Porto Rico, the writers were told by D. W. May, the director, that an occurrence of manganese ore had been reported from the mesa southeast of Mayaguez. A visit to the locality showed that the mesa is covered by a mantle of bright red soil resting upon serpentine. Here and there over its surface concretionary masses of limonite have been mashed out of this soil. These were apparently mistaken for manganese ore. On account of the similarity of this occurrence to the extensive iron deposits of northeastern Cuba, it was thought that a brief description based upon a two days'reconnaissance survey of the area mould be of scientific interest. Mayaguez is on the west coast of Porto Rico, at Mayaguez Bay, which is the third in importance of the harbors of the island. The city itself is about 3/4 mile inland on the low-lying plain at the mouth of the

Jan 1, 1920