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By Raymond Franz

Of the many types of capital equipment found in a surface operation, draglines and mining shovels are probably subjected to the most severe service. Yet, some excavators have seen a generation or more of continuous service-proof, if any is needed, of their ruggedness. To keep these expensive pieces of machinery operating, a continuing maintenance program which includes field weld repairs is essential. During an excavator's working life, minor cracks may appear in parts of the steel structure, caused by fatigue and sometimes material defects-defects so small they could not be detected during manufacture.

Jan 6, 1978

By Jonathan S. Jackson, Bruce P. Ream

Leach water management is one of the few areas in dump leaching subject to operator control. As such, it is of considerable importance. Theoretical considerations indicate that high leach solution application rates are inefficient in washing solubilized copper from dumps. The high rates cause unnecessary dilution of copper values, raising unit recovery costs. Use of excessive amounts of leach solution also cools dumps, resulting in reduced leaching rates. This paper reviews leach solution application methods and details the results of field tests run to determine the benefits and feasibility of low versus high application rate techniques of applying water to dump surfaces.

Jan 1, 1980

By Arthur West

IT is the purpose of this paper to describe briefly some recent large power stations for blast furnaces, where the blast is exclusively supplied by gas engines using furnace gas. The stations are given in the chronological order in which they were designed, in order to indicate the various improvements suggested by experience. Fig. 1 shows the blowing-engine station of the Bethlehem Steel Co. at Bethlehem. Although the picture shows only five blowing engines, the house now contains 11 engines. In the diagrammatic. plan the arrow shows the position and direction of camera. This station handles five modern blast furnaces of 450 to 500 tons capacity each. In this, as in all the other stations described in this paper, each furnace is blown by-two single tandem gas engines. Ten engines are thus required for five furnaces, leaving one single tandem spare engine. This spare capacity has been shown by several years' experience at Bethlehem to be adequate to insure continuous operation. The engines in the Bethlehem station are right hand and left hand, arranged in pairs. The outboard bearings of each pair are close together so that there is not room for passageway between them. On the right of the picture are shown the inclined drums communicating with the cold-blast lines outside of building, so that any engine may be operated on any furnace. The illustration shows four cold-blast gate valves with pipes passing through wall, but since the photograph was taken the drums have been extended to take care of a fifth valve for a fifth furnace. At the extreme back of the picture can be seen the tubs of three twin vertical-horizontal Southwark steam blowing engines, which, although of modern design and as good as new, are not operated because of the greatly reduced blowing cost shown by the gas blowing engines.

Jan 6, 1915

By J. H. Allen

The air lift method of pumping water is discussed. A review of several large diameter hole drilling projects that used reverse- circulation air-lift techniques is presented. Proposals are made for reverse circulation flow rates for slow rates of bit penetration (5 fph) as well as reverse-circulation flow rates for faster rates of bit penetration (10 fph). The Ingersoll-Rand air lift equations are modified for rotary drilling operations. By establishing minimum reverse circulation flow rates and utilizing the modified air lift equations, the establishment of minimum circulation equipment sizes and a more definitive requirement for improved bit body design should result.

Jan 1, 1978

By J. E. Flinn, J. M. Welch, R. L. Miller

Introduction Two samples of an iron-enriched basalt (IEB)-a silicate-based fused-cast ceramic waste form-containing components that simulate Three Mile Island Unit 2 core debris were tested for uranium recovery (Miller et al., 1984). This material is highly refractory towards leaching by ground water. The uranium content is high (15.1%) and the U-235 content (2.57%, only

Jan 1, 1986

By Thomas M. Drown

The following description of an attempt to separate bituminous coal from its slaty and mineral admixtures without the aid of jigging, was suggested by the successful use of dense solutions (such as the double iodide of mercury and potassium and cadmium borotungstate) in the separation of the mineral components of igneous rocks.* In the case of coal it is essential that we have a solution of a specific gravity greater than the coal, and less than the mineral or slate associated with it. Further, in order that such a solution should be practically admissible, it must be cheap and readily obtainable. Calcium chloride fulfils all these conditions, although it is not intended to be affirmed, in the absence of actual trial, that its use on a large scale would be economically successful. The records of experiments on several samples of bituminous coal

Jan 1, 1885

By James H. Neisz, Gregory P. White

This paper discusses the development of surface coal mine planning programs for a microcomputer. A set of seven programs which were originally written for a large mainframe computer are described. The problems encountered in converting these programs to a micro with 52K of available core storage are discussed. A program for economic evaluation which is currently running on the micro is described and plans to convert other programs to the micro are detailed. In addition, we explain the microcornputer system we have assembled and give the rationale for each component. Problems we have encountered with this system are described for the benefit of others who may follow our path.

Jan 1, 1983

By O. C. Baptist

The Umiat oil field is in Naval Petroleum Reserve No. 4 between the Brooks Range and Arctic Ocean in far-northern Alaska. The Umiat anticline has been tested by 11 wells, six of which produced oil ; however, [lie productive capacity and recoverable reserves of the field are subject to considerable speculation because of unusual reservoir conditions and because several wells appear to have been .seriously damaged during drilling and completion. Oil is produced at depths of 275 to 1,100 ft; the depth to the bottom of the permanently frozen zone varies from about 800 to 1,100 ft, .so that most of the oil reserves are in the permafrost Reservoir pressures are estimated to range from 50 to 350 psi, increasing with depth, and the small amount of gas dissolved in the oil is the major source of energy for production. Laboratory tests were made on cores under simulated permafrost conditions to estimate oil recoverable by solution-gas expansion from low saturation pressures. The cores were also tested for clay content and susceptibility to productivity impaiment by swelling clays and increased water. content if exposed to fresh water. The results indicate that oil can be produced fronz reservoir rocks in the permafrost and that substantial amounts of oil can be produced from depletion-drive reservoirs by a pre.s.r~lrr drop of as little as 100 psi below the saturation pressure. Freezing of formation water reduces oil productivity much more than that due to increased oil viscosity: Failure of we1ls drilled with rtuter-base mud to produce is attributed to freezing of water in the urea immediately surrounding the wellbore. Swelling clays apparently contributed very little to the plugging of the wells. INTRODUCTION Naval Petroleum Reserve No. 4 lies between the Brooks Range and the Arctic Ocean in northern Alaska. The Umiat oil field is located in the southeastern part of the Reserve and is about 180 miles southeast of Point Barrow (the only permanent settlement in the Reserve and the primary supply point for drilling of the wells at Umiat). Eleven wells were drilled for the U. S. Department of the Navy, Office of Naval Petroleum and Oil Shale Reserves, between 1944 and 1953 to test the oil and gas possibilities of the Umiat anticline. Six of these wells produced oil in varying quantities and the best one pumped about 400 B/D.' Estimates of recoverable oil range from 30 to 100 million bbl. The main oil-producing zones are two marine sandstone beds in the Grandstand formation of Cretaceous age: these are referred to as the upper and lower sands. Good oil shows were found throughout the sand settions in the first three wells drilled on the structure, but the highest rate of oil production obtained on any 01 the many tests was about 24 BOPD. These first wells were drilled with conventional rotary methods using water-base mud; later wells were drilled either with cablc tools using brine or rotary tools using oil or oil-base mud. These experiments were successful as is shown by comparing the oil production from Well No. 2 with that from No. 5. These two wells are only 200 ft apart and are located at about the same elevation on the structure. Well No. 2. drilled with a rotary rig using water-base mud, was abandoned as a dry hole after all formation tests were negative. Well No. 5. drilled with cable tools and reamed with a rotary using oil, pumped 400 BOPD which was the maximum capacity of the pump and less than the capacity of the well. These field results indicated that the producing sands were extremely "water sensitive" and it was assumed that the cause of this sensitivity was the presence of swelling clays in the sands. Because of the very unusual reservoir conditions and the difficulties encountered in completing oil wells in the permafrost. the Navy asked the U. S. Bureau of Mines to make laboratory studies under simulated permafrost conditions to assist them in estimating the production potential of the field and the recoverable reserves. These tests were designed to determine the cause of the plugging of wells in the permafrost and to test oil recovery from frozen sand by solution-gas expansion with the oil gas-saturated at very low pressures. EXPERIMENTAL METHODS AND PROCEDURES Samples Analyzed Core samples were analyzed that represent the lower sand in Umiat Well No. 7, the upper sand in No. 3. and both the upper and lower sands in No. 9. These sands should be productive in all of the wells because of their location on the structure. Core samples from

By Joseph W. Leonard

In a recent publication in the SME Transactions of September, 1975, Volume 258, entitled "Potential for Further Lowering Sulfur in Intensively Cleaned Coal at Mines", the writer discussed: (1) technical findings useful for the management of reserves to further lower sulfur in intensively cleaned coal, and (2) a future coal preparation plant concept for the intensive cleaning of sulfur. The purpose of this technical note is to ( I ) illustrate the nomographs that can be formed when recovery is phased in with previous work, (2) make note of the powerful potential for predicting future cleaning performance in unmined areas, and (3) discuss resulting mathematical interrelationships.

Jan 1, 1978

By O. W. Walvoord

Mill design of the past will not necessarily dictate mill design of the future. There have been many advances and changes in the last few decades, many of which have been extensive and remarkable. Almost certainly, there will be still greater changes in the near future. Minerals beneficiation, for example, as it relates to future mill design, is likely to experience the greatest progress. Gravity separation, though one of the older arts, is in a continuous state of refinement. Flotation, having celebrated its 50th anniversary in 1961, has yet to be surpassed in its contribution to the art of mineral dressing. Ion-exchange, too, will flourish.

Jan 1, 1971

By W. A. Backofen, G. Mayer

Single crystals of iron, copper, and a Cu-7 wt pct A1 alloy were pulled through conical dies to simulate the constraint in a polycrystalline aggregate undergoing axisymmetric reduction. With Taylor-type hardening, dependence of the drawing stress, od, on the Taylor orientation factor, M, is predictable from the polycrystal stress-strain curve; in particular, for a power-law relationship, it should follow that d log od/d log M = (1 + n). A first-order agreement with analysis was found in the data from iron. For copper, the implied n from the observed d log od/d l°g M was -0, while for Cu-7Al it was negative. The trend was in the direction of random polycrystal behavior. Thus the idea of hardening only in response to the amount of prior slip loses validity as stacking fault energy (SFE) is lowered. Two possible explanations have been suggested: as stacking fault ribbons are widened, barriers from dislocation reactions become increasingly effective in dispersing slip and reducing the orientation dependence of the total glide strain dm that appears in alternatively, or conjointly, the polyslip shear stress, 7, acquires an orientation dependence of a kind which has the same leveling effect on M. The problem of relating the strain hardening of polycrystalline material to that of an isolated single crystal is still largely unsolved. In a new experimental approach from recent work, single crystals of different orientations have been deformed under the constraints found in an aggregate while measuring their deformation resistance. Procedures have involved drawing cylindrical crystals through conical dies1 and compressing slab-shaped crystals in plane strain.2'3 Predictions for the outcome of such experiments were made first by Taylor~ and later, in more general form, by Bishop and Hill.5'6 Taylor's example was the axisymmetric extension of an fcc crystal slipping on the usual {111}(110) systems or, equivalently, a bcc crystal undergoing 'kestricted" slip on {110}(111). In his solution, the deformation work supplied was equated to that dissipated internally in slip on all active systems. With o the single applied tensile stress, dc the resulting axial strain, and dyT the total glide strain on systems operating at resolved shear stress, 7: The orientation dependence of M was found by minimizing dyT for each orientation while activating five independent systems, Fig. l(a).? The Bishop and Hill analysis, based on a principle of maximum work, leads to essentially the same conclusion; the need for at least five active systems is recognized in the finding that either six or eight are actually brought into operation. The mean value from the entire stereo-graphic triangle in either case is M - 3.06. More recently, Hutchinson8 made a Taylor-type analysis for pencil glide in a bcc structure, from which piehlerg prepared Fig. l(b) as the counterpart in Fig. l(a); here M = 2.75. The obvious weakness in such analyses is the indifference to slip-system interactions. A condition of what might be termed "independent"

Jan 1, 1969

By William E. Ford, Edward Salisbury Dana

1. Variations in the Forms and Dimensions of Crystals 2. Imperfections of the Surfaces of Crystals 3. Variations in the Angles of Crystals Internal Imperfection and Inclusions 264. The laws of crystallization, when unmodified by extrinsic causes, should produce forms of exact geometrical symmetry, the angles being not only equal, but also the homologous faces of crystals and the dimensions in the directions of like axes. This symmetry is, however, so uncommon that it can hardly be considered other than an ideal perfection. The various possible kinds of symmetry, and the relation of this ideal geometrical symmetry to the actual crystallographic symmetry, have been discussed in Arts. 14 and 18 et seq. Crystals are very generally distorted, and often the fundamental forms are so completely disguised that an intimate familiarity with the possible irregularities is required in order to unravel their complexities. Even the angles may occasionally vary rather widely.

Jan 1, 1922

By John R. M. Hill, Gerald Zink, Fun-Den Wang

The work described in this paper is sponsored by the Bureau of Mines for the purpose of accelerating the drilling of roof bolt holes and reducing the quantity of materials needed to fill each hole. A high-speed, small-hole drill has been fabricated and tested in the laboratory. High Priority has been given to safety, reliability, and compatibility with underground coal mining practice. The combination of drag bits and erosion jets is designed for high penetration rate, long wear life, and uniform hole size in a variety of sedimentary strata. A reliable high-pressure, high-speed swivel feeds water to the bit at about 4 L/min (1 gpm). The duplex hydraulic intensifier which drives the jets has a 40-kW (30-hp) capacity. Results of recent full-scale laboratory testing (Now. 1977) are presented.

Jan 12, 1979

By P. G. Shewmon, F. N. Rhines

THE determination of the self-diffusion coefficient of magnesium has been made possible recently by discovery1-1 of a radioactive isotope, Mg28 having a half-life of 21.3 hr,1 and subject to manufacture in useful quantity. In the present research this material was condensed from the vapor phase upon a surface of high purity magnesium. The progress of diffusion of the tracer atoms into polycrystalline magnesium was followed by machining layers and measuring the change in the intensity of radiation as a function of the distance of each layer from the surface. The self-diffusion coefficient was found to be 2.1 X 10-8 sq cm per sec at 627°C, 3.6 X 10-9 sq cm per sec at 551°C, and 4.4 X 10-10sq cm per sec at 468°C; the activation energy is about 32,000 cal per mol. Experimental Procedure Since there was no other published measurement of a diffusion velocity in any magnesium-base material, is was necessary to employ a number of new experimental techniques. The short half-life of Mg28 made it necessary to complete the entire experimental procedure within three or four days. This meant that the work had to be done where a cyclotron was readily accessible and that all operations, prior to the diffusion heat treatment, had to be so designed as to minimize their time requirements. Unusual problems were imposed also by the chemical reactivity of magnesium, its high vapor pressure, and the fact that no satisfactory method for elec-trodepositing magnesium on magnesium is presently available. Finally, the machining and handling of the easily air-borne radioactive-magnesium chips involved certain health hazards, resulting in the need for further experimental restrictions. Preparation of Mg28 The Mg28 was produced in the Carnegie Institute of Technology syncrocyclotron by the neutron spallation of chlorine.5 his involved bombarding a 2 gram crystal of high purity NaCl with a beam of 350 mev protons for a period of 2 hr, after which the crystal was dissolved in warm water and the Mg28 was concentrated and purified by chemical means (see Appendix). About 50 microcuries of Mg28 thus were obtained in the form of magnesium oxinate (8 hydroxyquin-olatc?), which was ignited in air to produce MgO. This in turn was reduced to magnesium metal vapor, by the method of Russell, Taylor, and Cooper," in the vacuum apparatus shown schematically in Fig. 1. Here the essential part is a tantalum ribbon, slightly dished to receive the MgO. The ribbon, pre- viously outgassed at high temperature, is heated to about 1700°C by passing an electric current through it, whereupon tantalum oxide is formed, magnesium vapor is released almost instantaneously, and condensed partly upon the diffusion sample. Diffusion-Sample Preparation: Hot-extruded magnesium rod, 21/32 in. round was used in making the diffusion specimens. The magnesium analyzed as follows: 0.004 pct Al, 0.027 pct Fe, 0.040 pct Mn, 0.0004 pct Cu, 0.0002 pct Ni, and less than 0.01 pct Ca, 0.0004 pct Pb, 0.0011 pct Si, 0.001 pct Sn, and 0.001 pct Zn. A brief study of the crystal texture of this material revealed a sharp fiber texture with the (001) plane roughly parallel to the extrusion axis. Cylindrical samples 1/2 in. long by 5/8 in. were machined from this rod, the end faces dressed on 3/0 emery, and lightly etched with 20 pct HC1 in water. These samples then were annealed for at least twice the intended time of diffusion, at the intended diffusion temperature, in order to stabilize the grain structure at about 1 mm average diameter. The annealing treatments were conducted in argon in the same apparatus and in the same manner as the subsequent diffusion treatments, which will be described presently. Thus, a strain-free plane surface was produced, but there remained a layer of MgO which had largely to be removed before the layer of Mg28 was deposited. Most of this layer was taken off by two light passes over 3/0 emery paper. The balance of the oxide and a thin layer of metal were then removed by etching 5 to 10 min in 4 pct nital (4 pct HNO3 and 96 pct ethyl alcohol) made with absolute alcohol. There followed immediately three quick rinses in: 1-49 1/2 pct methanol, 49 1/2 pct acetone, and 1 pct formic acid, 2-50 pct methanol and 50 pct acetone, and 3-pure benzene. This procedure is essentially that of Sturkey.7 The resulting surface, which was of almost elec-tropolished brightness, remained plane and was free of cold work. It could be kept clean by storing under benzene, or in a desiccator; short exposure

Jan 1, 1955

By Jose A. Ruiz

INTRODUCTION For heterogeneous non-catalytic solid-gas reactions carried out in fluidized bed reactors, nominal bed temperature is an average value between gas and solid. For highly exothermic reactions, actual particle temperature can be up to hundred degrees above termocouple temperature, since heat dissipate at slower rate than heat generation during some steps of transformation. These micro instabilities at particle level can displace thermodynamic equilibrium from the desired phase to others. This effect is important when relatively narrow range of phase stability exists, like in sulphation roasting of sulphides, where bed discharge contains, in addition to the desired sulphate others metastable phases such as basic sulphate and ferrite. For example, for copper-iron sulphide concentration roasted below 680°C, no cupric ferrite is formed, as shown by Jakob et al., therefore the separate Kellogg's stability phase diagrams Cu-S-O represent the roasting (Fig.l). At temperature above this one, like 760°C for example, phase stability changes from CuSO4 to the basic sulphate Cu0•CuSO4. Solid state reaction between Cu0•CuSO4 and Fe203 also occurs to form cupric ferrite, Cu0•Fe2O3, therefore the Cu-Fe-S-O Kellogg's phase diagram of Fig. 1 (continuous line) represents this condition of roasting. Although both Cu0•CuSO4 and Cu0•Fe2O3 are metastable phases under normal operating conditions of sulphation roasting(1-10% SO2, 1-10% 02 and 680°C, points A and B,Fig. 1) sulphation of these species and particularly ferrite are slow and limited due to diffusional control. This explain why reactors discharge contains several phases: CuSO4, Cu0•CuSO4, CuO•Fe203 plus small amounts of CuS and FeS due to the baclonixed conditions of fluidized bed reactors. The presence of cuprous ferrite due to reducing conditions inside individual particles also occurs, but in very limited extent at the reaction interface, as it is demonstrated by the low soluble iron levels of calcines. On the other hand, the presence of cupric ferrites can be explained only due to the higher temperature achieved by particles, since below 680°C cupric ferrite formation does not take place. [ ] This phenomena also occurs for others non-ferrous metal sulphides concentrates roasted under sulphation conditions, such as 7n, Co and Ni. Therefore the prediction of discharge composition of fluidized beds is not possible based only on kinetics and mechanistics models alone or purely thermodynamical considerations, since all factors should be integrated to describe the overall phenomena. SINGLE PARTICLE TRANSFORMATION Assuming a first order reaction with respect to the gas and zero for solid, such as

Jan 1, 1984

By R. W. Fountain, M. Korchynsky

The precipitation phenomena occurring in cobalt-tantalum alloys have been investigated in the temperature range frm 500" to 1050°C by correlating the results of metallographic, X-ray, micro-and macrohardness, and electrical resistivity studies. The property andmacrohardness,changes were found to depend on 1) general precipitation, and 2) lamellar precipitation. Two new intermetallic phases have been identified: 1) a Co3Ta, a metastable ordered face-centered-cubic compound, and 2) a stable ß Co3Ta phase of hexagonal structure. In addition, the previously reported Co2Ta phase was found to exist in two allotropic modifications: the hexagonal MgZn,-type and the cubic MgCu2-type Laves phases. SINCE a large variety of structures can result as a consequence of the decomposition of a solid solution, predictions on the nature of property changes are difficult, if not impossible, to make. For any rational attempt to correlate properties and structures of a precipitation-hardenable alloy, a detailed understanding of the kinetics of decomposition and morphology of phase separation, as well as knowledge of phase relationships, appears to be prerequisite. Information of this type has been accumulated in the past for many alloy systems, both of theoretical and pastforpractical importance.1,2 Although the presence of intermetallic compounds has been reported in cobalt-base alloys,3 the amount of published information on precipitation-hardenable cobalt-base systems is very limited. A survey of the binary phase diagrams of cobalt indicates that cobalt-tantalum alloys might be of interest as typical of other cobalt-base systems in which Laves phases of the A,B type can be precipitated from solid solution. The present work has been undertaken, therefore, to study the kinetics and morphology of the precipitation reaction in this system and to establish a base for a correlation between the structural aspects and properties in this class of alloys. PREVIOUS WORK The only available phase diagram of the cobalt-tantalum system is based on the work of Koster and Mulfinger. According to these authors, the maximum solubility of tantalum in cobalt is about 13 pct (at 1275°C) and. less than 7 pct at room temperature. Tantalum additions lower the temperature of allotropic transformation of cobalt (about 420°C), and at 7 pct Ta, the high-temperature face-centered-cubic modification (ß cobalt) is retained at room temperature. The precipitating phase was originally designated as Co5Ta2 compound (55.2 pct Ta, about 1550°C melting point), but subsequent investigations by wallbaum5" identified this constituent as the A,B-type Laves phase. Wallbaum's data indicate that there are two modifications of this intermetallic compound: one richer in cobalt (Co2.2 Tao.8)of the hexagonal MgNi, type; and another of a higher tantalum content (Co2Ta) of the cubic MgCu, type. On the other hand, Elliott7 found that the cobalt-rich alloy (CO2.10,Tao.~l) was predominantly the cubic MgCu, type at 800°C and a mixture of both the MgCu2 and the hexagonal MgZn,-type Laves phases at 1000°C. At 1200°C, Elliott found only the MgZn, type while at 1400°C, he observed only the MgCu2 type. At the stoichiometric composition, Co2Ta, Elliott reported only the cubic MgCu2-type Laves phase in the temperature range of 600oto 1600°C. The precipitation of the cobalt-tantalum intermetallic compound is accompanied by a marked increase in hardness. According to Koster's4 data, the Brinell hardness of an 8 pct Ta-Co alloy increases from 230 to 340 upon short-time aging at 800°C. EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE The binary cobalt-tantalum alloys investigated contained 5, 10, and 15 pct Ta. The range of tantalum additions was thus slightly broader than the reported minimum and maximum solid solubility limits of tantalum in cobalt (7 and 13 pct, respectively)4 The alloys were vacuum-induction melted in a magnesia crucible using cobalt rondelles and technically pure tantalum sheet as raw materials. Deoxidation of the melt was accomplished with carbon, and the chemical analysis of the alloys is given in Table I. The effect of isothermal aging treatments on the progress of precipitation was studied on samples cut from cast ingots. These samples were solution treated for 2 hr at 1250°C and water-quenched. Aging was conducted in the temperature range from 500" to 1050°C for periods between 15 min and 1000 hr and followed by water-quenching. To prevent contamination from the atmosphere, all samples were sealed in evacuated Vycor or quartz tubes for heat-treatments. For solution treatment, argon at 0.2 atmospheric pressure was introduced prior to sealing of the capsule to prevent collapse at high temperature, and titanium sponge was placed at one end of the capsule to act as a getter. MACROHARDNESS The effect of aging on Vickers hardness (Dph) of

Jan 1, 1960

By Francis Foley

Small cracks in a plane normal to the axis of steels are found to be prevalent around the water hole of drill steels that have been in service for an unknown period of time. Cracks are not found on the exterior surface of the steels nor to any noteworthy extent even in the water holes of new drill steels. Undulations and serrations are found in the surface of the water hole in new steels; it is in the bottom of such defects that cracks appear to develop in used steels. The occurrence of the more serious of these cracks at the point in the steel to which it has been heated for forging or hardening is thought to account to a great extent for failures in that region. DURING the past, year, we have investigated the cause of 88 per cent, of the failures by breakage near the bit end of some 1-in. hollow, hexagon, drill steel used in a metal mine. This breakage in the region of the bit end of the steel was peculiarly interesting because we have been led to believe that breakage is most prevalent at the shank end of drill steels near the place where the steel is gripped in the chuck of the machine. Records from the mine showed, also, that the breakage was much more frequent in the short lengths of large gage than in the longer steels; this is shown graphically in Fig. 1. Because the shorter lengths of steels are usually those that have been made from broken pieces of long steels or from steels that have worn down in service, rarely being made from new stock, those who are wont to suspect steel of tiring and crystallizing in its old age through fatigue are quite apt to see in this instance an argument in favor of their idea. As usual, a careful examination of these steels reveals defects of a character hardly to be overlooked in favor of such a cause. The steel in question was rolled with a sand core and was of the usual drill steel composition: Carbon 0.85 per cent., manganese 0.60 per cent., silicon 0.25 per cent., phosphorus 0.02 per cent., and sulfur 0.02 per cent., with the exception that in some specimens there was vanadium, not exceeding 0.20 per cent.

Jan 3, 1924

By John Birkinbine

Since the presentation of the paper upon " The Concentration of Iron-Ore," which the writer, associated with Mr. Thomas A. Edison, read before the Institute in February, 1889 (Transactions, vol. xvii., 728-744), much time and money have been devoted to applications of various forms of concentrating apparatus, particularly in treating magnetic iron-ores. An indication of the interest which has been developed is shown in the four payers presented at and printed in advance for this meeting." The question, does magnetic concentration pay? is now being discussed by many owners of magnetite deposits, and affirmative answers can be readily obtained from patentees or agents of special machinery, while ultra-conservatism may give a prompt negative reply, based mainly upon the apparent impracticability of handling, crushing, sizing and separating large quantities of ore, and upon the generally

Jan 1, 1891

By Henri V. Reibell

Deep open pit optimization supposes very long and sedious calculations in order to assign the best shape of the pit and the best bottom level, which will give the biggest profit. Computers give the possibility to make these calculations. More over, they allow to multiply trial calculations so that it is possible to obtain more reliable results. The paper does not expose the computer program but only the way in which mining engineers can use it.

Jan 1, 1969

By Ernest F. Burchard

Fluorspar is found in most of the states from the Rocky Mountains westward, and commercial production of the mineral has been reported from Arizona, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah and Washington. The map in Fig. 1 indicates the general distribution of many of these deposits but it is by no means complete. In the summer of 1926 the writer examined certain deposits of fluorspar in Arizona, California, Colorado, New Mexico and Washington; in November, 1927, revisited the Jamestown, Colo., district, and in earlier years examined deposits in Colorado and New Mexico. Based on notes of his own and on descriptions and other data by H. A. Aurand, H. W. Davis, R. B. Ladoo, V. C. Heikes, W. D. Johnston, Jr., and by producers of fluorspar, he prepared the following brief descriptions of deposits and estimates of reserves of fluorspar, originally for the use of the subcommittee on fluorspar of the Joint Committee on Foreign and Domestic Mining Policy and on Industrial Preparedness respectively of the Mining and Metallurgical Society of America and the American Institute of Mining and Metallurgical Engineers. Descriptions of many fluorspar deposits in various western states and districts have been published. It is not feasible to summarize this literature here, but the appended bibliography will indicate to the interested reader what papers are available. Arizona Fluorspar has been reported as occurring in Arizona in the following localities: near Duncan, Greenlee County; near Naco, Tombstone, and Paradise, Cochise County; Black Mountain, Mojave County; 25 miles southwest of Tucson, and at Helvetia and Silver Bell, Pima County; near Mammoth mine, Pinal County; in Yavapai County, 7 miles from Aguila, and in the Bradshaw Mountains; and near Dome, Yuma County. Production has come principally from the Castle Dome district, Yuma County, with minor quantities from Greenlee, Pima and Yavapai counties. The writer examined deposits in the Castle Dome district, Yuma

Jan 1, 1934