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By Michael M. Maier, Charles B. Brumleve

The Henderson mine uses the panel caving method to extract molybdenum ore from a deep ore body in an igneous intrusive. Research into caving mechanics and its related problems has yielded fundamental relationships concerning the response of a stressed rock mass to the caving method. The relationships studied through a variety of programs include the following: the evaluation of time and distance related stress fields; the monitoring of the deformation of underground openings and the design implications; ground and mining sequence classifications compared to past support requirements; the response of finite rock masses to zones of high stress concentrations; the evaluation of the subsidence induced by caving; and the microseismic monitoring of cave growth. The cumulative objective of this research is to better understand, predict, and control rock mass response.

Jan 1, 1981

By Conrad E. Hesse

To increase the durability of paint exposed to the weather, it is necessary to protect the oil with a substance that is itself unaffected by the elements. The so-called " metallic " paints, containing ochre,

Jan 1, 1891

The Institute conducts jointly with the American Society of Civil Engineers, American Society of Mechanical Engineers and American Institute of Electrical Engineers, certain activities as listed below, and is joint owner with them of certain properties. United Engineering Trustees, Inc. When Mr. Carnegie made his gift which made possible a home for the engineering societies, a separate corporation was organized to act as a holding company and to manage the common property. This was long known as the United Engineering Society, but the name has 'now been changed to one which more nearly reflects the real function of the corporation. It holds title to the Engineering Societies Building and to various funds placed in its charge and is managed by a Board of Trustees, of which three are chosen by each of the four societies, American Institute of Mining and Metallurgical Engineers, American Society of Mechanical Engineers, American Institute

Jan 1, 1934

By K. C. Sclater

GAS as a factor in the efficiency of oil production, might be a better title for this paper as it deals in general with the significance of the gas-oil ratio as an index of the efficiency of oil production and briefly discusses oil production methods with reference to the gas-oil ratio in wells, particularly during the early life of a field. In the recent hearings held at Washington before the Federal Oil Conservation Board the fuller utilization of the energy contained in the gas occluded in or associated with the oil underground was stressed by some of the speakers when referring to greater ultimate recovery of oil. One speaker commenting on this point said in part, "There is ample evidence indicative that if the gas associated with the petroleum in our fields were conserved and elevated gas pressure maintained in the oil sands during their productive life, the ultimate production of oil could be greatly increased."

Jan 1, 1926

By R. V. Ramani, T. S. Kovach

In many instances, the actual production from a longwall face does not equal the planned capacity. General problem areas that have been identified include face length and panel depth, face area and gate entry roof support, face conveyor and shearer wear, outby haulage system failures, number of entries in longwall gate development, and longwall move time. The performance of a longwall face is totally dependent on the interaction of these and other factors. To explore fully these interactions, a systems analysis of longwalls has been performed. In this paper, the systems approach, the factors considered in the analysis, and the results of the analysis are presented.

Jan 1, 1985

By Victor M. Braschi

The railroad history of Mexico began with the first presidential term of General Diaz. Concessions for the building of railroads had been granted in former years; indeed, an exclusive privilege was granted, August 22, 1837, to Francisco de Arrillaga for the construction of a railroad from Mexico to Vera Cruz, with a branch to Puebla, and other concessions were granted from then on at various periods; but the year 1877 was the real beginning of the regular and constant decelopment of the railways of Mexico. The programme laid out at that time by the new government, and responded to by the nation, was to develop its natural ele-

Jan 1, 1902

By William G. Brissenden

Gaspe Copper Mines Ltd., a subsidiary of Noranda Mines Ltd., operates a completely integrated copper mining, milling and smelting plant at Murdochville, on the Gaspe Peninsula of Quebec. Operating six days a week, the mine produces 8000 tpd of ore. The mill runs continuously and capacity is rated at 6500 tpd of ore. Treating Gaspe concentrate output plus a certain amount of custom concentrate, the smelter produces between 3700 and 4000 tons of copper anodes per month.

Jan 9, 1959

By Bernard York, John J. Reed

Mine opening stability was investigated by loading model openings to failure. Eight-inch plaster blocks were cast with small uniform section openings passing through the centers. After curing, the models were jacketed and loaded hydrostatically in a closed vessel. Opening size, shape, and orientation were varied to determine how these factors influence opening stability. THE investigation described in this paper is a continuation of a project begun in 1946 by Bernard York and W. E. Bush. .The experimental method used in the investigation involves the hydrostatic loading of a model mine opening to failure. Most investigators agree that this loading closely approaches actual conditions in very deep mines. The conditions are further idealized by using an essentially isotropic model material. The experiments consist of casting 8-in. plaster cubes, or 8-in. diam cylinders 8-in. long, having a relatively small uniform section hole passing through their centers. After thorough drying, the models are jacketed in a flexible plastic bag and loaded hydrostatically with water in a closed vessel. At about 300 to 500 lb per sq in. pressure the central opening fails. The fracture pattern resulting from opening failure is studied in a plane normal to the longitudinal axis of the opening. The model block is sawed through its center after loading to expose this plane and to eliminate the possibility of end effect. By changing

Jan 1, 1954

By Carle R. Hayward

GENERAL conditions in the lead industry have registered a distinct improvement. The first signs of a strengthening market were found in an increasing demand for scrap. There is keen competition for old battery plates both by large and small dealers. The large operator smelts them either alone or in combination with ores or other lead-bearing material, giving an antimonial lead for which there is brisk demand. The small operator usually has three alternatives. He may simply melt out the metallics in a kettle at low temperature, giving an antimonial lead and a pulverulent lead oxide; he may fuse under oxidizing conditions, giving a soft lead and lead-antimony slag; or he may fuse under reducing conditions, giving a relatively low-grade antimonial lead and a low-antimony slag. In each case the metal product is used or sold, and the dross or slag sold to a large smelter. It will be interesting to see what the final outcome will be of this situation which is generally conceded to be unsatisfactory.

Jan 1, 1937

By H. M. Warrren

IN the past, steam engines were used in practically all cases for driving the machinery, in and about an anthracite breaker, and hence little or no accurate data were available as to the power requirements for starting and operating the individual machines, which make up the complete equipment. It was impossible to segregate the power necessary to drive each individual machine, first, because the equipment was driven in groups, and second, because it was impracticable to obtain graphic, integrated, or instantaneous records of the horsepower used. As a result of these conditions, it was found, when individual electric motors were applied to the various machines, that more accurate and complete data were needed in order to provide motors of the proper power and design for the particular services to be rendered. In order to obtain the desired information, the writers made and collected a number of tests, from time to time, on the individual motor drives in- electrically operated breakers, and as these tests have been of great value, it occurred to them that a paper giving the results might be of service to other engineers interested in similar installations. Table I shows the .results of these tests. All the motors tested were of the three-phase, 60-cycle, 440-volt, induction, squirrel-cage type, except a few, which, on account of size and starting conditions, were of the wound-rotor type. The instruments used in making these tests were: An integrating watt-hour meter, a graphic ammeter, and a graphic voltmeter. These instruments were connected in each motor circuit, and a record of a day's run of 9 hours was obtained from each machine. From these tests, the running light load, the average all-clay load, and the instantaneous peak readings in amperes, volts, and kilowatt input, were obtained. By means of the characteristic curves obtained from these motors at the factory, the power factor, the efficiency, and the horsepower output were calculated for each particular test. Starting tests were made by the brake-arm method, in which the torque in pounds was measured directly on a spring balance.

Jan 2, 1916

By A. L. Engel

IN the treatment of complex ores by flotation, one of the most important steps is conditioning the feed. Conditioning primarily consists of the addition, in the grinding circuit, of an alkaline reagent, for example sodium carbonate, which neutralizes any acidity of ore and mill water, counteracts the effect of 'harmful soluble salts, disperses colloids, and provides the necessary alkalinity for the best metallurgical results. The several minerals of the ore should be put in such condition that they may be floated or rejected as desired, through the action of further reagents thereafter used.

Jan 1, 1932

By U. Paakkinen, P. Eerola

In connection with theoretical studies of the dynamics and control of the flotation process, flotation cells and circuits at the Pyha- computer control of selective Cu - Zn - Fe sulfide flotation in the latter half of 1969. In this paper, the practical conclusions of these studies, conducted through simulation techniques, are summarized. The application of these results for control purposes implies a knowledge of the dependence of the flotation rate coefficients and the grade of concentrate on several factors, including aeration rate, froth depth, and reagent consumption. The relationships found in laboratory and plant scale tests are described. Off-line optimization studies, based on the relation- ships, are also described. The proposed steps in executing the computer control schedule are presented. In the first stage, a stabilizing control will be carried out using feed-back loops. A feed-forward control system which utilizes simple process models will also be tested. After these elementary stages, a proposed mathematical model of the circuit will be checked out and implemented with computer- run, plant-scale process tests. Off-line simulation will be continued in advance development of the control system. As a final step in the program optimal control of the process will be carried out through this model.

Jan 1, 1969

Expect Labrador Iron Ore Shipments by 1954 Iron ore shipments from the Quebec-Labrador area are a "definite expectation" by late summer, 1954, according to William H. Durrell, general manager of the Iron Ore Company of Canada. About $120 million have been invested in the project, with a total of $200 million expected to be reached before a ton of ore is shipped, Mr. Durrell said. According to the general manager approximately 418 million tons of open pit highgrade ore have been proven in the project. Deposits lie several hundred miles north of the mouth of the St. Lawrence River in territory which was without transportation of any kind. Construction of a railroad from Seven Islands to Knob Lake, about 360 miles, is an important part of the development plan. The railroad will be the first to adopt complete roller bearing applications. Construction is on schedule with 215 miles of the route graded. Completion involves two tunnels through rock, one of almost half mile length, a 700-ft bridge and several smaller spans.

Jan 3, 1953

By K. B. Nowels

The attainment of efficient flooding to a large extent depends upon a knowledge of fluid movement through porous media and the pressures used in controlling this movement. Little has been understood con-cerning the fundamental principles involved in the forced drive of water-flooding and an attempt will be made to present some data which may be of interest. Considerable data and technical information pertaining to natural and artificial water-flooding have been presented in the past by Torrey, Umpleby, Fettke, Panyity and others. Their papers have thoroughly covered the description of past and present-day methods of oil recovery by flooding in the Bradford field, especially an article by Torreyl in the Petroleum Engineering Handbook. A bibliography of papers devoted to watcr-flooding, published in Mr. Torrey's article, is appended to this paper. No attempt has been made, therefore, to describe the installations and procedure necessary in flooding, thus permitting the writer to deal exclusively with the mechanics of water movement in flooding operations and its relationship to well spacing. Artificial water-flooding will probably always be the most successful in oil fields described by Herold as being under "capillary control"" and will probably be useless in fields naturally under hydraulic or volumetric control. The natural water drive in an oil field under either of these two controls may give efficient recoveries, as a result of the regulated encroachment of edge water. Such a "natural flood" resulting from the influence of edge water must not be confused with the term as used in this paper, however. Any reference to "natural flood" will here refer to the old method of flooding formerly used in the Bradford field. This was discovered largely by accident and utilized the hydrostatic pressure created by a column of water standing in a watered-out oil well in forcing the oil to an adjacent producing well. The same principles are involved in either natural or artificial flooding, and the latter method simply

Jan 1, 1933

By C. D. Henry, M. L. W. Jackson

Environmental geologic maps of the Wilcox and Jackson-Yegua lignite belts of the Texas Coastal Plain delineate land areas on the basis of their natural characteristics. Criteria used to define map units include substrate, soil, topography, geologic process, vegetation, and land use. The maps are useful in planning and reclamation of lignite mines and in meeting the requirements of state and federal surface mining laws. Specific applications include identification of land capability, recharge areas and geometry of aquifers, flood-prone areas, areas that may qualify for prime farmland status, and other areas sensitive to lignite mining.

Jan 1, 1984

By Carrol A. Quam

DURING the first years of operation of the titanium and iron mine of the National Lead Co. at Tahawus, New York, efforts to increase production were hampered by the increased load put on the facilities for sharpening churn-drill bits. The ore and rock are extremely hard and abrasive and it was necessary to sharpen and harden a large number of bits per day to keep the churn drills supplied. Efforts to increase the capacity of the bit shop by a two-shift operation were not wholly successful in that it was hard to train men to do a satisfactory job of sharpening and tempering the bits. The number of bits that were improperly tempered increased, thus boosting the daily requirements for bits at the drills and increasing the load on the bit-sharpening facilities.

Jan 1, 1949

By Joseph J. Yancik, Leonard L. Felts, George B. Clark

Little information has been published concerning the actual or useful amount of energy obtained from explosives when they are used for blasting. To provide more data on this subject, 8-in. neet cement cubes were blasted in a steel plate box and the breakage energy evaluated by comparison with drop crusher results using Rittinger's," ' Kick's,%nd Bond's' theories. Theories by Bond and Wang," Lineau,' Hatch,' Roller," and others were not considered applicable. Those used in this investigation may be expressed mathematically as follows: [ ] The above equations were employed to determine values of KK, K for particle size distributions similar to those obtained from the blasting curves. These values were in turn used as a means of approximating the specific energy of the blasted material. The efficiency of crushing by blasting was then determined by dividing this specific energy by the maximum available work of the explosive per gram of cement.

Mar 1, 1956

By G. Stuart Jenkins

Conditions at the properties of the Consolidated Coal Co. had reached a point where improvements were almost impractical. The mines, sunk years ago, had shafts and entries so small as to preclude the use of large mine cars. A radical change was necessary in the type of mining and also in the type of mine to accommodate such haulage units. After due consideration, the company decided to enter the field of trackless mining, utilizing belt conveyors and chain-flight conveyors, the belt conveyors to take the long haul, and the chain-flight conveyors to be used for gathering. It was decided not to sink a shaft, hut to drive a slope on an inclination of 17½°, which the company believes to be about the limit on which coal can be carried on a belt without rolling back unduly. Sinking the Slope It was decided, in sinking the slope, to make an opencut until rock was reached, which was some 65 ft. below the surface, and then to drive the slope through an inclined tunnel from that point. In making the open-cut, the schedule called for the removal of about 25,000 cu. yd. of clay, holding the banks on an inclination of one and a half to one, the thought being to make this cut in a minimum of time, put in a reinforced concrete slope, and then back-fill. Difficulty was experienced because the clay was of a sort that was called "subsiding base" material by contractors visiting the job. In other words, a "squeeze" occurred, the pressure causing the floor of the cut to move up just as it does in many mines where the coal is underlain by thick fire clay and inadequate pillars have been left. It was necessary to move the waste banks back from the edge of the cut 700 or 800 ft., and even then the floor could not be controlled, the result being that almost 100,000 cu. yd. of clay was handled before the rock was reached. A concrete slope was then rapidly constructed, using 95 tons of special-shaped reinforcing iron. The floor of this slope was made 30 in. thick at the bottom, and 17 in. thick at the top, the sidewalls being 18 in.

Jan 1, 1940

By G. Stuart Jenkins

Conditions at the properties of the Consolidated Coal Co. had reached a point where improvements were almost impractical. The mines, sunk years ago, had shafts and entries so small as to preclude the use of large mine cars. A radical change was necessary in the type of mining and also in the type of mine to accommodate such haulage units. After due consideration, the company decided to enter the field of trackless mining, utilizing belt conveyors and chain-flight conveyors, the belt conveyors to take the long haul, and the chain-flight conveyors to be used for gathering. It was decided not to sink a shaft, hut to drive a slope on an inclination of 17½°, which the company believes to be about the limit on which coal can be carried on a belt without rolling back unduly. Sinking the Slope It was decided, in sinking the slope, to make an opencut until rock was reached, which was some 65 ft. below the surface, and then to drive the slope through an inclined tunnel from that point. In making the open-cut, the schedule called for the removal of about 25,000 cu. yd. of clay, holding the banks on an inclination of one and a half to one, the thought being to make this cut in a minimum of time, put in a reinforced concrete slope, and then back-fill. Difficulty was experienced because the clay was of a sort that was called "subsiding base" material by contractors visiting the job. In other words, a "squeeze" occurred, the pressure causing the floor of the cut to move up just as it does in many mines where the coal is underlain by thick fire clay and inadequate pillars have been left. It was necessary to move the waste banks back from the edge of the cut 700 or 800 ft., and even then the floor could not be controlled, the result being that almost 100,000 cu. yd. of clay was handled before the rock was reached. A concrete slope was then rapidly constructed, using 95 tons of special-shaped reinforcing iron. The floor of this slope was made 30 in. thick at the bottom, and 17 in. thick at the top, the sidewalls being 18 in.

Jan 1, 1940

By N. J. Feola, E. P. Klier

NOTCH properties of titanium materials have been extensively investigated in the impact test.'-" For the most part the impact strength meas- ured suggests a ductile-brittle transition that lies at relatively high temperatures, thus indicating a possible notch sensitive condition at ambient temperatures. Recently it has been shown' that the impact strength for unalloyed titanium, as for aluminum alloys, may be a nonsensitive index of notch sensitivity as provided by the notch strength as measured in the notch tensile test. The notch strength for unalloyed titanium was found to depend on the nitrogen and carbon contamination levels. In the present work the levels to which oxygen, nitrogen, and carbon contaminants can be tolerated without leading to excessive em-

Jan 1, 1958