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By Mason J. Christner

Geology has become increasingly quantitative in the last 20 years. This trend has been accelerated by computer capability in the manipulation of data. The mining industry has been relatively slow to harness computer power, but the larger companies have moved in this direction in the past few years. Among the leaders in this progression is the White Pine Copper Co., and the following is a brief description of their computer system for processing, managing, and utilizing geologic data. Geology The White Pine mine is in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, 6 miles south of Lake Superior and 80 miles west of the Houghton-Hancock area, center of the famous Copper country. The ore body of chalcocite, native copper, and minor native silver, is a tabular body in the basal 25 ft of the flat lying Nonsuch Shale and the top part of the underlying Copper Harbor Conglomerate. Twelve or more

Jan 1, 1972

By Donald P. Richards, John F. Abel

Geotechnical site investigation for new mine shafts can reduce the level of design uncertainty for shaft linings. The parameters which determine the lining strength required include rock strength and hydrologic properties, the in situ stress conditions, and the concrete strength. These parameters are applied to analytical methods of shaft lining design using the plastic and clastic assumptions of rock response to determine the required lining thickness to maintain the stability of the shaft excavation.

Jan 1, 1982

By A. T. Stroebel, J. A. Goodwin

Diatomite deposits, the skeletal remains of tiny aquatic plants called diatoms, are found in many parts of the world. Only a few of these deposits are of commercial value. Open pit mining is used in nearly all deposits now being worked. Processing methods range from simple drying, crushing, sizing and packaging to carefully controlled and highly sophisticated calcining and air classification procedures, employing the latest control and testing techniques. The major uses of processed diatomite are infiltration as filter aids and fillers and extenders.

Jan 1, 1983

Here are the details . . . . . of how a $2.5 million research gamble, now backed by five years of intensive development in cooperation with the Chemical Construction Corp. resulted in a hydrometollurgical process that yields pure metal powders from sulphide concentrate - a process that offers potential savings of $2.5 million a year.

Jan 6, 1953

By C. E. Shoenfelt

The discovery of oil in the Powder Wash stricture in northwestern Colorado late in the fall of 1936 is the most important development in Colorado since oil was first discovered in the Moffat dome in the same county in 1923. The Powder Wash structure gives promise of developing into an oil and gas field of major proportions and is of particular interest because the oil was found in Tertiary rocks of Eocene age, which heretofore had been productive in the Rocky Mountain region of gas only, and very few of the many structures of this kind have been tested because it was believed that oil production probably would be confined to rocks of Cretaceous age only, and these were, in most instances, at excessive drilling depths. Powder Wash is one of a series of small domes in the belt of folds and faults on the south side of the large but shallow depression known as

Jan 1, 1937

By Roshan B. Bhappu, Raul A. Deju

The mineral olivine has been the subject of continued research by various authors. Paik1 conducted infrared and flotation studies of the adsorption of sodium alkyl benzene sulfonates on olivine. These studies are of interest from two points of view. First, in the metallurgical field it is of interest to understand the mechanism of silicate flotation using sulfonate collectors and second, hydrologists are interested in studying the chemical reactions that take place when water plus sulfonates encounter a porous silicate medium. On the basis of his study, Paik was able to postulate a possible mechanism for the attachment of RSO3- (sulfonate radical) to the olivine surface.

Jan 1, 1973

The Institute is custodian of funds for support of numerous gold medals and prizes and has representatives on boards awarding still others. Details regarding the Institute Awards are given be- low. The Institute is represented on the boards of the John Fritz Medal, the Hoover Medal and the Washington Award, in connection with the three national societies of Civil, Mechanical and Electrical engineering; and, also, in the case of the Washington Award, with the Western Society of Engineers. The Institute is represented with these four societies on the committee in charge of the Alfred Noble Prize.

Jan 1, 1934

By T. Kusakawa

In Japan, natural gypsum is rarely mined for industrial use and almost all gypsum is synthetic, that is desulphogypsum, produced from waste sulphur dioxide gas from metal smelters and power plants and other industrial waste sources. The amount of synthetic gypsum production (1979) reached more than 6 Mt/a (6.6 million stpy). Major uses are for cement and building materials. Other uses include soil conditioner, investment casting molds, and organic composite materials. Sulphur recovery by gypsum decomposition is being examined. This paper summarizes present Japanese production and uses of synthetic gypsum produced from industrial wastes.

Jan 1, 1984

By Richard H. Terhune

It cannot be said that the development of processes for roasting in Utah has been evolutionary. Some of the best systems were contemporaneons with smelting here, and one of the most primitive methods, pile roasting, is still entrenched, to the exclusion of all others, at one works. This is certainly not because we have not had sulphur, in place and out of place, to contend with, but rather because roasting has not been a necessity, we having, like most other smelting districts in America, a good share of oxidized ores.

Jan 1, 1888

By D. D. Pollock, G. P. Conard II

Equations of the form of the Mott and Jones equations for the absolute thermoelectric powers of metals are derived primarily from a thermodynamic approach. The behaviors of transition thermoelements in common use are then examined and compared with this simple theory. MOTT and ones' derived a general expression for the absolute thermoelectric behavior of metals and alloys using the approach of the solid state physicist. This expression was then applied to specific cases.1,2 The present work develops equations of the same form principally by a thermodynamic approach. These relationships are then employed to gain some insight to the behavior of the transition thermoelements in common use. I) DERIVATION OF AN EXPRESSION FOR ABSOLUTE THERMOELECTRIC POWER First consider a metallic conductor which is maintained in a temperature gradient with no current flowing. At constant pressure, there will be a gradient of the free energy (F,) given by:

Jan 1, 1963

By K. A. Natarajan, I. Iwasaki

The influence of dissolved oxygen and the Pt - Pt-O reaction on the measurement of redox potentials in solutions containing ferrous-ferric couple was examined. Current-potential curves were used to illustrate the shift in measured potentials toward the oxygen potential in oxygenated and deoxygenated systems at low concentrations of ferrous and ferric ions. The ranges of concentrations of the ferrous-ferric couple, in which the interference from oxygen and the platinum-oxygen reactions becomes significant, are illustrated through the mixed potential mechanism.

Jan 1, 1975

By B. Heide, A. Bergrnann

The Meggen mine and the concentrator plant of the Sachtleben Bergbau GmbH are located in the southern part of the Ruhr district of the Federal Republic of Germany. The mine has been in operation for more than 100 years, but the concentrator described in this paper was started up in January 1963. The Meggen orebody is of sedimentary origin and occurs in a zone of limestones, graywacke and shales of Devonian age. The average thickness of the deposit is 3 meters and due to an intense folding of the area, the mineralized zone dips steeply at 80º towards the north.

Jan 6, 1973

By Massimo Guarascio

Computer data processing and ore reserve evaluation techniques, mainly based on geostatistical methodologies, have been developed at Agip Mining Division with the assistance of the Department of Mining Engineering of the University of Rome. A number of computer programs are available when facing problems such as optimization of sampling patterns, minable reserve estimation, grade control of output, and so on. In the present paper, the aims and the criteria followed in developing these programs are discussed. Some recent examples of application are also cited.

Jan 1, 1977

By L. Eaton, A. W. Last, J. L. Stevens

COPPER ore from Kennecott Copper's Ray mine, about 60 miles southeast of Phoenix, Ariz., is concentrated at the company's mill at Hayden, some 18 miles south of the mine. The Hayden mill is currently treating 16,000 tons of ore per day by flotation, using raconite, a crude butyl xanthate, as a collector for the sulfide copper minerals and lime as a pyrite depressant.1 The ore contains significant amounts of nonsulfide copper minerals, but recovery of these values has been low. The Hayden mill is now being modified to provide for treatment of future ores by leach- precipitation-flotation (L-P-F). This modification, costing about $5 million, is expected to reduce the loss of nonsulfide copper values and improve overall copper recovery by an additional 2 lb per ton of ore.

Jan 11, 1957

By J. M. Kane

IN all probability the mining and metallurgical industry as a whole can demonstrate a larger economic return from installation of dust-control equipment than any other major industrial group. This fact has partially accounted for the marked increase of dust-control installations made during the past decade. While the primary objectives for installation of dust-collecting systems are improved working and operating conditions for men and equipment, the fact that an economic return can be anticipated on salvageable materials is an added advantage which shows in partial or complete equipment write-off. The conditions apply to most phases of the mining, milling, and smelting industry, both non-metallic and metallic.

Jan 1, 1953

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 R. W. Raymond

Some months ago I heard from a party of returned tourists an amusing story of a Chinese laundryman in the National Park who had included in his cabin a hot spring, of which he was accustomed to avail himself in his business, and who, on one occasion, having thrown a lot of linen into this spring to soak overnight, had added a piece of soap to facilitate the process, and had been considerably surprised when, stimulated by this soap, the spring had suddenly become a geyser and wrecked his establishment. The story went on to say that the practice of "soaping" geysers to make them, active had become general, but had been forbidden by the authorities.

Jan 1, 1889

By Richard Klimpel

This paper describes the effects of slurry viscosity on the selection-for-breakage and breakage distribution parameters in the wet grinding of ores. A series of experimental tests were run on laboratory scale ball mills. Slurry viscosities were modified by varying the solids/water ratio with and without the presence of selected chemicals. Very consistent and predictable correlations are shown to exist. The grinding parameters were calculated using a computerized back-calculation technique developed by Klimpel and Austin. Industrial scale circuit calculations and preliminary plant trial data suggest that considerable increases in throughput and/or fineness of grind can be achieved through the judicious use of chemical additives.

Jan 1, 1977

POSITIONS VACANT (Under this heading will be published notes sent to the Secretary of the Institute by members or other persons.) A copper company in Arizona desires a young engineer to assist the superintendent and take charge of the surveying, sampling and assaying. A graduate mining engineer with a few years' experience in mine surveying and sampling preferred. Salary, $125 to start. No. 10. A company in Quebec desires a metallurgist familiar with copper smelting to remodel an old plant and carry on experimental work to determine whether its ore can be smelted profitably in the district. No. 11. A foundry making a specialty of medium and light weight. steel castings of high grade waists a competent man as assistant manager capable of taking complete charge of production in the absence of the general manager. No. 12.

Jan 3, 1914

By Garfield Schnee

MACHINERY has not taken the place of manual labor in steep pitch coal in the anthracite field and there is a shortage of miners experienced in this type of work. To overcome these difficulties several coal companies have resorted to different types of mining such as the diamond or zig-zag method, the slant method, long hole drilling, and several other variations. For the past 5 years the diamond shape method has been used extensively in the heavy pitching beds of both the Knickerbocker and Yatesville basins at Knickerbocker colliery of the Philadelphia & Reading Coal & Iron Co.

Jan 10, 1950