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By Pekka S. Särkkä

The method of interactive dimensioning is based on the computation of the loading-deformation curves caused by country rocks on the pillars with numerical methods. The comparable loading-deformation curves of pillars with different shapes are determined with small-scale model tests in a servo-controlled testing machine. The equilibrium points, i.e. the stability of the different pillar-country rock systems are determined by matching these curves adequately scaled. A case from a Finnish mine is presented together with the stoping results.

Jan 1, 1984

By Arnold Hague

At the Buffalo meeting, October, 1888, Dr. Raymond presented a paper entitled: "Soaping Geysers" (p. 449 of the present volume), in which he called attention to the use of soap by tourists to cause eruptions of several of the well-known geysers in the Yellowstone Park. Incorporated in this paper appears a communication received from me, written from camp in the Park, in reply to some inquiries on the subject. The letter discussed somewhat briefly the means employed by visitors to the Park to hasten the eruptions from hot springs and reservoirs of hot water, which remain dormant for days, or even weeks or months, at a temperature near the boiling-point, without any display of geyser-action. As the paper has called forth considerable comment, I desire to elucidate one or two points in relation to the temperature of the springs, and to answer some inquiries about the composition of the thermal waters. In the summer of 1885, a Chinaman, employed as a laundryman for the accommodation of the tourists at the Upper Geyser Basin, accidently discovered, much to bis amazement, that soap thrown into the spring from which he was accustomed to draw his supply of water produced an eruption in every way similar to the actual workings of a geyser. Tourists with limited time at their command, who had travelled thousands of miles to look upon the wonders of the Yellowstone, soon fell into the way of coaxing the laundryman's spring into action, to partly compensate them for their sore disappointment in witnessing only the periodical eruptions of Old Faithful. Successful attempts upon this spring soon led to various endeavors to accelerate action in the dormant and more famous geysers. In a short time, so popular became the desire to stimulate geysers in this way, that the Park authorities were compelled to enforce rigidly the rule against throwing objects of any kind into the springs. In connection with a thorough investigation of the thermal waters of the Yellowstone Park and the phenomena of the geysers, I undertook a number of experiments to ascertain the action of soap upon the waters and to determine, if possible, those physical conditions of various pools and reservoirs which permitted the hastening of an

Jan 1, 1889

By H. J. Stehli

Probably the earliest sinter from lead ore was made in the product sinter boxes attached to some hand reverberatory roasters. The ore was drawn from the roaster bed when dead roasted, and then by laborious effort fritted together by rabbling at a high temperature in the sinter box. This was not a true sinter, but was a great improvement over the dusty dead-roasted fine ores. The Huntington-Heberlein pots were the first real advance in the art, and produced some real sinter. They required that the sulphides be preroasted to 5 or 6 per cent sulphur, and the long cycle of operating and deep bed of material used in the pots fostered the formation of densely fused material and fines. This necessitated crushing of the densely fused cake and returning to the next charge large amounts of fines screened out. The Huntington-Heberlein pots made comparatively high lead losses because the deep bed and high internal temperature together favored the volatilization of lead. Lime (CaO) was added to the charges, and this addition constituted the patented feature of the Huntington-Heberlein process. Its sole function we now know was to act as an isolator of the sulphide particles, and any other substance—for instance, iron oxide—of equal fineness performed the same function. The Savelsberg process used limestone instead of burned lime, and in this there was a definite advantage. The converting of CaCO3, to CaO is a highly endothermic reaction, so the lime acted not only as an isolator of sulphide particles but absorbed excess heat and to some extent prevented premature fusion of the sulphides. The Carmichael-Bradford process used gypsum instead of limestone, and had the disadvantage of adding more sulphur to a charge from which it was desired to eliminate sulphur. Here again the gypsum served only as an infusible isolator of sulphide particles. The first Dwight-Lloyd apparatus to sinter lead ores commercially was installed at Perth Amboy in 1907. The fact that lime in any form was necessary to sintering was quickly disproved by making excellent sinter from Bunker Hill and Sullivan table concentrates, silica sand and iron oxide only.

Jan 1, 1937

By W. M. Courtis

In compliance with the suggestion in Mr. Emmons's paper on the Genesis of Certain Ore-Deposits (Trans. xv., 125), that facts should be accumulated for study and future compilation, I wish to put on record, before the data are lost, a section of the Animikie series of rocks and the vein-phenomena exposed by the explorations at the Duncan mine, Port Arthur, Thunder Bay, Lake Superior. This may serve as a supplement to my paper on this district (Trans. v., 473). I trust this information will not be without interest at. the present time. The recent discoveries of very rich silver-ores at Rabbit and Silver Mountains, on the same belt, have brought the district once more before the public; and a study of the facts here set forth may assist some fellow-engineer in the determination of the value of property offered for sale in this neighborhood. The vein at the Duncan mine was tested to a depth of over eight hundred feet by shaft and drifts, and to nearly a thousand feet with

Jan 1, 1887

AN indication that Mesabi Range iron use companies may develop their own flotation processes for low grade iron ores is the report that Cleveland Cliffs Iron Co. is adopting a variation of one of the oldest known methods at its new Michigan treatment plant. Basically, the method involves using fatty acids and fuel oil reagents. The idea was developed many years ago and should be free of patent control. With other laboratories working on the same tack, it seems to be a pretty good bet that they will come up with their own processes. Any outside process will have to offer considerable advantage or low royalty rate to get consideration. Much of the appeal of the fatty acid process is the cheapness of the reagent. One source is pulp paper liquor in semi-refined form. With stream pollution legislation acting as a strong pressure, paper companies have been seeking ways to dispose of the material. Wisconsin has even attempted to use it for road binder.

Jan 5, 1953

By T. Sterry Hunt

THE essential principle of this new process, now in operation in Chili and in North Carolina, for the extraction of copper from its ores, is the dissolving of the oxides of copper by a hot solution of protochloride of iron and common salt. In the action which takes place, the protochloride of iron is converted into peroxide, while the oxides of copper are changed into protochloride and dichloride, the latter of which, though insoluble in water, is readily soluble in a hot strong brine. From the solution thus obtained, metallic iron throws down the copper in a metallic state, regenerating the protochloride of iron; which is then ready for the treatment of a fresh portion of oxidized copper ore. In the case of slimy ores, the contact of the bath with the ore is effected by agitation in tubs; but when the ores are granular, lixiviation in large vats is equally efficient and simpler. The hot solutions, charged with chlorides of copper, are digested in tanks with scrap-iron, or better, are made to flow through covered channels containing the scrap-iron, and in their passage lose the whole of their copper; the reaction at the same time evolving so much heat as to keep up the temperature of the liquid. In order to prevent a certain loss of chlorine, which otherwise takes place from the production of some basic ferric chloride in the reaction between the ferrous chloride and the oxides of copper (both protoxide and dinoxide being generally present in calcined ores), a portion of sulphurous fumes from the roasting is made to pass through the regenerated bath before adding it to fresh ore. This has hitherto been effected by injection, with the aid of a jet of steam.

JESSE L. JONES,* Pittsburgh, Pa. (written discussion?).-As the die-casting process is so very different in character from the process of making sand molds, it is often considered that entirely different methods of pouring, gating, venting, etc. should be used. There is really, however, no essential difference in the making of (lie castings and sand castings, and similar methods should be used in each process. In the matter of gating, the metal should be introduced at a central point, as nearly as possible, so that it will have an equal distance to flow from the point of entrance to the most distant points of the mold. This will cause a uniform rate of congealing of the casting and prevent streaks and cold shuts. The venting should be done in such a way that a free exit of the air in the molds can occur. It should be less difficult to take care of the venting of a die-casting mold than to vent an ordinary sand mold. In the case of a sand mold, the venting is left, to a considerable extent, to the judgment of the molder, and it is possible that no two molds will be vented in a similar manner. Further than this, after a vent has been made in a sand mold, it may become clogged by the sand and for this reason be inefficient. There is also quite a variation in the pressure of the metal entering a sand mold, due to varying heights of the pouring gate. In a die-casting mold these factors can be controlled more closely. The vents should be so disposed that the air in the mold compressed by the entrance of the metal may be able to leave the mold at a uniform rate and by exits located symmetrically. These exits are made quite small on molds at first, as they can he easily enlarged if necessary, and they are tapered so that a free flow is guaranteed without danger of the metal spurting out from the die. Uniformity of pressure of the metal as it enters the mold is very important and, as the pressure is mechanically applied, its control is not difficult. It is true that a sand mold has much less of a chilling effect on the metal poured into it than has the die-casting mold, but, outside of this point, there is a great similarity between the die-casting process and the process of making castings in sand folds. It is suggested that much would be gained by regarding these two processes as not essentially different.

Jan 4, 1919

By John H. Jett

MATERIAL and supply handling is a major problem at underground mines, especially to those operating through deep shafts with small compartments. Mechanization is necessary, yet in many cases cannot be utilized to fullest advantage owing to the limitations of existing plant design. In cases of this sort, improvisation is indicated and adds to the headaches and enjoyment which most mine operators get out of their work. Underground operations at the Copper Queen Branch are principally carried on through three vertical shafts: the Junction shaft, Campbell shaft and Cole shaft. Hoisting depths range from 1400 ft at the Cole through 2700 ft at the Junction to 2966 ft at the Campbell shaft. Men and supplies are moved through each of the shafts. Cage compartments are small requiring all material over 5 ft in length to be handled in an upright position on the cages.

Jan 3, 1953

By S. A. Falconer

This paper deals with the practical application of the Dutch State Mines cyclone separator for fine-coal cleaning. The more important operating variables are discussed, and results of a number of continuous- scale tests on various fine coals with a 6-in. cyclone separator are given. Descriptions of the Cyanamid Pilot Plant and the 50 tph Cyclone Separator Plant at the Emma Washery in Holland are included.

Jan 7, 1950

By S. A. Ronlov

The importance of recognizing vibration problems during the plant design stage is emphasized in this paper. Often an experienced designer can recommend what type of support to use and how to tune the structure. However, obtaining sufficient information is a serious problem dealing with vibration. Vibration is a well known phenomena which, simply and generally, can be defined as a periodic motion. It is experienced in nature as caused by eerth- quake, wind, or ocean waves, and must be dealt with in the design of structure or ships. It must be realized that wherever there are moving or rotating elements, it is possible that unbalanced forces may induce vibration in the elements themselves, in adjacent parts, or in the supporting structure. Under certain circumstances, vibration will destroy machines or structures quickly and totally. The most widely known case is the total collapse of the Tacoma bridge when subjected to a wind of only 42 mph. Failures due to vibration of machines and/or their supports may occur in industrial plants where heavy equipment employed in the process must be supported and several machines are combined in close proximity. In the Metallurgical and Chemical Div. of The

Jan 1, 1962

By R. W. Smith

An amine used as a collector in a commercial flotation process is usually a rather impure substance. The differences in ionization constants and solubilities of various amines undoubtedly affect their collecting power or strength. This investigation explores some of the differences among several amines of similar (although not precisely the same) chain lengths. An attempt is made to relate the differences to both observed contact angle and Hallimond tube flotation behavior in quartz systems.

Jan 1, 1974

By H. N. Kalia, J. B. Gresham

Several attempts have been made in the past 60 years to commercialize the vast oil shale deposits of the US. However, the industry has yet to become economically viable. To date, it has not been possible to produce oil from oil shales at a competitive price compared with oil produced by conventional methods. The development work, nevertheless, has been fruitful in furthering the art of thick bed mining and technology of in situ retorting. The in situ method has the potential of recovering oil from thick beds, and the resource recovery potential is much greater than that from underground mining and surface retorting. In situ methods require that the shales/marlstones be fragmented in place to induce adequate porosity and permeability to allow in situ heating of the fragmented shales. This can be accomplished by using explosives. However, it has been found that the existing blasting systems, though very efficient, have some drawbacks. The explosives become insensitive when shot in multiplevertical decks. They can also become insensitive when spaced horizontally at close proximity to other charges. Also, since the blasting is done in a very limited free face, the delay time that can be allowed between charges is also quite limited. Consequently, it is not always possible to routinely predict the performance of the blasting system. Furthermore, since it is not possible to undertake secondary blasting, it is imperative that the blast design function properly. Recent successful retorting by Occidental Petroleum Co. Of Retorts 7 and 8 suggests that some of these problems may have been overcome. This paper addresses some aspects of in situ retorting and problems that have impeded the development of a viable oil shale industry in the US.

Jan 1, 1986

By Herbert Clark Hoover, Lou Henry Hoover

GEORGIUS AGRICOLA was born at Glauchau, in Saxony, on March 24th, 1494, and therefore entered the world when it was still upon the threshold of the Renaissance ; Gutenberg's first book had been printed but forty years before ; the Humanists had but begun that stimulating criticism which awoke the Reformation; Erasmus, of Rotterdam, who was subsequently to become Agricola's friend and patron, was just completing his student days. The Reformation itself was yet to come, but it was not long delayed, for Luther was born the year before Agricola, and through him Agricola's homeland became the cradle of the great movement ; nor did Agricola escape being drawn into the conflict. Italy, already awake with the new classical revival, was still a . busy workshop of antiquarian research, translation, study, and publication, and through her the Greek and Latin Classics were only now available for wide distribution. Students from the rest of Europe, among them at a later, time Agricola himself, flocked to the Italian Universities, and on their return infected their native cities with the newly-awakened learning. At Agricola's birth Columbus had just returned from his great discovery, and it was only three years later that Vasco Da Gama rounded Cape Good. Hope. Thus these two foremost explorers had only initiated that greatest period of geographical expansion in the world's history. A' few dates will recall. how far this exploration extended; during Agricola's lifetime. Balboa first saw the Pacific in 1513 ; Cortes entered the City of Mexico in 1520; Magellan entered the Pacific in the same year ; Pizarro penetrated into Peru in 1528 ; De Soto landed in Florida in 1539, and Potosi was discovered in 1546. Omitting the sporadic settlement on the St. Lawrence by Cartier in 1541, the settlement of North America did not begin for a quarter of a century after Agricola's death. Thus the revival of learning, with its train of Humanism, the Reformation, its stimulation of exploration and the re-awakening of the arts and sciences, was still in its infancy with Agricola. We know practically nothing of Agricola's antecedents or his youth. His real name was Georg Bauer (" peasant "), and it was probably Latinized by his teachers, as was the custom of the time. His own brother, in receipts

Jan 1, 1950

By R. C. Ferguson, B. Bernstrom

R.C. Ferguson (District Manager, Hardinge Company Inc., Hibbing, Minn.) — In the opening paragraph of Mr. Bernstrom's paper he stated that the Cascade mill performance information is preliminary. With the completion of the 1962 operating season, more reliable performance information became available. The main bearings, which had been damaged, were reconditioned at the factory. New Gatke bearing bushings with a 120° are of contact were supplied. Provision was made to introduce high pressure lubricant at two points in each bearing. New spherical bearing balls that operate in spherical seats were aligned at the factory and held in place by several setscrews to aid in installing the bearings in the field. The screws were not loosened prior to, or during, operation; therefore, the bearings operated as rigid bearings. The lubricant cooling system was changed to the cooling tower type to provide lubricating water of a suitable temperature. Another refinement consisted of installing a device to add a set percentage of soluble oil to the make-up water.

Jan 1, 1963

By R. W. Raymond

The death of the eldest of the honorary members of the Institute was not unexpected. Ritter von Tunner had never recovered from the effects of a paralytic stroke received in 1892, and when the same enemy struck again in February of this year the blow was plainly mortal. He passed away June 9th, gently and without pain. Thus ends a career of great distinction and fruitfulness, crowned with fame and love. This pioneer of the age of iron and steel had lived so long and wrought so much that the present generation could scarcely recall the whole category of his services. There can be no more appropriate use of the pages of these Transactions than to honor them with a record of such a life and work, for the inspiration of other lives to other labors. Peter Tunner was born May 10, 1809, near Peggau, in Styria.† In the same province, his grandfather, Josef Tunner, had purchased a primitive nail-forge and enlarged it to a ham

Jan 1, 1898

With over one year experience, Western Deep Levels Ltd., reports satisfactory operation with new features of its 200,000 ton per month gold reduction plant. Western Deep is Anglo American group's newest gold mine. It is situated 43 miles west of Johannesburg on the West Wits Line and will ultimately be extracting ore from a depth of 13,000 ft. Although the plant was put in production in March 1962, after a three month break-in period, construction of the fifth milling section was not completed until last month.

Jan 7, 1963

By HOWARD I. YOUNG

F. W. SPERR, Houghton, Mich.-Why does 10 to 20 per cent. of the ore formation have to he lost? It is not clear to me why it should not all be taken out, from the conditions as I saw them underground this afternoon. H. I. YOUNG.-The grade of our ore is so low that we cannot stand the expense of timbering to support the roof, which, in a sheet-ground mine, would be from 25 to 50 per cent. of our total mining cost at present. After the orebody is mined out, we can often recover 10 to 20 per cent. of the material that is left. F. W. SPERR.-I think it should be a very simple mining engineering problem to mine all of that mineral without the use of a stick of timber. Similar work has been done in the mines of Grand Rapids Plaster Co. The usual operation in deposits of this kind is to open up and excavate as far as the roof will stand; when it caves, start in and dig somewhere else. But in the case I referred to they learned that by working the ground more systematically and leaving in a sufficient amount of pillar, they could later draw those pillars and get them all, and avoid uncon¬trolled breakages which would be likely to occur if they tried to hold up the overburden permanently. From the point of view of safety and also from the financial point of view, I contend that it is better to keep the caving under control and make it do what you want it to do, rather than to take out what you can conveniently for the time being and after a while be compelled to let the overburden do what it pleases.

Jan 1, 1918

F. G. CLAPP, New York, N. Y. (written discussion *).-Whatever processes of appraisal have been found most correct and feasible in one field or group of fields will generally prove most adaptable in others. So far as the California fields are concerned, Mr. Requa's paper appears to outline the most up-to-date processes of appraisal. It remains, then, to discuss and adapt these and to make such revisions in methods and processes of calculation as will give us results elsewhere. The trouble about most attempts to place a value on oil lands, whether in this country or elsewhere, has been that many of the so-called "experts" called upon to express an opinion either have not possessed the requisite engineering and geological knowledge to make an accurate appraisal of the lands, or that they were not furnished with sufficient information for the purpose in hand. The Independent. 011. Producers' Agency of California, for whom Mr. Requa's original report was prepared, had many advantages in this respect not generally available to engineers making reports, as all existing information seems to have been at the experts' disposal within the limits of a large number of properties, practically commensurate with the extent of the fields in question. Hence the report could be and was more accurate than any similar report for a single company is likely to be in other fields. Very few companies are so exempt from competition that all the data on neighboring leases of other companies will be freely turned over to them. In many companies, certain available data are concealed from the engineer who makes the reports, particularly if the properties are supposed to be worth less than their apparent value. In the case of other companies, having the best of intentions, the data are insufficient to help the engineer greatly in his appraisal, simply because the oil business has been so, unsystematic in most fields that only the largest and wisest companies have kept accurate figures regarding runs and gravity of oil from individual wells and from different depths. In many wells, which ran wild for clays or weeks in the older fields, there was a waste which is not recordable with exactness. These and many other difficulties confront even the most experienced expert in actual practice outside of the California fields. We may justly say, therefore, that an engineer in other fields of the United States and in the European, South American and Asiatic fields, must not only begin where the Independent Oil Producers' Agency

Jan 4, 1918

The income of the Institute is derived from dues, subscriptions to MINING AND METALLURGY and sale of publications. These sources are fortunately supplemented by the interest from invested funds now amounting to over $500,000, a considerable portion constituting endowments for especial purposes. Aside from the medal funds the principal endowments are the James Douglas Fund for support of the Library, the Rocky Mountain Fund and the Seeley W. Mudd Memorial Fund. The income from the two last named is available for the support of research and a variety of other purposes. It is allocated by the Board of Directors upon recommendation of standing committees in each case. An active effort is being made to increase the endowments of the Institute, it being felt that unusual opportunities exist for research and public and professional service through the organization and at a minimum of expense.

Jan 1, 1932

Robert Carl Sticht, member of the Institute since 1886, an American metallurgist of world-wide reputation, died in St. Margaret's Hospital, Launceston, Tasmania, on April 30, 1922, after an illness of eleven months, against which he fought with the highest courage and characteristic fortitude. The news of his passing came as a great shock to a host of his friends and former associates here, but on account of his long absence from the United States, exact biographical details have been heretofore lacking. Throughout Tasmania, the expressions of public sorrow were many and impressive, and the flags were flown at half-mast in Queenstown, Zeehan, and the entire Mt. Lyell district, in honor of the man who had won his place in the community as a great captain of industry and a man universally admired and loved. Sticht had been connected with the Mt. Lyell Mining & Railway Co. in Tasmania throughout its entire productive period. He had originally been induced to go to Tasmania through the good offices of the late Dr. E. D. Peters, then professor of metallurgy at Harvard University, who after personally examining the undeveloped Mt. Lyell properties, recommended Sticht as the best possible man to work out the complex metallurgical problem which that great orebody presented. Sticht had already made himself the leading authority on pyritic smelting, having taken up the idea as suggested and partly worked out by Lawrence Austin and carried it through to a certain degree of perfection in the case of limited tonnages of special ores. After studying the situation at Mt. Lyell, Sticht found the conditions there to be almost ideal for pyritic smelting, and he had the courage to adopt as the basis for a permanent, and eventually successful, solution of the metallurgical problem, a process that was then little more than a theoretically interesting possibility. The thorough studies and remarkable results attained at Mt. Lyell were published as chapters in Doctor Peters' various publications on the metallurgy of copper, Doctor Peters giving full credit to Sticht for their authorship. These chapters by Sticht practically constitute the: best literature of the art of pyritic smelting. The accuracy of observation,

Jan 1, 1923