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By H. R. Stahl

FIVE mills are operated in Southeast Missouri by the St. Joseph Lead Co.; these have a total rated capacity of 24,300 tons per day divided as follows: Federal, 12,000 tons; Leadwood, 4800 tons; Desloge, 3600 tons; Bonne Terre, 2400 tons; and Mine La Motte, 1500 tons. These concentrators are similar in a general way, differing mainly in size and type of equipment and in minor variations in flow sheet. No attempt is made rigidly to standardize procedure in the various mills in spite of a general similarity in the ores. Each mill may be regarded as a separate laboratory in which new ideas and changes may be tried. A generalized description of the process is given, noting important differences in procedure at the various plants. The concentration process may be divided into five main stages: dry crushing, wet grinding, desliming and classification, tabling, and flotation.

Jan 1, 1947

A Discussion of the papers of James Gayley, on "The Application of Dry-Air Blast to the Manufacture of Iron" (see Trans., XXXV., 746, 1022, also pp. 315 and 745 of the present volume, and of J. E. Johnson, Jr., on "The Physical Action of the Blast-Furnace," p. 454. Chas. B. Dudley, Altoona, Pa.:—I am not a blast-furnace man, and this always puts me at a disadvantage because I cannot go into the details of the making of iron and steel. I have not the experience, and have to take the statements of other people, so what I say regarding the subject of this paper is not in the sense of an expert. When I first heard of Mr. Gayley's experiments, I said to myself, a I fear they will result in failure, since, apparently, Mr. Gayley has forgotten one chemical fact, namely, that carbon does not combine with oxygen in the absence of mater-vapor." This fact which was so astonishing when it was first brought out some years ago, and which those who are interested may find in the Journal of the Chemical Society of London, for 1885, page 349, and 1894, page 611, led me to think that the drying of the air would be a mistake. The general subject of the influence of water-vapor on chemical action is a large one; but the special point in which we are, for the moment, interested, namely, the influence of water-vapor on the combustion of carbon, was especially treated by Mr. H. B. Baker, in the papers referred to. Apparently, however, as the result of Mr. Gayley's experiments, we are to learn that the amount of moisture still left in the desiccated air is sufficient to secure perfectly satisfactory combustion. In thinking over Mr. Gayley's paper, it occurred to me that there were two alternatives, either of which might be chosen, namely, we might dry the air as Mr. Gayley does, or possibly we might, in a very much easier way, simply saturate the air at a constant temperature, and thus get uniform working and

Jan 1, 1906

By L. F. Reinartz

FROM the earliest times when our prehistoric ancestors laboriously fashioned crude tools and weapons from meteoric iron until our day when we manufacture steel in 150-ton open-hearth furnaces, the production of iron and steel has played a dramatic and important role in the development of civilization. Progress in the science of refining iron ore into iron and steel was painfully slow for many centuries. The keen scimitars of Damascus, the broadswords of the English knights, the coats of mail of French knights, and the Iron Pillar of Delhi are well¬known examples of medieval metallurgical technique. Expense and the scarcity of raw materials originally limited the distribution of iron and steel products. It was not until the nineteenth century that a determined effort was made to adapt the use of steel to peaceful pursuits. The spectacular and rapid strides made in the manufacture of steel during the last hundred years were hastened by the invention during the decade 1860 to 1870 of two great steelmaking processes-the Bessemer and the open-hearth process.

Jan 1, 1936

By O. M. Schaus

GRATIFYING progress continues towards the elimination of the hazards confronting health and safety in and about mines. Employers and employees are diligently co-operating. One of the outstanding movements towards this end is the National Safety Competition conducted by the U. S. Bureau of Mines. William W. Adams, of the Bureau, has stated that "Through 1936 there has passed by a dozen years of this National Safety Competition, as it started in 1925 with an enrollment of 210 mines and quarries in 28 states and 68 million man-hours of employment. For 1936 it covered 328 mines and quar-

Jan 1, 1938

By ELTCENE A. WHITE

WE are all interested in our ou7n lines of endeavor and consider ourselves the center of the universe. The farmer thinks he is the most important man because he feeds us. The doctor knows he is the real center because he keeps us well. The lawyer says that he is indispensable because he keeps the peace. The banker furnishes us a place to keep our money and tells us how to make proper use of it. The miner sags that without metals there would be no civilization. I think that my branch has sufficient interest and exhilaration. of accomplishment to fully occupy any man's mind and attention. Mining and metallurgy are as old as the human race. It did not have much, if any, importance in the stone age as there are not found remains of iron and copper, but in the bronze age, which was co-existent with the stone age, it came to the front. Iron and copper were the most important metals. Copper, as bronze, was known in ancient Egypt, I\~:IS important in Rome and other parts of Europe and in Asia; in South America among the Aztecs and farther North were the Mound Builders and the early inhabitants of Lake Superior. At a very early date the Egyptians conquered the Sinai peninsula for the sake of the copper produced there. The history of copper metallurgy can be compared to that of a flower. The seed is sown in darkness and in the Dark Ages the crude metallurgy of copper began. As the shoot comes up from the seed it may be compared to the age of alchemy; the branches of the plant can be compared to the Middle Ages; the flowering shoots to the 17th century, the budding to the 19th and the blossom to our own time from 1870 on.

Jan 1, 1930

JOINT convention week has become a feature of the year with western mining men. The first was held at Denver in 1926, the second at Salt Lake City in 1927, and the third is about to take place at Los Angeles. Holding in the same city in one week the meetings of a number of related organizations has been .found to permit the development of a well-rounded program at the same time that it economizes time and money for the members, many of whom belong to several of the participating organizations. For the third time, the American Mining Congress, represented by its Western Division, of which Philip Wiseman is chairman, is taking the lead and assuming the main responsibility. The A.I.M.E. is furnishing the papers for two sessions and the California Development Association for one. The Southern California Section, Robert R. Boyd, chairman, is host for the Institute, but the Northern California, Nevada and Arizona sections have each contributed papers to the program, and will be represented at the meeting. It will be a real reunion of the mining men of the Southwest.

Sep 1, 1928

By Howard I. Young

WHEN so many statements are being made relative to the requirements of zinc metal, it is difficult for some of us who are acquainted with the industry to visualize how it is possible to step up production so as to supply some of the fantastic requirement figures that are published from time to time. I shall attempt to approach this subject from the standpoint of existing conditions which affect production, also keeping in mind the price ceiling under which the industry operates. Total production of primary and secondary zinc in the United States for 1941 will be about 878,000 tons, to which should be added about 36,000 tons of Mexican slab zinc available for consumption or export from the United States, giving a total available of 914,000 tons. Production of slab zinc of all grades in 1942 should be 953,000 tons. Adding the available Mexican supply should bring the total to 989,000 tons.

Jan 1, 1942

By J. R. Low, A. M. Turkalo

ManY qualitative observations have been made concerning the relationship of the carbide dispersion and the mechanical properties of steel. With reference to the strength and hardness we know that for a given composition a steel having a fine pearlitic structure is stronger than that having a coarse pearlite. The martensitic structure tempered at a relatively low temperature and having finely dispersed carbides gives greater strength than that given by the martensitic structure tempered at a relatively higher temperature and having a coarser

Jan 1, 1959

By W. B. Tucker

UNUSUAL interest has recently centered in the Mojave mining district of California, owing to new discoveries of gold ore at the Silver Queen mine, and subsequently at other neighboring proper- ties. These finds have proved that opportunities exist for the prospector even in old mining districts, where careful search may still be rewarded. The Mojave district is characterized by a group of small hills centering around Soledad Butte, four to six miles southwest of Mojave, in Kern County. This butte is 1250 ft. higher than the surrounding desert and 4000 ft. above sea level. Four miles west of Soledad Mountain are the so-called Middle Buttes, a group of flat-topped hills. Gold was first discovered in the district in 1894, and the following productive mines developed: Queen

Jan 1, 1936

By C. WIFLARD HAYES

(New Haven Meeting, February, 1909.) I DESIRE to make it perfectly clear at the outset that I fully realize the hazardous nature of any attempt to estimate the quantity of iron-ore or any other mineral in the ground. I should not have had the temerity to venture upon an inventory of the iron-ore supplies of the United States except for the requirements of the Conservation Commission. During the preparation of this inventory I have been impressed by the wide diversity in estimates of those best qualified to. hold an opinion, and I am therefore prepared in advance for criticism of my figures. Inasmuch as this report was prepared in large part for unprofessional readers, I considered it necessary to classify and describe the commercial iron-ores in a somewhat elementary manner, in order to explain the reasons for the large element of uncertainty in the estimates. I have therefore given a chemical and a geological classification of iron-ores, which place the commercial deposits in six classes: (1) magmatic segregations in basic igneous rocks; (2) contact-deposits formed in connection with igneous intrusions; (3) concentration-deposits; (4) replacement-deposits; (5) bedded-deposits, and (6) gossan-deposits. The iron-ores are further distinguished under two classes available and not available. This classification is in large measure arbitrary, and it, is evident that it will vary front time to time. In the available class are placed those ores which can be worked at a profit under conditions essentially as they exist at present. Since it depends wholly on the question of costs, the various factors which affect cost will determine the classification of any particular deposit. Actual production, * Abstract of Report prepared for the Conservation Commission. t Chief Geologist, United States Geological Survey. .

Apr 1, 1909

By Perry Olcott .

THE Taka oil field is in the northern part of Titus and Franklin Counties, in north- eastern Texas. The small town of Talco, from which the field derives its name, is on the P. & Mt. P. R. R., about 15 mi. north of Mt. Pleasant, the county seat of Titus County. The oil field extends east and west from the town of Talco, the approximate center. In May, 1924, R. L. Cannon, while doing surface geology for the Humble. Oil & Refining Co., mapped the surface trace of this fault structure as evidenced by Upper Midway faulted down against Lower Midway. In the interval of sixteen years between the original surface work and the recent productive well completion, approximately eight wells were drilled into the Woodbine sand without success. The structure was well defined by those tests and all of the wells en-

Jan 1, 1936

By Donald A. Dahlstrom

The selection and sizing of filters depends on the characteristics of the type of filter and the feed slurry. In addition, the rate functions of cake formation, cake washing and cake dewatering must be determined in order to design the filter station on the basis of desired performance. This chapter discusses the applied theory used to determine the rate functions and illustrates how to incorporate these into the filter cycle to obtain the required objectives. This also permits the sizing of the filter and auxiliaries as well as the selection of the proper type of filter.

Jan 1, 1978

By Davis Baker

The direct-metal cars or ladles of the Maryland Steel Company have a capacity of 18 tons when filled within 12 inches of the top. On account of this large capacity, the formation of skulls in these ladles is by no means as rapid as in smaller ladles; but a skull once formed is a very unwieldy piece of metal to handle, and especially to remove from the ladle. We have found it cheaper to clean ladles often rather than make very heavy skulls. We aim to keep the ring of chilled metal that forms on the surface of the iron chipped off, so that the skull shall form principally at the bottom until it becomes so thick as to render the ladle unfit for service. Sometimes it happens that a ladle may be held for several hours filled with molten metal. This invariably leaves a large amount of chilled metal in the ladle. Frequently the skull will weigh several tons, and will be of the full size of the ladle inside, with a top crust, having perhaps a hole 12 inches square, through which the molten metal was poured. In order to remove skulls that cannot be easily chipped out with a bar, we use what may be called a skull-extractor, consisting of a hydraulic cylinder mounted in the center of a heavy cast-iron plate, standing vertically on a suitable foundation. Figs. 1 and 2 show the construction and operation of this apparatus, Fig. 1 being a view of the extractor with pistons extended to full stroke, and Fig. 2 a view with ladle in position and pistons about to commence the stroke. in both figures, A is the hydraulic cylinder, B the vertical cast-iron plate, and C the foundation. The water-pressure, admitted through the pipe, P, is 750 pounds per square inch, and the inside diameter of A is 14 inches. There are two pistons: D, fitting the bore of the cylinder, and E, 84 inches in diameter, moving inside of D. Both pistons move together when

Jan 1, 1893

By Oscar Weiss

An aerial magnetometer survey was carried out by the author's geophysical organization over the Vredefort dome, where Witwatersrand beds are wrapped around a granite plug 25 to 30 miles in diameter. The well- known magnetic shales of the Lower Witwatersrand system (to be referred to as LWW) give strong negative anomalies over the out-cropping portion of the dome. This is unusual as these same shales -cause positive anomalies over large areas near Johannesburg and along a strike of 130 miles between the East Rand and Klerksdorp. It is suggested that the negative polarization is caused by heat and stresses connected with the doming. This negative polarization of sedimentary beds, which usually cause positive anomalies, is a good example of how "magnetic lows" can be caused by "structural highs." Significant magnetic anomalies should be tested by gravity and seismic methods irrespective of the sign of the anomalies.

Jan 1, 1949

By E. Amott

A test is described in which the wellubility of porous rock is measured as a function of the displacement properties of the rock-water-oil system. Four displacemet operations are carried out: (I) sponlaneous displaceti?ent of water by oil, (2) forced displacement of water by oil oil in the same system using a centrifuging procetllrre, (3) spontaneous displacement of oil by water. and (4) forced displacment of oil by water. Ratios of the spontaneous displacement volumes to the total displucenlent volumes are used as wettability indicates. Cores having clean mineral surfaces (strongly preferentially water-wet) show displacement-by-waler ratios approaching 1.00 and displacement-by-oil ratios of zero. Cores which ([re. strongly preferentinlly oil-wet give the reverse resu1ts. Neutral wellability cores show zero values for both ratios Fresh cores from different oil reservoirs have shown wettabiltties in tlris te.st covering rrlti~ost 111e conlplrtt, range of thr: te.st. Notvever, nlo.s/ of tlle fresh California cores tested were slightly prcfere111icrlly wclter-\vet. The chrrnge.~ in coro u ('liabilities, as indicated hy this te.st, r~.sril/ing from various CO~P hanrlling procedures tt,ere oh.served. In sonie ca.sc,s /Ire ~,cttahilitio.c. of fresh cores were changell by drxi:~g or 11y e.x/rclct ing with iolcreiii~ or. dioxunc~; in o/h~r cases they were 1101 changed. Co~ltrrc/ of cort,.s ~.ith filtrc~t~c. from water-base rlrilling rilrrrls crlrc.sed littlc change in we/ /ahility ivhile contnct with filtrates frorii oil-hus~ ri1rlcl.s tlecrrascrl the prefcrerlcc, of the, cores for )I.NI Usitig thi,s test to ri.crl~lute n~r~ttubili~y, N .vt~ldy was iilarle of /lie correlmtio~i of wettability with wa/erfloocl nil recovery for orttcrop Ohio sand.stone and for Al~ln-tlunl. Resul/.v indicate thml no single correlatioti between these factors applies to different porous rock syste~n. It is thought that diflerences in pore gen~netry resrrlt in diflrrerrce.~ in this correlurio~z. INTRODUCTTON Most investigators who have reported on the wettahility of porous rock have described such rock as prcferentially water-wet or preferentially oil-wet. In some cases a third classification, neutral wettability. has been used. The efficiency of water floods in each of these wettability groups has been described in numerous publications. Several methods for characterizing porous rock wet tability more precisely have been reported,' " but it appears that because of one weakness or another. none of these has been generally accepted. Early in our studies in this field, it was found that the displacement efficiency of oil by water in a particular porous rock having a strong preference for water was quite different from that in a similar rock having only a moderate preference for water. Thus, there appeared to be a need for a practical, reasonably precise wet tability test. one which could classify porous rocks into 10 to 20 different groups rather than the two or three broad groups listed above. The test developed to meet this need is described in this paper. Also, changes in wettability, as indicated hy this test, resulting from various core handling procedures are discussed. Finally, data showing the corrclation of wettability with waterflood oil recovery for two different types of cores are presented and discussed. Some confusion has resulted from the failure of certain writers to define clearly some of the wettability terms they have used. Accordingly, the following commcnts concerning definitions are offered. The wc t ta-hility of a solid surface is the relative preference of that surface to be covered by one of the fluids under consideration. It is felt that this is the generally accepted definition. The fluids being considered must bc specified (or understood) before the term wettability has any significance. In the work reported here these fluids are water (3 per cent brine) and oil (kerosene). The term preferential wettability is sometimes used, but we think that the word preferential is redundant here and should not be used. Tn line with the definitions of Jennings', a preferentially oil-wet solid surface is regarded as a surface which will show an oil advancing contact angle less than 90" (measured through the oil) in the water-oil-solid system. Oil will spontaneously displace water, if both are at the same pressure, from such a surface. A preferentially water-wet surface is analogous. This is consistent with the wettability definition above. As Jennings has said, frequently the term oil-wet is used to mean the same thing as preferentially oil-wet. However, oil-wet also has been used occasionally referring to an oil-covered surface when the availability of water was limited. To avoid confusion from this source, we do not use the terms oil-wet and water-wet. DESCRIPTION OF WETTABTLITY TEST The following points were considered desirable in a wettability test for our purpose. 1. The test should be a displacement test resembling

By H. P. Greenwald

THE Committee on Rock-Dusting was formed after the fall meeting of the Coal Division in Chicago in 1938. Its primary task was to study the recommended American practice for rock- dusting coal mines to prevent coal-dust explosions as approved by the American Engineering Standards Committee. After approximately two years' work he committee concluded that although certain portions of the recommended practice could well be revised, information needed for a logical revision was not at hand, and it was inadvisable, therefore, to make revisions

Jan 1, 1943

By Robert A. Laurence

Ore deposits in the Southern Appalachians are ( 1) sedimentary or syngenetic, ( 2) epigenetic, and ( 3) residual. In general, deposits characteristic of high temperature and pressure are found in the Blue Ridge and Piedmont provinces and those of low and intermediate temperature and pressure, including the sedimentary ores, are found in the Valley and Ridge and Appalachian Plateaus provinces. Residual deposits are present throughout the area. Recognition of several periods of intrusion and metamorphism in the Appalachians has changed former concepts which held that most mineralization was of late Paleozoic age in a zonal pattern including all four provinces. Many deposits probably are of early or midPaleozoic age. Similarly, recent studies in geomorphology indicate that the formation of residual deposits is a continuous process and not related to specific cycles of peneplanation.

Jan 1, 1968

By G. B. Gould, F. M. Gibson

IN DECEMBER, 1934, the joint Committee on Fuel Values, of the American Institute of Minim and Metallurgical Engineers and the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, submitted a preliminary report, which briefly stated its conclusion that it was not possible to devise any formula for the valuation of coal, based upon the various physical and chemical properties, that would be generally applicable. That report also listed those chemical and physical properties of coal that are generally recognized to have some effect on its use in steam plants, and those physical characteristics of steam plants which affect, in one way or another the relative importance of the properties of coal used in them. Since then, the Committee has considered and discussed in greater detail the interrelationship of the properties of coal and plant characteristics. The conclusions of the Committee are summarized below, with certain recommendations regarding engineering procedure, which will promote the collection of more easily correlated observations with respect to this subject, and thus advance more rapidly the accumulation of data capable of general application.

Jan 1, 1936

By EDWARHD HALSE

Discussion of the Paper of Dr. H. M. Chance, presented at the Lake Superior Meeting, September, 1904. EDWARD HALSE, Puerto Berrio, Colombia, So. Amer. (communication to the Secretary*) : The Taviche mining-district is generally known as a Taviches," being named from the two villages called respectively San Pedro Taviche and San Jeronimo Taviche. It is so called by José G. Aguilera, in his paper on the Geographical and Geological Distribution of the Mineral Deposits of Mexico;' and in published reports by the late N. W. Rudston Read ;2 and by Juan de Dios Villarello.3 The region is a large one, measuring about 24 miles long and 7 miles wide. Dr. Chance, in his interesting paper, tells us very little about the nature of the ores, and, with regard to the geology of the district, contents himself with observing that ? the country, as a rule, consists of eruptive rocks; and no evidences of sedimentary strata appear near the mines.? The latter part of the above statement is hardly correct. The formation is mainly eruptive, being hornblende-audesite of Tertiary age, which is limited on the east by the calcareous (Cretaceous) formation, and on the west by the Huronian rocks of Ocotlan. Limestone is seen close to the Santa Càtarina mine, at the northern end of the region. In the surface-working known as La Cueva, a little northeast of San Pedro, limestone forms the eastern wall of the deposit which consists of spots (moscas) of pyrargyrite in white opaque or transparent quartz. Ill one place the ore is associated with stibnite, and the quartz frequently exhibts a

Sep 1, 1905

By THOMAS S. MENNIE

ON GORE Mountain, about four and a half miles, southwest of the village of North Creek, Warren Co., N. Y., are the Barton Mines. Here is the largest known deposit of garnet in the world. This property is owned by H. H. Barton &: Son Co., of Philadelphia, and is being worked under lease by Barton Mines Corpn. North Creek is the terminus of the branch of the Delaware and Hudson R..R., which runs into the

Jan 1, 1925