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By Howard L. Hartman

The past 15 years have seen rapid advances in the metallurgy of materials for drill machinery and bits, but rock drilling itself continues to be largely an art. Jet piercing, roller bit rotary drilling, and rotary percussion are all promising new techniques, but the percussion rock drill, still used for 90 pct of the blastholes in U. S. hard-rock mining, has under- gone no major modification since pneumatic machines were first used successfully in the 1860's. This singular lack of progress stems directly from ignorance of the nature of impact failure of rock and the fundamentals of rock penetration in general. For nearly three-quarters of a century, mining engineers did not know what went on at the bottom of a drillhole.

Jan 1, 1959

By Howard S. Strouth

Investors and mining companies in the U. S. have recently shown increased interest in the Union of South Africa. This has been sparked partially by the founding in the U. S. of a large investment trust which will hold substantial shares in many of the leading gold and uranium producers. The average U. S, mining man's judgment of the Union, however, may be somewhat clouded by recent headline news. We are inclined to take a strong dislike to the stern measures of the present Union government with regard to its native majority. Others possibly think of South Africa in krms of a British colony which, under pressure of rising African nationalism, must eventually be abandoned. These concepts frequently suffer for lack of precise information.

Jan 5, 1959

By Gordon M. Matheson, Charles V. Logie

The current state-of-the-art design of mine pillars can be grouped into empirical and numerical design techniques. Numerical design techniques are based on sophisticated computational techniques which analyze the stresses and strains through the interstices of a pillar. Empirical techniques are less exact, but have been widely used, particularly for coal mine pillar design, because of their ease of computation. Over the years numerous empirical equations have been proposed to calculate the ultimate strength of coal mine pillars. This paper presents a review of the various equations which are most frequently utilized and examines the fundamental assumptions, limitations and applicability of the design formulae. The review intends to provide the practicing mining engineer with an understanding of the assumptions and mathematical basis of each equation to aid in the selection of the criteria most applicable to his specific design problems. Recommendations are made of the empirical equations that are presently most acceptable for design.

Jan 1, 1983

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 F. F. Sharpless

ON Saturday evening, Sept. 9, a small party of Institute members, their wives and friends, left New York to attend the Fall Meeting of the Institute at San Francisco. In this party there were: President and Mrs. Arthur S. Dwight; Mr. and Mrs. George D. Barron; Mr. and Mrs. H. J. Stehli; N. S. Spencer and Miss Spencer; the Secretary and Mrs. F. F. Sharpless. They were joined at Chicago by E. F. Eurich, and by Mr. and Mrs. R. L. Baldwin and daughter. Our party was met at Chicago by Mr. and Mrs. L. V. Rice, Mr. and Mrs. A. D. Terrell and W. F. Boericke, who constituted themselves an impromptu entertainment committee and proceeded to carry out a delightful little program. We were taken to the Lake Shore drive, where a stiff wind off the lake refreshed us after a sultry day on the train, and on our return to the city saw Chicago illuminated with all its brilliance of electricity. We were entertained at dinner at the Drake Hotel. In spite of being two hours late getting into Omaha, we were right on the dot at Denver on Tuesday morn-ing. Horace F. Lunt came to the hotel soon after breakfast, and told us that a trip to the mountains had been planned. Having learned the number in the party, he began to gather up his automobiles for a 10 o'clock start.

Jan 10, 1922

By E. P. Shea

The Anaconda Co.'s Geological Department at Butte, Mont., was started early in the Company's history because of litigation involving vein ownership and extralateral rights. The problems, some of which were resolved in courts, were many because of the large number of veins and lode locations. Defensive action was required to prove ownership and protect against illegal exploitation of the downward and extra-lateral extensions of the ore bodies. In many cases it was necessary to define the outcrop of the vein and to show that its apex was within the boundaries of the lode claim. Exhibits illustrating geology were needed to present the cases clearly, and these could be made only after careful inspection and mapping of the underground workings by competent geologists. Also, The Anaconda Co. was one of the first companies to recognize the worth of skilled mining geologists and the value of accurate records in the search for new ore. The department was organized in 1900 by H. V. Winchell who, with D. W. Brunton, worked out the methods. Reno Sales was Chief Geologist from 1906 until 1948 when he was succeeded by V. D. Perry, the present Chief Geologist. Under their direction, F. A. Linforth, M. H. Gidel, C. H. Steele, E. P. Shea, C. C. Goddard, Jr., and W. A. O'Brien enlarged the scope of the work and improved the technique.

Jan 3, 1961

By D. L. Rainey, E. R. Goter, W. R. Hudspeth

THE area in which spodumene-bearing pegmatites occur extends from Gaffney, S. C., in a northerly direction to Lincolnton, N. C., a distance of about 16 miles. The zone averages 2 miles in width. Interest in this area was first aroused by the discovery of small amounts of cassiterite in the pegmatites and in greissen which occurs on the walls of some of the pegmatites. Attempts were made from 1880 into the 1920's to mine and concentrate cassiterite, but there were no successful operations. In 1935 L. M. Williams became interested in the area and began prospecting by trenching and sinking several small shafts. He gradually gained control of a considerable acreage south of the city of Kings Mountain, N. C. Mr. Williams states that he produced some ore from a shaft which he shipped to the Maywood Chemical Co. in the late 1930's. In 1937 G. H. Chambers of the Foote Mineral Co. visited the area and examined several properties, but the lithium market was too small to support the necessary concentrating plant.

Jan 9, 1953

By Thomas P. Oxford, Leslie G. Bromwell

The waste clay slurry produced during beneficiation of Florida phosphate ore presents a major environmental problem. The large volume of waste requires impoundment in above-ground disposal areas surrounded by earthen dams. As the result of a comprehensive research effort, three approaches to improving clay dewatering involving admixing of sand tailings have been developed. These provide satisfactory performance and appear to be compatible with the technological and economic constraints of the industry. Means of determining waste clay characteristics and analyzing mining waste disposal situations by computer simulation have been devised in support of the planning and field testing effort. Detailed examples demonstrating the applicability of the computer programs are presented.

Jan 1, 1980

During the presentation of the papers, questions were deferred until after the last paper in the afternoon. At that time, the authors and co-chairmen formed a panel for discussion of any pertinent questions. The panel was as follows: Carl Gerity - Ozark Lead Company – Chairman Mike Young - Master Mechanic - Ozark Lead Company Largo Albert - Maintenance Specialist (hoisting) Mines Maintenance Dept. - International Nickel Company, with assistance from Co-author Alan Cameron - International Nickel Company Gary Beerkircher - Product Manager - Rexnord Inc., Nordberg Machinery Group Richard Schaal - Director of Maintenance - Superior Division, Magma Copper Company Rich Hodgson - Assistant Production Superintendent - FMC Corporation The remarks have been edited by the panelists for readability, the basic ideas were not changed. Additional thoughts by the panelists submitted at the time of their revision are indicated by ***.

Jan 1, 1975

By H. Tanner, T. Heikkinen

In1950 studies concerning mining and milling of the approximately 17 million tons of ore remaining at Outokumpu revealed the surface facilities for economical treatment were inadequate. The two shafts would soon be too far from the mine workings. Moreover, in spite of several extensions, mill capacity was insufficient and recoveries were not satisfactory. Therefore it was decided in 1951 to sink a new shaft and to build a new mill and auxiliary surface buildings around the shaft. The new shaft was sunk near the center of the remaining orebody, about 650 ft from the ore to the footwall side. This location placed the main part of the shaft as well as the crusher rooms and the ore bins around the lower end of the shaft in the firm and strong mica-schist.

Jul 1, 1955

By Takahide Wakamatsu, Shigeru Mukai

Fundamental investigations were made on the treatment of slime and the chrysocolla flotation, both of which are urgent problems to be solved in copper oxide mineral flotation. Unfavourable effects of slime on flotation are caused by the slime adsorption at the air/liquid Interface as well as the slime coating on the mineral surface. The adsorption of slime at the air/liquid interface was measured by using various kinds of slime particles. As a consequence, goethite, bentonite and talc tended to adsorb markedly at the interface. As a desliming method, slime flotation with a polymer flocculant such as polyethylene-oxide prior to the ordinary copper oxide flotation was found to be effective. The use of both a copper-avid organic reagent and an alkyl xanthate was examined for a selective collection of chrysocolla through xanthate adsorption tests, chrysocolla float- abllity tests and flotation tests for synthetic and natural ore. The copper-avid reagents used were salicylaldoxime, 8- hydroxyquinollne and benzoin-a-oxime. As a result, the ad- sorption of higher xanthate such as amyl xanthate on chrysocolla as well as the chrysocolla-to-air bubble attachment was increased by the presence of a copper-avid reagent under suitable reagent addition and pH of pulp. Flotation tests for synthetic and natural ores confirmed that chrysocolla could be floated sufficiently and selectively with a copper- avid reagent like 8-hydroxyquinoline or salicylaldoxime with its subsequent collection by amyl xanthate.

Jan 1, 1976

Jan 1, 1957

By A. S. Malicsi, R. J. Lipp, I. Iwasaki

A loch-grade copper-nickel deposit, with an estimated 4.6 Gt (5 billion st) and average analyses of 0.6% copper, 0.2% nickel, occurs in northeastern Minnesota. In addition to copper, nickel, cobalt, and precious metals, the Duluth gabbro contains magnetite, ilmenite, olivine, plagioclase, and biotite. It u estimated that flotation tailings that would be produced by a concentrator of optimal size to sustain a smelter would amount to 20 Mt/a (22 million stpy). The flotation tailings, having already been ground, warrant a closer examination for recovery and use of potential byproducts. Residual sulfide minerals and fibrous minerals may also be isolated and treated separately for useful purposes or for disposal in an environmentally acceptable manner. Two flowsheets were developed; one involving preconcentration by low- and high-intensity magnetic separation and another involving preconcentration by gravity concentration. Concentration methods for recovering and purifying individual byproduct minerals were investigated. From their chemical, physical, and mineralogical characteristics, the potential areas of application and marketabilities of each product fraction were surveyed.

Jan 1, 1985

ALABAMA Anniston.-Carrington, F. G. Auburn.-Brown, R. L. Battelle.-Green, G. G. Bessemer.-Abbott, C. E. Dobbs, G. G. Ferguson, V. Birmingham.-Adams, J. H. Aldrich, T. H. Aldrich, T. H., Jr. Allen, A. W. Bonnyman, J. Bowron, J. Bush, M. W. Crawford, G. G. Crockard, F. H. Ellis, E. E. Fairbairn, C. T. Gallacher, J. Geismer, H. S.

Jan 1, 1917

ALABAMA. Aldrich, Aldrich, W. F. Anmston, Noble, A. E Bessemen, Abbott, C E, Fergusson, V Birmingham, Aldrich, T. H, Aldrich, T. H, Jr, Bowron, J, Burbidge, T A, Collord, G L, Crockard, F H, Davis, F H, Dimmick, F. D., Hiller, E., Johnson, G R, Ludwig, C P., McCormack, G B., McCrery, Peters, R , Jr , Phillips, W B, Ramsay, E ,Shook, A. M Car bon Hall, Pill, J R Emsley, Williams, E P Gadsden, Hudson, J B , Helena, Squire, J Holt, Shook, J W. Huntnnlle, Moss Lehigh, Toulmin. Rock Run, Garvin, J. M. Sheffield, Miller, D I Tusscaloosa, McCausland, E J , Woodward, Woodward, A. H

Jan 1, 1910

By Robert Glass Cleland

WITH the acquisition of the Nichols Copper Company ' and the development of the large Copper Products manufacturing and selling organization, the Phelps Dodge Corporation had attained two of its important goals. But at that particular time both its immediate and long-range prospects were giving the company serious concern. The financial panic that began late in 1929 was growing worse instead of better. Neither raw materials nor finished products could find a market. In 1932 the price of copper fell to the almost unprecedented figure of four and eight tenths cents a pound. Domestic production of copper in the United States was further threatened by a large low-cost output from the mines of Africa and the Andes. Canadian copper mines, with their large yield of other valuable metals from the same ores, added to the difficulties of the American companies. After a hard-fought campaign, however, the producers of domestic copper finally induced Congress to levy a duty of four cents a pound on copper imported into the

Jan 1, 1952

By George E. Aiken

Modern high speed bucket wheel excavators (BWEs) can dig materials which power shovels can't handle without blasting. Yet these machines are not used in any large, open pit ore mines in the United States. American mining has been slow to use the wheel's special capabilities of high production volume at low cost, due perhaps to a traditional familiarity with shovels and draglines and/or the lack of data of BWE operation, design and cost. Of course, shovels and draglines can not be replaced by BWEs in all cases, but under suitable conditions bucket wheels can out-perform other conventional excavators and simultaneously permit significant operating savings. The latter aspect will become increasingly important to American mining men because as more low to medium grade orebodies are found in regions of thick overburden, better and cheaper ways of uncovering them must be developed. Typical of such areas are the thick alluvial fans of the Southwest and the glacial drift areas in northern regions. Much of this material would handle well with a wheel excavator without blasting, although ripping might be necessary in some cases.

Jan 1, 1966

By J. N. Ong, J. P. Ratledge, J. H. Boyce

Since German operators opened the Tsumeb mine in the early 1900's, continuous operation has been interrupted only by enforced shutdowns during two world wars and the depression of the 1930's. Original metallurgical practice was blast furnace smelting. This was applicable only to low zinc ore, leaving large tonnages of high zinc ore to be stockpiled on the surface. A gravity concentrator using tables, buddles, and jigs operated for several years, but differential flotation of the ore did not get beyond the experimental stage. When the property was put up for sale by the South African Custodian of Enemy Property there was an estimated 434,000 tons of ore on surface dumps. The dump material, assaying 4.48 pct Cu, 15.8 pct Pb, and 10.9 pct Zn, had become highly oxidized during a stay of many years on the surface. But these dump ores had to be used in evaluating possible metallurgy because the shaft became flooded after the 1940 shutdown and underground ore was unavailable. Many companies examined Tsumeb but quickly lost enthusiasm because of the formidable metallurgical problems presented by the dump ore. However, on the basis of extensive test work, the present company decided that differential flotation would be successful and purchased the property after competitive bidding.

Jan 4, 1955

NEW MEMBERS The following list comprises the names of those persons who became members during the period of Apr. 10, 1918, to May 10, 1918. BALLARD, JOHN I Supt., Cable Mining Corpn., Cable, Mont. BURKMAN, JOHN M. F., Constr. Engr., U. S. Smelt. Refin. & Min. Co., Care -University Club, Mexico City, D. F. CALLEN, ALFRED COPELAND, Head, Mining Engineering Dept., West Virginia University Morgantown, W. Va. CHADWICK, LAWRENCE, Chem., Mt. Elliott Copper Co., Ltd., Selwyn, via Townsville, North Queensland, Australia. CODY, FRANK W., Skimmer, Reverberatory Furnace, Arizona Copper Co., Clifton, Ariz. COOLBAUGH, MELVILLE F., Prof. of Chem., Colorado School of Mines, Golden, Colo. DODGE, ALLAN WAYNE The Dodge Agency, 104 East Iron Ave., Salina, bans. DONNELLY, LEONARD G., Pet. Geol., Sinclair Oil & Gas Co., Sinclair Bldg., Tulsa, Okla.

Jan 6, 1918

NEW MEMBERS The following list comprises the names of those persons who became members during the period Mar. 10, 1916 to Apr. 10, 1916. ALLEN, P. R., Pres., McAlester Coal & Coke Co., Knight Templar Bldg., McAlester, Okla. BERNARD, CLINTON PERCIVAL, Min. Engr., Care Forminiere Mission Kasai, Tschikapa, Congo Belge, W. Africa. CARPENTER, GEORGE 0., Vice-Pres National Lead Co. St. Louis Mo. CLARK, WILLIAM ANDREWS, JR., Min. Engr., Pres., Elm Orlu Mining Co., Butte, Mont. CLAYTON, CHARLES YANCEY, Asst. PrOf. of Metallurgy and Ore Dressing, Missouri School of Mines, Rolla, Mo. COHEN, JULIUS MILTON, Mgr. Croesus Gold Mines, Ltd., Matheson, Ont., Canada. CRAMER, WILLIAM BRONSON, Met. at Concentrator, Old Dominion Copper Min. & Smelt. Co., Globe, Ariz. DAHL, SIMEON H., Mill Supt., Messina Transvaal Dev. Co., Messina, Transvaal S. Africa.

Jan 5, 1916