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By J. Ruben Velasco, Roland B. Mulchay

CANANEA has long been recognized as a remarkable field for geologic study. The copper deposits and rocks of the district have been described by many geologists and engineers, but only the most general correlations have been made between Cananea sedimentary rocks and other known sedimentary sections in the southwestern United States and northern Mexico. The present paper describes the Cananea sediments in greater detail than has been done before and attempts to fit the Cananea sedimentary section more closely into the geologic time table. The lack of well-preserved fossils has made it difficult to date the sediments accurately in geo- logic time, but it is possible to make tentative correlations between the Cananea sediments and the southeastern Arizona sections, based largely upon lithology and general position in the geologic column. It appears that sedimentation at Cananea and Bisbee may have been closely similar during Paleozoic time. Even such generalized correlations, however, may be subject to considerable modification in the future. The present study has led to the recognition of other problems of age and mineralization relationships in the Cananea district. Cananea is located in the north-central part of the state of Sonora, Mexico, at an elevation of 5270 ft. It is about 135 miles northeast of Hermosillo, the state capital, and 25 miles south of the international boundary. By road Cananea is 40 miles from the twin towns of Naco, Ariz., and Naco, Sonora, and about 50 miles from Bisbee, Ariz. It is served by the Nogales-Naco branch of the railroad, F.C. Pacifico, and is connected with Chihuahua and Mexico City by the Aeronaves airline.

Jan 6, 1954

By Raymond Howe

SOME time ago,, a prominent engineer asked a representative of the firebrick industry to prepare a comprehensive paper on blast-furnace refractories. It was to have been the purpose of this paper to gather practical experiences from widely different sources, in the hope of determining what kind or kinds of firebrick were best adapted for certain uses. This engineer sent questionnaires to the large consumers of blast-furnace linings and stovebrick and received very detailed replies as to their experiences. These replies are conflicting, but, having been turned over to the writer, form the basis of this attempt to meet the request. Because of the impossibility of making final recommendations at this time, a few of the more interesting and commonly known methods of studying refractories are also discussed, as well as the more recent developments in this field. The first reply to, the questionnaire stated that good service was being secured from the linings. This satisfactory condition was attributed to the use of a very good distributor. The writer believed that manufacturers try to and do produce a good product and that the proper handling of equipment is of the utmost importance, if good results are to be secured. The type of bricks used was not mentioned. The second reply stated that good life was secured from the furnace linings, but that the writer had had soft-fired stovebrick crumble and, for that reason, preferred a hard-fired product for use in this position. The type of bricks used was not mentioned. The third reply stated that firebrick had crumbled from the mantle up; the cause was not known. The fourth reply stated that the stove linings were satisfactory. Hand-made furnace linings failed after 4 years' service so a steam-pressed lining was installed which was still good after 4 years of service. Consequently, a second steam-pressed lining was installed but this disintegrated at the top after the furnace had been in- blast 7 months. The firebrick manufacturer attributed this failure to the expansion of iron blocks that had been installed at the stock line to prevent erosion.

Jan 9, 1919

By R. L. Slobod, B. H. Caudle

In the past, the main emphasis in attacking the problem of the recovery of oil has been on the determination of fluid flow characteristics and residual oil saturation in the part of the reservoir which is contacted by a displacing phase. It is recognized that the determination of the fraction of the reservoir contacted in secondary recovery operations is also of great importance in predicting the ultimate recovery to be expected. A method is described in which radiographic techniques are used to determine these areal sweepout factors for any type of well spacing. Data showing the relationship of viscosity ratio and relative permeability to areal sweepout efficiency are presented for the five spot and the direct line drive well spacing patterns. Further applications of the method to studies of the displacement efficiency in the area contacted are mentioned. INTRODUCTION The problem of increasing oil recovery from typical reservoirs is generally attacked by trying to devise some means for reducing the residual oil in that part of the reservoir which is contacted. The fraction of the reservoir contacted in the displacement process. however, is also of major importance but has been given less consideration in the past. one reason for this neglect is the meager information available on the portion of the reservoir contacted and the magnitude of changes in this factor as operating conditions are varied. Until recently, the only means available for determining this quantity has involved the use of the electrolytic or poten-tiometric modelsl in which one is limited to working with a mobility ratio of unity. while means for calculating the volume of a reservoir contacted do exist. the calculations are very tedious for systems with mobility ratio different from unity. Recently several such determinations have been reported,213 and an experimental method involving a step-wise use of potentiometric models has been described.' A new method which has been developed for studying the areal distribution of phases in a porous medium is discussed below. This tool can be' used to determine the effect of operating variables such as viscosity, relative permeability, presence of gas, mobility ratio, rate and stratification on the fraction of the reservoir contacted by the displacing medium. This development based on the use of X-rays gives a pictorial representation of the location of the phases. Further, the amount of each phase at each point of interest can be determined quantitatively. X-RAY METHOD FOR AREAL STUDIES In this method the location of various phases distributed Over a test area are observed simultaneously by obtaining a photographic record of the transmission of X-rays through the test plate. This procedure is an adaptation of the radiographic techniques which have 10% been used in the medical and industrial fields. Just as the medical profession uses a chest plate to show spatial interrelationships, the location of an X-ray absorbing fluid and a nonabsorbing fluid in a porous medium can be determined by obtaining a photographic record of transmitted X-rays. Moreover, as changes occur in such a System, these changes can be observed by taking successive photographs. Previously, X-ray methods have been used in fluid flow studies to determine quantitatively the saturation at a given point in the system. The intensity of the transmitted X-rays was measured by an ionization chamber, so that a point by point survey of saturation could be made. In comparison with this earlier quantitative procedure, the photographic procedure which simultaneously observes the saturation at many

Jan 1, 1952

By W. F. Stowasser

A downdraft traveling grate process to agglomerate pelletized iron ore concentrates has been successfully demonstrated in a pilot plant at Carrollville, Wis. Work there followed several years of development in the Allis-Chalmers Mfg. Co. laboratories, and the pilot plant phase was carried out in co-operation with Arthur G. McKee & Co., consultants and engineers to the iron and steel industry. End result of the process is conversion of iron ore concentrates into a form which can easily be transported and smelted in the blast furnace.

Jan 5, 1955

By Herbert E. Lindberg

Laboratory-scale intact and jointed rock masses were tested in field and laboratory experiments to investigate tunnel response in high stress environments. In most of the experiments the tunnels were modeled by a rigid-plastic foam polyurethane with a crush strength of 3.4 MPa (500 psi) and emphasis was placed on jointed rock parameters: joint sets (single set of parallel plane joints versus a double set of orthogonal parallel plane joints), joint plane angle with respect to the direct loading direction, and joint spacing. Other parameters were loading stress, loading direction, and tunnel reinforcement strength. Results show quantitatively the increase in tunnel deformation in jointed compared with intact rocks, double versus single joint sets, and large versus small angle between the joint plane normal and the loading direction. A surprising result was the decreases in tunnel deformation with increases in the number of joints across a tunnel diameter. The efficacy of scale modeling with laboratory-constructed rock was tested by modeling complex reinforced concrete and steel tunnel reinforcements in jointed rock masses and comparing the results with large scale tunnels previously fielded in highly jointed granite. Tunnel response was reproduced in surprising detail, including concrete fracture, steel liner bending and fracture, and critical load to produce these responses. The scale models also allowed sectioning of the jointed rock masses to observe gross sliding along the joints that accompanied tunnel failure.

Jan 1, 1982

Discussion o f Papers. Meetings of the Institute offer opportunity for social acquaintance and exchange of ideas, for the--presentation of papers, and-for discussions. thereon ; also incidentally for viewing under especially favorable conditions mining operations and industrial establishments, and for hospitalities which demonstrate the brotherhood clue to kindred interests. Placing sociability prominent is not to be assumed as relegating other features of meetings to subordinate positions; but during about 40 years of membership in the Institute, the value of acquaintances formed (often ripening into close friendship), and the interchange of data, have frequently demonstrated that the social feature of meetings is of great and lasting value to the membership. Of a roll embracing 4,011 members, resident in all parts of our country, and scattered in various portions of the world, only a small fraction are able to attend meetings, even if the localities selected are alternately widely separated. Hence, the return which most members receive for their annual assessment of dues is limited to the publications issued, and the credit of being recognized as a. member of a great and worthy organization. The greater the value of the contents of our publication, the fuller the return which goes to members. While the Institute disavows responsibility for views or statements made ill papers which appear in its Transactions, the fact that these contributions, after passing proper censorship, are accepted by the Institute and spread before the world may properly be received by the writers as endorsements of their (the writers') ability to present a specific technical or industrial proposition worthy of being carefully read. But the mere presentation and publication of contributed papers falls short of fulfilling one important feature of our meetings. If the purpose is confined to having the writers' views, discoveries, theories, or methods published, this can be obtained through the technical or trade journals and magazines. The true value of a paper presented at a meeting of the Institute may often be gauged by the discussion which it encourages, although there are contributions of decided value which do not especially invite discussion. However, most Of the papers offered contain statements apt to encourage criticism or elaboration by others whose experience or knowledge, or both, assist in combating or endorsing statements made.

Jan 7, 1913

By K. V. Hoover, D. M. Lapham

In Pennsylvania, 310 sampled sites of clay and shale have been studied with regard to potential use, lithology, physical properties, fired properties, major-element chemical analyses, and quantitative five-component X-ray mineralogy. Approximately 80% of the samples are of some potential use. Binary correlations of test data vs. potential use indicate that certain empirically determined parameters may be critical. These are: lithology, particularly for medium to superduty refractories and lightweight aggregate; kaolinite content for refractories vs. low-temperature fired product sources; quartz analyses with an apparent necessary minimum quantity for brick; quartz content, which is low in high grades of lightweight aggregate; mica content, which is low for refractories and possibly high for lightweight aggregate; total iron, which is low for refractories and shows a 4.0% minimum for lightweight aggregate; carbon dioxide, which is low for refractories, beneficial in lightweight aggregate, and probably restrictive for some tiles; chlorite-vermicalite, which is low for refractories and possibly beneficial in lightweight aggregate. In Pennsylvania, clay and shale materials constitute one of the state's major economic mineral resources. To date, the testing program indicates considerable development potential in brick, tile, and lightweight aggregate industries and perhaps a future potential for aluminum from shales that exceed 20% AID..

Jan 1, 1972

By Jan M. Mutmansky

A knowledge of rock characteristics forms the foundation for the application of rock mechanics to engineering works. Hence, there has been an increased interest in the determination and proper utilization of rock properties data. Most numerical values quoted for rock properties are obtained from arbitrary tests and are not necessarily indicative of any intrinsic rock characteristics. Recent attempts to correlate these properties by statistical methods have attracted considerable attention, in the hope that these might give some clue to the fundamental properties. To date, correlation and regression techniques have been employed for this purpose. The use of statistics has also been deemed appropriate because of inhomogeneity and anisotropy in rocks. The problems have been further compounded by the lack of standardized methods of measuring rock properties. The various ASTM committees are still deliberating on these matters, but recommendations should be forthcoming in the near future. As more reliable data become available, the ability of geoscientists to find more meaningful relationships between rock properties will be greatly enhanced. The objective of this paper is to outline another statistical technique which might be useful in providing an insight into the relationships that exist between rock properties. This method does not attempt to predict rock characteristics, but rather compares the similarity or dissimilarity between properties. This enables rock properties to be classified into groups with similar intrinsic characteristics. The technique described is one form of factor analysis. It allows the results obtained to be depicted geometrically, so as to make ready visual examination possible.

Jan 1, 1968

By W. H. Smith

IN the course of an investigation on chromium containing minor amounts of alloying elements, the information herein has been obtained on the crys-tallographic orientations resulting from arc melting, rolling, and annealing. The chromium used in this investigation was electrolytic flake obtained from the Electro Metallurgical Co. This material was heated for 20 hr at 1600°C in hydrogen with a dew point of about — 100°C. The oxygen and nitrogen content of the chromium after this treatment was 0.0003 pct 0 and 0.005 pct N. Five pounds of this chromium were arc melted in a water-cooled copper crucible. After arc melting, the oxygen and nitrogen contents were 0.002 and 0.025 pet, respectively. A section of this ingot is shown in Fig. 1. By means of a back-reflection Laue technique, the crystal habit of the cast ingot was determined. As expected, it was found that the [loo] was approximately the axis of the columnar grains. In this respect, chromium behaves like other body-centered-cubic metals in that a cubic axis is normal to the cold surface of the mold. A slab cut from this ingot was rolled at 600°C as follows: four 30 pct reductions were made with intermediate anneals at 1200°C for 15 min. Rolling was done with the [loo] of the columnar grains in the rolling direction. Following the final anneal, an 80 pct reduction was taken at 600 °C. The final sheet thickness was ten mils. By polishing and etching, the thickness was reduced to four mils and the grain orientation determined by the transmission Laue method using molybdenum radiation with a zirconium filter. Fig. 2 is the (110) pole figure for this material with the ideal (100) [011] and (111) [112] orientations indicated. The orientation is typical of most cold rolled body-centered-cubic metals having the [llO] of the grains approximately in the rolling direction and the (100) planes approximately in the plane of the rolled sheet. There is also evidence of some 10) [1 orientation. The grain orientation of sheet rolled 40 and 80 pct in the same direction as before at 600°C followed by recrystallization at 12000 C for 15 min was determined by a back-reflection Laue technique. A random texture was found in both cases. This 1200°C 15 min anneal was found to give complete recrystallization and some grain growth.

Jan 1, 1956

By R. E. Delavault, H. V. Warren

In normal soils there are usually 10 to 50 parts of copper in every million parts of .soil. Only 0.2 to .5 pct of this copper can be found by any simple cold chemical attack. Now, with rubeanic mid reagent paper, a prospector or field geologist can detect as little us 4 ppm of readily available copper ill soil. This degree, of sensiticity is enough to determine the presence. of copper anamalous an as and, ecentually, to discouer copper mineralization. Circumstances determine whether it is better to make analyses in the field or in a permanent laboratory. The rubeanic acid test described in this article has been designed primarily for field use: it is simple and virtually foolproof, and it requires a minimum of field kit." It is sensitive, easily de- • Ed. Note: Persons Interested in purchasing kits suitable for rubeanic acid prospecting can obtain information by writing Eldrico Geophysical Sales Ltd., 633 Hornby Street. Vancouver 1, B.C. The University of British Columbia does not produce these kits for sale and has no financial interest in their production tecting 4 ppm of readily extractable copper in a soil. This is by no means a quantitative test, but it is accurate enough to provide a valuable indicator of copper anomalous areas for both prospectors and field geologists. The easiest method for detecting metal deposits that do not produce visible float or stains is to make a simple chemical test for the metal in overlying soil, or in the silt of a stream that may have picked up metal farther upstream. In Brief: Testing for copper may be done easily by shaking a soil sample with strong acetic solution in a small test tube and pouring the mud into a small filter, the tip of which rests upon a strip of reagent paper impregnated with rubeanic acid (di-thio-oxamide). When copper is present—and only when it is—a blue spot develops. The more copper, the darker the spot. If the copper content is merely the small amount present everywhere, there is a pale blue or hardly visible spot; if it is abnormally high, the spot will be dark. There are, of course, intermediate cases where the experienced geochemist cannot tell offhand whether a medium-strength spot represents rich agricultural soil, weak copper mineralization, or distant rich copper mineralization. Reagents and material are inexpensive; the test may be readily done on the spot with a simple kit easy to pack and handle. Anyone interested in general problems of soil sampling as applied to prospecting may refer to an article recently presented to the AIME. In exploration work it is the contrast between the metal content of anomalous and background areas that is important; absolute values become of greater interest when an anomalous area is being investigated in detail. With specific reference to copper, it has been the authors' experience that the amounts of metal extracted from anomalous and normal soils with buffer solutions of decreasing pH show better contrast if an acid reagent is used. This contrast tends to increase with increasing acidity until 3 to 4 pH is reached. Using a short cold attack on unheated soil, it has been found that further increases in acidity do not produce better results, and only increase the hazards involved in carrying strong acids. An acidity of about pH 4 is satisfactory for direct determination of copper by dithizone. But dithizone itself introduces some problems: it must be made up fresh at frequent intervals, and with some soils, notably those with much ferric iron, oxidation mag take place before all the copper has reacted with the dithizone. Rubeanic acid keeps its strength unimpaired for long periods, is unaffected by oxidation, and is practically specific for copper at pH 4. Consequently it seems an ideal reagent to use in prospecting for copper. History and Background: Rubeanic acid (systematic name: dithio-oxamide (SC-NH2) has long been known as a spot test reagent for some heavy metals with which it gives a number of compounds. Only copper and some metals of the platinum family are believed capable of providing any ru-beanate compounds under conditions of moderate

Jan 1, 1959

By W. B. Devereux

The special mriditions under which gold occurs in the Potsdam formation of the Black Hills prew~lt features worthy of a more systematic pesentation than they have heretofore received. The notes

Jan 1, 1882

By John Hays Hammond

The following notes are descriptive of a country as yet in its infancy as regards the advancement made in mining operations. Its inaccessibility and other militating circumstances have retarded progress in that direction. With the completion of the railroad, now under construction, having the city of Cali as its objective point, with the concomitant civilizing and developing consequences, it is certain that the slopes of the Cordilleras will prove to be a South American Eldorado. Deposits of coal, copper, and minerals other than those of the precious metals are known to exist in quantities which, under more favorable conditions of accessibility, etc., could be profitably mined. The Government of the United States of Colombia, I think, is disposed to encourage and foster mining enterprises. Articles designed for mining are admitted free of duty; the permanency of the government is, at least, as well assured as that of Mexico (which is not noted for its immutability), and a more sincerely friendly sentitment towards Americans prevails in the United States of Colombia than in Mexico. This paper is confined to a description of the property of the Cauca company's mines, and is intended rather as a preliminary notice than as an exhaustive report. The Cauca mining district is reached by the following route: New York to Aspinwall; to Panama; to Buenaventura, a port on the west coast of the United States of Colombia, distant thirty-six hours from Panama by steamer; to Cali in the State of Cauca. The State of Cauca is bounded on the north by the Atlantic Ocean, on the northwest by the State of Panama, on the northeast by the States of Bolivar and Antioquia, on the east by Brazil and Venzuela, on the south by the Republic of Ecuador, and on the west by the Pacific. Ocean. It has a territory of 41,443 square miles, which is about one-tenth of the entire territory of the United States of Colombia. Its population, including the 50,000 savage Indians of the Caqueta (some of whom are cannibals), is nearly 450,000 souls, or about one-sixth of the population of the Colombian republic. Of these, one-fifth are whites (Spanish' South Amer-

Jan 1, 1885

By David J. Dunn, Richard G. Martin

Of many physical parameters critical to design of grinding processes, impact of grinding media is among the most difficult to measure or predict. Yet impact of falling grinding balls, pebbles, or rods accomplishes the fine grinding essential to metallurgical recovery of most important minerals. Unfortunately, the same impacts that break ore fragments deform or crack grinding mill liners. A project was undertaken at Climax Molybdenum Company to measure impact forces in operating ball mills so that they might be used to calculate stresses in liner materials and be correlated with service performance of mill liner alloys. Towards that end, a method of measuring impact forces on ball mill liners using an instrumented grinding ball has been developed. Preliminary tests show that impact forces and contact stresses imposed on bare mill liners are quite high but are greatly reduced by cushioning when coarse ore particles are crushed between balls and liners.

Jan 4, 1978

By W. S. Gatley, F. C. Appl

This paper presents a combined analytical and experimental study of chisel penetration vs time during chisel impact on rock, a problem of fundamental importance in improving the performance of roller-cone bits or percussion drilling toots. For a given force-time relationship between chisel and rock, the problem of determining the penetration (displacement) vs time of the chisel is formidable. This is so because the rock is a nonlinear system with distributed mass and distributed damping (friction, dissipation of energy due to rupture, etc.). Since the literature does not contain adaptable solutions, the rock behavior to impact was simulated approximately by an "equivalent" lumped system, that is, an "equivalent" mass, spring, dashpot system. With this assumption, an analytical solution was found for chisel penetration vs time due to a sinusoidal load between chisel and rock. From this solution were found curves, in terms of dimension-less variables, for the maximum depth of penetration vs the frequency of the sinusoidal loading and for the energy transfer vs frequency. The results of this analysis were used to predict the penetration rate of rotary rock bits us rotary speed. The curve indicated that an optimum speed exists. To verify this analysis, an experimental apparatus was constructed and used to apply a sinusoidal pulse to a chisel penetrating a rock specimen under atmospheric conditions. Strain gauges were mounted on the chisel shank and a velocity transducer was mounted between the chisel and the rock surface. The velocity was integrated electrically and picked up simultaneously with the strain gauge signal on an oscilloscope. Permanent records were made photographically to provide simultaneous records of force us time and penetration us time. In comparing the experimental results for limestone and dolomite with the theoretical results, good agreement was found in the frequency range of the experiments. Unfortunately, the inertia effect (peak penetration) indicated by the theory occurs at a frequency much higher than could be obtained experimentally with the apparatus constructed. A "rate-of-loading" effect is indicated theoretically, but has not yet been verified experimentally. INTRODUCTION The process of drilling with percussion tools or rotary rock bits is basically related to the transient response of rock to surface impact. Each time a bit tooth contacts the rock, high stresses are developed which result in penetration and rock removal. As the tooth moves on, stresses are relieved and a new cycle begins as the next tooth contacts the rock. Thus the drilling process, which consists of an endless succession of these cycles, can be studied in terms of a single cycle. It is apparent, therefore, that the study of single-chisel impact on rock is fundamentally important in improving the performance of roller-cone and percussive-type drills. Previous studies in this area have been conducted by Simon1 and Hartman2 by means of drop tests. In these tests a chisel was attached to a weight and allowed to fall, due to the force of gravity, so that the chisel was driven into a rock specimen upon impact. Strain gauges were attached to the chisel shank and the resulting force-vs-time curves were recorded photographically from an oscilloscope screen. The depth of penetration and crater dimensions were also measured. These tests have provided much valuable information but, as mentioned by the investigators, have not provided complete information on the effect of "rate of loading'! This is partly due to the fact that the chisel motion during drop tests is not a controlled motion which can be varied in form and frequency. Therefore, it seemed that additional information could be obtained by studying chisel impact under conditions where both the motion and the frequency of loading could be controlled. This paper presents a combined analytical and exper-

By Ferdinand S. Ruttmann

There is now in use at the mines of the Chateaugay Ore and Iron Co., at Lyon Mountain, New York, an ore-concentrating machine or jig, which, in view of the increasing attention given to the subject of concentrating lean ores of iron, seems worthy of notice. This Conkling Jig, as it is called, is not entirely unknown, having been used at several places with more or less success; but as yet, I believe, no drawings of it or records of its work have found a place in print. Although the jig will be found to be merely an adaptation of old forms, there are several points which deserve attention, particularly the method of central discharge, of freeing the bearings from grit, and the rotation of the sieve or screen. The ore-body at Lyon Mountain consists of a bed of rather compact, granular magnetite, occurring in a gueiss formation. The side walls of the ore-body are not sharply defined, the ore 011 either side becoming gradually poorer as the distance from the central point of the body increases. It is this lean ore, which, before the introduction of the jigs, was thrown away as waste, that is now concentrated. The material treated conseqnently consists of magnetite, intermixed with the component parts of gneiss, viz. quartz, felspar, hornblende, and mica. Grains of trap also form part of this material. These come from dykes of trap, which cross the ore-body at intervals. The ore which is to be concentrated usually contains from 30 to 40 per cent. of metallic iron. It is first crushed to the size of two inches, or less, by two large Blake crushers. The material from these crushers passes by a shute lined with screens, having holes 2 inches in diameter, to a second set of four crushers, set so as to close to one inch. The product from this set of crushers, together with that which passes through the screens in the shute, is then taken by an elevator to the top of the mill, and passed through a revolving screen, perforated with ) inch holes. The ore which passes through the screen goes to the jig-hoppers ; that which passes over goes to a third

Jan 1, 1888

By Charles Catlett

AN examination of the census reports' for 1880, which contain a large number of complete analyses of typical American iron-ores, indicates that the existence of barium sulphate in intimate association with iron-ore is rather unusual. Of 94 analyses reported there, but four show any barium sulphate, and the maximum content amounts to 3.04 per cent. The note of the occurrence of considerable quantities of barite in connection with certain iron-ores found in the Pinar del Rio Province of Cuba may be of interest. These deposits are found near the little village of Francisco, about 25 miles west of the city of Pinar del Rio on the Western Railroad of Havana. The principal ridges are anticlines, and consist of very thick deposits of sandy shales and slates containing a large number of little veins of white quartz which, by the gradual disintegration of the mass of the material, is left covering the surface. This quartz occasionally shows sulphide, but is generally barren of any such indication. At times lenticular masses of a more or less pure limestone were observed in these slates. The shales, which are of light color, are occasionally talcose. The formation would tentatively be classed as the Lower Cambrian, and the heavy ridges of comparatively horizontal limestone found in the anticlinal valleys as the Upper Cambrian. Along the crest of these slaty ridges deposits of iron-ore are found which are apparently in place, and were probably formed by replacement of masses of limestone similar to those noted elsewhere. The ready disintegration of the slates, and the

Jul 1, 1907

By William Catron, Cyril U. Colledge

BECAUSE the rich La Colorada orebody of the Cananea Consolidated Copper Co. does not outcrop at surface, after its discovery (by churn drill) and before mining was begun, a large amount of development work was done to learn the shape and extent of the ore and to provide for economic and effective mining. As these openings progressed, the actual shape of the orebody became known and with this knowledge came the realization that mining this rich and unusual deposit without loss of ore or danger to workmen presented several difficult problems. This paper will describe one of these problems; namely, the handling of an inverted cone-shaped core of barren rock, on the periphery of and below which the ore occurred. It was clear that as the ore was mined out from around and under this inverted cone of rock, weighing about 3,000,000 tons, it would hang over the workings, held suspended only by its own tensile strength and threatening to crash into the stopes below with disastrous results to men and mine. The method of mining developed during the years 1928, 1929 and 1930 anticipated and provided for the eventual collapse of this core of rock. In November 1936 the core settled down gradually on the edges of the stopes descending a total of about 50 ft. vertically. The men in the stopes had ample warning and no lives were endangered. There were no air blasts in the mine. The core broke loose from its top support at the 500-ft. level along old fracture planes and evidently is crushed to the ninth level. Movement was of short duration; the following shift went to work in the stopes as usual. No ore was lost. GEOLOGICAL STRUCTURE The shape of the orebody is illustrated in Fig. 1. The geology of the Colorada orebody has been described by V. D. Perry1 and by W. G.

Jan 1, 1938

By C. W. Hill

FLUXES, in general, may be classified according to their use as soldering, foundry or casting, and metallurgical and the chemistry of their action follows quite closely this division. The term foundry or casting fluxes, as used here, refers to the substances added to molten metals, preparatory to casting into molds or ingots, with the object of removing small amounts of impurities that have been introduced in handling or melting the metal, which was placed in a fair state of purity by the previous refining or metallurgical processes. The sources of these impurities are the oxide coating on the surface of the ingots, material extracted or mechanically removed from the crucible or furnace wall, and those formed by the reaction of the molten metal with the heating gases or furnace atmosphere. As commonly used, the term fluxes is applied to such materials as ammonium chloride, zinc chloride, salt, borax, and boric oxide. A second class of materials, usually called deoxidizers, includes substances, such as metallic phosphides, sub-oxides, carbides, and bo-rides, that reduce the metallic oxides present in the metal. A third class includes various compounds that are molten and non-volatile at the temperature of the molten metal and are used primarily to protect the surface of the metal from the action of the furnace or exterior atmosphere; to this class belong such mixtures as lime and fluorspar, lime and soda ash, various minerals, etc. In some cases these protective layers may act in a manner similar to the metallurgical fluxes and dissolve or unite with the oxide impurities of the metal, but as generally employed this latter action is negligible since there is little opportunity for the coverings to come into contact with more than the surface of the metal, and hence they are without action on the body of the molten mass. The use of fluxes is the result of factory experience and tradition, but an extensive study has not been made of the chemical, and physical actions that occur or the effects of these actions on the properties of the metal. It would seem necessary in any successful study of metal fluxes

Jan 10, 1920

By C. A. Pierce

UNDERGROUND operations of the United States Potash Co. at its mine near Carlsbad, N.M., have been continuous since the property was opened about five years ago. Approximately one million tons of potash has been mined and two shafts have been sunk, each to a depth of about 1000 ft. Outstanding in the company's operations is the fact that not a single blasting accident has occurred during the aforesaid period. The purpose of this paper is to describe the blasting practice that has made possible the achievement of this accident-prevention record. The mining method employed in extracting the thick horizontal bed of potash may be described as a double-entry room-and-pillar system. Mine development is kept well in advance of extraction operations, and a three years' supply of ore, at least, is always available. Limits of the orebody have not been determined, and in the present system of mining headings are advanced by a "shortwall" method. This was the first potash ore bed developed in the United States. The nature of the deposit, therefore, was unknown, and it was deemed expedient to outline a conservative mining policy. Later, when more is known about the deposit and certain control ascertained, a "longwall" panel retreating method may be found advisable. The necessity for a domestic supply of potash became a national issue previous to and during the World War. The United States Govern-ment came to realize that this country should not be dependent upon foreign sources of potash, and began extensive explorations in many parts of the country, seeking an orebody that would meet the exacting require-ments of the domestic market. The Department of Interior, through the Geological Survey and Bureau of Mines, made every effort to determine the location of potash deposits and encouraged their exploitation by private capital. Through the combined efforts of the Department of Interior and private industry, the deposit now being worked by the United States Potash Co. was discovered and brought into production.

Jan 1, 1936

By Claudia Gasparrini

Gold, silver and platinum-group elements occur normally in very low concentrations in their ores. Because their market value is in many situations high enough to justify their full recoveries, mineralogical studies before any routine recovery is attempted are particularly important for the description of their manner of occurrence and decision on the appropriate recovery techniques. Gold and silver, although sometimes treated by similar metallurgical processes, may require different approaches and treatments because of the different manner in which they occur in their ores: gold has a relatively simple mineralogy limited to native gold, electrum and less often tellurides. Silver has a very complex mineralogy including over 200 different minerals. On the other hand, gold is more often than silver recovered from ores where its fine grain size requires the breaking of the host minerals by chemical methods. Mineral, grain sizes and host minerals all affect the metallurgy of the platinum-group elements..

Jan 1, 1984