Search Documents

By Eugene McAuliffe

NO physical impairment can be more serious than the partial or complete loss of sight. With reasonably good eyesight, a person is equipped to care for life and I limb, provided a rational measure of t caution is manifested. When the sight of one eye is lost or badly impaired, one-half of this God-given asset is gone, and extreme care must be taken to prevent the tragedy of total darkness that closes out the beauty of sky, field and mountain, the faces of relatives and friends, and either removes entirely or in part one's capacity to produce and earn. During 1933, The Union Pacific Coal Co., operating ten coal mines in Wyoming, decided to undertake a visual survey of all of its mine operating officials and employees. Although the cost of workmen's compensation paid because of eye injuries was material, the management was more deeply concerned with the social loss and the suffering resulting from the many eye injuries. As every element of coal production cost must be scrutinized, accurate data on all accidents, with the workmen's compensation paid therefor, are carried forward monthly. The number of accidents to eyesight and the resultant compensation paid are shown in Table 1 for nine calendar years:

Jan 1, 1934

Henry LOUIS, London, England (communication to the Secretary) : Prof. Richards's paper has impressed me as highly valuable. Without entering upon any discussion of it as careful and thorough as it deserves, I venture to mention one or two points which a perusal of it has recalled to my mind in connection with my own study and practice of ore-dressing. I always mentally divide jigging into two phases: 1. A particle at rest on the jig-bed is lifted and carried upwards by the rising current of water, at an increasing velocity, which tends to a maximum. When the upward current is stopped, the particle continues to rise with rapidly diminishing velocity until it comes to rest. This completes the first phase. 2. In the second phase, the particle falls from its position of rest with an increasing velocity which tends again to a maximum, and continues to fall until the rising current of water has reduced its velocity to zero. This completes the second phase. The second phase will evidently be greatly modified by the effect of suction, as Prof. Richards shows; but I do not see that his experiments very clearly imitate the action of the second phase. And the brief intervals at the end of each phase, when the mineral particle, by reason of its acquired velocity, is still moving, though in opposition to the water-current, yet remain to be investigated. I feel especially, in Prof. Richards's paper, a difficulty which I have felt with regard to all similar previous investigations, namely, that the experiments deal with particles falling a long distance, when the velocity becomes uniform. I question whether this uniform maximum velocity is attained in actual jigging-practice. If so, it is certainly for a comparatively very small proportion only of each stroke. It seems to me that an investigation like that of Prof. Richards, but confined to the first 6 or 8 inches of fall only, and carried out with suitably delicate recording-apparatus, is what we

Jan 1, 1895

By J. P. BONARDI, William F. Boericke

BOULDER COUNTY, Colorado, ranked during the war years and until the end of 1918 as one of the foremost tungsten-producing districts of the world. In 1919 production fell off drastically, due to heavy importations of foreign ores from China, Burma and South America. So large were the imports that even after the enactment of a protective tariff in 1922 of 45c. per lb. on tungsten metal, equivalent to $7.14 per unit (201b.) of tungstic acid? (WO,), the stocks of metal in this country were extensive enough to supply the demands of industry, and prevent general resumption of mining by domestic producers. Even today there are only two producers in the Boulder district though at one time as many as twenty separate companies were in operation. About the same ratio holds for other tungsten-producing districts in the country, including California and Nevada. Total consumption of tungsten concentrate in terms of 60 per cent WO2 in the United States amounted to approximately 3790 tons in 1928, according to Frank L. Hess.' Of this amount, domestic mines contributed 1290 tons, and the rest, 2500 tons, was imported. Yet in 1917, with tungsten concentrate selling at $20 per unit, the Boulder district alone produced 2707 tons, indicating the effect of enhanced ore price upon production. It is believed by American tungsten miners that, given a sufficiently high tariff, all the demands of industry can be met by domestic production without placing a prohibitive burden on consumers. For instance, in steel manufacturing the percentage of tungsten entering into the manufacture is so small that, ?regardless of cost, it can constitute but a small fraction of the cost of steel to the buyer.

Jan 1, 1929

By Edward B. Cook

INTRODUCTION. THE installation of the Gayley Dry-Air process appealed specially to the management of the Warwick Iron & Steel Co., for the. reason that for fifteen years records had been kept at the works of the company, showing the amount of water entering the furnace in the form of aqueous vapor, and careful observations had been made of its effect upon the working of the furnace. Some years had proved much worse in their effect than others, on account, not only of excessive moisture, but also of great variation in the moisture from day to day, and sometimes within a few hours. It had been found impossible to. make a satisfactory percentage of high-silicon foundry-iron in summer, even on high fuel; and for some years the endeavor had been made so to arrange the sales that, during July and August, only a small percentage of the iron produced would be required to carry more than 2 per cent. of silicon. Our larger furnace, running on basic iron, year after year, produced in February a tonnage 20 per cent. higher than in August, on a much lower fuel-consumption, while, at the same time, the summer months were marked by ? messes," tuyeres closed by slips, and other irregularities, constituting serious additional business losses. It will be easily understood, therefore, that the records made at the Isabella furnace after the installation of the dry blast in 1904 possessed special interest, and were closely watched by us. On the basis of our own experience, we argued that if the moisture could be kept low, and also uniform, the cost of installation would be more than justified. The subject was brought before our Board of Directors in the fall of 1905; and in the spring of 1906 it was decided to install a plant of sufficient capacity to treat 70,000 cu. ft. of air per min., an amount

Nov 1, 1908

By George Jones

MACHINE mining on the pitch plays an important part in the produc-tion schedule at the Salem Hill Colliery of the Haddock Mining Co. This mine is just outside the city of Pottsville, in Schuylkill County, along the southern border of the Anthracite Region. The entrance to the mine is through a cross-measure tunnel 15 ft. above water level and running north 1500 ft. until it strikes the Rabbit Hole vein, where the machine mining is carried on. The main slope, dipping south, was sunk 1200 ft. in the Rabbit Hole vein with levels turned off at 300-ft. intervals. The vein is from 24 to 30 in. thick on a varying pitch of 20° to 40°. The overburden has differed from 50 to 466 ft., the most recent work having the maximum overburden. Immediately over the Rabbit Hole vein is a seam of soft sand slate from 1 to 4 ft. thick which presents a problem at times because it dis-integrates rapidly when exposed to the air. It will crack up and fall without any audible warning, therefore the workmen must always be on the alert, watching for loose slabs. The main top is sandstone, vary-ing in thickness from 8 to 20 ft. The bottom rock is similar to the top, but is finer grained and subject to a more complete disintegration. The vein has a 3 to 4-in. shelly band along the bottom, and all under-cutting has been done in this soft band.

Jan 1, 1935

It was a pleasure listening to this paper. Gary Works' problems were a lot more extensive than the trunnion bearing problems encountered at the Weirton Steel Division. In our two-vessel shop bearing failures are critical in that with a bearing failure on an operating vessel and the second vessel under rebuild, we are down until the vessel rebuild is completed or the bearing is repaired. The first bearing problem at Weirton occurred after we had been operating three years. The failure occurred during the 8th heat following "bum-in" of the vessel. Immediate steps were taken to change the damaged float bearing without an extensive search for the reason the bearing failed. Once the campaign was run out the bearings were inspected and found to be damaged. Field checks revealed that the bearing pedestals were not properly located and as a result the freedom of the float bearing was restricted. The trunnion pin end to end dimension had decreased due to distortion and deflection in the trunnion ring. These dimensions were within tolerances. The damage to our bearing was similar to that in the exhibits from U.S. Steel-Gary Works. Steps taken to correct what was found in the field checks were as follows: 1. The pedestals were relocated to center the bearings. 2. 4" diameter pins were installed to locate the housing in the pedestals. 3. The bearing pedestals were opened up to allow the bearing housing to move slightly in the pedestal. 4. Lubrication fittings for greasing between the bearing housing and the pedestal were installed.

Jan 1, 1972

By T. L. CONDRON

DURING the past fourteen months, this committee has had under consideration and study the subject of the licensing or registration of engineers. The fifteen members of the committee as appointed by Council, were selected from thirteen states, viz., Connecticut, New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Georgia, Louisiana, Illinois, Missouri, Iowa, Minnesota, Colorado, California and Washington, and therefore represent practically all sections* of the United States, as well as mechanical, electrical, mining, hydraulic, municipal, sanitary, railway and' structural engineering, and also colleges of engineering. The first work of the committee was to investigate the general subject and to collect, so far as possible, avail¬able material bearing upon the subject in hand,. in-' eluding opinions from many engineers as to the need or desirability of legislation, as well as copies of all state laws passed and proposed, having to do with licensing or registration of engineers, architects and surveyor, This preliminary investigation disclosed that very pronounced views were held by engineers throughout the country, both for and against state licensing or registration. The general sentiment one year ago was more opposed to such measures than it is today. The older members of the profession did not as a rule favor licensing nor did they feel there was need for state regulation of engineering practice, while among the younger men there was a feeling that licensing or registration by the states would add prestige to professional engineers and in many ways benefit -the profession, as well as individual engineers.

Jan 1, 1920

By Frank Haas

THE public generally has-become aware that there is something wrong with the coal industry and a clamor has arisen for an explanation if not a remedy for this disorder. It is only reasonable that this Institute be looked to for a diagnosis to show the way for some other .agency to prepare the patient for prescription or operation. The subject is extensive, widely diversified, and beyond the efforts of an individual to cover completely; one of the objects of this paper is the initiating of a symposium on the non- technical factors essential to an understanding of the bituminous coal industry. The present condition of the coal industry cannot be described in a few words but, in effect, it resolves itself into a simple statement: The average coal operator is losing money notwithstanding a firm conviction on the part of the consumer that he pays too much for his coal. Without enumerating the many and varied. factors which contribute to this condition, this paper will be devoted to the interrelation of taxation and ownership of coal and its effect on finance

Jan 1, 1930

By M. Albertson

UNITED STATES petroleum pro-dU6tion during 1937 materially exceeded? that of any previous year. Firm control of the production rate was maintained under State and Federal laws and aided by the' Interstate Compact. During the first ten months," crude oil prices were stable, except for a slight increase early in the year. Toward the end of the year, uncertainty of price structure be-came evident and a sharp reduction in allowable production was under way. Exploration for new pools and development of .pools already discovered continued active throughout the year. Production control agencies in Texas, and to a less extent in New Mexico and Louisiana, appear to have had increasing difficulty in holding crude oil output to allowable limits. The situation elsewhere is less well known but probably the same condition exists in other important producing States whether control is by State commissions or by unofficial bodies.

Jan 1, 1938

By I. C. Edwards, W. J. Dengler, D. F. Lillie

By 1959 the milling plant of Bicr oft Uranium Mines Ltd. had been in operation for two years. During this time many changes, both physical and chemical, had been made in an effort to improve plant efficiency. Investigational work had been facilitated greatly by the fact that the Bicroft mill consists to a large extent of two parallel circuits; however, the number of interrelated variables is great, and it is difficult to measure, let alone control, all of them simultaneously. The Bicroft mill staff feels that much progress has been made, but there is much yet to be done and many questions still to be answered. The Addendum outlines noteworthy developments to the fall of 1960. The property of Bicroft Uranium Mines is located in Cardiff Township in the Highlands of Haliburton County, southeastern Ontario, some 140 miles northeast of the city of Toronto and 70 miles due north of Lake Ontario. The ore-bearing dikes are classed as mafic. nonsegregated, syenite and granite pegmatite. Microline, microline perthite, quartz, sodic plagioclase, and pyroxene or biotite are the main constituents with uraninite, uranothorite, fluorite, titanite, cryolite, calcite, pyrite, pyrrhotite, and molybdenite as important accessories. The mill was designed for a nominal capacity of 1000 tpd with all sections except grinding, leaching, and clarification capable of 1500 tons. Feed was entered to one mill unit on Oct. 29, 1956, and to the second parallel line on November 13. The total feed rate was at 1000 tpd on November 15. The first precipitate was produced on November 12. By August 1958 the average entry had been increased to 1410 tpd without the installation of any additional major equipment. The overall recovery has been greater than 93.0 pct on several months, but a recovery of 92.5 pct appears to be most economical. Operating time for eight months in 1958 has been 97.1 pct although all grinding mills were relined during this period. A generalized flowsheet is shown in Fig. 1 and the plant layout in Fig. 2. The ore is crushed in three stages to -3/8-in. and then is wet ground in two stages to approximately 50 pct -200 mesh. The pulp is thickened to 68 pct solids and agitated by air for 33 hr at a pH of 1.9 as maintained by the addition of 93 pct sulfuric acid. Separation of the uranium-bearing pregnant liquor from the residue is accomplished by five-stage countercurrent decantation (CCD), following which the liquor is clarified for removal of fine slimes. The clarified liquor is treated in the ion exchange equipment in which both the upgrading of the solution and the removal of some impurities is accomplished. Addition of magnesia to the high-grade eluate from ion exchange precipitates the uranium as sodium-magnesium diuranate. After being filtered and dried this precipitate is packaged in drums for shipment. The residue from CCD and the barren solution from ion exchange are neutralized by the addition of lime and pumped to the tailings disposal area. CRUSHING All crushing is done on surface in a conventional three-stage unit consisting of a 36x48-in. Birdsboro Buchanan jaw crusher, a 4 1/4-ft standard Symons cone crusher, and a 4-ft Symons shorthead. Both the two primary and the two secondary screens are 4X 8-ft Symons rod decks. Moisture content of the feed ranges from 3 to 4 pct. In the initial installation the primary screens were equipped with 5/16-in. rods at 1 1/4-in. spacing and the secondaries with 5/16-in. rods at 1/2-in. spacing. With this arrangement the average crushing rate was better than 180 tph. To reduce the work required of the grinding circuit as tonnage was increased, several changes were made in the crushing circuit. By September 1957, both secondary screens had been reduced to 3/8-in. spacing, and rod size had been reduced to 3/16-in. to provide increased open area. Average throughput was reduced to 160 tph. Later, 50 pct of one primary screen was decreased to 1/2-in. opening to better balance the load between the two cone crushers. In May 1958,

Jan 1, 1961

By Eugene McAuliffe

In the year 1581, the counselors of King Philip of Spain suggested to that monarch that a canal across the Isthmus of Darien would open the west coast of the South American continent to Spanish miners and explorers, enlarging and expanding the flow of precious metals then just beginning to trickle across the path cut by Spanish Conquistadors, from old Panama to Puerto Bello on the east coast. The King sent out a party of surveyors and explorers under the command of a young engineer, Savadaerro, who returned after two years, reporting upon a location for a canal which was virtually adopted by the French engineers employed by De Lesseps, who in 1877 commenced the work of constructing the Panama Canal-296 years after Sava- daerro's first survey was begun. The suggestion for an Isthmian canal, made to the king at a time when Spain was a proud, virile nation and when that country was contending with England in the fields of discovery and conquest, represents a measure of vision that has never failed to intrigue the imagination. That the young Spanish engineer recommended an undertaking so gigantic in conception that it took three and one-third centuries for its completion from the time it was first visioned matters little. In the day of Philip of Spain,

Jan 1, 1932

By E. D. Gardner

The Synthetic Liquid Fuels Act (58 Stat., 190; 30 U.S.C. Sup., Secs. 321- 325) was approved by Congress April 5, 1944; it directed the Bureau of Mines to build demonstration plants to produce synthetic liquid fuels from coal, oil shale, and agricultural products. The most important oil-shale de- posits in the United States are in the Green River formation of Colorado, Utah, and Wyoming. The oil shale of western Colorado generally is more amenable to exploitation, more persistent, and apparently richer than elsewhere in the Rocky Mountain Region. It occurs at the top of a high plateau surrounded by bold, nearly vertical escarpments 500 to 600 ft in height. The top 400 to 500 ft of these escarpments comprises an oil-shale measure that averages 15 gal of shale oil per ton; the bottom 70 to 100 ft of the measure, called the Mahogany Ledge, averages over 30 gal per ton. The full measure in a 1000-square-mile area is estimated to contain 300 billion barrels of shale oil;' the Mahogany Ledge is estimated to contain 100 billion barrels of oil. These estimates are based on numerous surface samples and on core-drill holes drilled by the Government and by private enterprise. The oil-shale beds are undisturbed and lie nearly horizontal. The name

Jan 1, 1949

By J. M. GLEDHILL

IT would doubtless have been felt by many but a few years back that there was little left to be said on the subject of crucible tool-steel, and that something akin to finality had been arrived at in its manufacture and general treatment. Probably such feeling was justifiable when it is remembered that the making of steel in crucibles is by far the oldest method known, dating back from time immemorial, it being indeed impossible to accurately trace its origin and earliest development; but it seems certain that carbon-steel was made and used thousands of years ago for cutting-tools. Proof of this may be seen by the marvelous carvings and workings on the intensely hard stone-work of the ancients, for it would be difficult to conceive by what means, other than with steel tools, such work could have been executed; and it is wonderful to contemplate that steel cutting-tools should have been used so long ago, whilst the principle of manufacturing them-that is, by fusion of iron and charcoal in crucibles-was then in a measure on the sane lines as we work on at the present day. Archaeologists have discovered that the Chinese made steel in crucibles long before the Christian era. " Wootz " steel fabricated in India centuries ago was crucible steel, as was also the celebrated Damascus steel, produced at the forges of Toledo, and, curiously, this latter steel furnishes' yet another proof that "There is nothing new under the Sun," for it is recorded that Damascus steel contained certain percentages of tungsten, nickel, manganese, etc., some of the very elements, in fact, contained in the present modern high-speed steel, so that a latent high-speed steel may be said to have existed

Mar 1, 1905

By S. S. Arentz

An organized safety program has reduced accidents at Pioche because effort is first devoted to arousing and maintaining interest in safety, followed by training in accident prevention, assigning responsibility for the detection and removal of safety hazards, and finally, by keeping score through an adequate system of records. A health program is intergrated with the safety program.

Jan 1, 1950

By Robert S. Dewey

AS a result of drilling operations during 1943, West Texas again added sufficient new oil reserves to replace the oil produced during the year, but failed to maintain its position in currently available reserves because the deeper discoveries will require years for development. Drilling failed to provide the additional oil necessary to meet the increase in current and anticipated market demand. Although 13.3 per cent of the total footage drilled was in wildcat exploration, the ratio of oil discoveries to total wildcats was less in 1943 than in 1942, but comparable to that in 1941. Of the 732 field wells completed, 270 were at Slaughter, 55 at Wasson, 45 at Mascho and 31 at North Cowden. As of Dec. 31, 1943, there were 361 drilling wells including 71 wildcat and 290 field wells; 19.7 per cent were wildcats. It is anticipated that the percentage of wildcats of the total wells will be higher during 1944 than in either 1942 or 1943. Tables 3 and 4 present a three-year comparison of drilling activity and illustrate the downward trend of development that has been in effect during that time. Because of development lag in the deeper Ordovician fields, several years elapse before 2 sufficient number of wells is completed to give a substantial producing rate. As these new oil reserves cost more to find, and will cost more to produce on a barrel basis than the oil marketed during the year, their reserve replacement value to the industry is less in money. Costs While complete costs for deeper drilling are not yet available for analysis, it is evi- dent from the data on drilling rates to comparable depths, contract prices, and general increases in costs, that the cost of drilling has risen approximately 20 per cent during the year. One representative drilling contractor estimates that the average drilling time on a 5000-ft. field well has increased nearly one third and that out-of-pocket costs have increased a dollar per foot. Three major factors contribute to this increased cost: (I) less experienced labor, (2) deterioration in mechanical equipment and expendable material, and (3) increased contract prices. In the past, when there were more drilling rigs than wells to be drilled, some contractors would cut their drilling profit to keep their personnel and rigs working. As this practice is no longer necessary, the contract prices are adjusted upward to assure a profit. On deep and difficult drilling, contracts are let on a cost plus basis. A number of mechanical difficulties have become evident. Inferior quality of steel used in drill pipe and rock bits has added appreciably to drilling time and cost. Contractors are experiencing delay in obtaining repair work and repair parts for prime movers. As the length of drilling time required an shallow-field wells has not increased in proportion to that on deeper wells, it seems that the medium-sized drilling rig is better adapted mechanically than the heavy one to the work imposed. One of the main deficiencies in the heavy rig equipment is inadequate pump capacity. Drilling Mud The increasing amount of deep drilling has emphasized the importance and relationship of good mud to efficient and suc-

Jan 1, 1944

By Robert S. Dewey

AS a result of drilling operations during 1943, West Texas again added sufficient new oil reserves to replace the oil produced during the year, but failed to maintain its position in currently available reserves because the deeper discoveries will require years for development. Drilling failed to provide the additional oil necessary to meet the increase in current and anticipated market demand. Although 13.3 per cent of the total footage drilled was in wildcat exploration, the ratio of oil discoveries to total wildcats was less in 1943 than in 1942, but comparable to that in 1941. Of the 732 field wells completed, 270 were at Slaughter, 55 at Wasson, 45 at Mascho and 31 at North Cowden. As of Dec. 31, 1943, there were 361 drilling wells including 71 wildcat and 290 field wells; 19.7 per cent were wildcats. It is anticipated that the percentage of wildcats of the total wells will be higher during 1944 than in either 1942 or 1943. Tables 3 and 4 present a three-year comparison of drilling activity and illustrate the downward trend of development that has been in effect during that time. Because of development lag in the deeper Ordovician fields, several years elapse before 2 sufficient number of wells is completed to give a substantial producing rate. As these new oil reserves cost more to find, and will cost more to produce on a barrel basis than the oil marketed during the year, their reserve replacement value to the industry is less in money. Costs While complete costs for deeper drilling are not yet available for analysis, it is evi- dent from the data on drilling rates to comparable depths, contract prices, and general increases in costs, that the cost of drilling has risen approximately 20 per cent during the year. One representative drilling contractor estimates that the average drilling time on a 5000-ft. field well has increased nearly one third and that out-of-pocket costs have increased a dollar per foot. Three major factors contribute to this increased cost: (I) less experienced labor, (2) deterioration in mechanical equipment and expendable material, and (3) increased contract prices. In the past, when there were more drilling rigs than wells to be drilled, some contractors would cut their drilling profit to keep their personnel and rigs working. As this practice is no longer necessary, the contract prices are adjusted upward to assure a profit. On deep and difficult drilling, contracts are let on a cost plus basis. A number of mechanical difficulties have become evident. Inferior quality of steel used in drill pipe and rock bits has added appreciably to drilling time and cost. Contractors are experiencing delay in obtaining repair work and repair parts for prime movers. As the length of drilling time required an shallow-field wells has not increased in proportion to that on deeper wells, it seems that the medium-sized drilling rig is better adapted mechanically than the heavy one to the work imposed. One of the main deficiencies in the heavy rig equipment is inadequate pump capacity. Drilling Mud The increasing amount of deep drilling has emphasized the importance and relationship of good mud to efficient and suc-

Jan 1, 1944

By Robert F. Mehl

PROGRESS in the general field of nonferrous physical metallurgy during the past .year has been uneventful but healthy. A continued increase is apparent in the number of useful alloys and in the mechanical treatment and heat- treatment of finished metals and alloys nothing can hinder the multiplication of alloys or the diversification of their treatment as knowledge of the behavior of .alloys increases; as ternary and quaternary alloys are better understood, hundreds of new metal combinations with unusual properties may well be expected. Evidence of rapid progress is already at hand.

Jan 1, 1936

By James A. Barr

Phosphate rock is a natural rock containing one or more phosphate minerals usually calcium phosphate, of sufficient purity and quantity to permit its use, either directly or after beneficiation in the manufacture of commercial products.1 The principal minerals in phosphate rock have the apatite structure which may be represented by the type formula: Ca10(X2) (PO4)6 where X represents the hydroxyl group (OH), chlorine or fluorine, either singly or collectively. The calcium may be partly replaced by sodium, magnesium, and other positive ions such as manganese, strontium, lead, uranium, cerium, yttrium and other rare earths. The PO4 radical may be partly replaced by small quantities of UO4, AsO4, SiO4, CO3, SO4, or Vo4. A typical commercial rock is usually a calcium phosphate containing 3 to 4 pct fluorine, the major impurities being limonite or other iron oxides, clay, aluminum phosphates and silica as quartz sand. A little vanadium is present in most of the domestic rock deposits (except the Tennessee Brown Rock), according to Jacob, Hill, Marshall and Reynolds! A little uranium occurs in the Florida leached zone, as will be brought out later. The chemical analyses are reported as P205, or tricalcium phosphate Ca3(PO4)2, the latter often designated by the trade name BPL (bone phosphate of lime). Commercial analyses usually report iron and alumina as oxides, lime as CaO and silica or insoluble. Colony3 examined many samples of apatite, staffelite, dahlite and American phosphorites and concluded that all have identical X-ray diffraction patterns. The phosphates in the phosphate rock have very minute crystalline structures. The mineral apatite Ca3(F.Cl) (PO4) 3 is the principal primary source of the element phosphorus, and occurs widely distributed in igneous rocks but rarely in a minable mass. Only about 12 pct of the world production of phosphate rock comes from primary apatites; the remainder is derived from secondary phosphorites. These phosphorites have been formed by the alteration of sediments by solutions containing phosphoric acid. Such solutions have come from the weathering or leaching of igneous rock containing apatite, bone deposits of prehistoric animals, marine life or guano deposits. These phosphorites are mostly alterations of phosphatic limestones. The sedimentary phosphate deposits are of marine origin and may have been enriched by subsequent solution of the more soluble calcium carbonate by waters containing carbon dioxide, by physical concentration by wave action, and by redeposition of the dissolved phosphate ions. Uses of Phosphate Phosphorus is the spark of life and is the structure builder and one of the main elements of plant food (fertilizer). Without phosphorus, life cannot exist. A "complete" plant food[t] in addition to phosphorus compounds contains potash, which acts as a catalyst to convert nutrients to useful forms, nitrogen to supply the growth element and many minor elements. The cycle of supply of phosphorus is from the apatite to solution and soil, absorption of plant life, decay and return to the soil or by animal life feeding on the plants. With insufficient supply of phosphorus in vegetation, life is not prolific. If crops are removed from

Jan 1, 1960

By James E. Adler, Timothy C. Richmond

The Stillwater District is located in south central Montana approximately 75 miles southwest of Billings, the state's largest city. It lies along the northeast front of the Beartooth Mountains and is within the boundaries of the Custer and Galatin National Forests. The first white visitors in the district were the early trappers, who were soon followed by the prospectors. These early prospectors were drawn to the area by gold and silver discoveries at Cooke City in 1870 as well as by the large gossan formation in Verdigris Creek near the west bank of the Stillwater River and by several scattered smaller gossan exposures throughout the area. The first patented mining claims were recorded in September, 1886.

Jan 3, 1974

By F. N. Flynn

- Introductory IN 1882, The Arizona Copper Co. Ltd., acquired producing copper mines at Metcalf and Morenci (locally called Longfellow). Metcalf is situated a distance of 7 miles, and Morenci a distance of 6 miles from the general office of the company at Clifton, Ariz. A reduction works with five blast furnaces was built in the center of the town of Clifton in 1884 and operated until January, 1914. Concentration of oxidized ores was begun in 1890-1891, in a mill built adjoining the smelter, and in October, 1893, a leaching process was started for treating tailings from the oxide mill. A sulphide concentrator with 300 tons capacity was built at Clifton and started treating chalcocite ores in July, 1896. This was the first mill to treat low-grade copper-sulphide ores successfully. Another concentration mill for sulphide ores was erected at Morenci in 1900. The, sulphide mills are now being remodeled to treat ores by concentration and flotation, with a capacity of 4,000 tons at Morenci and 500 tons at Clifton. The leaching plant has not been running since September, 1914. The average yearly production from this company's mines and reduction works from 1885 to date has been: Pounds 10 years ended 1894 6,864,902 10 years ended 1904 20,439,614 10 years ended 1914 : 32,665,905 Part of year 1915, to Sept. 12 30,206,106 4 months of 1916, to June 15,964,840 June, 1916...: ? 4,900,000 Construction on a new smelting plant was started in February, 1912, and finished in February, 1914. In the Transactions, vol. 49, E. Horton Jones published "Unit Construction Costs from the New Smelter of the Arizona Copper Co., Ltd:," which fully describes the construction of this plant, with details of costs.

Jan 9, 1916