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By John M. Loveioy

EVERY producer of crude oil knows what is meant by the Rule or Law of Capture. It means that the ultimate ownership of a migratory substance such as oil is not determined until that substance is reduced to physical possession. Unless, therefore, the producer moves quickly to capture his share from the common pool, he may lose to any neighbor who is drilling and producing more rapidly than he a portion of the oil originally underlying his property. And there is no recourse open to him if his property is so drained. Under this rule it is obvious that the owner of an oil property, if he is to protect his' ownership, must be governed in his development and production policies by the activities of his neighbor rather than by his own business requirements. He must drill as densely and as fast as the other operators in the field or lose part of the oil to which he should be entitled.

Jan 1, 1936

By Fearnsides W. G.

The second part of the paper, presented at the Midland Institute of Mining, Civil and Mechanical Engineers' general meeting held in Doncaster on 27th May 1916, addresses the post-Carboniferous and pre-Permian movements which brought about the partition of the area and gave to the North Midland district its individuality as a separate coalfield. As earth-movements of several ages subsequent to the Carboniferous have played a part in the formation of this particular coalfield, the aim is to elucidate the effects which belong to the post-Carboniferous and pre-Permian Period and to disentangle them from those of later date. This is done by comparing the geometry of the folded surface of one of the more important horizons in the Coal-Measures with that of the surface of unconformity which divides the Permian from the Carboniferous rocks in South Yorkshire, Derbyshire, and Nottinghamshire

Dec 1, 1916

By August J. Kwitowski

This report presents the results of a joint Bureau of Mines-U.S. Department of Energy project that evaluated a newly developed low-coal mining system: the 4M miniminer system. The evaluation took place from April through October 1981 and determined potential health, safety, and productivity factors for the mining system using the surface test facilities at Bruceton, PA. The planning, testing, results of testing, and a summary evaluation of the 4M miniminer system are included in the report. The miniminer system was found to be a very good concept with future potential for safe, healthful, and economic production in thin-seam mining. The mining system was also judged to have considerable potential for use in some coal seams that are presently considered unminable by other existing mining equipment. The preproduction, prototype version of the miniminer system that was tested suffered from several safety and production problems. These problems are also described, along with suggested remedies.

Jan 1, 1989

By Alfred Weiss

These volumes report on the study initiated by the U. S. Bureau of Mines to develop and apply a methodology to quantitatively assess the probability and potential benefits of technological innovation over the next twenty-five years. The potential was recognized for new technology to solve copper industry problems in the United States. Objectives of the study were to: (1) Develop a methodology to obtain the opinions of mineral experts about future events -their likelihood of occurrence, and, conditional on occurrence, when and to what extent they are likely to occur; (2) Identify, select, and describe potential technological innovations which would have significant impact on copper production; (3) Implement the methodology and obtain the opinions of the mineral experts regarding selected copper technologies; and (4) Analyze the expected future benefits of successful technological innovations :n the copper industry. Although individual technologies are continuously examined throughout the copper 'community', this study is the first known comprehensive forecast of future copper technology. This study is also believed to be unique 1n that it represents the consensus opinion of over sixty expert copper technologists on the expected use of innovative technology in the industry over the next 25 years. The report is contained in three volumes.

Jan 1, 1983

By G. W. Brooks

This short article is quite different to the general run of papers that are presented to the Institute, but no apology is offered because I consider that first-aid and mine-rescue work are of equal importance to many other subjects that are dealt with in our Transactions. Members of the Institute should be as much interested in the safety of persons engaged in the mining industry as they are in the practical methods of modern mining. We must not only do our best to conserve life and property by adopting every known device to that end, but we must also prepare ourselves so that we may take prompt and effective action when life is in danger, or when property is subject to loss. The need for such preparation in Alberta is perhaps greater than in most places where mining is carried on, and we must spare no effort to assemble at every mine men who are well trained in first-aid and mine-rescue work. The large area over which the mines are distributed renders central training stations out of the question, hence the need for local rescue-teams. Hospitals with skilled staffs, close enough to the mines to be convenient, also seem to be out of the question; therefore the greater need of a high standard of first-aid training for the people in our mining camps. The Government mine-rescue cars are supplied with the equipment necessary for training persons in this essential work and also for dealing with disasters should they occur. The question then arises: are there a sufficient number of men who are trained ? If so we can rest assured that what is possible to be done will be done. But if a sufficient number of trained men are not available much loss of life and damage to property is likely to result.

Jan 1, 1925

By d&apos, Kathleen J. Amico

This summary appears in Minerals Year-book volumes I and III, which cover mineral production in the United States, its island possessions, the Canal Zone, and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, as well as the principal minerals imported into and exported from the United States. The several commodity and area chapters contain further details on production. A summary table comparing world and U.S. mineral production also is included. Mineral production may be measured at any of several stages of extraction and processing. The stage of measurement used in the chapter is normally what is termed "mine output." It usually refers to minerals in the form in which they are first extracted from the ground, but customarily includes for some minerals the product of auxiliary processing operations at or near mines.

Jan 1, 1966

By Anders Erlandsson

"The crude ores from the LKAB mines are sorted and refined into a number of products. As there are a number of different plants the flow of material is often complex.in connection with studies of a proposed extensive investment program it was necessary to get a good measure of the changes which would be caused in the total profit by the different possible investments. A linear programming model was set up to accomplish this, and to cover the consequential effects on the production system. The objective function of the model maximized the total profit, taking into account restrictions in materials balances, blending conditions, production capacities and market. The changes in total profit resulting from the different investment alternatives, together with investment and fixed costs, were used in a series of investment analyses. The application has proved to be very successful and the results come very near to what was expected."

Jan 1, 2014

By Balmer Neilly

We are regularly told that before making a new investment one should seek the advice of his banker. If we were to place the subject matter of this paper before bankers. other than those who have experience in our mining camps, their reply would probably be evasive. However, if for example: a mining company asks them for a loan and offers as security certain mining investments, they are, in most cases, explosively candid. The idea is preposterous, unless, under Section 88 of the Bank Act, the mining company is able to deposit with the bank, gold or silver bullion, to an amount sufficiently in excess of the loan, to provide for what the banker describes as a reasonable margin of safety in case of contingencies. In addition the directors of the mine personally must jointly and severally guarantee payment of the loan. With any of these conditions missing the banking atmosphere becomes chilly. The local manager explains that the general situation, and particularly European conditions, are so unsettled that head office has warned him that his discretionary powers must not be exceeded under any circumstances.

Jan 1, 1924

By Dominique Francois-Bongarcon

The rational and optimal determination of the design of a mining exploitation is a very intricate and difficult problem : the parameters are numerous, some technical, some economic or technico-economic which cannot be fully controlled; beside, deposits are estimated from very limited information and the choice criteria are not always quantitative, the economic context has to be anticipated by several years, and even the technological limits can change tomorrow. So, although very clever and performing numerical algorithms have been developed in recent years for open-pit design, we consider that this problem has not really been solved satisfactorily until now. The reasons are that people have concentrated their efforts on informatical algorithmical problems, and have assumed that the technical and economical data are well defined at the time of the study, which is generally not true. In particular, the mere fact of assigning dollar- values to blocks in order to maximize the total cash-flow is generally unrealistic because of the uncertainty of the data used. Consequently, the significance of the unique pit obtained as a result of these algorithms is questionable.

Jan 1, 1981

By J. Kevin Cotchen

The results of "submerged arc" electric furnace processing of a variety of materials is discussed with respect to the process and products, including the characteristics of the products (e.g. TCLP or Toxicity Characteristics Leaching Procedure). The materials melted include slags and wastes containing various metal oxides including copper, tin, lead, zinc, chrome, nickel and other associated elements. The findings of these tests are compared to those reported in the literature for other operations treating similar "wastes".

Jan 1, 1992

By Nicholas Kyriazi

The Bureau of Mines has been developing breathing and metabolic simulator technology since 1970. Breathing simulation has been widely achieved throughout the world and used in the testing of open-circuit breathing apparatus, but satisfactory metabolism simulation has not been achieved. This situation required that the testing of closed-circuit breathing apparatus, which are the only type used in mines, be done using human test subjects. The goal was a machine that could accurately simulate both the breathing and the metabolic functions of a human being for testing of closed-circuit breathing apparatus. The advantages of using such a machine instead of a human being for testing respiratory protective devices lie in its ability to quantify metabolic input, its repeatability, and the lack of a need to deal with the vagaries of human subjects. This report will describe the breathing and metabolic simulators that have been developed and used by the Bureau over the past 15 yr.

Jan 1, 1986

By R. Hendrickson

In the 1940's a top blown water-cooled oxygen lance was developed to inject oxygen into liquid iron. This process, the LD or BOF process technique, today is used in 65% of the world's steel production, and represents the largest oxygen market for temperature enhancement in steel and non-ferrous smelting applications. There are three major approaches to the use of oxygen in metallurgical processes: (1) general enrichment of the air supplied to burners or tuyeres, (2) under-flame enrichment or injection, and (3) the use of an auxiliary oxy-fuel burner as a heat source. With each of these techniques there are technical and economic trade-offs.

Jan 1, 1990

By Gibson J.

The writer hopes to prove that the economical tram is of even greater importance than, say, the economical engine, and as no difficult and involved calculations are required, and all the governing facts are simple and well known, the former is more easily attainable than the latter. In the first section of this paper the factors that determine the size and the construction of the tram are examined; whilst in the second section the road on which it runs is dealt with

Dec 1, 1916

By H. J. Oterdoom

SMS Group (SMSG) has always been concerned about safety aspects of electric smelter plants for the ferro-alloy and non-ferrous industry. The awareness for safety increased significantly over the past decades and also SMSG contributed with its design features to a safer operation. Today, safety aspects are not only part of the smelter design but also of the overall plant layout. Explosions in electric smelters are rare, but have a huge impact on peoples’ lives, on equipment and on production. For this reason, SMSG wanted to have a better overview of explosions within the smelting industry in order to see if useful statistics could be extracted. Generally, there is a lack of statistics regarding explosions in the electric smelting industry, and not enough information is collected or published. A significant portion of the explosions seems to be water related. Many companies, both operating and engineering, are trying to handle the risks of water, and apply methods to detect water leakages. Installing such a system is a management decision and management has then to make sure the system is properly implemented. The disadvantages and limitations of these systems should be carefully considered and communicated to operators and authorities.

Jan 1, 2015

By A. J. Dickson, A. M. Starfield

This paper reviews the progress made to date in the development of computer models of heat and moisture transfer from rock surfaces to the ventilating air in deep-level mines. The application of these programs to ventilation planning and design is discussed.

Jan 1, 2014

By H. M. Chance

Jan 1, 1886

By Joseph M. Pugliese

The Bureau of Mines through its contract research program recently analyzed the mining and environmental requirements in the premining stage for copper mining in the northern highland of Wisconsin. The Critical-Path-Method (CPM) was used in this research. However, a step-by-step derivation of the CPM Diagram was beyond the scope of this effort. The Bureau of Mines objective now is to show, step by step, how the original hand-computed CPM Diagram was constructed. The streamlining (restructuring) of this diagram from the original effort is also summarized. The critical path time (longest time) through the original CPM Diagram was 25.12 yr, excluding public liaison effort. This diagram showed the involvement of the regulatory agency, mining applicant and public in the premining stage. Analysis of this diagram produced a streamlined version which reduced the critical path time by nearly 7 yr. The CPM construction methodology offered here may be applied to mine planning for any mining operation.

Jan 1, 1983

By C. S. Gibson

INTRODUCTION I WELCOME the opportunity to speak on Programmes in Safety. The invitation to do so shows that those guiding affairs of the Institute in this District realize the practical importance of this subject. My remarks are intended primarily for mines having 100 to 400 employees, approximately. With minor modifications, however, they apply also to larger or smaller operations. Others, I hope, will derive benefit from this paper, for they, too, have a part to play in accident prevention; for example, contractors such as shaft-sinkers; manufacturers of equipment; and consultants and designers of mining, milling, and metallurgical methods. These troubled times stress, as never before, the importance of efficient operations in mining. The days are gone when neglect can be afforded. Safe working conditions and satisfied employees are essential for efficient production at reasonable cost. The mining industry of Ontario long has been keenly aware of the human aspects of this subject, and as a whole it has done much to decrease the frequency and severity of disabling accidents. The number of fatalities per 1,000 employees has been reduced from a high of 5 some two decades ago to an all-time low of 0.89 in 1948; the incidence was slightly higher in 1949, being 1.17 per 1,000. The reduction in non-fatal compensable accidents also has been outstanding, frequency having ?been reduced from over 200 per 1,000 employees some two decades ago to 54 per 1,000 at the producing mines in 1949. These statistics demonstrate progress. Nevertheless, the general picture still leaves much to be desired when viewed from two other angles.

Jan 1, 1951

By Primak. George J.

"In the development of a new product as well as during its introduction on the market, it is very important to give due consideration to problems involving patents, licenses and trade marks. At the very beginning of the research and development program, it is obviously essential to ascertain, through a suitable patent search, that the product in question will not infringe any patents which are still in force. Then, a possibility of achieving one's own patent or proprietary position on the product or the process of its manufacture should be carefully explored. Licensing arrangements that one may reach with respect to patents and know-how covering such new product may, in the final analysis, determine its over-all success or failure. If one can count on licensing revenues or some favourable cross-licensing arrangements with respect to a newly developed product, this may go a long way to achieving profitability and success. The selection of a good trade mark is probably one of the most important acts that one has to perform once the product is developed, as customers will identify the new product by such a trade mark. In many instances, successful marketing and widespread acceptance of a product are largely due to its appealing name or trade mark, accompanied by proper promotion and advertising. Once the trade mark has been adopted, it should be registered in the Trade Marks Office to provide the protection afforded by federal statute. If the product is to be manufactured, sold or licensed in some other countries, similar considerations should be made with regard to each such country."

Jan 1, 1973

By D. Weston

"IntroductionIn preserving this paper, the author would like to acknowledge the basic development work carried out by the Consolidated Mining & Smelting Company of Canada, without whose initiative the development of the Aerofoll mill would not have been possible. In particular, he would like to pay tribute to the late Mr. C. T. Oughtred, Superintendent of Concentration for Cominco, whose vision and research-mindedness was the chief contributing factor in the carrying alo.ng of the original development.He would like also to acknowledge the help and co-operation of the staff of the Mines Branch, Department of Mines and Technical Surveys, Ottawa, without which the finalization of the un.it and its application would have been many additional years in coming to industry; and the assistance and encouragement given so freely by Mr. C. W. Dowsett, Consulting Metallurgical Engineer, Ventures Limited, and Professor A. M. Gaudin, Massachusetts Institute of Technology."

Jan 1, 1950